Myrtle Beach Residents To Pay For Anti Bike Rally Campaign

Via Myrtle Beach Sun News, below the highlights of the measures taken by the city to end motorcycle-related vending inside the city.
“Myrtle Beach City Council hit the gas on eradicating motorcycle rallies by passing a three-mill property-tax increase dedicated to an anti-bike-rally campaign 
All seven council members at Tuesday’s meeting voted in favor of the tax increase, which will raise about $1 million a year. One mill equals an additional $4 in property taxes for every $100,000 of assessed value for all owner-occupied homes, and $6 for every $100,000 assessed value of commercial property and second homes.City staff members are tasked with coming up with a list of strategies for ending the rallies, and city leaders will choose which ones they want to try and which ones the city can afford.

It’s news that will please the hundreds of anti-rally residents who showed up at last week’s council meeting. City leaders say they want to actively market May as a family vacation month, replacing bike rally participants.

 At Tuesday’s meeting, council members also voted to change the city’s OZ-50 zoning so vending permits cannot be issued in May. OZ-50 covers the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and Broadway at the Beach, two spots that in years past have drawn motorcycle-related vending.

That proposed ordinance must go before the city’s Planning Commission for review before it gets its second and final reading.
Council members voted to cancel all motorcycle-related facilities permits for the month of May, as well. That ordinance also needs a second reading before it is considered official”

33 Responses to “Myrtle Beach Residents To Pay For Anti Bike Rally Campaign”


  1. 1 Jeff Nicklus Jun 23rd, 2008 at 11:07 am

    TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF MYRTLE BEACH:

    What a bunch of crap. The City of Myrtle Beach wants us gone. Well guess what you idiots I have been thrown out of better places! You don’t want us there, OK, I will take my company(s) and we will stay home. That’s right your self serving, pompous, Ben Gay wearing, Stay off my Grass old fart citizens of Myrtle Beach can kiss my butt because Desperado Motorcycles and Jeff Nicklus Customs will not be seen in Myrtle Beach again! Oh yes, need I forget, neither will the $30-35,000.00 we spend annually to bring our dog and pony show to Myrtle Beach. I wonder how many families spend that much on vacations and Putt-Putt Golf in the Myrtle Beach during any 7-10 day period ? NONE YOU IDIOTS! NONE! Take the bikers out of the mix and guess what …… you are going to need to increase the property tax more than three mills per hundred to make up for this mistake.

    Just for the record the Delmarva Bike Week in Ocean City MD in September is a much better event anyway and the people of Ocean City and the surrounding areas love us and look forward to us coming to their area annually.

  2. 2 Mike Greenwald Jun 23rd, 2008 at 11:18 am

    Here is a slightly different perspective on motorcyclists and rallies.
    http://www.hotbikeweb.com/editorial/0607_hbkp_motorcycle_attention_laws/index.html

  3. 3 Jenn, aka JeSais Jun 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 pm

    …”City leaders say they want to actively market May as a family vacation month…”

    WTF? Don’t bike rally participants have families too?

  4. 4 Walt Lumpkin Jun 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pm

    WISHES DO COME TRUE!

    The politicians of Daytona Beach had a similar brain fart several years ago. Their wish
    became reality. Attendance at Bike Week and Biketoberfest declined significantly and then
    came the property damage from the hurricane that put tourism on the wane for a couple of years.

    Years of Gestapo like enforcement of petty infractions just to show force and raise revenue
    soured me on Daytona years ago even though I personally never had a problem. I just
    observed.

    Myrtle Beach be careful what you wish for. Daytona is now spending dollars on advertising
    in any publication that will take their money and begging the biking community to return. Amazing what a decrease in revenue will do to change the mindset of pandering, narcisistic politicians.

    I for one have a long memory. Screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me.

  5. 5 Gar Jun 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    I totally agree with Mr. Nicklus and Mr. Lumpkin. They don’t want the bikers in Myrtle Beach then F%&k em. I won’t be back either. FYI: I am looking at the Delmarva Bike Week now instead of Myrtle Beach.

  6. 6 rodent Jun 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 pm

    I agree with the above Screw Myrtle and her Beach and the rednecked inbreds that run it.

