The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

The 69th Annual Black Hills Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, SD
July 26, 2009

Whenever the small town of Sturgis, South Dakota is mentioned within earshot of a motorcyclist, very distinct images come to mind. It all depends upon viewpoint of course, whether that image is one of outlaw bikers, drunks on two wheels, a fun gathering of like-minded motorcycle enthusiasts, a long ride across America or driving a trailer queen across a dozen states. 

Although there are many events held in Sturgis and surrounding areas, it all began amidst the Great Depression. According to the official website, it all began with the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, itself established in 1936, a club that became an official American Motorcycle Association (AMA) charter club in 1937. The first Rally in Sturgis was held on August 14, 1938 with the 69^th rally scheduled for August 3 through 9, 2009. 

Originally, the Rally began with a variety of motorcycle races and stunts. In more recent years, it has expanded greatly as a social event. Since 2004, attendance began exceeding a half-million people. The focus is generally on Harley-Davidson and other American V-Twin motorcycles although there is by no means exclusive.

In order to maintain a sense of history, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame opened its doors to the public on June 1, 2001. With an emphasis on “vintage and rare V-twin” motorcycles, foreign brands of motorcycles are all lumped together and dismissed as “metric motorcycles.” 

With some effort to make the area appear more benign and family friendly, Sturgis is far more renowned for its outlaw image. For example, one of the promotional websites includes a “list of the most common laws that are violated on a regular basis,” such as “Deposit of  Filth,” “Indecent Exposure,” and “Driving on Bike Path / Sidewalk.” There are relatively few large public annual events where such violations are considered common occurrences. 

With many celebrities in attendance and ample media coverage, the Sturgis Rally rivals Daytona Bike Week as one of the largest annual motorcycle events held in the United States. Harley-Davidson is among the major sponsors of the Rally and the company even has its own website dedicated to celebrating the event and planning road riding tours to attend.