NEWS, EVENTS, AND ACTIVITIES FROM THE WILD PRAIRIE HOG CHAPTER3 T 0 1 6

HOG® HOTLINE952-953-7430

For information on rides and events, check the Wild Prairie HOG hotline or

Chapter web sitewww.wildprairiehog.com

CHAPTER MEETING SCHEDULE

Every 2nd Thursday, monthlyDinner - 6:30 pm

Meeting - 7:00 pmWild Prairie Harley-Davidson®

LOH®MEETING SCHEDULE

Every 1st Thursday, monthly6:30 pm (location TBD)

Wild Prairie HOG Chapter #2423Sponsored by

Wild Prairie Harley-Davidson12480 Plaza Drive

Eden Prairie, MN 55344952-698-5000

www.wildprairiehog.com

F C:TIM DUNPHY

THE EVER EVOLVING STURGIS RALLY

Th e Sturgis Rally began nearly 80 years ago but it’s only been in the past 25 years that it’s turned into the MEGA RALLY that it is today. Why? Many reasons not the least of which is the HD® Culture has gained Upper Middle Class acceptance beginning in the early 1990’s.

Prior to that time motorcycling in general was considered to be a blue collar, lower class and even rough cut pass time in America. As a young professional in 70’s and 80’s I hesitated to tell business clients I rode H-D®’s. Aft er all young professionals played golf, tennis and racket ball. And if you had really arrived you belonged to a country club or had a boat moored on Lake Minnetonka or better yet the St. Croix.

All that changed in the early 1990’s when some YOUNG URBAN PROFESSIONALS decided to go the “bad boy” route and buy H-D®’s. Much to our dismay the phenomenon took off and spread like wildfi re. Owning a H-D® soon became a status symbol and EVERYONE HAD TO HAVE ONE! Th ere were 2 and 3 year waiting lists at dealerships for some models and used bikes were selling for more than new ones. As much as some of us “old timers” were dismayed by these “newbies” buying their way into our culture I soon reasoned that this movement was good, great in fact for the Harley Davidson Motor Company, the motorcycling industry and the image of the sport. Aft er being in business for 90 years Harley Davidson overnight became a coveted status symbol.

Th e evolution of the Sturgis Rally into what it is today follows the path of the HD® success story. Prior to the 1990’s there was a Rally but it moved slowly beginning in the late 1930’s and didn’t become a noticeable thing until the 1970’s. By the 80’s Black Hills hosted 70,000 to 80,000 bikers during the Rally but in the 1990’s when there was 2 year waiting list to buy a new HD® the Rally ballooned to 300,000-400,000.

For the Rally it all began in 1936 when Clearance “Papi” Hoel bought an Indian Franchise in Sturgis SD. Hoel’s family had been in the ice business and with the advent of modern refrigeration the handwriting was on the

wild pr airie hog®

C E L E R

wall that the family ice business would not survive for long. Hoel soon started a Motor Cycle Club called the Jack Pine Gypsies and in 1938 hosted a race. It was a half mile dirt track and there were 9 racers and some 200 spectators.

Here’s a rough time line.

1936 Clearance “Papi” Hoel buys an Indian franchise in Sturgis and forms the Jack Pine Gypsies MC.

1938 Hoel host’s races in Sturgis. Half mile dirt track. 9 racers and 200 spectators.

1942 No Rally for 2 years due to World War II and gas rationing.

1950’s Just a small town racing venue.

1960 Th ere were 1,000 in attendance.

1970 2,000 in attendance but growing. Th e “live free” hippie culture had spilled into the motorcycle community and there were biker vagabonds on the road to the Rally.

1980’s By the 80’s the Rally had grown to around 80,000 attendees. Th ese were the best years in my opinion.

1990’s Th ings exploded into what it is today.

Th e Rally moved very slowly in the beginning years but started to gain momentum in the 70’s when the “live free” hippie culture spilled over into the biker community. It was during this time the vagabond bikers were discovering the Rally and the stories about the wild times, alcohol, drugs and street races became legendary. Th ese activities lead to the growth of the event but also lead to the laws and restrictions that are in force today. By the 1980’s the Rally had grow to 70-80,000 bikers in the Black Hills. In my opinion this was the best time. Th e Hills were crowded but not choked. Access to Sturgis and its events was easy. I was Sturgis in 1987 and I personally saw Papi Hoel. He was in his 80’s by then and was in a chair a few blocks down from the main drag. He was surrounded like Royalty by a group

of the Indian “faithful” with their vintage Chiefs and Scouts parked on the street. I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking about this Rally that began some 49 years earlier when he organized a small town motorcycle race.

