As Atlantic Beach Bikefest begins, bikers have mixed feelings

Rocky Marsh, the president and founder of the All Throttle Motorcycle Club, based in Alabama, takes a picture of his group at the at 2001 Nightclub, which is hosting vendors and entertainment during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest.

Last year, 17 members of the II Tru bike club rode from Orlando for the Atlantic Beach Bikefest. This year, there are only six.

"We like it, but we ain't coming back," said Robert Jackson, 39, the president of the club, chafing under new restrictions passed by the city of Myrtle Beach to curtail the area's spring motorcycle rallies. "The treatment is too bad. The treatment is terrible. I've never seen a city that don't want no money."

As the Bikefest begins, bikers reported seeing fewer riders hitting the road. Rocky Marsh, the founder and national president of the All Throttle Motorcycle Club, based in Alabama, has been coming to the rally for five years. Despite some anti-biker sentiment in the area, he said he was not deterred.

"If they change the rules, we're just going to adapt to the rules," he said. "We're not going to go away."

Cycle Shoe International, a company based in Philadelphia, is putting together entertainment and vendors for the weekend at 2001 Nightclub on Lake Arrowhead Road. Last year, the company hosted 147 vendors at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. This year, there are only 30 at 2001 Nightclub.

But that didn't bother Howard Clifton Jr., the owner of DD's Custom Seats and Accessories, which has been coming to the Bikefest since 1992. Clifton said sales were actually up because there were less vendors -- and thus less competition.

He said he did not mind relocating from Myrtle Beach to the North Myrtle Beach area.

"That's where the rally started from the beginning," he said. "To me, it was a no brainer... it was just like moving back to basics."

 From left, Martis Mack, 37, Robert Jackson, 39, and Bruce Archie, 40, of the II Tru bike club, hang out outside the 2001 Nightclub during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest.

Comments

[Enigma]

I do not think we who understand the concept of riding and love the atmosphere of BBW should not let any group or city's rules stop us from coming. I think in the years to come, we should show even a stronger presence in the area, to let it be known, that we have not come this for as a people by giving inTo pressures that others may try and put on us.