The Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association announced that the 69th Annual Spring Rally will be held in New Bern, North Carolina on May 15 & 16. The rally site is the New Bern Fairgrounds, a 40 plus acre site located at 3700 East US 70 Highway in New Bern. The Association said it had given the issue serious consideration and wanted to go where they would be welcomed with open arms. So the event is now called the “Spring Rally Of New Bern”. The city is located at the confluence of two rivers, is the second oldest town in North Carolina. One of its many features is the picturesque downtown waterfront district and New Bern is only a 30-minute motorcycle ride to the beaches. More info at The Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Website.
Myrtle Beach Rally Has A New Home. New Bern, North Carolina
Published by March 13th, 2009 in Editorial and Events.44 Responses to “Myrtle Beach Rally Has A New Home. New Bern, North Carolina”
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The politically correct decision.
When the New Bern merchants realize how much extra money they make with the rally, they are going to re-elect their mayor. Expect the opposite in Myrtle Beach. Justice.
Enough is enough, let me set all the misinformed and the so called bikers who say screw Myrtle Beach if they don’t want us there. Hello, if we gave in to all the grey hairs and fat cat locals we wouldn’t be able to ride anywhere. I’m all for the true bikers who say, “Screw them I’ll go anywhere I damn well please.
All the venues that are normally open at the MB rally will still be available: both Suck Bang Blows, HB Spokes, the Harley Dealership, the Dog House, the Rat Hole, Jammin Leather, the Broken Spoke, all of North Myrtle Beach, etc. The only venues of any importance in the city proper are Broadway at the Beach and Dog House South and they will probably move their events to the North MB location. Ok, everyone got that.
Let me also say that the NC Harley Dealership Ass.should be ashamed of themselves. This was normally run by Click Baldwin who tragically died last year and is probably rolling over in his grave due to this cop out. As far as I’m concerned it’s no big deal anyways as it wasn’t all that great at the Hard Rock last year anyway. Big deal we lose one tent, a trailer and the demo rides. Oh dear what will we do.
If ya’ll want to associate with the negative morons who have taken over this blog from the informed and positive bikers and who the rally will be thankfully be just fine without that’s fine but remember “You Can’t Fix Stupid” so don’t let it rub off.
Ok bozo’s have fun replying with your dribble as I for one have written my one time response to this blog and won’t waste one second of my life reading your dumb ass trash.
Hey, YDKG. first you should write under your name for everybody to see who you are and what is your financial/commercial interest justifying (in your eyes) your anger and insults. The info posted by Cyril is factually correct. What you don’t like is 1- that some bikers expressed in this blog their intention to no nore go to Myrtle Beach, north, south or west (you can’t go east!). 2- that the Carolina HD association will center their activities in New Bern 30 miles west of Myrtle Beach. Explain to me why 1- you don’t respect those who are refusing to return to Myrtle Beach. 2- you don’t respect the fact that the Carolina HD Association decided to pick another location. Bikerdom is about freedom of choice. Your motivation seems to be your own financial interest, not bikers. Tell me if I am wrong. Bikers will go where they want. Respect them. Your anger should be directed at the mayor of Myrtle Beach.
Hey, guys. Those going to “Myrtle Beach” will go where they want, New Bern, North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach. YDKJ, You sound like a crying baby. If you want to attract bikers only to North Myrtle Beach it’s evidently because you have some interests in this location. Nothing wrong with it, but don’t accuse others (bikers, NC HD Assoc) for all your troubles. If there is misinformation, explain..
Me & my friends will boycott Myrtle Beach until we are welcome again in the city. One of the reasons we were going was the city and its activities, not New Bern or any other locations around the city.
The rally will lose a lot of bikers. But those bikers going to NC will stay and ride wherever they want. YDKJ, you are mad at the Carolina dealers. But why they would not setup wherever they want?
Seems that there are 2 school of thoughts. Boycott the rally until the city of Myrtle Beach changes its mind or its mayor. Or accept to be pushed away from the city, refusig to enter the city limits and to give SSS to its merchants/hotels. Freedom of choice…
I just checked to see if my humble words were up.
