Born to Ride #263 - April 2026

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SUNDAY APRIL 26TH

THE DREAM

As a 10-year-old boy growing up in Jackson, Mich. all Dennis Campbell wanted was a Schwinn bicycle. Little did he know that 56 years ago at a time when the troubled Apollo 13 mission to the moon was launched and the world celebrated its inaugural Earth Day, he would literally move the Earth and unveil his entrepreneurial spirit that has spanned the majority of his life and carved him into a motorcycle industry stalwart as the founder of Bikers Dream, an after-market Harley-Davidson business that he took public in 1995. You see, his mom, Priscilla, now 86, was more interested in Campbell honing his piano skills during the “Me Decade.” Tickling the ivories was, in her mind, a more erstwhile endeavor in 1970 than popping wheelies on the road. But alas, she said if he could raise enough money himself, then he could indeed purchase his dream bike. The wheels in his creative mind started spinning for the first time and he figured out where the rubber would meet the road on his way to reaching his childhood goal: earthworms.

Campbell knew that fishing in the numerous inland lakes and the Grand River near his hometown was popular, and helping anglers nab walleye, largemouth bass, panfish, and northern pike would be the key to his successful first business. So, he began watering the ground and venturing out at night to collect as many nightcrawlers as possible. He subsequently sold them for $2 a dozen. As he recalls, business got so good that bait and tackle companies wanted to buy 1,000 dozen. Add to that, he collected bottles and cans and cashed them in for their

10-cent deposits. It was wide open throttle time and he was in for that Schwinn!

From there, Campbell’s father, Gene, introduced him to a mini bike – a little Rupp Roadster and he became hooked on the thrill of bikes. He was born to ride. Piano lessons became fodder for burning rubber for as much time as the Michigan sunlight allowed for after school until dusk. But for this budding tycoon, the winters between Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor were becoming too brutal and working for the railroad company like dad just wasn’t going to cut it. Besides, the photos in his father’s motorcycle magazines were becoming more enticing than a pinup centerfold. Gene encouraged Dennis to head West as a young man in search of a custom chopper or two.

THE DREAM WAS BORN FOR THIS BURGEONING YOUNG MAN OF JUST 21

But before we get into how Campbell built Bikers Dream into a franchise that was traded on the NASDAQ after taking a long trip to Long Beach when he had long hair and longed for the California sun, let’s fast forward to his current endeavor: Bikers Dream Music. By 1996, his California dreaming days were over and he relocated once again, this time to the Tampa Bay area. With money in his wallet nowadays, instead of copious credit card debt in excess of the $100,000 that started this whole thing, he’s ready to launch what he calls the first all- inone digital ecosystem for the motorcycling community. Think Facebook Marketplace meets Eventbrite meets Hotels.com meets Spotify and then some, for all things motorcycles. Campbell envisions more than 100,000 bikes for sale alongside all the accessories he wanted back in the day and couldn’t find, from leathers and boots to helmets and pipes. Biker friendly hotels, campgrounds and dealerships will be listed alongside upcoming events and races that transcend just Daytona and Sturgis. Charities will be listed too, including Go Fund Me pages for injured bikers or anybody who knows

anybody affected with things like cancer. And it will all be FREE for everybody.

“I want to make Bikers Dream Music a fun thing,” Campbell said. “I’ll have bloggers, influencers and podcasters on board and we will make a huge splash. Bikers will have everything they want at their fingertips.”

On the Bikers Dream Music app, you can join in on the beta testing it’s open to your input at www.bikersdreammusic.app/, you will be able to plan trips, date other bikers and most importantly for the music angle, create your own musical “scrapbook” of memories via a personal song replete with your own sound, story, and swag that includes an album cover, printable T-shirts, patches and bandanas. Campbell’s song that inspired this angle is called “All the Way to California” and it summarizes his life/business story in 5 minutes and 7 seconds of heart-wrenching father and son dreams turned reality with lyrics like “a dream once spoken, now complete. This song will be able to be heard on You Tube at the Bikers Dream Music channel.

Now, rewind to that dream. Back in time when Campbell knew that dad’s railroad work was a crazy train for him and Michigan winters were brutal.

“January’s were freezing,” he recalls. “I got with a friend and headed out west all the way to the California sun in a beat-up old Chevy Impala.”

They each had about $500 to their names and their plan was to do 80 MPH heading down Interstate 80 West until the road ran out. After reaching the Pacific and sleeping in the car for a bit, Campbell knew he needed to find work. So, like any blue-collar getter done type of dude, he answered a couple classified ads in the newspaper – debating between selling Toyotas or Pontiacs. He was familiar with the Michigan brand of vehicle, but had never seen a foreign Toyota until he reached California. They were everywhere, so he figured he could sell those easier – if he cleaned up his look a smidge, and had his mom mail out his church clothes that could accommodate one of those $3.99 clip on ties. It didn’t take long for him to become the dealership’s top salesman and start spinning more wheels in his entrepreneurial cerebrum.

“Why should I do this work for someone else when I can go buy a car and sell it myself?” he thought.

