2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

In 1938 Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club was formed in Sturgis, South Dakota, which held an event that pitted a handful of riders against one another in racing competitions, largely in the saddles of Harley-Davidson and Indian machines.

That event was called the Black Hills Classic and the racing attracted a few spectators in its first year. Over the decades the annual revival grew in size to become what is today -- one of the largest gatherings of motorcyclists in the world.

Usually held in the first or second week of August every year, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally regularly attracts more than half a million people, most of them motorcycle enthusiasts. The majority of bikers who attend ride choppers or cruisers, but there is always a contigency of sports bikes

A far cry from its humble beginnings of motorcycle racing between mates, it now includes several different competitions that cross all genres, such as motocross, burnout contests, hillclimbs, short track racing, drag bike racing, and even the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building, where builders vie off to create the most eye-catching and innovative custom bikes.

Stay tuned for some of the finalists from that World Championship of Custom Bike Building competition, which are always intriguing. The Transforming motorcycle was a highlight from 2010.

As well as the enthusiasts who head to Sturgis for the motorcycle racing and competitions, catering for half a million people in a town whose population is less than 7000 any other week is not easy. As such the town explodes with merchandise and nic-nac stalls, live entertainment, and more food and beverage joints than you can poke a forged conrod at.

As well as a huge campground, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally features masses of entertainment for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who flock to the town, the world's biggest biker pool one of them. This 5000 square foot pool is popular in the hot South Dakota summer weather, and features "jacuzzis, decks, bars, music, hot bartenders, pool-side contests, lounge chairs and umbrellas".

Other attractions will include the Star Boys stunt riders, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum, and some of the other events include the Bloody Mary Biker Buffet Breakfast, the Wounded Knee Memorial motorcycle run, midget bowling, machine gun shooting and the World Pickle Lickin' Federation's World Championship Pickle Lickin' Contest.

With such a huge attendance, big name musicians are always on hand, with live concerts into the evenings. In 2011 Alice Cooper, STYX, Little River Band (US version), Def Leppard and Lynyrd Skynyrd are just a few of the bands attending.

We wonder what the founder of the original Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, Pappy Hoel, would think of the event now? Check out SturgisMotorcycleRally.com for the official spiel, and though you won't find many symposiums on world peace at Sturgis but you will find an unforgettable cultural experience.

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