Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012

May mayhem?

Eric "Big E" Rutherford

 

After years of debate, meetings, protests and lobbying by those on both sides of the Bike Week battle, I thought the war was over. Irreparable damage was done to one of the biggest and best motorcycles in the world. Years ago, for reasons that are still unclear, the mayor and city council of Myrtle Beach set out to destroy the spring motorcycle rallies along the Grand Strand, chasing away millions of dollars in tourism revenue. As a result, some locals rejoiced, while some businesses were forced to close their doors forever. Bikers all over the country including locals who supported the rallies vowed to take their business elsewhere. My wife Sissy and I are among many who still avoid spending money inside the Myrtle Beach city limits as part of a boycott that will remain in effect as long as the current administration is in power.

It was a long and unpleasant battle that ended with the anti-rally side ultimately prevailing because they were more politically active. The mayor and majority of the anti-rally council members were re-elected in Myrtle Beach; Surfside Beach Town Council instituted a two-year moratorium banning May Bike Week vendors; and Horry County residents elected two outspoken rally opponents, Tom Rice and Paul Price, to county council. I had finally come to terms with the idea that Myrtle Beach Bike Week would never be the same, but I was relieved and encouraged to see that it still existed. I guess in that sense, those of us who wanted to protect the rallies actually won. Frankly, once the dust had settled I was just glad the argument was finally over.

Recently, though, phrases such as “rally dates,” “vendor permits,” “public meetings,” and –ugh – the word ”mayhem” have returned to the headlines locally. It’s as if we’ve gone back in time, exhumed the proverbial dead horse and resumed beating it for all its worth.

According to local media, it all started when Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson representatives announced in a recent press release that they would be “…expanding the 72nd annual “Cruising the Coast” Spring Beach Rally [to run] May 18, 2012 to May 28, 2012” lengthening the duration of the motorcycle events in May by adding additional dates and activities. The announcement caused confusion among visitors and area businesses, and has drawn harsh criticism from some local officials. My understanding though is that it all actually started back on Dec. 3 when Phil Schoonover, owner of the local Harley dealership “sent an e-mail to every elected official in Horry County” to try to discuss his proposals and they went unanswered. Schoonover made it clear in a phone interview that he wasn’t blaming officials who hadn’t replied to the e-mail, but also assured me it was never his intention to create confusion. It sounded to me that when officials didn’t object in December, he was left to do as he pleased, which I personally believe as a business owner in a free country during a bad economy he should be allowed to.

Horry County Council Chairman Rice, who led the “Take Back May” anti-rally organization and Council member Gary Loftus, who were both sent copies of the proposals back in December (neither replied at the time) however suddenly over-reacted by threatening at the Jan.24 council meeting, to do away with all vendor permits in May, obviously to punish “the motorcycle people” as Loftus referred to us in a Jan. 25 WMBF news story for “pushing the envelope.” According to the Horry County Web site, vendor permits for the May motorcycle rallies are only available from May 14-20 (for the Harley rally) and May 24-27 (for the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, also known as Black Bike Week). Horry County Council plans to address the issue further at its meeting set for Tuesday at the Horry County Government and Justice Center at 1301 2nd Ave. in Conway.

Officials in Atlantic Beach are also voicing concerns about Schoonover’s plans because his extended dates will overlap into Black Bike Week. Schoonover suggested spreading the rally events out over three weekends would help reduce the need for concerns over law enforcement coverage and traffic congestion. One of his proposed events is a parade ride during the Memorial Day weekend that would take all interested riders - regardless of their skin color or bike preference - from here to Washington, D.C. to participate together in the annual Rolling Thunder ride. Rolling Thunder promotes awareness of our country’s military MIA/POW issues. He hopes to set a world record for the largest motorcycle parade, unifying riders and promoting the Grand Strand, while staging an event to recognize the Memorial Day weekend in the process. He also noted during our interview that Myrtle Beach is the only major motorcycle venue that has segregated rallies, contrasting our area with other major motorcycle destinations Sturgis, S.D. and Daytona Beach, Fla.

Atlantic Beach officials are going to review a report of the 2011 rally results at the town council meeting on Monday and have expressed a desire to sit down with Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson and other local municipalities following that meeting.