  7. 7 Lee Wimmer Jun 23rd, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    Hey hold on….It’s only the stupid idiots that are trying to get re-elected to city council that don’t want the bikers.
    Don’t give the whole Myrtle Beach area a bumb rap. There are tons of locals that are NOT in favor of this change. We know the true value of the bikers and STILL want them! In fact there is a special meeting at a local club at Broadway at the Beach for those that will be impacted by this. I will personally be there. And also plan on going to the stupid town council and tell them all how dare they decriminate towards bikers!
    They may be able to pull vendor permits , but I ‘d like to see how the heck they are going to keep the bikers away. Come on guys take the high road , if they don’t want us that is even MORE reason to come to town. Forget the city itself, there are still plenty of places in the Grand Strand that welcome you!!! And incase you don’t know it by now I’m a local resident and have a motorcycle shop in Murrells Inlet and EVERYONE is more than welcome here!
    Lee Wimmer

  8. 8 Dawn Jun 23rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm

    Hey Jeff & Walt,

    Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Bad for Myrtle Beach…GOOD for THUNDERBEACH!!! Jeff, you make soooooooooo much sense. My hat’s off to YOU & ALL YOUR GREAT FAMILY AND STAFF you bring to TB twice yearly. We love and appreciate every dollar you spend. THANK YOU DESPERADO MOTORCYCLES. Maybe everyone will just stay on “The World’s Most Beautiful Beaches” LONGER!!! No need to hurry off to Myrtle Beach when “PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA WELCOMES all BIKERS with “OPEN ARMS”! Walt, should we make yours and Cindy’s reservation for two weeks? : ) Dawn

  9. 9 AL Jun 23rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm

    I also agree with Mr. Nicklus and Mr.Lumpkin! My buddies and I have been going to the spring Myrtle Beach for 8 years in a row! It has been going downhill for 3 or 4 years. We also go to DelMarva ……..much better and the residents are very friendly! We won’t miss MB!

  10. 10 Jeff Nicklus Jun 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    Lee,

    As you know I have the utmost respect and admiration for you, but in this case I think you may be off base. The comments about how many of the Myrtle Beach residents want us, the biking community, to come to Myrtle annually is much lower than you might expect. If it weren’t why would the City Council politicians play the “we don’t want them here” card. Obviously enough people do not want us in their fair city that the politicians keep getting re-elected based on that platform.

    Also, please remember the numbers of Hotel, Motel and Condo owners who will be happy to rent you a room, however, you must first sign a statement acknowledging that you understand that your motorcycle will not be allowed on the premises nor will your “biker clothing”, whatever the hell that is. They are quick to point out that they are a “Family Oriented” business and bikers are in direct conflict with that family orientation. Doesn’t seem that my money is a conflict though!

    As I have said before we will not be back and hopefully my counter parts in this industry will follow my lead. Hell, if the city doesn’t issue permits Broadway at the Beach is dead along with every other site in town. Until the people of Myrtle Beach realize where their bread is buttered and vote these idiots out of office there is nothing we, as bikers, can do other than hit them where it hurts …. in their pocket books.

    As Walt pointed out Daytona made this same mistake and now they are crying! FYI: I haven’t attended Bike Week or Biketoberfest in Daytona in two years now and it has only made my bottom line stronger by doing so. As Dawn pointed out, why not go to Thunder Beach in Panama City? We are loved there, the hotel and restaurants don’t gouge the hell out of us and the beaches are much more alluring.

    Jeff Nicklus

  11. 11 psychodrew Jun 23rd, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    The beach has now made the list when reckoning day comes.And it is coming real soon.

  12. 12 Gar Jun 23rd, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    WOW these guys have screwed the pooch now. Sounds to me like the city council and mayor should resign now and get out of town before the lynch mob arrives!

  13. 13 Jake Culler Jun 23rd, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    Hummmmmm, I smell Democrats, not only have they “screwed the pooch” but, they raised the taxes to do it. All they had to do was call a News Conference and announce to the world “Bikers are no longer welcome in Myrtle Beach”. No big deal, my feelings are not hurt One bit (I have my BIGBOY panties on) and I really appreciate the honesty or warning, however it is meant. I for One have no desire what so ever to be someplace I’m not welcome, much less go there to have fun and spend my MONEY !!!!!!!!!!

