June, 12 2007:Racing at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, as one might suspect, has featured a lot of history over the last 6 1/2 decades.
Neil Hultman joined the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in 1947. He has held almost every office. He moved from Holabird, to Sturgis and joined the Gypsies with influence from J.C. “Pappy” Hoel.
Hultman, who is an active member, said bikers coming to Sturgis now aren't quite as interested in the racing as they once were. He attributed that to the rally's diversification because of the addition of concerts and other events.
“Things have become more money-oriented,” the 76-year-old Hultman continued. “To put on a good race now is almost cost-prohibitive.”
Half-mile races have been a rally staple since the event began in 1938. Other forms of racing, however, have moved into the spotlight.
Hill-climb events began in the mid-1950s. Hultman recalled a Friday tour to Mt. Rushmore, with racing on Saturday and Sunday.
As rally interest grew, the Gypsies received a request to put on another event. Hultman said a hill-climb was the first endeavor.
They leased a hill east of town for one year. People were very interested in the hill-climb, and the event kept growing. One hill-climb event was on a hill located on Bear Butte's south side.
“As they (Gypsies) accumulated money in the club, we thought we should have a little clubhouse and some property of our own,” Hultman said.
The club also promoted a motocross track north of Bear Butte Lake. All revenue went into a pot. That money, plus a bank loan, enabled the club to purchase five acres of land.
The club purchased another 30 acres for hill-climb, motocross, and short track races at the current location along Short Track Road.
Hultman said they held the first short-track races in the mid-1950s. Fellow Gypsy member Bob Moore convinced the club to host races because it was “the thing” in New Mexico when he was in the military. Moore made that suggestion in 1962, and they constructed the current short track the next year.
Moore, a Gypsy member since 1968 who currently sits on the board of directors, said he doesn't recall there being much of a problem convincing the Gypsies to try short track, as the club already had a piece of land. He and a friend built a short tracker out of old cycle parts and a Ducati motor; that helped with their presentation.
Motocross has started the rally's racing schedule for several years. It was at the fairgrounds before moving to the Gypsy grounds.
Moore said motocross is probably the most thrilling thing to watch. Hultman added cyclist demand would keep it going. “There are not too many tracks in the Sturgis area that promote racing.”
“I was in love with motorcycling since about 1952,” Moore said when asked how his Gypsy involvement began.
“When I got out of the military in 1962, I was still riding and doing some racing.” Hoel had a bike shop and asked Moore to join the club.
Obstacle course races, motorcycle rodeos, and suitcase races have entertained rally attendees in past years. “The suitcase races were just a fun thing to do n something to give the crowd something different,” Moore said.
“We were always trying to think of something to generate interest,' Hultman said. He recalled a stunt in which a volunteer would enter a paper outhouse. A Gypsy member would act as if he had too much to drink, and run in the middle of the outhouse.
Hoel once put a board wall on Main Street and used it to advertise the 1/2-mile races, according to Hultman. A board wall crash was done during a break in racing. Someone decided to try this, with fire, some time later.
Hultman said events like that are not done today because the schedule of events is full.
When asked about how racing has evolved, Moore said, “I don't think racing ever changes much. The equipment is where the change comes in, not with the people who are racing.”
Hultman and Moore, among others, have seen a multitude of great riders n including national champions n at the rally over the years.
“I don't know if I really have any favorites,” said the 69-year-old Moore. “They're all really highly competitive, likable individuals.”
Chuck Basney (on an Indian cycle) and Kelly Meyer (Triumph cycle) were part of the first race Hultman saw in 1947.
Hultman recalled Basney worked most of Saturday night in Hoel's shop. Basney and Meyer faced off in Sunday's final. The two went neck-and-neck before Basney pulled away on the final corner of the final lap.
Past years have featured up to 250 entries at the short track, with some finals races getting underway at 1 a.m.
Moore, who has run Gypsy headquarters during the rally since the late 1970s, said he's not into the racing as much as he once was.
“Everything about the whole (Gypsy) program out there now is so much better than it used to be.” He cited recent improvements to the short track and lighting system.
Gypsy headquarters is at the Sturgis Vets Club, 868 Main St. Moore said hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the Friday before the rally (Aug. 5) through the following Saturday (Aug. 13). Headquarters will also be open half the day on Sunday, Aug. 14.
