Sturgis motorcycle rally - wikipedia Sturgis motorcycle rally Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Motorcycles lined up on Main Street during the Sturgis motorcycle rally. Genre Motorcycle rally Dates First week in August Location ( s ) Sturgis, South Dakota, United States Founded August 14, 1938 ( 1938 - 08 - 14 ) Most recent August 4 - 13, 2017 Next event August 3 - 12, 2018 Attendance highest : 739,000 ( 2015 ) Website sturgismotorcyclerally.com The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an American motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota, for ten days usually during the first full week of August. In 2015 the city of Sturgis officially expanded the dates to have the rally start on the Friday before the first full week of August and end on the second Sunday. It was begun in 1938 by a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and was originally held for stunts and races. Attendance has historically been around 500,000 people, reaching a high of over 700,000 in 2015. The event generates around $800 million in revenue. Contents 1 History 2 Attendance 3 Rally impact on community 4 Transportation to Sturgis 5 Black Hills Run 6 Media coverage 6.1 Print and online 6.2 Television 6.3 Documentaries 7 Gallery 8 References 9 External links History The first rally was held by Indian Motorcycle riders on August 14, 1938, by the Jackpine Gypsies motorcycle club. The club still owns and operates the tracks, hillclimb, and field areas where the rally is centered. The first event was called the `` Black Hills Classic '' and consisted of a single race with nine participants and a small audience. The founder is Clarence `` Pappy '' Hoel. He purchased an Indian motorcycle franchise in Sturgis in 1936 and formed the Jackpine Gypsies that same year. The Jackpine Gypsies were inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1997. Hoel was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame the following year, in 1998. The focus of a motorcycle rally was originally racing and stunts. In 1961, the rally was expanded to include the Hillclimb and Motocross races. This could include half - mile track racing ( the first year in Sturgis, there were 19 participants ), intentional board wall crashes, ramp jumps and head - on collisions with automobiles. The Sturgis Rally has been held every year, with exceptions during World War II. For instance, in 1942, the event was not held due to gasoline rationing. Attendance The South Dakota Department of Transportation provides official traffic counts, which sometimes differ from official attendance figures. Year SDDOT traffic count Official attendance 528,676 400,000 1999 539,475 325,000 2000 604,441 633,000 530,667 410,000 2002 561,752 450,000 2003 605,140 502,000 547,370 514,951 2005 524,656 525,250 2006 449,527 456,968 2007 461,507 507,234 2008 405,475 414,917 2009 394,009 442,163 459,968 466,769 2011 415,367 416,727 2015 c. 1,000,000 739,000 2016 c. 360,000 448,000 -- 463,412 2017 376,033 480,000 Rally impact on community For many years the city has been in a licensing agreement with a community non-profit, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Inc., and its predecessor - in - interest, the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, that generates millions of dollars in royalties and sponsorship dollars. In 2012 the City Council reaffirmed this relationship through a unanimous proclamation. The City of Sturgis has calculated that the Rally brings over $800 million to South Dakota annually. The City of Sturgis earned almost $270,000 in 2011 from selling event guides and sponsorships. The rally makes up 95 % of the city 's annual revenue. There were 405 individuals jailed at the 2004 rally, and approximately $250,000 worth of motorcycles stolen annually. Rally - goers are a mix of white - collar and blue - collar workers and are generally welcomed as an important source of income for Sturgis and surrounding areas. The rally turns local roads into `` parking lots '', and draws local law enforcement away from routine patrols. Furthermore, the large numbers of people visiting the town and region served as a model for the state of Oregon in preparation for the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, given the expected impact on emergency services. The Lakota Indian tribe in coalition with other tribes has protested the large amount of alcohol distributed at the event so close to the sacred Bear Butte, but also acknowledged that income from the event was important to the region and also benefits some members of the tribes. There has been a number of mysterious, unsolved deaths at the Rally. Transportation to Sturgis Many attendees of the Sturgis Rally have families, bring their children and drive campers towing motorcycle trailers to the rally, and ride their motorcycles just the last few miles. The director of the rally estimated in 2005 that less than half the attendees actually rode there. Shipping companies transport thousands of motorcycles to Sturgis for attendees who arrive via airline. Black Hills Run The