MNO Blog – Motorcycles, News, Opinions

A recent article in Florida Today “breaking news” section seems to stirred up old news in the Billy Lane DUI Manslaughter case. The article entitled Lane scheduled for court appearance reports that two of the three charges Lane faced were dropped. The story seems to have spawned from an earlier report on February 23 by WFTV channel 9, Orlando reporting Two Charges Dropped Against Celebrity Motorcycle Builder. This is nothing new in the case and most that have been following the Billy Lane cases know that this happened months ago.

What caught my eye in the story was the date of March 16 being reported as scheduled for next appearance. Because I was present during the last docket sounding on February 2 and reported the next court date to be March 23, 2007, I wanted to know why the date had been changed. It appears that there was a clerical error made on all of the cases from the February 2nd docket setting them for the next date of March 23rd. When the error had been discovered in the conflicting dates, notices were sent out to all parties notifying them of the new date set to March 16th.

Aside the criminal case for DUI manslaughter Lane faces, there is a pending civil suit against Billy Lane and ChryslerDaimler for the wrongful death of victim Gerald Morelock. Billy Lane was driving a promotional vehicle owned by Dodge on the night of September 4th that struck and killed Morelock while attempting to pass 3 vehicles in a double yellow no passing zone along Highway A1A in Melbourne Beach.

Source:

http://www.wftv.com/news/11094035/detail.html

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/BREAKINGNEWS/70224004

Technorati Tags: motorcycle news, dui, billy lane, daimlerchrysler, court, law, melbourne, florida, brevard county

If you plan on visiting Florida for Bike Week 2007, be sure to work a ride on the Volusia County Loop into your plans. We will be on the loop photographing riders and their motorcycles on the first Saturday, March 3 between the hours of 1 till 3 pm.

We have been taking pictures on the Daytona Loop during Bike Week and Biketoberfest for the past 3 years and enjoy the work and friends we make. You can see our past loop photo galleries by clicking here to visit our Bike Week site.

The Loop is a great motorcycle ride that is enjoyed by the thousands of visitors to the Daytona, Ormond and Flagler Beach area each year during the two big motorcycle events Bike Week and Biketoberfest. The road is two lane paved that has stretches of straight roadway covered with scenic tree canopies provided by some of Florida’s oldest oaks.

As you ride in deeper into the 23 mile trail known as the “loop” you will encounter some sharp turns and  S curves along the low lying wetlands heavily decorated with natural Florida Palm Trees. The ride stretches out from outer Daytona and into Ormond and Flagler Beach.

There are not many places available to stop along the route, so you will want to ride slow to enjoy the view. The few places that allow for bikers to pull over and rest will not be seen until you are right on them, so you will need to keep an eye out for them.

Bikers taking a break during bike week ride on the Daytona Loop.

It can also be very hard for us to find a good spot to take pictures along the loop scenic ride, but we have a few places that we can be found working. One of my favorite places is at what I call the lake curve. The picture above and at the post opening were both taken there. This spot gives me a great camera vantage and angle where I can lay near the road and catch motorcycles as they pass on the curve.

Look for me and my wife as you ride and your picture may be posted in this year’s loop ride photo gallery. Pictures are available for purchase and are shot at a high resolution so that they are suitable for enlarging and framing. See you at Bike Week!

Technorati Tags: bike week, motorcycle news, florida, daytona beach, ormond beach, motorcycle pictures, the loop, biketoberfest, volusia county

This post will be first in a series, as I begin to bring you reviews of my Bike Night visits.

Back about a month ago we took a ride out to Sanford, Florida to check out Jonny Rotton’s Bar Out Back for bike night. Thursday nights in Sanford the normally dark and quiet road that winds along Lake Monroe is lit up as groups of motorcycles roll in for bike night. Located a couple of miles off of I-4 and just behind the St. John’s Bar and Grille lies Jonny Rotton’s Bar Out Back where every Thursday between 7 and 10 they have a party under the stars.

