Your Bikefest photos

Here's the first batch of your Atlantic Beach Bikefest photos. Send more to bikerblog@thesunnews.com. Send spring Harley images to the same address.

Beverly Ann Roberson shared a pair of cool car shots.

Another from Beverly Ann Roberson:

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Joshua Luffman of Little River sent in these five pictures from around the Strand.

 

Comments

[Tanaya McClary]

This bike fest was Awesome! I am and always was an avid spectator of bike fest for the past 7 years. It is a pleasure seeing and experiencing biker weekend when it comes around. The atmosphere is enjoyable, the feeling and excitement of unity and adoration is like no other feeling experienced. Each year unveils its own positive and negative aspects to this particular bike event.
For instance, the hate crime that happened on Sunday when the 67 year old Caucasion man from Sugar Grove N.C. dragged the 27 year old African American soldier 4 miles by car while the biker was underneath his vehicle. He confessed to a Myrtle Beach police detective that he was angered and mad at the traffic. If something as simple as traffic would make another individual want to go out and hurt, or even worst kill another, then that doesn't say alot about that person morals or ethics.
My point is this incident occurred around 7:00 in the morning of Sunday the 29th of May. I will assure any one that at that time, on 17th avenue business, in the area around Myrtle Beach State Park, traffic was not congested at all!!! I know this for a fact because I was out and about in that very area just before and after that incident happened.
It is a shame that someone would go to that extreme just because of hatred and prejudice and that is what it all boils down to. I guess you cannot help what certain people feel in there hearts. And for those people it is not well hidden. In light of this mans confession and actions I hope that justice will be served and carried out fully.

[Blessed]

that made no sense at all i read that but i think the rider was ok thank God!

[Blessed]

that made no sense at all i read that but i think the rider was ok thank God!

[Blessed]

that made no sense at all i read that but i think the rider was ok thank God!

[Blessed]

sorry cpu took a minute to post :-(

[GetItRight]

You mispelled CaucasiAN. European American might work too. But wait, you don't know if that guys was from Europe originally. Wait a minute, the other guy was from NC, not Africa.

That makes him American.

[...]

GetItRight,
You wouldn't have been happy any way she put that. She could have said Black and White, or African American and Caucasian... You still would have had something to say. It's a shame. There was nothing wrong with her comment, yet you must make it a point to talk down to a person. Shut the hell up. You and other people's comments on this blog are just sickening.

I am in agreement with her. Dragging someone on a bike because you are aggravated with the traffic is wrong. And if you don't agree with that, then something is wrong with YOU. I am a local and get aggravated with both events at times, but I still manage to sit through the traffic without going into a fit of rage.

Something that keeps me grounded is knowing that I too go to festivals out of town and I don't want people treating me the way MB locals tend to treat bikers. This is their time to escape from work and have fun. I won't sit over her and act like I don't know what its like.

And if you are worrying yourself over how someone spells Caucasian or how they refer to the races, maybe you need a vacation as well.

[Mic]

I don't agree with someone hurting another person.Now everyone listen to my next statement-- If people want to gather for a bikefest, that fine, however, would it be to much to ask for poeple to conduct themselves as responsible adults. I think it would be in the best interest of the City of Myrtle Beach to cancel bikefest completely. Maybe if it was cancelled, people would think before doing something stupid. Thank You.

[Brian]

So Mic, when you say "Cancel bikefest!" Are you refering to both events in May or just to the Atlantic Beach event. From what I know the first event is a whole lot wilder than the second one. I'm in Law
Enforcement and know for a fact all the stuff that goes on at both events and people are all the same regardless of color. But it is funny to me how people can turn their head at Harley Week an ignore what goes on but have a fit on the Memorial Day Weekend at anything.

[cherikab]

I am 5 time bikefest veteran and first and foremost I would like to say thank you the the City of Myrtle Beach and Atlantic Beach for hosting what seemed to have been the most orderly (as far as traffic was concerned) bikefest in years.

My concern with the cover charge to enter Atlantic Beach is this, doesn't the millions of dollars we spend on hotels, eating, and entertianment (which are all heavily taxed) generated enough revenue to justify hosting this event in your small town? In my opion this fee will only force the masses to stay on Ocean Blvd or in the Myrtle Beach area and enjoy the same crowd for free. We are already treated in some instances as though we are not wanted and in my opinion this just reinforces it. Were there any similar charges issued during Harley(White) Bike Fest?

