The rebirth of a spring rally mainstay, a concert by a 22-million-album-selling A-lister, and Harley at the Hard Rock highlight a jam-packed agenda for the 2008 Myrtle Beach Spring Bike Week.

You can find the full schedule of events right here. Among the highlights:

• H.B. Spokes has literally risen from the ashes, and reopened in time for the spring rally. A September 2007 fire gutted the former main building, but months of intensive rebuilding have paid off – much to the delight of its longtime regulars.
• All together now: Bawitdaba da bang a dang diggy diggy diggy said the boogy said up jump the boogy … That’s right – His name is KIIIIIIID … Kid Rock! And he’s coming to Hard Rock Park next week (Tuesday, May 13, 7 p.m.), joined by Rev Run of Run D.M.C. fame. They’ll be rockin’ the Hard Rock’s 10,000-seat ampitheater with a show that’s free with a paid admission.
• Speaking of Hard Rock Park, Harley-Davidson has now moved its entire Bike Week exhibition slate to the brand-new theme park. The “Harley-Davidson Road Tour at Hard Rock Park” runs May 13-17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, complete with free demo rides, free music and plenty of fun. Check out this link to see the lists of vendors and activities.

Get your motor runnin’, folks, ‘cause it’s almost here!

I’ll be curious to see how quickly these guys book their rentals for the week of May 9.

EagleRider, the world's largest motorcycle rental and touring company, just announced the grand opening of its first location in South Carolina. EagleRider of Myrtle Beach is now located at 1251 Highway 501 near 3rd Ave. N.

William Rock Burch, owner of EagleRider Myrtle Beach, is no stranger to the rental industry. Rock has more than 15 years of experience in car rental and currently is the president and co-owner of U-Save Car & Truck Rental. U-Save has three locations in the Myrtle Beach area and one in Greer, S.C. Rock is also a motorcycle enthusiast. He bought his first Harley-Davidson in 2000 and the rest is history. "With three annual bike rallies and Myrtle Beach being a thriving golf and beach destination, EagleRider is a perfect fit for the Grand Strand and South Carolina,” said Burch in a recent Marketwire release. “Now a visiting golfer will be able to play 18 holes in the morning, rent a Harley at EagleRider and cruise Ocean Boulevard that night. It's an awesome feeling to be able to rent someone a dream.”

EagleRider pioneered the Harley-Davidson rental concept in 1992 and today operates the world's largest motorcycle rental and powersport rental fleet from premier manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Honda, BMW, and Polaris. EagleRider's expansion of its franchise rental facilities targets global tourist destinations and currently offers adventure travel enthusiasts the opportunity to experience their dream vacation from rental facilities in the USA, United Kingdom, Austria, Australia, Spain, France, Ireland, Mexico, Costa Rica, and New Zealand.

Source: Marketwire

Two big “thumbs up” to local bike shop owners Homer Wright and Deborah Raymond (both pictured), whose tremendous act of generosity was reported earlier today by the Newport News (Va.) Daily Press and Associated Press:

STAFFORD, Va. - Homer Wright and his fiancee, Deborah Raymond, are out to dispel stereotypes, and help the Virginia Tech Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund in the process.

"We're not your average motorcycle people," Wright said. "Our new slogan is 'Building Bikes and Lives.’”

The couple, who own Milwaukee Iron 2 in Myrtle Beach, are donating proceeds from a custom-built motorcycle to the university and victims of the April 16 killings.

In October, the motorcycle will go on the auction block in Las Vegas. They are hopeful it will fetch at least a $100,000 donation to the fund.

All the parts for the bike have been donated by companies from across the country that want to do a little something for a good cause, Wright said.

He estimated a custom bike like the one he's building would cost $70,000 to $150,000.

The only major part that wasn't donated is the motor, a 113-cubic-inch S&S engine. That was paid for mostly by donations to the project, Wright said.

Razor Custom Paint Shop in Stafford worked last week to put its special touch on the bike.

Kenny Dean, who is painting the bike, has the most important job in the project because his work is what people will actually see, Wright said.

"It's a constant challenge to come up with new ideas," Dean said of the custom paint job, which should be completed over the next couple of days.

He said his ideas have included Tech's colors and the famous Hokie Stone pattern. He didn't do a sketch of what the bike might look like.

"The ideas are all up here," Wright said, pointing to his head.

