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Keeping the Rally rolling Gikling honored with JC “Pappy” Hoel Outstanding Achievement Award for work to promote Rally By Wendy Pitlick
BLACK HILLS PIONEER
RAPID CITY — For most of his life, longtime motorcycle businessman Bill Gikling has been working to keep the wheels rolling at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Currently a partner at Black Hills Powersports in Rapid City, Gickling has been working for more than 30 years to grow the Rally, bring more people in and create more opportunities for bikers. He was instrumental in introducing Harley-Davidson to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and he helped bikers realize the many different rides available in the Black Hills and surrounding areas. Because of his tireless efforts in working to create a sustainable and dynamic Rally experience for his customers and for bikers as a whole, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame will honor Gikling this year with the prestigious J.C. “Pappy” Hoel Outstanding Achievement Award. Gikling, who grew up in Rapid City with a great love for motorcycles, became involved in racing and business early in his teen years. He worked with Don Rice at Rice Cycle, which later became Rice Honda, and he worked closely with J.C. “Pappy” Hoel to help start the White Plate Flat Trackers Association. He was also heavily involved in the early efforts to start a Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame — an effort that would eventually die out and then get started again with a new group in 2001. He learned from the best, and then became one of the best in the motorcycle business. In 1977, Gikling jumped head first and went into business on his own, scraping together everything he had to purchase North West Sports, a Yamaha and HarleyDavidson dealership in Rapid City. That was when the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was just starting to see more HarleyDavidsons on the streets, but was predominantly populated by metric and Japanese motorcycles. “In order to sell more T-shirts we changed the name to Black Hills Harley Davidson,” Gikling said.
The new name, and a new back shirt design that Gikling worked with Ron Stratman to come up with, made T-shirt sales take off. From that time on, Gikling said, his business went hand in hand with Rally activity. In 1980, Gikling said he sold about $40,000 worth of “soft goods” such as T-shirts, leather and other apparel. By 1989 that number had grown to $250,000, and then in 1990 Gikling celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Rally with his first $1 million year. “If you remember that year the bikes never quit running,” he said. “Getting through the 50th year was probably the most challenging for me because I never thought it would be as gigantic as it was. We didn’t get much sleep. I used to tell people that one of the most challenging things was counting the money. We didn’t have the credit card situation, so you would have all of this cash. Little things like how many $1 bills do you have in backup for change when the bank is not open. Those kinds of things were really quite challenging.” In 1999, the year Gikling sold his Black Hills Harley Davidson business, he sold $5 million in “soft goods.” At about the same time Gikling was working to re-design his T-shirts and changed the name of his business to Black Hills Harley Davidson, he was actively lobbying to get Harley Davidson Motor Company to the Black Hills. “Through those years I worked pretty close with Harley Davidson Motor Company in a real attempt to get them to come and get much more involved in the Rally as we were growing,” Gikling said. “I had been to some of the dealer shows and they had these tremendous layouts when you went to the dealer shows. I was convinced that if we brought that to the Rally and showed the customers that it might inspire them to buy stuff. I think it was about 1982 I convinced Bill Davidson to come out and we went through and that’s when we got a deal going with the Rapid City Civic Center.” And with Harley Davidson
Bill Gikling, a longtime Rally promoter, to be honored with the J.C. “Pappy” Hoel Outstanding Achievement Award. Courtesy photo
Motor Company renting out the entire civic center property, the Black Hills Harley Davidson Expo was born. Though it is currently housed in downtown Sturgis, before that bikers flocked to the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center for many years to marvel over the new product lines and displays. As the Harley presence grew, so did the crowds in Gikling’s store, until one day he noticed the throngs of people browsing through his shop but not really buying anything. “They were just standing around,” he said. “Our real goal was to keep the wheels rolling and to make it so there would be much more to do at the Rally than to just come stand around on Main Street,” Gikling said. “One thing that the Rally has always had was the tremendous riding that we have in the Black Hills. I worked hard to keep the test rides in Sturgis. I worked with Jim Neiman at Hulett when they wanted to start their deal (The Ham ‘N Jam), which I thought was a tremendous deal. There were things to do and people were
riding their bikes and that is what made the Sturgis Rally such an important rally.” But Gikling certainly doesn’t take sole credit for helping the Rally to grow. Through the years there have been many hands in that accomplishment, and many others who are deserving of an honor from the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame. “They’ve put a lot of people in,” Gikling said of the hall of fame. “I hope they do honor more people who are here. There are other people who have put a lot of effort into the Rally. The Buffalo Chip has had a tremendous impact on why our Rally has grown. Also, the guy who has come with the Full Throttle Saloon (Michael Ballard). They’re getting a lot of TV coverage and a lot of exposure. Those are things people come to see and I think it brings people here. It’s just one more thing on your dance card that you can do when you come to the Rally. When you look at what Rod Woodruff has done with the Buffalo Chip, I think he has been absolutely the biggest and most inspiring thing through the whole
Rally, because where can you go to get five or six nights of music and entertainment that he is putting out. There is so much diversity of things to do, and to ride and see bikes and be a people watcher.” Overall, Gikling said the Rally has always been a huge part of his life and he is thankful for the many opportunities the event has presented. “Most things that happen with motorcycles have been the most rewarding,” Gikling said. “I have lived here my whole life and I have been quite successful. It has been a real pleasure to be here. I have really had a great group of people who worked with me.” Now, as he has gotten older Gikling said he enjoys time on his motorcycle more. Gikling, along with his wife, have traveled on motorcycle rides all over the world, including Europe, Australia and Japan. He recently returned from 1,000-mile ride in Arizona, and he rides every chance he gets. But, he said, his favorite ride is still the Iron Mountain Road, near Mount Rushmore — where home is close by.
