Bikers are gearing up for Thunder on the Bend bike rally that is happening next weekend at Harvey’s Landing and Huxley Bay Marina on Friday-Sunday, May 16,1 7, 18. The 3-day rally will still feature all scheduled events, plus even more are in the works.

One of the featured events is the Bike Show sponsored by Farmers State Bank which will feature 6 divisions, including the People’s Choice for “Baddest Bike on the Bend”. Registration for the Bike Show begins at 8:30 am and ends at 2:00 pm with winners being announced around 3:00 pm during the Awards and Prizes Presentation.
Photo: Bikers pictured are Rowdy Hutchins, James Raymond, Rick Worsham, Sterling Crelia, and Kris Kirby.

Thunder on the Bend Bike Rally-New Stop-Tenaha, TX - May 7, 2008
Submitted by Becky Barker

WELCOME TO TENAHA, A LITTLE TOWN WITH BIG POTENTIAL! 2008 will be the town’s first ever stop for the Thunder on the Bend Motorcycle Rally supporting the Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center. We welcome all bikers to our fine town. Tenaha, an Indian word meaning “Muddy Water” has a history which includes growers of row crops (tomatoes, cotton, etc), dairies, timber and now the predominate industries of poultry, timber and beef cattle. Tenaha boasts of the historical marker designated as the shortest Loop in Texas (Loop168). It is a mere 395 feet long, straight thru the heart of town. We also have bragging rights of our mayor, George Bowers, holding his office for a consecutive 54 years, the longest residing mayor in Texas. Check out our wall mural on the side of the Whistle Stop Restaurant and you will see our claim to fame with the folk song made popular by Tex Ritter, “Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair”. History reflects two explanations for the saying, one being a good luck dice call dating back to WWI and later the train conductor call for destinations on the old passenger trains. We are one of the East/West and North/South railroad crossings of the Northern Burlington and Union Pacific railways. Highway 59/84 and 96 cross in the heart of the city limits making this an excellent major highway intersection with BIG POTENTIAL. Come by and meet the good folks of Tenaha at the gazebo in the heart of town. We will have Cowboy Golf and Redneck Railroad Ring Toss ready to challenge your skills. Bikers start arriving in Tenaha as early as 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2008.

Left: Steve Barker, Becky Barker, George N. Bowers, Doyce Bailey and Joyce Sterling

Stunt Team to Perform at Wal-Mart - May 6, 2008

There will be a professional street freestyle stunt team performance on the Wal-Mart SuperCenter parking lot on Friday, May 15 at 5:30 pm. “Stunt Garbage”, a sport bike motorcycle team based out of Corpus Christi, Texas, is being sponsored by Center Motor Co. ATV – Ray Jones, owner, and is one of the events scheduled for the Thunder on the Bend Motorcycle Rally. There is no admission fee for the show. Children and teens are welcome to come by and enjoy the performance. Stunt riders will be on hand following the show to meet the crowd, sign autographs, and take pictures. The Stunt Team will leave Center and go down to Harvey’s Landing where they will perform again on Saturday for the crowd there.

The riders perform on modified sports bikes and wear safety gear. They traveled to Shelby County last year and were anxious to return again this year for the rally. The guys perform stunts professionally all over the southern United States and Mexico – and especially love putting shows on for the kids. The group is made up of Jordan “Jordo” Powers, David “Pony Boy” Sedwick, and David “Petro” Serbantez. For more information about their team visit www.stuntgarbage.com.

Thunder on the Bend welcomes all types of bikers, including those on sports bikes – often called “crotch rockets”. Last Saturday, the Advocacy Center was set up at Wal-Mart selling tickets on the 16 ft. enclosed cargo to be given away at the rally and several bikers stopped by to visit. Bob Atchison, manager, took time out to visit with the bikers and promote the event. “Happy Bear” came by and made an appearance, mostly visiting with the children.

The Advocacy Center appreciates the support given to them by Center Motor ATV and Wal-Mart. Bikers will be registering at Wal-Mart on Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17. Spectators are invited to come out and see the bikes and visit with the riders as they register. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun at the rally – even if they don’t have a bike.

Harvey’s Landing and Huxley Bay Marina will once again play host to the 6th Annual Thunder on the Bend Motorcycle Rally, set for May 16-18. Now that the rally has grown into a 3-day event, many riders are coming to Shelby County with their RV’s/toy haulers/tents or planning to stay in local motels. The Huxley Fire Dept. has graciously offered their grounds for primitive camping (no hookups). If there are any other campgrounds/motels in the area who would like to be listed on the rally website, please call 590-9864. The Advocacy Center is getting many requests for information about accommodations from the Houston and Dallas areas. Let us know what you have to offer our out-of-town guests.