Let me clarify, I have absolutely no financial interest in the rally. I am just someone who has enjoyed the rally for many years. I also have no problem with the rally expanding to NC, hell I live in Wilmington, NC and would love to see it expand there. All I’m saying is that giving in to the local city establishment is not the way to go. I have no intention of spending a dime in the city at the rally or at any other time, but boycotting the rally is playing right into the hands of the city. Buck up and show these fat cats that we will not be forced out of something we enjoy and that the condo developers in the city can’t drive us out to enrich their coffers. Like I said ride where you want, take a cruise to New Bern, but boycotting the rally is just what they are hoping for.
Let’s please YDKJ. All those passing by NC stop in Wilmington for gas & food then go back home. Me I boycott the rally that I attended during the last 8 years. Instead I will go to the New-Orleans Bike weekend (living in AL).
Just a matter of opinionYDKJ, but calling me names because of my opinions won’t make me want to head your way. I don’t feel avoiding your area for a year or two is “giving in” to anyone. It’s reacting to a situation in a manner that I feel will do the most good at showing the powers that be how short-sighted they were, and has the most chance in getting them removed from positions of authority. Let them have the season off to reflect and decide if they prefer no rally. Maybe they will like it better. In the meantime I feel everyone from the original MB rally is being punished by for the behavior of the Black Bike Week crowd and I’m not going to stand for that. Until they grow a set and deal with that from an approach other than cowardice, I have no interest in ever going anywhere near MBeach. I’m thinking about New Orleans or Vegas this year.
Wow, I’m impressed. Some actual honest incite to this subject. I totally understand the feelings of many of you. Hey, you can’t go wrong with Vegas or New Orleans but I’ll stand by my own opinions. It’s great to actually hear the different views on the rally from many that I don’t normally see here. I go to a lot of rally’s and Vegas is one of my favorites and I would give my left cojone to be in Orleans, but boycotting MB is in my opinion a slippery slope.
Right on Justin!
YDKJ …. you still don’t have the balls to use your real name! Wise up, the only thing, and I mean the only thing people understand is dollars or the lack thereof …. take the dollars out of the mix and you will have their undivided attention. Not boycotting Myrtle Beach serves no purpose at all and you are a fool if you believe otherwise.
As we say here in Texas …. Myrtle Beach is DEAD AND STINKIN’ …..
Over & Out,
Jeff
Just one comment to all this. The mayor and the city of Myrtle Beach are NOT representitive to the feelings of the the majority of people and buisnesses in the Grand Strand area. For those of you that feel you don’t want to come where you are not welcome, just let me say this. We are located in Murrells Inlet and all bikers are welcome and you don’t need a freaking helmet here either.
just way too much disinformation has been posted about the rally. Our local Harley shop is not a member of the Carolina dealers association. And if the association wants New Bern as a location, that’s just fine. But DON’T go telling everyone that the Myrtle Beach rally has moved. It hasn’t . It’s STILL here.
As to YDKJ, you are so right , our dear friend Click is probably looking down from heaven and seeing what a mess this has become! We miss him….a lot
As a vendor I can tell you that a lot of companies will NOT be showing up to Myrtle beach this year. If Myrtle beach don’t want our customers there then why would the vendors show up? I can also tell you that we had a great Daytona and I believe that was partly due to people going to Daytona instead of Myrtle. I had many people tell me that they had come to Daytona instead of going to Myrtle. Many other rallies such as Sturgis will likely be up this year as well. I am sure that many people will still go to Myrtle but my belief is that it will likely be much smaller than years past and with the vendor space costing the same it makes it much less desirable to go to Myrtle from the vendors point of view. It is too bad that the city wants to end the rally, but if they don’t want us then lets go some where that does. I don’t think moving the rally 30 miles is the answer. After all the county, city and state benifit from our dollars if we boycott the whole state that will make the biggest impact. I say boycott the whole state and then maybe they will feel the effects of there ignorance. There are plenty of rallies that want us Daytona, Sturgis, Laconia, New Orlean, Panama city too name just a few. Myrtle Beach is dead lets through the dirt in there face already and more on.
I think the City of Myrtle Beach, and also Harley-Davidson Association should have simply spelled out their own intentions. Not said the rally is cancelled or moved, when in fact there are plenty of businesses in North Myrtle and the rest of the Grand Strand that welcome and depend on the spring and pilgrimage rallies every year.
With that said, let me give you an update on the rally we are building in New Orleans. Michael Lichter and photographers from at least 5 biker mags will be there, May 6 to 10.
