If you are one of the fortunate (or possessed), you are probably making your last-minute plans for Sturgis.
The upcoming event in South Dakota is only a few weeks away, and no matter if you are planning to visit Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse or Devil’s Tower, I’m jealous. I could do without the dozens of RUBs that will take their brand new CVOs on its maiden voyage road trip or the “trailer bailers” that haul their bikes to within 70 miles of town so they can shuttle their scooters to Main Street, but there aren’t many gatherings that celebrate the freedom and the culture of motorcycling any better. Thousands of souls ride the entire way to make their pilgrimage to the Land of Custer because that is the spirit of the event, which goes back to the 1940s. Other gatherings may brag about their “must attend” status, but let’s face it, Sturgis is the holy land. Motorcycle Mecca.
There’s the motocross races sponsored by the Jackpine Gypsies club, charity rides for Sky Ranch and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame, Rhett Rotten’s Wall of Death, tons of classic bands at the various venues, the Broken Spoke campgrounds, and so on. No matter where you look, it’s the peak of biking life for the masses. I do wonder just how many A.B.A.T.E. members are there, how much recruiting gets done and how many really do pause to think about how good it is to enjoy this little event with such freedom and liberation. I would hope that there is an ABATE tent out there, with appropriate registration forms for each state, to meet with riders, discuss our cause and remind them that there are some out there who would love nothing more than to take the whole event out of circulation. With that many bikers in one place, it would seem like a good place to set up an “I Do Belong To A.B.A.T.E.” tent and preach the two-wheeled gospel.
As the event approaches its 75th go-around in the next few years, it may be getting a bit cliché, and a little too commercialized. But commercialization of the biking culture means there’s a large number of people out there riding and more riders means more potential A.B.A.T.E. disciples. Someone just needs to get the word to those riding faithful. Now please open your service manuals to page 32. Hallelujah!
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” -- Ronald Reagan
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