This year's rally had some pretty impressive entertainment, with some of the usual bands and shows and bonus acts like, Kid Rock, Jackyl ("Jackyl me off!!"), Ted Nugent, Trey Lewis, and Struggle Jennings; Waylon Jennings grandson
Then there were a few changes to the venues, like Lucky 13 being changed to the "Strip at Thunder Beach", which is where our friend and one of the finest artist's around, Michael Swann sets up. This year however, he said it was kind of a flop since the lighting out there sucked among other things; people started pulling out of there early on, sad. We still had some of the "Hot Spots" going like Frank Brown Park, where they also held the concerts, Pier Park, Shuckum's and Hammer Head Fred's, with the Miss Thunder Beach contest (although, I think they changed the name of that as well) and of course, everyone has to make a pit stop at the Harley Shop.
Ashley & James Winters, from WVC, found another location to visit; they said Vaughn and crew, at 8Fifty Speed Shop, hosted (in their words) a HELLUVA GOOD TIME, and added their Dope Bikes to those from SikCycles Stuntin, for folks to drool over.
The rally had a little bit of rain to deal with along the way, but nothing they couldn't handle, until the end of the weekend when they were faced with the possibilities of having to get wet heading home, so a lot of them headed out early trying to miss it, a few just decided to stay another day or so.
We were saddened to see that two of the long running big clubs in Panama City Beach were closed down and boarded up; Spinnakers and Club Lavella; they've been down there for as long as I can remember.
Also, a couple of tragic events; there were at least two pretty bad wrecks that the news had reported, one of which one of our photographers (Cindy Marsh) had captured.
On Friday night, Florida Highway Patrol said a 47 year old man, traveling South on Silver Sands Drive, on a Harley, was attempting to turn left onto Thomas Drive, did not see the Wrangler Jeep traveling West on Thomas Drive, when the Jeep struck the bike on its side, throwing the man onto the pavement. Both vehicles came to rest in the center of both of the West lanes. Due to the collision, both became engulfed in flames. The driver of the motorcycle was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and later died. The road was shut down for several hours.
Also on Friday, a 32 year old man traveling on Joan Ave, near Thomas Drive, lost control of his motorcycle after hitting a hole in the road, then overturned the bike onto the roadway in the South lane where a 40 year old woman traveling South on Joan Ave towards Thomas Drive, did not see the bike and struck the front of it, leaving both vehicles to rest in the South Lanes of Joan Ave.2 people were transported to the hospital.
Along with the rally came the heavy traffic, which police were urging people to use extra caution, pay attention to what's around you; I mean you can probably HEAR them before SEEING them, and to obey the speed limits, and don't drink and drive. I'm sure that last part fell on deaf ears.
We had many contributing photographers to thank for their contributions of awesome photos, taking us on their adventures with them:
Cindy Marsh, Vicky Vail, Cindy Lou, Diana Davis, Kurt Wright, & Ashley & James Winters