My next issue is that of the attitudes of the residents of the city of Myrtle Beach. Who would live in a city that is a main Tourist Attraction and expect to have no touist? With no reguard to the amount of money we (bikefesters) spend in this one weekend citizens and business owners treat us as a problem. As if it isn't bad enough that we have to endure the sight of the confederate flag still flying high, overpriced hotel rooms the must be paid for in full before arrival (but only during this weekend!), and the threat or fear of being arrested for almost anything short of breathing we still bring our money to your town and you mean to tell me we can't event get a fake smile at the city limits?

I say this in closing, Bikefest is not going anywhere and one thing you can count on is Memorial Day Weekend 2007 your city will ounce again be crawling with AFRICAN AMERICAN BIKERS in all of our glory, Booty poppin, chevys on '24's and music blastin just for you! So get ready or get out of town cause it's going down wether you want us there or not.

Big up to all the Black Bike Week Bikefester! I challenge all of you to bring at least one Bike rally virgin with you to Bikefest '07 and lets show'em how we multiply and make it the biggest and best ever! C-ya next year!

[Gift]

I am also a local of Myrtle Beach. When I moved here 3 years ago I was well aware this is a tourist town. It's one of the reasons I came here. Personally, I have no problem with either of the bike events. The traffic is bad all season, no matter the event.

When the cycles are in town I try to keep both eyes open at all times and drive offensively. What I have noticed tho is that the sport bikes DO weave in and out of traffic more often than the harley's. This is probably due to the fact they are sleeker and most times faster and can get away with it more. Thats really the ONLY thing about ABF that bothers me. Both events cause major traffic, both events cause major litter and both events bring people here who do things that they would never do at home.

Personally, I enjoy both bike weeks and would be disappointed if either were cancelled. I say to the locals..remember why you moved here in the first place and learn to share. You were probably a tourist here at one time.

[MzCoveredPhatAzz]

Not saying that this should have happened at all because a man should NEVER RAPE a WOMAN but...what do you think about the young lady in the paper today that reported that she was raped by two men bike week? the thing that's in my mind is their behavior during the event(their dress, actions they made)make men aggressive and think that the only thing they want is sex, I was womdering how long it would be before someone is raped during this event. I hope she recieves the proper help to get over this.This is why I said cover up! Some people are just animals, not everyone is fine with just looking!

[Tanaya McClary]

If you really would like to get it right pay careful attention to what I am about to say. Yes, I do admit there is a typo in the way I spelt Caucasian. Everyone is entitled to a mistake here and there. As evident of your mistake in posting the same response on three separate occasions. And also to the sentence that you wrote stating "But wait, you don't know if that guys was from Europe originally." The typo, and I am assuming that it is a typo, is in the word "guys." In that sentence you either used it as ownership or as a plural of itself. Either way it is incorrect because he is not more than one guy and he has no possession.
Well without further ado I will now lead you into the other issues that you raised. According to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary the word Caucasian has several meanings. But for the purpose of our posts I will speak of only one. That definition is as follows: CaucasIAN-Of or being a major human racial classification traditionally distinguished by physical characteristics such as very light to brown skin pigmentation and straight to wavy or curly hair, and including peoples indigenous to Europe. In light of that fact, the meaning of African American is Black American of African ancestry. Now if I am not mistaken, I never once used the word African by itself. I did say African American. So to your sentence that states "Wait a minute, the other guy was from NC, not Africa. That makes him American."
The African American man is not from N.C. although he is stationed there at Fort Bragg which is a military base. He is indeed from Georgetown S.C. I must go on to say that according to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary he is of African descent and that makes him an African American. Since you said on one of your post that you read the story of what happened to this biker you would have read that also. I guess you are not right when it comes to your comprehension as well as your reading skills. Listen we both know exactly what I meant on my post. Still yet you chose to respond in a rather ignorant manner. I apologize that I had to dissect your post and educate you the right way. But since you want others to GetitRight you do understand that at times it is necessary to learn a lesson from your mistakes in order to become TRULY Right. Peace!!!!!

