Memorial Day Weekend is already starting for some, and while some motorcycle enthusiasts are making their way to Atlantic Beach for Bikefest, the club that started the event said this year, that they’re working to get back to its original purpose.
“A group of members at that time, met a bar on Atlantic Beach, and they decided that ‘hey, we should have a motorcycle weekend,’” Aaron Cox said, who is currently the business manager for the founding group, ‘Carolina Knight Riders.' "That was that first event in 1980,” he said.
I’m looking forward, in the future, to getting back to some of those things. The original purpose. The original ideals," said Cox.
He said over some of the last 42 years, some of that has been misunderstood.
“What I wish had happened over the years, is there would have been more structure,” he said.
Many of the groups, and people in general, refer to this event as ‘Black Bike Week.’ Carolina Knight Riders never refer to it as that. We don’t call it that, we don’t think it’s that. This is an event for everybody," he added.
That’s one of the ideals that he looked up to from a young age when his siblings and in-laws were in the club.
“We do charity rides, we raise money for scholarships, for graduating seniors, we do a ‘toy ride’ for Headstart programs—we do a lot to support the community," said Cox.
To get to where you’re going, though, he said he wants people to learn when they’ve been.
“A lot of the people who talk, and go off of stereotypes, really do not know what it’s like, and what we do, and the good we do for the community. We wish, and we hope that we can educate people in that way,” he said.
We want people to come out, and celebrate with us! Join our event this weekend, and Saturday night, learn about us that way," he said.
Moving forward, he said the group is working with the city’s government to host parades, bike rides, and special events. He said they’re also working to connect to park manufacturers and dealerships.
The club has a drag strip at their clubhouse, to let people race safely.
The Carolina Knight Riders plan to spend Saturday in Atlantic Beach, and then come back to their clubhouse in Longs for the 42nd-anniversary party. He said he wants everyone to feel welcome to celebrate with them and learn about the club’s history, and future goals.