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Sturgis Brown HS bike proves its mettle
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2013 Buffalo Chip Student Build takes first in Full Custom Bagger class at Donnie Smith Motorcycle Show By Adam Hurlburt
BLACK HILLS PIONEER
STURGIS — It’s not often that a custom motorcycle built by a bunch of small town high school kids takes home a first-place trophy from a nationally renowned motorcycle show. But that’s exactly what students at Sturgis Brown High School pulled off recently. Their custom 2012 Harley-Davidson Road Glide won first place in the full custom bagger class at the 2013 Donnie Smith Motorcycle Show in Minnesota at the end of March. This bike is no ordinary bike. This is the 2013 Buffalo Chip student build-off bike, built with passion and dedication by seven students at Sturgis Brown High School with the guidance of motorcycle industry professionals Keith Terry, of Spearfish’s Terry Components, Randy and Nick Cramer, of Spearfish’s Dakota V-Twin and, of course, Sturgis Brown welding teacher Chad Hedderman and auto shop teacher Bill Johnson. The crew started with a 2012 HarleyDavidson Road King, donated by Black Hills Harley-Davidson. As soon as the bike came in, it went under the knife. Time was of the essence with this build as the plan from the get go was to enter the finished product into the Donnie Smith Motorcycle Show. “We actually cut the bike in half and stretched it. We pulled the motor out
and sent it to Arizona, had it polished and put a turbo on it,” Terry said. “We just turned the volume up on it this year, knowing we were going to the show. “I do this all the time, but for them to see the beginning of the bike — a perfectly good bike from Black Hills Harley — and no sooner than we got it on the lift, we had the students start tearing it apart. The bike never really looked like a motorcycle; it was just parts, until we started putting it back together,” Terry added. “As they started seeing it come back to being a motorcycle, it just started becoming more exciting.” Rod Woodruff, owner and operator of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, said when the build team announced they were planning on entering the bike in the Donnie Smith show, many people thought they were “stark raving mad.” “… But the kids pulled it off. The faculty and the instructors helped them. It all just
came together, the sponsors came together. We had special stuff made, and people went out of their way,” he said. “There was just so much cooperation; that’s what made it work.” Woodruff said his favorite part of being involved with this project was receiving calls from some of the kids’ parents, who were astonished to see how excited their children were to go to school — even on weekends and holidays. Terry, Hedderman and Nick Cramer shared similar sentiments. Cramer said the students put somewhere between 60 to 100 hours into the motorcycle, most of it on nights and weekends.
“The kids did most of the work. My dad and I were just there to make sure everything was done correctly,” Cramer said. “I think what is important is the involvement that the students had — they just couldn’t get enough of this,” Terry added. Hedderman said the bike was barely finished before the Donnie Smith show on the weekend of March 23, but that they made it just in time. The bike, now a fullcustom 2012 Harley-Davidson Road Glide, featuring a full-custom Harley-themed orange black and silver paint job by Dimensions Custom Painting of Spearfish a Trask turbo and a stunning array of custom components donated by aftermarket motorcycle industry business around the nation was entered into the Full Custom Bagger class at the show — the most competitive class at the competition. Terry said the group made a conscious decision not to enter the motorcycle against other high school-built bikes, as they “didn’t want to discourage high-schoolers that didn’t Student Build continued on PAGE 5
Photo courtesy of Kevin Eilbeck 2013 Sturgis Buffalo Chip
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Student Build
from PAGE 4 have the same resources that we did.” The 2013 Sturgis Buffalo Chip Student Build bike won the Full Custom Bagger class at the Donnie Smith show outright, beating out many world-renowned custom motorcycle builders in the process. Four of the seven students involved in the build were there to accept the award. “When the students went up on stage and got their award, it was just incredible. The whole place recognized that high school kids, all they really need is a little direction,” Terry said. “That’s what we do this for.“
As mentioned above, it wasn’t just Terry Components, Dakota V-Twin and the Buffalo Chip that helped out with this build. Baggster of Spearfish, Legends Suspension of Sturgis and Dakota Digital of Sioux Falls all donated parts, among others. Welder Jack VanKampen, the paint-slingers at Spearfish’s Dimensions Custom Painting and the guys at Black Hills Chrome and Polishing in Blackhawk had hours in the motorcycle. Speaking of… “It’s a beautiful bike: 135 to 150 horsepower, turbocharged and yet it’s a comfortable bike, it’s very rideable, very safe, very fun, a very beautiful motorcycle. Some motorcycles out there are not
comfortable, rideable and safe. This one has been done correctly. It deserved to win the award,” Woodruff added. “But the bottom line is the pride those kids took when they heard that they won. That’s really what this is about. They’re stars. Here they are at this school in the middle of nowhere, and they’re stars because of this amazing motorcycle they built.” And if this wasn’t enough of a feel-good story, the motorcycle will be auctioned off at the 2013 Sturgis Buffalo Chip Legends Ride on Monday, Aug. 5, with all of the proceeds going to local charities including the Black Hills Special Olympics and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame. Read more at www.buffalochip.com.
