OK Folks,
This is the official statement of the Horry County Chapter of ABATE on the bike week issue.

We feel that the decision to extend the dates of the spring rally to overlap with Memorial weekend is a bad decision on the part of Phil Schoonover. The Horry County Chapter of ABATE is officially calling for a boycott of all the dealerships and clothing outlets that are owned by Phil Schoonover, and we hope that the biker community as a whole will come together with us on this boycott until such time as Mr. Schoonover retracts his plan of the over lapping dates he has proposed for this year. We feel that this is just a slap in the face towards the county council, and that this is one mans decision !! This is not the general opinion of the larger part of the biker community. Because of this one mans decision, we have heard that the county council is considering pulling all permits for this year. We respectfully ask the council to reconsider this action. It would be very detrimental to the business community and may very well force some of the smaller mom & pop business's to close their doors due to the lack of income that they depend on during the bike rally.
We feel that over lapping these events would be overwhelming on the ability of Horry County to police all the events at one time. The last thing we want to see is any event getting out of hand. We feel that two different bike rally's combined with the normal Memorial events would be just to much for Horry County to handle, and would cause way to much traffic confusion for any tourist to enjoy their stay here on the Grand Strand. Also, changing the dates this late in the game is a foolish decision, and makes it difficult on the part of the tourists and vendors to plan their schedule's.
Now, if Mr. Schoonover really feels the need to extend the dates of the spring rally, then he should show enough respect for city and county councils, and ABATE and the biker community to sit down with all of us and discuss his intentions at least a year in advance.!!!
Now, ABATE does feel that a small extension to take place earlier in the month of May so as not to over lap to many tourists at one time could be very beneficial to all business small and large, but again not this late in the game. It does not give the county time to make the proper preparations. Out of respect, these type of plans should be discussed at least a year in advance.
Again, ABATE is respectfully requesting that the Horry County Council reconsider their thoughts of pulling the permits for this year that are already in place.

Thank you very much for your attention in this matter,

Gary P. Balcom Coordinator: ABATE of Horry County.
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR GOVERNMENTS !! GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE AFRAID OF THEIR PEOPLE !!! V.
ALWAYS SPEAK YOUR MIND !!
GOD BLESS TO ALL AND PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION YEAR. EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET OUT AND VOTE !! PLEASE RIDE SAFE !!
www.horryabate.com


 

Horry County Council Members: www.horrycounty.org

City of Myrtle Beach Council  www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com