Sunday, March 29, 2009

News - Local

Thursday, Mar. 26, 2009

City's bike rule process catches flak from court

Justice turns up her nose at hearings plan

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A memo from the state Supreme Court says Myrtle Beach's new administrative hearing process, set up to deal with infractions cited under its new ordinances targeting the May motorcycle rallies, is repugnant and unconstitutional.

Chief Justice Jean Toal on Monday issued a one-paragraph memo to county and city administrators, attorneys and council leaders that said she received information that some counties and municipalities "are attempting to create by local ordinance another tier of courts, typically designated as 'administrative hearing courts'" to deal with smoking bans and other local ordinance violations.

The city last year passed 15 ordinances and amendments, one of which sets up an administrative hearing system, and others that create administrative infractions, including the local bike-helmet ordinance.

Toal called the administrative hearing system "repugnant" to the state's uniform judicial system and said setting up administrative hearing courts violates articles V and VIII of the state constitution.

Her memo also said the administrative infractions will have to be heard in municipal court by the magistrate, which would mean adding to an already crowded municipal court docket.

The administrative hearing process began with cities that passed local bans on smoking in public places, and the city used the state court's support for those bans as a foundation for arguing it could implement a local helmet ordinance.

Myrtle Beach City Attorney Tom Ellenburg and City Manager Tom Leath received the memo Wednesday morning, and Leath said there will be discussions among city officials and attorneys about what the memo means and how the city will deal with it.

The helmet ordinance went into effect Feb. 28, and a group of motorcyclists held a protest ride along Ocean Boulevard, receiving the first citations under the city's new law.

Leath said the first of the administrative hearings on those tickets are scheduled for April 21, and he's not sure if Toal's memo will affect those hearings.

Because the constitutionality of an issue is a decision usually made by state high courts anyway, Leath said he would have expected challenges and appeals to be heard there.

Toal is simply "stepping out early and giving her opinion," he said.

Mike Shank, owner of Festival Promotions, who promotes the Harley-Davidson Spring Cruisin' the Coast rally that takes place at the beginning of each May, is one business owner who filed suit against the city to stop it from enforcing some of the ordinances, including the helmet ordinance. His suit, filed in federal court, also challenges the administrative hearing process.

After reading the memo Wednesday morning, Shank said he sees it as a victory, though he said he couldn't say much because his case is still pending in court.

"All I can really say is that this is a positive development, and we are looking forward to bike week," Shank wrote in an e-mail.

Greg Hembree, 15th Judicial Circuit solicitor, said he had read the memo and that it wouldn't change his role in certain cases, but it could affect what the city is doing.

"It appears it would have some impact on the efforts the city is making," Hembree said. "But it's not something that's under my jurisdiction."

Hembree said the county deals with an influx of cases each spring after the rallies that draw almost half a million people to the Grand Strand and take up most of May.

Violations that happen within the city are hashed out in municipal court, and Hembree said that won't change.

"The city of Myrtle Beach, in particular, is expert at handling the seasonal fluctuations in court cases, so I am sure they will deal with this," he said.


Saturday, March 21, 2009

2009 Supersport Shootout VII
Friday, March 20, 2009
This year’s class of supersports includes the Honda CBR600RR, Kawasaki ZX-6R, Suzuki GSX-R600, Yamaha YZF-R6 as well as the Triumph Daytona 675 and Ducati 848.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

The Ratmates and Big Daddy Rat pose with the trophy table.
The Ratmates and Big Daddy Rat pose with the trophy table.
Custom motorcycle builders from around the globe gathered under the water slides of the Daytona Lagoon for the 37th Annual Rat’s Hole Custom Show. This year’s event was a true international affair billed as the “Italian Showdown” as three winners from the Padova Bike Expo Show in Italy were flown over to compete with their American custom building counterparts. Approximately 175 motorcycles, ranging from mini choppers built by custom builders of the future in the ‘1 to 250cc Class’ to the always entertaining ‘Over 1000cc Super Radicals,’ were on hand competing for one of the new bronzed Rat’s Hole trophies.

“It’s my 23rd year working here in Daytona and the work never ceases to amaze me,” said emcee Radical Randy.

The craftsmanship of the European contingency was superb. La Fenice di Custombike, the winner from the Italian show, is a superb streetfighter created by Jerry Chillico. The foundation of the bike is based around the Harley-Davidson Sportster, sourcing its 1203cc engine and using a heavily
La Fenice di Custombike  the winner from the Italian show  is a superb streetfighter created by Jerry Chillico.
La Fenice di Custombike, aka The Phoenix, is said to represent 'the rebirth of the motorcycle as it should be.'
modified Sporty frame. La Fenice features a unique strip of metal that parallels the backbone and sits on the top of the tank. The strip lifts up to expose the hidden fuel cap and conceals the hardware of the electronic braking system on the front wheel. Other innovative features include the rear brake which sits behind the belt final drive instead of its standard placement on the rear wheel.