We arrived about 7:30 and even though the temperature was a bit low that night, along with dense patches of fog, the place still draws a large crowd. The Bar Out Back is a perfect place to have a bike night with a large area for motorcycle parking, covered tables, several bars and beer tubs and a burnout pit.

Real Radio 104.1 talk show host Shannon Burke rides his chopper that was recently built by Pit Bull Motorcycles and joins the crowd.

The motorcycle burnout pits were open and smokin for the weekly contest as the crowds cheered in pleasure to watch as bikers burn their rear tire to the rim.

The all Harley drag racing team of Ground Zro had their Harley drag bike on display and are usually on hand during the Thursday night biker event to answer questions.

I found the bike night at Jonny Rotton’s to be a lot of fun with plenty of outdoor space to roam and meet new friends. There are only a few vendors that were set up, so you do not feel like you are at a shopping mall. The combination of the St John’s Bar and Grille with the Bar Out Back works out real well and the drink prices are very reasonable. This is a bike night that I will return to and recommend it to those who are in the Sanford Orlando area.

Remember to drink responsibly, please.

Technorati Tags: bike night, biker bars, florida, motorcycle news, motorcycles, sanford

This is part II of my article about Steve Coe and Daytona Vintage Racing. After meeting Steve during bike week, I was invited out to see more of Coe’s toys at his home. Remember from the first article, that these motorcycles used to be kept in the Daytona Beach Klassix Museum.

After the museum closed, Coe built this mobile museum out of a tractor trailer rig. But this trailer could only house a select few of the collection that Steve Coe has.

Inside the old barn Steve has converted to store his collection you can see the motorcycles are still packed in for space. Displayed there is a wide variety of motor bikes, race and street motorcycles and trikes.

Some of the collection are even set up high along the wall like this 1938 90 cc Simplex surrounded by trophies that Steve Coe has won or been awarded throughout the years.

Yet another shot of the opposite corner of the building. For you car and hot rod buffs, take a note of the bright red Chevy Nomad in the background of this photograph.

Shovelhead, panhead and knuckleheads even a collection of engines on the shelves in the den. This room had a huge motor in it. When I asked Coe what it was, he said “oh yea, well that is a engine from a Indy car”. He has race bikes, dirt bikes, street bikes and choppers! The list just goes on and on. Coe sets up his mobile vintage motorcycle museum during Daytona motorcycle events, so be sure to look for him and say hi.

I’ll end this post with a picture of Steve and Vanessa on the Hemi Trike. Fast! What do you think?

Technorati Tags: antique, biker blog, classic, motorcycle news, motorcycles, racing, vintage harley, daytona beach, custom motorcycles

(Titusville, Florida) Trial target date set for August 20, 2007 in wrongful death auto negligence case against Billy Lane and DaimlerChrysler Corporation.

Although today’s appearance in the civil case against Billy Lane and Dodge was a calendar hearing, there were some motions presented to the court. Present at the hearing today were Jeffery Vernis, Esq. and Terrance Perkins attorneys for defendant, William D. Lane. William McCandless, attorney for defendant, DaimlerChrysler, was present by telephone. Representing the plaintiff(s) Dolores J. Morelock, Estate of Gerald V Morelock, were S. Sammy Cacciatore and Sammy M. Cacciatore. The hearing was held in chambers of Honorable Judge John D. Moxley Jr. at 1:30 pm today.

Jeffrey Vernis Presented an oral argument to the court on his Motion To Dismiss, filed November 26, 2006, asking the court to dismiss the case against Lane. The Motion To Dismiss states that the plaintiff fails to set forth the required elements of negligence in the complaint filed. Vernis made oral argument before the court on the motion to dismiss while citing the Florida Law, Rules & Guidelines and case law. Cacciatore stated to the court that while he felt the complaint was sufficient, he would be willing to add the word “negligence” to paragraph 9 in an amended complaint. Judge Moxley denied the motion to dismiss and accepted the offer of the amended complaint.

