Jul/Aug - Florida Ride or Die Issue #13 by FloridaRideOrDieMag

CONTENTS FEATURES 8

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM - BY JOHNNIE SALVINO

2022 ISSUE #13 • JULY/AUG

16-17

ADVERTISER INDEX

A Sane Design

44 SILENCE

Attorney Fran Haasch

2&3

16-17

AMAYA - BY NIGHT TRAIN

Attorney Fran Haasch

20-21

FLORIDA SKI RIDERS

AJ Therapy Center

28-29 PASSION OR FASHION - THE MILLENNIAL BIKERS - BY ZACH OF WHY NOT RIDE

AJ Beauty Institute

Bert’s Barracuda H-D

10-11

30-31

FAWAZ’S 2009 INFINITY G37

Dr. Paul Fisher & Associates

LOS EXOTICOS ATV GROUP

NT Fairing 13

LOS TUMBA COCOS P.R.

40-41 42

20-21

OCC Road House Bike Night

DAMON UNLEASHED - BY NIGHT TRAIN

PowerSports of Palm Beach

OLGA THE PINK PANTHER

Ride Now 22-23

44-45 NEVER TOO LATE - BY KEITH KELLY

Ride Now Bike Night

St. Pete Bikefest

The Hemp Dispensary

18-19

THE GRINCH - ANTHONY TORRES

ON THE COVER

SAM COOK

Trim Printing 43

SEE PAGES 24-25

FLORIDA RIDE OR DIE MAGAZINE

28-29

8432 Delaware Dr, Spring Hill, FL 34607

PUBLISHER Antonio Hernandez

ﬂoridarideordiemagazine@yahoo.com

CO-PUBLISHER Kathleen Hernandez EDITOR Lauren Hernandez SALES OFFICE 727-944-6961 GRAPHIC DESIGN Tracy Allen 813-814-1505

Florida Ride Or Die Magazine | 727-944-6961 | www.floridarideordie.com

The information contained herein is provided by Florida Ride or Die Magazine or by its advertisers. FLROD makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information in the issue. Florida Ride or Die Magazine does not endorse, approve, or certify such information, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness or correct sequencing of such information throughout this magazine. Use of such information is voluntary on your part, and reliance on it should only be undertaken after your independent review. Reference herein to any specific manufacturer, company, commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement of or recommendation of said by Florida Ride or Die Magazine. Florida Ride or Die Magazine (including its employees, contributors and agents) assumes no responsibility for consequences that my result from the use of the information herein, including the use of the information obtained at www.floridarideordie.com and it’s linked sites, or in any respect for the content of such information, including (but not limited to) errors or omissions, the accuracy or reasonableness of factual or scientific assumptions, studies or conclusions, ownership of copy write or other intellectual property rights, and the violation of property, privacy, or personal rights of others. FROD Magazine is not responsible for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on such information. No guarantees or warranties including (but not limited to) any express or implied warranties are made by FLROD Magazine with respect to such information contained throughout the site. No part may be copied without written permission of the publisher, Florida Ride or Die Magazine.

by Johnnie Salvino

My dad, Juan Jose Acebo was given the choice of prison or enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps after he was cut from his high school football team and he shot all the stadium lights out. Back in the day this was a common practice by district court judges. All war is a Hell on Earth and we have no choice but to send our bright young adults to ensure our Freedom & Hope for the next generation to carry forward. Every one of the veteran’s I spoke with told me with no hesitation they would gladly serve again to ensure Freedom for the future generations. James Edward Pickard aka Elmo was in the US Navy. He was a boatswain’s mate which is the oldest rank in the Navy. Elmo said “I was Navy when it was made of wooden ships and iron men”. Elmo enlisted in the Navy reserves in 1959 and became Active in 1960 and served for 22 years as a river gunboat captain. When I asked him about war his reply was “we have no business cleaning somebody else’s house when our own house is overrun with dirty”. After leaving the Navy, he chauffeured 5 Navy Admirals before he retired. I stopped by The Amvets Post 42 off HWY 19 in Fanning Springs. Katie Seeloff was serving up the refreshments. Katie explained “you never know what’s going to happen when you come int Post 42 is a cozy little place nestled back off the HWY 19 between Fanning Springs and Chiefland, FL. The majority of the members ride motorcycles and they host a lot of m/c events. Carl Palmerton U.S. Army from197071 was a MOS-tank operator. His service was mostly home front and due to that he was not allowed.@ to join The Amvets or The VFW because the war was not active. When I asked him what was a price, he paid for Freedom he replied “I lost a 1968 Dodge that was repossessed after I was drafted when I only had 1 year left to pay”. Doran Pierce U.S Airborne fron 197275. Doran had the responsibility of removing the ugly out of the media’s war photographs. He sold his 1st painting at nine years old. Doran and his lovely wife Connie own The Estate House 17551 US Hwy 19, Fanning Springs, Fl 32693. If ask how long they have been together, “he responds forever”. Doran will add paint to almost anything, murals, motorcycles or your helmet. I enjoyed speaking to these grassroot individuals who proved they are the REAL protectors of American Freedom no matter what the price. “All gave some and some Gave All”. Dirty Side down ya’ll Johnnie

