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BIKERNET BIKETOBERFEST TRAFFIC REPORT– DAYTONA BEACH –Just in time for Biketoberfest: leather weather. A strong cold front will plow into the southeastern states mid-week, bringing Central Florida’s first taste of fall with temperatures dropping to near 60, the Florida Division of Emergency Management said Tuesday.
The clear skies and cooler nights will coincide nicely with the arrival of an anticipated 100,000 motorcycle enthusiasts.
Daytona Beach police are urging drivers to avoid heavily congested areas when possible. The greatest concentration of visitors will be in the Main Street and North Beach Street areas, especially at night.
Limited traffic
Northbound and southbound traffic will be restricted between Auditorium Boulevard and Harvey Street during peak event times on the following roadways: Oleander, Wild Olive, Grandview and Hollywood avenues.
Police might also restrict traffic on the Main Street Bridge during peak times to allow emergency vehicles to cross.
Only motorcycles will be allowed to park in certain areas of North Beach Street from Thursday through Sunday. Watch for signs.
Concerts in Riverfront Park might close one stretch of Beach Street, from Bay Street to Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard, to vehicles from 6 p.m. until about midnight.
When traffic gets dense, police recommend these routes:
? To enter Main Street from the north via Atlantic Avenue, stay in the right southbound lane. When you get to Main Street you will be allowed to turn right.
? To enter Main Street from the south on Atlantic Avenue, first turn left on International Speedway Boulevard then right on Peninsula Drive and take Peninsula north to Main Street.
Police are warning motorcyclists to watch out for pedestrians while riding to and from festival areas, especially at night. ?
–By MARY L. SCHROPP
News-Journal Correspondent
–from Rogue
BIKERTOBERFEST BIKE RENTALS– DAYTONA BEACH — Riding around town on a motorcycle during Biketoberfest doesn’t have to cost a mint.With prices ranging from $6,500 to $20,500 on the 2004 line of Harley-Davidson bikes, consumers armed with a motorcycle-endorsed driver’s license may want to rent instead.
Several local businesses rent motorcycles, including Daytona Harley-Davidson, 290 N. Beach St., the area’s largest motorcycle dealership.Danny Gallagher, Daytona Harley rental manager, said bikes are rented for $225 a day, with a three-day minimum requirement during special events. In the non-special events period, rates start at $130 a day, depending upon the model. In either case, the fee includes 24-hour roadside assistance, unlimited mileage, plus a helmet and rain gear.
Dan Johnson, owner of Midwest Motorcycle Rental & Tours, 2020 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores, has been renting motorcycles and scooters for the last decade.The market is a lot more competitive than it was 10 years ago, Johnson said.Because of that, he said, rental prices have gone down. Midwest charges $150 a day during most of the year.But, for special events, the cost is $250 a day or $675 for three days, said Johnson, who also owns shops in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Minneapolis, Minn.
“Bike Week is my Christmas,” he said last week, adding his business also gets a healthy boost from Biketoberfest visitors.
–By VALERIE WHITNEY
Business Writer, Daytona News Journal
–from Rogue
MO’ FICTION ON BIKERNET–G’day Bandit and Sin Wu. Found my Down South story when I checked Bikernet this morning. I loved George Fleming’s illustration.?I was particularly impressed that he read the descriptions of the characters and the bike in the story, and did the illustration accordingly.Even down to Odelle’s torn dress and disheveled look, and the sleeping bag tied onto the sissy bar behind the king and queen seat!George it’s a great picture, highlighted the opening of my story so well.
Thanks heaps mate!
Sin Wu and yourself have the opening pages of my next story;?I realise you’re busy folk so I’ll wait until I hear from you before I sent the rest of the tale. (I’ve actually finished it already. friends who’ve read it found it “spooky and atmospheric”.) I think that means it’s OK.
:Thanks for the opportunity to be published on your site. I look forward to writing more stuff for you.
Stay Upright.
Regards: Kevin “Knightro”Lumley.
We’ve received a strong demand for fiction and we’ll come across. Several manuscripts are nearing the Bikernet launching pad. –Bandit
A SOLDIER’S STORY–At Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC recently the SergeantMajor of the Army (SMA), Jack Tilley, was with a group of people visiting the wounded soldiers. He saw a Special Forcessoldier who had lost his right hand and suffered severe wounds of his face and side of his body. The SMA wanted to honorhim and show him respect without offending, but what can you say or do in such a situation that will encourage and uplift?How do you shake the right hand of a soldier who has none?
He decided to act as though the hand was not missing andgripped the soldier’s wrist while speaking words of comfort and encouragement to him.
