When John “Pappy” Hoel and his wife Pearl decided to host a weekend rally of races for the members of their motorcycle club, the Jackpine Gypsies, they didn’t just start a tradition—they changed the face of motorcycling in the United States forever. Originally called the “The Black Hills Motor Classic,” the first rally kicked off in the summer of 1938 in what was just a sleepy town in western South Dakota. Camping was provided in “Pappy” and Pearl Hoel’s backyard, behind their Motorcycle Shop on Junction Avenue. The first event was catered by Pappy’s wife, Pearl, and the wives of the other club members. That original rally lasted the weekend and began with just 200 riders. In 2013, the renamed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally welcomed over 740,000 to its 75th anniversary gathering.
The original event was catered by Pearl Hoel and the other wives of the Gypsies, who served hot dogs, baked beans, and watermelon. Today, the event brings food vendors of all flavors who compete in the Street Food Throw Down, and feed throngs of riders who come to the rally for charity rides, the Mayor’s Ride and the schedule of races that are still hosted by the Jackpine Gypsies.
Among the many colorful events scheduled for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is The Spirit of Sturgis Vintage Race, which preserves the historical Sturgis Half Mile while honoring the manufacturers who built the global motorcycling industry. Marvel at the fastest antique board track racers from the 1920’s, hand shift racers from the 1930’s to the 1950’s, and vintage big twin bikes from the 1960’s and 1970’s. The event also features motorcycle field games and workshops that give tips on kick starting your vintage bike.
If you are gearing up to take your vintage bike on a road trip to Sturgis, make sure it’s in top racing form with Gasket King. We are a family-owned business, built on a passion for motorsports. Choose from over 12,000 in-stock gaskets or let us custom fabricate the exact gasket you need. Send us a tracing or drawing of your gasket, along with measurements and we will create a high-quality composite gasket made from top-quality American materials. Each of our gaskets meets or exceeds OEM specs and carries our Gasket King 100% satisfaction guarantee. Let us put our passion to work for you, and help keep your vintage bike running strong for miles to come. When you need quality replacement gaskets for your vintage bike, call Gasket King at 817.562.8178, shop online today or complete the online contact form to send us a question or learn more.
