Celebrating 75 Years of Motorcycle Mania in Sturgis, S.D.
There is a low, deep rumble surging statewide in anticipation of the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Riders come from all over the U.S., and this year Aug. 3-9 has the potential to be one of the greatest and largest gatherings of motorcycle enthusiasts ever.
The Sturgis Rally was not even a twinkle in modern motorcycle enthusiasts’ eyes when Clarence “Pappy” Hoel purchased an Indian Motorcycle franchise during downward slope of the Great Depression in 1936. Little did he know, he was going to be the man to start a new revolution as the founder of the most famous motorcycle gathering in the world. In 1938, Pappy and his wife, Pearl, decided to host a race in Sturgis with their newly founded Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club. There were nine participants and a mere 200 spectators in attendance. Compare that to participant numbers in 2014 with a whopping 442,200 bikers —astonishing growth that proves the commitment and brother and sisterhood that motorcyclists share.
Transportation is only an A-toB function; meanwhile a motorcycle is a joy machine. When you let a motorcycle into your life, you are changed forever. The letters “MC” are stamped on your driver’s license near your gender and weight as if it’s just another one of your physical characteristics. But when Sturgis rolls around, your life changes even more; it’s a monumental time of riding through mesmerizing scenery, witnessing unforgettable concerts and drool-worthy bike shows, feeling the adrenaline rush of bike races, admiring alluring ladies in beauty pageants, cheering during nail-biting cage fights, and enjoying the camaraderie in camping. A biker at Sturgis is like a kid in a candy store.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally occurs each August in the Black Hills, home to several breathtaking landscapes such as Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse National Memorial and Devil’s Tower Monument. This year is the event’s 75th, so it is prime time to twist the throttle and experience the loudest ground you may ever hear in your lifetime.
Learn more at http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/
