News -
Temporary Vending Licenses: As of this morning (Aug. 8) 617 Temporary Vendor Licenses have been issued. This number compares to 658 at the same time last year. At least a portion of this variance has to do with fewer vendors purchasing two licenses. One license is good for 12-days.
Garbage –For the Rally period so far, we are now up by 3.0% over 2017.
Ambulance calls as of Tuesday morning: 144 vs 129 in 2017.
DOT traffic counts are up 3.8% as of Tuesday. (Friday-Tuesday)
Tomorrow at the Rally - Thursday, August 9
The Burger Battle continues at H-D Rally Point Stage at 11:00. Winners will advance to the finals on Friday.
Jackpine Gypsies will host short-track and mini-sprint races. Gates open at 4:00 and racing starts at 7:00.
Daily Press Conference guests:
SD Beef Council
Interviews and other information – If you would like to schedule an interview with any of the City staff, they will most likely be available following the daily press conference. If you need additional information about events taking place in the City, please call or text 347-1331.
In 1994, while serving as a member of the U.S. Army�s elite parachute team, The Golden Knights, a mid-air collision cost Dana Bowman both of his legs. His determination in the Army, and now the civilian world, has earned him world-wide recognition as a motivational speaker and skydive demonstrator. Traveling the world, Dana spreads his message, �It�s Not the Disability, It�s the Ability! Never Quit." Dana will be offering a free presentation to the public on Saturday, August 4 at 11:00 AM in the Community Center Theater.
Friday will be the first official day of the 2018 Rally. Main Street will close to 4-wheeled traffic at 2AM Friday. Map of street closures.
Main Street Photo Towers will be open 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. daily. Towers are located at Junction and Main as well as Main and Third. Media will have free access to these towers with a Sturgis Media Pass.
Daily media briefings will take place at 1:00 in the Sturgis Community Center, 1401 Lazelle. Parking passes for media are available at the same location where you pick up Media passes.
All press releases are posted on the City Website Media page.
Tomorrow at the Rally - Friday, August 3
Neil Hultman Day - Founding Father of the Jackpine Gypsies. Reception at Sturgis Indian at 10:00 AM. Press Release.
Opening Ceremonies will take place at 4:00 PM at Harley-Davidson Rally Point.
Dana Bowman will do his first parachute jump into Sturgis at 4:00 as part of the Opening Ceremonies. Press Release.
Interviews and other information – If you would like to schedule an interview with any of the City staff, they will be available following the daily press conference. If you need additional information about events taking place in the City, please call or text 605-347-1331.
STURGIS, SD - Friday, August 3 Proclaimed Neil Hultman Day in Sturgis
Sturgis resident Neil Hultman was the first official Road Captain for the Jackpine Gypsies
Motorcycle Club. In 1947, he and Pappy Hoel worked hand in hand leading motorcycle tours
through the Black Hills, promoting the Sturgis Hill Climb, and the Half-Mile racing events...
TEMPE, Ariz. – July 23, 2018 – Rockford Fosgate (www.rockfordfosgate.com), the industry leader in high-performance audio solutions, is proud to announce for the fifth consecutive year that it will be the “Official Motorcycle Audio Sponsor" of the famed Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™, during the 78th annual event from August 3-12, 2018. Rockford Fosgate will bring high performance motorcycle audio systems to the crowds of enthusiasts on Lazelle Street in downtown Sturgis, S.D. as well as at the Black Hills Harley-Davidson® in Rapid City, S.D. during the Rally™.
BEEF continues to be celebrated by thousands of consumers as they head to the 78th Sturgis ® Motorcycle Rally™. The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) team and the beef checkoff are once again partnering with the City of Sturgis as the "Official Meat of the 78th Sturgis ® Motorcycle Rally™."
The City of Sturgis is proud to announce a four-year agreement naming Progressive Casualty Insurance Company as the Title Sponsor of the Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is proud to announce it is the official sponsor of the 2018 Military Appreciation Day at the 78th Annual Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™.
Legendary custom bike builder and road racing champion, Roland Sands has been named the Grand Marshal for the 78th Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™ scheduled to take place Friday, August 3 – Sunday, August 12, 2018.
