Crowds of bikers rumbling their way into South Dakota’s Black Hills this week, raising fears that COVID-19 infections will be unleashed among the 700,000 people that are expected to show up at the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The rally, which technically started today, has become a haven for those eager to escape coronavirus precautions. AMERiders gives you our usual rundown of what is going on at the rally and a bit more as well.
Last year, the rally hardly slowed down, with roughly 460,000 people attending. Masks were mostly ditched as bikers crowded into bars, tattoo parlors, and rock shows, offering a lesson in how massive gatherings could spread waves of the virus across the country.
This year — the 81st iteration of the rally — is expected to be even bigger, drawing people from around the U.S. and beyond, despite concerns about the virus’ highly contagious delta variant. “It’s great to see a party of hundreds of thousands of people,” said one rallygoer who was settling into his campsite Tuesday after making the trek from Hungary.
He was eager to return to riding a Harley-Davidson through the Black Hills after missing last year. Vári evaded U.S. tourism travel restrictions on Europe by spending two weeks in Costa Rica before making his way to South Dakota. He hopes 1 million people will show up. Typical attendance is around half a million.
The city of Sturgis, usually a sleepy community of under 7,000, tried to tamp things down last year, canceling most city-sponsored events and promotions, but hordes of bikers showed up anyway.
“The rally is a behemoth, and you cannot stop it,” said Carol Fellner, a local who worried that this year’s event would cause a fresh outbreak of cases. “I feel absolutely powerless.”
This year, the city is embracing the crowds. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has given the rally her blessing and will appear in a charity ride. The event is a boon for tourism, powering over $800 million in sales, according to the state Department of Tourism.
COVID-19 vaccines provide hope the rally won’t set off virus spread, but it’s not clear how many in the Sturgis crowd have received a shot. Unlike events like Lollapalooza that required attendees to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, precautions at Sturgis are minimal and optional. The biggest step the city has taken was to allow rallygoers to drink on public property, reasoning it will spread the bacchanalia into the open air.
Only about 46% of adults in the county that hosts Sturgis are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC, compared with 60.6% nationwide. Vaccination rates were similarly low in the five counties where most 2020 rallygoers hailed from, according to an analysis of cellphone data from the Center for New Data. Only one — Maricopa County, Arizona — has cracked 50%. Campbell County in Wyoming, has the lowest rate, at just 27%.
Vári, the biker from Hungary, said he’s been fully vaccinated — but only because he falsely thought he needed proof of vaccination to get into the U.S.
“Sturgis or bust,” he wrote on Facebook.
Adam Sandoval from ScootinAmerica said That gas prices made it twice as expensive as years prior as he headed off to Sturgis with Scooter his little 4 legged riding buddy.
Now on to our usual information
We here at AMERiders usually give you the low down on what is going on during the Sturgis Rally so here is the rundown for the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for this year.
As usual, there is always a slew of musical entertainment for everyone to watch and this year is no exception. From Buck Cherry to Queensrÿche and everyone in between there is something for everyone including a few cover bands with the bands they are covering, like ZZ3 and ZZTop.
ZZ Top is scheduled to play the Buffalo Chip on the 11th in the Wake of losing Dusty recently, which we all are still mourning. But That Little Ol’ Band from Texas is returning to The Best Party Anywhere®! They’re Bad, and they’re coming to rock the Sturgis Buffalo Chip for its 40th-anniversary party in 2021. Classic rock megastars ZZ Top bring their legendary raunchy blues-rock boogie to the Chip’s Wolfman Jack Stage on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, and you’ll want to make sure you and your Cheap Sunglasses are close by when they do.
Vince Neil, Great White, Clint Black, and REO Speedwagon as well will also join the list of artists and groups playing at Sturgis this year that you don’t want to miss.
Sturgis South Dakota Gold Star Families Memorial monument
This year Sturgis constructed the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument.
The Monument will be placed near the Harley-Davidson Rally Point Plaza at the corner of Main Street and Harley-Davidson Way, where visitors and community members can visit the monument and reflect on the sacrifices made for our nation.
The project was led by the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, and while individual names will not be on the Memorial, it will honor “Family members who have sacrificed a loved one while in an active status.”
South Dakota is the 49th state in the union to have such a memorial. A fundraising effort will take place with construction scheduled to begin in mid-2021.
Gold Star Family members and relatives are those who have sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom.
The Gold Star Family Memorial was created by Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams to remember those families who have made the ultimate sacrifice. To learn more about the memorial, please visit our Gold Star Families Memorial Monument web page.
“Dying for freedom isn’t the worst thing that can happen. Being forgotten is.” Georgie Carter-Krell (Mother of Posthumous Medal of Honor Recipient Pfc. Bruce W. Carter, USMCD – Florida)
Any excess funds raised for this Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Project will be used to further the mission to honor and serve Gold Star Families and the legacy of their Loved Ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Additional information including how to donate can be found at http://hwwmohf.org/monuments/sturgis-sd.html All donations will be used to build and maintain the monument in Sturgis.
Beard & Mustache Contest
Do you wear your luscious locks on your face? Do the ladies swoon over your “manly ruggedness”?
Man up and show us your facial hair…..
Join us at Rally Point, located at the corner of Legendary Main St and Harley Davidson Way, on Wednesday, August 11 at 5:00 PM and register to enter the City of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Mustache and Beard contest. There is a $10.00 entry fee. Judging starts at 6:00 PM and you must be present to win.
With five different categories and even one for the ladies, you will surely find a category to represent your best asset. Prizes will be given out for each category.
Categories:
Papa Beard (Full Beard over six inches)
The beard appears as it grows naturally. The more natural the better! The mustache may not be highlighted. The beard may not be curled under at the bottom! No styling aids are permitted.
Baby Beard (Full Beard under six inches)
The beard appears as it grows naturally. The more natural the better! The mustache may not be highlighted. The beard may not be curled under at the bottom! No styling aids are permitted.
Double Dapper (Full Beard with Styled Mustache)
Full beard, any length, with a distinctly styled stache. Styling aids are permitted. The beard appears as it grows and left natural, the more natural the better, and, of course, no styling aids in those beards.
Beer Soakin’ Mustache (Natural Mustache)
Mustache as it grows and is left natural. The more natural the better. No closed curls. The mustache may be maintained but without styling aids. No styling aids are permitted.
Dapper Stache (Styled Mustache)
Like to “do up” your stache? Then this category is for you! Styling aids are permitted.
Whiskerina (For the ladies)
Show what the good Lord neglected to give you and show us what could have been. Pick a theme for your beard or mustache – creativity is key. Judges will look at the craftsmanship, creativity, and overall appearance when voting on the best “Whiskerina” competitors.
Important notes:
- Styling aids include, for example, mustache/hair wax, hair spray, hair lacquer, hair gel, styling foam, etc. – Hair dye is absolutely prohibited in the natural categories.
- Natural beards shall be and shall look natural. The more natural the better.
- The beard also should be distinct from the head hair and not integrated with it.
Sponsored By:
Sturgis Webcams
We all know that Sturgis posts their live webcams so here is the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally link for those live webcams so it is easy for you to find it.
https://sturgismotorcyclerally.com/webcams/
~And as always…
~Live Free Ride Hard~
~AMERiders
and
Let AMERiders give you the skinny on 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is Back on 8/6 Despite New COVID-19 Variant.
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