The motorcycle symbolizes the rebirth of the Phoenix, the mythological bird that rises from the ashes every 500 years. Chillico said that it’s based on a 13th century poem, and the blackened flames on the bike’s small front spoiler are representative of when the phoenix bursts into flame, and the golden feathers on the metal strip are analogous to the beautiful bird that rises in the aftermath.

“This is the rebirth of the motorcycle as it should be,” Chillico said.

The second bike had a boardtracker design with blinged-out gold components. Affectionately called ‘The Red Carpet’ bike by its owner because of its star-quality, the low-riding motorcycle was built by a company called Dreamachine out of Slovenia. It features a thin, stretched tank, skinny, spoked wheels and short drag bars. It also features a host of gold-plated components, from its exhaust and engine covers to its rods and carb all the way down to its foot controls. Even the Springer fork got the gold treatment.

The winning bike in the Italian Showdown is a one-piece billet bike made by VAV-Tuning out of Czechoslovakia.
The winning bike in the Italian Showdown is a one-piece billet bike made by VAV-Tuning out of Czechoslovakia.
The final competitor was a one-piece billet bike made by VAV –Tuning out of Czechoslovakia. Owner Vaclav Vavra started with a 100kg piece of billet aluminum and kept CNC machining for 12 hours a day for 14 days straight until he had the foundation for the motorcycle’s frameless construction. The crankcase serves as a bearing support and includes an integrated oil tank and serves as support for the rear suspension. The carbon fiber Springer front end holds a VAV wheel that uses drum-like disc brakes with a central disc rotor and four-piston calipers. The handlebars, foot controls and exhaust are all stainless steel and were made in-house.

“My idea was to build a bike that was frameless and to use the engine as a source of reinforcement,” said Vavra.

His efforts would be recognized later by people attending the Rat’s Hole Show as the best of the three motorcycles from Europe. Vavra had the distinction of being the first of the day’s winners to hoist the new Rat’s Hole trophy over his head.

As good as the Euro customs were, their counterparts from the states were equally up to the task. The Rocket Ship, with its oversized tubular frame, stood out in the ‘Over 1000cc Radical Class’ not only for its bright orange paint but for its innovative design. Built by World Class Customs,the Rocket Ship does away with the conventional backbone mounted tank, opting to house the fuel in the upper frame rails while oil is stored in the frame’s downtube. Wrapped up in the unique framework is a beefy Merch 120 engine which enables the Rocket Ship to blast off the line. But this low-slung cruiser is definitely made more for styling down the boulevard than screamin’ down a drag strip.

On the other end of the spectrum were the rat bikes. It amazes me that
I see dead people! Something tells me the creator of this bike might have seen Steven King s Christine one too many times
I see dead people! Something tells me the creator of this bike might have seen Dawn of the Dead one too many times
somewhere beneath the menagerie lies a functional motorcycle. Looking past the deer horns on the bike in front of me, I marvel at how the odd assortment of Mardi Gras beads, trophies, buttons, key chains and bells from past rallies stay on when I know these motorcycles are daily riders. I wonder how they continue to ride on a seat pan that’s stripped down to bare, rusting metal with only a few tufts of foam clinging on. This rat bikes’ chief competition has an old school, tin Evel Knievel lunch box fixed to its side, so I gotta give it my nod for creativity.

Speaking of creativity, one of my favorites was a green mini chopper in the 1 to 250cc class made by a young man called Brandon Lunderman. I’d wager that the up-and-coming custom bike builder out of Palm Bay, Florida couldn’t be more than ten-years-old, but he’s already displaying a love and dedication for the trade that rivals big-time custom builders. His chopper has a ‘70s retro-vibe, decked out with mini apes up front and a tall sissy bar on the back. A 49cc single cylinder engine powers wide mini-bike tires on this cool little scoot. My favorite part was the collage of pictures that showed Brandon working on the build, especially the one with him sleeping with the bike’s green fenders like most kids sleep with their teddy bear.

I
This custom mini chopper has a 49cc engine and was built by a young man called Brandon Lunderman.
This custom mini chopper has a 49cc engine and was built by a young man called Brandon Lunderman.
f Brandon continues to pursue custom motorcycle building with the same zeal, maybe his talents will evolve to the level of my favorite bike of the show which I ran across it in the Extreme Bobber Class. The custom motorcycle is built by Charly Gregoire from Red Baron Choppers in Belgium. Its thick, tubular backbone has been drilled out, as has the fork, frame, heat shields on the exhaust, the metal seat pan and even the foot controls. All of the motorcycles’ drives are chain, Gregoire uses a Springer fork up front, runs all the wiring on the homemade handlebars internally, and keeps it old school with a kick starter to go along with its flathead engine. The most amazing feature is the homemade brake system built into the hubs of the front and rear wheels. Incredible work. And while most show bikes live and die by their high-dollar paint, the Belgian bobber leaves the metal in its unfinished state and uses the natural patinas of metal for paintwork.

