Motorcycle rally expected to draw hundreds

Randy Burns / The Item Henry Wilson of Elliott and Jessie Slater of Lynchburg are ready to greet fellow bikers to the Strikers of South Carolina 7th Annual Bike Rally in St. Charles this weekend.

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

The population of St. Charles will multiply this weekend.

Hundreds of bikers will come to the Lee County community for the seventh annual Strikers of South Carolina Biker Rally.

Motorcycle riders from the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee will come to the Lee County Strikers Club, at U.S. 401 and S.C. 154, for the bike rally, which is held each year on the third weekend in September.

The 2008 Bike Rally was held in Dillon. South Carolina has Strikers chapters in Bishopville, Dillon and Florence, said Bishopville Strikers President Jessie Slater.

"Just being conservative, I expect to see 500 to 600 bikers this weekend," Slater said.

Slater and fellow club members have worked since May to get the word out to other motorcycle clubs.

"There are hundreds and hundreds of bike clubs just in South Carolina," Slater said. "There must be at least 40 in Sumter. We've tried to get the word out to everybody."

Slater doesn't expect the forecast, which calls for rain, to put much of a damper on the festivities.

"The rain might keep some people from coming here who plan to come by car," Slater said. "But a true rider will ride in any kind of weather."

Bikers began to arrive in St. Charles on Friday afternoon, and the rally will continue throughout the weekend with live music, food, drinks and fellowship.

"We will start our rally this afternoon," Slater said Friday. "And we won't close down until people are ready to leave on Sunday morning."

Some activities could be held outdoors, depending upon the weather, Slater said.

A one-time $10 admission fee will be charged. Food and drink vendors will be on hand as well.

"This will be a major fundraiser for us," Slater said. "Our mission is to support the community. We have toy runs, and we have a Thanksgiving feeding project for the needy."

Randy Burns / The Item Bishopville Strikers Tonya Wilson and Jessie Slater, club president, discuss details of hosting the S.C. Seventh Annual Bike Rally in St. Charles.

Motels in Bishopville, Sumter and Florence are expected to overflow with bike riders and their families, Slater said.

"This rally is going to be good for the local economy," he said.

While Slater hopes to raise money for the various community projects carried out by his motorcycle club, the focus for everyone will be having a good time.

"Fun, that's what we're going to be all about," Slater said.

As might be expected, adult beverages will be on sale, but excessive drinking will not be tolerated, Slater said.

"People don't believe me when I say this, but we have 15 people in our Lee County club," he said. "And only one person drinks. I don't drink myself. And we're going to have people ready to take the keys from anyone who should not be driving."

The Strikers Club in St. Charles has been open every weekend since January, Slater said.

"We're a private club," he said.

"We're really excited about being the host site for the South Carolina rally. We invite non-bikers to stop by this weekend. Everyone is welcome. You don't have to be a rider to come to our rally."



Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.

WANT TO GO?
What: 7th annual Strikers of South Carolina Biker Rally

Where: Lee County Strikers Club, U.S. 401 and S.C. 527, St. Charles

Cost: $10