Photos From Barney Fife Scootergoods Homepage

I checked out Bike Night on Wednesday, April 2, and found about 20 bikes already in the parking lot at 7:30PM, and two long tables filled with bikers and their ladies enjoying dinner. After dinner, the crowd enjoyed dancing and karaoke by "Starz 'N Barz Karaoke" until around 11:00PM. For good food, good drinks and good company, look for the tall sign on the west side of US-19, two miles over the bridge and just past the
BP Station between Fanning Springs and Old Town.

On March 14th 2008 I met some of my fellow Scootergoods Staff
Members at the Memorial Cross site for our good friend and well known Scootergoods photographer, Tom ‘Barney’ Fife. In the long-observed biker tribute to a fallen brother, we"Cracked the Jack" for Barney. The ceremony consists of taking an unopenned bottle of Jack Daniels -- today we used a half-pint -- and the rider who was closest to the fallen brother ‘cracks’ the seal and takes the first drink. The bottle is then passed around, each brother/sister taking a drink, and the last person to drink is one who was close to the fallen rider. In this case it was DonV, who Barney had worked with for a couple years. There is always a couple shots of ‘Jack’ left in the bottle that is poured on the grave (or memorial site) as the drink for the fallen brother. It was a very emotional ceremony, as all of us had known and worked with Barney, and we all loved him dearly. Barney’s Memorial‘Fresh’ artificial flowers are keptthere year-round. The Memorial is located on CR 345 about 8 milessouth of Chiefland. After the memorial ceremony we went to the new biker bar in Chiefland, KNUCKLEHEADZ SALOON, and toasted Barney with a couple cold ones.

KNUCKLEHEADZ SALOON
Located on US-19 on the south end of Chiefland,
Across the streeet from the VFW Hall

NOW OPEN and READY FOR BIKERS

KNUCKLEHEADZ opened in Chiefland, FL on February 27, 2008 and held a Grand Opening Bar-B-Q feed for customers on March 1.

I guess biI guess bikers smelled the pork & chicken cooking over the oak fire.e oak fire.

Food, ice cold drinks and friendly faces.

What a small, tall, table full of bikers looks like!

Grand Opening Night entertainment was by the band UNDERDAWGS

(They have an awesome girl singer!)

KNUCKLEHEADZ SALOON is owned by bikers, run by bikers, and

dedicated to the biker lifestyle!

Look for the KNUCKLEHEADZ SALOON full-page ad in the
April issue of Scootergoods Magazine.

Photos, comments and information by Scooter Ted

February 2008

LEATHERS ARE ‘BIKER COOL’

On Christmas Day, 2007, another member of our biker community, Scootergoods staffer "Beanie," got slammed by a careless cager; -- another ASSWIPE, to use Scootergoods terminology. Another injured rider, wasted bike, and unnecessary pain, inconvenience, expense and time in the hospital. Fortunately, this incident was not a fatality, but Beanie did get a lot of road-rash. How long will it be before someone you know, a good friend of yours -- or maybe even you -- has to ride the asphalt? We all have to face it; shit happens. Will you have done all that you can do to make your potential injuries less? I know; you probably think I’m going to tell you to wear your helmet. That might not be a bad idea but it is a matter of personal judgement; does the advantage out-weigh the disadvantage? When I hit the asphalt back in early October, I wasn’t wearing a helmet -- MY CHOICE -- and I took a good shot, scraping my face hard. your hands, protective gear is also a great idea. In cold weather most riders wear insulated gloves, and they do a good job of protecting your hands from cold and injury. In warm weather, the most popular gloves are the fingerless type, and fingerless gloves help keep your hands from getting sore, but are not much protection for your hands and fingers if you hit the asphalt. (Ask me about THAT one, too!) The doctor who repaired my left forehead and cheek said that if I had been wearing a helmet my face might not have been hurt. BUT -- and this might surprise some of you -- he added that from the angle that I hit the pavement, the weight of a helmet might have broken my neck. As I said before, helmet use is YOUR CHOICE, as it was mine. Now, how about the possibility of road rash on arms, legs and back? How about burned legs and ripped toes? The most obvious protection -- and protection that too many riders, particularly new riders (and careless older ones) -- often fail to use, is protective clothing. I’m speaking of leathers and boots for most riders, or manufacturer’s padded gear for sport-bike riders. Good, hard leathers -- jackets, vests, pants or chaps and boots -- or padded riding suits offer a sliding surface between your skin and the asphalt. Keep in mind that biker leathers and riding suits are also ‘biker fashion cool.’ Of course, protective clothing can’t save you from all injuries, including bad bruises. But believe me when I say this: A long-sleeve T-shirt doesn’t help a damn bit! What about torn or broken fingers? Fingers are very vulnerable in a slide. Every rider should remember that for I’ve heard the old story about, "Leathers are too uncomfortable to wear in warm weather; too hot and binding." I’ve used that one a few times, myself. But think about spending a couple weeks in a hospital bed while the skin-grafts heal, the bandages are painfully changed, and you are getting poked and prodded 24 hours a day and can‘t even have a cold beer. Then you will get an idea of what REAL discomfort is. Bottom line, and I am speaking from recent and painful experience, having full leathers (jacket, vests and brand new, never worn chaps) hanging in your closet is a bitch to think about when you are lying in a hospital bed! (Believe me on this one, too; Leathers are a lot cheaper and much more comfortable than skin grafts.) So let’s ALL face it; -- You do have to be a bit crazy to ride a bike in present-day traffic, but you don’t have to be stupid…..

