[Charlie Drizzle]

These were taken May 17th, 2002, at what was then called 'HD Spokes'. There has always been biker bars at Myrtle Beach. But they have always been rather small and, unless you were a hardcore biker, a lot of people were literally afraid to go near them. In the 90's, South of 'Myrtle Beach', something of a 'mega' biker bar was opened. It was called "Suck, Bang, Blow". It had a burn out pit, a large bar, smaller cabanas, and large patio on top. During Bike Week vendors came and set up on the grounds and nearby. People poured in. Years ago 'The Strand' consisted of 'Cherry Grove', 'Ocean Drive', 'Crescent', 'Atlantic', 'Myrtle', 'Surfside', and other beaches. But as 'The Strand' grew in population the beaches began to merge and no one really knew where one beach ended and another began. The beaches are now called 'Myrtle', 'North Myrtle', and 'South Myrtle'. Only 'Atlantic Beach', a privately owned beach about 3 blocks wide, remains isolated and breaks up 'The Strand', over 30 miles of public beach, with 'Myrtle' being in the middle..

Anyway, the original "Suck, Bang, Blow" drew huge crowds but created traffic problems. Plus, a lot of people didn't want to drive to almost the Southern most point of the strand to party and then take a chance driving the distance back to their lodging. Around 2000 a "Suck, Bang, Blow II" was opened at 'Myrtle Beach' on the Hwy#17 By-Pass. This still didn't take care of the crowd 17 miles North. People saw the opportunity and opened "HD Spokes" outside the old 'Cherry Grove' beach, the Northern most point of the strand, on Hwy#9 toward Loris. It's huge, inside and out. It has 7 cabanas outside that serves drinks and a huge burn-out pit, probably 80'x40', and an exit ramp probably 75 yards long from the burn-out pit to the road. There's signs that say 'No Burn-outs' and 'Exit ramp 5 mph'. But of course everyone knows that's for legal purposes. The wet t-shirt contest is held in the burn-out pit. You'll be able to see some of the tire marks in the later pictures.

Everyone knew what the 'HD' in "HD Spokes" stood for. Harley Davidson threatened to sue them so they had to change their name after the first year. But it was called "HD Spokes" when these pictures were taken in 2002.