BH Iron Riding Season 2015

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Hills gearing up for record Rally numbers

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One million bikers. Some people anticipate that number to show for this year’s 75th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, but only time will tell. Pioneer file photos

By Wendy Pitlick BLACK HILLS IRON

STURGIS — All indications for the 75th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attendance are that this year’s event will smash records.

Whether they are hotel and campground owners, concierge agencies, or Sturgis city officials, everyone seems to be preparing for the biggest year of them all for the landmark anniversary. That’s saying something, since the 2000 Rally has been the biggest yet, with estimated attendance at more than 630,000.

“It’s going to be huge,” said Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Director Brenda Vasknetz.

“A million has been thrown out there by somebody, but I don’t anticipate there being a million people. But I do know it’s going to be the largest one we’ve ever seen.”

Based on the requests for lodging that the city has gotten from its Sturgis Motorcycle Rally website, Vasknetz estimates about 700,000 people will show this August. The biggest challenge she has had in preparing for that has been keeping up with requests for lodging during the Rally. The Sturgis Rally Department contracts with local marketing firm Robert Sharp & Associates, to maintain a website that provides updated information about available lodging in the Black Hills area.

“We’re diligently trying to keep up on who has available rooms, who has available homes, just so we can help these people find places to stay,” Vasknetz said. “That seems to be the biggest challenge this year.

We’ve never had to deal with that before.

We’ve always had plenty of resources for lodging in the Black Hills area.”

Susan Johnson, of Black Hills Central Reservations said her agency has been busier this year than ever. Her agency serves as a central reservations point for the Black Hills area, representing more than 7,000 hotel rooms, as well as hundreds of campgrounds and private homeowners. This year she said inquiries and bookings have been up as much as 200 percent. The greatest demand, she said, was between October and December, with inquiries softening slightly with the new year.

“You can still find places to stay, places to camp, and private homes,” she said. “But the inventory is pretty slim.”

On the other hand, Johnson said the inventory of lodging spaces is constantly changing, as hotels regularly call with reservations changes, campgrounds expand, or homeowners decide to rent their homes out during the Rally.

It’s going to be a bigger Rally,” she said.

Record Numbers Pg 4

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Sturgis and Harley partner

City, motorcycle icon break ground in March for Harley-Davidson Rally Point

will serve as a gathering point for the citizens of Sturgis throughout the year.”

Sturgis Rally Director Brenda Vasknetz said the plaza STURGIS — Harley-Davidson now has a permanent would include a stage for year-round events, concerts place in Sturgis. and other celebrations, as well as some seating, In March, the familiar roar of motorcycle engines awesome photo opportunities, and many other marked the groundbreaking ceremony for Harleyamenities.

Davidson Rally Point, a downtown plaza that will be FourFront Design, a Rapid City architectural firm, available for citizens and visitors alike to enjoy. worked with Sturgis officials and Harley-Davidson “Sturgis is a mecca for riders employees to develop the design around the world,” said Bill for the plaza.

Davidson, great-grandson of Vasknetz said the new town Harley-Davidson founder William plaza is one example of how Rally A. Davidson and vice president of sponsorships can benefit the the Harley-Davidson Museum. greater Sturgis community. “For “The renaming of 2nd Street to me, personally, as a citizen here, I Harley-Davidson Way honors the think it’s awesome that we’re legacy of our company’s founders going to have a congregating area, along with the men and women where all kinds of events can take who ride our motorcycles.” place year-round. You can have Located on the corner of Bill Davidson, your 3-year old’s birthday party at Vice president of the Harley-Davidson Way (formerly the plaza, or you can have street Harley-Davidson Museum.

2nd Street) and Main Street, the dances on downtown Main Street Harley-Davidson Rally Point throughout the year. It can be builds on the existing relationship reserved for the citizens to use for the company has as the official personal reasons. It’s not just motorcycle of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. In fact, Rally oriented.” officials from the Harley-Davidson Corporate offices in Additionally, Vasknetz pointed to the success that Milwaukee, rode 900 miles to Sturgis for the Rapid City has had with its town square concept, groundbreaking ceremony. They carried with them 74 adding that the Rally Point will draw visitors and locals bricks from the original motor company’s headquarters. to the downtown area, which will benefit the Those bricks will be incorporated into the plaza design. community in tax dollars.

“Breaking ground on The Rally Point solidifies For Harley, they are now part of Sturgis in a Harley-Davidson’s presence in Sturgis,” said Sturgis permanent place,” Vasknetz said. “I think that is really Mayor Mark Carstensen. “The Rally Point will be a hub important to them because Sturgis is very important to for riders during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and it them.”

By Wendy Pitlick

BLACK HILLS PIONEER

“

Sturgis is a mecca for riders around the world.

Record Numbers from Pg 3 “Right now our concentration is making sure we’re taking care of the people who are booked, and making sure that when they arrive they’ve got a place to stay. The early demand, the first three months after last year’s Rally, was like nothing we’ve ever seen.”

Vasknetz said when she attended a tourism conference last January, all of the hotels and campgrounds were reporting nonstop inquiries for lodging during the Sturgis Rally.

“That’s a great indicator that your numbers are going to be much higher than they’ve ever been,” she said.

As far as preparing for such a large Rally, officials say they have started planning earlier than in past years.

“Realistically you can only get so many people into Sturgis at one time,” Vasknetz said. “It’s kind of like a

”

theme park. You have to close your doors at some point.

We’ve never had to close our doors. But I know on the public safety aspect of it all, the police chief, the fire chief, public works, they’ve had numerous meetings and planning with DOT and all of the hospitals, all emergency service type people, just because everybody wants to be as prepared as they can. Those meetings started way earlier than they have in the past.”

One of the most notable changes this year will be additional assistance from the S.D. Army National Guard, with units conducting their annual training during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. That’s on purpose, so Guardsmen and equipment can be a resource for handling emergencies or other issues that may be the result of large crowds.