[white guy bored with white racists]

The attack on the active duty serviceman stationed at fort bragg is ludicrous and totally unacceptable. The attacker should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, no matter what excuse his family is trying to drum up. The biker, by sheer luck escaped from being dragged along with the bike. as a resident of the north end AB Bike Fest was much more calm than harley jackass week as usual. No cops on 17 in North Myrtle beach as I watched a harley rider with a bottle of beer cruise down the highway in plain view.
PS: I have been obseving both bike weeks for 11 years

[night train]

Well this is the first year that i had seen this $10.00 fee to get into
"Atlantic Beach" and i hope it's the LAST!!!!

The vendors did not like the fee at all they said they lost tons of money due to the fact people will not pay $10.00 to walk down a public street no matter what kind of entertainment there is...

I hope the city of "Atlantic Beach" can see what a bad idea this was in the first place,because guess what instead of people leaving early like the news paper had said they didn't leave early they hung out on the strip on the north and south side of "Myrtle Beach"...

So the only thing that $10.00 fee to "Atlantic Beach" did was make people stay on the strip where it was free to be...

Get a clue Mayor and City Council of
Atlantic Beach...

You did not help the people of Atlantic Beach at all like you said you would!!

You instead charged a $10.00 fee,,,FOR WHAT!!!the entertainment was not all that..

For clean up PLEASE not all that money went to clean up lets be honest here!!!

According to one vendor he bearly made $300.00 by sat when last year he made over $7000.00,, by sat,, besides that vendors fees where sky high...

Now you tell me how that helped the people of Atlantic Beach...

[skandelus]

It is truly sad and tragic regarding the United States Army Fort Bragg, NC Military Soldier who was dragged by someone who should quite obviously NOT be driving or operating even a tricycle, moped, scooter, etc. We hope and pray that justice will be done swiftly.

[NATIVE]

WOW, Y'ALL BLOW ME AWAY. I AM A NATIVE WHO DID NOT MOVE HERE TO JOIN THE TOURIST. THERE HAVE BEEN CONTROVERSIES OVER MANY YEARS OF BIKE EVENTS ALONG THE GRAND STRAND. BUT, BLAMING A MENTALLY IMPAIRED PERSON OF RACISM IS UNREAL. HIS FAMILY TRIED REPEATEDLY TO HAVE HIM COMMITED THE WEEK BEFORE STATING THEY WERE AFRAID HE WOULD HURT HIMSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE (POLICE RECORDS BACK THIS UP). I SAY THE BLAME LIES WITHIN THE SYSTEM NOT A MANIAC OUT OF CONTROL BUT TO THOSE WHOM DID NOT TAKE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE GOT HURT. THE DRIVER ALSO, DID NOT DRAG THE BIKER, HE RODE THE HOOD AND ROLLED OFF, THE BIKE WAS DRAGGED FOUR MILES DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE THE DRIVER SURRENDERED TO POLICE.

THAT BIKER COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR GRANDMOMMA FOR ALL THE DRIVER CARED. IN FACT ANY OF US COULD HAVE BEEN HIS VICTIM. WE SHOULD ALL BE THANKFUL THE BIKER WAS STILL ALIVE AND ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY.

BY THE WAY, THE $10.00 FEE FOR ATLANTIC BEACH WAS FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO MAKE A LITTLE MORE PROFIT TO BETTER IT'S COMMUNITY. ATLANTIC BEACH IS NOT PART OF N MYRTLE BEACH OR MYRTLE BEACH AND THE MOST OF IT'S CITIZENS ARE LIVING IN POVERTY SO THEY HAVE A VERY LOW TAX INCOME TO PROVIDE THEIR COMMUNITY WITH NEEDS MOST OF US SEE AS BEING THE NORM FOR MOST COMMUNITIES. DON'T LOOK FOR THE BAD.

BE THANKFUL FOR THE MEMORIES YOU HAVE OF ALL THE FUN YOU HAD WHILE HERE. OTHERWISE, QUIT COMPLAINING AND STAY HOME, SAVE YOUR MONEY AND SPEND IT ON SOMETHING YOU WON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT.

[Charlotteonestop]

Send some biking information over to my website to post for our Charlotte, NC frineds here to read about for future events.

Contact us at www.charlotteonestop.com and email us on the contact us page.

