By Paul Gable
Another popular rally, Mustang Week in Horry County, has come firmly on the radar of Horry County officials after actions associated with the 2014 gathering.
There were reportedly over 2,500 cars and their owners in the Horry County last week celebrating that most American of automobiles, the Ford Mustang.
However, with popularity of social media and the apparent desire of a number of drivers for their 15 seconds of fame, the event is now under scrutiny by the Horry County Public Safety Committee.
It seems that the stretch of U.S. 17 that runs in front of Myrtle Beach Mall, the host site for the event, became a venue for “street burnouts” by a number of irresponsible drivers.
View two near disasters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu1kjR2pbPY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TznSv6ke3YU
The Horry County Police Department said that its Street Crimes Unit wrote over 25 tickets in that area over the course of the event.
It looks like that number could have been written to the first 25 drivers that left the mall area on the first day as crowds lined the highway to watch the action on a major north/south highway.
This is another example of the excesses of tourism clashing with the quality of life of locals. Add it to the list of helicopter rides, parachuting, bike weeks and movie making.
Speak Up…