The City of Sturgis is excited to announce the Official Campground of the Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™. Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie stated “Our partnership with the Pappy Hoel Campground is a win – win. We all want the very best for our attendees and we are confident that those who choose to enjoy the Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™ while staying at the Pappy Hoel Campground will most definitely have a great Rally experience"
The City of Sturgis, South Dakota announced a plan to install European-style traffic roundabouts at both ends of Historic Main Street in the heart of Sturgis to increase traffic flow as next step in downtown Rally-friendly infrastructure improvements.
The 2018 South Dakota Vacation Guide is a 265-page, full-color traveler's guide to South Dakota. It's a big, comprehensive magazine filled with color photos, different maps and information on attractions, accommodations, and visitor services in all corners of the state.
STURGIS, SD, February 5, 2018— The Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™ has announced that it has been named a Preferred Qualifier for the World Food Championships at the inaugural Sturgis Burger Battle.
The Sturgis: Eat, Drink, Play TV special is scheduled to air on Travel Channel at 10pm EST on Jan 14th. Please check your local listings to confirm, and hope you enjoy the show!
Motorcyclists Will Relay U.S. Flag Across South Dakota and Reveal Custom 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Glide. An American flag will be carried across South Dakota to commemorate the upcoming christening of the new USS SOUTH DAKOTA (SSN 790) fast attack submarine.
Mayor Mark Carstensen, along with City Manager Daniel Ainslie and numerous SMRi board members, will be on hand to unveil the 78th official logo of the Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™ on historic Main Street in downtown Sturgis.
Coca Cola Supports Russ Brown Pappy Hoel Speed Classic In Sturgis. The Pappy Hoel Speed Classic presented by Russ Brown returns to the same historic dirt track where it all began back in 1938.
PIERRE, SD - Rain is in short supply this summer, but August promises to be the month when BEEF will be celebrated by thousands of consumers as they head to the 77th Sturgis ® Motorcycle Rally™ . The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) team and the beef checkoff will partner with the City of Sturgis as the "Official Meat of the 77th Sturgis ® Motorcycle Rally™"
Our local establishments are very excited to host the country’s biggest and best motorcycle rally! They are working hard to make sure everything is ready for you to enjoy 10 days of incredible riding, music, food and friends.
We caught up with some of our local establishments in Sturgis, and those that were available were more than happy to let us grab a photo in between their hard working moments.
Thomas “Arlo" Ventre has been riding motorcycles since 10 years old -- mopeds, dirt bikes, motocross. You name it, he rode it.
When he was 18 years old he started riding a friend’s 1969 Harley Davidson Sportster Chopper for a small rental fee - $20. Arlo loved it so much, he offered to buy it, but his buddy wouldn’t part with it. “You don’t want a chopper," his friend said, “You want a panhead." So in October 1984, Arlo got himself a 1962 panhead...
Sturgis SD – Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™ Names Jessi Combs as Grand Marshal for 2017 Mayor’s Ride.
Known as the Fastest Woman on Four-Wheels, Black Hills native, Jessi Combs has been named the Grand Marshal for the 15th Annual Sturgis Mayor’s Ride scheduled to take place on Monday, August 7, 2017 during the Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™.
2011 was a special year for City of Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen. It was his first year as Mayor and first time leading the acclaimed Sturgis Mayor’s Ride.
His first ride as Mayor was especially memorable, however, because it was the first year he had his motorcycle license.
As if it couldn’t get any better, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard attended the ride. Like Mayor Carstensen, Govenor Daugaard was in his first year of office and had just recently received his motorcycle license. Together they rode as new leaders and new riders, leading the way out of the City of Riders and through the celebrated beauty of the Black Hills.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company and the Full Throttle Saloon’s Pappy Hoel Campground have partnered to name the Pappy Hoel Campground as the official campground for Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) during the 77th annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD.
The partnership offers the following benefits to all H.O.G. members with a valid H.O.G. membership:
A 10% discount on Pappy Hoel Campground wristbands, which grant admission to all concerts, events and entertainment at the Full Throttle Saloon/Pappy Hoel Campground; Additionally, wristbands qualify H.O.G. members for...