My name is Brandon aka Silence 44. I am currently living in Florida and have been riding for 3 years. I’ve been a motivated rider since I saw the movie Biker Boys. I’ve always had a passion for riding dirt bikes. My first bike was a 1999 RM 250; one of my favorite bikes out of the four that I’ve owned. I am now riding my dream bike a DRZ 400 super Moto. Since I have been riding, I fell once it was due to not riding with a helmet. I learned a hard lesson. As a rider you should always wear your helmet and bike gear to become a better and more cautious rider. My goal on the bike was always to pop the clutch out and see the forks parallel. I have achieved so much for the little time I’ve been riding but there’s more to come from 44 Silence. As an ATV or motorcyclist rider I advise to follow the rules of the road and always look twice before proceeding in traffic. It’s an honor to be featured in a magazine that you are able to become an outspoken person through writing. Thank you, Florida Ride or Die Magazine!!

“KNOWLEDGE IS POWER”

AMAYA

By: Florida Night Train www.facebook.com/floridanighttrain

Her Instagram reads “bionic_bihhh”. She commands respect. She fought hard all her life to get to where she is at. By the looks of it, stars maybe lining up for Amaya to rise to the top. This resilient 22 year old Scandinavian blooded warrior has been fighting in the trenches for years and quite admirably. Better than many of us would have. She isn’t going to be a stat. “Knowledge is power” is the first thing she said as we sat down for dinner in her favorite restaurant; Olive Garden. Big sister to 4 siblings she pretty much raises; Alex who is almost done with college, Aden who is 16 and still too involved with video games and then, precious Issac

who is 6 and Eli who is 5. Daughter to a substance abuse mother. Mother who is fighting hard to have victory over her addiction. Absent father who by Amaya’s demeanor and language considers him a stranger. Amaya put herself through school ensuring she would at least get a high school degree. “I watched people get hurt all my life and I refuse to live that kind of life” she confidently declared. Her story deeply resonates within me. Amaya successfully graduated from Withlacoochie Technological College in Florida. One of her instructors noticed her insatiable thirsts to learn and for knowledge. A strong indication of potential

and success if harnessed right. Turns out Amaya’s search for experience and learning got her to be a car tech, auto body painter, aviationgrade fiberglass tech, a welder, and a fabricator capable to work with and read engineering documents. This interview turned into photoshoot turned into a wildly successful mindblowing welding test at my friend’s shop “Pheonix Custom Engineering” in Clearwater served me with inspiration I have long experienced. This chick can “quality tig”! Don’t believe me? Bring her in for a test! Amaya’s story has not even come out my loyal faithful photog Suzanne of “323 Photography Studio” and I are getting requests to see and review materials we produced about her. Did I mention this tattooed-up badass improved version of Lara Croft is also a tattoo artist at “The New York Tattoo Gallery” in Clearwater Florida? She lost a leg but she doesn’t care for people to pay much attention to that about her. I will respect that and keep it short. Turns out of all people, a biker crashed into her, was uninsured and pretty much left her high and dry to deal with all the aftermaths. This is a classic case of the value of getting “Uninsured Underinsured Motorist Coverage” with your insurance carrier. Amaya however is not a “victim”. She is a “victor”. A lot of people I know stuck in and with sob stories should learn from her. My friend Andre Kress of Corsa Moto Works in Clearwater as he recalls tells me of the morning after Amaya’s accident when she facetimed him first asking about her bike. Andrew Mora of Moramoto personally rallying behind her to help her get another bike. To everyone’s surprise, Amaya did not fold! She is now also a motorcycle stunt rider! Quite good at it as I witnessed. Crowning this

story without mention of Steve Chamberland would simply not be right. When Amaya was in desperate need of a new start, Steve Chamberland and his incredible organization “50 Legs” made sure it would happen by providing her a customized prosthetic leg. This “pringle” as she calls herself is happy. She believes in God and that His hand is at work through this all. Chuckling she states, “I like and I enjoy figuring life as it has become”. Like a true Floridian, Amaya not only fishes and hunts but she can also clean her kills. I am excited for Amaya and her future. How inspiring her story is and how she choses to live her life. This owner of a Kawasaki ZX10 is about to take flight and I am privileged to have met her standing by her to watch it happen. Knowledge is certainly power. I would add, attitude and choice of perspective in a good dose of reality combined with a resilient fighting spirit also is. By Florida Night Train Photo: Florida Night Train and 323 Photography Studio Thanks to: Phoenix Custom Engineering