Though Sturgis city officials say they will not change anything about how they will handle the Rally, they are planning much earlier this year than normal. Sturgis Public

Works Director Rick Bush said normally his department starts preparing for the Rally in May or June. This year, because of the anticipated numbers, various city, state and federal agencies have been meeting since last September or October.

“We really are looking at every aspect,” Bush said. “Our whole goal for everybody is to host a good, safe event without any type of incident occurring.”

Additionally, Vasknetz and Bush said there are plans to shut down Main Street at least two days earlier, to accommodate the anticipated heavy traffic of bikes.

Normally, the city plans for an event that lasts for seven to 10 days. This year, Bush said he fully expects increased traffic numbers to stretch through the summer.

“From all indications we are getting, there are going to be a lot of people here a lot earlier,” Bush said. “I think we are going to see a huge increase.”

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The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame will unveil a new exhibit this spring paying homage to riders’ earliest days astride motorcycles. Pioneer photos by Wendy Pitlick

Motorcycle museum prepares to welcome Rally guests, will unveil new exhibits this spring

By Wendy Pitlick BLACK HILLS IRON

STURGIS — It has been a busy year of fundraising and procuring new exhibits, as the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame continues to work to preserve the history of motorcycling.

Open year-round, museum director Christine Paige Diers said that while the museum has the most traffic for the first 10 days of August, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally really only makes up about 20 percent of the museum’s actual numbers. Last year, she said, the museum welcomed 29,135 visitors, with the busiest day being the Wednesday of Rally Week, with 1,400 visitors. But overall, those numbers are spread out throughout the year.

But there’s no doubt about it, this year’s premier motorcycle event is going to be huge, and Diers said she is working diligently to make sure the museum is ready to welcome bikers with open arms — with special attention given to museum members. This year, Diers said, she hopes to hire a membership concierge, who will be stationed at the museum in a “members only” area, specifically to help museum members find area attractions, good riding in the area, or to answer general questions. The museum will also create a separate entrance for members, reducing the

traffic congestion in the museum.

In addition to this service, Diers said this will be the first year the museum will close its doors to the general public for one evening, so it can welcome its members and friends in for a VIP reception. The event will be by invitation only, and will be intended to honor those members and major donors.

For visitors this spring, Diers said one of the most exciting new developments in the museum this year is a new exhibit that gives a nod toward every bikers’ earliest days of motorcycling. Aptly dubbed, “My First Ride,” the exhibit will feature dirt bikes and other “starter” bikes that will take motorcyclists back to their roots on two wheels.

“Most people don’t start on a great big motor, V-Twin,” said Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Director Christine Paige Diers.

“These are the bikes that will bring memories for people.”

In addition to this exhibit, Diers said she is working on a temporary exhibit that will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The exhibit will feature past, present and future bikes and plans of the Rally, including a 50th Anniversary Motorcycle display.

But those who are looking for motorcycle history will find it in the outreaches of Sturgis as well. The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum will recognize and honor the 75th

Anniversary of the Motor Maids with an exhibit at the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground this year. Additionally, Diers said she is working on another exhibit that could be placed at Hot Leathers on Main Street.

Throughout the year, Diers said, museum officials have remained focused on fundraising for a future expansion.

The fundraising project has been in the works for a few years, but Diers said progress is slow but steady. Though Diers did not give any specific dollar amounts, she said the museum has made

progress with negotiations that will set the framework for the future expansion, which officials say will more than triple the museum’s space and create an iconic destination point for visitors to the Black Hills.

“I think we have made really good progress and we are very excited about the potential for getting a new building,” Diers said. She continued to explain that once the museum has raised 25 percent of the building funds, officials plan to hire an architect to take the conceptual plans to the next level.

“We’re not there yet,” she said.

“It’s a slow process.”

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Catholic Bishop to lead motorcycle fundraiser

By Wendy Pitlick BLACK HILLS IRON

RAPID CITY — Most people don’t expect a Catholic bishop to ride a Harley.

But during the riding season that’s exactly what Western South Dakota spiritual leader Bishop Robert Gruss takes to work in the morning.

“It’s kind of a novelty thing, a unique thing,” Gruss said. “Of all the bishops that I know, in the Catholic Conference of Bishops, I don’t know too many that ride motorcycles.”

In fact, it had been about 25 years since Gruss had ridden a motorcycle before last year, when Msgr. Michael Woster, pastor at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Spearfish and a longtime motorcycle enthusiast, first proposed the idea of a Ride with the Bishop Poker Run fundraiser. In its inaugural year, Woster’s idea drew 80 riders, who raised $15,000, plus an anonymous $100,000 donation — for a fundraising campaign to build a new Catholic outreach center — a Newman Center — on the Black Hills State University Campus. The event prompted Gruss to take a motorcycle safety course at Black Hills Harley Davidson, and by the time he was done with the course Gruss fell in love with riding, and decided that he had to have his own bike — a 2014 Harley Davidson Road King.

“I had never envisioned myself being involved in a poker run,” Gruss said. “But Pope Francis tells us, the bishops and the priests, to get to know ‘their sheep,’ so to speak, and meet people where they are. Obviously, people who ride motorcycles is a different group of people than I would normally, personally have the opportunity to get involved with. So this has been a great venue for me.

One, to get back on a motorcycle again after many years of being away, but also to get to know people in the diocese.”

After last year’s ride, Gruss still gets text messages from bikers across the state, inviting him to ride with them. He also gets many inquiries from bikers who were unable to attend last year’s ride, but who look forward to riding with the bishop this year. Because of this, Gruss said he expects this year’s ride to nearly double in participation, with about 150 riders.

Though Gruss doesn’t always get to join his parishioners on rides through the Hills, he says that he gets out as often as possible on his own. His favorite rides include the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park, Iron Mountain Road, and Spearfish Canyon.

