Month: May 2012

Thunder Beach 2012 Full Event Schedule and Rally Information

If the continuous rolling thunder didn’t clue you in, then all the motorcycles everywhere surely will.  And if you’re not down here, then you’re missing one heck of a party this week.  But it’s not the kind of party we had a few weeks ago with the Spring Breakers, it’s a group, that while very loud and sometimes rough looking, they’re overall much better patrons to our beach.  Love them or hate them, they bring in good money, treat our vacation rentals well and they give our economy a much needed injection of activity before our busy summer season.

The bikers have been here all week, but the majority are coming in today and tomorrow and staying through Sunday and Monday.

Here is a full schedule of events for this year’s Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally.  As always, more information can be found on their website, even though it used to be much better. 😉

Note: I copied all of the schedule info from their pdf download – please excuse typos or formatting errors.  

Wednesday May 2 Schedule

9:00AM- 9:00 PM — — Thunder BeachWelcome Center (Information&Media)  — — Shoppes at Edgewater

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM — —  Live Music with Michael Compton — —  WickedWheel

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM  — — Live Music with Big Engine  — — Sandpiper Beacon

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM  — — Live Music with Clay Musgrave – — —  At the Tiki Bar Sharky’s Beach Club

6:00 PM-10:00 PM  — — Official Thunder Beach Kick-Start Party  — — Shores of Panama

featuring National Recording Artist Jasmine Cain Top of the Garage-12th Floor

7:00PM — —   Official Miss Thunder Beach Pageant – 1st Preliminary  — — Shores of Panama

Emcee: Daric “The Hitman”Daniels Top of the Garage-12th Floor

8:00PM-11:00PM — —  Live Music with Mustang Sally  — — Sandpiper Beacon

8:00PM-12:00AM — — Live Music with Horizon  — — Ms. Newby’s

8:30 PM  — — Live Music with ZZ TopTribute Band-Velcro Fly — —  WickedWheel

10:00PM-12:30AM  — — Official Thunder Beach Kick-Start “After Party” — — PineappleWilly’s

with Kevin Jacobs & Terry Brock

11:00 PM  — — Live Music with Big Engine — —  Sandpiper Beacon

Thursday May 3 Schedule

9:00AM- 9:00  — — PM Thunder BeachWelcome Center (Information&Media) Shoppes at Edgewater

9:00 AM- 9:00   — — PM Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H Tent Boar’s Head

9:00AM-7:00PM+   — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H Tents Club LaVela

9:00AM-7:00PM+   — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H Tents Frank Brown Park

9:00AM-6:00PM   — — Demo Rides ~ Yamaha, Can-Am, Boss Hoss Pier Park

9:00AM-9:00PM+   — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H Tent PineappleWilly’s

9:00AM-9:00PM+   — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H Tent Sharky’s Beach Club

9:00AM-9:00PM+  — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H Tents Shoppes at Edgewater

9:00AM-9:00PM+  — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H Tent WickedWheel

9:00AM-6:00PM — — DJ Daric “The Hitman”Daniels Frank Brown Park

9:00AM-9:00PM — — Old Skool Road Show- Traveling AntiqueMotorcycle Experience WickedWheel

11:00 AM — — Ives Bros.Wall of Death Show WickedWheel

12:00PM-5:00PM — — Poker Run Sponsored by the Shriners

Registration: Reggae J’s

  • 1st Card Stop: Sharky’s
  • 2nd Card Stop: Barefoot Beach Club
  • 3rd Card Stop: Red Door Saloon
  • 4th Card Stop: Sugar Sands Inn & Suites
  • 5th Card Stop: Hammerhead Fred’s
  • 12:00 pm: Registration
  • 12:30 pm: First Bike Out
  • 1:00 pm: Last Bike Out
  • 4:30 pm: Last Bike In @final stop
  • 5:00 pm: Prizes @ final stop

12:00 PM — — Ives Bros. “Ramp to Ramp” Stunt/Jump Show — — Frank Brown Park

12:00 PM- — — 4:00 PM Live Music with 345 Express — — Sandpiper Beacon

12:00 PM- — — 4:00 PM Live Music with Sticky Tea — — Shoppes at Edgewater

12:30 PM — — Ives Bros. Wall of Death Show — — WickedWheel

2:00 PM — — Ives Bros.Wall of Death Show — — WickedWheel

2:00 PM – — — 5:00 PM Live Music with Michael Compton — — WickedWheel

3:00 PM — — Ives Bros. “Ramp to Ramp” Stunt/Jump Show — — Frank Brown Park

3:30 PM — — Ives Bros.Wall of Death Show — — WickedWheel

4:00PM–8:00PM — — LiveMusicwithBigEngine — — SandpiperBeacon

4:00PM-8:00PM — — LiveMusicwithClayMusgrave – — — At the Tiki Bar Sharky’s Beach Club