Florida Ski Riders was founded by Randy Cabrera in 2016. Randy Cabrera’s family is large with 6 children (5 Boys and 1 Girl) They love the PWC life, he launched Florida Ski Riders as a way to bring other like-minded enthusiasts together. Today, the group’s Facebook page has over 41,000 members and regular gatherings with numbers in the hundreds. Randy couldn’t have done it without the FLSR team (Junior, Shan, Tony, Andy & Danny) Our main office is located in Tampa Florida however we are worldwide and travel all over the country filming new riding areas Florida Ski Riders is not a club, it is a lifestyle experience brand founded in 2016 that quickly grew to become one of the most recognized Jet Ski lifestyle brands in the world. Our mission is to enhance the riders’ experience on 20

and off the water while bridging the gap between consumers and products and also creating some of the most memorable rides! We asked Randy what riding means to him and he says “It’s a way for me to relax with my family as well as creating some of the most incredible and unforgettable memories.” Florida Ski riders loves giving back the community. They have all types rides they are most known for their “Excursion Tour” where riders come from all over the world to attend and be a part of.

Florida Ski Riders have several events to close out the year, next event is FL - GA Ride with our good friends at RIDE NOW Powersports of Jacksonville then they will be hosting the 5th Annual Key Largo Excursion.

SAFETY TIP Randy is a huge advocate for knowledge and safety. “Old saying When you know better. You do better” Always be mindful of your surroundings, Respect and obey all posted laws and water signs and DO NOT DRINK AND RIDE!! Facebook: Florida Ski Riders on Instagram: @FLSkiRiders YouTube: Florida Ski Riders

6407 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244 • 904.351.6914 • ridenowjacksonville.com

Bikes For All Styles Of Riding

Massive selection of New and Pre-Owned Motorcycles

Premiere Service Department

Monthly Bike Nights

last Friday of every month + covered bike parking

COVER STORY

“SAVAGE FOR RYDER” Born in Luxembourg, current resident in Florida, Sam has been riding since the age of 13. Spending summers in Europe with her father, she and her dad would ride. She fell in love with the sport. First bike? A Honda 125 2 stroke. Now on her dream customized stunt bike, a

2013 Kawasaki 636, her goal is to get Ryder her son set-up to ride. “I never thought I would be able to wheelie so anything past that has been an achievement for me.” Sam says. When she rides it shuts her mind off. Anything that she is stressed about just disappears for that time. Sam’s biggest piece of advice for aspiring stunt riders is to go at your own pace and never

compare yourself to anyone else. Everyone learns differently and at different paces so don’t get discouraged.

Instagram: savageXsam Facebook : Sam Cook Photos by: Chopskee

Hello, I’m Yusileidi Ortiz better known as la flaka de Tampa, I’m currently 19 years old and the proud owner of a black and purple 2011 Suzuki GSXR750, currently I’m a member of a women’s group called Las Insoportables, even though my roots are with Los Rompe Corillos, I’m very thankful for the growth that they have given me. My passion started and became a fire as in the group there weren’t many women riding and that sparked a flame, I got my own bike a 2006 Suzuki GSXR-750 without even knowing how to ride, I went to an empty parking lot, got the hang of it and riding it home fell about a block away, the next weekend when with the group to Orlando. Ever since then I’ve pushed myself to learn more and more, and now I’m getting good at racing my bike but I still remember when no one would want to except my close friends including Carlos R. Candelario which may he rest in peace, he was the best racer out there and was one of the little people that were willing to show me and made me a better rider. He inspired me and many others, and now I want to pay it forward and inspire many other riders and push them to break the expectation. I feel empowered as a female rider and I want my other female riders to remember to always be a Strong Woman! 26

