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Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Coordinates: 44°24′52″N 103°30′32″W / 44.41444°N 103.50889°W / 44.41444; -103.50889
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Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Motorcycles lined up on Main Street during the Sturgis motorcycle rally.
GenreMotorcycle rally
DatesFirst Friday in August for 10 days
Location(s)Sturgis, South Dakota, United States
FoundedAugust 14, 1938 (1938-08-14)
Most recent07–16 August 2020
Next event06–15 August 2021
Attendancehighest: 739,000 (2015)[1]
Websitesturgis.com

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an American motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota, for ten days[2] usually starting the first Friday in August. In 2015 the city of Sturgis officially expanded the dates to have the rally start on the Friday before the first full week of August and end on the second Sunday. In 2016, Sturgis City Council passed a resolution to begin the Rally on the first Friday in August every year. It was begun in 1938 by a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and was originally held for stunts and races. Attendance has historically been around 500,000 people, reaching a high of over 700,000 in 2015. The event generates around $800 million in annual revenue.[1][3]

History

Indian Ed Spilker, One of the original Jackpine gypsies and cofounder of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

The first rally was held by Indian Motorcycle riders on August 14, 1938, by the Jackpine Gypsies motorcycle club.[4] The club still owns and operates the tracks, hillclimb, and field areas where the rally is centered. The first event was called the "Black Hills Classic" and consisted of a single race with nine participants and a small audience. The founder was Clarence "Pappy" Hoel. He purchased an Indian motorcycle franchise in Sturgis in 1936 and formed the Jackpine Gypsies that same year.[4] The Jackpine Gypsies were inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1997.[5] Hoel was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame the following year.[6]

The focus of a motorcycle rally was originally racing and stunts. In 1961, the rally was expanded to include the Hillclimb and Motocross races.[4] This could include half-mile track racing (the first year in Sturgis, there were 19 participants), intentional board wall crashes, ramp jumps and head-on collisions with automobiles.

The Sturgis Rally has been held every year, with exceptions during World War II. For instance, from 1942 to 1944, the event was not held due to gasoline rationing.[4]

2020

Over 100 cases of COVID-19 were initially associated with the 2020 rally, which had an estimated turnout of 460,000 vehicles.[7][8][9][10][11][12] The number later increased to 260 cases of infection, although health authorities suspect the real number could be even higher because many attendees refuse to cooperate with contact tracers.[13] A later study by the IZA showed that the event led to potentially over 250,000 new cases. [14] One death was reported on September 2, a man in his 60s from Minnesota.[13]

Attendance

The South Dakota Department of Transportation provides official traffic counts, which sometimes differ from official attendance figures.[15] Attendance is higher on major anniversaries (e.g. 75th in 2015) and one or two years prior to the anniversary, and falls off the following year or two.[16]

Year SDDOT traffic count Official attendance
1990 528,676 400,000
1999 539,475 325,000
2000 604,441 633,000
2001 530,667 410,000
2002 561,752 450,000
2003 605,140 502,000
2004 547,370 514,951
2005 524,656 525,250
2006 449,527 456,968
2007 461,507 507,234
2008 405,475 414,917
2009 394,009 442,163
2010 459,968 466,769
2011 415,367 416,727
2013 516,378[16]
2015 c. 1,000,000[17] 739,000[1]
2016 c.360,000[18] 448,000[19] – 463,412[20]
2017 376,033[18][21]–469,100[16] 480,000[19]
2018 505,969[16]
2019 499,654[22] 490,000 [23]
2020 462,000[24]

Rally impact on community

For many years the city has been in a licensing agreement with a community non-profit, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Inc., and its predecessor-in-interest, the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, that generates millions of dollars in royalties and sponsorship dollars.[25] In 2012 the City Council reaffirmed this relationship through a unanimous proclamation.