New Orleans will now be the cap-off of the annual Easyriders V-Twin tour . We have a 5-year commitment to fill the 160,000 sq.ft. New Orleans Morial Convention Center with the big bike show, alongside the unique “Chrome Kitchen”. The best part is – the city, state, visitor’s bureau, and tons of local businesses are thrilled that bikers will be coming to New Orleans!
Lee Limmer, Many years ago Benny Franklin said, “You get the kind of goverment you deserve”. The mayor and city council were elcted by the majority of Myrtle Beachers
“The mayor and city council were elcted by the majority of Myrtle Beachers”
+1!!!
Hey Rodent, the name is WIMMER, not Limmer AND to set the record straight to all of you Myrtle Beach is ONLY a city within the Grand Strand. The Grand Strand is made up of North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Surfside, Garden City and Murrells Inlet. The rest of us down here had NOTHING to do with electing this BOZO , and we did nothing to deserve the bullshit fallout over all this. The City itself was only a small part of the rally, which by the way is called Cruzin the Coast,not the myrtle beach rally.
Funny how so many people that DON’T live here seem to think they know it all.
Screw Myrtle Beach.
To say that the town of Myrtle Beach was a small part of the rally is like saying the township of sturgis is a small part of the black hills rally. Half the resturants I like are in myrtle city limits not to mention campsites, hotels and on and on.It sucks for Wimmer that he has moved to Myrtle and set up shop only to have the city pull the rug out from under him but that does not change the fact that any one going to Myrtle for bike week will be hassled by the myrtle beach police they have made that very clear. I for one don’t want to have to carry a helmet so that if I ride through myrtle going from point A to point B I won’t get a ticket costing me more than the hotel bill. This will no dought be a record year for tickets and people going to jail on bull shit charges. There is just to many other rallies that want our business to play the myrtle beach games. It don’t take a rocket scientest to see the writing on the wall.
The last comment I’m going to make about any of this.
Yeah it sucks, but we didn’t move here just for the rally. We are here 365 for everyone that lives here and we love it. We avoid the city in every way we can.
One last comment, if Sandy Leone were still with us NONE of this would have ever happened I would bet money on. She has to be turning over in her grave. Another wonderful person we miss so much!
Just another vendor perspective……..We were at the Colonial Mall last year and did great. This year; however, Horry County is charging almost double the amount for a permit ($1500 vs $800), for half the amount of time (10 days vs 5 days) and is requiring vendors to spread out around the county more. In addition, despite what is said in this forum and in the one million+ other sites on the internet, attendance will DEFINITELY be down and those that do attend will most likely leave with tickets (or worse); none of which is good for business.
As a old biker, I find what is happenning to this 68 year old tradition heartbreaking.
As a business owner, I can’t afford it.
Ya, well there’s …”New Home.”
Then there’s “bad old behovior.”
-nicker-
MJ, editor Bikeweek.com stick to the point…
No one cares about your New Orleans updates. Go back to the Cyril post about the event and you will see only six comments proving no one cares. So enough with trying to promote it here.
But since you brought it up, what makes you think a biker will pay to go to a rally?
You mention how proud you are to be the company that started it, how proud will you be when you have a very low attendance and the event flops?
Speaking of attendance how many people do you predict will be there? I am sure you have that number for potential vendors who may be considering attending. How many people will actually see their product?
How many pre-sold tickets have you collected?
Hey, “who cares MJ”. Why don’t you write under your own name. Maybe you are a little bit jealous of New Orleans for whatever reason (show organizer? Myrtle Beach merchant? etc). I never attended Myrtle Beach only because I am not available at that time of the year. I intend to attend the Big Easy show because I will be available and it’s a friendly/fun city. I will pay. So what? Is it the bad economy making people so bitter?
“who cares MJ”: The Steel Pony in NO was one of the best and most successful bike rallies in the country before the the big wet wind blew it away. Top builders like Billy, Indian Larry, Perewitz, Cyril etc not only displayed but roamed the grounds and mingled with the public. Even the OCC crowd was there and had smiles all around.
Maybe there are no comments on NO because it is the first rally and people who are going have the good common sense not to bash an event with no history. If you are too cheap to pay an admission DON’T GO!!!
If John Green and the Easyriders Events crowd are involved you can pretty much bet it will be a first class event.
By the way, Steel Pony was a pay event. Don’t be a hater, hater.