BY ZACK OF WHY NOT RIDE

If you asked 100 people to define passion you would get 100 different answers. Passion is not something that someone can easily define with a few short words; it is more than words. It is a feeling, often inexplicable. To be honest, if you can define passion then you are truly blessed, because so many people in this world will spend their life searching for such a feeling as “passion”. If I were asked to define passion, my best wack at it would sound like this: “Passion is a feeling of freedom and purpose. It is a state of mind that you enter when you are doing an activity, or in a place, where you truly feel as if you can finally be yourself. No distractions. No masks. Just you, your heart and your mind.” I am a millennial, I was born in 1996. Am I proud of it…? Well, that’s

a different conversation. But from my perspective I have seen many different communities be infiltrated by millenials quickly followed by a mass siphon of culture which leads to overdone, trite social media posts seeking fame and/or fortune leaving the previously pure passionate community as a fast-fashion memory of the past. In most cases we can all sit back and watch this happen clean and clear. Lately, in the motorcycle community there has been an epidemic of young deaths due to inexperienced riders riding outside of their skill level, most of the time breaking record land speeds. I am speaking from experience– having lost 5+ friends in the last year. This is because the fast-fashion bike culture has led the youth of America to not ride for passion, but for the fast-fashion

accessory called a sport bike. Let’s be real, motorcycles are badass. Let’s talk about Hollywood. Since the beginning of cinematic arts actors in movies who are characterized by motorcycles are nearly always the bad boy, the outcast or the pariah. Karate Kid (1984), TopGun (1986), The Lost Boys (1987), Freaky Friday (2003), Ghost Rider (2007) just to name a few. There is no getting around it– motorcycles are dangerous. Deathly dangerous. That being said, sport bikes are incontrovertibly cool. The new wave of bikers are young sport bike riders buying bikes to take pictures with and occasionally pin the throttle on the highway. There is a complete shift in the image of bikers.

Just as pop culture is accepting of many walks of life now, including tattoos, wacky hair styles, fashion, body image, piercings, pop culture is now accepting motorcyclists. This shift has opened up a huge market of “regular people”, much like myself, who isn’t bad-boy or an outcast that is passionate about bikes. I am not a Hollywood villain… Although that would be pretty sick. I say all that to get to one very important point: Riding a motorcycle isn’t something you jump right into. Although it may feel natural, and you may feel as if you are developing skills quickly, it takes years of riding to develop the instincts that keep you alive. It’s a 6th sense. I see a huge misconception in young riders that anyone can hop on a motorcycle and do advanced level riding. The reality is that anyone can twist a throttle, anyone can do a power wheelie, anyone can lane split and anyone can go buy a super sport. Time and time again we see unskilled riders purchasing advanced level bikes and riding them hard and fast without proper technique, not to mention the

misconception of mastery. Personally, I ride for passion. A lot of people say that sport bike riders are adrenaline junkies. Trust me, I totally understand the prejudice. The ubiquitous vibrato expressed by sport bike riders lead people to believe a lot of things. I just laugh because riding on the open road does the opposite to me. Like most people I am very busy with work, relationships, pets, vacations, etc.. With all the above running rampant there is only one place I can immerse myself in passion; immerse myself in an environment with no stress, no talking, no anxiety and a calm heart. It is blurred lines on the road and sweeping tree lines with the occasional love bug getting splattered by my visor in a tight corner burning rubber. Like most things in the world if you want it then you have to GO GET IT! Whether it is a job, a material item you covet for or even knowledge, riding motorcycles is no different. There is a wealth of information out there to soak up and learn to not only keep you safe but also make you a better, cooler, safer, more fun rider. Florida allows private,

licensed organizations to teach you riding, coupled with a written test, to certify you to receive your MC endorsement from the DMV. I went through Adventure Rider Training. You can use one of their bikes and also bring your own if you legally own and register it in the state of Florida. I had a tremendous experience with A.R.T. and actually have attended their free advanced riding course as well. Once you develop the basic skills the learning curve never stops. I urge all of you readers to invest your mind and your body in learning ALL things “moto”. Whether it be youtube, friends, motorcycle organizations, riding groups, you MUST invest in learning. Go out there and immerse yourself in the culture, knowledge and experience of riding. It is no secret that I enjoy the spotlight... I have been a performer, of sorts, most of my life. It is also not a secret that I am passionate about riding and modifying motorcycles. I saw the broken, deteriorating culture of the young motorcycle world; I saw an epidemic of young deaths due to uneducated riding and my natural instincts for business drew me to start creating educational and entertaining videos for the public eyes; maybe change the way people think and feel about riding, whether they own a bike or want to own a bike in the future. Every day when I wake up I have a smile on my face checking my notifications on tiktok or instagram because of people reaching out to me thanking me for my content or asking me questions about riding. Whether it be mototerminology, riding advice

