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Facts & Info Regarding the 2008 Fall Rally and Spring Bike Week 2009 Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson, 4710 S. Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach SC 29577; www.myrtlebeachharley.com

Have any of the rallies been cancelled?

·         NO Rally has been cancelled. The Fall Rally is October 1^st – 5^th and Spring Bike Week is May 8^th – 17^th.

·         Anyone who tells you it has been canceled doesn’t know what they are talking about. If anyone at a hotel tells you the event has been canceled they don't support the rallies and don’t want your business.

·         It is not the City’s event to cancel. And, the organizers of the Spring and Fall Rallies are planning the events as they would for any other year.

Where can I get reliable information?

·         Your No. 1 source for what is happening in Horry County regarding the Spring and Fall Rally is at www.mbbikeweeks.com  http://www.mbbikeweeks.com; We will have the latest information and what you need to know before coming to Myrtle Beach. The only other sites that can be trusted for information will be listed on our website. Other than that, don’t trust any other source of information, without having it verified. That is the best way to stop the rumor mill. We are here in Myrtle Beach talking with politicians and business leaders on a regular basis.

What did the City of Myrtle Beach and other local governments do in regards to the rallies?

·         First, everyone needs to know that there are three governments that are impacted by all of the bike events. Horry County, City of Myrtle Beach and the City of North Myrtle Beach. Info and rulings from Horry County Government are the ones you need to be most concerned with. A majority of all bike week events happen in Horry County. There have only been a few events in the City of Myrtle Beach for bike week. Everything else is in the county.

·         Major venues like Celebrity Square, Dog House, Marti’s, The Bowery, etc. will still be rocking during the bike week events.

·         The City of Myrtle Beach eliminated the parking lot vendors from Broadway at the Beach and has decided not to rent the convention center during Spring Bike Week or the Memorial Day BikeFest. They also raised taxes to try and get a better handle on Spring Bike Week and Memorial Day BikeFest.

·         As of August 11, 2008, Horry County and the City of North Myrtle Beach have not made any changes to the Spring or Fall Rallies.

·         If North Myrtle Beach and Horry County vote to limit or eliminate the vendor permits, there will still be a Fall Rally and a Spring Bike Week. If that were to happen, we would create activities for everyone to enjoy.

·         So, don’t worry about the rallies. They will still be in Myrtle Beach for years to come.

·         There are a lot of businesses here that rely on your business and you traveling to see us each year. The organizers of the rallies will be doing every thing possible to make 2009 the best bike week experience possible.

What about law enforcement?

·         There will be less tolerance for misbehavior in the future. Law enforcement will be strictly enforcing the laws, especially noise ordinances.

·         If you are coming to the Myrtle Beach area to have a good time, respect the community and obey the laws, you will have nothing to worry about.

·         As more info becomes available, we will keep you informed.

How do we find a list of businesses that support the rallies and those that don't support the rallies?

·         We are working on a list of pro and con businesses. There are a lot of businesses here, so it’s hard to get a complete list. Right now you should only stay in and support businesses that are on biker websites and those that are promoting bike week on their websites. In general, I can tell you that the community (especially the biker friendly businesses) will welcome you with open arms when you are in town this Fall and next Spring.

·         In recent surveys from the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, the community overwhelming supports the Fall and Spring Rallies and over 60 percent of people said the community should work with the bikers.

What can I do to help?

·         Come to Myrtle Beach for the Fall Rally and Spring Bike Week. Find everyone that has ever been to Myrtle Beach for bike week and/or ever thought about going to Myrtle Beach and bring them this October, and especially next May. That is the biggest impact you can have. Show up in large numbers next spring and have a great time.

·         If you own property in Myrtle Beach or have stories about how often you come to Myrtle Beach; how much money you spend, etc. That information would also be quite helpful. E-mail them to mike@festivalpromotionsmyrtlebeach.com  

Harley Davidson Recall [August 20, 2008] http://www.usrecallnews.com/2008/08/nhtsa-1723.html Harley-Davidson Motor Company is recalling 47,500 2008 FLHP, FLHPE, FLHR, FLHRC, FLHRSE4, FLHT, FLHTC, FLHTCU, FLHTCUSE3, FLHTP, FLHX, and FLTR model motorcycles. These recalled Harleys may experience a loss of fuel pressure due to a cracking of the fuel filter shell. A loss in fuel pressure could lead to stalls and failure starting. Stalling in traffic can result in crash and injury for the rider.  Harley-Davidson dealers will replace the fuel filter shell for free beginning on or before August 4th. To locate a Harley dealership near you for a replacement fuel filter shell, Harley owners should call (414) 353-4056.

Your Motorcycles Can Delivered to your next event Several of my NC Retreads® have mentioned that they may want to ship their bikes to events so they will be there upon their arrival.  Others are already considering hauling their bikes for the August 2009 International Retreads® Rally in Spearfish (usually one week before Sturgis). Rather than just share this with my NC members only I thought it would be good to share it with the entire Mid-South Retreads® as well as with others.  Here are two companies that I have been in touch with from NC that would be willing to quote you your trip.

