This week is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Since I live about 25 miles from the epicenter, I thought I'd do a little post about rally week. Bear in mind, I just moved here 5 years ago, and I do not personally own a bike. So this is a relative newcomer's perspective.
- First, a link to the official homepage of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. You can find links, schedules, pictures, facts, etc, there.
- The rally takes place in Sturgis, SD. Population 6442. In 2006 there was an estimated attendance of 457,000 people over a one week period. No estimate yet for 2007.
- There was $12.38 MILLION in taxable sales in 2006.
- There were 5 rally related deaths in 2006.
- There are tons of concerts are the different campgrounds and bars. You could see Daughtry, Godsmack, ZZ Top, Tanya Tucker, Kid Rock, among others.
- We bought one polish sausage, one steak on a stick, one plate of fries, and one lemonade. It was $27.
- There are about 3 dozen places to get a tattoo.
- You can buy anything you want with the Rally logo on it- tshirts, pins, patches, beer mugs, ice chests, chaps, hats, and on and on.
- Downtown Sturgis becomes one big shopping mall. With bars.
- Doesn't everyone?
- The Buffalo Chip campground is a favorite place. It's outside of town, and basically becomes it's own town during the rally. They have nightly concerts, multiple bars, nudity. Everything your heart desires. Thousands and thousands of people camp there. (I've never been there.)
- People rent their homes to rally goers and vendors. People rent space on their lawns for people to camp. There are no hotels rooms for 100 miles. This listing is a 4 bedroom home, walking distance to the rally, 10 days. $5000.
- People seem to lose all inhibitions during the rally. Lots of women wear very little clothing. Lots of groping and making out in bars. Lots of flashing. My husband got flashed today for letting someone in in traffic.
We usually go up one night and go home fairly early. We went last weekend, and I took a few photos. Here's a link to the ones I took, but poke around on the internet and you can see a lot more pictures of the fun. Mine are pretty tame, nothing not work safe. There are lots of pictures that better represent the rally at both the offical site and The Buffalo Chip's site.
What a spectacle! I have to admit, I'd love to see Godsmack again...
ReplyDeleteIt looks so fun! When I lived in Key West, the bikers would come down for a weekend during a "poker run." The only think I didn't like was the noise. They'd stop in Key Largo and remove their mufflers (or whatever they're called), because the noisy bikes weren't allowed in Miami but were in the Keys.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list!
ReplyDeleteHappy T13!
This is amazing! How does the city's infrastructure deal with that many people?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a blast!! I've never experienced something like that, but after reading your post I think I'll have to put it on the 1 million and 1 things I need to do before I die. :)
ReplyDeleteFascinating. Happy TT.
ReplyDeleteSturgis, Ontario, Canada?
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your excellent Dystopian challenge and I'm starting to choose my books...
Happy reading
Oh! Sturgis, South Dakkota.
ReplyDeleteOkay, okay, not Canada.
ReplyDeleteThe Sturgis I can drive to in a couple of hours is a small, farming town west of Toronto without rock bands. You'd be as likely to see a Mennonite horse and buggy as a motorcycle ;-)
That looks cool but loud. And, not a place for kids. I would go just to be awed by what people will do....
ReplyDelete