The City of Sturgis has calculated that the Rally brings over $800 million to South Dakota annually.[25] The City of Sturgis earned almost $270,000 in 2011 from selling event guides and sponsorships. The rally makes up 95% of the city's annual revenue.[26]

There were 405 individuals jailed at the 2004 rally, and approximately $250,000 worth of motorcycles stolen annually.[27] Rally-goers are a mix of white-collar and blue-collar workers and are generally welcomed as an important source of income for Sturgis and surrounding areas.[28] The rally turns local roads into "parking lots",[28] and draws local law enforcement away from routine patrols.[29] Furthermore, the large numbers of people visiting the town and region served as a model for the state of Oregon in preparation for the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, given the expected impact on emergency services.[30]

The Lakota Indian tribe in coalition with other tribes has protested the large amount of alcohol distributed at the event so close to the sacred Bear Butte, but also acknowledged that income from the event was important to the region and also benefits some members of the tribes.[31]

There have been a few deaths at the Rally.[32]

Concerns about the possible spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions were expected to lead to lower attendance in 2020.[33] While some health officials and local leaders wanted to cancel the rally, that proved impossible since many events take place beyond the city limits.[34][35] The 250,000 participants were recommended but not required to wear face masks in a state that had seen 9,371 confirmed cases, and 144 deaths due to the coronavirus (.0016% of the population).[36] Several checkpoints to stop outsiders were put up on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, an action that state and federal officials consider illegal.[37] The 2020 final traffic count was about 462,000, with many attendees not wearing masks or observing social distancing.[24]

Cell phone data showed that by August 25, 61% of US counties had been visited by a Sturgis attendee.[38]

As of August 20, seven Covid cases in the Nebraska Panhandle had been traced to the Rally, and 22 cases had been reported among out-of-state attendees.[8][39] As of August 21, Minnesota had 15 cases traced to the rally, with more cases expected,[40] and a few cases had been reported in Wyoming.[41] On August 23, 7 additional cases linked to the rally were reported in Minnesota.[9] Public health notices were issued for One-Eyed Jack's Saloon, The Knuckle Saloon, The Broken Spoke, and Asylum Tattoo in Sturgis, and for the Bumpin’ Buffalo Bar and Grill in Hill City.[42][43][39][44] Some exposures in Minnesota could not be traced to specific locations. A Minnesota public health official urged all rallygoers to monitor for symptoms for 14 days, adding that "if you are feeling ill after returning from the event, please get tested and self-isolate while you wait for the test results."[45][10]

By August 24, there were a total of 76 cases linked to the rally, in four states, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wyoming, with additional reports of cases in North Dakota and Washington State.[11] The number rose to 103 on August 24, in at least eight states, including 37 cases in South Dakota, and cases in Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Washington and North Dakota.[12][46] On August 26, 6 cases were reported in New Hampshire.[47] On August 27, over 20 cases were reported in Colorado.[48] Two of the cases reported in Minnesota were people who had been Sturgis event employees or volunteers.[49][12]

On August 27, the results of mass testing in Sturgis became available. Out of 650 tests there were 26 positive results, all asymptomatic.[50]

As of August 28, 46 cases in Minnesota had been linked to the rally, including 2 hospitalizations, with one person in intensive care. An additional cluster of secondary transmission from the rally was identified at a wedding.[51]

On September 2, 2020 the first COVID-19 death related to the Sturgis rally was reported in Minnesota.[52]

Transportation to Sturgis

Many attendees of the Sturgis Rally have families, bring their children and drive campers towing motorcycle trailers to the rally, and ride their motorcycles just the last few miles. The director of the rally estimated in 2005 that fewer than half the attendees actually rode there.[53] Shipping companies transport thousands of motorcycles to Sturgis for attendees who arrive via airline.[53]

Black Hills Run

The Black Hills Run is a route favored by motorcycle riders, across the Black Hills from Deadwood to Custer State Park, South Dakota. It reached the height of its popularity between 1939 and 1941. The popularity of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attracted additional attention to the route in recent years. The pine forested mountains of the Black Hills make for a unique scenic motorcycle ride.[54]

Media coverage

Print and online

The Rapid City Journal features daily coverage of the Sturgis Rally.[55]

The Seattle Times covered some of the 2008 Sturgis Rally while rock band Judd Hoos was playing at the Loud American Roadhouse.[56]

Television

In 1997, the crew from the COPS television series attended the rally, as well as Dennis Rodman.[57]

From 1996 to 1999, World Championship Wrestling held a pay-per-view event called Road Wild (Hog Wild for the 1996 event).[58]

Annual television coverage of the festival by the VH1 Classic network includes interviews and performances as well as rock music videos. The rally was featured in 2005 as part of the ESPN SportsCenter promotion 50 States in 50 Days.[59]

Starting in 2009 an American reality television series began airing on the truTV network: Full Throttle Saloon, showing the inner operations at the world's largest biker bar just prior to the rally opening and for the duration of the rally each year.