So, he quit his job, bought an old Volkswagen Bug and painted it. It was sold within hours for a profit. One car became two, then four, then eight and then he learned about inventory shortage and was flying to NoCal to send vehicles back in SoCal to keep up with the demand. Say what? Car sales morphed into accessory sales then a motor plant followed by a

“He eventually settled on a 1987 Softail custom Harley that became fondly known as his ”BLUE BIKE”..”

machine shop to supply enough crankshafts to support his motor sales. Due to lazy workers at the parts store leaving an invoice in with the cases of hubcaps he purchased he learned how to cut out the middlemen just by spending a minimum of $2,500 in orders directly with the warehouses. Duh. He killed it and made his first $1 million before he could legally rent a car without any red tape at 25.

Motorcycles were next for Campbell, who headed out West in the first place partially in search of his dad’s dream bike – which he ultimately delivered to Gene appropriately enough via train boxcar on the day dad retired from the railroad company. Campbell also wanted a bike for himself. He eventually settled on a 1987 Softail custom Harley that became fondly known as his “blue bike” and famously known for sitting on Wallstreet when he went public with his Harley-Davidson aftermarket parts business, Bikers Dream, not “Hawg Parts” as he originally wanted to name it, because, well Harley frowned on that idea. And it was all due to the desire to have loud pipes on his bike. The local Harley parts guy “Red” was “being a dick” as he recalls. Campbell said he was making great money and tried “retiring” at 25 after letting his auto parts partner buy him out. He had no intention of building Bikers Dream until this poor treatment. “I figured that I’m not the only guy with a $10,000 bike that wanted a set of pipes and no place friendly to buy them”.

Throw in a few lucrative road shows he organized with “Dream Wheels” a branded big rig semi tractor trailer at biker events (where he had no problem selecting prime front and center locations even if it required bulldozing down houses just to park there for a few days and sell merch) “ I remember in 96 when we were in the location now called Main Street Station next to Boothill Saloon 6 out of the 10 days we had terrible storms but still ran 165,000 people thru our store and did millions in bike and parts sales”. Currently, Campbell lives in his working warehouse with his 2 pups in Pinellas Country, Fla. He still owns a few bikes that he rides daily and says he no longer desires the big mansion on the gulf beach. Still though, his crib does feature an incredible sound system and the games like pool, darts, and pinball with a complete bar for friends to enjoy. BTW he don’t care for the term “Man Cave” he prefers “it’s just a cool friggin’ hangout.”

Campbell 30 years later calls his latest venture Soooo Dammmm Cooolll and he wants to “blow motorcycle enthusiasts out of the water, by putting everything that’s out there in one app.” And if you consider his journey from red wigglers to rotational spheres, why wouldn’t it be?

“It’s Been a fun ride,” he said.

We’re not just launching an app—we’re building a scalable lifestyle platform that blends media, commerce, community, and real-world experiences into a single destination. We directly provide relevant content to a relevant audience.

Bikers Dream Music is where the motorcycle community lives, connects, and creates—on the road and beyond.

Bikers —(bik-erz): n. -- a lifestyle choice that gets instilled in individuals from early youth all the way through life’s end.

Dream — (drem): n. – a fanciful vision, a fond hope or aspiration, to imagine as possible that which realizes one’s fondest hopes; ideal. Music — (‘mju:zik): n -- a very powerful force much like love, that’s why we named our company Bikers Dream Music.

Bikers Dream Music is building the first all-in-one digital ecosystem for the motorcycling community.

It’s SOOOO DAMMMM COOL we would really like to show you a sneak peek in this ad But we can’t…. IT’S TOP SECRET!

However, we would greatly appreciate and value your opinion and, we can do this for you today.

If you would please visit either the QR Code or the website and

when you leave your name we will place you on our Beta Test List.

This will give you the First Opportunity to see to see everything before it’s released to the Public

www.bikersdream.app

IN LOVING MEMORY

AN OLD FASHIONED GOOD TIME IN THE “GORGE”

When we talk about some of the best areas to ride in the mountains of Central Appalachia — and where to find our Best Free BOA GPSEnabled Trail Routes — one destination always lands in our Top 5 for good reason: Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

The Gorge isn’t just on our list because of the incredible riding. It’s there because of the natural wonders and unforgettable scenery that surround every curve. This is Daniel Boone National Forest — more than 708,000 acres spanning 21 Kentucky counties. Known for rugged Cumberland Plateau terrain, towering sandstone cliffs, natural arches, and abundant wildlife, there is simply nothing like it anywhere in the world — and that includes the riding.

Red River Gorge itself is a 29,000-acre canyon system featuring more than 100 natural sandstone arches, world-class climbing routes, scenic hiking, the Red River, and some of the most unique backroads anywhere in America. Located near Slade and just minutes from Beattyville, it draws more than half a million visitors each year.

And then there’s our Eye of the Dragon Trail Route, created by Man O War HarleyDavidson, and the legendary Nada Tunnel — a one-lane, 900-foot-long rock tunnel carved through solid sandstone in the early 1900s. Locals call it the “Gateway to the Gorge,” and if you’ve never ridden through it on two wheels, you’re missing one of the most unforgettable motorcycle moments you can have. As your headlight cuts through the darkness and you emerge into daylight surrounded by towering cliffs, you immediately understand why this area sits high on our list year after year.

