Kudos from the Tour Bus
The first year that we were asked to go to Sturgis by our radio affiliate 100.3 The FOX, Rapid City, Ralph called me and said “Sturgis, what the hell is that” (Ralph leads a kind of sheltered life sometimes, and he’s never been on a bike) But having lots of biker friends of course I knew about Sturgis. Though I have to admit, Ralph and I being New Yorkers had no idea that Mt. Rushmore was there. We certainly had NO idea that there were even that many bikes anywhere, ever. Now, heading into our 4th year, we are old Sturgis pros!
More than half a million motorcycles make the trek to the Black Hills of SD. They come from everywhere, by plane (and have their bikes hauled) or the diehards ride for miles to get to the biggest motorcycle rally of the year. The riding there is beautiful and if you ride, it’s a scene that you should at least experience once in your lifetime. The Tour Bus couldn’t wait to go back!
This year the Sturgis Rally is officially August 7th through the 13th, that’s when the actual events are scheduled, but a lot of bikers go early or leave late to enjoy roads without crowds. Flying into Rapid City is no easy task – you have to connect somewhere, and the flights are not cheap, so make your plans EARLY.
The FOX hooked us up with rooms in Rapid City, about 40 minutes from Sturgis, which is a tiny town that is jam packed with live music, vendors, bikes, bars, restaurants and scantily clad women. Doesn’t suck. The Full Throttle Salon www.fullthrottlesaloon.com is our Sturgis home – they even serve breakfast! Mike and the crew there are amazing and that’s where we broadcast live on the last Saturday night of the rally (August 12th this year).
When we first walked in the Full Throttle, it reminded me of the bar in Quentin Tarantino’s movie “From Dusk Till Dawn” sans the vampires, and Salma Hayek’s snake dance (to Ralph’s dismay). It’s like an indoor / outdoor beer, leather, and gasoline smelling waterhole. Ahhhhhhh the smells of Sturgis. You can ride your bike in and the bartenders are not hard to look at. Lingerie night is always a favorite! Jackyl plays at the Full Throttle every year on the Thursday night of the rally, and Jesse Dupree is a huge supporter of THE TOUR BUS, and hooks us up with live TOUR BUS coverage. Skid Row has played during our broadcast the last couple of years and kicked ass! There’s a ton of scantily clad people roaming around (some that really shouldn’t be), loud music, vendors, even a mechanical bull – and get this –most of the shows are FREE. Now, THAT is the Sturgis life.
So many awesome TOUR BUS bands play the rally at various venues. Over our years there, Whitesnake, Great White, Slaughter, Firehouse, Queensryche, Disturbed, Twisted Sister, Kid Rock, Silvertide, and the list goes on and on…
You never know who you’re going to run into at Sturgis, WWE wrestlers, to Indian Larry (rest his soul), Robbie Knievel, Jesse James and of course those Orange County Chopper dudes. The Jack Daniels girls are always a big attraction. Oh and the Penthouse Pets! We work with them now, every year and the girls are always on THE TOUR BUS! If you ride, go to Sturgis. Do not pass go, do not collect 200.00 dollars, just go straight to Sturgis.
Next month – Sturgis Part 2 - Stacey rides in from Denver through a storm and Scott Evil throws up…
you can catch the rebroadcast at www.thetourbus.com
TOUR BUS 80’s Song Lyrics Quiz
She was always something special
Diamond shining bright in the rain
Everybody dreams of angels
No one would ever know
How much I love you so
Now it all seems funny, kinda like a dream
Things aint always what they seem
What a shame, what happened today
Email the SONG and ARTIST to staceyx@thetourbus.com
Include your name and address. We’ll pick a random winner each month and send you a TOUR BUS prize! You’ll be notified if you win and your name will be posted on the www.metaledgemag.com website!
The answer to last months 80’s Song Lyrics Quiz was…
Whitesnake “Cryin in the Rain”
Till next month… Ride on… THE TOUR BUS!
Mayor Mark Zeigler
“First-time rally-goers are pleasantly surprised to find that the Black Hills are home to the highest concentration of parks, monuments and memorials in the country,” says Sturgis Mayor Mark Zeigler. “That’s what really defines the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally experience. It’s all about the ride – discovering attractions like the four faces of freedom at Mount Rushmore, the massive carving at Crazy Horse Memorial and the wandering herds of buffalo in Custer State Park, all in a single day.”