Jeffrey Vernis next approached the court on the Motion For Speedy Trial that was filed by the plaintiff on November 7, 2006. Vernis stated that the motion had been ruled on without being heard and asked that the court entertain his response. Judge Moxley allowed Vernis to go on and then asked if he could be prepared for trial in four and a half months. Vernis called the motion for speedy trial “premature” and stated “your Honor, I would be very shocked if we could be ready for trial in four and a half months.” Judge Moxley upheld the motion for speedy trial and set the trial to be heard on August 20, 2007.

William McCandless, attorney for DaimlerChrysler was to speak to the court by telephone about the affirmative defenses that he had filed on November 15, 2006, but McCandless had another call and disconnected from the hearing.

Technorati Tags: auto negligence, billy lane, daimlerchrysler, dui, law, motorcycle news, wrongful death, dodge, court, titusville, florida

I first met Steve Coe during bike week 2005. He had is vintage motorcycle museum set up at the Cabbage Patch Bar. Taking a walk into the tractor trailer that has been converted into a mobile motorcycle museum you see he has quite a bit of motorcycle history inside. A couple of Harley-Davidson vintage race bikes, an antique Daytona Fire Department motorcycle and a V8 motorcycle called the Chevy-Davidson!

The Chevy Davidson motorcycle one of only two known to exist.

1948 Harley Hummer

1932 Harley 750

Notice the number 213 on the Harley Hummer? Not only does Steve Coe collect and maintain these motorcycles himself, he races them. Coe has finished every race that he has started. You can catch Steve Coe at the Daytona International Speedway during bike week as he races in the vintage class C hand shift series on March 6th.

Steve Coe loads up his vintage motorcycles on race day.

So you think, wow that is a big collection of vintage motorcycles? The motorcycles contained in the mobile museum is only a drop in the bucket of Steve’s collection. If you have been to Daytona Beach you have probably noticed the Klassix Museum in the past. That museum used to house Steve’s collection which he now keeps at home. I visited Steve at his home to see more and continue this story in another post. Be sure to visit Daytona Vintage Racing to learn more about Steve Coe, his racing and his collection.

Technorati Tags: bike week, biketoberfest, daytona, motorcycle news, racing, vintage motorcycles

(Melbourne, Florida) Billy Lane criminal case calendar call, February 2, 2007.

I had reported on January 19th that Billy Lane had changed attorneys to represent him in the DUI Manslaughter case that was set for calendar call today. The report, it seems, was incorrect. It was learned earlier today that Lane has added an attorney to the case. Two attorneys stood before Judge Allawas at the Viera courthouse in Brevard County, Florida to request the case be set for calendar call
on March 23, 2007.

Keith F. Szachacz, Esq. appeared for the law office of Funk, Szachacz & Diamond, LLC.

Robert Ralph Berry was present representing the law offices of Eisenmenger, Berry & Peters, P.A. Berry, stood behind Szachacz and agreed to the new date of March 23. Judge Allawas asked if Defendant, Lane was present and both attorneys stated that Billy Lane was not present today. The Judge asked if Lane was being represented by both offices. Judge Allawas remarked “that scares me” when it was confirmed that Billy Lane was being represented by both.

Billy Lane also has a related civil case pending were he and ChryslerDaimler are being sued for auto negligence and the wrongful death of Gerald Morelock. This case has been scheduled for February 7th 2007 at the Titusville Courthouse.

Technorati Tags: billy lane, blog, court, dui, florida, melbourne, motorcycles, news

(Melbourne, Florida) - New attorney of record named in Billy Lane criminal case.

It appears as though attorney Kepler Funk will no longer be defending Billy Lane against the pending DUI Manslaughter charges held against him in Brevard County, Florida. Notice of Appearance and other new pleadings were filed earlier today by Viera attorney Gregory Eisenmenger.

Billy Lane’s new attorney of record, Gregory Eisenmenger filed a demand for trial along with a request for copy of charges while giving notice to the court of his appointment to the case.