For us, the real magic begins when the engines fire up.

HILLBILLY BIKE FEST 2026 – BEATTYVILLE, KY

Each season, the Appalachian Motorcycle Group rolls into Beattyville to celebrate our

roots, our riding, and our region — and 2026 marks the 5th Annual Hillbilly Bike Fest for the Children of Shriners Hospital with our friends in Beattyville.

Beattyville is a small Appalachian town known as the “Heart of the Kentucky River.” Surrounded by steep hills and deep heritage, it represents the resilience and warmth of Eastern Kentucky. The town hosts beloved events like the Bourbon & Moonshine Festival, the Woolly Worm Festival, and the Appalachian Memories & Storytelling Festival.

It’s also home to the one-of-a-kind Backwoods Moonshine Museum, founded by Donnie Benton and Teresa Comer Mays — better known as the “Beattyville Hillbillies” from Discovery’s Moonshiners. Their museum proudly celebrates Appalachian distilling history and stands as a bonus stop along Kentucky’s Moonshine Trail.

On May 15–16, Main Street Beattyville transforms into a true Appalachian throwdown

at the hoedown. You’ll find live music echoing through the hills, local craftsmen, mountainmade food, regional vendors, and motorcycles lining both sides of town and throughout the Gorge. Fan favorites like the REAL General Lee car and Bigfoot make appearances, and your favorite Moonshiners are part of the celebration. Experience deep-rooted Appalachian history from some of our region’s best storytellers, including third- and fourthgeneration moonshiners.

This festival isn’t just about celebrating culture — it’s about making thunder in these hills for children in need.

AMG and TopCoat Products are once again rallying for a cause — supporting the Children of Shriners Hospital. As we celebrate five years of Hillbilly Bike Fest, we’re bringing back

FryDaddy’s Old School Bike Show for Charity and the uniquely Appalachian “Shiners for Shriners” Charity Ride along the Moonshine Trail.

THE RIDING AROUND THE GORGE

The event may bring you here — but the riding will keep you coming back.

Moonshine Trail – Red River Gorge Run

A legendary route packed with mountain curves, rich history, and authentic distillery stops along the way.

Ride the River Dragon KY - A 40-mile stretch zipping along the cool waters of the Kentucky River toward Buckhorn State Park — just as good in either direction.

Ridge Runner Road 587 - A 23-mile canopycovered thrill ride once perfect for moonshiners needing a quick getaway. Tight curves and pure mountain attitude.

Coaltrain 421 KY - A 130-mile journey through Eastern Kentucky’s coal heritage — riding roads that once fueled America’s industrial rise in the “Deep Dark Hills of Eastern Kentucky.”

These are just a few of the many routes available in this area. Altogether, our system features over 5,000 GPS-enabled miles of what we proudly call:

“THE BEST RIDING IN THE U.S.! PERIOD!”

All FREE to download right now in our communities on REVER.

All created by local riders with support from our local communities.

All mapped across Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Isn’t it about time you explored what we call the “Last Unexplored Frontier on the East Coast” and the Old Coal Belt?

Join us May 15–16 for the 5th Annual Hillbilly Bike Fest as part of the Beattyville Appalachian Memories and Storytelling Festival 2026. Want to know more? Come see us at the 85th Annual Daytona Bike Week at the TopCoat Products Trailer at Destination Daytona and grab your Hillbilly Bike Fest 2026 helmet sticker while supplies last.

The Appalachian Mountains are calling you. Will you answer?

— Jay Fryman (FryDaddy) Founder, Appalachian Motorcycle Group LET’S RIDE APPALACHIA!

The Brotherhood We Traded Away

There was a time—not as distant as it feels—when brotherhood wasn’t something you talked about, it was something you lived. It showed up in grease-stained hands, shared silence, and the kind of loyalty that didn’t need to be announced. It wasn’t curated. It wasn’t filtered. It simply existed, raw and unpolished, built through time, hardship, and trust. Today, that kind of brotherhood feels like it’s slipping through our fingers, traded away piece by piece for something far more hollow: commercialism and vanity.

Walk into almost any space that once stood for camaraderie—whether it’s the jobsite, the gym, the open road, or even a neighborhood bar—and you’ll notice the shift. The conversations aren’t as deep. The connections don’t run as strong. Instead, everything feels transactional. What can you offer me? How do you make me look? Brotherhood has been replaced with branding. We’ve become curators of our own image, constantly managing how we’re perceived instead of who we actually are. Social media, for all its advantages, has poured gasoline on this fire. Moments that used to be shared between brothers are now staged for an audience. Achievements aren’t just milestones anymore—they’re content. Even loyalty has been repackaged into something performative, displayed publicly but often lacking substance behind closed doors.

Commercialism feeds off this shift. It tells us that identity can be bought—that the right gear, the right bike, the right watch, or the right lifestyle will make us part of something meaningful. But real brotherhood was never about what you owned. It was about who

stood beside you when things went bad. It was about the guy who showed up without being asked, not the one who showed up for the photo.