Zack is a motorcycle rider with a dream but he’s more publicly known by his social media alias @whynot_ride. At age 26 he has collected 8 years of street riding experience on sport bikes ranging from 300cc-1000cc. His social media presence really took off collecting 55k followers on instagram and 275k on tiktok in less than 18 months. His 4k quality videos coupled with a combination of viral dances, educational videos and brand reviews quickly drew the attention of a variety of lifestyle and motorcycle brands alike. Currently Whynot_ride is working with Vortex Racing, Cardo Systems, NBT Clothing, Attack Performance, New Rage Cycles, Quadlock, JW Coatings, Monster Fairings, Motivation USA, SC Project, Born Primitive, Flow and many others in the works. For more information please see the links and handles below. Like, subscribe and follow! IG @whynot_ride TikTok @whynot_ride Youtube: Why Not Ride Clothing: wickedsquidclothing.com

or a viral dance, my goal is to draw people in with fun content so that I can educate them on the small details I have learned and continue to learn as I ride. I do not commute, I only ride for recreation and catharsis. In doing so, I have created a fun platform for people, just like me, to start their motorcycle journey in the direction of prosperity, not toxicity. I am not an expert, although I do have ample experience. I am not on a high horse nor on a pedestal, I am a regular person, with a regular life. I’m addicted to learning, are you?

My name is Fawaz, I am 26 years old. I currently live in Jacksonville Florida, but I was born in a village in Iraq. Ever since I can remember I’ve always had a passion for cars, it started when I was younger my brother and I would sit in the back seat of our family car on trips and pick out the colorful sports cars passing by that would be “ours” when we grew up. Here we are some years later and now I have one of my own a 2009 Infiniti G37, I’ve made so many modifications to my car such as wrapping some parts of the body, buying new rims, upgrading all the interior to carbon fiber etc. I feel such a rush of excitement when I receive a new package in the mail with a part to upgrade the look of my car. I’ve been working on it for the last 5 years, owning a “sports car” looking vehicle has always been a goal of mine since I was a child. The car of my dreams, however, is a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, If I ever own one, I will definitely put a Liberty Walk Wide Body Kit on it. Over the last 2 years I have received 7 awards, the first being Swerve

Fest “Top 30”, Show Case “Best of show” as well as “Best Interior”, Import Face Off “Best fitment”, Cars and Cans “Top 10”, King of the South “Best Infiniti”, and Morocco Shrine Center Toy Drive “Best Modified”. I take a lot of pride in these awards because I have put in so much work and time to make my car look the best it can be, its rewarding earning these trophies. A goal that I have set out now is to own a body shop, I get my inspiration from West Coast Customs. I’d love to be able to help others in the car community as well as bikers customize and make the vision they have for their projects a reality. I am currently in a car group called the Oddboyz, I’ve been a member since 2020 and it feels like I’ve been a member forever. It’s always nice to meet other groups in our community when we have our monthly meets. We get together in a parking lot and showcase all our cars we put work into. I like to cruise with my group down the highway, people always want to race me, but I like to just ride and enjoy the drive. Here’s a word of encouragement,

be creative be different, don’t be shy to ask for help and help others. My last piece of advice is to always remember that you got to start somewhere.

MODIFICATION LIST Interior:

Red leather seats with Diamond stitching plus doors. Whole dash done in Alcântara. Alcântara headliner with stars lights. carbon fiber steering wheel. carbon fiber paddle shifters. Carbon fiber Tesla screen 12.1 Carbon fiber Center counsel Carbon fiber all interior trims. Carbon fiber gear puzzle. Carbon fiber shift knob. Carbon fiber voltmeter. Carbon fiber air lift controller Carbon fiber Cluster cover Carbon fiber turn signal trim Bluetooth under lighting for the interior.

Exterior:

Liberty Walk Front Bumper. Liberty Walk Carbon Fiber Lip. Oemaissve Custom Headlights. Carbon Fiber Cmst Hood With Window Glass. Carbon Fiber Side Skirts. Carbon Rear Diffuser With Fourth Break Light. Carbon Fiber Wing. Carbon Fiber Window Roof Wing. Carbon Fiber Fuel Door. Carbon Fiber Sides Mirrors With Led Turn Signals. Carbon Fiber Fenders Vents

Carbon Fiber Fenders Diverters Aero. Titanium Administration Exhaust Three Eye Bird Cameras. Ferrada Fr4 Wheels. Titanium Lug Nuts. Titanium Valve Stems.