    Let’s see,,,,,,,,,,,,,, raise taxes and waste time and money devising ways to make the place unappealing, whatever that might entail. Or,,,,, call a News Conference for FREE !!!!!!!!!!

    My bike and my money go with me, and I go in any direction!!!!!

    Who let the DEMS out??????

  14. 14 Dick Hertz Jun 23rd, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    It did not bother all those dickheads before! Why should they blame the whole motorcycle world because a Black asswipe shot that college student. WTF

  15. 15 Walt Lumpkin Jun 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 pm

    Lee: We all know that the businesses that we like to patronize will suffer and I for
    one hate that aspect of this situation. I always try to patronize the small business
    owner whenever possible.

    However, the revenue from sales and whatever permits they issue will fund the
    same political morons that have chosen to discriminate against citizens just
    because they ride motorcycles.

    Lee, according to mutual acquaintances you are a class act and I regret the local
    leaders have their collective heads up their collective butts again.

  16. 16 Mike Greenwald Jun 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    Seems to be a trend in North Carolin to be against bikers. Dale Walksler and the Wheels Through Time are moving from North Carolina because of the anti-motorcyclist sentiments there. Seems the local politicos there. want to turn Maggie Valley into the trout fishing capitol of the world. Good bye to Tail of the Dragon as being a biker friendly area.

  17. 17 CTM Customs Jun 24th, 2008 at 8:20 am

    If Myrtle does not want the bikes, then don’t go. For the record we haven’t been to Myrtle in a couple of years due to the costs associated with trying to set up shop there. Like Jeff mentioned, go to “Delmarva Bike Week”, it is a very similiar type situation. But you get both the worlds of Daytona & Myrtle in one. Like Myrtle you have to ride from one vendor area to the next because they are spread out. Like Daytona you have the beach and alot of night life, hotels and other options to make it a vacation while there.
    CTM Customs has been at Delmarva since its beginnings, and the entire Delmarva staff have gone out of their way to make this one of the best events around. It is comparable to any of the major events that you will attend. I am sure Kerry, Ashley and company will be glad to see you!
    CTM Customs will be glad to see you, stop by our booth!

  18. 18 madpuppy Jun 24th, 2008 at 8:50 am

    rodent
    Jun 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
    I agree with the above Screw Myrtle and her Beach and the rednecked inbreds that run it.

    YEA, WHAT RODENT SAID !

  19. 19 JonVon Jun 24th, 2008 at 10:06 am

    I could not stand Daytona gestapo, and the traffic jams, my last year was 1999. We went to Myrtle the next four years, and I seen more bikes pulled over than Daytona! I ended up moving to Panama City Beach two years ago, I didn’t even know they had a Bike Week, It’s the best beach in Fl. And There are three roads running east & west along the beach,,,no big traffic jams.
    THUNDER ON THE BEACH, is laid back !

  20. 20 FYB Jun 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am

    That’s just for the city of myrtle beach, the county has no plans to do this….Going back,one of the reasons that they are doing this is because the city owns the convention center and the hotel that it’s attached to. This is the first year that the rally was moved from the convention center to the Hard Rock Theme Park, the city lost revenue and so they are raising taxes for the residences.

    FYB

  21. 21 Lee Wimmer Jun 24th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    Walt , thanx for the kind words about me. We will not go down without a good fight. I have been on the phone with loads of local buisnessmen and we all plan on attending the meetings.
    The worst of this is the locals have no idea just how much this will end up costing everone. The 3 mill increase is JUST to wast money to try and stop the rally. It has nothing to do with the lost income. That will be another huge increase.
    So my word to all the blue hair democrats…….get a clue . for 10 days , deal with it. We can’t aford what will happen if this good rally goes away, not to mention that you are just descriminating against the finest people in the world. Bikers do more to raise money for good causes than all you stupid politicians do! We are tax payers too so listen up!