Thanks to all

[Tanaya McClary]

This comment is for "Native" regarding the post that he/she made in defense of the elderly man from N.C. who hit the biker, and "carried" him for a distance before the guy was able to get off of the hood of his car and then dragged his bike for a considerable distance. Your defense for the N.C. man is irrelevant when it comes to him being mentally impaired. Yes we all know that it is true that this man is mentally "ill" to do such a thing in the first place, but to use mentally impaired as an excuse or a motive is a cheap shot.
This man knows right from wrong, he functions on the level that a reasonable person would, with the exception of that Memorial Day weekend incident that he committed. Did you read that he owns his own company, and that he possess property and land including homes in South and North Carolina? My point is if he carries on day to day functionings without any problems, i.e operating and maintaining his business, his properties, his family life etc... then how is that believed to be mentally impaired.
Do not give me, yourself or anyone else for that matter an excuse for this guy. Put yourself in that bikers shoes, what would you have thought or be thinking the rationale was behind that ordeal. No lets go a little further than the biker, put yourself in the place of the bikers' family, if this would have happened to your son, brother, nephew, relative, husband then what? Better yet assume that you were the driver of the vehicle that pinned the motorcycle underneath your car through 4 traffic signals, for 4 miles without any regards to passerbys, law enforcement, your wellbeing and even the wellbeing of the biker and even without any remorse as to the condition he was in by. This man didn't even stop himself but instead ended up being pulled over by law enforcement. What would be your reasoning for doing such a horrible, unexcusable act like that?
Oh, you think it was just a spontaneous notion or even an irresistible impulse that took control of him that morning on that occasion that warrants his action. No, in fact when he was arrested he admitted to why he did what he did and to quote him directly his reasoning for the occurrence of his action was that he was "anger and mad" over the traffic. Never once did he say the voices in his head told him to do it.
No other incident of malicious acts has been documented against this man. He never even harmed himself. Your questioning should be directed at why on this day, during this occasion would he have chosen to take his anger and direct it toward this person. His wife did not even know that he was incarcerated and declined to make a comment at the time that she was notified. Never once did she say "something is wrong with my husband, we were trying to get him committed or help, he is on medication, we have proof of him going to a psychiatrist." Now if my spouse was mentally impaired I would be concerned about him and every movement that he made would have been controlled/documented by me or if I am not able then by someone who could. All of my husbands whereabouts would be accounted for. Even if I had to take away his priviliges like for instance his keys so he would not drive, his means of economic security etc...
It is known that this guy has money and what is talking for him now is his power of the all mighty dollar as evident of the cover up that is being done now as to the situation of racism that has gotten him into this mess. Please let justice be served to the fullest so that this mentally "ill" person would not be able to do this to anyone else again. Peace and Love first not a cover up. Do not condone this act. Because this could have happened to someone you love.

[NATIVE]

THIS IS FOR CHARLOTTEONESTOP. THE MAN'S BUSINESSES HAD FAILED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. HE MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE MONEY IN THE PAST BUT HIS LIFE AS HE SAW IT WAS AT IT'S LOWEST.

I AM SORRY THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND MENTAL ILLNESSES OR YOU WOULD KNOW, NO THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT ALWAYS "IN THEIR RIGHT MIND" THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED MENTAL ILLNESS. I KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS RAISED BY MY MOMMA WHO HAS FOUGHT BEING BIPOLAR ALL HER LIFE AND YES AFTER THREE BREAKDOWNS AND MYSELF AND MY SIBLINGS BECOMING WARDS OF THE STATE MORE THAN ONCE I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR THEM.

MY BOYFREIND IS ALSO BIPOLAR AND LORD DON'T LET HIM FORGET HIS MEDICINE. THEY ARE TRULY LIKE "DR JEKLE & MR HYDES" AND HAVE NO CONTROLL AT TIMES.

IF IT WERE ONE OF MY FAMILY HE HAD HIT, YES MY MAIN CONCERN WOULD BE FOR THE THEIR WELL BEING. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NOT ONE OF MY OWN I AM THANKFUL HE IS ALIVE, HE COULD HAVE BECOME STATISTIC OF THE WEEKEND AND FORGOTTEN. I STILL SAY IF THE SYSTEM HAD DONE THEIR JOB OF PROTECTING US THIS WOULD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I TRUELY HOPE AND PRAY THIS YOUNG MAN KNOWS HOW CLOSE HE CAME TO MEETING HIS MAKER, MAYBE THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HIS LIFE THAT HE SHARES WITH ALL NOT IN ANGER BUT IN THANKS.
JUST AS I WOULD HOPE FROM ONE OF MY OWN.