Black Hills Run is a route favored by motorcycle riders, across the Black Hills from Deadwood to Custer State Park, South Dakota. It reached the height of its popularity between 1939 and 1941. The popularity of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attracted additional attention to the route in recent years. The pine forested mountains of the Black Hills make for a unique scenic motorcycle ride. Media coverage Print and online The Rapid City Journal features daily coverage of the Sturgis Rally. The Seattle Times covered some of the 2008 Sturgis Rally while rock band Judd Hoos was playing at the Loud American Roadhouse. Television In 1997, the crew from the COPS television series attended the rally, as well as Dennis Rodman. From 1996 to 1999, World Championship Wrestling held a pay - per - view event called Road Wild ( Hog Wild for the 1996 event ). Annual television coverage of the festival by the VH1 Classic network includes interviews and performances as well as rock music videos. The rally was featured in 2005 as part of the ESPN SportsCenter promotion 50 States in 50 Days. Starting in 2009 an American reality television series began airing on the truTV network : Full Throttle Saloon, showing the inner operations at the world 's largest biker bar just prior to the rally opening and for the duration of the rally each year. Sturgis was also featured on American Pickers Season 4, Episode 6, `` What Happens In Sturgis... ''. Originally aired January 2, 2012 on the History Channel. ``... When Mike tells Frank let 's pack up for a trip to South Dakota, Frank says he ca n't. He 's secretly going to his 30th annual trip to the legendary Sturgis motorcycle rally, but says he 'll cover the shop... ``. Sturgis has also been featured in the TV Show Pawn Stars in which Richard Harrison, Corey Harrison visit Sturgis with Chumlee Russell on his birthday. Documentaries The Travel Channel has aired two one - hour ( 43 minutes runtime ) documentaries about Sturgis : Daniel Cesareo, Doug DePriest ( executive producers ) ( 2010 ). Sturgis : The Wild Ride ( Television broadcast ). Travel Channel. Daniel Cesareo, Doug DePriest ( executive producers ) ( 2010 ). Sturgis Cops ( Television broadcast ). Travel Channel. Indian Ed Spilker, One of the original Jackpine gypsies and cofounder of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Gallery References ^ Jump up to : Attendance at 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally estimated at 739,000 people, beating 2000 record, Associated Press, September 22, 2015, archived from the original on September 23, 2015 -- via Daily Journal ( Franklin, Indiana ) Jump up ^ KOTA. `` Can you handle 10 official days of the Sturgis Rally ? ''. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 14. Jump up ^ Fleming, Charles ( August 5, 2014 ), `` Sturgis Motorcycle Rally by the numbers '', Los Angeles Times ^ Jump up to : Official Site : Timeline Jump up ^ Jackpine Gypsies at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Jump up ^ J.C. Hoel at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Jump up ^ Rally statistics, Sturgis City Rally Department, archived from the original on February 12, 2007, retrieved May 21, 2015 Jump up ^ Woody Gottburg ( August 10, 2015 ), Sturgis Rally Sets Records, KSCJ ^ Jump up to : South Dakota Completes 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Associated Press, August 14, 2017 ^ Jump up to : Barry Amundson ( October 12, 2017 ), `` Official attendance at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally set at 480,000 '', News - Tribune, Duluth Jump up ^ `` Sturgis rally attendance down nearly 40 percent '', Rapid City Journal, October 28, 2016 Jump up ^ `` 2017 rally is quiet, cool, calm '', Rapid City Journal, August 14, 2017 ^ Jump up to : 70th Sturgis motorcycle rally statistics compiled by the city of Sturgis and the rally department, Black Hills State University, February 8, 2011, retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25 Jump up ^ Sturgis area businesses make 95 % of their annual revenue from the 7 days of the rally. Jump up ^ Dalton, Aaron ( August 1, 2005 ), `` Biggest thing on two wheels. ( TECHWATCH : This Month ) '', Popular Mechanics, Hearst Magazines via HighBeam Research., retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25 ^ Jump up to : `` Profile : Thousands of Harley riders converge on small South Dakota town every year for a rally '', Morning Edition, National Public Radio via HighBeam Research., August 9, 2000, retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25 Jump up ^ Vellani, Karim ( May 1, 2000 ), `` Security + Service = Satisfaction. '', Journal of Property Management, via HighBeam Research, retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25 Jump up ^ Lynne, Terry ( 2017 - 08 - 10 ). `` Eclipse 2017 : Hospitals stock up on blood, rattlesnake bite antidote ''. The Oregonian. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 10. Jump up ^ `` In Sturgis, a Clash Over Motorcycle Rally '', All Things Considered, National Public Radio via HighBeam Research., August 2, 2006, retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25 Jump up ^ http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/assets/docs/uploads/rally-stats.pdf ^ Jump up to : Higgins, Michelle ( August 5, 2005 ). `` The Really Easy Rider ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2009 - 02 - 12. Jump up ^ McKechnie, Gary. Great American Motorcycle Tours Avalon Travel Publishing, 2002. ( ISBN 1 - 56691 - 448 - 5 ) Jump up ^ `` Sturgis Rally Daily '', Rapid City Journal, retrieved 2013 - 01 - 25 Jump up ^ `` Seattle Times '', Seattle Times, retrieved 2008 - 08 - 11 Jump up ^ Cops Episode 147 : Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota, imdb.com, retrieved 2012 - 01 - 28 Jump up ^ `` 2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts ''. Wrestling 's Historical Cards. Kappa Publishing. 2007. p. 144. Jump up ^ `` 50 States in 50 Days ''. ESPN.com. August 10, 2005. Archived from the original on August 10, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2010. CS1 maint : Unfit url ( link ) Jump up ^ List of American Pickers episodes Jump up ^ Sturgis : The Wild Ride on IMDb Jump up ^ Sturgis Cops on IMDb External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Official website Large American motorcycle rallies United States Biketoberfest Black Bike Week Daytona Beach Bike Week Laconia Motorcycle Week Motoblot Motorcycles on Meridian National Bikers Roundup Republic of Texas Biker Rally Rolling Thunder Run to the Wall Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Canada Friday the 13th rally, Ontario Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming Attractions Bear Butte Black Elk Wilderness Black Hills Central Railroad Black Hills National Forest Black Elk Peak Black Hills Playhouse Chapel in the Hills Crazy Horse Memorial Custer State Park Devils Tower Dinosaur Park Flintstones Bedrock City Homestake Mine Jewel Cave National Monument Mammoth Site Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Mount Rushmore National Memorial Mystic Miner Ski Resort Needles Pactola Lake Reptile Gardens Rushmore Cave Sheridan Lake Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Sylvan Lake Terry Peak ski area Wind Cave National Park with bison herd Scenic routes Roads Norbeck Scenic Byway Iron Mountain Road Needles Highway Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway Trails Mickelson Centennial Trail Populated places Cities Belle Fourche Buffalo Chip ( legal status undetermined ) Central City Custer Deadwood Edgemont Hot Springs Hill City Lead Newcastle Rapid City Spearfish Sturgis Whitewood Towns Buffalo Gap Fairburn Hermosa Keystone Pringle Sundance Unincorporated Dewey Four Mile Galena Hanna Johnson Siding Nemo Rochford Rockerville Silver City Three Forks History and people Native American Cheyenne people Lakota people Treaty of Fort Laramie ( 1868 ) established the Great Sioux Reservation Black Hills War, or Great Sioux War ( 1876 ) Black Elk Sitting Bull Crazy Horse Lone Horn Red Cloud Spotted Tail Old West Dakota Territory ( 1861 -- 1889 ) Black Hills Expedition ( 1874 ) Black Hills Gold Rush ( 1874 ) Newton -- Jenney Party ( 1875 ) Cheyenne - Black Hills Stage Route ( 1876 - 1887 ) Sidney - Black Hills Stage Road ( 1876 - 1887 ) Rapid City, Black Hills and Western Railroad ( 1893 -- 1947 ) Seth Bullock and Martha Bullock General George Armstrong Custer Dora DuFran Wild Bill Hickok Calamity Jane Historian Doane Robinson Sol Star Al Swearengen Charlie Utter Ghost towns Addie Camp Bismuth Blacktail Burdock Cambria Carbonate Etta Flatiron Greenwood Maitland Myers City Nahant Novak Pactola Sheridan Spokane Terraville Tigerville Tinton Trojan Modern Fossil Cycad National Monument ( 1922 - 1957 ) Stratobowl ( 1934 - 1959 ) Black Hills flood ( 1972 ) Sculptors Gutzon Borglum and Lincoln Borglum Author Joseph Bottum Politician Francis H. Case Poet Charles Badger Clark Historian Watson Parker Road junctions Carlile Junction Cheyenne Crossing Four Corners Four Mile Keystone Wye Maverick Junction Mule Creek Junction Related Mount Rushmore in popular culture Coordinates : 44 ° 24 ′ 52 '' N 103 ° 30 ′ 32 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 44.41444 ° N 103.50889 ° W ﻿ / 44.41444 ; - 103.50889 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sturgis_Motorcycle_Rally&oldid=852746729 '' Categories : Motorcycle rallies in the United States South Dakota culture Recurring events established in 1938 Tourist attractions in Meade County, South Dakota Black Hills August events Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Sturgis, South Dakota 1938 establishments in South Dakota Festivals established in 1938 Summer events in the United States Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Unfit url Use mdy dates from August 2013 Coordinates on Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Русский Svenska 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 31 July 2018, at 02 : 33 ( UTC ). 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Question: when does the sturgis south dakota rally start
Answer: Friday before the first full week of August