But there was another man in that group of visitors who had even broughthis wife with him to visit the wounded who knew exactly what to do. This man reverently took the soldier’s stump of a handin both of his hands, bowed at the bedside and prayed for him. When he finished the prayer he stood up, bent over thesoldier and kissed him on the head and told him that he loved him.
What a powerful expression of love for one of our wounded heroes! Whatkind of a man would kneel in such humility and submission? It was the wounded man’s Commander-in-Chief, George W. Bush; atrue leader.
This story was told by the SMA at a Soldiers Breakfast held at Red StoneArsenal, AL, and recorded by Chaplain James Henderson, stationed there.
–from Chris T.
BIKERNET MILITIA TRAINING–> “A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you leastexpect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what’s left of your unit.” -Army’s magazine of preventive maintenance.
“Aim towards the Enemy.” -Instruction printed on US Rocket Launcher
“When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend. -U.S. Marine Corps
“Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs areguaranteed to always hit the ground.” -U.S.A.F. Ammo Troop
“If the enemy is in range, so are you.” -Infantry Journal
“It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you justbombed.” -U.S. Air Force Manual
“Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously neverencountered automatic weapons.” -Gen.Mac Arthur
“Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo.” -Infantry Journal
“You, you, and you . . . Panic. The rest of you, come with me.” -U.S.Marine Corp Gunnery Sgt.
“Tracers work both ways.” -U.S. Army Ordinance
“Five second fuses only last three seconds.”-Infantry Journal
“Don’t ever be the first, don’t ever be the last, and don’t ever volunteerto do anything.” -U. S Navy Swabbie
“Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.” -David Hackworth
“If your attack is going too well, you’re walking into anambush.”-Infantry Journal
“No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection.” -Joe Gay
“Any ship can be a minesweeper… once.” -Anon
“Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.” -Unknown MarineRecruit
“Don’t draw fire; it irritates the people around you.” -Your Buddies
“If you see a bomb technician running, follow him.” -U.S.A.F. Ammo Troop
–from Chris T.
LOOKIN’ FOR TIM CONDER–I worked with Tim Conder, a Washington State custom creation Kat, on the Touring Chopper that Jesse James built. I’ve always respected his abilities and may start another bobbed pro-street in his neighborhood. We’d like his input.
Here’s his web site. http://www.armageddontopfuel.com/gallery/destruction.html
–Bandit
DID YOU KNOW–??The first gasoline-powered motorcycle was created in 1885 by German engineer Gottlieb Daimler. The motorcycle had a one-cylinder engine, wooden frame and rode at a top speed of 15 mph.
??The Harley-Davidson company was formed in 1903, when William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson partnered.
??The first Daytona 200 motorcycle race was Jan. 24, on 3.2-miles of beach and road tracks.
??During World War II, 90,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were produced for Allied forces.
??According to the Federal Highway Administration, in 2002 there were about 4.9 million registered motorcycles in the United States. Of those, about 6 percent were in Florida.
-Compiled by News Researcher Tom Rabeno
WE WANT YOUR BLOOD!– On Halloween day, October 31st from 10am-3pm, the Orange County Blood Services Bloodmobile will be at California Harley-Davidson.
If you wish to donate, call Peter at 539 3366 or e-mail Please eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids before donating. Picture ID is required, you need to be at least 135 lbs., and you must not have given blood in the past eight weeks. This blood donation process takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Donors will receive limited edition Orange County Blood Service t-shirts.Trick or treat, giving blood is neat! TWO WHEELED LOVE AFFAIR– NEW SMYRNA BEACH — He fell in love in 1955 in Keansburg, N.J., and boy, did he fall hard. He knew right away the relationship was everything he wanted — perfection. Nothing could ever replace that kind of feeling. N-J/Craig Litten Larry Russell, who bought his first Harley-Davidson when he was 15, surrounds himself with most of his 38 vintage motorcycles, most of them Harley-Davidsons.He hasn’t so much as thought about another, hasn’t lost a hint of that first-date rush of emotion when he talks about it to this day. Larry Russell has owned and loved Harley-Davidsons for 48 years. The barn on his sprawling property off State Road 44 keeps watch over 38 silent but story-telling vintage motorcycles. The love affair has grown right along with his first love, wife Rose Marie, since the first time he held them both. Rose Marie shares her husband’s passion for Harley history, and they’ll both be in the thick of things during Biketoberfest, which officially begins today. The Russell collection won’t be on display, though. Russell might show off one or two for friends, but not everyone appreciates what these bikes mean to Harley-Davidson’s history. –By JENNY ZIMMERMAN –from Rogue BIKETOBERFEST HISTORY–Randy Russell, the New Smyrna Beach Harley-Davidson parts manager who also gets credit for coming up with the Biketoberfest name, sees the value of his father’s collection from more than a son’s perspective. He collects rare bikes, too. The family owned and operated Cycle Care, a parts and repair shop in New Smyrna