Painting the bike takes about five days. It's then clear-coated and put in an oven-like room to bake at 140 degrees after painting.

It will be unveiled in Lynchburg in April at a charity event to raise additional donations.

Then, it will go to Virginia Tech to put on display for the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, which left 33 dead, including the gunman.

The university didn't endorse the bike, Wright said, so it can't have any Tech logos or emblems. But he said representatives at the school did tell him they were in full support of the project.

The bike's construction is being filmed, and Raymond said they hope to interest a television network in a pilot for a new show about their Myrtle Beach shop.

Come Bike Week 2008, you might see a few extra helmets dotting the Harley landscape. Or not. That all depends on whether South Carolina legislators decide to act on proposed changes to the state’s motorcycle safety laws.

The State reported Wednesday that a government task force is working on recommendations to strengthen these laws – including one that would closely mirror a Pennsylvania law that requires riders to wear helmets unless they have either taken a motorcycle riding course or received a permanent (non-beginner’s) motorcycle license.

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It’s that time of year again when the Harley’s roll into town and rock the Grand Strand. As much craziness, confusion, and traffic comes with them so does a raucous good time full of events, spectacular chrome, and venders. And this year is no exception! As usually bikers can check out the normal hotspots such as Suck Bang Blow, the Harley Shop, Jammin’ Leather, The Rat Hole, Beaver Bar, B&M, The Doghouses, and so many more.

Here’s some events bound to get you bikered up for the upcoming week:

1. Cover Bands—see your rockin’ favorites imitated like never before—AC/DC, ZZTop, Fleetwood Mac, Ozzy Osbourne—check out Suck Bang Blow, old and new for these great shows!

2. Girls, girls girls!! In chaps, without chaps, leather, panties, bikinis, and even less, it doesn’t get wilder than Bike Week. It may be October but those biker babes now how to bare it all!

3. Bikes! Hot custom choppers, chromed out Harley’s and every custom accessory you can think of! Even if you don’t like bikes, you’ll love Harley Bike Week Bikes!

4. Biker Bars. There’s too many to list….but here’s some of the best.

5. Charity Rides. Bikers know how to ride, and ride for a cause, check out any of your local bars and you’ll see tons of great events, great causes, and lots of money being donated! They may seem big and bad, but their hearts are even bigger!

By Tonya Root - The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News

A fundraiser is set for Wednesday night to benefit employees of H.B. Spokes Saloon, which was destroyed by fire last week.

Owners of Captain Poo’s Blue Marlin Yacht and Fishing Club is hosting the event and donating all beverage special proceeds, officials said.

Horry County fire officials continued their investigation Monday into the blaze that ravaged H.B. Spokes Saloon on Sept. 10. Owner Larry Fowler has vowed to rebuild the establishment and be open for the fall biker rally Oct. 3 through 7 with vendors set up in tents in the bar and restaurant’s parking lot.

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Thanks to a one-of-a-kind biker girl, you don’t have to wait until the Myrtle Beach Fall Rally to go “Carolina Cruising.”

You’ll see her here next month, and if you’re an avid biker chances are you’ve seen Dawn Glencer and her shiny white Chopper on her weekly “Carolina Cruiser” television show, airing both in the Upstate on the CW Network and on the Web at CarolinaCruiser.tv. Here’s one of three episodes she filmed earlier this year at the spring Myrtle Beach rally:

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If you had the misfortune of trying to head west on 501 on Monday afternoon perhaps you were concerned that a hurricane evacuation was taking place. Bumper to bumper from Myrtle Beach to Aynor, the mass exodus was in actuality merely the remnants of Bike Weekers finally leaving fair Myrtle Beach. As vacationers lament, Myrtle Beachers rejoice the wrap up of the two back-to-back week long festivals. 

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An almost eerie calm settled in Monday over downtown Myrtle Beach, fresh off an active, festive and successful Spring Bike Week. Most of the Harley crowd that took over the Grand Strand the previous week had made its way out of town, and you could practically hear the collective exhale from the vendors as they took full advantage of the brief respite before the next wave.

Ah, but hints of Round 2 still managed to make their presence known along Ocean Boulevard, as a handful of Kawasakis and Hondas periodically zipped past the Starbucks at The Breakers and its small audience of latte-sipping caffeine addicts (count me among that illustrious crew!).

It was as sure a sign as any that the Atlantic Beach Bikefest is coming, and ready to take its place amid the oceanfront revelry.

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