I live and ride in NC almost all year and am not inclined to go somewhere else with more helmet, handlebar and noise ordinaces. I’ll go to North Myrtle and ride to Murrels Inlet, Charleston, etc., just so I can ride without a helmet for a week. New Bern has stated that they don’t mind a group of Mature Riders coming to their town, but when they get the wave of riders that come to Myrtle Beach, the tune will change. If you thought MB had blue hairs running it, wait until you see what waits for those of you who converge for a New BURN. Some of you know what I mean when I say, “AND WHO CAN STOP THE HUNS?” LET THOSE WHO RIDE DECIDE seems like nothing more than a sticker that fell off those enthusiast DOT helmets…
Biker Lady, just to let you know. Horry County voted to keep the permit prices the same and it will be for 7 days not 5
Just FYI
Thanks Lee.
My heart is tied to tradition but my purse is tied to the present.
So, same price but three days less. Could be worse I guess. Are they still requiring vendors to spread out?
Decisions….Decisions
(By the way MJ, we care. New rallies starting up is a good thing. Where would we be if they didn’t?)
New Orleans is a friendly/fun city? When did that happen? OK – maybe it is in between the useless marches against violence that spring up after each gruesome violent event.
On the Myrtle beach thing, boycotts have been proven useless time and time again. The so-called leaders of Myrtle Beach love it. They get exactly what they want. Meanwhile, all of the other businesses north and south of MB that were created for and cater to motorcyclists will suffer.
As for me – I’ll be at The Beaver Bar thanking Ms. Beaver for hanging in there. If I get lucky, Highway to Hell will be at Suck Bang Four Corners. Can’t wait.
For all going to New Orleans, don’t look at that funky dude in a funny way – he will cut you.
What’s the deal? Why Myrtle Beach feels threatened by New Orleans. Don’t get it. It is true that New-Orleans has very friendly people… and also some bad places like all big cities
The Dealers Association can go where ever it wants. I prefer to stay in SC where you don’t have to wear lids.
I believe it was about 2 weeks ago the mayor of that little town (BERM?) said no F—Ing way we want 50,000 or 500,000 bikers coming to our little town. They agreed to let the Harley Dealers association have about 4,000 of thier closest friends but they have no interest in replacing Myrtle Beach.
My numbers are off the top of my head but your facts are almost certainly 100% WRONG.
Myrtle Beach is an abomination making Nazi Germany look like a friendly resort welcome to all including Jews. Fuck Myrtle Beach come up to the DELMARVA rallly where your not wanted either but your still somewhat welcome. We have Boycotted those assholes in Myrtle Beach for almost 10 years now and don’t know why the F— you can’t get with the program.
Go somewhere – Anywhere – But don’t go Myrle fucking Beach!
Myrtle beach police officer kills 2 bikers and case is dismissed., 1999 give or take a year ….
Myrtle Beach police set new record for assaults on harley riders “because the NAACP said they had to if they wanted to make arrests during Black bike week” 2000 give or take a year
Checkeredbob has to sell his 4×4 to pay lawyers fees another innocent victim but one who didn’t go down without a fight. 2000 give or take a year
Abate calls for a total boycott of Myrtle Beach later in 2000 girve or take a year,.. no one listens,
I wouldn’t go back to Myrltle Beach if they gave me a free penthouse condo and twenty virgins.
There are so many places in this country you can ride and party and have a good time without helmets or Storm Troopers why would anyone give a shit about Myrtle Beach. If you are near there I would ride through collect a ticket for loud pipes and no helmet, frame it and hang it on your wall next to your Harley clock and the pictures of your family. Then get over it, I’m sure it’s unconstiutional and it will get overturned but short of beating up Golfers the best you can do is thumb you noses at them and go where the your appreciated..
Biker Lady
Well they are trying to promote Vendors spreading out and there will be less offered on the East side of the waterway.
I’m sure there will many less coming just because of all the negative press. it’s really a shame that a few people can make it so bad for so many! We will have space available at or location for anyone interested.I’m pretty sure we will see more people at both ends of the Grand Strand this year.
