In a land where bison once thundered across the prairie, modern-day cowboys rumble over the land on iron horses. Each August, hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists journey to the Mecca of the motorcycling world: Sturgis, South Dakota.
The legacy of the Sturgis Rally began in 1938 when J.C. "Pappy" Hoel, a local motorcycle shop owner, and some friends came up with the idea of holding a motorcycle race and stunt competition. The first event consisted of 19 racers at the half-mile track and some dangerous events such as board-wall crashes, ramp jumps and head-on collisions with cars. Local businesses put up the $500 prize money. Every year the event grew as both racers and spectators learned of the event. The races were cancelled for two years during World War II when the war took many young men overseas.
After the war, the Sturgis Rally event started to grow as the motorcycling lifestyle gained popularity. One thousand motorcyclists attended the program in the city park during the 1965 rally. By the time the 1980's rolled around, the attendance numbers climbed into the tens of thousands. For the 50th Anniversary in 1990, approximately 400,000 bikers came to celebrate. In 1999, the event drew 275,000 - 290,000 people from around the world. The biggest rally of all happened in 2000, the 60th Anniversary. Estimated attendance was 550,000 - 633,000.
People who have never attended a motorcycle rally wonder what the event is all about. The Sturgis event is a celebration of motorcycling. Big deal, right? People get together because they like bikes; how is that interesting? Being a motorcycle enthusiast is only part of the equation. Motorcycling is more than a sport and more than a hobby. It's a lifestyle - a state of mind.
For the millions of people around the world who ride, motorcycles represent more than just a means of getting from Point A to Point B. Motorcycles are icons of freedom and individuality. When people gather at a rally, sure they talk shop. But they also break away from the treadmill of everyday life, creating their own Nirvana.
The legacy of the Sturgis Rally began in 1938 when J.C. "Pappy" Hoel, a local motorcycle shop owner, and some friends came up with the idea of holding a motorcycle race and stunt competition. The first event consisted of 19 racers at the half-mile track and some dangerous events such as board-wall crashes, ramp jumps and head-on collisions with cars. Local businesses put up the $500 prize money. Every year the event grew as both racers and spectators learned of the event. The races were cancelled for two years during World War II when the war took many young men overseas.
After the war, the Sturgis Rally event started to grow as the motorcycling lifestyle gained popularity. One thousand motorcyclists attended the program in the city park during the 1965 rally. By the time the 1980's rolled around, the attendance numbers climbed into the tens of thousands. For the 50th Anniversary in 1990, approximately 400,000 bikers came to celebrate. In 1999, the event drew 275,000 - 290,000 people from around the world. The biggest rally of all happened in 2000, the 60th Anniversary. Estimated attendance was 550,000 - 633,000.
People who have never attended a motorcycle rally wonder what the event is all about. The Sturgis event is a celebration of motorcycling. Big deal, right? People get together because they like bikes; how is that interesting? Being a motorcycle enthusiast is only part of the equation. Motorcycling is more than a sport and more than a hobby. It's a lifestyle - a state of mind.
For the millions of people around the world who ride, motorcycles represent more than just a means of getting from Point A to Point B. Motorcycles are icons of freedom and individuality. When people gather at a rally, sure they talk shop. But they also break away from the treadmill of everyday life, creating their own Nirvana.