Why fight the big crowds • Sturgis Rally merchandise • World Famous Pinstriper Russ • Capture the Moment Photography
Uniquedise! n Mercha
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Those involved in the build of the award-winning 2013 Sturgis Buffalo Chip Student Build pose with the motorcycle at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. They are, left to right, Bill Johnson, Sturgis Brown High School, kneeling; Wyatt Harwood; Casey Packer; Caden Packer; David Owen; Rod Woodruff, on bike; Randy Cramer of Dakota V-Twin; Keith Terry of Terry Components; Nick Cramer of Dakota V-Twin; Richard White; Hannah Beauvais; and Chad Hedderman, Sturgis Brown High School, kneeling. Sturgis Brown High School student Steven Remmington is not pictured. Photo courtesy of Kevin Eilbeck C 2013 Sturgis Buffalo Chip
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St. Clair committed to riding 50 years consecutively By Wendy Pitlick
BLACK HILLS PIONEER
When Charlie St. Clair makes a commitment to make a ride, he gets it done. Getting beat up and broken, along the side of the road doesn’t stop him at all. St. Clair, a longtime biker and executive director of Laconia Motorcycle Week in New Hampshire, made the commitment back in 1976 to ride from Laconia to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for the next 50 years, consecutively. The ride is about 2,000 miles, one way, and St. Clair loves every mile of it. But in 2012 he was just about to finish his 37th ride to Sturgis, when he hit a deer and spent the Rally time in a Nebraska hospital. “I was coming in the back door of Nebraska because I don’t agree with the state’s lack of freedom of choice concerning helmet use,” he said. “It was at about 10:30 at night and I saw a head with horns on it and eyes coming at me on the left side of my sight range. The next thing I knew, it was smack dab in front of me and I drove right into him right behind the shoulders. It was a mule deer, I am told, and a very good sized one.” St. Clair said he was traveling about 60 miles per hour when he collided with the deer.
As a result of the accident, St. Clair suffered a broken knee and tibia on his left leg, as well as significant injuries to his right hand. The avid motorcyclist will continue rehabilitation for the next couple of months. But in May St. Clair plans to finish his 37th trip to Sturgis. He plans to take the train to where his bike is being fixed in Iowa, and ride out to the Black Hills. “My commitment is to enjoy my passion, which is to ride as far as I can away from my home base in either – Charlie St. Clair direction,” he said. “I just enjoy riding my motorcycle. If I am going to be riding all day, away from my home base, that gives me a feeling of satisfaction. Whether the conditions are hot and sunny, or pouring rain, it doesn’t matter. I’m just doing what I really enjoy doing. There are people who ask me,
“My commitment is to enjoy my passion, which is to ride as far as I can away from my home base in either direction.”
Charlie St. Clair, executive director of Laconia Motorcycle Week, will make two trips to Sturgis this year to make up for last year, when his ride was interrupted with a major accident that left him hospitalized in Nebraska. Photo courtesy of Laconia Motorcycle Week organizers
Laconia Motorcycle Week Executive Director Charlie St. Clair poses with his assistant, Jennifer Anderson. Photo courtesy of Laconia Motorcycle Week organizers
‘how long does it take you to get to this destination?’ I tell them ‘as long as I can take.’ “I would love to hit the 50-year mark,” St. Clair continued. “I don’t know why I picked that mark. I just thought it was attainable. I am not entirely convinced anymore that it is attainable. But I would like for it to be. That’s why I really want to finish this trip in May and that would knock off 37. Then in August I will
knock off 38. If I live long enough and my health stays good, I will be able to reach that goal.” But St. Clair said his goals and passion for motorcycling are not unique, as there are many bikers who get into accidents, recover and then return to the open road. It’s a passion, and it is a way of life by which St. Clair has met his best friends. “I absolutely adore the friends I have ST. CLAIR continued on PAGE 7
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made over the years, along the road, because they have just become a real solid part of my life,” he said. I have seen people get married, have families, and have met their kids. I feel like I am 184 years old. But that’s what I enjoy. Some people love to fish and play golf and this is the thing that I have chosen in life. I got into motorcycles at a young age. I am very happy about that.” Though St. Clair is no stranger to accidents, having wrecked his current bike four times before, he said there are a few precautions he failed to take that could have prevented his last accident. He did not check his deer whistles, and he had not been honking his loud horn periodically on the road that he knew was frequented by deer. “I was just zoned out,” he said. “I wasn’t doing my normal precautions.” But overall, St. Clair said he is looking forward to his May ride to Sturgis, the opportunity to take in some beautiful riding in the Black Hills. His accident won’t keep him down, and his 37th ride will soon become one of his many stories from the road and another opportunity to promote his own, Laconia Motorcycle Week. “One of the joys of my job is I work closely with people in Sturgis who do the rally,” he said. “It’s the same thing in Daytona. The three rallies really compliment each other and we try to work together. If I am helping them I am helping myself. That’s how we look at it. We are a big family.” For more information about the 73rd Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally visit www.sturgismotorcyclerally. com. For more information about the 90th anniversary of Laconia Motorcycle Week, June 8-16 visit www. laconiamcweek.com.