Vanity, too, has taken its toll. There’s an obsession now with appearance over character, with looking strong instead of being dependable. Brotherhood requires vulnerability—the willingness to admit when you’re struggling, to lean on someone else, and to carry weight for them when they can’t carry it themselves. And more so recognizing when a Brother or sister needs help and giving it without being asked without wondering what’s in it for you. Vanity rejects that. It tells us to hide weakness, to compete instead of connect, to prioritize ego over unity.

“Brotherhood requires vulnerability— the willingness to admit when you’re struggling, to lean on someone else, and to carry weight for them when they can’t carry it themselves”

The result is a quieter, more isolating world. Men stand next to each other but don’t really know each other. They share spaces but not burdens. And when things fall apart—as they inevitably do—there’s no foundation to

fall back on. No brotherhood to catch them. Brotherhood is deeper than just standing around a bar drinking for the sake of fitting in or trying to be the loudest voice in the room just for attention. We all have seen it. But here’s the truth: it’s not gone. It’s just buried.

Underneath the noise of marketing and the pressure to perform, the need for real connection still exists. You see glimpses of it in moments that can’t be faked— when someone drops everything to help a friend, when a group rallies around one of their own in a crisis, when words aren’t necessary because presence says enough. When Brothers step up and stop another from getting on his Bike when he has partied a little to hard so he can live another day. Rebuilding brotherhood doesn’t require a grand movement. It requires a return to the basics. Show up. Be honest. Put the phone down. Stop performing and start participating. Invest in people, not appearances. Choose loyalty over likes and just sometimes stop and listen to what others got to say instead of doing all the talking. Because in the end, no brand, no image, and no amount of attention can replace the feeling of knowing you’re not standing alone.

You would be surprised what a difference it makes to some people by just showing up and being there for them without any personal expectations. I miss the old ways. Does any of this make sense? Do you think true Brotherhood is still out there or are we just going through the motions? Think about it. Be safe, enjoy your lives and possibly, see you out there.

— Nefarious James

Castles and motorcycles seem like a natural fit together. When I think of castles, I think of fairytales, medieval times, and horses. And of course, steel horses too. Riding your motorcycle to the various castles or castle like buildings in Florida, and traveling down scenic back roads to get there seems like time well spent. This route that I put together, is for you to ride at your own pace. It is not a structured guided ride but one to be enjoyed whenever you feel like taking off and exploring. This ride is part two of a

was selected to house his collection, and became the first Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

3) Castillo de San Marcos is a fort like castle built in 1672. It is one of the oldest forts in the United States. It is part of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Open to the public, you can explore this great landmark.

4) Zorayda Castle was built in 1883. This is a Spanish style castle, housing artwork and furniture from the era. It is open to the public. For more info call 904-829-9887.

miss Solomon’s Castle.

The route starts out in St. Augustine on the east coast. From there you will travel to Ona in central Florida. I have taken the time to make sure your travels are by back road, and no freeways. All roads are paved. Scenic and slow, instead of fast and furious. I hope you enjoy this ride that will eventually end up in my new book, “Scenic Rides To Florida Destinations.” It will soon be available with all my other scenic riding guide books at www.finzfinds. com. Keep current with new books, ride

three-part ride that will be in my new book. This section covers six castle like structures and goes from St. Augustine FL to Ona FL. Most castles are in the St. Augustine area, so I figured this would be the best place to start.

1) Castle Ottis was built in the late 1980s to early 1990s. The castle was built to resemble a medieval castle from over 1,000 years ago. It is available for private tours by appointment. For more info call 904-824-3274

2) Castle Warden (Ripley’s Believe It or Not!) was built in the late 1880s. It was turned into a hotel and visited by Robert S. Ripley in the late 1940s. It eventually

5) Fort Mantanzas Castle was built in the early 1740s by the Spanish. Its purpose was to guard the Mantanzas Inlet. It is part of the Fort Mantanzas National Monument. Open to the public, you must take a short 5-minute ferry ride to get to the castle.

6) My favorite castle though, happens to be in central Florida. It is Solomon’s Castle in Ona. Howard Solomon built his castle to showcase all his unusual and brilliant sculptures. There are daily tours, but you can still enjoy the grounds without taking the tour. There is also an outstanding “Boat in the Mote” restaurant with home cooked meals, where you can dine in a boat like structure, or on the outdoor patio. If you only plan to see one of the castles, don’t

destinations, road condition updates, and all ride related info on my Facebook page “Finz Finds Scenic Motorcycle Rides.”

Photo credits: Castle Otttis in St. Augustine - Image Source

Castle Warden in St. Augustine - Flickr/ Tim O’Brien

Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine“Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CCBY-SA

Zorayda Castle in St. Augustine - Image Source - Photo taken by J, Fort Mantanzas Castle in St. Augustine - Image Source by Intergalactiz9 Solomon’s Castle in OnaSteve “Finz” Finzelber

Until next time rememberto stay in the wind, —Steve “Finz” Finzelber

Castle Ride From St Augustine to Ona

(229 mi 5 hr 7 min)

From Castle Ottis (103 3rd St, St Augustine, FL)

Head northeast on 3rd St (207 ft)

Turn right onto Florida A1A S/A1A (2.7 mi)

Turn right onto Florida A1A S/A1A (1.6 m)

Turn left onto Magnolia Ave (0.3 mi)