Engine:

Carbon Fiber Blitz Air Intakes Carbo Fiber Engine Cover. Carbon Fiber Radiator Cover. Carbon Fiber Battery Cover. Carbon Fiber Brake Fluid Color. Carbon Fiber Fuse Box. Carbon Fiber Cusco Strut Bar. Arc Oil Catch Can Combo. Adler Speed Custom Fittings. Red And Black Rated Hoses. Titanium Oil Dipstick. Titanium Upper Radiator Hose. Titanium T Bolt Clamps. Titanium Steering Wheel Reservoir Titanium Windshield Fluid Neck. Titanium Car Identification Badge. Titanium Fuse Box Badge. Engine Bay Dress Up Titanium Screw Bolt.

Trunk:

3p Airlift Custom Hard Airlines. Carbon Fiber All Trims Around Trunk. Hard Wood Breakwater Oak Flooring Dual Air Compressors With Custom Alcântara Jackets. Custom Manifold. Custom Fire Extinguisher Photos by: @Surreal_photoss, @botdullah, @forever.society, @_bubbaluke,

Los Exoticos ATV group was created in 2020 by Raul Concepcion and Emanuel Estarella from Youngstown, Ohio. Raul and Emanuel are both from Puerto Rico and currently reside with their wives and family in Ohio. What started as entertainment and fun and the love for riding ATVs turned into the start of the group Los Exoticos. Cuco and Tony from the Noise ATV contacted Raul after Raul purchased a shirt from them at an event. An in-person meeting was set up and the group was formed from there and Our ATV family was born. We then started to attend rides all over the USA. We went to PA with Team No Excuses and for the Mines1. In October we went to TEXAS for the Mud Kings event. Florida with BOA, Corruptos and the Toxicas. June 3-5 of 2022 we had are team grand opening ride here in Ohio and it was a huge success. Groups from 10

different states showed up to support us and show us love. Riding for us is more than a sport it’s a passion. The trails in the mountains makes us forget everything and frees us from all the stresses of life. Plus, we get to meet new people and develop lifelong friendships. Message to those that judge the sport is just try it once, promise you will love it and become hooked. Don’t give up, follow your dreams. Remember this sport is dangerous ALWAYS wear your helmet. Our plan for the future is to continue to grow, meet new people, and travel to all the events we can support anyone who needs it. The strength is in the UNION, and we go hard. FB and Insta: Los Exoticos YouTube: Los Exoticos de Ohio

LOS TUMBA COCOS P.R. AKA

LTC P.R.

“Los Tumba Cocos P.R Aka LTC P.R is a gift from God!” Says Henry and Marisol. The group was established 2 years ago and is located in Tampa, Florida. We can start by saying we are a Christian car club but we do accept anyone that would like to join our club with open arms. We are not only a club; we are a FAMILY! Our club is very involved in our local community. On a weekly basis we donate our time and give food out to the community every Thursday 1pm till 3pm at our church. Resonate Life Church located at 1820 53rd Avenue West Bradenton Florida 34207. Our car club also gets together at our house to cook meals and feed the homeless as well as pray for them. God has blessed us with our ministry in what we love the most PASSION FOR CARS AND BIKES. God told me and my wife we are to be the light in the darkness and through GOD we will continue! Ephesians 6:12 says for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against Powers against the rules of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places Amen. If you will like to help us or donate to feed the homeless or will like to join or club etc., Contact us: Facebook & Instagram @ LOS TUMBA COCO’S P.R. GOD BLESS YOU!

DAMON Unleashed

By: Florida Night Train www.facebook.com/floridanighttrain

UK born Amber Spencer, DAMON’s Global VP of Marketing takes no prisoners. That is, in business or, on the track. I met Amber about 5 years ago. We knew the day would come where I would write about her and DAMON. Spencer leads and oversees all aspects of brand, digital marketing, public relations, customer relations, and experience. During her tenure, the company © has gained tremendous market recognition in

brand, customer acquisition and awards. Spencer is a motorcycle enthusiast experienced at riding various bikes, including cafe racers, dirt bikes and cruisers. She is a member of the WMRC Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club and placed third in her first ever race. Spencer is also an award-winning fitness competitor and advocate for health and wellness. But what is DAMON you will say? Damon Motors’ claim to fame is that it

developed the world’s safest, smartest, fully connected electric motorcycles. The electric superbikes, including HyperSport and HyperFighter, offer unparalleled safety, comfort, and performance with groundbreaking technology and zero tailpipe emissions. Proprietary features include the CoPilot™ advanced warning system, Shift™, which transforms the riding position between sport and commuter modes while

