Thursday, Feb. 05, 2009
Wake up time for freedom
The answer: Barack Obama, the economy, and the May bike rallies in Myrtle Beach. The question: What three things are you sick of hearing about? The problem: As tiring as they have all gotten, we can’t get away from any of them, and like it or not, they are important enough to keep talking about.
I won’t go on a tangent about either Obama or the economy since this is a motorcycle column, but let me just go on the record as saying releasing suspected terrorists from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and trying to have peaceful, rational negotiations with radical extremists won’t work; nor will throwing bajillions of dollars with no accountability at failed, corrupt, private enterprises.
As for the May rallies, the haters were at it again, this time reaching outside their own boundaries in an effort to gain support from surrounding communities for their attempt to kill both the annual Harley-Davidson gathering and the Atlantic Beach Bike Festival (aka Black Bike Week).
On Jan. 31, a group of motorcycle riders held a press conference in front of the Atlantic Beach Town Hall to declare they intend to participate in the upcoming Atlantic Beach Bikefest regardless of the actions that have been taken by Myrtle Beach officials to discourage them from doing so. The group was made up mostly of black riders and they were addressing primarily Black Bike Week, but their sentiments echoed those being expressed by the Harley crowd regarding its rally. The Myrtle Beach Mayor, council members and blue-haired whiners will not be allowed to take away what isn’t theirs to take. The rallies, both of them, will go on whether they like it or not.
On Monday, Goundhog Day, at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil’s handlers pulled the groundhog out long enough for him to lower his head and forecast six more weeks of winter.
Meanwhile, on the same day in Atlantic Beach, Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes and City Manager Tom Leath pulled their heads out long enough to make an appearance at the latest Atlantic Beach Town Council meeting. They were there to ask officials of Atlantic Beach, the birthplace of Black Bike Week, to join them in their efforts to discourage both of the May rallies. They reviewed the list of ordinances they have instituted and asked the council to join them. The four-member council didn’t take any action, but one member, Donnell Thompson, hinted that at least his support was for sale when he suggested that the city of Myrtle Beach might compensate the town of Atlantic Beach for lost vendor permit revenue, saying “If we heard an offer that could cure our [financial] problems, if it would take care of the town – that’s what we're here for.” The few residents who spoke up and the Atlantic Beach mayor all indicated they didn’t see a reason to make any dramatic changes.
On the pro-rally side of the fence local bikers are spreading the word about the upcoming “Myrtle Beach Helmet Freedom Ride.” This ride is scheduled to take place on Feb. 28, the day the remaining new ordinances, including the one requiring helmets inside Myrtle Beach city limits, go into effect. While there are no specific organizers and no specific details listed in the flyers, it is safe to assume this is going to be a helmet-less protest ride directly into the city limits of Myrtle Beach; an act of civil disobedience to demonstrate to the powers-that-be that bikers will not submit to their bullying tactics.
The ride will leave the Beaver Bar, located at 3371 U.S. 17 Business in Murrells Inlet at noon. Flyers designed to appeal to the Harley-Davidson/custom and cruiser factions as well as sport/racing-inspired bike riders were produced and all riders on all makes of motorcycles are invited. Each version of the flyer contains the following disclaimer, “All participants in this Helmet Freedom Ride do so as common adventurers. Local bikers may coordinate this ride but no one is considered a leader of this ride. All participants take responsibility for making their own decisions including, but not limited to, whether to participate and what equipment they choose to use or not such as safety equipment [helmets] or vehicle equipment [mufflers].”
However, the flyers also states that, “Tom McGrath’s Motorcycle Law Group has offered to represent free of charge the participants of the Myrtle Beach Freedom Ride that receive helmet tickets.” McGrath is a noted attorney from Virginia, who is also licensed in South Carolina, who specializes in motorcycle-related issues. His group has taken a front line interest in opposing the ordinances handed down by Myrtle Beach. One lawsuit they are spearheading was basically delayed earlier this year because the city hadn’t finalized everything. The courts deemed it premature to challenge what wasn’t actually in place yet, but the suit isn’t over. For more information about the ride on the 28th, you can visit www.bikerezine.com/events/freedomride.html or contact the Beaver Bar at 357-6969.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions of bike-related topics send a “Big E-mail’’ to surgebiker@yahoo.com.
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