Turn right onto Myrtle Ave (0.1 mi)

Turn left onto A1A/San Marco Ave (0.5 mi)

Stop at Castle Warden (Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!) (19 San Marco Ave, St Augustine, FL)

Head southeast on A1A (0.2 mi)

Turn left (0.1 mi)

Turn left (164 ft)

Stop at Castillo de San Marcos (1 S Castillo Dr, St Augustine, FL)

Head northwest toward A1A (423 ft)

Turn right onto A1A/S Castillo Dr (0.2 mi)

Turn left onto W Castillo Dr (0.3 mi)

Turn left onto Riberia St (0.5 mi)

Turn left onto King St (0.2 mi)

Stop at Zorayda Castle (83 King St, St Augustine, FL)

Head east on King St toward Granada St (0.3 mi)

Slight right toward Florida A1A S/A1A (207 ft)

Slight right onto Florida A1A S (13.6 mi)

Turn right (0.1 mi)

Turn right (197 ft)

Stop at Fort Mantanzas Castle (8635 A1A S, St Augustine, FL)

Head northeast (197 ft)

Turn left toward Florida A1A S (0.1 mi)

Turn right onto Florida A1A S (18.1 mi))

Turn right onto FL-100 W/Moody Blvd (8.2 mi)

Continue onto FL-11 S/W Moody Blvd (18.2 mi)

Turn right onto FL-40 W (16.2 mi)

Turn left County Rd 445A (4.1 mi)

Turn left onto FL-19 S (19.2 mi)

Turn right Lakeshore Dr (1.8 mi)

Continue Lake Eustis Dr (1.4 mi)

Turn right E Burleigh Blvd (1.0 mi)

left FL-19 S/N Duncan Dr (20.1 mi)

Turn left onto Crittenden St (0.3 mi)

Continue onto FL-33 S (21.3 mi)

At the traffic circle, take 2nd exit FL-33 S/Commonwealth Ave (5.5 mi)

Turn right onto Berkley Rd (8.7 mi)

left onto US-92 E (0.3 mi)

Right CR-655/Recker Hwy (0.3 mi)

Turn right onto Thornhill Rd (6.2 mi)

Turn right Spirit Lake Rd (1.8 mi)

Turn right onto US-17 S (26.9 mi)

Turn right onto FL-62 W (7.0 mi)

Turn left onto 663 S (15.7 mi)

Right to stay on 663 S (0.2 mi)

Turn right onto Co Rd 665 (4.5 mi)

Right onto Solomon Rd (0.7 mi)

Stop at Solomon’s Castle (4533 Solomon Rd, Ona, FL

After all these years, I’ve always been blessed to be able to ride a motorcycle .. my first motorcycle was when I was young, and from then on I realized it was more than a passion... it was a “necessity” to feed my dream of freedom ... to feel the wind and realize how important it was to travel on a motorcycle.

Now I dedicate myself to working on this legacy, thinking about how important it is for my freedom... in recent years I’ve enjoyed ride in Florida and experiencing the motorcycle culture. This is a sample of my latest work: a 2008 Harley custom with a 1200cc Sportster engine, an 18/300 rear tire, and a 21-inch front tire.

After more than four decades riding motorcycles, I’ve come to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter what brand or engine size you ride... what matters is feeling the freedom of having wings. For all those who believe in freedom, this is a true way to experience it. God bless every rider and ride always safe.

Locked Down Prison Poetry

THE REAL DEAL BIKER DESTINATION!

RIDE OVER AND SEE WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT!

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT BIKER BASH COMING SOON!

The Woolly Mechanic of Pikeville

The road has a funny way of teaching lessons you didn’t know you needed.

Back in 1977 I was traveling through Tennessee in my decorated VW bus with my faithful dog, Superdog. It felt like the trip of a lifetime—until I heard a strange clicking coming from the engine. One glance at the dashboard told the story. The oil light was glowing like a warning beacon.

I pulled to the side of the road and climbed underneath. Oil was dripping everywhere. My heart sank. Superdog stayed behind to guard the bus while I set out on foot looking for help.

A passing driver gave me a lift to a small garage in Pikeville. Inside I met the woolliest mechanic I had ever seen—hair, beard, and grease all mixed into one impressive specimen of mountain craftsmanship. Without saying much, he grabbed his rusty tow truck and helped me haul the wounded bus back to town.

While I waited for the engine to be repaired, I did what any traveling sign painter would do—I went looking for work. Soon I was painting storefronts, lettering trucks, and making friends around town. The local rescue squad even became a regular hangout.

But my woolly mechanic never seemed to get around to fixing the engine.

Fortunately, one of my new friends from the rescue squad stepped in. He pulled the engine apart in their garage and discovered the problem—a dropped valve had shattered a

With a little ingenuity and some replacement parts, the motor came back to life.

Then something happened that has stayed with me ever since.

One morning I saw the rescue squad ambulance being towed into the station, its front end smashed flat. My friend had been injured during a late-night emergency run when the ambulance struck a large object sitting in the middle of the road.

In that moment my stomach dropped.

A few nights earlier I had watched someone shove a dumpster into the highway as a joke.

I never said a word about it.

