|
Post by bikergal on Mar 21, 2010 17:39:50 GMT -6
Wow was that dissapointing! They moved it to the old mall downtown but there was NO PARKING!!! What's the deal with that?
They wanted you to park at Broadway at the Beach and then catch a bus??
Driving by it seemed attendance was way down. Why on earth would they move it where they did? It was much nicer at Hard Rock Park AKA Freestyle Park AKA Ghost Town, and it is even nice on Farrow Parkway.
It seemed that not only was attendance way down, but that there were maybe half the cars as usual.
Anyone go? I did see maybe 50 motorcycles parked in the grass, hope no one got tickets.
|
|
|
Post by freebird on Mar 21, 2010 17:47:20 GMT -6
Sorry Girl. Went to Rockingham for some racin.....The FD Chief gave us his number to call and said he would come and unlock the gates ahead of time when we go back. Yes it is not NASCAR anymore but they sure are friendly. And the camping was free. ;D
|
|
|
Post by rangemaster on Mar 21, 2010 19:31:45 GMT -6
...It seemed that not only was attendance way down, but that there were maybe half the cars as usual. Anyone go? I did see maybe 50 motorcycles parked in the grass, hope no one got tickets. Yes, I went (on the Harley) on Friday. Ran into and spoke with one other active member of this forum. I and several dozen others were able to park bikes near the participant's entrance along the street on the far north end of the event - but anyone with 4 wheels was thoroughly screwed for on-site parking. As usual, I spoke with many event participants. Overall - many VERY MIXED feelings. Their LIKES: near the beach, easier access to the site FOR THEM.
For everyone, the layout was much more "user-friendly", with cars displayed in a squared manner and vendors along the inner borders and far south side. However, MANY of the participants I spoke with stated they were hesitant to be there due to actions by the City of Myrtle Beach. Many of the participants are also bikers, or relatives/co-workers/close friends with bikers. Many stated they were not happy with the fact that the vary same issues that led to the Harley Rally being made unwelcome (loud vehicles, concentrated traffic congestion, vendors, etc) also applied to them.
Two different guys said to me to the effect of "I and these vendors are NOT welcome when I'm on my Harley, but we're all welcome with our custom cars?" One of them encouraged me to take all the pictures and video I could to show the hypocrisy of those who promote anti-biker and selective tourism actions.
Quite a few participants said they changed their usual lodging reservations and places to dine to places outside city for this year.
Many also told me they were disappointed that friends of theirs refused to participate in the event at all this year ONLY because it was being held within Myrtle Beach CITY limits. That was obvious due to the noticeably lower participant attendance.
In fact, my son and his group declined to participate this year. It's a shame, because my son had 3 of his own classic Mopars he planned to show this year - and they recently finished the restoration of a very low-mileage and all-original Plymouth Superbird that they planned to display for the first time before it goes out to auction.
The MOST notable indication of the event's decline was the annual Thursday cruise of Ocean Boulevard. What a DISAPPOINTMENT! Though the Sun News coverage obviously attempted to make it look impressive (by taking photos ONLY at the exit from the start point at the field just to the west of Springmaid Resort), there was only a SMALL FRACTION of vehicles on the boulevard cruise as contrasted to previous years. And KEEP IN MIND - THIS year's cruise was EASIER access for participants than in any previous location.
My wife and I went past the formation point at about 4:30 Thursday. USUALLY, by then, the field is pretty packed. This year, there were maybe 2 dozen vehicles there.
We went to Ocean Boulevard and watched the Thursday "cruise" from just after 4:30 until about 7:00 in the area Plyler Park. What a MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT! At the most, MAYBE 50 of the show cars "went by", most of them just one time. In PREVIOUS years, HUNDREDS would parade the boulevard, both directions, etc.