Th en the 1990’s came along and the HD® Phenomenon hit! Th e rally exploded from 80,000 attendees in the 1980’s to 300,000 to 400,000 by 1994. Th e contrast is remarkable. From a slow beginning as a small town race venue beginning in the 1930’s to a few thousand bikers in the 70’s riding cobbled together hard tail choppers to the 1990’s and today where the Rally is attended by bikers from around the world some of which ride thousands of miles and sleep on the ground while others tow their bikes behind “Rock Star” motor homes.

Quite a deal Clearance “Papi” Hoel started in the 1930’s when he bought an Indian franchise as technology was forcing his family out of the ice business. Quite a deal…

F O:JIM PAWLOWSKI

9/11

On September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists who were members of al-Qaeda, an Islamist extremist network, hijacked four commercial airplanes. In a coordinated attack, the hijackers intentionally fl ew two of the planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, and a third into the Pentagon. Learning about the other hijackings, passengers and crew members on the fourth plane launched a counterattack, spurring the hijacker pilot to crash the plane into a fi eld in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed on that day, the single largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil.

On the 15th anniversary of this tragic day in history I and many members of the chapter rode to Marshall, MN to visit this cities 911 Memorial which includes a beam from one of Trade Towers circled by bricks representing each civilian, fi re, ems, and police offi cers that were died that day. I have to say, along with myself there were many among us with misty eyes. If you have never been to this site, I highly recommend that you do.

We will never forget.

A T :DAVE NEI

On a personal note, I tried 13 diff erent Rustic Roads so far, some were roller coaster roads, (lots of twits, turns, and rolling dips, a few of which were aggressive). All the ones I rode had fantastic views, and only 1, which I didn’t ride was gravel. I only wish that they were longer, but still well worth the ride. Dave

Award program for motorcyclists

It seems as if rustic roads were especially designed for motorcycles! Wisconsin has a large system of lightly traveled asphalt or gravel roads highlighting the state’s natural beauty.

Presently, Wisconsin has 117 marked Rustic Roads covering over 669 miles in 59 counties. Travel 10 of these roads and you’ll be eligible for a Rustic Roads Motorcycle Tour patch. 25 Rustic Roads qualifi es you for a special state certifi cate.

You need to travel at least 10 of the Rustic Roads for a patch and 25 or more of the roads for a certifi cate.

To verify participation, have your picture taken with your bike in front of the Rustic Road numbered sign. If solo, just your bike needs to be in front of the numbered sign. Once you assemble the minimum number of photos (10 or 25), forward them to the Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program for a patch and/or certifi cate. Paper or electronic photos can be submitted. Th ere is no time limit, and group photos are acceptable. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.

For more information:

http://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/motorcycles/mc-plate/rustic-roads.aspx

Would you like to be part of the next newsletter?Send your story along with any photos to:

editor@wildprairiehog.comor do it the old fashioned way and give your copy and photos to

me (Jim Pawlowski) at the next Chapter meeting.

WISCONSIN’S RUSTIC ROADS MOTORCYCLE TOUR PROGRAM

SY GDAVE NEIHOW TO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE ON GROOVED ROADS OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT

1. Relax.2. Don’t worry and keep on relaxing, tensing up is a HUGH mistake.3. Stay fi rm but keep on relaxing4. Don’t let it freak you out, remember that you’re going to be OK, it only feels worse than it is.5. Keep your speed up, with traffi c if any is present.  Going too slow is a mistake.6. Keep your head and eyes up and looking ahead as you normally would.7. Sometimes grooved roads and uneven pavement are unavoidable, and that’s OK, just ride it out. Remember

motorcycles started out on gravel and dirt roads. Sooner or later, you’ll have to ride them again.

YOUR OFFICERS

DIRECTOR:Tim Dunphydirector@wildprairiehog.com

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:Greg Andersonasstdirector@wildprairiehog.com

SECRETARY:Greg Petriesecretary@wildprairiehog.com

TREASURER:Jim Cutcheytreasurer@wildprairiehog.com

ACTIVITIES:OPEN POSITIONactivities@wildprairiehog.com

LADIES OF HARLEY:Marguerite Cutcheyloh@wildprairiehog.com

MEMBERSHIP:David Kanemembership@wildprairiehog.com

HISTORIAN:OPEN POSITIONhistorian@wildprairiehog.com

HEAD ROAD CAPTAIN:OPEN POSITIONroadcaptain@wildprairiehog.com

SAFETY:Kevin Hartysafety@wildprairiehog.com

PHOTOGRAPHER:Cecila Howardphoto@wildprairiehog.com

EDITOR:Jim Pawlowskieditor@wildprairiehog.com

CHAPLAIN:Curt Quinerchaplin@wildprairiehog.com

WEBMASTER:OPEN POSITIONwebmaster@wildprairiehog.com

SPOKESMAN:Dave Knutsonspokesman@wildprairiehog.com