April 1, 2017: First ride of the season in good ol’ Minnesota. It was in the 60’s and beautiful. Met up with a great bunch of people, and we rode and rode. Couldn’t be more grateful. Being back on the bike after 5 months off, reminded me of a few important things, which I’m pleased to share with you...
April 1, 2019 (Sturgis, SD) - “City contemplating the idea of putting in motorcycle parking meters in Sturgis for the 2019 Rally.” Temporary motorcycle parking meters will be placed up and down Legendary Main Street during the 2019 Rally. The City anticipates revenues of around $1,000,000 from the parking meters.
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall Of Fame Honors Movers & Shakers. Headlined by a local legend, global icons and a couple of go-fast guys who became industry leaders, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum is honored to present the Sturgis Hall Of Fame Class of 2017
As expected, the 2016 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was not nearly as large as the 75th anniversary in 2015. With all data now in, the official estimated attendance was 448,000. The official attendance estimate for the 75th Rally was 739,000. The attendance number is calculated based on several data points including tons of garbage hauled within the City, Department of Transportation vehicles counts, Mount Rushmore traffic counts, SD Sales tax collections, Sanitation fees collected and Main Street photo counts. All of these numbers were down from 2015 and many were also equal to or slightly down from the 2014 Rally.
For the fifth consecutive year, METZELER will welcome motorcyclists and two wheel fans alike to the National Sports Centre in Douglas, the multi-purpose facility that allows guests to experience the thrill of the TT from a privileged yetlow-cost position!
STURGIS – During three weeks spanning the 2016 Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™, the City of Sturgis’ rally events department reported record social media traffic.
Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™ reports that between July 22 and August 18, the official rally Facebook page reached 2,951,000 people and Twitter reached 432,000 people. Both numbers surpassed social media numbers recorded over the same time period during the 75th rally in 2015.
Aviators from the 28th Bomb Wing will provide a B-1 flyover down Main Street in Sturgis, S.D., at 3 p.m., Aug. 9 as part of the 16th Annual Veterans Recognition Ceremony.
"The B-1 flyover is a powerful testament to our nation's military might and unwavering commitment to preserving the freedoms we all cherish," said Jerry W. Cole, City of Sturgis Rally and Events Department director. "It is the perfect way to honor all those who have served our country and those currently serving."
The City of Sturgis would like to take a moment, on the eve of the 76th Annual Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™, to recognize and express our sincere thanks to our Rally Sponsors.
Information Update: There has been an incorrect date circulating for this event. The Ride is taking place on Sunday, August 7. The Pool Party is scheduled for Tuesday, August 9.
Carey Hart is returning to the Sturgis Rally this year after attending the 75th Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally™ as the Grand Marshall of the Mayor's Ride. This year, you are invited to join Carey and company to be a part of a new charity event called the 'Good Ride'.
White Plate Racing Association is excited to announce the pre-registration of Mr. Jared Mees, the number one seated professional racer in America at this year's "Pappy Hoel Classic" half mile race. This famous event kicks off The Sturgis Rally with big time Professional racing on Monday, August 8th at the Meade County Fairgrounds. Where #1 goes ,so too does many of the top racers in the nation. Tuesday, August 9th is a spectacular Vintage racing program with top local and National racers. The Tuesday Vintage program is rounded out with The 20th Century Racing board trackers from the 1920's and 1930's. A special class has been added for Roland Sands and The Hooligans on the Tuesday program.
Arlen Ness Recognized For Lifetime Achievement Honors
Sturgis, South Dakota, July 5, 2016 — In keeping with the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum's mission to honor those who have made a positive and significant impact on the sport and lifestyle, a special "Lifetime Achievement" award has been added to the Class of 2016 induction ceremonies. Already a Sturgis Museum Hall of Fame member circa 1992, Arlen Ness was a unanimous choice to receive the first Lifetime Achievement honors.
Aidan Jack Seeger Foundation Charity Ride to Fight ALD Building on Initial Success
Brooklyn, New York - The second annual Aidan's Ride Sturgis, a charity motorcycle ride organized to fight ALD, will take place August 8, 2016, during the 76th anniversary of the iconic Sturgis Motorcycle Rally®. Last year, 75 riders participated, raising over $13,500 for the Aidan Jack Seeger Foundation, and organizers expect an even bigger turnout this time around.
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