Don't blame the weather - it was great Thursday for this annual tradition. In fact, I've seen MUCH better in years when the weather was NOT so great. So - thank you AGAIN, City of Myrtle Beach. You have taken ANOTHER local tourist tradition, and caused it to deteriorate due to you and your elitist/wealthy financial-supporter friends and handlers...
|
|
|
Post by hdgoddess on Mar 22, 2010 4:33:27 GMT -6
We were there Thursday for the parade & it seemed lame.
|
|
|
Post by outhouseking on Mar 22, 2010 6:20:11 GMT -6
Interesting comments, Range, post to the Sun News 'Letters to the Editor'. ...It seemed that not only was attendance way down, but that there were maybe half the cars as usual. Anyone go? I did see maybe 50 motorcycles parked in the grass, hope no one got tickets. Yes, I went (on the Harley) on Friday. Ran into and spoke with one other active member of this forum. I and several dozen others were able to park bikes near the participant's entrance along the street on the far north end of the event - but anyone with 4 wheels was thoroughly screwed for on-site parking. As usual, I spoke with many event participants. Overall - many VERY MIXED feelings. Their LIKES: near the beach, easier access to the site FOR THEM.
For everyone, the layout was much more "user-friendly", with cars displayed in a squared manner and vendors along the inner borders and far south side. However, MANY of the participants I spoke with stated they were hesitant to be there due to actions by the City of Myrtle Beach. Many of the participants are also bikers, or relatives/co-workers/close friends with bikers. Many stated they were not happy with the fact that the vary same issues that led to the Harley Rally being made unwelcome (loud vehicles, concentrated traffic congestion, vendors, etc) also applied to them.
Two different guys said to me to the effect of "I and these vendors are NOT welcome when I'm on my Harley, but we're all welcome with our custom cars?" One of them encouraged me to take all the pictures and video I could to show the hypocrisy of those who promote anti-biker and selective tourism actions.
Quite a few participants said they changed their usual lodging reservations and places to dine to places outside city for this year.
Many also told me they were disappointed that friends of theirs refused to participate in the event at all this year ONLY because it was being held within Myrtle Beach CITY limits. That was obvious due to the noticeably lower participant attendance.
In fact, my son and his group declined to participate this year. It's a shame, because my son had 3 of his own classic Mopars he planned to show this year - and they recently finished the restoration of a very low-mileage and all-original Plymouth Superbird that they planned to display for the first time before it goes out to auction.
The MOST notable indication of the event's decline was the annual Thursday cruise of Ocean Boulevard. What a DISAPPOINTMENT! Though the Sun News coverage obviously attempted to make it look impressive (by taking photos ONLY at the exit from the start point at the field just to the west of Springmaid Resort), there was only a SMALL FRACTION of vehicles on the boulevard cruise as contrasted to previous years. And KEEP IN MIND - THIS year's cruise was EASIER access for participants than in any previous location.
My wife and I went past the formation point at about 4:30 Thursday. USUALLY, by then, the field is pretty packed. This year, there were maybe 2 dozen vehicles there.
We went to Ocean Boulevard and watched the Thursday "cruise" from just after 4:30 until about 7:00 in the area Plyler Park. What a MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT! At the most, MAYBE 50 of the show cars "went by", most of them just one time. In PREVIOUS years, HUNDREDS would parade the boulevard, both directions, etc.
Don't blame the weather - it was great Thursday for this annual tradition. In fact, I've seen MUCH better in years when the weather was NOT so great. So - thank you AGAIN, City of Myrtle Beach. You have taken ANOTHER local tourist tradition, and caused it to deteriorate due to you and your elitist/wealthy financial-supporter friends and handlers...
|
|
|
Post by train on Mar 22, 2010 9:22:40 GMT -6
We were out and about all 3 days and seen alot cars leaving friday talk to few disappointed said had enough went out saturday early more cars leaving town and suppose to run until 5pm by then 1/2 of the 1/2 that showed were already rolling out...
|
|
|
Post by General_Malaise on Mar 22, 2010 14:06:58 GMT -6
We went on Saturday afternoon. Parked at Broadway at the Beach & rode the shuttle bus. There were two buses & they followed each other nose to tail. When we decided to leave we had to wait in line for 45 minutes to catch the bus. Several more buses would have been nice, that sidewalk was mighty tough on the feet.
|
|
|
Post by bigbuck on Mar 24, 2010 17:51:11 GMT -6
|
|