Charlie St. Clair, executive director of Laconia Motorcycle Week in New Hampshire, gets ready to take his ride to Sturgis. St. Clair has pledged to ride to Sturgis for 50 consecutive years. Photo courtesy of Laconia Motorcycle Week organizers
! E D I R T E CK
Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets invite you to the 1st ever
JA To
lls w
lack Hi
B orthern ur the N
e ding th
ls lea ith loca
way!
LUNCH • PRIZES • LIVE BAND
RAISING MONEY FOR
SCHOLARSHIPS 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. SOFTBALL
TUESDAY AUGUST 6 BHSU CAMPUS
Donald E. Young Center Parking Lot (beside the football field)
Camping spots provided by the VFW
IN SPEARFISH, SD $100.00 per Rider
$50.00 per Passenger INCLUDES: Limited Edition T-Shirt Ride • Lunch • Prizes Live Band • FUN
ALL FOR A GREAT CAUSE!
Photo by Steve Babbitt
For more information contact Steve Meeker 605-642-6228 • steve.meeker@bhsu.edu
Motorcycle Parking Available Aug. 1st - Aug. 14th Ad partially paid for by the Weston County Travel Commission
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This year’s Pre-Rally Roll Out will take place July 27-28 at Black Hills Harley Davidson in Rapid City. Pioneer file photo
Pre-Rally Roll Out offers locals a chance to gear up for the big weekend By Adam Hurlburt
BLACK HILLS PIONEER
RAPID CITY — Four summers ago Black Hills Harley-Davidson unknowingly started a tradition by rolling out discounted Harley merchandise shortly before the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, thus the Black Hills Harley-Davidson Pre-Rally Roll Out was born. “We started this promotion to accomplish a couple different things. First, to offer genuine Harley-Davidson merchandise at huge discounts to our local customers, and second to give our staff some experience before the masses arrived for the rally,” said Terry Rymer, co-owner and general manager of Black Hills Harley-Davidson. “Needless to say it was very well received and has grown to the point that now many of our rally vendors come in and set up for the Pre-Rally Roll Out to offer their goods and services to the huge number of patrons during the two-day event.” This year’s Black Hills Harley-Davidson Pre-Rally Roll Out will include more than
$1 million worth of discounted, genuine Harley-Davidson products, Rymer said. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 at Black Hills Harley-Davidson in Rapid City. The Pre-Rally Roll Out is more than just a sale, though. This year Sturgis native rock-n’-roller Jasmine Cain and her band will be performing live at the Roll Out from 4-7 p.m., July 27. Cain has self-released three albums, won best female rock vocalist at the Nashville Music City Mayhem awards in both 2011 and 2012 and holds eight awards from the Just Plain Folks grassroots music organization, the most awards ever doled out to a single artist in the organization’s history. At 3 p.m. on Sunday Black Hills HarleyDavidson will be giving away a 2013 Sportster. If these aren’t reasons enough to roll out to the Roll Out, well, who can turn down a free lunch? That’s right, lunch will be served for free at the Pre-Rally Roll Out on both days. Not too shabby.
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! E D I R T E K JAC
Black Hills State University
BLACK HILLS IRON©
Yellow Jackets invite you to the 1st ever
k Hills
lac thern B r o N e h ur t
To
eading ocals l
with l
is produced by the Black Hills Pioneer, 315 Seaton Circle, Spearfish, SD, 57783, (800) 676-2761 www.bhpioneer.com • bhiron@bhpioneer.com
y!
the wa
Letitia Lister, publisher Mark Watson, managing editor Wendy Pitlick, reporter; Adam Hurlburt, reporter Leah Shockey, layout
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The publisher will not be responsible or liable for misprints, misinformation or typographic errors herein contained. Publisher also reserves the right to refuse any advertising deemed not to be in the best interest of the publication.
SCHOLARSHIPS 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.
TUESDAY
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2013 BLACK HILLS IRON, all rights reserved.
AUGUST 6 BHSU CAMPUS
Donald E. Young Center Parking Lot (beside the football field)
IN SPEARFISH, SD $100.00 per Rider
$50.00 per Passenger INCLUDES: Limited Edition T-Shirt Ride • Lunch • Prizes Live Band • FUN
ALL FOR A GREAT CAUSE!