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM — — Live Music with The Dan Lawson Band — — Shoppes at Edgewater

5:00 PM — — IvesBros.WallofDeath Show — — WickedWheel

6:00 PM — — Ives Bros. “Ramp to Ramp” Stunt/Jump Show — — Frank Brown Park

6:30 PM — — IvesBros.WallofDeath Show — — WickedWheel

7:00PM — — OfficialMiss Thunder Beach Pageant – 2nd Preliminary — — Hammerhead Fred’s

Emcee: Daric “The Hitman” Daniels

8:00PM-11:00PM — — LiveMusicwithMustang Sally — — Sandpiper Beacon

8:00PM-10:00PM — — LiveMusicwithWall of Echoes – The Ultimate Tribute to Pink Floyd — — Shoppes at Edgewater

8:30 PM- 2:00 AM — — LiveMusicwith KevinJacobs&TerryBrock — — WickedWheel

8:30 PM- 12:30AM — — LiveMusicwith ZZ Top Tribute band Velcro Fly — — PineappleWilly’s

9:00 PM- 11:00 PM — — LiveMusicwithBuckcherry – James Durbin – Redlight King — — Club LaVela

8:00PM-12:00AM — — LiveMusicwithHorizon — — Ms. Newby’s

10:00 PM- 2:00 AM — — LiveMusicwith Geneva – Live at the Tiki Bar — — Sharky’s Beach Club

11:00 PM — — Live Music with Big Engine — — Sandpiper Beacon

Friday May 4 Schedule

9:00 AM– 9:00 — — PM Thunder BeachWelcome Center (Information&Media) — — Shoppes at Edgewater

9:00AM-9:00PM — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — — Tent Boar’s Head

9:00AM-7:00PM+ — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — — Tents Club LaVela

9:00AM-7:00PM+ — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — — Tents Frank Brown Park

9:00AM-6:00PM — — Demo Rides ~ Yamaha, Can-Am, Boss Hoss — — Pier Park

9:00AM-9:00PM+ — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — — Tent PineappleWilly’s

9:00AM-9:00PM+ — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — — Tent Sharky’s Beach Club

9:00AM-9:00PM+ — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — — Tents Shoppes at Edgewater

9:00AM-9:00PM+ — — Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — — Tent WickedWheel

9:00AM-6:00PM — — DJDaric “TheHitman”Daniels — — Frank Brown Park

9:00AM-9:00PM — — Old Skool Road Show-a Traveling AntiqueMotorcycle Experience — — WickedWheel

11:00 AM — — IvesBros.WallofDeath Show — — WickedWheel

12:00 PM — — Ives Bros. “Ramp to Ramp” Stunt/Jump Show — — Frank Brown Park

12:00 PM- 4:00 PM — — LiveMusicwith 345 Express — — Sandpiper Beacon

12:00 PM- 4:00 PM — — LiveMusicwith Sammy&The Slammerz — — Shoppes at Edgewater

12:30 PM- 5:00 PM — — Poker Run Sponsored by the Defenders LE

Registration: PineappleWilly’s

  • 1st Card Stop: Boar’s Head
  • 2nd Card Stop: Hooters on Thomas Dr.
  • 3rd Card Stop: PlazaMotel/Banana Peel
  • 4th Card Stop: Coyote Ugly
  • 5th Card Stop:WickedWheel
  • 12:00 pm: Registration
  • 12:30 pm: First Bike Out
  • 1:00 pm: Last Bike Out
  • 4:30 pm: Last Bike In@final stop
  • 5:00 pm: Prizes @final stop

12:30 PM — — IvesBros.Wall of Death Show — — WickedWheel

2:00 PM — — LaVelaBikini Contest — — Club LaVela

2:00 PM — — IvesBros.Wall of Death Show — — WickedWheel

2:00 PM – 5:00 — — PM Live Music with Michael Compton — — WickedWheel

3:00 PM — — Ives Bros. “Ramp to Ramp” Stunt/Jump Show — — Frank Brown Park

3:30 PM — — IvesBros.Wall of Death Show — — WickedWheel

3:00PM — — OldSchoolBikeShow — — Ms. Newby’s

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM — — Live Music with Big Engine — — Sandpiper Beacon