[IUnderstandButDang]

that gentelman was a wealthy man and his mental health is JUST becoming an issue after he HURTS someone. He did not just hit the person he DRUG them a great distance on top of his car in plain view with the bike draging beneath the car and he did not STOP until he was FORCED to.this is a bunch of crap if i ever heard it...bipolar disorder is claimed whenever a white person commits murder.susan smith...bipolar...Mike Earley... bipolar...Larry Robison ...bipolar...Perry Cerf ...bipolar...Nancy Byrd (attempted murder of her child)...bipolar... Need I go on? Yes it is a serious mental illness and they need help but it should not be used as an excuse to commit murder!

[NATIVE]

I UNDERSTAND THE ANGER AND DISBELEIF Y'ALL HAVE IN THIS MATTER WITHOUT ALL THE FACTS IT DOES LOOK JUST MEAN AND HATEFUL. I HAVE TRIED TO SEND THE ARTICLE FROM THE SUN NEWS OF THE PRIOR POLICE REPORTS AND THE DAUGHTERS CONCERNS FOR HER FATHER BUT CHARLOTTEONETOP DID NOT SUPPLY AN E-MAIL.

ON LINE ON MYRTLEBEACHONLINE.COM
THE ARTICLE THAT THE FATHER NEEDED HELP STATES THE DAUGHTER'S STRUGGLE TO GET HELP FOR HER DAD BEFORE THE ACCIDENT TO NO AVAIL EVEN AFTER THE POLICE WITNESSED HIM TALKING STANGELY TO HIMSELF IN HIS YARD. THE SUBJECT OF MENTAL INSTABILITY WAS DID NOT OCCUR AFTER THE FACT.

BY THE WAY, THE WIFE WAS IN CHARLOTTE. I CAN NOT STATE FOR A FACT IF THEY WERE SEPERATED OR NOT. ALSO, BIPOLAR DISORDER IS NOT PREJUDICE TO RACE, CREED, OR COLOR. NOW, IF HE WERE ON ACID, METH, CRACK OR OTHER DRUGS, BELEIVE ME I WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO SAY "LET HIM FRY!"

ONCE AGAIN I STATE, "THE SYSTEM FAILED" THE VICTEM, THE DAUGHTER, THE DAD, AND YOU AND I. THEY LEFT HIM FREE, WHICH LEFT EVERYONE IN CONTACT WITH THIS MAN AT HARM! THANK GOD HIS VICTEM LIVED IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH MORE DIFFERENT ENDING. THANK GOD HE LIVED!

[tookie]

shut up

[KIM MCGILLEWIE]

THANK GOD THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THEIR THAT ACTUALLY USES THEIR BRAIN!!!!! THIS WAS NOT A RACIAL ISSUE. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE STUPIDITY IN OUR COUNTRY!!! ALL OF YOU NEED TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE THAT THE PROFESSIONALS IN THIS SOCIETY ARE NOT THERE TO HELP US IN TIMES OF NEED.

I AM THE DAUGHTER OF LARRY JACOBS!!! FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE NOT LIVED IN A BI-POLAR WORLD,YOU WOULD NOT UNDERTAND THE FRUSTRATION. OUR SOCIETY CAN NOT HANDLE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND UNFORTUNATELY ALL HELP WAS BEING SAUGHT BY THE GOVERNMENT (THE MAGISTRATE OFFICE), THE POLICE AT OCEAN ISLE BEACH AND MANY PROFESSIONAL PSYCHIATRISTS. OUR HANDS WERE TIED DUE TO THE LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THESE PROFESSIONALS THAT WE TURNED TO FOR HELP. WE ARE TRUELY SORRY FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED!!!! FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THINK THIS WAS A RACIAL CASE. GROW UP AND USE YOUR BRAIN FOR ONCE!!!! PEOPLE LIKE YOU SHOULD NOT EVEN BE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO VOTE!!!!

THIS SOCIETY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

[KMCGILLEWIE]

OH, AND BY THE WAY NATIVE. I HOPE YOU NEVER HAVE TO RELY ON SOCIETY EVER HELPING YOU. YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT BI-POLAR IS AND NEED TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. IT IS QUITE EMBARASSING!!!!!!!!!!!!!