  22. 22 Lite Cycle Inc Jun 24th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    They can try as they might, but they are going to be up against stiff opposition from the local business owners who lease their options, from all the retail stores and restaurants. The revenue lost will be in the millions from all three motorcycle events and I am clueless as to the tax revenues that are generated for the city, county and state coffers.
    They want a family month in MAY for the tourists! What is the draw? Titty bars and golf courses,! Oh yeah that will go over big! Plus lets us not forget that the average American family will be trying to stave off filing bankruptcies and feeding their families for at least the next four years if a democrat gets elected. They had better rethink this one. You have the upper middle class of America with money to spend wanting to come and spend 10 days in your fine city and you want to do what??? MORONS!
    Fort Lauderdale got rid of the Spring breakers and the city has lost over 100 million in revenue in the last ten years. The police departments are having cut backs, fire departments are having cut backs and who suffers, the citizens of Fort Lauderdale, all because some city council had their heads up their collective ass’s and couldn’t appreciate what they had. But hey they just raise the taxes and for good measure toss on another 25 cents per gallon road tax on fuel.

  23. 23 Jeff Nicklus Jun 25th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

    Lee,

    If there is anything that I can do to help you and your group to fight the city please let me know. I do so like a good fight now and again!

    Jeff Nicklus

  24. 24 Bill Vee Jun 27th, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    I am a biker as well and have been to Daytona as well as M/B Bike Weeks. The problem as I understand it stems from the Black Biker week….now wait, I am not racist….my knowledge is based on conversation with some folks that I know who live in MB, Cherry Grove. Some restaurants and shops simply close their doors during Black Bike week due to the theft of merchandise, walk-outs without paying for food at restaurants, and loud rap music blaring the F and MF words so that all can hear even little children.
    Most of us responsible bikers just want to gather as a group to look at the bikes, talk about the ride down, and enjoy the beach. Seems like the black bikers go to Myrtle to exhibit even more their lack of disrespect for protocol and good taste. It is them and not you the politicians have had enuff of.

    The Myrtle Beach politicians have to be politically correct…they simply cannot prohibit Black Biker week and let all the others have their time with a Biker Week. How many black riders have you seen at regular Biker Week either at MB or Daytona? Very few. They have their own events and it is like a war zone for the locals.
    Think about living in that situation with your family…your kids, and you will begin to understand.

  25. 25 Gar Jun 28th, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    The laws should be enforced, by local law enforcement, without the fear of having the NAACP filing litigation against the city. Unfortunately that is not the case! We as a society are scared to death of anyone “of color” thanks to our courts. Good thing I am not in charge in Myrtle Beach! The new Sheriff in town would enforce the laws, as they were written, without reguard to Skin Color. The law would be enforced against all who would dare to violate it. If the violators were black then I suppose my jail would be filled with blacks and the the NAACP would be working overtime.

  26. 26 Mike Greenwald Jun 28th, 2008 at 10:39 pm

    Bill Vee,

    Myrtle Beach is really saying that they are have issues with ethno-cultural differences that they do not choose to address and in some cases choose to agitate.

    My feeling is that if they really like have the money from the rolling wallets that they combine the tow rather than holding them as a separatist and separate event.

    Bikers are bikers and enthusiasts are enthusiasts. There are assholes of everycolor at every event.

    If they quit making it a race issue by keeping it a separate event, it wont be a race issue. Then we will see what business owners and public officials really want to make it a racist issue and get rid of them.

    Gar, with all due respect, sir, you are full of crap. If you were to enforce the existing laws as written you would be putting all the people in jail that do not respect a motorcycle as having equal rights on the road. You wouldn’t allow profiling of people because of the vehicles they drive nor would you allow your department members to make a judgement call on the streets based upon the vehicle driven.

    Both of ya’ better biker up. Your arguments seem to conceal that your ridin’ dirty.

  27. 27 Gar Jun 29th, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    Mike,

    What part of my comments didn’t you understand? Let me “quote” myself: “The law would be enforced against all who would dare to violate it. ” I said noting about enforcing the law based on color. I said I would enforce the law equally for all. I quote myself once more: “If the violators were black then I suppose my jail would be filled with blacks and the the NAACP would be working overtime.” Let me add to that if the violators were white, green, brown, yellow or whatever color, if they break the law the hammer comes down PERIOD.

