I promised to do a little blog about the Myrtle Spring rally, and well, time got away from the old man. So here we find ourselves around the old e-campfire swapping stories of the once proud event that had been a huge economic plus to Horry County.
Last year the human hemorrhoid known as Mayor Rhodes decided to squash the annual arrival of spring….and Harley riders. To an extent far greater than I expected, he succeeded. But it’s the way this bag of douche went about the process that frosts my shriveled old nuggets.
In addition to passing a tax increase on the residents of the city of Myrtle, he also rammed through changes to the “vendor permit” process, noise ordinances and a well published override of state law concerning helmets. Thaaats right, his highness deemed it necessary to ratchet up the requirements for helmet use. If he came to Greenville, made a “right turn on red” and suddenly got a ticket he would scream that state law permits it. Logic aside, there are lawsuits in place and that aspect of the changes will be decided in court.
Speaking of court, the administration ordered the police to setup clusters of officers at major entrance points to the city and stop riders for anything, everything or nothing. According to a contact with the SCHP the local peace officers were told to stop them all, write as many tickets as possible and arrest when able. The local traffic court system will be a mess for a long time.
Now, it is with great sadness I report that even though it was just the city that became an a-hole landmass, it had a huge impact on the southern and northern adjacent cities of Garden City, Surfside, Murrells Inlet, North Myrtle Beach, etc. The mood was nasty and confrontational and the crowds small….at least for the first weekend of the event.
In the city of Myrtle, hotels that 1 year ago were sold out with rooms renting for $140 per night, were 40% occupied with rates at $35 per night. Restaurants were doing minimal business, as were bars, grocery stores, etc. It seems odd that the ballsack they have for a mayor, was able to slip them the sausage in two ways. First he raises the tax on the same people that saw their income plummet for a 10 day period.
Below are some shots I took while in the southern end between Friday and Monday.
This was at the Suck Bang and Blow location on 17 By-pass.
One year ago this entire area would have been jammed with bikes and people. What you see here is the result of the “best intentions of government meddling in private business.” My bike looks a little lonely doesn’t it?
These are from the Rats Hole. This is favorite destination for bikers that in the past would have over 1,000 bikes on the ground at anytime on the same day a year ago. 
Well you get the “picture.” Many of us showed up rather than swallow the attitude doled out by the mayor of Myrtle. I asked a number of residents if they were going to take the insult of being told that they weren’t welcome in their own town by an elected official and what the odds were we might see a recall election. Reactions were mixed. Opinions varied. That in itself is the most troubling. People accepting this type of treatment from some ass clown doing a part time job.
If people that drove SUVs were suddenly told they weren’t welcome, they could not rent hotel rooms, or drive the streets of a city without police harassment, there would be an uproar.
Let the same gasbag inflict that same mistreatment toward motorcycles that pay taxes, buy tags, and supply a huge boost to the economy and some see no problem.
Extend that scenario, beyond motor vehicles, and apply it to people.
Lets’ say the same “rules” and effort to discriminate is applied to a minority.
Pick one…any one, and consider the sh*t storm that would erupt.
My point is, let it succeed with one component, and I suspect others will be targeted.
Far fetched? Maybe…..maybe not.