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM — — Live Music with Clay Musgrave – At the — — Tiki Bar Sharky’s Beach Club

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM — — Live Music with King Cotton — — Shoppes at Edgewater

5:00 PM — — Ives Bros.Wall of Death Show — — WickedWheel

5:00 PM- 8:00 PM — — Live Music with Sin Seven — — PineappleWilly’s

5:00 PM- 8:00 PM — — Live Music with ZZ TopTributebandVelcro Fly — — WickedWheel

6:00 PM — — Ives Bros. “Ramp to Ramp” Stunt/Jump Show — — Frank Brown Park

6:30 PM — — IvesBros.WallofDeath Show — — WickedWheel

7:00PM — — OfficialMiss Thunder Beach Pageant – 3rd Preliminary — — WickedWheel

Emcee: Daric “The Hitman” Daniels

8:00 PM- 11:00 PM — — Live Music with Eli — — Sandpiper Beacon

8:00PM-10:00PM — — Live Music with Highway to Hell – Tribute to AC/DC — — Shoppes at Edgewater

8:30 PM- 12:30AM — — Live Music with TheDanLawsonBand — — WickedWheel

9:00 PM- 2:00 AM — — Live Music with Kevin Jacobs&Terry Brock — — PineappleWilly’s

9:00 PM — — Live Music with Jackylwith special guest – Nigel Dupree Band — — Club LaVela

8:00 PM- 12:00AM — — Live Music withTodd Simpson&Mojo Child — — Ms. Newby’s

10:00 PM- 2:00 AM — — Live Music with Geneva – — — At the Tiki Bar Sharky’s Beach Club

11:00 PM — — Live Music with Big Engine — — Sandpiper Beacon

9:00AM- 9:00 PM — –Thunder BeachWelcome Center (Information&Media) — –Shoppes at Edgewater

2:00 PM- 5:00 — –PM Live Music with Michael Compton — –WickedWheel

4:00 PM- 8:00 — –PM Live Music with Big Engine — –Sandpiper Beacon

4:00 PM- 8:00 — –PM Live Music with ClayMusgrave – — –At the Tiki Bar Sharky’s Beach Club

6:00 PM-10:00 PM — —Official Thunder Beach Kick-Start Party — —Shores of Panama

featuring National Recording Artist Jasmine Cain Top of the Garage-12th Floor

7:00PM — —OfficialMiss Thunder Beach Pageant – 1st Preliminary — —Shores of Panama

Emcee: Daric “TheHitman”Daniels Top of the Garage-12th Floor

8:00PM-11:00PM — –Live Music withMustang Sally — –Sandpiper Beacon

8:00PM-12:00AM — –Live Music with Horizon — –Ms. Newby’s

8:30 PM — –Live Music with ZZ TopTribute Band-Velcro Fly — –WickedWheel

10:00PM-12:30AM — —Official Thunder Beach Kick-Start “After Party” — —PineappleWilly’s

with Kevin Jacobs & Terry Brock

11:00 PM — –Live Music with Big Engine — — Sandpiper Beacon

Saturday May 5 Schedule

9:00AM- 10:00 PM — –Thunder BeachWelcome Center (Information&Media) — –Shoppes at Edgewater

9:00 AM- 9:00 PM — –Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — —Tent Boar’s Head

9:00 AM- 7:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — —Tents Club LaVela

9:00 AM- 7:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — —Tents Frank Brown Park

9:00 AM- 6:00 PM — –Demo Rides ~ Yamaha, Can-Am, Boss Hoss — –Pier Park

9:00 AM- 9:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — —Tent PineappleWilly’s

9:00 AM- 9:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — —Tent Sharky’s Beach Club

9:00 AM- 9:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — —Tents Shoppes at Edgewater

9:00 AM- 9:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village ~Look for the Thunder Beach CRUZ4CA$H — —Tent WickedWheel

9:00AM- 6:00 PM — –DJDaric “TheHitman”Daniels — –Frank Brown Park

9:00 AM- 9:00 PM — –Old Skool Road Show- Traveling AntiqueMotorcycle Experience — –WickedWheel

9:30 AM- 4:00 PM — —Official Thunder Beach “Best

of the Beach” Custom Bike Show — —Pier Park

Sponsored by Steel Horse Law/ Presented by USRiderNews 16 Classes; IMBBA Sanctioned

Benefits Local Shriner Charities $10,000 in cash & prizes

10:00 AM Sgt. Kevin KightMemorial Bike Parade Sponsored by the SWcorner of R Jackson Blvd

Panama City Beach Police andWhite Sands Riders. Benefits Cops for &Middle Beach Rd.

