The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, aka Sturgis BikeWeek, takes over Sturgis, S.D., a town of 7,000 in the Black Hills, each August. This year's rally, the 67th, will begin on August 6th and run through August 12th.
Each year the rally attracts about a half a million people. The purpose of the rally when it was founded by In 1938 by the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, create and host a Gypsy Tour through the scenic Black Hills of South Dakota.
By the mid-60's it was a somewhat lawless event, attracting gangs and tens of thousands of self-styled outlaws.
By the 1980s, the Sturgis rally had grown so large the Jackpiners could no longer run the event. It was turned over to the city and later to other commercial groups.
Members of the Hell's Angels, the Sons of Silence and the Sundowners can be seen wearing their colors, but between 30 -50% of the bikers attending the event are rofessional or white collar workers.
Official Sturgis Bike Week Website
The Official Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Website by The City of Sturgis Rally Department with information on events, calendar, accomodations and business directory.