The Toledo Bend Lake Area is a great place for bikers to ride. A recent poll amongst motorcycle enthusiasts listed “a scenic location” as one of the best attractions for a rally. For those of us who make our home in East Texas, we often take for granted the beauty of our county. When you get on a motorcycle and ride our winding backloads you won’t find a lot of traffic, can easily smell the fragrant honeysuckles, enjoy the colorful wildflowers and green forests. There are wonderful historic buildings—old Victorian homes, farmhouses, country stores, and one of the most nostalgic movie theaters in existence. Shelby County is definitely a “scenic location.”

Thank you Tom and Kay Harvey and Bob and Stacy Vandrovec for sharing your “home” with the bikers coming into Shelby County to help our young victims of child abuse. Your hospitality and support is appreciated!

The Shelby Co. Children’s Advocacy Center is putting together a program (much like a football program) to be given to all registered bikers at the Thunder on the Bend Motorcycle Rally. This is the last week to purchase an ad for the rally program. Keep in mind, many of the bikers will be in our county for the weekend, patronizing local businesses and will carry the programs back home with them. Bikers like to do business with people who support their events!

Ad rates are: $35 for business card or memorial ad
$65 for ¼ page ad
$125 for ½ page ad
$250 for full page

The program will feature a page to honor soldiers currently serving in the military. If you would like to have someone listed, please contact the Advocacy Center. Many of the bikers are veterans or having family members serving in the armed forces and we try to recognize this group each year in some way.

Individuals and families are also purchasing ads – even if they don’t have a business to advertise – just to show their support for child victims of abuse.

For more information or to purchase an ad, please call the Shelby Co. Children’s Advocacy Center, 936-590-9864 or email shelbycocac@yahoo.com. To learn more about the rally visit our website www.thunderonthebend.com.

Thunder on the Bend Moves Back to Toledo Bend - April 19, 2008

The 6th Annual Thunder on the Bend Motorcycle Rally has made a change in plans and will once again be held at Harvey’s Landing and Huxley Bay Marina on Friday-Sunday, May 16,1 7, 18. The 3-day rally will still feature all scheduled events, plus even more are in the works. Bikers can register at Wal-Mart SuperCenter on Hwy. 96 on Friday from noon until 5 pm and on Saturday from 8:30 – 11 am. The $30 registration fee includes the $2000 Fun Run (sponsored by Monco Motors), rally pin, Biker Ball, Biker Breakfast, and raffle tickets. The “Fun Run” will begin Saturday morning and bikers will ride through the county making stops at different locations, including Monco Motors, Timpson Quick Stop, Leggett Cycle, and Farmers State Bank (Shelbyville Branch).

Farmers State Bank is sponsoring the Bike Show which will feature 6 divisions, including the People’s Choice for “Baddest Bike on the Bend”. K- Bar Motorsports, owners Nathan and Lynn Kaluza, are bringing something new to the area with a portable Dyno Machine and Wheelie Machine from Houston PowerSports. These machines are a great deal of fun and bring out the competitive spirit in bikers.

The Biker Ball will take place Friday night at Harvey’s Landing and is sponsored by The Sports Page. The ball will feature live entertainment sponsored by Complete Vaccuum and Rentals and a crawfish boil sponsored by KLN Contractors.

Saturday night will feature live entertainment from “One Night Stand” featuring Richard and Lakeysa Stuart. The freestyle motorcycle stunt team “Stunt Garbage” will be returning again this year and performing on Friday and Saturday for the crowd. The Stunt Team is being sponsored by Center Motor ATV – Ray Jones.

A 16 ft. enclosed cargo trailer will be given away. Tickets may be purchased for $10 each. There will be a live auction, bike games, t-shirts, vendors, and tattoo contest. There will also be a $300 cash prize presented to the group with the most registered riders.

On Sunday morning, church services will be held at the lake.

Because Sat., May 17 is also Armed Forces Day, a special salute will be made to soldiers currently serving in any branch of the military and to military veterans. If anyone has family members currently in service, please contact the Advocacy Center so they can be recognize in the rally program and from the stage area.

Since this is a 3-day event, bikers are encouraged are come to the lake for the weekend. There are plenty of campsites and motel rooms available at Harvey’s Landing, Huxley Bay Marina, and Boles Field. The rally website is being updated with new information about accommodations and other attractions, www.thunderonthebend.com, or you can call 936-590-9864.