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ABATE of SC June 2007 Coordinator’s Report

Fast Fred Rafts & Travels

Fast Fred is a wandering guide enjoying endless summers and sharing adventure along the way.
I began writing these motorcycle pages of articles, photos, and trips during 2000.

ABATE of SC July 2007 Coordinator’s Report

Written by FastFred Ruddock, June 8, 2007

A member of ABATE passed away just prior to the submission deadline for this newsletter. ABATE lost a fine member and I lost a close friend I have known for many years. Chris Blumenberg’s last act on this earth was attending a local ABATE meeting. Chris had a motorcycle accident on the Berlin G Myers Expressway and died as he was returning home from that fateful ABATE meeting. I was impressed by the wide assortment of people who came to remember him at his wake; Chris touched the lives of many people from many walks of life.

June 2nd we held our regularly scheduled ABATE legislative meeting. The weather was somewhat nasty but two riders from opposite sides of the state still rode their bikes to Columbia. Another dozen team members drove their cages and everyone worked together on the many issues facing the bikers of South Carolina. Unfortunately since our meeting the S141 Gang Bill cleared the house and has been returned to the Senate; considering the widespread support for this bill in both houses not even a veto would stop this bill. However ABATE was successful in getting some language inserted to help protect our organization and lobbying efforts. Our members fought a good fight and each of you should hold your heads high.

Memorial weekend many of our legislative team members rode or drove to Saluda, North Carolina for a retreat; some wore helmets and others did not while in North Carolina. Four of us met with members of Buncombe County CBA/ABATE of NC for dinner Friday night in Asheville. We enjoyed a peaceful three day weekend and other than taking the Asheville Brews Cruise we primarily frolicked in the river. We also had some interesting conversations and just plain good ole fun. If you would like to take part in the next trip just drop me a line.

All politics is local. Along this reasoning the newsletter coordinator and I attended the North Charleston Mayoral and City Council Candidate Debates at Park Circle. This forum gave me even more reason to appreciate my city council member, Bobby Jamison. Keep in mind when you attend these functions you are likely to meet tomorrow’s state senators and representatives. Take some time to get involved in your community.

During the last weekend of Myrtle Beach’s Bike Week many ABATE members gathered at South of the Border to help recruit new members. ABATE members from both Carolinas and Virginia came to participate in this first annual event. There is now talk of starting a Dillon chapter of ABATE of SC. Sunday several of us took part in the 1st Annual East Coast Freedom Ride; we passed many North Carolina police officers as we rode north but none seemed incline to issue helmet tickets. Everyone seemed pumped up after the ride and many made plans to do it again next year and likely add a fall event too.

You can learn more about these events and view photos at BikerEzine.com. Please consider joining the biker ezine to keep abreast of the latest information about events and legislative threats from a bikers perspective. Have I done all I can for biker rights? Hell no but I am still trying.

Fast Fred Ruddock with a Helmet Ticket in Polk County North Carolina

About Fast Fred

My life has been a dedicated blend of open road adventure and relentless advocacy for motorcyclists’ rights. I'm "Fast Fred" Ruddock, and my journey on two wheels began as a teenager. Over the years, I’ve owned 13 Harleys and several other motorcycles, machines that were far more than just transportation. They represented a freedom that I have fought to protect. Recognizing the power of information, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, skills I immediately put to use for the movement.

My commitment to advocacy led me to a complete immersion in ABATE of South Carolina (ABATE of SC). I quickly moved through the ranks, starting by developing the ABATE of SC website in 2001 and serving as the Berkeley/Dorchester Chapter Coordinator. This progressed to serving as Lowcountry Area Coordinator, where I successfully shifted our local focus decisively toward rights and rapidly increased membership. From 2003 to 2007, I served as the State Coordinator, where I helped coordinate several key legislative victories, including the passage of the Purple Heart license tag bill and the successful repeal of unnecessary handlebar height restrictions. My primary strategic goal was always to achieve widespread political influence by organizing a chapter in every single county.

On the national front, I extended my influence by serving as the State Representative on the board of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) for several years during the 2000s. This role ensured that the concerns of South Carolina riders were directly represented in critical federal legislative discussions. Crucially, I also worked to shape public opinion: I wrote articles related to motorcycle rights for various magazines and had a small column in Easyriders magazine for several years, using media to educate riders nationwide on the issues impacting their freedom.

My activism was not only about lobbying but also direct action and constitutional challenges. I participated in the Myrtle Beach civil disobedience against local helmet laws, contributing to the legal groundwork for the eventual overturning of that restrictive law through a landmark SC Supreme Court case. I also challenged helmet laws personally, fighting three tickets in court as an act of civil disobedience in several states. I lobbied in multiple state capitols with me friends across the country. My dedication continued after my ABATE leadership, as I served as the Director of Bikers Of Less Tolerance (BOLT) of South Carolina.

Today, while I also enjoy working as a river guide and sharing my travel adventures, my legacy remains rooted in the fight for motorcycle freedom. I have spent decades on the front lines, utilizing both political strategy, legal challenges, and national media to protect the rights of every person on two wheels.

My Other Adventures

I'm a professional whitewater guide and kayak instructor. I grew up rafting, sailing, and surfing, and I spend my North American summers guiding on world-class whitewater. I have spent much of my adult life riding motorcycles and paddling kayaks.

Raft with me: Check out Fast Fred Rafts for details.

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