Origin Black Bike Week

riders in traffic @ 2008 black bike week.

during 1960s , 1970s, many black motorcyclists visited atlantic beach, south carolina, riding harley-davidsons, riding many japanese hondas, kawasakis, suzukis, , yamahas, which, along race, distinguished them riders white event s participants preferred harley-davidsons. during segregation era atlantic beach beach in south blacks permitted.

the black bike week rally, called atlantic beach memorial day bikefest, founded in atlantic beach flaming knight riders motorcycle club in 1980. first rally drew 100 participants. though 1 reason flaming knight riders worked city of atlantic beach create event make money town, not franchised atlantic beach, , city did not benefit financially; instead, bikers would, on years, congregate more , more in myrtle beach rather atlantic beach. in 1982 flaming knight riders renamed carolina knight riders motorcycle club.

by 1990s event had grown include entire greater myrtle beach, or grand strand, area. in 2002, atlantic beach hired public relations firm make rest of country aware of atlantic beach, uniqueness predominantly black beach town , potential vacation spot. part of larger effort promote motorcycle rally bike week task force, group of business owners , public officials around grand strand area.

the predominantly white rally dates may 1940, when group of harley-davidson dealers created piedmont harley-davidson dealers association became carolina harley-davidson dealers association when south carolina dealers joined. group s first event ride ocean drive in myrtle beach, , included drag race , dirt track race , other festivities. in subsequent years rally held in cherry grove, jacksonville , wilmington, north carolina before returning myrtle beach. 2009 event @ new bern, north carolina, , 2010 rally planned same location, 2 weeks before memorial day weekend.