That moment taught me something important about life on the road—and life in general. Adventure is exciting, freedom is intoxicating, but responsibility rides along with us whether we acknowledge it or not.

Soon my engine was repaired and Superdog and I rolled out of Pikeville, heading south toward warmer weather and the next chapter of the journey.

But the lesson stayed with me.

Because every rider, every traveler, every road wanderer eventually learns the same truth:

Freedom feels best when it travels with a little wisdom in the saddle. Be Good, Be Well, and Ride Safe. — Dave “Letterfly” Knoderer

BIKER Movie Review

The iconic 1966 film featuring Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, and a cast of hundreds, is one of the most well-known biker exploitation films ever produced. In this classic film the “Angels” a California Motorcycle Club, travel across the state to retrieve a stolen motorcycle belonging to one of the clubs members “the Loser.” Heavenly Blues (Fonda) is the charismatic club president. At times he seems to have to ‘baby-sit’ his troop of fun-loving boozers and druggies.

This one is a favorite of mine, because the producers actually used real Harley-Davidson ‘choppers’ and actually cast some of the real members of the Hell’s Angels. In short, it is one of those films that give bikers in general a ‘bad’ name, but those of us who really know the true way of the biker lifestyle will find it entertaining, and at times hilarious.

The Angels ride through the desert to Mecca, California to look for the Loser’s stolen motorcycle. They accuse a group of Mexicans in a repair shop of stealing the motorcycle when the Loser finds his brake pedal on a workbench. After some mild insults and accusations naturally, a fight breaks out in the shop and the ‘taco benders’ as Fonda calls them wind up on the losing end. The police

arrive, chasing the Angels on foot, and the Loser escapes on a parked police motorcycle. After a chase on mountain roads, one of the officers shoots the Loser in the back, and he later ends in a local hospital.

Blues leads a small group of Angels to rescue the Loser and they subsequently “bust him out” of the hospital. In the melee a nurse is accosted by one of the Angels who knocks her out to keep the cops from discovering their presence in the hospital. The nurse later identifies Blues as one of the men she saw however; the audience knows that it was thanks to Blues’ intervention the assault stopped short of rape. Blues rebukes the member just before the cops notice their ‘suspect’ is gone. Later, the Loser dies at the Angels’ local watering hole from his injuries. The Angels move his body to an undertaker’s office-he demands cash “plus tax.” Using a forged death certificate the Angels arrange a funeral at a tiny church in the Loser’s rural hometown. During the service, Blues steps up to the minister and says those famous words “We just want to be free. Free to ride our machines without a hassle from the man. …” But when Blues says they just want to have fun, the Angels turn the service into a major party. The Angels remove the Loser from his Nazi flag-draped casket, sit him up and place a joint in his mouth. Meanwhile they also knock out the minister, tie him up and place him in the casket.

Later, the Angels proceed to the Sequoia Grove cemetery to bury the Loser. The procession of noisy bikers gets the attention of the locals, who all gather to see the spectacle. One of the local kids throws a rock at the Angels and naturally yet another fight breaks out. This interruption prevents burying the Loser, and as police sirens wail in the background everyone scatters. One of the members begs Blues to go, but he refuses and tells his girl to leave with another member of the gang. This is where the other most remembered phrase comes in, as Blues sighs “there’s nowhere to go.”

The last of the group leaves and Blues picks up a shovel and returns to the grave to bury the Loser.

Just as I was going to call all my boozing buddies over to watch this flick once again, a knock came at the door. I opened it to see a mailman with an overnight package. I signed for it and opened it up, expecting something good. It was just a DVD and a note from the editor of this magazine demanding an immediate review of The Twilight Zone Episode #138 from 1964. This was disappointing news.

In this short film a group of ‘bikers’ if you want to call them that are actually aliens from another planet sent to earth to infiltrate a small town. The local folks actually become fond of this odd cast, and befriend them. Little did they know the space-bikers were there to poison their water supply!

I dunno … I suppose that it was getting late and I drifted off to sleep somewhere after the giant eyeball in the 1950s TV screen requested them to continue with the plan of destruction. This particular episode albeit cute, doesn’t really rate very high up there in the ‘biker exploitation’ world. I guess that’s just because it only exists in The Twilight Zone.

Bikers Dream Music is building the first all-in-one digital ecosystem for the motorcycling community. It’s SOOOO DAMMMM COOL we would really like to show you a sneak peek in this ad But we can’t….IT’S TOP SECRET!

However, we would greatly appreciate and value your opinion and, we can do this for you today.

If you would please visit either the QR Code or the website and when you leave your name we will place you on our Beta Test List.

This will give you the First Opportunity to see to see everything before it’s released to the Public

Bikers Dream Music is building the first all-in-one digital ecosystem for the motorcycling community. It’s SOOOO DAMMMM COOL we would really like to show you a sneak peek in this ad But we can’t….IT’S TOP SECRET!

However, we would greatly appreciate and value your opinion and, we can do this for you today.

If you would please visit either the QR Code or the website and when you leave your name we will place you on our Beta Test List.