“It’s just relaxing,” he said. “You’re out there in the wide open. You can kind of lose yourself in the environment, and it brings a peace of mind and gets your mind off anything else, any problems you may be having or challenging situations. You can put them out of your mind for a time and just relax. I find it relaxing physically, but also mentally, just to be able to be out and look at God’s creation in ways that you wouldn’t do in a car. It really is a prayerful time. I think acknowledging the presence of God and his creation is being in prayer and being able to rejoice interiorly with thankfulness and gratitude, and to express that gratitude in your own heart as you’re riding.”

This year’s Ride with the Bishop Rally and Poker Run will be held July 19. It will begin with Mass, a blessing of bikes, and a breakfast at Terra Sancta Retreat Center, on Sturgis Road in Rapid City. Following breakfast, Bishop Gruss will lead the ride to Mount Rushmore, over to Hill City, up Highway 385, and through Spearfish Canyon. The ride will end with a barbecue and a silent auction at Outdoor MotorSports in Spearfish.

Cars are also welcome to join the ride.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Newman Center Capital Campaign at Black Hills State University.

The mission of the Newman Center is to help provide

Catholic Bishop Robert Gruss will lead a Rally and Poker Run fundraiser to benefit a project to build a Newman Center on the Black Hills State University campus. Pioneer photo by Wendy Pitlick

students and faculty of Black Hills State University a place to engage and grow in their faith, leading them back to a deeper life in Jesus Christ and great participation in his mission in the church.

“It’s important that our Catholic and non-Catholic students at Black Hills State University have a place where they can go and share faith and share food and fellowship, Gruss said. “I think it’s important for the university itself, in the sense that some families would choose to send their kids to a university that has an active Newman Center. We have an active Newman Center now,

but the facility, often times, determines the number of people who get involved. The current one isn’t on campus and the new on will be. I think this is a wonderful opportunity for the Catholic community to come together and provide a place for Catholic students across the whole state of South Dakota and beyond, that they have a place to grow their faith and develop their own spirituality.”

To register for the Ride with the Bishop Rally and Poker Run, visit www.stjosephspearfish.com, and click the “We Share” tab on the banner.

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By Adam Hurlburt Black Hills Pioneer

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Black Hills bike nights stretch across the summer

SPEARFISH — Local motorcycle fanatics looking for a weekly hangout with like-minded bike crazies have a new event to look forward to in the Hills.

Black Hills Bike Night will go down every Thursday at 6 p.m. until August 27th at different Hills-based motorcycle industry locations each time. The bike nights will feature free food, free beer, music, and a motorcycle rodeo featuring a wiener bite, tire chang-

ing contest, bean bag toss, and more, with prizes in all categories. Admittance to all Black Hills Bike Night events is free.

Schedule:

May 14 — Dakota V-Twin, Exit 8, Spearfish May 21 — Samson Exhaust, Exit 30, Sturgis May 28 — Black Hills Cycles, Exit 8, Spearfish June 4 — Indian of Sturgis, Exit 30, Sturgis June 11 — Terry Components, Exit 14, off Heritage Dr., Spearfish

June 18 — Legends Suspension, Exit 30, Sturgis June 25 — Baggster, Exit 8, Spearfish July 2 — Dakota V-Twin, Exit 8, Spearfish July 9 — Samson Exhaust, Exit 30, Sturgis July 16 — Black Hills Cycles, Exit 8, Spearfish July 23 — Indian of Sturgis, Exit 30, Sturgis August 13 — Terry Components, Exit 14, off Heritage Dr., Spearfish August 20 — Legends Suspension, Exit 30, Sturgis August 27 — Baggster, Exit 8, Spearfish

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Black Hills Harley hulks out just in time for the 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

This graphic illustration provides an exterior overview of what Rapid City’s Black Hills Harley-Davidson will look like when construction on a 20,000-square-foot addition is completed this June. Graphic courtesty of FourFront Design, Inc.

By Adam Hurlburt

BLACK HILLS PIONEER

RAPID CITY — Like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally itself, Rapid City’s Black Hills Harley-Davidson has swelled in size significantly over the years. And just like 75th running of the Rally, this year will be the largest so far for the Hills’ perpetually hulking Harley dealership — construction crews are currently pounding away on a 27,000-square-foot addition to the already 73,000-square-foot facility.

“Our bike sales have been increasing every year for the last 10 years, and we’re just out of room. We needed more elbowroom for our customers so that we could put nicer displays in and just make it a little more comfortable to shop in,” Black Hills Harley-Davidson General Manager Terry Rymer said. “This is the first major expansion we’ve done for sure. The total facility will be up to more than 100,000 square feet with our onsite warehouse.”

Inside, the new addition adds roughly

20,000 more square-feet of showroom space and increases office space. Outside, the building’s façade will grow from 100 to 300-feet wide. For reference, the Statue of Liberty measures in at 305 feet tall.

Fun fact: Black Hills Harley-Davidson was already the largest Harley dealership in Upper Midwest before the expansion. It’s probably safe to assume that title will stick for a while.

The expansion project also frees up some much needed space for the dealership’s service department, which will move part and parcel into the basement.

Black Hills Harley Dealer Prinicipal Al Reman noted that frustration with an overfilled basement was one of the catalysts behind this year’s massive expansion and remodel.

“Before this expansion over half our retail inventory of motorcycles was in our basement. You’d come in the store and see 50 or 60 motorcycles, and that looks like a lot, and it is a lot for a lot of dealerships, but you’d go downstairs and see another

couple hundred. That’s the kind of inventory we have to service the region,” he said. “Having that much inventory, it was really not efficient or customer

friendly to have it down the stairs and in the back of the poorly lit basement. So we made a decision years ago that we needed Harley Expands Pg 15

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More power, more service Black Hills Cycles merger results in huge aftermarket inventory, major service capability

By Wendy Pitlick BLACK HILLS IRON

SPEARFISH — When it comes to after-market inventory and custom capabilities, there are few shops with as much torque as Black Hills Cycles.

