[Wild Bill]

In case anyone here hasn't heard, the run on Friday turned out to be quite a large gathering of friends, horsepower, sound and color. The week before Daytona some here were trying to guess how many V8 bikes would show for the run. I don't think that anyone guessed over 70!

Things got a little busy just prior to the start of the run so the numbers in attendance still seem to be sketchy. Lamont had a friend take pictures of each bike as they left, so I am hopeful to get the most accurate count from that. At the park where we took a break we counted 73 Boss Hoss's and 2 "other" V8 bikes (both were V8 Choppers...which look GREAT by the way!).

This run took a lot of planning, phone calls, emails, running around and some money to pull off. I think it also took years off my life due to stressing over the details etc! That being said, it was also a very rewarding and positive experience which I hope to be in a position to organize for 2006. Is everyone here interested in this run being an annual event?

I'm sure that some were not entirely pleased with every detail of the ride and for sure there was room for improvement. I have already written down some personal thoughts on how the run can be made better. I would like to open up a discussion here so I can learn what worked and what didn't so this run can be improved upon.

The Daytona and South Daytona Police who helped us out seemed to have as much fun watching us, AND TAKING THEIR OWN PICTURES, as we did! They treated us with the highest level of respect and courtesy and were a joy to work with. One of the officers asked me, while riding beside me at the start of the run, how fast it will go and how fast I have had it! He was genuinely interested. I will be sending both police departments a letter thanking them.

Thanks for your feedback.

Bill Taylor

 

[MBFsupport]

Bill. I can't thank you enough for putting this together and letting me be a small part of it. Everyone I talked to wondered how you pulled off getting them to shut down main street on a Friday afternoon for a bunch of V8 Riders. :twisted: That was just too cool. 8) I think the turnout was great and it was good to see so many dealers there too. Next year (if we do it next year) should have twice the numbers so I think an escort the whole way would be nice. All in all I am very happy with the way it went and I know you were stressing big time but you did good Bro. :twisted: Thanks again and I should have a CD of the run by next week if anyone wants one. I'll sell it for whatever it cost me to make it and ship it. Looks like we got about four shots of every bike in the run. 8)

 

[NcChopper]

Bill,

I echo the same thing. I think you did an excellent job. I had a blast and I love riding with a pack of hosses! You did a good job of waiting for the group when we got seperated by traffic lights. Your pre-ride briefing was also very informative and a great idea. Lamont did a great job with the traffic, too. Also, the guy on the trike ("Kaboom") was helpful too getting us around a granny or two who infiltrated the formation!

Lots of fun. I think an escort the entire route would be good, too, but especially up Ridgewood all the way. Wonder if the FHP would have jurisdiction to escort the entire ride?

Thanks again for spear heading this.

Chris

 

[Russell Carpenter]

Looks like yall had a hell of a time . I am at work in South America and missed Daytona . Let me know when you get the CD made. I want one. Hopefully next year will be different for me. DO I HEAR COLLEGE and MED SCHOOL both....Gotta Work....

 

[crazy_rick]

Bill, sorry I missed th ride. That had to be an awesome sight and sound going down Main Street.

Great job bro!

Next year, try it on the weekend, so us working folks can have some fun.

We are going to do the last weekend of the S.C. rally next month, hope to see ya there.

CR

 

[HAWK88]

Fri Ride

Bill;

Well done Bill. I agree if there could be more Law enforcement escort, it would help our fearless leader as well.

If I'm still in the area next year, I'll try to help by putting small posters @ the appropriate turns. Near the end, several Boss' turned right and I started to follow them. Saw the error in my ways to turn back before I got the clutch bike buried against the curb. My "reverse bands" kind of suck! Guess they had a different destination.

It was a WONDERFUL Ride! Thank you. I can only imagine how difficult it was to engineer.

LaMont, count me in for one of those photo CD's please. Let me know and I'll shoot you the money.

Thanks again to all who helped. More fun than a box of Puppies!

Ride Safe!

HAWK88
Jack Phillips

 

[Randy Epling]

Great Job on the Ride

Bill, great job on "The Ride". I rode with the group until we got past Main Street and had to split back to the Speedway. My only comment for improvement would be to start the ride a little earlier in the day so we don't hit the 5 oclock traffic down Beach Street and Ridgewood.
The potty stop was a great idea and a beautiful location. You made a hit with my wife.

Thanks for the good time and all your help during Bike Week
Randy

 

[V-MAN]

Bill

I think you missed your calling ... you should be a Diplomat! I can't imagine how you convinced both Daytona and South Daytona PD's to escort any part of the ride :shock: I was amazed that in the middle of a huge event like Daytona BikeWeek they took the time to help out ... AMAZING.

I say job well done! Thanks for all your efforts and hard work that went into this, it was obvious a lot. Maybe Oct will hold another V8 Ride?? I'd be willing to help out anyway I could, just ask.

 

[MosaV8!]

