4th Annual Heritage Motorcycle Rally
Heritage Rally takes place during Bike Week Charleston. The birthplace of the rally is in Awendaw, while “Rally central” is further inland at 9850 Hwy 78 in Ladson, SC. Kid Rock is scheduled to kickstart the rally in Ladson on Saturday, April 8th. Lynrd Skynrd will be playing Saturday April 15th ! Other top name entertainment is also being planned for Satuday April 15th. Bike Show, Bike Build-off, Swap Meet, poker runs, and drag racing. The organizers in Ladson are trying to have this become an extremely popular rally and have created a forum so that people can provide feedback, make suggestions, and ask questions. Overall, many people are saying the rally has been good in the past, with one of the favorites being the old school bike show*. Some people are suggesting that something be done about the high price of admission in Ladson ($15 per day - there is a full week ticket also). Suggestions at the forum are helpful, and event organizers take the suggestions and work on them to make this a great rally in the future. Also, people who attended previous rallies got an earful from the vendors who were complaining about low turnout. However, don’t forget, Bike Week is not just Ladson - Bike Week is happening all over Charleston. This could eventually grow into one of the best bike weeks in the country. Charleston is gorgeous and there are lots of places in Charleston holding great events throughout the entire week. Another thing we really like is that in Awendaw, “Camping is Always Free at Kick’n Horse”. See kicknhorse.com. Another large draw in South Carolina, is that bikers don’t have to contend with totaliterian helmet laws which put a damper on any thoughts of having high turnout at North Carolina motorcycle rallies.
* The old school bike show sounds like something I’d really be into. For me, the nicest motorcycles are classic and vintage, and motorcycles that people actually ride. I also appreciate bike shows that don’t allow people to trailer their bike in. Hey, let’s face it; if I want to see a bike build-off for custom bikes with $60k worth of chrome and fabrication which I will never be able to afford, I can turn on the tv. Yawn. Chrome won’t get you home. I suppose it all depends on what you’re into, and the high end “custom” choppers are pretty to look at, as they are trailered in and trailered back to storage. I love to see real choppers built on an old frame that, if it could talk, would have a story to tell. I’m not totally disagreeable about the custom fabrication world. As I said, the customs made by master builders are nice to look at. Keep in mind that part of the reason why you’re asked to pay a high price of admission is because a few master builders are achieving celebrity status. If you’re into that, you’re in luck.
I disagree with the call to boycott the entire rally over the high admission to the bike shows. Tell you what; I don’t have that kind of money for admission ever day either, so I’ll probably ride into town, see the Charleston coast, and stop into a few places. If they book Lynrd Skynrd for the 15th, I’ll gladly pay $15 that day. For me, Kid Rock on the 8th is a maybe. Make the party wherever you go. Select the events you want to go to. Personally, I might not like paying $15 to see the custom bikes, but I would pay to see some of the southern rock bands that are tentative. Others might care less about the bands and prefer the custom bikes. To each their own. Let’s rally! Whether or not we return depends on whether or not we get hassled, as is often true of Myrtle Beach, or treated to southern hospitality by the city in general. | 