This will give you the First Opportunity to see to see everything before it’s released to the Public

Craven Moorehead

Notable Quotations and Interesting Facts

Regardingfoodandbeverage: Every time I hear the word sugar, I get a lump in my throat. ~ Groucho Marx

OZ and JC do a radio show every Monday in the afternoon. Over the weekend, OZ had visited a friend’s house for a BBQ and was subsequently bitten by a dog. This was a topic of conversation at the top of their radio show. Naturally, a lot of people were requesting songs with the word ‘Dog’ in them. Later in the afternoon, via the chat module, ‘Trailer Trashy’ requested “Dog Eat Dog” by Adam and the Ants. So OZ says, “I wonder where the drugs are that made this crap sound good back in the ‘80s”! So TT fired back “I think you can get them at the corner of Fletcher and Nebraska Avenue.” I’m not a drug user, but for some reason I couldn’t remember that Adam and the Ants did that song. I guess research is everything, but for some people (such as

including the horrors of South Korea which brings us to the next topic. Remember that truth is stranger (funnier) than fiction, and everything contained in this article are actual facts. Including the ‘Fake News’ segment which follows.

The other day, I ventured out to the dollar store with my roommate to purchase some groceries and other household items. In my cart were 3 cans of tuna (brand name redacted) and the cashier stated that there was a recall on this particular brand. She said, “this tuna has been recalled because it may contain human remains.” So I replied, “I was going to feed it to my cats so I don’t think it would matter too much.” Immediately I started into my rant mimicking Charlton Heston hollering out “Soylent Green is people” and other off-color remarks while holding up the green tuna can including “It’s people!” and “It tastes like Uncle Ben!” over and over again, causing a bit of laughter in the check-out line and trust me, every day is obviously an adventure for me!

myself) it seems redundant and somewhat boring. Actually, Ted Nugent does that song but Adam and the Ants have their own unique take on it. …

JC comes into the shop from the radio studio and in the middle of idle conversation he tells me “you can buy a breathalyzer at Walgreens” to which I replied, “Why would you want one anyhow, you don’t drink!” He just laughs but the thought of purchasing a personal breathalyzer intrigued me for a moment. But only for a moment because should I purchase one of those things, I’m pretty sure that no matter what time of the day or night I were to use it, it would likely go from 0 to 60 faster than a Top Fuel dragster – except when I’m driving or riding a motorcycle – at that time I am sober and going faster than the aforementioned dragster.

Naturally, after the show we were discussing everything regarding dogs,

When I arrived home, my roommate looked up the ‘story’ regarding the tuna and discovered that it was totally fake. For those of you that don’t remember the film ‘Soylent Green’ here is a short synopsis: Soylent Green is a 1973 American science fiction thriller film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Charlton Heston. Curiously to me, the film was depicting life in 2022 (a scant 5 years from now) where the 20th century’s industrialization leaves the world overcrowded, polluted and suffering global warming due to “the greenhouse effect” which causes me to think that perhaps former President Obama may have seen the movie. Anyhow, it’s still out there if you want to see it. Or, you can just go shopping with me if you dar. …

There is no sounder purchase for a tired and depressed man than a bottle of good Burgandy.~Anon:From‘Hades!theladies.’

Until next month, speed safely!

MEET KENZIE

Hello, my name is Kenzie. I live in Tampa, Florida. I’m a college student who loves staying busy, whether that’s through school or being involved in athletics. My dream is to create a career that allows me to help others while still doing what I love. What I like about motorcycles is the sense of freedom and the excitement. They are bold, fast, and a little unpredictable.

Bike: 2018 Harley Davidson Breakout

Paint: Tony at Soft Touch New Port Richey

Bike Owner: Kenny Scott

Location: Cotherman Distilling Co , Dunedin, FL

“MEN’S RULES VS WOMEN’S RULES”

It’s April my Born to Ride friends and you know what that means? Daytona Bike Week is over and Leesburg Bikefest is coming up. I also had my peeps from the north come down and visit me for spring break and Easter.

Yes, it’s that time of year for us Floridians to get a lot of visitors and with our great weather, there are plenty of things to do and see. This year for Easter I took them to the beach where we all enjoyed the sun and sand. I was holding 2 of them until they jumped off my talons and tried to enjoy the surf but that didn’t last long. They turned into mushy marshmallow eggs soon after…

Mike blurts out, “hey bird brain who in their right mind would let 2 cute fluffy sugary peeps get near some water? You must’ve been cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs at the time. I had to go get those yellow and blue dots out of the wet sand before the sky vultures dove in and plucked them into a colored blob.”

I cackle, “well my featherless father, those two that you scraped out of the sand are the black birds of the family and were stowaways on the trip. I got a cackle-gram from my cousin saying they are quackin’ crazy and somehow snuck out of the flock and into a carry-on so, I really think they won’t be missed!”

Mike babbles, “that’s good to know my frequent flyer friend. I can’t read your bird brain but it would’ve been nice had you told me beforehand.” I squawk, “you mean, just like it was nice when people in Daytona answered

your questions about men’s rules vs women’s rules and you got direct answers about why things happen? You are a walking, talking and sometimes smiling proof that geniuses have limits.”

