Spring Beach Rally continues at local Harley dealership

Jim and Barb Conley of Bolivia say the Spring Beach Rally now continuing at Beach House Harley Davidson in Shallotte is a great gathering place for weekend bikers.

SARAH SHEW WILSON

‘Wild Bill’ Ward and wife Jenny prepare a customer’s bike for a new paint job Saturday at Beach House Harley Davidson’s Spring Beach Rally in Shallotte.

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The couple, who have been attending bike rallies for about six years now, said they found many more vendors and activities at the Shallotte event than in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and were pleased the event was so much closer to their home.

This is the second year that Beach House owner Rick Noyes has put together a rally in Shallotte, and the crowds and vendors are turning out once again. Noyes estimated the event, scheduled to last until May 16, is attracting about 1,000 people each day.

“Wild Bill” Ward, a longtime bike painter, and his wife, Jenny, set up a tent on the field adjacent to the store, along with a number of other vendors. They were doing a brisk business Saturday afternoon, despite some unseasonably warm temperatures.

“Bill’s been doing this for 40 years,” Jenny Ward said.

Asked if he planned on retiring, Bill Ward immediately responded, “Yes. After I die.”

Like the Wards, silver jewelry vendor Sylvia Earney of North Myrtle Beach, S.C., and “Second Face On” goggle vendors Ernest and Kimberly Pino of San Jose, Calif., had plenty of interest from visiting bikers.

Gerald Lawson of Ocean City, Md., said he enjoyed visiting the different vendors and was impressed with the unique goggles.

“It’s going very well,” Noyes said Monday. “We’re having some sales. The vendors seem to be happy.”

Noyes said the rally attracted a few more vendors than last year, and he even had to turn down a few requests because “we were selective about who we allowed in.”

Beach House received a special use permit from the town of Shallotte to put on the event and was required to have one police officer on duty, trash service, portable toilets on site and liability insurance.

“The town was really nice to us,” Noyes said. “They seem to be welcoming us this year.”

He noted the bikers who have attended the rally say they are mainly here for “the friendly atmosphere,” looking at the store’s new motorcycles, browsing the vendor booths and “talking to each other about their bikes.”

“I haven’t heard anybody say anything negative,” Noyes said.

Town administrator Albert Hughes agreed, noting, “As far as [the town is] concerned, everything has gone well.”

The Spring Beach Rally runs from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and from noon-8 p.m. Sunday. This Sunday, May 16, is the final day of the event.