Dear Cyril,The Broken Spoke Saloon will be operating at 110% during the Myrtle Beach rally and has been active in keeping the Oldest On Going Rally in the world ALIVE! Regards,Jay Allen
I have to admit I’m ignorant of the political details and am sorry for the vendors dealing with the business side of this but for all the bikers responding aren’t we missing the big picture? Sure we know the REAL reason they want the rally out , and I haven’t been going for a while because it HAS been getting too restrictive with the tickets for everyting. We couldn’t “show off our pipes” , flip are shirts, raise our voice (got a ticket for that), or do anything that normally goes along with a rally, (without harm to others I might ad) without getting a ticket.Thats not a relaxing atmosphere! But …there are rules and assholes everywhere right? It would be nice to go anywhere where we can do our thing, which is not badasses-stand our ground-do what we want-go where we want. Every biker gathering I’ve been to is the nicest most considerate bunch of people, more so than the general public, and I’m proud of what I know we can be and not the stereo-type most think we are. I would be happy gathering anywhere we can all enjoy “what we do”! Hope everyone can relax and go either place that makes you happy. I’m sure there will be enough of a crowd, but not too crowed which is a plus, and of cours your friends that both places should be fun-enough. Can’t change it -right?
Have fun in Newbern. My crew cant find it in ourselves to be chased away. We say F@&k The Mayor and his cronies. We’ll ride down to myrtle like we have for the past 15 years. We’ll see our South Carolina friends, Party, Eat, Drink, and most importantly spend cash. Only difference We wont spend one cent within the city limits. Guess everyone has their own version of a TEA PARTY
To the New Orleans guy. We did the Steel pony festival a few years back. It was a nice get together at the superdome but not really a major bike week. However New orleans is a great party when ever your there.
And to the Broken spoke guy. We use to party at your places in Laconia And Myrtle. But since you guys f@%ked our buds the Lakota indian tribe in Sturgis. I wouldnt piss on you if you were on fire!!! Caveman.
Just to clarify… the Myrtle Beach Rally has NOT moved to New Bern. The Harley Dealers Association has moved THEIR gig there… which only last four days. We are having the standard Bike Rally with BELLS on.
The Myrtle Beach Rally is alive and well and we are boycoting the City Limits of Myrtle Beach. I live in the Garden City/Murrells Inlet area which is ground zero for the rally anyway. Hundreds of vendors and a lot of partying will ALWAYS be going on here.
The OFFICIAL dates of the Rally is May 8th-17th. I along with HUNDREAD of thousands of Bikers will be here.
To all who love to ride, whether your bike is a Harley or Triumph or a Jap cruiser or something you wrenched and welded together by yourself– just forget what the Myrtle Beach mayor is pulling and go to Myrtle Beach Bikeweek! It’s easy to stay out of the mayor’s little castle– a simple map shows the city limits. As for me, I spend most of my time in Murrell’s Inlet anyway. It’s all about riding with your friends and having fun for a few days, right?
And if you’re not too tired and broke and are still in the area on the second weekend, zip over to Rockingham, NC and have a blast at the Smoke Out Chopper party at Rockingham Dragway. It’s put on every year by the folks who publish the chopper mag “The Horse Backstreet Choppers”– the mag is about those who put their hands and hearts into building their bikes by themselves and not spending $20K for a bike that sits and just gets polished most of the time. The dates are May 15-16,
Please check out this documentary on 2009’s Spring Bike Rally In Myrtle Beach SC, This is the views of Rally goer’s and vendors and what they think of this years rules and mandates set forth by the Mayor, please visit the link below and leave your comments and views about it.
http://www.youtube.com/user/scfilms09#p/u
Attention Bikers, HD dealerships,Abate,and MC Clubs,
I am not ablogger, I am a local myrtle beach biker,who hates to put on a helmet and ride one mile,in order to ride in the land of the free,Surfside,Garden City, Murrells Inlet, North Myrtle Beach,Little River,Conway, as well as the entire state of South Carolina.
I am not politically correct i am RIGHT-We are losing track of the rally’s origin.The original name was not the Myrtle Beach Harley Davidson Bike Rally,but The Harley Davidson Motorcycle Dealership Association coastal Bike Rally.That started for Harley Riders around 70 years ago.in Murrells Inlet’s coastal Harley Dealership.
Myrtle Beach is INSIGNIFICANT,boycott the city,but save the Coastal Rally which includes Little River,North Myrtle Beach,Conway,Surfside,Garden City,Murrells Inlet,and Georgetown.Call your local HD dealership and show UNITY for the Coastal Rally.We cannot allow Myrtle Beach City council to dictate for the rest of South Carolina what tourism is exceptable so show support and unity or they will win.
FUMB 2010-Bikers will ride again.