Get Revved for 2017’s Motorcycle Rallies

Mark Your Calendars for All of the Fun Motorcycle Rallies in the New Year, from Laconia to Sturgis

We truly hope 2016 has been a great year for all of our readers. It’s been an interesting year to say the least, but it’s nearly over. We’re almost to 2017, and in a few day’s time you’ll have to make your resolutions for the new year. However, there’s something motorcycle lovers out there can do right now: Grab your calendar! These are the rallies to look forward to in 2017:

76th Annual Daytona Bike Week – March 10-19, 2017

Back in Daytona Beach, there’s the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championship, which full of high-speed racing and stunts. You can also catch the flat track racing action at the Daytona International Speedway. Other festivities include a vintage motorcycle show, a side-car and trike show, dealer demos, a bikini pageant, and a party cruise.Be sure to wear your most comfortable riding boots to the 76th Annual Daytona Bike Week, because there’s going to be a lot to do. The week kicks off with a swap meet about 45 minutes outside of Daytona Beach. You can get frames, fenders, clothing and even vintage parts.

Laconia Motorcycle Week – June 10-18, 2017

If you’ve never been to New Hampshire before, this is a great excuse to check it off the bucket list. At the Laconia Motorcycle Week event, you’re able to go on a ride around beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee with your very own New Hampshire State Police escort. You can also ride your Harley up Mt. Washington to enjoy the view of the Presidential Mountain Range, and get an eyeful of the hardware at the 13th Annual City of Laconia Bike Show, among many other things.

77th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – Aug. 4-13, 2017

The king of all rallies: the 77th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Get up to Sturgis, South Dakota, and ride to the corner of Harley-Davidson Way and Main Street. You’ll find a lot of your fellow H-D owners there, at the legendary Harley-Davidson Rally Point. Furthermore, you can make plans to ride in the 15th Annual Sturgis Mayor’s Ride on Monday, August 7. You’ll be accompanied by the Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen, industry professionals and even celebrities.

You can also see the natural beauty of the Black Hills National Forest as you ride the various rallies. When it’s time to grab a drink with your old and new friends, there will be plenty of places serving them up. Just don’t drink too much because there’ll be a laundry list of other fun things to do!

Milwaukee Rally – Aug. 31 – Sept. 4, 2017

According to Harley-Davidson, the 2016 Milwaukee Rally “was packed with a custom motorcycle exhibit, live entertainment and lots of great food and drink,” as well as custom bike shows. We don’t expect the 2017 Milwaukee Rally to be any less exciting. After all, it’s in Harley’s own backyard!

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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