·         Monroe Freight Carriers (Monroe NC) I just wanted to introduce myself and give you a little information about the services we have to offer your organization.  We are based in Monroe, NC which is just East of Charlotte.  We have been in business since 1988 and recently founded a motorcycle transport division.  We offer motorcycle transportation to all major bike rallies around the country and for private group transportation to the location of your choice for group events, fund raisers, etc.  We are currently booking bike rallies and events for 2007.  Our management staff and drivers include bikers who really care about your bikes safe transportation and arrival.  Please give us a call today or visit our website for more information and to book your event now. Thank You, Colby Stroupe; Monroe Freight Carriers, Inc, MFC Brokerage, Inc, 4316 Weddington Rd, Monroe, NC 28110; (704) 283-1658; please visit our web site and click on Motorcycles at http://monroefreightcarriers.com.

·         Adventures Across America We’ll load your bike and luggage in our enclosed trailer and in a few days, you can fly out to begin your vacation.  Your bike and belongings will be waiting.  In 2007 we are doing Sturgis and our new “Best of the West” tours.  We can carry as many as 14 motorcycles (must have a mix of bikes with for or more with soft sided saddlebags to load this many); or we can haul 10 hard bag Harleys safely.  Contact John MacNeill at (910) 369-2222; johnmacneill@carolina.net.  Please visit his web site at http://adventuresacrossamerica.com/.   (Note: Papa Jim has an example of his 2006 rates for a rally excursion based on a 3 day layout at the rally site if you are interested.)

October 25, 2006 Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program (MSAP) The CBA/ABATE of NC has a program that teaches instructors to go into drivers education classes in local high schools to help educate the young driver about motorcycle awareness.  The program needs more instructors. Training is open to any rider. Dedicated bikers who take time off  from their work day to help make these young drivers, better drivers and more aware of motorcycles on the road.  Anyone interested in this program, should contact the new CBA/ABATE of NC MSAP Director Matt Shamblin at 484 Old Airport Rd, Newport NC 28570; [Cell] (252) 241-0682; or e-mail mshamblin@ec.rr.com.  Please visit http://www.cba-abatenc.org/msap.htm for some of the basic ideas behind MSAP. (Note: Mama Sue is trained as an instructor and can give you an idea of how it works.)

October 11, 2005 Response from Congressman Coble’s Office about the New Passport Regulations Questions (Tuesday, October 11, 2005 4:20 PM) I received this response from my NC Congressman about concerns and questions regarding passports being required to enter Canada and to return the into the US after the International Retreads® Rally in St Catherine’s Ontario in July of 2006.  Please share this with any of your Retreads® intending on attending next year’s event.

“Dear Mr. Everhart:

      Thank you for contacting our office.  Your e-mail was forwarded from our Washington, D.C., office to our Greensboro district office.  The district offices are maintained for your convenience, and we hope you will use them whenever the need arises.

      According to the State Dept. website, the Intelligence and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the U.S.  Effective December 31, 2006, travelers will be required to have U.S. passports for all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. 

     As of right now, you do not HAVE to have a passport to go to and from Canada, although I have heard that it is much easier if you do have one (especially getting back into the U.S.).  To get into Canada, you must have a passport or proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, and a photo ID.  For your information, the phone number for the Canadian Embassy is (202) 682-1740, and their website address is www.canadianembassy.org.  For all kinds of information relating to passports and travel, you may check out the U.S. State Department's website at www.state.gov or www.travel.state.gov.  

     Thank you again for contacting our office.  If you have any further questions, you may contact me at (336) 333-5005 or by e-mail at Amanda.MartinPage@mail.house.gov.

Sincerely,” Amanda M. Page, Constituent Liaison for HOWARD COBLE, Member of Congress

July 27, 2005 New Connecticut State Retreads® Representatives Lou and Liz Picaut (Middletown CT) are now former Reps for the Connecticut Retreads®.  I t was announced at the New England Regional Retreads® Rally in Rhode island that Lou and Liz would be stepping down.  Les and JoAnne Harnish (West Springfield MA) will be taking over the position of the Connecticut Retreads® Rep with Walter Anderson (S. Windsor CT) as their Assistant Rep.

July 27, 2005 New Virginia and West Virginia Representatives Marguerite and John Bailey of Falls Church VA has volunteered to take over the Virginia and West Virginia Retreads®.  Marguerite and John have been with the Retreads® for 20 years or more and both ride bikes, a Honda Gold Wing 1500 and Gold Wing 1800.  They live in the Northern VA area.   John is a retiree and Marguerite presently works for the Fairfax County VA Public Schools.

May 05, 2005 Official Retreads® Song Given to us by Willie Nelson – “On the Road Again” As you can See, At long last, Willie Nelson signed off on his song “On the Road Again”, as the Retreads® Official Song.  I introduced it as our song at the International in 1980 in the Smokey Mountains.  Since then I have chased him all over the country trying to get his signature.  In Spearfish SD at the International I had it!!  Only took me 24 years.  He was great about it.  So now we are legal. – Message from the Retreads® International Secretary Marlene Patton