Builders, Bands, & Bikes
Gotta Look for the Music...
Using only the internet, printed advertising, or asking around, it'd be tough to find out where famous music acts are scheduled during bike week in the Daytona area. We had to ride around, looking for them. Last night, Blackfoot rocked a little bar on US1, just north of Destination. The White Eagle didn't seem to be as packed as it was during bike week last year, but the crowd was eager to party. I can't put down people who bring their kids along to these places, because my folks used to drag me around with them from joint to joint until I was old enough to babysit myself. Still, having an 11-year old hanging out with whom we assumed to be her mom didn't seem like the right thing to do. Even worse, this hangout is in a town named Korona, and they were out of Coronas. The lady next to me got the last bottle, and I couldn't convince her to swap me for a brown bottle. Out back, behind the stage, a burnout pit where some crazed biker had just finished tearing the hell out of his rear tire. Musta been a biggie, the haze and smell of burnt rubber was almost too much to handle. Even the smokers were coughing. Pat Travers did a two night stand at the Broken Spoke, and
Edgar Winter had 'em rockin' too.
Earlier in the day, an organized ride with free munchies took us north up US1, past Ormond Beach, and on to Flagler Beach, where, due to continuing beach erosion, there ain't much beach left. Every year, it's a DOT struggle to just keep the highway intact. We hung a left in Flagler, and pulled into a little joint called Mad Dog's, on the intracoastal waterway, the "river" that runs close to the beach. Paul Yaffe was parked at a picnic table, munching out, and sipping a Miller Lite. For some unknown reason, ABM has run into more builders this bike week than we can remember. Last Wednesday, the "Builders Breakfast", had at least a dozen famous builders, under a roped off tent, and you could see them all. Billy Lane founded this event, and continues to raise money for charity. Billy's cut his long locks back, & different from all the other times we've seen him. One of the bro's said it's because he hasn't been riding, that makes sense. Still, he was out there raising money for those in need.
Evel and Robbie will be signing autographs from noon through four today, which suprised us somewhat, because when we interviewd Evel at the '04 Arizona Bike Week, everyone said his condition was terminal, and in fact, he collapsed at Buddy Stubbs Harley, and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.
ABM spoke to the engineers from S&S cycle about their new 56 degree V-twin, "X-Wedge", a fully epa compliant engine which meets or beats stringent epa regs for 2010. We bet you'll be seeing quite a few of these mills nesteled inbetween the frame rails of some famous bike builders in time for Sturgis. One of the guys showed me an S&S 124 cu in engine which he cranked up and ran. It ran incredibly smooth, no shakes, and was nearly silent in operation. I once owned a 124, and believe me, mine ran like a hay bailer compared to his, confirming what we know to be an ultimate truth; every engine, every bike, is like every person. Ain't no two that run the same.
As usual, the weather prognosticators were full of s--- about today's forcasted rain. Most of the two and three star hotels are sold out until Sunday night, so we'll just make another run down the slab and see what's going on. Check back early next week for a complete wrapup of the 66th Daytona.
Using only the internet, printed advertising, or asking around, it'd be tough to find out where famous music acts are scheduled during bike week in the Daytona area. We had to ride around, looking for them. Last night, Blackfoot rocked a little bar on US1, just north of Destination. The White Eagle didn't seem to be as packed as it was during bike week last year, but the crowd was eager to party. I can't put down people who bring their kids along to these places, because my folks used to drag me around with them from joint to joint until I was old enough to babysit myself. Still, having an 11-year old hanging out with whom we assumed to be her mom didn't seem like the right thing to do. Even worse, this hangout is in a town named Korona, and they were out of Coronas. The lady next to me got the last bottle, and I couldn't convince her to swap me for a brown bottle. Out back, behind the stage, a burnout pit where some crazed biker had just finished tearing the hell out of his rear tire. Musta been a biggie, the haze and smell of burnt rubber was almost too much to handle. Even the smokers were coughing. Pat Travers did a two night stand at the Broken Spoke, and
Edgar Winter had 'em rockin' too.
Earlier in the day, an organized ride with free munchies took us north up US1, past Ormond Beach, and on to Flagler Beach, where, due to continuing beach erosion, there ain't much beach left. Every year, it's a DOT struggle to just keep the highway intact. We hung a left in Flagler, and pulled into a little joint called Mad Dog's, on the intracoastal waterway, the "river" that runs close to the beach. Paul Yaffe was parked at a picnic table, munching out, and sipping a Miller Lite. For some unknown reason, ABM has run into more builders this bike week than we can remember. Last Wednesday, the "Builders Breakfast", had at least a dozen famous builders, under a roped off tent, and you could see them all. Billy Lane founded this event, and continues to raise money for charity. Billy's cut his long locks back, & different from all the other times we've seen him. One of the bro's said it's because he hasn't been riding, that makes sense. Still, he was out there raising money for those in need.
Evel and Robbie will be signing autographs from noon through four today, which suprised us somewhat, because when we interviewd Evel at the '04 Arizona Bike Week, everyone said his condition was terminal, and in fact, he collapsed at Buddy Stubbs Harley, and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.
ABM spoke to the engineers from S&S cycle about their new 56 degree V-twin, "X-Wedge", a fully epa compliant engine which meets or beats stringent epa regs for 2010. We bet you'll be seeing quite a few of these mills nesteled inbetween the frame rails of some famous bike builders in time for Sturgis. One of the guys showed me an S&S 124 cu in engine which he cranked up and ran. It ran incredibly smooth, no shakes, and was nearly silent in operation. I once owned a 124, and believe me, mine ran like a hay bailer compared to his, confirming what we know to be an ultimate truth; every engine, every bike, is like every person. Ain't no two that run the same.
As usual, the weather prognosticators were full of s--- about today's forcasted rain. Most of the two and three star hotels are sold out until Sunday night, so we'll just make another run down the slab and see what's going on. Check back early next week for a complete wrapup of the 66th Daytona.
posted by americanbikerminute at 4:36 AM
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