0 to 60 in 3 seconds in motion, and HyperDrive™, the world’s first monocoque constructed, 100 percent electric, multi-variant powertrain platform. My fav is definitely the HyperSport and I’m still waiting for my first experience on it! Hint hint! Damon Motors is a global technology leader disrupting the motorcycle market. With offices in San Rafael, California and headquarters and manufacturing in Vancouver, Canada, Damon is on a mission to cause a paradigm shift for safer, smarter motorcycling. The company is delivering on its promise with award-winning innovation and unprecedented technologies. Anchored by its proprietary electric powertrain, HyperDrive™, Damon has captivated the motorcycling world by delivering earthscorching speed, ferocious design, and epic new features, including the above mentioned CoPilot™ and Shift™, that are attracting an entirely new generation of riders. With rapid market adoption from eager buyers in the US and abroad, Damon is setting a new standard for motorcycle safety and sustainability worldwide. I am not sure if it’s right to even

compare but I guess you could say Damon is the Tesla version of motorcycle. Besides the 200HP, 0 to 60 in 3 seconds with a top speed of 200mph, what else is Damon’s VP of Marketing vision? Well, the motorcycling landscape is changing. Women riders make up 20 percent in the US alone, with 22 percent of Gen X riders and 26 percent of Gen Y riders being female. Yet, products and services have been slow to respond to this growth with motorcycles still built specifically for the biggest market: men. Additionally, according to Spencer, the global auto industry continues to have a major gender gap. A Catalyst study shows females in 2018 holding just eight percent of executive roles in the top 20 motor vehicles and parts companies in the Global Fortune 500. “We believe not enough women are represented in motorcycling and we are here to change that—by living it ourselves inside and out,” said Spencer “Women make up motorcycling’s fastest growing segment and Damon’s worldclass team of top female talent is representative of this. A company with more women will not only

lead to greater equality, but will also bridge the divide of men and women’s motorcycling needs. This forward way of thinking is at the core of Damon’s DNA.” So, if you are a professional in the industry who happens to identify as a female, take a look at the job openings! It’s worth the look. And if you identify as male with good credentials, well, don’t let that deter you from applying because I’m pretty certain the company is more about merit and qualifications than genders. Damon Motors has recently surpassed a $50M milestone in preorders for its flagship HyperSport motorcycle, the world’s smartest, safest, allelectric sportbike. The company has also won numerous awards and recognition for its innovation including a 2022 Edison Best New Product Award, a Best in Innovation CES Innovation Award, a 2021 GOOD DESIGN® Award, a Digital Trends Top Tech 2020 CES Award, a 2020 Red Herring Top 100 North America finalist award for CleanTech, a 2020 Popular Science Best of What’s New Award, and a Robb Report “Best of the Best” award for motorcycle innovation.

So, when all is said and done … pay attention! I don’t think with Spencer as copilot in this cockpit that she is going to leave any space for chance. She is determined! She learned that from her dad as he frequently drove the family car at high speeds to jump the car off the bridged peaks of river crossings. Before she was legally allowed to race adult go karts, her dad told the organizers she was a professional racer in order to let her into races, where she frequently beat all the adults to the podium. On the flip side, her Mother was all about safety but the need for speed and safety eventually met. By adulthood, she wanted to ride motorbikes but was dissuaded by her mother, who had been struck by a motorcycle at a young age. Amber’s passion, however, continued to grow and at the age of 21 she took her first ride on the back of her father’s Harley. After that ride, she was committed to getting a motorcycle, bought a Suzuki Boulevard S40, and has never looked back. I said it before and I will say it again till the day I expire; follow your dreams! Facebook.com/floridanighttrain IG: florida_night_train TikTok: floridanighttrain Source: www.DAMON.com and Amber Spencer

My name is Olga Figueroa. I am from Lawrence, MA currently living in Orlando, FL. I ride a 2012 Kawasaki Ninja Zx6R a.k.a ‘Pink Panther”. My bike is extended, has LED lights, music system, custom airbrush and exhaust. Pink Panther is my first bike. I started riding 2.5 years ago. In 2019 I was diagnosed with stomach cancer and again in 2020 with ovarian cancer.

I noticed the passion people had for riding. Since I had cancer, I was determined to become a rider and live my life daily as if it was my last. Now as a 2x cancer survivor, riding has become my passion. Makes me free stress free. I also created a strong bond with my biker family. Pink Panther is my dream bike and hopefully one day my bike will go viral.

