Stan Mauldin is the owner of Renegade Classics Biker Outlet in The Woodlands. He has teamed with other Renegade Classics stores across the Southwestern United States with the goal of raising $200,000 for the MD Anderson Cancer Research Center on behalf of Harley’s Angels and We Fight Like A Girl. To further the cause, Mauldin has founded the Cancer 2 Cure Ride 2012 that leaves Galveston on July 13 for a month-long trip to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and back. Go to www.texasbikerevents.com/alaska to make a donation and to get info on how you can join in on a leg of the adventure. Stan says he’d rather not ride all the way by himself… Out in Big Bend country, each spring Uncle with the Texas Adventure Company holds his Around the Bend motorcycle rally in the ghost town of Terlingua, just west of the National Park. This year’s event, March 1–4, was the 5th annual. Open to both street- and dual-sport riders, it’s a laid-back chance to simply enjoy yourself with no agenda—ride when you want, where you want, where you can. This year’s registration included a commemorative Around the Bend engraved drinking glass, a Thursday night fajita dinner, two breakfast buffets and a Saturday night banquet and fire dancer show. They hold several Texas-based events throughout the year and can be reached at www.texasadventure.net… A new way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day was on tap this year when the first ever Blowout’s Biker Bash was held March 16–18 at the Galveston County Fairgrounds in Hitchcock. With the motto of “Get Your Green On,” the $30 admission provided you free camping, live music, a fun run, bike games, a custom bike show, a naughty leprechaun contest and even a chance at winning an award for best St. Patty’s-themed campsite. And the 21-and-older age restriction allowed your inner Irish to truly express itself… The long-enduring Thunder in the Hill Country was back again March 29–April 1 for a repeat performance at Mansfield Park in Bandera. Featuring three concerts, a bike show, games, a tattoo contest, free tent camping, plenty of vendors and a burnout pit; it was one busy weekend for this relaxed burg. Add in the rally’s notorious wet T-shirt and naughty nighty contests and you have one steamy evening on a cool Hill Country night… The violent tornadoes that roared through the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex on April 3 bounced all around the area but luckily missed our favorite local hangout, Strokers Dallas, which is a very good thing since the place apparently no longer has a roof following the outrageous party held the weekend before. That’s when Rick Fairless and his crew held their annual Spring Fling, the shop’s biggest party, March 30–April 1. It all started Friday evening with the Bad Tattoo Contest, shifted into second gear on Saturday with their Wet T-Shirt Contest and then barreled across the finish line that Sunday with their Legendary Bikini Contest that has become… well, quite legendary. We gave Rick a call the day after all the nasty weather to check on any possible damage to the shop (none sustained) and the success of the Fling. He told THUNDER PRESS , “It was a good party. Between Saturday noon and Sunday evening we had approximately 10,000 people come through the doors. Yeah, it was a good time.” A good time? Ten thousand bikers rolling through for a weekend shop party? While Texas is noted for doing things big, hell, that’s big even for us… Know how to tell that it’s spring in Texas? Just wait for dat smell o’ da crawfish she be cooking, das how. And on March 31, the Armadillo Cycle Club had a big ol’ pot of those mudbugs bubbling in their clubhouse in Cleburne during their 7th annual Crawfish Boil. Along with those tasty morsels, the Armadillos included music by Pete Barbeck and 7th Son… Not to be outdone, Mancuso Harley-Davidson Crossroads in West Houston presented their own version of Cajun crawlers on the same day with their Bikes & Bugs V Crawfish Boil. Louisiana crawdads were provided by the noted Ragin Cajun along with music, door prizes and a $10 raffle chance to win a 2009 H-D Rocker C. All proceeds raised went to aid the Epilepsy Research Foundation… And I’d suffer dearly if I did not give a shout out to my editor, Robert Filla, for his celebratory 8-year anniversary of being in charge of this fine publication. He took the reins on April 1 (no fooling) in 2004 and has been instrumental in its continued success during the industry’s heyday followed by challenging times and a stressful economy. Good job, Roberto Gordo… And please do not forget that the biggest and best rally in all of Texas is right around the corner. The Austin-based Republic of Texas Biker Rally runs from June 7–10 and, if for some bizarre reason it’s not already on your calendar, then you best get your ass in gear. Pre-parties are already in the works. Go to www.rotrally.com to get all the latest details. It’s big, it’s Texas, it’s Texas big. See ya there—boots ’n’ Daisy Dukes.