Photo by Steve Babbitt
For more information contact Steve Meeker 605-642-6228 • steve.meeker@bhsu.edu
ALL YOU CAN EAT
Old West Steak House in downtown Beulah featuring Top Quality Beef, Buffalo, Seafood, Daily Specials & Fine Wine & Spirits!
Open 7 days a week at 4:00pm. Open for lunch Rally Week.
I-90, Exit 205 Wyoming buffalojumpwyoming.com
307.643.7173
DINNER featuring USDA Choice Prime Rib served nightly
PRIME RIB & CRAB BUFFET every Friday and Saturday Night!
-5pm night • Sun. 11am Fri. & Sat. 5pm-Mid
Saturdays, May 25th, June 29th, July 20th and August 31st at 10:15 p.m.
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Crash and learn
Horrific accident changes rider’s perspective, causes him to slow down By Wendy Pitlick
BLACK HILLS PIONEER
SPEARFISH — Spearfish resident Mike Bayne’s 49th birthday started as a beautiful day with friends, riding his Harley Davidson ElectraGlide motorcycle back home from a trip to Glacier and Yellowstone national parks. But high riding speeds got the best of him, and just before he got home, Bayne’s day took a terrible turn for the worst. It was Aug. 3, 2012, and Bayne and his group of about six friends had nearly reached the ending stretch of their ride, six miles west of Aladdin, Wyo., when the longtime motorcyclist suffered one of the most horrifying events of his life. “They say 80 percent of all accidents happen 35 miles from home,” he said. “I had to get close to home so I could have my accident. We were coming over the hill, and I’m not sure what happened, but the bike went into a wobble and I couldn’t bring it out of it, and I went off the road.” The details of his accident are still a blur, and most of his memories stem from stories his friends and family have told him. Having been knocked unconscious, Bayne said he was transported by ambulance to Spearfish Regional Hospital, where he was then taken to Rapid City Regional Hospital, a high-level trauma center, by LifeFlight helicopter. Bayne broke three vertebrae in his neck, two in his back, a broken bone near his eye and his nose was broken. “They let my wife get on the helicopter to try to talk to me for just a minute,” Bayne said. “She said I was complaining that my lips were numb. There was so much blood she wasn’t even sure if I had any lips.” After a day of uncertainty, Bayne said doctors were finally able to deliver a positive report at the end of the ordeal. Bayne would live, and he would not be paralyzed as they had feared. The
worst-case scenario was that he would suffer four days in the hospital, a long recovery period in a neck brace, and a neurosurgeon would have to fuse two of his vertebrae together. One month later, while he was still in his neck brace, Bayne bought a new bike. “I had no concerns about riding again,” said the biker who typically logs about 7,000 miles a year. “When I got out of the hospital I was ready to go right then.” Bayne, who owns Carl’s Trailer Sales in Belle Fourche, said it wasn’t until he went back to work a month later that he started to have doubts about his passion for motorcycling. “I started hearing people say things like, ‘you’re not stupid enough to ride again.’ That kind of messed with my mind a little bit and made me have doubts,” he said. “As far as the accident, or me worrying about that, that never bothered me. It was more what people thought about me that bothered me.” But a conversation with a well-meaning, bull rider friend who didn’t understand why Bayne would ever ride the iron horse again, brought Bayne out of his doubts. “I finally told him that we all do something that other people don’t understand,” he said. It hasn’t quite been a year yet, and Bayne said he can’t wait to ride his new Victory Cross Country Tour motrycycle. By the time he recovered from his accident it was winter, and now he’s just waiting for the perfect opportunity — or for his bike to get Crash and Learn continued on PAGE 14
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South Dakota accident stats According to the S.D. Department of Public Safety, there were a total of 500 motorcycle crashes in the state in 2012. Of those: • 26 crashes were fatalities. 25 of those fatalities were motorcyclists and 1 was in a car • 415 accidents with injuries • 59 crashes resulted in only property damage • 70 percent of people involved in motorcycle crashes in South Dakota are from other states • 11,284 motorcycle riders have taken the Basic Rider Course and Experienced Rider Courses offered
through the S.D. Department of Public Safety from 2007-2012. • Motorcycles make up 7.6 percent of the total registered vehicles in South Dakota, yet they represent 17.5 percent of the total fatal crashes and 2.6 percent of the total accidents that occur on South Dakota roadways. • From 2006-2012, 46 percent of the total motorcycle fatalities in the state happened in the Black Hills area. In those years, 70 percent of those fatalities occurred in July, August and September, with 69 percent occurring during August. Of those August fatalities, 94 percent were non-resident riders.