Article by Scooter Ted

On November 17, 2007, a Birthday Party for Amy Cook was held at The DAWG HOUSE Sports Lounge in Fanning Springs. Many close friends and fanily members attended, and the event was made even more special by the presence of many local bikers, who are also Amy’s friends, and who call the DAWG HOUSE their "home bar."

Some of you who may not know Amy well may remember her as the "JAGERBOMB LADY" from November’s Old Fashioned Biker rodeo in Brooksville. Several dozen of Amy’s acquaintances attended the party and enjoyed the evenings happenings, including music by The Biker’s Favorite Rock Band, CORE, which rocked the DAWG HOUSE until 2AM. Amy really got into the festivities of her "Big 30".

The DAWG HOUSE Sports Lounge and the band CORE were really a special part of AMY’s Birthday celebration, because Amy’s Mom, PATTI, is the owner of the DAWG HOUSE, and Amy’s long-time partner, GREG, is a member of the band CORE.
It was my honor to do the photos and article. "Scooter Ted"

Another Tom "BARNEY" Fife Memorial Ride. The (Tri-County) Tom "Barney" Fife Memorial Toys for Tots ride, sponsored by the local Marine Corps Reserve Unit and organized by Bill "Hutch" Hutchinson, was held on Saturday, November 17, 2007. More than 150 bikes -- including about a dozen trikes -- left Bell’s Restaurant in Chiefland at 12 noon for the 21 mile ride escorted by 5 Levy County Sheriff vehicles. The procession was met in Fanning Springs by escort vehicles from the Dixie County Sheriff Department. The mile long motorcade arrived at the events grounds behind Charlie’s Tavern -- about 5 miles west of Old Town on US-19 -- without incident and riders were directed to the secure bike parking area. The stage area was already set up, and it and the food pavilion were beautifully decorated with Toys for Tots banners and posters. Four Marines in full-dress ‘blues’ kept things moving along smoothly. A five dollar donation provided more funds for the Toys for Tots Foundation and also provided the donor with a great meal of pulled pork, roasted chicken, baked beans, potato salad and cole slaw. There was cake for dessert, and soft drinks or water included with the meal. A full afternoon of musical entertainment was provided by The Rick Gordon Band and the classic rock band, K-9. Several items were auctioned off for the benefit of the Foundation, and a total of about $3,000 was raised by the event. A highlight of the event was the display of the trike that formerly belonged to "Barney" Fife. The trike is nearing complete restoration by Ballengee Auto-Body of Chiefland, who transported it to the event on a decorated trailer. The new owners of the trike, Lee (‘Capt. Ron’) and Krista Campbell of Old Town, who were long time friends of Barney, obtained the trike to rebuild in Barney’s honor. If you missed the Tri-County "Barney" Fife Memorial Toys for Tots Ride this year, we hope to see you in 2008 on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

In November, 1997, then 26 year old Gary Sullivan lost most of his right arm in an industrial accident. He had been riding dirt bikes for quite a while, but the loss of his arm put an end to the jumps and whoop-de-dos.Gary missed riding, but how do you ride with no right arm? About three years ago, he contacted a physician in Gainesville, FL, who worked with him to craft an ‘artificial’ arm that would let Gary ride again. He now rides a 2002 Suzuki INTRUDER 1500cc ‘dresser’ with the ease and skill of any rider. His prosthetic right arm remains on the bike when he is not actually riding, and it takes less than a minute to ‘put on his right arm’ when he gets on the bike. If you ever run into Gary Sullivan and his big INTRUDER, do yourself the honor of shaking the left hand of a truly dedicated biker.