With so much talent in one show, the competition is fierce but friendly. To put matters in perspective, custom builder Jerry Graves of Graves Custom Cycles was honored at the event. Graves was a friend to many at the Rat’s Hole, known not only for his work but for his outspoken personality. Unfortunately, Graves passed away a few weeks ago, and even though he has passed, the last build that he was working on was there to bear the torch for Graves Custom Cycles. And while a moment of silence is
Start with a bitching one-piece billet bike from Europe  add a Playboy Playmate and you ve got Miss Rat s Hole Bike Week 2009.
Start with a one-piece billet bike from Europe, add a Playboy Playmate, and you've got Miss Rat's Hole Bike Week 2009.
usually held as a way for people to pay their last respects, these are bikers, and in a sendoff more in vein of a Viking burial, a raucous cry of “Hell yeah, Jerry” filled the Lagoon in his honor. With Jerry’s building partner, John, on hand in his stead and Jerry’s father, Pops, and other friends in attendance, having the last motorcycle that Graves worked on at the Rat’s Hole meant he was there in spirit as well.

“This is his family right here, and you guys are his family,” said Graves’ father during the tribute.

So what do you get when you start with world class custom motorcycles, add celebrities, throw in a bunch of trigger-happy photographers and maybe a Playboy Playmate or two as Ratmates, and hold the event under clear, hot Florida skies all within the colorful confines of the Daytona Lagoon? You have another successful Rat’s Hole Custom Bike

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

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One of the best live bands of all time, The Clash, gave us their wildly popular song "Should I stay or should I go." Covered by thousands of bands, the lyrics must be ringing in the ears of hundreds of thousands of bikers in the last few weeks.

A slightly modified version could be the theme song of the 2009 Myrtle Beach Bike Weeks. This year, bikers nationwide are asking "Should I go or should I stay now?" when it comes to the annual pilgrimage to the South Carolina beach town. While the full back-story would make a great reality show, the Cliff's Notes version is that there will be bikers in South Carolina, but 2009+ will not be the same as years past.

3327845323 a73dfdf5ec o Should I go or should I stay now?  2009 Myrtle Beach bike rallies? | The Riders Perspective commentary

photo courtesy of Suck Bang Blow

Like many beach communities, the "Grand Strand" has become populated with retires who are anti-social when it comes to everyone who doesn't go to dinner at 4 pm or have blue-hair. The anti-biker attitude made its way into the Myrtle Beach city government earlier this year. Deciding to give away more tax-dollars than they have common-sense, the council voted to enact new ordinances specifically designed to curb motorcycle use within the city limits including helmet and exhaust-noise laws, most of which seem to disregard South Carolina's state laws. Afterwards, the city and Chamber of Commerce announced "Myrtle Beach will no longer host motorcycle rallies." And thus the confusion begins because the city never "hosted" motorcycle rallies. There is no title sponsor, no true "official" organization behind any of the South Carolina rallies. For our internet savvy crowd, it would be like taking down Napster and expecting the end of all peer-2-peer (p2p) sharing of music and video files.

After the Myrtle Beach city council moves, many area biker businesses reacted with a "not-so-fast." Most messages where educational in nature, telling the bike events had never been hosted by Myrtle Beach and that the motorcycle crowd would always be welcomed in the area nearby, but outside the city limits. That included one of the perceived main organizers, the Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership.

A freedom ride was scheduled to show support for bikers, but disappointment with the new Myrtle Beach laws. When +/- 100 bikers braved the rainy weather to get $100 tickets in acts of social disobedience, it appeared that everyone understood that the shows would go on this year in the area outside of Myrtle Beach, probably with lesser crowds due to the confusion.

The media thought the story was over until the Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealer's Association this week announced that it was saying goodbye to Myrtle Beach, moving their event to New Bern, North Carolina. The publicity stunt caught the New Bern mayor off guard somewhat. He said that the historic city could only handle the less than 4,000 older bikers the association described. According to the Mayor, New Bern does not have the hotels or night clubs to accomodate hundreds of thousands of bikers over a three week period like has historically happened in the Myrtle Beach area.

Which brings us back to the original issue. The future of the biker rallies in the Myrtle Beach area is clear as mud. The events were not hosted by Myrtle Beach or the Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealer's Association (which does not include the Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson dealer in its membership list). The local bikers will welcome their brothers and sisters of the wind to the area, but most likely will encourage them to stay, ride, play and party with their tax dollars outside of the Myrtle Beach city limits. The area businesses like Suck Bang Blow will continue to welcome their motorcycle customers with open arms this year, but unlikely the same large numbers as in the past.