Beach, for 17 years, and Russell was an instructor at the American Motorcycle Institute for nine years. All along, Larry Russell promised himself — and Rose Marie, who retired in June from Atlantic High School’s Life Skills office — that “someday” he’d be retired and would devote his time to restoring some of the bikes. “Someday’s finally here,” Larry Russell said. “I didn’t know all along that this was for our retirement, but it is. We’re going to do it together; we’ll take one at a time and Rose Marie’s gonna help me. We work well together. She understands me.” The Russells have traveled across North America countless times, recording what he estimates to be about 750,000 miles on Harleys. They ride an FLH Tour Classic now, the first “brand-new” bike purchase for Larry Russell. The couple returned from Nova Scotia this summer with about 158,000 miles on their newest bike, and they aim to put 200,000 on it. –By JENNY ZIMMERMAN –from Rogue THE PARROT–Wanda’s dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman.Since she had to go to work the next day, she told therepairman, “I’ll leave the key under the mat.Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill on the counter, and I’ll mailyou a check.Oh, by the way don’t worry about my bulldog.He won’t bother you.But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances,talk to my parrot!” “I REPEAT, DO NOT TALK TO MY PARROT!!!” When the repairman arrived at Wanda’s apartment the followingday, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking bulldog he hasever seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there onthe carpet watching the repairman go about his work. The parrot, however, drove him nuts the whole time with hisincessant yelling, cursing and name calling. Finally the repairman couldn’t contain himself any longer andyelled,”Shut up, you stupid ugly bird!” To which the parrot replied, “Get him, Spike!” –from Rev CarlR SOMETHING I LEARNED FROM CROSSING PART OF AMERICA– Hi folks, If you watch TV news or read the national newspapers you probably come away with the idea that America is made up of greedy, self-involved, violent people. As we crossed the mid-section of America I found this to be a total misrepresentation of the American people. Maybe we were just lucky….I don’t know, but everyone we met was nice. People came up to us at almost every stop at convenient stores, gas stations and diners. They would ask where we were headed and where we were from. They asked questions about our bikes and about us. Sometimes they approached cautiously. (They watch the evening news as well.) But their curiosity would get the best of them and they would want to know about us. Some of them were travelers like us, but many were local folks stopping to get gas or something to eat. There was the fellow from Tennessee we met at our over-night stop in Missouri. When he read my nickname on my windshield he disappeared into his room and returned moments later with a cold beer and said “Here Santa, for all the nice stuff you brought me all those Christmas’s.” He then called his wife out and said, “Look dear this is what Santa looks like when it is not Christmas.” There was the couple in Kansas that invited us to their place to put our bikes in their garage to ride out a storm. There was the 85-year-old woman in a convenient store in Missouri who had ridden her own motorcycle all over the U. S. and Canada. Her only regret was that she could no longer ride. There was a farmer in Nebraska that was worried that if they didn’t get some rain soon he would have to plow under his corn crop and was surprised at how we stood up to the heat….the rancher in Colorado who was amazed that we had ridden our bikes so far….the two couples we met in Sturgis that were from Nebraska returning from a trip to Yellowstone in their RV. There were the bikers from Detroit that Dale and I met at a little gas station in the middle of nowhere in northern South Dakota (we were headed for North Dakota) that brought us two beers…seems there were four of them and they had a six pack. But most of the encounters were with non-motorcycling folks. There were literally dozens of these types of incidents. And something else struck me……their departing comments were almost always “You fellows be careful and have a great trip” and sometimes with a wistful look in their eyes “I wish I was going with you”. Children in passing cars would wave or give us the thumbs up, sometimes the adults would too. Teenagers would whoop and holler at us from the sidewalks and old men would regale us with stories of their adventures. Americans have not lost their romanticism. We were strangers traveling unprotected in the elements and that seemed to strike a cord with the folks we met. America still loves an adventurer. Americans are surprisingly open and friendly people, especially on the back roads. The heart of America is still strong and its lifeblood is still freedom. Ride safe and have fun…but ride, IT’S A WRAP–Have a great time in Daytona, if you’re rolling out. If not come back to Bikernet often. More stories, Cyril Huze feature, How To Build A Bike In Nine Days and more is headed this way. 
Staff Writer
Staff Writer, Daytona News Journal
Terry (Santa Claws) Royse
I even had the priviledge to speak to the master craftsman, Ron Finch, recently. He’s still making door knobs out of cam shafts. I just made a deck railing out of springer risers, but he’s the master. I am but an intern under his austier tutelage. There’s always something to learn and a woman to touch.
Life ain’t bad.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
