From Humble Beginnings to the Biggest and Best: The History of Sturgis
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has been a part of Sturgis’ history for many decades. 2011 marks the 71st celebration of the August motorcycle rally. This small town in South Dakota has a little over 6,000 residents, but is host to the largest motorcycle event in the world every first full week in August. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, this is the place to be. The rally has seen major growth since its beginnings and enjoys continued success.
Beginnings
The motorcycle rally has been a part of Sturgis’ history since 1938. 1936 marked the beginnings of the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, followed by an endorsement by the American Motorcycle Club in 1937. Clarence Hoel was the organizer of the Jackpine Gypsies and the founder of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. At first, the rally was focused on racing and stunt maneuvers. (The stunt shows are still popular events today.) The first rally hosted only nine motorcyclists from in-state to compete with a small audience to cheer them on. It wasn’t until the 1960s that Sturgis began to expand its focus, adding a hill climb and motorcross events.
Continued Growth
The rally continued to grow throughout the decades of Sturgis’ history. Only one rally was skipped due to circumstances during the height of World War II. The rally expanded to last seven days, and eventually vendors began to realize the potential for sales. More and more vendors were issued licenses for the event. The rally’s founder, Mr. Hoel died in 1989, but his dream continued. After the crowd grew to 600,000 people in the year 2,000, the city of Sturgis began to take an active role in the rally. They started hiring laborers to promote and organize the event with passion. There are more than 12 events for cyclists to participate in. The facilities have improved as well. The tracks are wider, with better lighting and sound, and even an announcer during the events. The clubhouse is host to races every other weekend throughout the year.
Looking to the Future
The Jackpine Gypsies are a non-profit organization who donate much of their profit to area charities, schools, and churches. Many of the activities of the rally are located on the club’s 40 acres, which contain tracks, a clubhouse, concession areas, and more. Although the rally originally targeted other motorcycle clubs in the area, with the creation of more motorcycle manufacturers, more individual motorcyclists began to join the rally. Cyclists come from all over the world to experience the event. There are lots of attractions and fun things to see in the area, and the rally has many family friendly opportunities. You can enjoy concerts, pageants, shows, and more at the rally. There are plenty of camping facilities and hotels to choose from. You will see the newest models of bikes on the market, as well as classic machines and more.
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