Classic Bike Ramblings General Sturgis..........Minutemen and a horse called "Comanche"
father to honor his son who had fallen in battle. You see many vendors had sprung up around “Camp Mr. 500 & Desiree We are going into the in the "dog days of Sturgis" (Now Ft. Meade) August" my new friend told me at the bar. The to help support the troops hottest and most sultry days of summer which and to "scoop" some money up from the soldiers usually occur between the end of July and the stationed there, in fact at one point in history it middle of August, named for the "dog star" Sirrus carried the nickname "scooptown". Many ranchby the ancient Romans who thought July and ers and homesteaders started placing farms and August were particularly hot due to the "heat" large cattle ranches around the outlaying flatbeing given off by this star rising and setting lands and rivers. Gold had a brief influence in the with the sun during these months in ancient town’s life but it, like so many times, but we my new age things in life it did not last. pals know summer and Sturgis was incorporated these dreaded " dog days" as a village in 1912, the town are caused only by the tilt of then grew from the railroads, the earth on its axis. the stores and pool halls, it’s She then stated to me ranching and farming implethat she was making her tenth ment business flourished. trip to a small town in South 1930 saw a huge building Dakota. A small town with a boom that slowed quickly due population of 6,600 or so for to the recession. War would 51 weeks of the year, but its come and go in the 1940's that one week, usually the first but the town would continue full week of August, those hot to grow so that there wasn't sultry "dog days" of August, a vacant building on Main when this small towns popuStreet. lation increases to 400-700 In the 1950's a huge cement thousand people depending block manufacturing firm on what year you pick. Officially would move in along with a the mayor of Sturgis, S.D. says cement tile and culvert comit's impossible to physically pany, this would lead to an determine how many attend influx of people and busithe yearly Motorcycle Rally. The nesses. The little town first Rally was held August 14th. was now well on its way. 1938 by a local motorcycle Sturgis now had a club, who still own and operate the race tracks, population in excess of 850. There were 250 hill climb and much of the open areas used for homes in town and the housing situation this week long extravaganza of bikes. First called was described as "scarce". Daily bus service The Blackhills Classic it was a single race with a and our love affair with cars and motorcycles field of nine bikes and about as many spectators. would move more and more people into our While the focus of the rally was originally racing small outpost in the West. There was a landand stunts it was expended in 1961 to include ing strip but a large timber mill took over the hill climbing and motorcross. Sturgis bike week site and it would be many years until an airport has been held every year with exceptions during of any size would service this remote locale. The World War II. My good reader’s I’m not going to go military has had a huge presence in and around into the complete history of this legendary bike this legendary motorcycle town both in the past week, you all know it already or can find it on toand in the present. Camp Sturgis (Fort Meade) day’s amazing information highway. No I wanted was originally established in August of 1876 as to see what interesting history lay in and around a temporary “peacekeeping" post for the US 7th. this motorcycle Mecca in the west. The town of Calvary shortly after the Battle of Little Big Horn Sturgis South Dakota was named by a military (235 miles away). The Fort has endured for over