Mike Bayne poses with his new Victory Cross Country Tour. Bayne purchased the bike shortly after a horrific motorcycle accident put him in the hospital with major injuries to his neck and back. Courtesy photo
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Custom bike build benefits Youth and Family Services By Adam Hurlburt
BLACK HILLS PIONEER
RAPID CITY — “Helping with Horsepower,” that’s the name of the game and the name of Youth and Family Services of Rapid City’s newest program, which presents the young women of Youth and Family Services Girls Inc. with a challenge: transform a damaged motorcycle into a full-custom stunner in five months. The program was created by Laura Klock, Dave Sietsema and Erika Cobb of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles in Mitchell, S.D., in order to provide Youth and Family Services Girls with self-confidence, team
work experience and problem solving skills through an intense hands-on project. The girls worked with a facilitator from Youth and Family Services to come up with a design for the custom motorcycle, from there they hit the shop with industry pros where they’ve been learning how to repair damage, install custom parts, paint body and frame components and perform maintenance on a motorcycle. “This program isn’t only about building a bike; it will be sending a strong message to the girls as well,” said Rachel Cole, Youth and Family Services Finance Coordinator and the Helping With
Black Hills Harley-Davidson presented a damaged 2012 Heritage Softail to Youth and Family Services staff on Jan. 3 for their Helping with Horsepower program. Pictured from left to right: Shawna Jurrens, Black Hills Harley-Davidson marketing professional; Rachel Cole, Helping with Horsepower project facilitator from Youth and Family Services; Terry Rymer, Black Hills Harley-Davidson general manager; Mary Helland, president of the Youth and Family Services Board of Directors and Connie Olson, Youth and Family Services development director. Courtesy photo
Horsepower project facilitator. “The curriculum for this project is designed to enhance the girls’ self-esteem and give them the confidence to realize that they’re capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to.” Rapid City’s Black Hills HarleyDavidson donated a damaged 2012 Heritage Softail to the program. Michael Prugh, of Rapid City’s Prugh Design, Vance and Hines Performance Exhausts of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Dunlop Tires and, of course, Klock Werks Kustom Cycles have all helped out with the project in one form or another since the girls began
working on the bike at the Hot Rod Institute in Rapid City in January. “We thought this project would be a perfect opportunity for us to help out with our resources in the motorcycle industry,” said Terry Rymer, co-owner and general manager of Black Hills Harley-Davidson. “There are many benefits to young girls or women that are of real importance for them, not only the basic knowledge of working with and around motorcycles through customizing one, but working as a group to achieve common goals. They all get to have input into the creative aspect, which is important as well as deciding what the end product looks like.” And that end product will be raffled off to benefit the Youth and Family Services Girls Inc. at the 30th annual Zonta Expo on Oct. 3 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City. Raffle tickets are available through the Zonta Club of the Black Hills.
Crash and Learn from PAGE 13
Mike Bayne’s new custom painted Victory Cross Country Tour bike. Bayne purchased the bike while he was still in a neck brace, recovering from a major motorcycle accident that was the result of high speeds. Courtesy photo
back from the painter. “I just really enjoy it,” he said. “For me, it’s just getting away from the stress of work or the stress of real life or whatever you want to call it. It’s really relaxing for me to ride.” But the next time Bayne takes on the open road, he said he will make a few changes. For one thing, he definitely plans to slow down. He also plans to change helmet styles. “The motorcycle helmet I was wearing was just a half helmet,” he said. “I am probably going to go to a full face helmet now. I’m just glad that God protected my face. With a half helmet I could have been severely damaged.” Though Bayne said he has always chosen to wear a helmet, he supports a rider’s right to choose. “I believe that as a rider we have a responsibility for ourselves,” he said. “So I am not in favor of helmet laws.” Overall, Bayne said his accident definitely changed the way he looks at life, helping him to appreciate the little things just a bit more. “I don’t worry as much about work as I used to,” he said. “That’s probably the biggest change I’ve noticed. I enjoy life a little more.”
Rides, Runs & Races www.bhpioneer.com
riding season
2013
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Schedule of Events — 2013 JUNE STATE H.O.G. RALLY June 13-15 Spearfish, SD For more info (605)549-5417 or www.sdstatehogrally.com RHEA TREVINO MEMORIAL RUN to benefit children. June 16 Starts at Dakota V-Twin, ends in downtown Spearfish Registration begins at 9 a.m. Ride leaves at 10 a.m. Bike show, cash prizes, 50/50 raffle, silent auction, door prizes, bike blessing, barbecue, live music, children’s fair (605)717-0009 or Nick@DakotaV-Twin.com I-90, Exit 8, Spearfish, SD JACKPINE GYPSIES TRACK June 8 and 29 Short Track Racing I-90, Exit 30, Sturgis, SD RUSHMORE ABATE Rally at Glencoe June 7 and 8 Vendors, camping, food, silent auction, and live music at Glencoe Camp Resort Friday night: Adams’ Eve Band Saturday night: Demand Theory Sturgis, SD www.rushmoreabate.com
JULY HOT HARLEY NIGHTS Ride and Event July 12-14 Pre-registration deadline June 21 Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota
18th annual casino run, motorcycle parade, music, raffles, bike show, food, and more. Sioux Falls, SD www.wishsd.org or www.hotharleynights.com SOUTH DAKOTA CMA STATE RALLY July 12-14 Christian Motorcyclists Association State Rally, Rushmore Express Keystone, SD, (605) 666-4638 http://cmancr3.org JACKPINE GYPSIES TRACK July 13 Short Track Racing I-90, Exit 30, Sturgis, SD The John Bing Memorial Ride July 29 to Aug. 2 Leave Spearfish on Monday, 8 a.m. Travel to Glenwood Springs, CO, and stay the night. Head to Yellowstone Wednesday, stay the night, and leave for Spearfish the following day in time for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. www.bikersagainstprostatecancer.com/Events.php
AUGUST 73rd Annual STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY Aug. 5-11, 2013 (need we say more?) www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com CUSTER CRUISIN’ Aug. 2-11 Vendors, food, scenic rides Aug. 6 — Mayor’s Ride Aug. 8 — Veterans Appreciation Day Custer, SD www.custercruisin.com WOUNDED KNEE Memorial Motorcycle Ride Aug. 2 and 3 8th 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 JACKPINE GYPSIES TRACK Aug. 4-11 Events to be announced Where it all began! Jackpine Gypsies Track I-90, Exit 30, Sturgis, SD 73rd Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Aug. 8-14, 2013 (need we say more?) www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com
Pioneer file photo
Black Hills Harley-Davidson VENDOR LOT in RAPID CITY July 29 to Aug. 11
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. 2-9 Buffalo Chip Campground CONCERTS East of Sturgis Aug. 2 — Queensryche Aug. 3 — The Cult Aug. 4 — Halestorm Aug. 4 — ZZ TOP Aug. 5 — Kid Rock Aug. 6 — Toby Keith Aug. 7 — Mastadon Aug. 7 — Machinehead Aug. 7 — Rob Zombie Aug. 8 — Brantley Gilbert Aug. 9 — Sublime with Rome Also featuring the Charlie Brechtel Band, Iron Cowgirl Missy, and Midstokke. FULL THROTTLE SALOON Aug. 3-10 Full Throttle Saloon CONCERTS East of Sturgis Bands TBA www.fullthrottlesaloon.com LEGENDS RIDE Aug. 5 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 Buffalo Chip Campground. Limited tickets. Deadwood to Sturgis, SD Call (605)347-9000 for more information, or www.legendsride.com. LEHMAN TRIKES FACTORY DEMO RIDES Waiting for emails/callbacks for these ones Brothers of the Third Wheel Trike-In BTW rally STURGIS DRAGWAY Aug. 5-7 4 miles East of Sturgis Aug. 5 — WMDRA/Amzoil Rally Races – Test & Tune Aug. 6 — WMDRA/Amzoil Rally Races – Qualifying Aug. 7 — WMDRA/Amzoil Rally Races – Eliminations www.sturgisdrags.com
SEPTEMBER JACKPINE GYPSIES TRACK Sept. 7 Short Track Races Jackpine Gypsies Track I-90, Exit 30, Sturgis, SD 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
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2013
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Two-wheel trends for 2013 By Adam Hurlburt
BLACK HILLS PIONEER
Trends fade in and out like fog over time, or in the case of the motorcycle game, like tire smoke. They have a way of disappearing for some time, only to drift back into the scene gradually many years later. As with any subset of pop culture, new trends often explode on the scene at the same time nostalgia kick starts an old school ground swell. This year is no different. Anyone who made it to the 2012 Michael Lichter Motorcycles As Art show at the Buffalo Chip during rally week got a preview of the new retro flavor swelling from the custom bike builder underground, 60s and 70s style choppers, bobbers and, yes, even Harley Davidson-based café racers. Nick and Randy Cramer of Spearfish’s Dakota V-Twin saw this coming and have already begun a few builds in that vein. “I think for 2013 we’re also going to see a lot more people getting back to the basics as far as café racer style, and you’ll see more little choppers and bobbers,” said Nick Cramer. “Personally I expect to see a lot of large metal flake, 70s style customs — peanut tanks, narrow front wheels and no front brakes.” On the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got the thoroughly modern bagger trend. You won’t find any jockey shifters, sissy bars or bias plys on these machines, they’ve been eschewed in favor of iPodcompatible stereo systems, fairings dripping kandy-pearl paint and, of course, the ubiquitous giant front wheel. “The big deal today in motorcycling in general, especially in the Harley market, are the touring bikes, they’ve absolutely taken off, far more than the choppers and the bobbers,” said Keith Terry or Spearfish’s Terry Components. The bagger trend is certainly nothing new — it exploded in a big way last year — but, Terry thinks it’s a trend that’s going
Nick, left, and Randy Cramer, right, of Dakota V-Twin pose behind a custom big-wheel bagger project in their Spearfish workshop. This bike only very recently received the neck extension that makes the large front wheel possible. The Cramers and others in the Black Hills motorcycle industry believe the custom big-wheel bagger trend will remain popular in 2013 and for years to come. Pioneer photo by Adam Hurlburt
to stick around for a while. “You can customize these bikes, get on them and ride across the country. The other bikes you customize them and they become harder to ride across the country. The parts that we put on these baggers allow you to get on that bike and go as far as you want to.” Because of the enduring popularity of this trend, Terry and Chris Malo, of Black Hills Urethane, started a new business catering to bagger fans: Baggster. The
company specializes in converting Harley Davidson Sportsters, Dynas and Softtails into custom baggers. “We’re doing exactly what I said; I believe that the touring models are the big thing today, so we got into the bagger business,” said Terry. “That’s really the trend today and I don’t see it changing for a while.” Cramer doesn’t see the custom bagger trend going away soon either; numerous big-wheel bagger conversions are under the
knife in the Dakota V-Twin workshop at all times. It shouldn’t surprise anyone to see an old school bobber or two mingling with the baggers. “It’s always good for us when something popular or new comes into the industry, we get people coming in asking questions about things they can’t do in their garage,” Cramer said. “We constantly have to change with the industry. If something else becomes popular we make sure we’re on it.”