Since 2003 Spearfish custom bike shop Black Hills Choppers has made a name for itself in the custom bike industry. But a recent merger between shop owner and magazine publisher Dave Withrow, and South Carolina shop owner Jason Mook, has resulted in re-vamped facilities, increased inventory, and significant service expansion in Spearfish. With it comes a name change to Black Hills Cycles.

Mook, who is good friends with Withrow, has been coming to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for about 10 years now. During his trip to the Hills last August, he mentioned that he would love to move to the area. Withrow, who had been wanting to expand his Spearfish shop, proposed the merger that would give Mook the opportunity to move here.

“He was looking to take the shop to a different level,” Mook said. The merger of Mook’s shop inventory and equipment from South Carolina, with Withrow’s existing operation in Spearfish, resulted in one of the largest inventories of custom performance and cosmetic parts in the Black Hills.

“The beauty of the merger is that Dave already had a substantial inventory here,” Mook said. “I had a substantial

Jason Mook, left, and Dave Withrow have partnered together to transform the former Black Hills Choppers shop into Black Hills Cycles. Through this partnership the shop has significantly expanded its services and inventory to become a full service, onestop shop for all American-made bikes.

Pioneer photo by Wendy Pitlick

inventory. You put those two together and I daresay, including shops in Rapid or dealerships in Rapid, nobody is going to have in stock what we have as far as tires, performance, or after-market cosmetics.”

The merger also adds a dyno machine that measures horsepower and torque for all American-made bikes — Harley, Victory, and Indian. Additionally, Black Hills Cycles has all of the fabrication machinery necessary for designing custom parts right on site.

“It never fails, there are projects out there that you just can’t buy everything that is bolted on,” Mook said. “Some things have to be made. A lot of people like that. They like knowing that this was made just for them. It’s a one of a kind, and it’s on their bike.”

The shop also has certified mechanics, ready to install all the parts on the same day.

In fact, Mook’s specialty is in custom performance upgrades. He’s been doing it for years, and part of his expertise comes from knowing from personal experience exactly what after-market parts work, and which ones are worth spending the extra money on.

“A full-service shop should not only be able to provide tire changes and oil changes and basic repairs, but also significant performance upgrades, and cosmetic upgrades,” Mook said. “Between the two of us you’re looking at almost 50 years of motorcycle experience. That goes a long way and that counts for something. You come here for the experience. Just like there are a lot of quality parts out there, there are some that I would call less than desirable.

Between the two of us we have weeded through that. We know what’s good and we know what’s not.”

Additionally, the business has a plethora of industry contacts through its magazine publications. Those relationships within the industry, help enhance the capabilities at the shop.

“Sturgis brings all of our advertisers in as vendors, “ said Withrow, who publishes American Bagger and Urban Bagger magazines. “We’ve had guys who have blown motors and in the middle of the Rally we have located a brand new motor, got it installed, and got them back on the road. We’ve never not been able to get somebody back on the road, whether it’s a new transmission, or stuff that most shops don’t have we can locate somehow during the Rally.

It’s kind of something we take pride in. A lot of people ride a long distance to get here, and we want to make sure they get home safely.”

Mook agreed, saying that Black Hills Cycles will always go the extra mile to make sure bikers who come to the Rally are able to enjoy their time in the Hills with their bike.

“There’s nothing worse than going to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and your bike breaking down, and there’s your week gone of enjoying the fantastic riding that’s out here,” Mook said.

Black Hills Cycles is open Monday through Saturday.

During the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally those hours will be expanded to seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Contact them at 717-5009.

“Whatever it takes,” Mook said, “we want people to have a good experience when they come here to ride in the Black Hills. We want them to come back and enjoy themselves when they’re here. A broken down bike is the fastest way to ruin that.”

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www.bhpioneer.com change for us, and it culminates many years of steady, solid growth that we’ve from Pg 13 experienced here at Black Hills Harley Davidson,” Reman said. “The Black Hills is one of the top motorcycle destinations to start working on an expansion plan.” in the world. Not only is this a motorcycle This isn’t the first time Black Hills area, it’s a Harley-Davidson area. When Harley’s expanded their physical people think motorcycles around here footprint. When Rymer, Reman, and that’s what’s really on several other partners their mind. That makes purchased the Rapid Black Hills HarleyCity Harley dealership Davidson a bit of a in 2000 they were crown jewel for the operating out of a 13,000-square-foot Our bike sales have region. It helps plant the stake in the ground structure. The team been increasing that this part of the almost immediately country is one of the realized they needed a every year for the leaders in motorcycling significantly larger last 10 years, and in many aspects — to building for the have one of the largest business to become we’re just out of dealerships in the what they envisioned. room. We needed country in this area is a In 2002, construction bit of a testament to began on the more elbowroom that.” businesses current Construction began for our customers so home right off of Exit on Black Hills Harley55, near Deadwood that we could put Davidson’s expansion Avenue. At that time nicer displays in and in September 2014 and 55,000-square-feet scheduled to be seemed like more than just make it a little iscompleted on June 1, the business would ever need, Reman said. more comfortable to roughly two months before staggering But over the years both shop in. numbers of Harley supply and demand for fanatics from around Harley-Davidson Jerry Rymer, the globe descend on motorcycles increased Black Hills Harley-Davidson the dealership in great, and wiggle room at General Manager rumbling swarms for 2820 Harley Dr. the 75th Annual Sturgis wiggled its way out the Motorcycle Rally. Rymer, Reman, and door. their team will be ready, will you?

“This expansion is a big positive

Harley Expands

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South Dakota legislators passed a bill this legislative session repealing a law that prohibited handlebars on motorcycles from being shoulder high or greater.

Pioneer file photo

New law allows high handlebars

By Mark Watson

BLACK HILLS PIONEER

PIERRE — This year’s legislative session loosens regulations of motorcycle handlebar height just in time for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Legislators unanimously passed SB 85, an act that repealed South Dakota Codified Law 32-20-3. That law restricted the height of motorcycle handlebars to lower than shoulder level while in operation on public streets or highways while sitting astride the seat.