    As for seperate events the “Blacks” choose to have a seperate event not we “Whites”. The “White” Myrtle Beach event has been in place for many, many years much longer than thge “Black Bike Week”. If the “People of Color” choose to attend the main event, in my opinion, they are more than welcome. But you and I know that won’t happen because the vast majority of the black “bikers” know that the crap they pull at “their” event would not be tolerated at “our” event. A white biker would put a boot in their ass and they know it.

    Biker up, give me a break,

  28. 28 Walt Lumpkin Jul 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 am

    Couldn’t help but chime in one more time.

    As I understand it the Carolina HD Bikeweek is an organized event with vendors leasing spaces and local businesses participating in the promotion and organization. Therefore the city or county can deny permits for performances and vendor spaces thereby controlling the eventual success or failure of the event.

    Again as I understand the situation, there is no such organization/promoter to quell the problems of the sportbike crowd.

    This tells me the Harley crowd may or may not continue to patronize MB but the sportbike crowd will continue to come because nothing will have changed for them. You can’t keep people from going on vacation no matter what they ride or drive.

  29. 29 Jeff Mosby Jul 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 am

    As a Myrtle Beach resident I have to say that while I’m not a biker I am not in favor of ending Harley week. What everyone here is afraid to say is that it is the Atlantic Beach rally that is the real problem. The Harley week is being lumped in so as not to incur the wrath of the NAACP and all that entails. If it was just Harley Week at issue I don’t think this discussion would be taking place. Myrtle Beach is guilty of throwing the baby out with the bathwater here and I agree that we will probably suffer for it.
    Political correctness is destroying our culture a little bit at a time. This is a glaring example of what happens when politicians give in to it.

  30. 30 Wld1 Aug 3rd, 2008 at 10:15 am

    The first we heard of this was in the Easy Riders. After reading about MB not wanting the bikers, my husband and I said we will never come back. The subject has come up many times at local bars, everyone we talked to said they are not coming back. Some on this site have said they “can’t keep us away”, well thats true, but they can ride your ass so bad when your at MB you will wish you never went. That seems to be the opinon of everyone we have talked to locally. No one wants to go to a rally and have to watch there every move. Bike rallys are to have fun, relax, and enjoy your time. I can just see everyone who goes next year, giving their bikes the once over before pulling out, checking all the lights, tires, horn, turn signals, etc, just to make sure there is no visiable reason to be pulled over. I for one do not consider watchng my back every minute FUN. Good luck to all who attend the next rally.

  31. 31 Nicker Aug 3rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    WIld-.

    RE:
    “… they ‘can’t keep us away’………, but they can ride your ass …”

    Everything has it’s price…. nothing comes Free.
    How you act has consequences in any society.

    “…I for one do not consider watchng my back every minute FUN…”

    There is no constitutional guarantee for “fun”.
    Be who ya are and deal with the consequences.

    -nicker-

  32. 32 moose barman bob Aug 15th, 2008 at 6:03 pm

    Most oif the people love the bikers and look forward to them coming down. The best plan of attack at myrtle beach instituting civil ordnances for infractions as new laws for wearing helmets and loud pipes is for three thousand bikers to show up at the same time and demand that they all be issued these so called cicil tickets. we can tie up their courts for months and they will be totally screwed.
    they absolutly do not have the personel to deal with what they want to do… Basically, they are just blowing smoke up the asses of the few ignorent people that started this entire mess.

    As for me, I live south of M.B. and my taxes aren’t going up.

    Welcome bikers to the moose lodge in murrells inlet where the real fun is

  33. 33 Night Train Aug 24th, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    TO ALL THAT SAID THEY ARE NOT COMING BACK:

    Bump that Shit!! by not coming back is showing these idiots that they are winning and getting what they want!! All this shit makes be more eager and and anxious for the 09′ rally to get here!! In the long run its gonna be a smack in their face when they still have to fork out the money for the extra law enforcement and it wont have the extra funds from permit revenues. Then follows the residents wondering why the hell they are paying 3 mills higher and we’re still here!!
    And as far as the law enforcement riding your ass, S.C. laws only require that you have a functioning horn, headlight, tail/break light and one mirror for your bike to be street legal! the biggest ball busting will probably be on the noise ordinance

    SEE EVERYONE IN OCTOBER AND MAY 09″!!!

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Cyril Huze