Biker dies in fall rally at Myrtle Beach

New town ordinances kept turnout down, bikers, vendors say

(I know they kept us from being there)

An N.C. motorcycle rider became the first fatality on Myrtle Beach roads during the area's fall bike rally after his bike collided with a car over the weekend, marking the end of an event that law enforcement officials said otherwise went smoothly.

Clarence Thomas Potter, 59, of Kenansville - about 60 miles northwest of Wilmington - died early Sunday morning at New Hanover Regional Medical Center after being taken there by helicopter. The crash occurred about 8 p.m. Saturday at 21st Avenue North and Robert M. Grissom Parkway.

The crash happened on the last night of The Pilgrimage, the fall Harley-Davidson rally, which ended Sunday. The rally started Oct. 1, shortly after Myrtle Beach passed new laws targeting the area's spring rallies. Three of the city's 15 new ordinances and amendments took effect in the past two weeks, and they began being enforced during this fall rally.

The effort, bikers and vendors said, meant fewer people came to the area for this year's event.

Kevin O'Brien, who drove up from Charleston for the rally, was disappointed. "The May rally was good, but there's not many people out here at all."

Myrtle Beach police held two checkpoints during the event, and, on Saturday, one at Farrow Parkway became the site of a biker protest against the new laws, which include decibel limits for bikes.

"Obviously, we're happy that there weren't more fatalities," said Sgt. John Bertang of the Myrtle Beach Police Department. "Considering the amount of people and how many bikes were in town, there were a relatively low number of collisions."

Bruce Kligman, the owner of Klig's Kites, found his own way to protest the new laws at the vendor booth he set up at Broadway at the Beach. A toy rat was caught in a mousetrap, mechanically writhing next to a sign that said: "Myrtle Beach City Council."

Kligman said business was relatively good this year, despite worries that the city's new laws would discourage bikers from attending the rally and decrease sales.

"Everybody was concerned with what was going on," he said. "I think it's crazy to chase money out of this town."

Sherry Emmons and Tom Emmons of Cincinnati said they would not have showed up this year had they known about the city's new laws before booking their hotel room.

"A lot of people are worried about next year," Sherry Emmons said.

"That's their concern. They don't want a good thing to be ruined."

The Emmonses said they would wait to see how the new laws affected the spring rally before making plans to come back next fall.

But despite the turmoil surrounding this year's rally, Linda Turner of Goldsboro, N.C., said she'd be back.

"I've got two best friends that live here," she said. "I'm coming regardless."

Potter, the motorcyclist who died Sunday, considered himself a regular at the Myrtle Beach rallies, said Cynthia Potter, his wife. He was a former firefighter and department of corrections worker who owned a pig farm, she said.

"I told his friends that he was doing the two things he loved the best this weekend, and that was biking and eating," she said. "He died happy."

Bertang said the incident is still under investigation. He said Potter was traveling on Grissom Parkway when he turned in front of a car to go east onto 21st Avenue North, causing the collision.

"We're just trying to look at all factors and talk with any potential witnesses before we jump to any conclusions," he said.

There were two bike-related fatalities during last year's fall rally and three deaths during the larger spring rally in May.

"He was just a loving father, friend and just an all around good guy," Cynthia Potter said of her husband, who leaves behind two children and two grandchildren. "He will be sorely missed."