The Plaintiff, the Sate of Florida, has also filed new pleadings in case No. 05-2006-CF-027824-AXXX-XX of Supplemental Discovery and a Subpoena Duces Tecum, which is requiring the Defendant, William D. Lane to produce a document or documents pertinent to a proceeding. The court record also show that Gregory Eisenmenger also filed a Notice of Discovery and Statement of Particulars on behalf of his client Billy Lane.

The DUI Manslaughter charges pending against Billy Lane were filed after the September 4, 2006 crash that took the life of motorcyclist Gerald Morelock, 56 of Melbourne Beach, Florida. Witnesses on the road that night have stated that Lane was speeding and had crossed the double yellow lines in an attempt to pass 3 vehicles in a 2006 Dodge pick up owned by the DaimlerChrysler Corporation. Billy Lane and DaimlerChrysler have been named in a auto negligence suit for the wrongful death of Gerald Morelock.

Billy Lane is scheduled to appear before Brevard County Judge Allawas on February 2, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. at the Viera courthouse. Neither attorney could be reached at this time for comment. This is a preliminary report, a complete follow up will be posted as documents are retrieved and more news becomes available.

Source:

Brevard Clerk of Court public record

law.com

Technorati Tags: billy lane, DUI, DWI, drunk driving, legal news, crime, court, case research, melbourne, florida, motorcycle news, brevard county, attorney, lawyer, manslaughter, vehicular homicide

During Bike Week there are a lot of things to do and see. If you are planning your trip to bike week, be sure to put the Wall of Death presented by the Hell Riders on your list of things to see! They will be at the Ironhorse Saloon in Ormond Beach during bike week 2007.

There is more than one “wall of death” motordrome motorcycle show, but the hell riders are a family committed to make each ride on the wall a thrill to watch. Don Daniels II (shown above) follows after his father, who owned and rode the wall before him. Don has been thrilling audiences for over 10 years riding on the wall.

Sandra Daniels (pictured above) is heading into her 8th year as a wall of death hell rider and loves the sport that she has committed to. Sandra has a page at myspace.com check it out to learn more about the hell riders wall of death. Sandra and Doni got married in July of 2004.

Brothers Don and Ian Daniels continue to keep the wall of death alive and are some of the best motordrome riders around. Sandra is really inspiring to watch when she rides, she has a smile on her face the entire time. If you love motorcycles and you want to see one of the top motorcycle thrill shows, then be sure to catch the Hell Riders on the Wall of Death during Bike Week 2007 and tell them that Mike Odom sent you.

The Hell Riders also perform on the Wall of Death during Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach.

Bike Week Hotels

More Wall of Death pictures

Technorati Tags: stunt show, motorcycle stunts, motordrome, motorcycle news, thrill show, bike week, biketoberfest

There was no big press release in the news papers or on the Internet to tell visitors traveling to the Melbourne, Florida based Choppers Inc of the store closing. On the front door hangs a small printout from the company web site made into a sign. The sign says that Billy Lane’s store, Choppers Inc. will only be open during major motorcycle event and race days and those hours will be announced 30 days prior.

While it was announced that Billy Lane was planning to work hard at his Choppers Inc. location preparing motorcycles for the up coming 2007 bike shows, it seems this announcement was low profile. The only way visitors would know the store was not open for business was to visit the news section of the Choppers Inc web site or, as many, visit the retail store location only to find it closed to the public.

Billy Lane, is probably most famous in the motorcycle industry for his creation of the hubless wheel design and known to the general public as 3 time biker build-off winner, Monster Garage and owner of Choppers Inc. located in Melbourne, Florida. Billy Lane also holds many patents on custom motorcycle parts that he designed.

While Billy Lane and Choppers Inc motorcycles were well known, it was the Choppers Inc. shirts, hats and posters that people would visit the Melbourne retail location to shop for. Those purchases must now be made online only until the store opens during the next motorcycle event.

Source:

http://www.choppersinc.com

Technorati Tags: choppers inc, florida, melbourne, motorcycle news, motorcycles