Sturgis was also featured on American Pickers Season 4, Episode 6, "What Happens In Sturgis...". Originally aired January 2, 2012 on the History Channel. ". . .When Mike tells Frank let's pack up for a trip to South Dakota, Frank says he can't. He's secretly going to his 30th annual trip to the legendary Sturgis motorcycle rally, but says he'll cover the shop. . .".[60] Sturgis has also been featured in the TV Show Pawn Stars in which Richard and Corey Harrison visit Sturgis with Chumlee Russell on his birthday.

Gallery

References

  1. ^ a b c Attendance at 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally estimated at 739,000 people, beating 2000 record, Associated Press, September 22, 2015, archived from the original on September 23, 2015 – via Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana)
  2. ^ KOTA. "Can you handle 10 official days of the Sturgis Rally?". Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  3. ^ Fleming, Charles (August 5, 2014). "Sturgis Motorcycle Rally by the numbers". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ a b c d "Timeline of History of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally". sturgismotorcyclerally.com.
  5. ^ Jackpine Gypsies at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
  6. ^ J.C. Hoel at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
  7. ^ "Sturgis motorcycle rally tied to new coronavirus cases a state away in Nebraska". NBC News. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Loeks, Maunette. "Seven cases of COVID-19 tied to Sturgis rally; three possible exposure sites announced". Scottsbluff Star Herald. Retrieved August 21, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ a b "MN Department of Health announces 7 more COVID-19 cases connected to Sturgis Rally". KELOLAND.com. August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Skluzacek, Josh (August 24, 2020). "Minnesota COVID-19 briefing: 27 cases linked to Sturgis, Mask Mandate impact after 30 days". KSTP. Retrieved August 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ a b Groves, Stephen; Associated Press (August 24, 2020). "Revved by Sturgis Rally, COVID-19 infections move fast, far". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved August 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ a b c O'Kane, Caitlin (August 26, 2020). "More than 100 coronavirus cases in 8 states linked to massive Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved August 27, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ a b Coleman, Justine (September 2, 2020). "First coronavirus death occurs linked to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota". TheHill. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  14. ^ Friedson, Andrew. "The Contagion Externality of a Superspreading Event: The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and COVID-19" (PDF). IZA Institute of Labour Economics. IZA Institute of Labour Economics. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  15. ^ Rally statistics, Sturgis City Rally Department, archived from the original on February 12, 2007, retrieved May 21, 2015
  16. ^ a b c d Deb Holland (August 15, 2018), "2018 Rally attendance up 8 percent over 2017", Black Hills Pioneer, Spearfish, South Dakota
  17. ^ Woody Gottburg (August 10, 2015), Sturgis Rally Sets Records, KSCJ
  18. ^ a b South Dakota Completes 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Associated Press, August 14, 2017
  19. ^ a b Barry Amundson (October 12, 2017), "Official attendance at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally set at 480,000", News-Tribune, Duluth
  20. ^ "Sturgis rally attendance down nearly 40 percent", Rapid City Journal, October 28, 2016
  21. ^ "2017 rally is quiet, cool, calm", Rapid City Journal, August 14, 2017
  22. ^ Todd Epp (August 13, 2019), "SDDOT says 2019 Sturgis Rally traffic down slightly", KELO-AM, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  23. ^ Deb Holland (October 4, 2019), "Sturgis estimates Rally attendance at 490,000", Black Hills Pioneer, Spearfish, South Dakota
  24. ^ a b "2020 Sturgis Rally Final Vehicle Counts". South Dakota State News Home. August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ a b 70th Sturgis motorcycle rally statistics compiled by the city of Sturgis and the rally department, Black Hills State University, February 8, 2011, retrieved January 25, 2013
  26. ^ "Sturgis area businesses make 95% of their annual revenue from the 7 days of the rally".
  27. ^ Dalton, Aaron (August 1, 2005), "Biggest thing on two wheels.(TECHWATCH: This Month)", Popular Mechanics, Hearst Magazines via HighBeam Research., archived from the original on March 24, 2016, retrieved January 25, 2013
  28. ^ a b "Profile: Thousands of Harley riders converge on small South Dakota town every year for a rally", Morning Edition, National Public Radio via HighBeam Research., August 9, 2000, archived from the original on February 16, 2013, retrieved January 25, 2013
  29. ^ Vellani, Karim (May 1, 2000), "Security + Service = Satisfaction.", Journal of Property Management, via Questia Online Library, retrieved January 25, 2013