Sen. Terri Haverly, R-Rapid City, was the prime sponsor for the bill that was signed into law on Feb. 25.

“This is cleaning up a law that is no longer of value and the facts support it.

There is no national standard and no

commonly agreed-upon standard between the states,” Haverly, a freshman legislator, said when she introduced the bill.

She noted that Minnesota has no restrictions and a rider can drive on Interstate 90 and cross into South Dakota and now be in violation.

“There are no scientific studies that show handlebar heights have a negative impact on safety,” she said.

Industry officials say handlebar height a matter of preference similar to a tilt steering wheel and some bikers feel safer to have higher handlebars, she added.

“Since there is not scientific data there is no reason for South Dakota to have this restriction. In South Dakota we love our freedoms. Lets support this freedom to ride.”

The law goes into effect on July 1.

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Rides, Runs & Races

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Schedule of Events — 2015 June WOUNDED KNEE Memorial Motorcycle Ride July 31 – Aug. 1 STATE H.O.G. RALLY June 11-13 Sioux Falls to Rapid City For more info (605) 334-2721 or www.sdstatehogrally.com

RHEA TREVINO MEMORIAL RUN to benefit children.

June 13 Starts and ends at Dakota V-Twin Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

Ride leaves at 11 a.m.

Motorcycle Rodeo, 50/50 raffle, silent auction, door prizes, bike blessing, whole hog roast, live music.

(605) 717-0009 or Nick@DakotaV-Twin.com I-90, Exit 8, Spearfish, SD JACKPINE GYPSIES TRACK May 16 June 6, 27 July 11, 25 Flat Track Racing I-90, Exit 30, Sturgis, SD RUSHMORE ABATE Rally at Glencoe June 5 and 6 Vendors, camping, food, silent auction, and live music at Shade Valley Camp Resort Friday night: Unfinished Business Saturday night: Pumpin’ Ethyl Sturgis, SD www.rushmoreabate.com SOUTH DAKOTA CMA STATE RALLY June 17-19 Christian Motorcyclists Association State Rally, Capitol Heights Baptist Church Pierre, SD (605) 291-9536 http://cmancr3.org

July HOT HARLEY NIGHTS Ride and Event July 9-12 Pre-registration deadline June 19 Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota 20th annual casino run, motorcycle parade, music, raffles, bike show, food, and more.

Sioux Falls, SD www.wishsd.org or www.hotharleynights.com

August 75th Annual STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY Aug. 3-9, 2015 (need we say more?) www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com CUSTER CRUISIN’ July 31 – Aug. 9 Vendors, food, scenic rides Aug. 4 — Mayor’s Ride Aug. 6 — Veterans Appreciation Day Custer, SD www.custercruisin.com

10th Annual Motorcycle Ride — Ft. Yates, ND to Wounded Knee, Begins at Prairie Knights Casino & Resort (Hwy. 24) and ends at Powwow Grounds in Eagle Butte, SD. Then off to Wounded Knee Memorial on Saturday.

For more information call Dave Janis, (605) 441-3058; Roger White Eyes, (605) 441-9857; Glenn Gunville, (605) 365-6110; or Bruce Hansen (262) 903-0869 www.woundedkneememorialrun.com White Plate Racing Association Sturgis Half-Mile Pappy Hoel Classic Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 10 a.m. — vinage races Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. — AMA Pro All Star $10,000 minimum purse Meade County Fairgrounds in Sturgis Black Hills Harley Davidson Presents AMA FLAT TRACK BLACK HILLS HALF MILE Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City Aug. 4 Hwy 44, five miles east of Hwy 16 on the way to Rapid City Regional Airport JACKPINE GYPSIES TRACK Aug. 2-9 Events tentative Aug. 2 — Moto X Aug. 3 — Amateur Hill Climb Aug. 3 — Short Track Aug. 4 — Short Track Aug. 5 — Verta Cross Aug. 6 — Gypsy Tour Aug. 6 — Bagger Race and Rodeo Aug. 7 — Pro Hill Climb Where it all began!

Jackpine Gypsies Track I-90, Exit 30, Sturgis, SD

LEGENDS RIDE Aug. 3 Legends Ride benefitting Black Hills Special Olympics and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame.

Starts on Deadwood Main Street, ends with special pre-concert party at the BuffaloChip Campground.

Limited tickets. Deadwood to Sturgis, SD Call (605) 347-9000 for more information, or www.legendsride. com.

STURGIS DRAGWAY Aug. 1-3 4 miles East of Sturgis Aug. 1 — Drag Race School Aug. 1 — Test and Tune Aug. 1 — Run What Ya Brung Aug. 2 — Qualifying Aug. 2 — Gamblers Races Aug. 3 — Eliminations and Finals www.sturgisdrags.com

BLACK HILLS BIKE NIGHT May 14 — Dakota V-Twin, Exit 8, Spearfish May 21 — Samson Exhaust, Exit 30, Sturgis May 28 — Black Hills Cycles, Exit 8, Spearfish June 4 — Indian of Sturgis, Exit 30, Sturgis June 11 — Terry Components, Exit 14, off Heritage Dr., Spearfish June 18 — Legends Suspension, Exit 30, Sturgis June 25 — Baggster, Exit 8, Spearfish July 2 — Dakota V-Twin, Exit 8, Spearfish July 9 — Samson Exhaust, Exit 30, Sturgis July 16 — Black Hills Cycles, Exit 8, Spearfish July 23 — Indian of Sturgis, Exit 30, Sturgis August 13 — Terry Components, Exit 14, off Heritage Dr., Spearfish August 20 — Legends Suspension, Exit 30, Sturgis August 27 — Baggster, Exit 8, Spearfish All dates and times subject to change without prior notice. Not responsible for misprints or errors. If you would like to include your event in our listing please send to bhiron@bhpioneer.com.