NEXT YEAR IM IN... I got to watch and count the V8s as you guys rolled out of Sunshine Mall.... impressive sight nonetheless.... some mighty impressive iron in that pack!

Well Done!

MosaV8!

 

[Bryan Ward]

Bill, I think you did a fantastic job of it. I was in it and it was an absolute thrill to say the least. I really can't think of anything you could improve on and I hope I can make it again next year.

It was also a lot of fun meeting some of the other people who post on this site and putting faces to the names.

After the ride, we left the next day for Key West, then back up and across Aligator Alley to Naples, Ft. Myers, and into Orlando for about 1200 miles. Great trip!!

Thanks again.

Bryan Ward

 

[MBFsupport]

It was good to meet you Bro. Glad you could make it. 8)

Bill, I think you did a fantastic job of it. I was in it and it was an absolute thrill to say the least. I really can't think of anything you could improve on and I hope I can make it again next year.

It was also a lot of fun meeting some of the other people who post on this site and putting faces to the names.

After the ride, we left the next day for Key West, then back up and across Aligator Alley to Naples, Ft. Myers, and into Orlando for about 1200 miles. Great trip!!

Thanks again.

Bryan Ward

 

[MBFsupport]

I was just told that we are going to have to stage somewhere else next year. Seems the guys that run the show over there gave my partners some grief about blocking the driveways. :?

 

[Green Bean]

Bryan, It was good to meet you also. Man you have a great paint job. Really can't tell from your Avatar, but I rode behind you in the ride and I saw all the people pointing at your bike.

I'm glad you made it back safely and try to stay warm just a little longer. Spring is just around the corner.

 

[Bryan Ward]

Ricky and Lamont,

Thanks for the comments. That bike seems to turn heads wherever I go. But I have to say, the bike that impressed me the most out of all that I saw, was Jack's (Hog V8). Jack, you've done an amazing job on that thing. The detail and workmanship on the many things you've done are absolute perfection. I wish I had half your talent. If the rest of you didn't see it, you missed out on on a work of art.

Jack, I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to steal a few of your ideas. Or maybe I'll just ship my bike down to you and let you stay busy next winter.

All the bikes there were beautiful machines and I know we are all proud to own the ones we have. But there is always one that stands out.

 

[HAWK88]

Bryan

Bryan;

I as well agree that Jack's bike is super. If you can afford it you can hang all sorts of things on a bike, but one so well executed by an individual with the inovative touchs does stand out.

Yours isn't shabby either. Very nice Boss, with a super paint scheme, even though you scared the crap out of me just south of Daytona! Certainly woke me up! Sounded great as well. I was suprised my old clutch bike could hang in that time I squeezed a bit before you did. Course, I wasn't 2 up either!

Enjoyed you all, look forward to the next meeting ANYWHERE!

Ride Safe!

HAWK88
Jack Phillips

 

[NcChopper]

Bryan,

I just realized that I was riding right beside you on A1A before we got to Main. I was on the purple 502. That means I was right there with Ricky, too. Sorry I didn't get to meet you guys.

I agree with you that Jack has an awesome bike. I wish I had access to the tools and had the talent to do that. I especially like his fuel pump set-up and his tranny filters.

Hope to meet ya'll soon. Myrtle Beach maybe?


Chris

 

[Green Bean]

Chris....I remember that purple 502, without a windshield, riding 2 up. Wish I would have known it was you. I probably would have recognized your bike if I had noticed the gray seats. Yep, I was right behind Bryan all the way from the Sunshine mall. Sorry I missed you Bro.

Next time I vote for name tags!

 

[Bryan Ward]

Jack Phillips, sorry about that, I didn't mean to scare you. Well, actually, yes I did. My buddies tell me when I blow their doors off like that, it sounds like a stock car when they are standing right beside the wall. Scares the hell out of them too! I love it!

Chris, now I know who you are. As Ricky said, it's too bad we didn't get to meet. I remember your wife / girlfriend sitting on the back of the 502, while you were sitting there idling. Those big blocks thump away and rock the bike quite a bit. I got the feeling that she would have been happy to get off the back fairly soon. It was shaking her up pretty good. The small blocks don't shake as bad.
I won't make Myrtle Beach I'm afraid. It's just too far and I don't have that much time or money. But I will be in Sturgis again this year. It's an easy 1 1/2 day ride each way, and I really enjoy riding in the Black Hills. Beautiful country side if you guys have never been there.

 

[HogV8]

Thanks guys for you kind words about my Boss . I know my Boss is nothing compared to most of the other nice Boss's but it's mine and I love it . If I gave anyone ideas that they want to try on their bikes , that makes me proud and your welcome to them .

Jack

 

[gizmo#137]

daytona bikeweek

i got hurt in the snow storm mon nite could not move for three days. the old body is coming around . any one knows who is KOMBOOM it is the trike for sale and it from PA a friend was trying to get in touch with him
but never saw it stop. sounds like you fellows had a good time. mj