                                                                           Tribute to a Brother
Dec 1st 2006 Always willing to help, Kind, Caring, a true friend to the end. That was Tom "Barney" Fife! I will miss him greatly and so will the rest of his Biker Family. Our friends life was taken needlessly by an impatient cager, reminding us of how vulnerable we are to recklessness. I believe if Tom could speak from beyond he would tell us all to be kind to those around us and live everyday as if it where our last. His contributions to the biker community are countless. He was always willing to give his time to both friends and groups for the good of us all. He was a fine example of how one man should treat another and proved it everyday! We where all fortunate to know Tom"Barney" Fife and PROUD to call him BROTHER & FRIEND
The message above was written by Barney about his friend KC, 3 weeks before his own death AT THE HANDS OF A CARELESS CAGER!
                                                                                                                     R.I.P. Barney, DonV

A Newberry, Fl area couple were killed Monday afternoon when a pickup pulled out in front of their motorcycle as they drove near Micanopy on a Memorial Day ride, the Florida Highway Patrol reported. Bobby Ray Wilkerson, 35, and Jaime Gail Wilkerson, 31, who were husband and wife, were riding west along County Road 234 near Micanopy when a pickup pulled out in front of the couple as they were driving underneath the Interstate 75 overpass, according to Sgt. Nick Causey with the Florida Highway Patrol.The pickup, driven by Thomas Lawrence Brown Jr., 46, of Alachua, had stopped at the stop sign after exiting I-75 on the southbound exit ramp, but then he pulled out in front of the motorcycle as he attempted to turn east onto CR 234, according to reports.The Wilkersons were thrown from the motorcycle and suffered fatal head injuries from the crash. Neither was wearing a helmet, and they were pronounced dead at the scene."This is a case where a helmet probably could have saved their lives," said Causey, who also mentioned the Wilkersons were in Micanopy on Monday to visit family for Memorial Day.                                                          Scooter Ted

Scooter Ted



Where The Hell Is That? That pink pig is on top of HUCKLEBERRY BAR-B-QUE in Fanning Springs. Fanning Springs is located on US-19/98, just south of the Suwannee River Bridge. HUCKLEBERRY is open for breakfast at 7:00AM, 7 days a week, and stays open until 8PM. No better bar-b-que, seasoned fries and coleslaw in the area and they also serve Fried Green Tomatoes most of the year. Almost opposite HUCKLEBERRY is located FANNING SPRINGS STATE PARK, one of the most beautiful natural spring-fed swimming areas in Florida. The Park area has baseball diamonds, volley-ball courts, covered pavilions, a modern playground for the little ones, bath-houses, and swimming and sunning areas for everyone. An elevated boardwalk leads to a large covered gazebo among huge cypress trees and overhanging the Suwannee River. Canoe rentals are available. There are also some beautiful new Park Service Cottages that may be reserved by calling the Park Office at (352) 463-3199. The biker-friendly DAWG HOUSE LOUNGE, located on US-19/98 a couple hundred yards south of the ‘main drag,’ is presently completing a full interior remodeling, and is open 7 days a week from 11AM until 2AM, with ‘live entertainment’ 7 nights a week. -- SHELTERED BIKE PARKING UNDER THE FRONT OVERHANG! -- Just south of that on 19/98, across the highway from the 24-hour CITGO station, is the HOMESTEAD restaurant that has a great buffet 7 days a week specializing in seafood on Friday and Saturday evenings. Just a quarater-mile south of the CITGO station is the newest eatery in the area, the 19/98 GRILL and COUNTRY STORE. You have to look for this one, because it is about 200 feet back from the highway in a shady grove of old oak trees. Believe me, the food makes it worth looking for! When you are out for a leiurely ride, look for the little town just 8 miles north of Chiefland, Florida. Fanning Springs is known as the "Gateway to the Suwannee River," and has enough things to keep you busy for as long as you want to stay. There are 4 motels in the town. Photo & Article by Scooter Ted Photo NOT TAKEN by Scooter Ted (dammit...)





				Photo not taken by Scooter Ted

The Nature Coast Chapter of Abate met to pay tribute to KC MALLADY at Willards on Sunday Nov. 19th R.I.P. K.C. 1
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