Black Hills Harley-Davidson VENDOR LOT in RAPID CITY July 39 to Aug. 8 The party starts a little early, and sometimes goes a little late. Features more than 100 vendors, top industry manufacturers, unique items, and an expanded lot. www.blackhillshd.com BUFFALO CHIP CAMPGROUND Aug. 1-7 Buffalo Chip Campground CONCERTS East of Sturgis Aug. 1 — Five Finger Death Punch Aug. 2 — Brantley Gilbert Aug. 3 — Godsmack Aug. 4 — Lynyrd Skynyrd Aug. 4 — Shinedown Aug. 5 — John Fogerty Aug. 5 — Social Distortion Aug. 6 — Styx Aug. 7 — Def Leppard Also featuring the Charlie Brechtel Band, Iron Cowgirl Missy, MMS, the Living Deads, Jimmie Bratcher and Colossal Boss.

FULL THROTTLE SALOON Aug. 1-8 Full Throttle Saloon CONCERTS East of Sturgis Bands TBA www.fullthrottlesaloon.com

Pioneer file photo

Top rides

riding season

2015

www.bhpioneer.com

in the Black Hills Pioneer Staff Reports

SPEARFISH — With Sturgis situated in the heart of the Black Hills, the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is the venue for some of the best riding in the country.

From long stretches of highway on the scenic plains, to curves and tunnels through the beautiful Black Hills, there is something for every kind of biker here.

The following is a list of our favorite rides.

Nemo Road

Off Highway 385 Rapid City to Brownsville

A nice, lazy ride through some of the less-populated parts of the Black Hills, Nemo Road offers amazing views, twisty turns and straight highway stretches that promise bikers entertainment and relaxation. Just one trip down this road and you will understand why Sturgis Rally veterans call this “The best kept secret in the Black Hills.” The Nemo Bar & Grill also offers bikers great food and cold drinks for a scenic break from the road that is filled with first-class hospitality!

Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway

S.D. Highway 240, Badlands National Park

An approximate 30-mile ride, this highway cuts through the natural rock formations of Badlands National Park. A

Spearfish Canyon on Two Wheels

If you’re a regular attendee of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, chances are you’ve ridden Spearfish Canyon at least once, and probably more frequently.

Spearfish Canyon is older than the Grand Canyon if ya can believe that! It’s smooth, well maintained, and it’s curvaceous pavement is a joy to ride for any bike/ motorcyclist, and the 35 MPH speed limit allows the Canyon walls to talk back to you in the form of your motorcycles reflected exhaust note. If you’ve never ridden the Canyon, it’s about time you did. It’s an unforgettable motoring treat for any rider or driver. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for excessive speed vehicles; some riders can’t resist a little extra speed. Keep your eyes on the road though, you can stop almost anywhere in the Canyon to take a longer

favorite of bikers who flock to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, this route also features natural grasslands that are filled with hundreds of different species of plants and wild animals. Scenic overlooks also offer great photo opportunities.

Custer State Park 13329 U.S. Highway 16A, Custer

Custer State Park isn’t just home to one of the largest free roaming buffalo herds; it’s so beautiful that the State Game Lodge served as the summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927.

This 71,000-acre vacation paradise is home to abundant wildlife and buffalo herds, making it common to encounter a “Buffalo Jam” while driving in the park.

Look for elusive elk, deer, big horn sheep, mountain goats and bands of begging burros. Four distinct lodges offer accommodations to suit every family, from rustic and historic to elegant and upscale. All offer unique on-site activities, including Jeep rides to the buffalo herds, guided fly-fishing and chuckwagon suppers. There are also endless camping opportunities in the park.

Crazy Horse Memorial

12141 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse (near Custer)

Crazy Horse Memorial is the world’s largest sculpture-in-progress, and frequent drilling and mountain blasts make each visit unique. When completed, Crazy Horse Memorial will stand 563 feet tall. look at one of the many different spots of interest. Starting at the mouth of the Canyon at the extreme east end of Spearfish, the road takes vehicles past the golf course and into the verdant and summer leafy steep-walled canyon.

Halfway up the Canyon is Spearfish Canyon Lodge, a great place for lunch if you don’t want to wait to arrive at Cheyenne Crossing, world famous for its burgers and hospitality. A quarter mile hike down the trail-footpath below the lodge will get you to Spearfish Falls; don’t forget your camera. If you skip the lodge stop, and continue almost another 10 miles, you’ll get to the aforementioned Cheyenne Crossing at the junction of Highway 85. Make a left and head for Lead, S.D. It’s an uphill climb away from Cheyenne Crossing, and the speed limit is 55 MPH. Throttle up, but stay within the speed limit. Continue through Lead, then Deadwood, and before ya know it, you’re in Sturgis. See ya on the Road.

— Buck Lovell

Sundance, Wyo. to Devils Tower

Sundance Wyoming sits astride Interstate 90 approximately 53 miles West of the city of Sturgis. With a population of 1,139 souls, Sundance is visitor friendly, especially during Sturgis Rally days, and hosts a permanent full service Harley-Davidson dealer with everything from Tee shirts to leathers and rain gear. I recommend you start this ride during the mid morning hours, and return during the evening. If you do this you’ll have the sun at your back both directions. Leaving Sundance Northwest on Highway 14, it is a continuous uphill climb into heavily timbered wild territory with panoramic views all around. The speed limit is 65 MPH unless otherwise posted, you probably won’t get into sixth gear on the way up to Devils Tower. Pay attention while on Highway 14, wild deer abound.

If you see one, there are probably several more nearby, their favorite pastime being unexpectedly dashing across the road after hearing the noise from your loud pipes. When you get to the junction of Highway 14 and Highway 24 you’ll turn The project was started in 1948 by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear to honor the heritage, tradition and culture of North American Indians. Its namesake, Crazy Horse, was a war leader of the Oglala Lakota tribe and a prominent leader in the Sioux resistance to white encroachment in the Black Hills. His bravery and skill are admired, and he is revered by the Sioux as their greatest leader. The complex surrounding the mountain carving includes the Indian Museum of North America, the Native American Cultural Center, the Sculptor’s Studio and a 40,000-square-foot orientation center and theater. Nightly performances of a multimedia laser-light show spotlight American Indian culture using dramatic animations and a stirring musical score.