If I could give a piece of advice to other bikers it would be always ride for your passion and until the wheels fall off. Remember we are all a family and here for our fellow bikers. Facebook: Olga La Unica Insta & TikTok: @d3vilicious978

It is never too late for the bike life. Florida is sunny all year round. It is the second state in the country with highest motorcycles demographic. As of 2021, Florida data showed over 645,000 registered motorcycles. Influential factors could be advantage of fuel economy, easier to maneuver the overcrowded roads, or maybe the more spirited way of transportation. Common sentiment of riders is there is something else to riding motorcycles than just going from point A to point B. The bike lifestyle changed my life. Born in a small one redlight town upstate New York, there was not much to do besides skate, ride BMX or, get in trouble. I bounced around job to job, waking and wondering how I could skip work. Of all things, house arrest kickstarted my career. I had found a loophole that if I enrolled into college, I could get off house arrest, get away from my dead-end job, and take a break from my small hometown.

One thing stayed constant; cars. I absolutely loved working on cars. I enrolled at SUNY Delhi for automotive technology. In 2013 opportunity knocked and I moved to Florida. Left the state of modification laws, rusted out chassis, and vehicle inspections. 8 years as an automotive technician, 29 years old, in 2019 I discovered bike life. After seeing coworkers who became friends at the dealership, I worked at leave work and go ride, I purchased a Honda Grom and learned. They taught me. I discovered the scenic backroads and, how therapeutic riding in the open air is. I learned basic maintenance and the unwritten rules of group riding. I discovered a local group of riders who meet every Sunday morning to ride. This is when I began to live the bike life. To this day, my closest friendships have emerged from motorcycling. That’s one of the beauties of bike life. It brings people together. No matter

your religion, your race, what bike you ride, what you do for a living, we are all family. Sunday morning rides are my highlights. No matter how the day turned out, it would always be better. This ride became my own Sunday morning church. Eventually I realized automotive was not my calling. I was over 10 grand into a nitrous K-series Del Sol. I parted out the entire car. I got rid of everything automotive. I found a local motorcycle repair shop in the Port Ritchey, FL area that just opened up; 1stmotopowersports.com. He was a one-man shop with the help of his wife in the office. I stopped by at least once a week for months asking this man for a job. I had little to no experience on motorcycles. After weeks and weeks of me asking, I finally got the job. I got rid of everything “automotive”. This was my true calling. I finally was excited to go to work. I couldn’t understand how I had lived

29 years of my life so naive, so unaware, of this culture. To me, this was a rebirth. It is never too late. After one year of riding, I stumbled across the FSUPD Motorsports Team offering a deal that seemed too good to be true. $100 off track day? They’ll prep my bike for me? One on one coaching? The Florida State University Police Department has a motorcycle team. Their mission is to get racers and “street Rossis” off the streets and into a safe and controlled environment. I signed up for both days and before lunch on day one I was hooked. I was learning so much information and realizing so much about my own riding and limitations. I had improved my riding by an insane amount with only two days! I felt like I was actually achieving my goals. I spent the next year doing everything I can to do one track day a month. There is no excuse to ride in the best possible parameters. It was after track days that I had learned we are only able to use about 80% of our riding skill on the streets. We need the safe, controlled,

gravel and car free track to be able to really focus, find and control our limits to truly progress as riders. I couldn’t help but wish I had gotten to the track as soon as I got on a motorcycle. I’ve been riding track for one year as of May, 2022. January, I decided to race. I started to tear down my zx-10. I signed up for every event I could get myself to, with or without a bike ready. I borrowed bikes. I borrowed a lot of bikes. I owe over 6 months of progression to my close friends who let me use their bikes. I had a different bike almost every event. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for bike life and following my dreams. As of now, all my parts are in and it’s time to learn how to really progress. I have the support of my boss and shop, 1st Moto Powersports and my family. I have the support of other motorcycle shops who make sure my track needs are taken care of. I have the support of more people than I can even

think of, all who I met because of this bike life. What I don’t have is excuses. At 31 years of age, I am now privileged to race motorcycles with only 2 years of experience because it is never too late to pursue your dreams. Special Thanks to: Tom and Lorna Mattern Ryan and Alicia Webb Chace Morrison Nick Vetrano Michael Haire Andre Kress at Corsa Moto Works Oscar Solis Michael Acquisto Brandon Wolf

Anthony Torres is originally from Puerto Rico and currently lives in Avon Park Florida. He has been riding motorcycles since the age of 5yrs old his biggest influence was his father who taught him the love and passion for riding. His first bike was Yamaha Banshee and currently he rides a Raptor 700 and is known in the bike community as the Grinch. Anthony says “what I love the most about riding is the sense 46

of freedom I get and let’s not forget all the people we meet that share the same passion.” His hopes for the future are to bring more people to ride and have fun creating and growing his ATV group that he formed a year ago. Anthony’s advice to others is “Everyone falls but it’s how you get back up those matters and always be aware of your surroundings.”