Kids. • Line Up at 10am• KickStandsUp@11amSHARP! (across from old Publix parking lot)

11:00 AM IvesBros.WallofDeath Show — –WickedWheel

12:00 PM- 5:00 PM Poker Run Sponsored by Red KnightsMC & Fire and IronMC

Registration & 1st Card Stop: Rock’it Lanes 12:00 pm: Registration

2nd Card Stop: Newby’s Too 12:30 pm: First Bike Out

3rd Card Stop: Ritz Store (@corner of Front Beach Rd 1:00 pm: Last Bike Out

&RJacksonBlvd) 4:30 pm: Last Bike In@final stop

4th Card Stop: Dirty Dick’s 5:00 pm: Prizes @final stop

5th Card Stop: Whiskey’s Saloon

12:00 PM — –Ives Bros. “Ramp to Ramp” Stunt/Jump Show — –Frank Brown Park

12:00 PM- 4:00 PM — –LiveMusicwith 345 Express — –Sandpiper Beacon

12:00 PM- 4:00 PM — –LiveMusicwith The Ayers — –Shoppes at Edgewater

2:00 PM — –LaVelaBikini Contest — –Club LaVela

2:00PM OfficialMs. Thunder Beach Contest For lovely ladies 35+ — –Shoppes at Edgewater

Emcee: Daric “The Hitman” Daniels

2:00 PM — –IvesBros.WallofDeath Show — — WickedWheel

3:00 PM — –Ives Bros. “Ramp to Ramp” Stunt/Jump Show — –Frank Brown Park

3:30 PM — –IvesBros.WallofDeath Show — –WickedWheel

4:00 PM — —Awards for Steelhorse Law”Best of Beach” Bike Show — —Pier Park

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM — –LiveMusic with Joe Santana’s Kingfish — –Sandpiper Beacon

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM — –LiveMusicwith ClayMusgrave – — –At the Tiki Bar Sharky’s Beach Club

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM — –LiveMusicwith Kelly&TheHealers — –Shoppes at Edgewater

5:00 PM — –IvesBros.WallofDeath Show — –WickedWheel

5:00 PM — –LiveMusicwith Sin Seven — –PineappleWilly’s

6:00 PM — –Ives Bros. “Ramp to Ramp” Stunt/Jump Show — –Frank Brown Park

6:30 PM — –IvesBros.WallofDeath Show — –WickedWheel

7:00PM — —OfficialMiss Thunder Beach Pageant Finale — —Hooters on the Beach

Emcee: Daric “The Hitman” Daniels

7:00 PM — –LiveMusicwith TombstoneBeltBuckle — –WickedWheel

8:00 PM- 11:00 PM — –LiveMusicwith Eli — –Sandpiper Beacon

8:00PM-10:00PM — –LiveMusicwithHighway to Hell – Tribute to AC/DC — –Shoppes at Edgewater

8:30 PM — –LiveMusicwith KevinJacobs&TerryBrock — –WickedWheel

8:30 PM- 12:30AM — –LiveMusicwithTheDanLawsonBand — –PineappleWilly’s

8:00 PM- 12:00AM — –LiveMusicwithTodd Simpson&Mojo Child — –Ms. Newby’s

10:00 PM- 2:00 AM — –LiveMusic with Geneva – — –At the Tiki Bar Sharky’s Beach Club

11:00 PM — –LiveMusic with Joe Santana’s Kingfish — — Sandpiper Beacon

Sunday May 6 Schedule

7:00 AM- 3:00 PM — — Thunder BeachWelcome Center (Information&Media) — –Shoppes at Edgewater

9:00AM-12:00PM — –Old Skool Road Show- Traveling AntiqueMotorcycle Experience — –WickedWheel

9:00AM-12:00PM — –Vendor Village open ~ some vendorsmay choose to stay open later — –Boar’s Head

9:00AM- 12:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village open ~ some vendorsmay choose to stay open later — –Club LaVela

9:00AM- 12:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village open ~ some vendorsmay choose to stay open later — –Frank Brown Park

9:00AM- 12:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village open ~ some vendorsmay choose to stay open later — –PineappleWilly’s

