Comments on: Sturgis Rally. The Way It Really Began.

By: Pepper

Pepper — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:08:57 +0000

Too right, Blue! Excluding the First Lady of Motorcycling in the piece was a huge faux pas.
Throughout the years Pearl Hoel was the “woman behind the man,” always smoothing the way and taking care of every detail. After Pappy passed she became eloquent advocate for the event she was so passionate about. While she wasn’t a motorcycle enthusiast, she loved people who rode bikes. Her hospitality and genuine respect and admiration for the racers and riders that visited her husband’s shop and came to the Sturgis Rally each year earned her a multitude of friends. The friends she collected over the years would always make the time to stop and see her, and she would always take the time to make them feel welcome. A well worn rider just in from a long trip was treated as warmly as a super star, she held no distinction. She was a gracious lady and one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met. She is greatly missed.
Two wonderful sources for Sturgis Rally history are the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, on line http://www.sturgismuseum.com or in person, and Carl Edeburn’s book Sturgis, The Story of the Rally. Not certain how many bookstores or websites would carry it, but you can order it from the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum website.
Thanks to Cyril for letting me go on and on about my favourite subject.

By: mikydwarfk

mikydwarfk — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:33:47 +0000

Thats strange some guy we call THE ICE CREAM MAN FROM HELL told us he started sturgis and daytona bike week well the things you learn

By: tattooeddmike

tattooeddmike — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:59:12 +0000

Thanks Cyril for again posting valuable info, and thank you Pepper for the insight into the Rally & Races. I agree that with time, some of the details become blurred or forgotten and going out to Sturgis for yourself is an experience you are not likely to ever forget! Over the years the the Rally will change, but with the museum, it helps to give history to an event all us us look forward to and some live for.

By: Mike Kiwi Tomas, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles

Mike Kiwi Tomas, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:23:46 +0000

Pepper. Absolutely outstanding and well done. Long live classic Indians and Pappy. Maybe the Harley was allowed to win the 1st race so as to buiild it into what it became??? Excellent article and thanks for taking the time to write it. Thanks Cyril for posting it.

By: Doc Robinson

Doc Robinson — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:45:09 +0000

Pepper, great summary. See you next August.

By: nicker

nicker — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:19:13 +0000

Pepper,

After some years of trying to chase down the history of the Depression-era Motorcycle Hobos (who referred to themselves as “The Gypsies”), i’m wondering if that quote ….. “those guys look like a bunch of gypsies” was actually a reference to this earlier group of migrant tradesman who, instead of riding the rails, rode motorcycles across America during the Depression.

(Something we may see again if times get worse)
-nicker-

By: Blue

Blue — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:07:32 +0000

Hey Pepper (fellow pert bottom appreciator!), don’t forget how important Pearl Hoel was, too. If it hadn’t been for Pearl sweet-talking all the wives of the local dignitaries, the Sturgis rally would never have got so far!

By: MC

MC — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:21:56 +0000

Thanks to Cyril and Pepper!

By: Patrick R.

Patrick R. — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:45:37 +0000

Read many things about the way it started, but this is probably the most documented I have read. Indians ruled!

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:42:22 +0000

Great story. Thanks.

By: Darin Maltsberger-Instructor@MTI

Darin Maltsberger-Instructor@MTI — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:49:31 +0000

Thanks to Pepper for a great article. Many of us who live here in South Dakota and have a passion for bikes, don’t always get to here the inside story on the history. I knew about the Gypsies, but didn’t know a lot of the other details. As the people age or pass away that were actually there, a large percentage of the story line fades with them. I’m glad someone took the time to write it all down and I’m glad Pepper took the time to share it with Cyril. I will be sharing this with my students today.
Cyril, you’re blog is part of our curriculum every week. Thanks for all you do.

-Darin