April 23, 2024
Owner Updates

Letter from the Owner – December 2022

By RJ and Aly / November 21, 2022

The Last Letter from the Owner by Jody Mo

Where do I even begin?  Looking back over the last 10 years I am filled with so much gratitude and joy having been able to own/publish this great magazine.  I remember when I first took over thinking, “Who am I to do this”, “Will people accept me as the new owner”, “Will I be good enough?”  I knew I could not compete with the great Joe and Pam legacy, nor did I want to, I just knew I had great shoes to fill and had to believe in myself in order to be successful.  Hence the beginning of, “Jody Mo”- with the help and training from Joe and Pam and Freddy P (all previous owners) I began my journey.  What a great journey it has been.  I have learned so much over the last decade and will forever be grateful to have had the honor and privilege to represent Thunder Roads Magazine of Michigan and the biker community.  I truly feel so blessed for having had this experience.  I felt like everything in my life had led me up to doing this.  There are so many people that have helped me and been a great part of this publication throughout the last decade.  I will do my best to mention everyone, but I know there are so many others that I can’t possibly list everyone, but thank you for being a part of something greater than ourselves and helping in whatever ways it was to make this publication what it is, thank you!  To everyone that has helped and supported me throughout this journey, thank you!  Thank you to the advertisers that have been with me since the beginning and have never stopped supporting the publication (even throughout a pandemic):  Tombstone Hearse Co., Hunts Hog Shop, Jason Waechter- The Motorcycle Lawyer, and seasonally Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro, Trackside Food & Sprits, Iron Horse Bar & Grill, Stingers Bar & Grill and events like Bikes on the Bricks, Freedom Fest, Easyriders Rodeo Tour, and Paragon Promotions and so many others that have supported Thunder Roads Michigan each and every year, thank you!  Thank you to the readers, my friends as many of you have become throughout the years. 

A Decade to Remember…
2012

October 2012 Cover:  One of this first covers I directed featuring my daughter Emilee in my mom’s sidecar, my mom reading a Thunder Roads Michigan Magazine in the background, Gary Warner (sales rep at the time), and my cousin Eric (sales rep) that passed away tragically years ago and his wife Brenda.

2013

May 2013 my first time featured as the Calendar model/article

2014

Very First Thunder Fun Night 2014
October 2014 Cover- Billy D gets new camera equipment and we do a photo shoot in the dark, so funny!  We all have learned along the way.

2015

March 2015 Cover- Features Herman Moore Detroit Lions Legend
May 2015 Cover- My first time featured on the cover.  I thought the background didn’t matter, thanks again Ed for saving me on this one.  Many lessons learned

2016

February 2016 Cover- features a very special Breast Cancer tribute bike built by Jody owner of Reflections Custom Cycles (loyal advertiser for many years).
June 2016 Cover- So many good memories from this rally sure do miss it!

2017

June 2017 Cover- What a monster this issue was at 96 pages!  Not the highest page count I ever had (100 pages was the highest), but I remember laying on the floor in my office after already working 110 hours that week on the magazine absolutely exhausted.  Also such a proud moment when I partnered with Ogemaw Hills and featured their Rally Guide in that issue.

2018

The 5th year for the Ride n’ Win Contest.  It was a huge hit, but a lot of work for me.  Many hours/days working each month on this.

2019

The year I went to only publishing 6 mths out of the year. 
May 2019- my 2nd time being featured on the cover

2020

2020 Thunder Roads Michigan’s 1st Calendar (Mama Moe said Jody you need to be on the cover of this calendar, so I was cover/back cover and each month featured a different model/bike).

2021

My first Jody Mo poster.
2021 Thunder Roads Michigan’s 2nd Calendar (I learned a lot from the 1st one, which I am proud of, but this one I am super proud of).

Plus it features a few celebrities like Matt DiRito (now former bassist from Pop Evil). 

2022

A Decade of Memories…

Met Some Celebrities…

Made A lot of Friends…

Thank You…

Lastly, but most importantly, thank you to my dad who taught me about riding and working on bikes.  So many memories out in my dad’s motorcycle shop- Moe’s Cycle Shop, forever grateful for those times.  RIP Moe.  Thank you to my mom, many people call her, “Mama Moe” for supporting me by helping me deliver mags all these years and setting up the display at countless events.  We have had a lot of fun.  Also, thank you to the founders of Thunder Roads, Toni and Brian for giving me a chance and believing in me. I hope that you all will support the new owners as you have done for me. They are such amazing people and have so many wonderful ideas on growing this publication.  I could not ask for 2 more perfect people to continue on a cherished magazine, I know it is in good hands. So let’s support them in their new journey as owners/publishers of The Thunder Roads Magazine of Michigan.

Now for some “Mo” Advice:  There’s a lot this month

You never know what life has in store for you.  Follow your heart and your direction on the path to take will appear.  Always believe in yourself.  When you no longer are growing then it’s time for a new path.  Always live life to the fullest, because you never know if there will be a tomorrow.  Do good things in life because Karma is a bitch.  Be grateful for what you have in order to get more of it.  Take time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Don’t be afraid to love, take chances or fail.  None of us get out of here alive, so get to livin’. 

God Bless Everyone, Thank You for 10 Amazing Years!

“Jody Mo”

Owner/Publisher of Thunder Roads Magazine of Michigan Signing off

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