Rider courses help bikers stay safe By Wendy Pitlick
BLACK HILLS PIONEER
Potential riders who just want to learn their way around a motorcycle and seasoned bikers who are looking to brush up on their riding skills and break some bad habits can all benefit from a motorcycle rider course. Offered through the S.D. Department of Public Safety, bikers throughout the state have the opportunity to take a basic rider course and an experienced rider course, at various times and locations during the summer. According to southdakotaride.com, an arm of the S.D. Department of Public Safety, the Basic Rider Course is designed for new riders, novice riders, and experienced riders who want a skill refresher. Participants in this 15-hour class must be at least 14 years old, but no motorcycle riding experience is necessary. The class includes five hours of classroom
instruction, and 10 hours of instruction on a motorcycle which is provided. Through the course, riders learn limited space maneuvering, braking, cornering and swerving competencies, as well as the rules from the Rider Course Handbook. Upon completion of the Basic Rider Course, participants will receive a waiver for the South Dakota riding and written tests for a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license, the knowledge, skill and lifesaving experiences to avoid accidents, and possible insurance discounts. In addition to the basic instruction, officials report that the S.D. Department of Public Safety recently purchased three computers that act as motorcycle ride simulators. Using these computers, class participants will be able to experience life on the road from the motorcycle driver’s perspective, before hitting the motorcycle training course on an actual bike.
The Experienced Rider Course is for bikers who have already completed the Basic Rider Course and who ride frequently. The S.D. Department of Public Safety encourages riders to take this class every few years for continuing education and training. The class includes four hours of riding practice and up to one hour of classroom activity between riding exercises, as well as advanced maneuvering and safety techniques. Participants in the class are required to furnish their own motorcycle that is in safe operating condition, proof of insurance, motorcycle registration and motorcycle license or endorsement, a DOT approved helmet, over the ankle boots with rubber soles, full fingered leather gloves, and eye protection. For more information about Basic Rider or Experienced Rider Courses, or for a complete calendar of course offerings and locations visit www. southdakotaride.com.
Top rides
riding season
2013
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in the Black Hills 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 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!
take a longer 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, South Dakota. 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
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.
Badlands Loop Crazy Horse State Scenic Byway Memorial 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 favorite of bikers who flock to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, this route also features
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. 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 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
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 AM hours, and return during the PM. 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 6th 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
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Highway features hairpin curves, drivethrough 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 drive-through 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 oldwest 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 LeadDeadwood are ever-cognizant 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 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 Top Ride continued on PAGE 18 Highway 14 and Highway 24 you’ll turn 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
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Top Ride from PAGE 17 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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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.
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 vehicle.
Native American Scenic Byway
This 305.8-mile route takes bikers through the rich history and wildlife attractions of our Native American 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,
Jackpine Gypsies 2013 Race Schedule May
Sat. May 18 — Short Track Race 7 p.m. Sat. May 25 — TBD Oyster Mtn. Hare Practice Day and BBQ TBD Sun. May 26 — Oyster Mtn. Hare Race 9 a.m.
June
Sat. June 8 — Short Track Race 7 p.m. Sat. June 22 — Motocross Practice l0 a.m. Sun. June 23 — Sam Bryce Engelman Memorial Motocross 8 a.m. Sat. June 29 — Short Track Race 7 p.m.
July
Thur. July 4 — Mini-Sprint Cars and Free BBQ 4 p.m. Sat. July 13 — Short Track Race 7 p.m.
August
Sat. Aug. 3 — Motocross Practice l0 a.m. Sun. Aug. 4 —Ryan Waterland Memorial Motocross 9 a.m.
Mon. Aug. 5 — AMA Hill Climb 10 a.m. Mon. Aug. 5 — Pearl Hoel Memorial Short Track Race 7 p.m. Tues. Aug. 6 — “GYPSYTOUR” (Destination TBD) 9 a.m. Tues. Aug. 6 — Short Track Race 7 p.m. Wed. Aug. 7 — Half-Mile Race noon Thur. Aug. 8 — Mini-Sprint Cars Race 7 p.m.
September
Sat. Sept. 7 Short Track Race 7 p.m. * Dates and times are subject to change. See www. Jackpinegypsies.com for updates.
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 evergrowing 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 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. Read more from Buck at BLABB (Buck Lovell’s American Biker Blog) online at www.sturgis.com.
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riding season
2013
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