issue 188
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It’s been a long, long time since my first visit to Sturgis. And my first ride on a Harley and even my first overnighter on a motor bike. Thirty years ago in 1993. How time flies, and nothing ever really changes.
I remember then all the talk was how the Harley rider demographics were becoming old white men on bikes. Harley was running out of old men to buy new bikes. Gee at 49, I was way older than the average age of Harley riders. I was even older than Chris, Doc, Brumby, Viv and now Mick. But don’t listen to the naysayers. Just ride, ride what you bought and ride what you brought to the party.
But first thing here let me mention the 120th Anniversary Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival in Milwaukee which is covered elsewhere in this issue. Coincidently the 40th Anniversary of the Harley Owners Group is also being celebrated. And some people north of the border would know it is also the 40th anniversary of Duc Dufour’s Montreal, Canada H-D 1983 Lowboy; later known as the 1990 Harley Fat Boy FLSTF.
HISTORICAL STURGIS
Enough about 120th anniversaries, the following month in August is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Sturgis is the epicentre of what lots of people think is the V-Twin capitol of the world. Why is that? For several reasons. It is close to the population centre of the north-east USA and the home of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. And it’s only 12 hours riding time from Milwaukee. So all that said, Sturgis was the ideal location for a central rally with fantastic roads and weather. But why have all the motor companies supported the Black Hills Rally and Races? It’s because of the saying ‘Race on Sunday and sell on Monday.’
The local Indian dealer Pappy Hoel and the Jackpine Gypsies motorcycle club organised the first Black Hills Motor Classic in 1938. Later known as the Black Hills Rally and Races. At first it started with dirt track and hill climb races. Those were the days when men were men and women riders were making a name for themselves. Like Australian-born Dot Robinson and Linda Dugeau who founded the first women’s motorcycle group called the Motor Maids. Dot was then the first woman to win the Jack Pine National Endurance Championship in 1940. Beating all the boys.
STUFF I’VE LEARNED
Which takes me back to York PA in 1993 where I had just picked up my first Harley at the factory and headed straight to Sturgis. I’ll keep it simple and share with you some of the lesser known things I learned in a bunch of trips to the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Of course if you are with Viv Brumby on the Heavy Duty Tour to Sturgis, she will keep you mighty busy. But just saying … having the official Black Hills Motorcycle Map will make you good-to-go, and more importantly get home. You can download the PDF at blackhillsbadlands.com/maps/black-hills-motorcycle-map or get a hard copy at the Tourist Association from almost anywhere in South Dakota. Note too, you can load this PDF on your smartphone and even use it if you don’t have a 3/4/5G connection once there. Or you can get international roaming on your phone from your Australian service provider. But really, a paper map is the thing to have because in the outback of America, you may see a service tower but if you haven’t paid to be connected to it, good luck. Remember just find Viv at heavyduty.com.au/tours.
The Official Website of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is at sturgismotorcyclerally.com or facebook.com/sturgisrally.
Get the official Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame paper or PDF magazines at sturgismuseum.com/new-page-3.
The Rally at Exit 55 is a must stop for almost everything. I mean everything that is not in downtown Sturgis or Deadwood. Go to blackhillshd.com. It is the headquarters of all the Black Hills Harley-Davidson dealer and even the Motor Company parts and accessories.
Then there is the Buffalo Chip Campground, known as everything centre at buffalochip.com.
The rides! I didn’t mention the real reason you are there: The rides in and around the Black Hills. See above for the map. Just get lost by connecting all the loops. My favourite social ride starts at or near Ellsworth AFB off I-90 east, Exit 67B. It’s on the 8th of August, the Sturgis Military Appreciation Day this year. It starts at the AFB and goes via Vanocker Canyon to Nemo and then into Sturgis CBD. It culminates with a low-level fly over of four B-1B Lancer bomber jets after-burning. Check it out at the Green Knights MMC at facebook.com/GKMMC68/ and the free South Dakota Air & Space Museum at sdairandspacemuseum.com and sturgismotorcyclerally.com/sturgis-military-appreciation-day.
One of the biggest all-inclusive charity rides is the Harley-Davidson & Biker Belles morning ride from the Buffalo Chip at west I-90 Exit 30 or 32 at buffalochip.com/bikerbelles/the-event.
One last thing, at intersections always look both ways – twice! It may save your life. Oh, and be generous, tip at least 10 percent. Enjoy and come home with great memories!