Mike states, “coming from you I should take that as a compliment but I’m not sure. I was just trying to get peoples’ opinions about that very subject as they were coming up to you perched on the scoot and taking your picture. It was fun and enlightening as I broke out my pen and pad then started taking notes about each genders opinion on man rules vs women rules. From the guys I got many rules and from one woman I got THE rules so I’ll start with the men’s:

1. First and foremost, ask for what you want. We are not mind readers and let me be clear on this one. Subtle hints are useless. Strong hints cause gray areas. Obvious hints are 5050 at best. JUST SAY IT!

2. If something we said can be taken two different ways and one of those ways makes you feel sad, angry or look stupid, we mean the other one!

3. Anything we said or did 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments and actions are null and void after seven days. And crying is blackmail!

4. When in conversation and especially during an argument, yes and no are perfectly acceptable answers. No gray areas here!

5. If you ask us a question you don’t want an answer to, then you can expect an answer you don’t want to hear!

6. If you have to ask us anything while the TV is on, please wait until the commercials!

7. When you just come up and ask us what we are thinking, be prepared to talk about subjects like NASCAR, football, hunting, motorcycles and why girls just out of the blue ask guys what they are thinking!

8. If we ask you ‘what is wrong’ and you say ‘nothing’ that will be the end of that. We will act like nothing is wrong. We know you are lying, but it’s just not worth the hassle to find out what’s wrong because we know it never ends up good!

9. If you come to us with a problem, expect us to give you suggestions on how to solve it.

That’s what we do. If you’re looking for sympathy, go find your girlfriends!

10. If you think you’re fat, you probably are. Don’t ask us! Yes, you do have too many clothes, shoes and purses. When we go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. ANYTHING!

11. Sunday sports and riding with the guys is like the full moon or changing of the tides. You can’t do anything about it so shut your yap, enjoy it with us or let us be!

12. Last, but not least and my favorite: learn to work the toilet seat. You wear big girl panties now (or none at all) if it’s up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don’t hear guys complaining about finding it down!”

I chirp loudly, “well it took many guys to come up with those 12 rules but only one big burly biker chick to tell you how my gender thinks. I have to tell our readers what she said so it comes out right.

1. These rules and a females mind, are subject to change at a moment’s notice!

2. No male could ever possibly know all the rules and can NEVER change his mind, unless he has written consent from his mother!

3. Men are expected to read the minds of every woman, remain calm under all conditions and never get upset or angry at the woman!

4. If the woman has PMS, all the rules are out the window and the male must cater to her every whim!

5. Women have what men want and that gives them the right to make the rules!

So Mike, since your girlfriend and I are females you’re out numbered two to one.”

Mike yells back, “dammit Spyke, you were a he until eggs came out your butt many years ago. This crap is for the birds. I give up, trumped by estrogen again!

We both need a little wind therapy. I’m going to get the scoot out of the garage and you finish the story. It’s time to get your wings in the wind, my knees under the keys and the Fat Birds’ wheels rolling down the road.

— SPYKE

Do you have a riding pet story? Let us know, Spyke wants to feature them! editor@borntoride.com

CHRISTIAN MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION

“What a great night to ride!” I said. His face was downcast with a burden as he responded with “well that may be true but I am worried about something else.” We all have stories about certain bike nights we have attended. Recently, this is how it went. It was a Friday night. The spring night was holding temperatures in the 60’s. Conversation was flowing while standing on a patch of brown grass that needed rain. As we spoke the topic turned to his health. The discussion revolved around the word hope. We talked about symptoms, vitals, & test results that he was hoping for. He had not even had the tests but he hoped for positive results yet, he knew there was something wrong. The exchange turned toward encouragement, knowing that God had already brought him through difficult times in the past. We could agree that God was going to bring him through this difficult time again. He accepted my offer to include Jesus by praying for him that night so we shared in faith.

What does faith look like? Let’s read this one verse in the book of Hebrews 11:1 “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” As we look at this verse, faith and hope are two different things. Faith is the knowing in our heart that we will receive the thing that we hope for. It is like we are holding a promissory note and expect it to be fulfilled. There is another verse in the book of James 5:16b that says “The earnest prayer of a

righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” When we pray in faith then we can expect wonderful results. Can you have faith that God will fulfill a promise that you are hoping for? CMA members would be honored to come alongside you and help you pray for the desires of your heart.

Teach’s Takeaway,

- Faith is the reality of what we hope for.

- When we pray, pray in faith that you will receive what you hope for.

- Let us pray together in faith and believe that we will receive wonderful results.

On another note. Our CMA Organization raises funds annually to support our world wide ministries. The first week of May, we celebrate the amount of donations we have received during the year. These monies help purchase motorcycles for missionaries, put bibles in countries in which the bible is banned, and support the “Jesus film” project reaching the lost of this world. If you would be willing to learn more about our ministry and donate to the RFS fund, follow the link: https://cmausa.org/Donate/ Donate#Runfortheson There you can help us reach the community and then out to the world. Ride together, ride safe, and ride on.

— Fellow Soldier in Christ, Wayne (Teach) Masiker Christian Motorcyclists Association wayne.masiker@att.net

BORN TORIDE Magazine

Ron

813.785.3895

rg@borntoride.com

Deb

dgalletti@borntoride.com

Ron

813.785.3895