2010 Rallies & Events
Myrtle Beach Fall Rally 2010 Part 1
Story and photos by Jack Cofano
Are bike rallies in the Myrtle Beach area dead and buried? I think not. Have the powers to be won their battle against the rallies? They have won the battle, but one battle does not win a war. The helmet law in the city proper was overturned and if this year’s fall rally is any indication, they may have finally realized that they don’t know who they’re dealing with.
I have been going to the rallies in Myrtle Beach for many a year and the fall rally has never really compared to the spring rally and this year was no different. That said, I was shocked to see the number of die-hard bikers attending this year’s fall rally. The bikers stayed true to their word and stayed out of the city and as a whole didn’t spend their time or money there. I will get into that a little more in Part 2 of this article.
Even with terrible rain at the beginning of the week including a tropical storm on Thursday, the crowds were very respectable. There were many cancellations due to the weather as can be expected. Being that this is only a five-day event and North Myrtle Beach did not give out vendor permits, the vendors as a whole stayed away, but the vendors in Murrells Inlet did a fine business. “It exceeded our expectation,” said Denise Triece, marketing and events director a Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson. “We were not expecting the numbers that we got, especially with the rain when it came in, and it has really been great everyday.”
Harley-Davidson of Myrtle Beach has named the fall rally the Hurricane Alley Fall Bike Rally and the hot spots were concentrated from the dealership’s southern location across U.S. 17 from Myrtle Beach State Park south to SBB in Murrells Inlet. There were bikers along much of Kings Highway, but just in clusters and clumps, and then another concentration at the Harley-Davidson location in North Myrtle Beach. Jamin’ Leathers was also a main stop along U.S. 17 where they hold a great auction every year.
All in all the weekend exceeded my expectations and I had a great time. I was proud of all the bikers who showed they would not be intimidated by a local government that is not in touch with the times and is only interested in their own agenda. More to come on that subject in Part 2 of this article.