  30. ^ Lynne, Terry (August 10, 2017). "Eclipse 2017: Hospitals stock up on blood, rattlesnake bite antidote". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  31. ^ "In Sturgis, a Clash Over Motorcycle Rally", All Things Considered, National Public Radio via HighBeam Research., August 2, 2006, archived from the original on March 25, 2016, retrieved January 25, 2013
  32. ^ "Statistics" (PDF). www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com. 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  33. ^ Daly, Michael. "Even the Official Motorcycle Brand of the Sturgis Rally Thinks the Mass Gathering Is Too Risky". news.yahoo.com. The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  34. ^ Orecchio-Egresitz, Haven. "'It's literally impossible to stop': Sturgis, South Dakota, braces for hundreds of thousands of bikers to arrive for an event in the middle of a pandemic". news.yahoo.com. Business Insider. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  35. ^ Blistein, Jon (August 12, 2020). "'Freedom-Loving People': Behind the Scenes at That Controversial Smash Mouth Show in South Dakota". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ Burke, Minyvonne. "Sturgis motorcycle rally draws thousands of bikers despite coronavirus fears". news.yahoo.com. NBC News. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  37. ^ Helmore, Edward. "Thousands of bikers heading to South Dakota rally to be blocked at tribal land checkpoints". news.yahoo.com. The Guardian. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  38. ^ "Revved by Sturgis Rally, COVID-19 infections move fast, far". AP NEWS. August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  39. ^ a b Matzen, Morgan (August 20, 2020). "'Less than 25' COVID-19 cases tie back to Sturgis rally so far, DOH reports". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved August 21, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  40. ^ Kaur, Harmeet (August 21, 2020). "Covid-19 cases tied to the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota have reached across state lines". CNN. Retrieved August 22, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  41. ^ "COVID-19 tied to Sturgis rally: What other states have seen". KELOLAND.com. August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  42. ^ "Employee at tattoo shop in Sturgis tests positive for coronavirus". KELOLAND.com. August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  43. ^ "DOH: COVID-19 potential exposure at Bumpin' Buffalo Bar and Grill in Hill City". KELOLAND.com. August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  44. ^ "DOH says potential COVID-19 exposure at three businesses in Sturgis". KELOLAND.com. August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  45. ^ Karnowski, Steve (August 21, 2020). "15 Minnesotans catch coronavirus at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally". Washington Post. Retrieved August 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  46. ^ Kreps, Daniel (August 26, 2020). "Covid-19 Cases Connected to Sturgis Rally Rise After Event that Featured Smash Mouth, Lit, More". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 28, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  47. ^ Lopez, Siobhan (August 26, 2020). "6 NH residents among 100+ confirmed cases associated with Sturgis rally". WMUR 9 ABC.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  48. ^ "Colorado Reports 20+ Coronavirus Cases Linked To Sturgis Motorcycle Rally". CBS Denver via MSN. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  49. ^ Todisco, Eric. "At Least 103 New Coronavirus Cases in 8 States Linked to South Dakota Motorcycle Rally". www.msn.com. People. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  50. ^ "Mass testing results following Sturgis Rally". KELOLAND.com. August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  51. ^ Wiese, Charlie (August 28, 2020). "MDH COVID-19 briefing: 46 Minnesota infections linked to Sturgis rally, cluster outbreaks on the rise". KSTP. Retrieved September 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  52. ^ Scott, Paul John (September 2, 2020). "Minnesota reports first Sturgis-related COVID-19 death". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  53. ^ a b Higgins, Michelle (August 5, 2005). "The Really Easy Rider". The New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  54. ^ McKechnie, Gary. Great American Motorcycle Tours Avalon Travel Publishing, 2002. (ISBN 1-56691-448-5)
  55. ^ "Sturgis Rally Daily", Rapid City Journal, retrieved January 25, 2013
  56. ^ "Seattle Times", Seattle Times, retrieved August 11, 2008
  57. ^ Cops Episode 147: Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota, imdb.com, retrieved January 28, 2012
  58. ^ "2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts". Wrestling's Historical Cards. Kappa Publishing. 2007. p. 144.
  59. ^ "50 States in 50 Days". ESPN.com. August 10, 2005. Archived from the original on August 10, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  60. ^ List of American Pickers episodes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.


44°24′52″N 103°30′32″W / 44.41444°N 103.50889°W / 44.41444; -103.50889

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