In June, the Crazy Horse Volksmarch opens to hikers a 10K route that winds around the base of the mountain and up onto Crazy Horse’s outstretched arm.

Korczak’s wife and family have continued the project and the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. An entrance fee is required to enter the memorial, which is open year-round, and good for one day of admission.

Proceeds fund further development of the memorial.

Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway U.S. Highway 16A/S.D. Highway 87, Custer State Park

This ride is so cool that it deserves mentioning apart from Custer State Park! A 70-mile drive that offers

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North bound to finish the ride to Devils Tower National Monument. Devils Tower. At several locations midway from the junction to Devils Tower along Highway 24 spectacular views of small canyon escarpments with rocky overhangs beg for attention from you and your camera. As you continue riding uphill, the top of Devils Tower will begin to be visible as it rises above the horizon.

At 5,112 feet above sea level, Devils Tower is the predominant landscape feature of the area. The rocky tower itself is a full 867 feet from its base to the summit. The Belle Fourche River slowly meanders away Eastward 1,267 below the tower. When heading back to Sundance, preferably in the mid PM hours, the long slow descent makes it easy to enjoy the grand views of the terrain, and typically white clouded blue skies. So majestic is the roadside scenery here, you may find yourself wanting to make this ride more than once, with the images of the first riding sticking in your subconscious. Total mileage here (round trip) is approximately 56 miles give or take a burnout.

— Buck Lovell

amazing views of the best the Black Hills has to offer. This scenic drive incorporates the Needles Highway (S.D. Hwy. 87) and Iron Mountain Road (U.S. Hwy. 16A). The Needles Highway features hairpin curves, drive-through tunnels, and massive granite formations that draw climbers from all over the world. Iron Mountain Road features pigtail bridges that were constructed in a corkscrew fashion, as well as drivethrough tunnels that perfectly frame Mount Rushmore.

Lead-Deadwood

Separated by just three miles of highway, but forever joined in their rich history of mining and gaming, the Black Hills’ own Twin Cities offer something for everyone! Visit the Black Hills Mining Museum, Homestake Visitor’s Center or the Adams Museum to see the rich mining and old-west history of this section of the Northern Hills; relax for lunch or dinner at one of the many fine establishments in both towns; browse through the unique selection of gifts and supplies in Lead; or try your luck at a gaming table or slot machine in Deadwood. But most importantly, residents of Lead-Deadwood are evercognizant of the Rally, and welcome the bikers with open arms. In Lead, bikers can enjoy vendors, entertainment and bike shows throughout the week and in Deadwood, bikers enjoy special parking privileges and other perks!

Belle Fourche

The name “Belle Fourche” is French for “Beautiful Fork” because of its site on the “Forks” of Hay Creek, Redwater River and the Belle Fourche River.

Additionally, the quaint little town is Top Ride Pg 18

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Wildlife Loop Ride Really Wild

If you’re looking for a short ride in between other Rally-related activities, and you’re in the area of Custer State Park, Wild Life Loop Road is perfect.

The road itself is very well maintained black top with almost no surprise potholes or other impediments to smooth riding. Don’t even think of going on this little sojourn with some kind of camera, even if it’s just the camera in your cell phone. Wildlife Loop Road has a strictly enforced speed limit of 35 miles per hour, but if you are like most annual visitors here, you will be stopping frequently to either let the buffalo and other wild critters cross the road in front of you, or to just have a good long look. You won’t find many motorcycle rides that will give close-up views of wildlife as seen here. In many cases, these critters will hold up traffic as they stand blocking the pavement, stare in amazement at you and your

Top Ride from Pg 17 known for its status as the geographical “Center of the Nation.” After the addition of Hawaii and Alaska to the United States in 1959, a point 10 miles north of Belle Fourche was named the official geological center of the United States. The site was originally in Smith Center, Kansas, before it was moved to its new home in Butte County. Visitors can have their photo taken at the monument of a 21-by-40 foot compass rose made of South Dakota granite located at the Center of the Nation Visitor Center in Belle Fourche.

Wind Cave National Park

26611 US Highway 385, Hot Springs

Caves are one of the Black Hills’ most mysterious and intriguing wonders. To do your exploring underground, visit Wind Cave National Park. Stretching more than 100 miles, Wind Cave is one of the longest caves in the world, and the first cave to be designated a national park. With a mazelike, underground chamber system, Wind Cave features the world’s largest concentration of box work, a rare formation of thin calcite fins that resemble honeycombs. Above ground, Wind Cave National Park includes a wildlife sanctuary of 28,295 acres for antelope, bison, elk, prairie dogs and other creatures to roam.

Here, the ponderosa pine forest meets the rolling prairie, one of the last remaining mixed grassland areas in existence. The cave’s visitor center is open daily except holidays. An admission fee is required to tour the cave. A list of tour options can be viewed at www.nps.gov/wica.

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vehicle. The rolling hills and wide open grassland scenery is studded with many varieties of pine and other trees of all sizes making for very pleasant riding.

Wildlife species to be seen here in Custer State Park include antelope, bighorn sheep, buffalo young and old, white tail deer, elk, coyote, prairie dogs, and all manner of flying fowl including bald eagles and other raptor species.

Custer State Park is home to one of the world’s largest buffalo herds. These buffalo live almost as they did before the West was tamed. Every year a roundup is held and buffalo harvested from the ever-growing herd. Wild “begging” Burros live and play at the southernmost end of Wild Life Loop.

While the ride along Wild Life Loop road is only 18 seemingly short miles and could take as little a 30 minutes to transit, you may find it taking just a little bit longer due to frequent stops to enjoy both the animals and the almost “as it was in the 1850s” view. I almost always do this ride both directions during the same day. No burnouts on this ride: it would only frighten the critters.

