Postcards from Sturgis

 

Most likely, you’re not on my post card list. So, consider this to be your post card from Sturgis….“I took my helmet off at the Utah state line and rode around ala mode for two whole weeks. 4000 miles through 8 ‘free-thinking’ western states. After riding around nekkid for so long, it is incredibly difficult to return to the socialist hypocrisy which has forever spoiled California . Montana ’s daytime speed limit is: “That which is reasonable and prudent.”  I saw people cruising around, un-tethered, in the back of pick up trucks! And even though I don’t smoke, I lit up and smoked in a restaurant for no other reason than because I could! Nyah, Nyah, Nyah-Nyah-Nyah.”

 

Sturgis was BIG this year. Many folks agree, it probably set a new record. My crew rumbled in from Devil’s Tower on Saturday, quietly sneaking in the back side of town from exit 30.  Even before the rally officially began, it was already as crowded as it’s ever been at full boil. Later, when we got to our usual hotel in Rapid City , we realized this rally wasn’t even half cooked yet, because Rapid was a ghost town, anticipating the tide of HOGgies yet to come.  Sometimes, a rally just gets too big. When you’re all the way out in Yellowstone and you can’t concentrate on riding the twisties because you feel pressured to wave at all the oncoming riders, you know it’s gonna be big.  When a free range chicken can’t get to the other side of the road to Mt. Rushmore because there’s a 50 mile long line of bikes riding side by side, it’s just too big.  

 

Regardless of the rally’s enormity, ABATE of California had a strong presence at Sturgis this year. You might recall how many of our ABATE Locals in California made motorcycle awareness month a great success. Those of you who took the time to send your Proclamations and Resolutions to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum for permanent display will be happy to know that your hardware was proudly enshrined right inside the front door.  My thanks to Pepper from the museum and Linda “Moxxsie” Wright for making that possible. I was incredibly proud of the ABATE effort.  I’d really like to see that wall FILLED for my return in 2005. It’d be nice if you could help in that effort.

 

A couple of ABATE of California folks showed up for a little ride I hosted out in the Black Hills .  “Splatt’s Sunset Ride to Rushmore” for the night lighting ceremony was designed to honor the men and women who sacrifice, year after year, for rider’s rights. We get no recognition, yet, we’re the forgotten oasis from which all others benefit. It was a relaxing and FREE ride at sunset to visit the four faces and it was nice to have Herman and Jim from Local 58 along for the ride. Both being Veterans, they did us double proud by helping to retire the flag at Mt. Rushmore at the conclusion of the ceremony.   

 

Rally Deaths for 2004 totaled 9. Not bad for such an immense gathering of riders with varying, or in some instances, NO skills. The rally is so spread out, there’s no real way to concoct a reliable number.  A couple of the deaths came from crossing the centerline into oncoming riders. Many of the fatals came from hitting deer. And as always, when you read about it in the newspaper they’re always quick to mention if the rider was wearing a helmet or not. It took all my strength to keep from writing a letter to the editor. I would have mentioned that a couple from Arizona survived with only minor injuries after striking and killing a young mountain lion near Sturgis City Park.  Now, I’ve got a hunch, that damn animal was NOT wearing a helmet, yet, the paper made no mention of that indescrepency. 

 

One miraculous story.  A Wyoming woman went off the road and into a ravine down by Edgemont on a Sunday night.  She managed to reach her cell phone and call 911. Disoriented, she told the dispatcher she was sick and had been out there all day. When asked where she was, she mentioned Guernsey , was heard to say “Ouch” and then hung up. Authorities knew she was out there, somewhere, but it’s rough country and tracking from the cell phone tower didn’t help much. Three nights, two and a half days later, she managed to crawl out of the ravine and was luckily spotted by a Sheriff’s Deputy at mile marker 21.  She survived with only broken bones and road rash.

 

Sturgis of 2004 was big, but it was a relatively mild crowd.  Only 405 people were arrested this year which is down from last year’s 412. And what was the number one offense?  Driving under the influence of alcohol.  222 drivers were arrested for DUI. That’s just plain stoopid when you see all the “Why Die, X Marks the Spot” signs planted all over South Dakota ’s roadways to represent drunken fatalities. .

 

Some folks estimate there were over 500,000 of us sprinkled throughout the Black Hills. The only real scientific factor they got up their sleeves in determining the official size of a rally in Sturgis is….garbage. Figures on just how many tons of garbage that went to the landfill are not yet available  Still, why was Sturgis so BIG this year?  I blame it on the Discovery Channel. They’re popularizing the sport to epic proportions and everybody wants to be just like us nowadays. It’s flattering, yes. But sobering at the same time because I know for a fact that these folks are just in it for the good times and aren’t willing to do any of the work or sacrifice needed to protect our love of riding for future generations.  Wanna prove me wrong? Get involved with the upcoming election. Use the ABATE Voter’s Guide and find the Biker Friendly candidates in your district. You call them. You volunteer to help and bring along a few of your biker buddies. You donate, staple signs, stuff envelopes, answer phones and maybe even walk precincts. You vote for our endorsed candidates come November and who knows, maybe in 2005, the Discovery Channel will show people in CALIFORNIA riding free and I won’t have to go on vacation to prove to myself that I’m an adult capable of making decisions for myself.  By the way, at the bottom of your postcard it sez, "Have you joined ABATE yet?"