9:00AM- 12:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village open ~ some vendorsmay choose to stay open later — –Sharky’s Beach Club

9:00AM- 12:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village open ~ some vendorsmay choose to stay open later — –Shoppes at Edgewater

9:00AM- 12:00 PM+ — –Vendor Village open ~ some vendorsmay choose to stay open later — –WickedWheel

10:00AM — –Blessing of the Bikes by CMA — –Edgewater

10:30 AM — –Scenic Ride – depart from– –Edgewater

8:00AM- 11:00AM — –Last chance to redeemCRUZ4CA$H cards@Welcome Center — –Shoppes at Edgewater

1:00 PM — –CRUZ4CA$H Drawing–Main Stage Shoppes at — –Edgewater

3:00 PM- 7:00 PM — –LiveMusic with Sterling Silver — –Sandpiper Beacon

4:00 PM- 8:00 — –PM LiveMusicwith ClayMusgrave — — At the Tiki Bar Sharky’s Beach Club

8:00 PM- 12:00 — –PM LiveMusicwith345Express — –Ms. Newby’s

10:00 PM- 2:00 — –AM LiveMusicwith Geneva – — –Live at the Tiki Bar Sharky’s Beach Club

New Walmart Starts Construction

Jason Koertge has an awesome vacation rental business in Panama City Beach that focuses on remarkable properties right on the gulf.  They range from 1 to 4 bedrooms, they’re clean, and amazing.  He can be found lurking at PCBLP.com.

The new Walmart being installed next to Pier Park has begun construction as of yesterday.  Located right next door to Target, across from Powell Adams Road, an official “designation” is still unclear, but it’s certain to have grocery.  We recently discussed the site plans that were clear that it would not only include grocery, but a full bakery section, deli (with display coolers), fresh produce, garden center, and other general areas you’d expect to find in a Walmart.

We do know that this Walmart will be 156,000 square feet, which is 70% of the size of the Super Walmart to the east of this one.

What they’ll be doing first.

In preparation for the general construction, they’ve got to level out the land and get everything ready for the giant slab that we’ll walk on as we shop for the next umpteen years.  If you remember, there is a huge sand hill that’s been there for years, capturing the tires of renegade wannabe off-roaders that have bravely attempted to traverse it’s heights.  Yes, even my own brother got stuck in that hill, before he had four wheel drive.

They’ll be putting up perimeter fencing to help protect our eyes from the menacing construction equipment and keep the kids out and installing a central construction trailer to manage day to day operations.

Construction timeline and property details.

At this point, the construction timeline is still projected to be right at 12 months.  I would think they would want to get this done by next spring season, or at the latest, next summer season.  We’ll keep an eye on things as it progresses.

There will be out parcels along Panama City Beach Parkway (Back Beach Road), three entry points on Powell Adams Road and one entry point on Back Beach Road.

Powell Adams Road improvements.

One of the more controversial elements to this development, interestingly enough, has been the improvements to Powell Adams Road.  Many of the Walmart Opposition Party have contended that if something goes in that requires improvements to the road, they should have to pay for it, not the taxpayer.

Powell Adams Road is on the schedule for the CRA improvement treatment plan in the next couple years, and the Walmart development has put these improvements on the fast track.  The cool thing about this is that the City was going to fund this entirely, originally, and it wasn’t going to happen for at least 2 more years.  But, since Walmart is coming, and the improvements are needed in order to meet the requirements that will come with the increased traffic, Walmart is partially funding this improvement project.

The improvements will be on Powell Adams Road and go back to LC Hilton Drive (the road you can take to Miracle Strip and the center round about.

Why Walmart paying just a portion is more than fair.

The way this was explained to me was that Walmart is paying for the improvements that they would need and the City is paying for the improvements that are above and beyond that which would bring them up to the CRA standards (think curbs, sidewalks, decorative street lighting, and landscaping).

You see, if Walmart put in the baseline improvements that were needed in order to accomodate the traffic increase that would come with it’s development, we’d get signalization and a wider road out of the deal, at no cost.  But the beautification that comes with the CRA treatment would not happen, and the potential cost down the road when the City got to this portion of the improvement schedule would be proportionally higher.

BUT, by just “charging” Walmart the cost is would be for the improvements they need to make, and the City paying for the other improvement elements that come with the normal CRA improvements, we save money (because we’re not paying for the baseline improvements) and we get the beautification much earlier than expected (literally by years).

So, in my eyes, it’s a win-win.  What do you think? Comment below. 😉