— Buck Lovell

Native American Scenic Byway

This 305.8-mile route takes bikers through the rich history and wildlife attractions of our American Indian population. It cuts through the heart of South Dakota’s grass prairie through the heart of the great Sioux Nation.

The route takes travelers through Yankton, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Sioux Tribes. Along the way, bikers will have a chance to see some wildlife, including prairie dogs, pronghorn, deer, bison and elk.

Jewel Cave National Monument

U.S. Highway 16, 13 miles west of Custer

Located in the scenic Hell Canyon Ranger District, the ride to Jewel Cave is a gem in itself with scenic overlooks, hairpin turns and some wildlife sightings. But once bikers get to the cave, they are absolutely encouraged to stop and stay awhile! Jewel Cave National Monument is not only the second-longest cave in the world, at more than 140 miles and counting, it is also one of the most structurally complex. Located a little more than an hour southwest of Rapid City, Jewel Cave is a regional gem tucked in the Black Hills. Exploration is ongoing in this pristine underground labyrinth. Visit chambers decorated with calcite, nailhead and dogtooth spar crystals and other wonders like draperies, flowstone and stalactites. The monument’s surface trails and facilities are open free of charge. A fee is required for cave tours, which are ranger-guided and are moderately strenuous lasting about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The cave is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30

p.m. except on holidays. Cave tours have been known to sell out in advance; therefore waiting times could be several hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead for tour availability and to reserve tickets. Visit www. nps.gov/jeca for more information.

Mammoth Site

1800 U.S. Highway 18 Bypass, Hot Springs

More than 26,000 years ago, large Columbian and woolly mammoths were trapped and died in a spring-fed pond near what is now the southwest edge of Hot Springs. Discovered in 1974 while excavating for a housing development the Mammoth Site is the world’s largest Columbian mammoth exhibit and research center for Pleistocene studies. It is truly a unique and natural location for the state.

Bear Butte

Highway 79, Sturgis

It’s simply not possible to come to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and not see one of the Black Hills’ natural wonders – Bear Butte. But seeing it and experiencing it are two different things, and all bikers should take in the scenic beauty and spiritual feeling of this site, named “Mato Paha” (Bear Mountain) by the Lakota Sioux for its resemblance to a sleeping bear. This geological formation is one of several intrusions of igneous rock in the Black Hills that formed millions of years ago. The mountain is sacred to many American Indian tribes, who go there to hold religious ceremonies to this day. Also, Bear Butte was once used by multiple tribes as a meeting point to discuss the advancement of the white man on to their lands. Bikers at the Sturgis

Belle Fourche to Sturgis via Bear Butte

Riding from Belle Fourche to Sturgis via Bear Butte can only be described as the open prairie or high plains ride.

Imagine yourself back in the 1880s riding a spirited four-legged horse. When departing from Belle Fourche traveling east bound on S.D. Highway 212, I recommend this route be traveled during the later part of the afternoon. You will then have the sun over your right shoulder. Make sure you have your gas tank filled completely, for you will have no opportunity to gas up between Belle Fourche and Sturgis city limits, unless you divert north to Newell at the junction of Highway 212 and Highway 79. The speed limit on 212 is 75 MPH unless otherwise posted. Riding 212 can only be reckoned to riding your horse at full gallop across the plains, but staying at 60-65 MPH is the best speed to enjoy this fluffy cloud-studded, blue-sky route.

Make a point of checking the weather forecast for prevailing winds. Prevailing winds in August are typically west to east which will give a very pleasant tailwind from Belle Fourche to Highway 79

Rally can take advantage of the hiking trails to the top of the mountain, or just cruise on by the natural wonder located six miles northeast of Sturgis off Highway 79.

Mount Rushmore 13000 SD Highway 244, Keystone

Who can take a trip to Sturgis without stopping to see our nation’s Shrine of Democracy? Every year that visit gets better as there are continual improvements at the famed monument! This internationally recognized “Shrine of Democracy” is located only 17 miles from Rapid City. Surrounded

by Black Hills National Forest, the memorial protrudes from the granite with the faces of George Washington, commander of the Revolutionary Army and our nation’s first president; Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence; Abraham Lincoln, who abolished slavery in the U.S.; and Theodore Roosevelt, who reformed corruption, is responsible for our national’s national parks system and for conserving wildlife. The site also features mountain goats, the Avenue of Flags, an interactive museum, and a new visitors’ center. Visitors can also follow the Presidential Trail to the base of the mountain. An evening lighting ceremony is also a sight to see during the summer months, and it begins at 9 p.m.

Additionally, if you’ve already traveled the common route to the mountain through Keystone, try entering through the back way on Highway 244, which offers some unique scenic sights and a relaxing ride through the Hills.

Read more from Buck at BLABB (Buck Lovell’s American Biker Blog) online at www.sturgis.com. southbound When leaving Belle Fourche, the first major landmark will be Belle Fourche reservoir on the left (north side of the highway). There are several small towns with cafes serving home cooked style food and cold drinks, well worth stopping. The smooth pavement and long radius curves of Highway 212 are punctuated by hills and rises, so for safety’s sake don’t attempt to pass on those blind curves. Take you time and enjoy the view to the South of the Black Hills. They look black from out on the prairie; that’s how the hills got their name. At the junction of 212 and 79 you’ll turn right heading toward Bear Butte. If you’ve had a tail wind, it’s now a crosswind so stay alert. Also watch for deer on the road. It’s almost a straight shot to the outskirts of the City of Sturgis.

You will be able to enjoy an ever changing view of Bear Butte as it grows larger the closer you get. Just before passing Bear Butte you see the Broken Spoke Campground is on the left.

Continuing another 5-6 miles, you’ll make a right turn onto Highway 34 (Westbound) passing Glencoe Camp-resort, the Full Throttle Saloon on the way into downtown Sturgis. Total distance is about 55 miles give or take a burnout.

— Buck Lovell

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riding season

2015

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riding season

2015

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