It's time to make some noise
By Eric "Big E" Rutherford
For Weekly Surge
Last month I wrote about Tom Barry, a local with cancer with whom we rode to fulfill his dream to take part in a group motorcycle ride. I'm sad to report Tom passed away on June 8. He would have been pleased with the funeral as it was attended by many new friends who transported his ashes, as he requested, to his final resting place via motorcycle parade. This weekend we'll be remembering Barry with a ride that will benefit widows of military veterans.
Registration will be from 9-10 a.m. Sunday at B&M Cycles, at 508 North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach. The ride is scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. and will be ending at Hard Rock Park where all of the participants will be given free admission. There will also be a 50/50 drawing and lots of other prizes. The cost is just $20. For more information call Rick at 450-2270.
The initial ride with Barry and the benefit ride above are just two examples that many bikers are citing as the good things bikers do in and for the Myrtle Beach community. With the recent steps taken to do away with the motorcycle rallies in May by the Myrtle Beach City Council and Mayor John Rhodes, and the apparent pledge of support from Horry County Council Chair Liz Gilland, bikers are starting to unite and mobilize in an effort to defend their 68-year-old tradition of coming to Myrtle Beach for Bike Week each year.
Message boards are lighting up with comments from other parts of the country sending a warning to officials that unwelcomed bikers are often the same people who come to Myrtle Beach with their families or on golf trips. The message is clear that if you don't want them in May they will find somewhere else to go the other two or three times a year they come here.
Flyers and e-mails are circulating inviting bikers and Myrtle Beach business owners who would be negatively affected by cancelling the rallies to attend a meeting Wednesday at Revolutions nightclub in Myrtle Beach, which unfortunately was impossible to cover as went to press.
A petition to keep the rallies has been started and can be found at B&M Custom Cycles at the address above and at H.B. Spokes at 1111 S.C. 9 East in Longs.
Bikers and other interested parties are being encouraged to attend city and county council meetings to voice their opposition. The next Horry County Council Meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at 1301 Second Ave. (Government and Justice Center) in Conway. Myrtle Beach City Council meets July 8 for a workshop at 9 a.m. and the council meeting at 2 p.m. at the Law Enforcement Center on the corner of 10th Avenue and Oak Street in Myrtle Beach.
What could be an even more effective means of getting our point across is to fight fire with fire by boycotting the businesses and interests of the mayor and council members who have so little regard for our interests. Mayor Rhodes is the Executive Director of the annual Beach Ball Classic basketball tournament in December. I support the idea of boycotting the tournament. I'm sure someone out there is thinking "But that's not fair to the participants. Why punish those who haven't done anything?" Exactly. The Spring House Family Restaurants are owned by council member Wayne Gray. I won't be going there anymore either.
In addition to the bikers, Myrtle Beach area business owners are gearing up as well. The Sun News has reported other business owners starting petitions and some of the bigger players in the hospitality industry have been quoted saying the council's actions were hasty and they are being criticized for not doing a legitimate study of what the economic impact of killing the rallies would be.
Former Mayor Mark McBride had his eyes opened when bikers mobilized to help oust him from office and I think Mayor Rhodes is already second guessing himself. In true politician's style, the mayor has left the door open saying if enough people fight to keep the rallies that it is not too late to save them, but they need to make themselves heard. I hope the voters of Myrtle Beach note that lack of leadership. Not only is the mayor ready to undo what was supposed to be a necessary action based on the whim of popular opinion, but he is allowing millions of dollars to be blown around in the wind at the mercy of whoever makes the most noise. Fellow bikers, it's time to make some noise.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions of bike-related topics send a "Big E-mail'' to SurgeBiker@yahoo.com.