Local group kicks off voter registration drives during fall bike rally

This year’s fall back rally is underway on the Grand Strand. While thousands of bikers have attended in years past that’s not expected to be the case this year since several ordinances went into effect this past spring.

In addition to smaller crowds some businesses like Harley Davidson Motorcycles on Highway 17 business saw a lot less vendors.. 

One local group, Help Eliminate Lousy Politicians formed in opposition to Myrtle Beach City Council and the new ordinances said part of the reason is the city’s negative attitude toward the bikers.

That’s why this year the group kicked off its voter registration drives in 11 locations through out the city of Myrtle Beach and parts of Horry County.

Founder Trevor Tarleton said that the group wants to help fix that by bridging the gap between the city and the bikers.

“This is a sensitive issue,” said Tarleton, “they ran off between $200 to $500 million just in the month of May with tourism and this being a tourist town it’s kind of hard to escape the reality of the impact upon that and all of the City of Myrtle Beach.”

Tarleton said that the group hopes to help get candidates on city council and as mayor who could bring the city and the bikers together once again, but Tarleton wouldn’t say exactly ‘who’ the group wants to win.

“We would like to endorse everyone but there has to be winners and losers in very race and we probably going to have to pick the best that we think can win,“ Tarleton said.

Myrtle Beach resident Jean Nolin said he’s going to get his vote in come November because he said he isn’t happy about the way the city enforced laws that he said put off a lot of tourists including bikers.

“Why do they have to put special laws for just one city, when we lose a lot of tourists?” remarked Nolin, “I live in Myrtle Beach and they’re going to raise the taxes just because of that and I wear a helmet all the time but I don’t want to be forced to wear a helmet.”

Long time visitor Dave Petersen said that even though he can’t vote in the city he will show his support for the group that he says is working toward bringing it back to what he remembers as being friendly to bikers like himself.

“If there are people with loud pipes that are disruptive in restaurants then take care of the few people and let the rest of us be able to travel about with out the restrictions,” said Dave Peteresen of New York who bought a H.E.L.P t-shirt.

Money from any of the organizations merchandise sales will go toward endorsing candidates running for office.

H.E.L.P organizers say voters can register through Saturday at the following locations.

International Omelet & Pancake House
12th Ave South
Myrtle Beach, SC. 29577
from 6 am to 2pm

Shred Alert,
4727 Northgate Blvd., MB.

Donny’s Saloon (formally the Steel Horse Saloon)
Intersection of 3rd Ave South & 501 South
Everday ALL day

Suck Bang Blow Original
3393 HWY 17 Bus
Murrels Inlet, SC
843-651-7960
2 to 10 Wed thru Sat

Beaver Bar
3381 Highway 17 Business
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576-7780
(843) 357-6969
2 to 10 Wed thru Sat

Aquarius Motel
204 11th Ave N
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577-3658
(843) 448-7596

Thorny’s Steakhouse & Saloon
600 S Kings Hwy
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577-4411
(843) 448-2333
All day everyday

Grand Strand Chamber of Commerce
2701 N. Kings Hwy
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 558-8341
All Day Every Day

Department of Motor Vehicles.
1200 21st Ave
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 448-9957
Tues thru Friday

Businesses and individuals can download your own voter’s registration forms at http://www.helpformyrtlebeach.com.