Not yet a South Dakota small town, but while overall the number of participants for the 2009 Sturgis Rally vary from source to source, from flat to a 15% decrease versus last year, Jay Allen claims that the Broken Spoke Saloon (Lazelle Street) and its extension the Broken Spoke Campground (County Line) had this year absolute record traffic numbers. So, what was going on in “Broken Spoke Township”?
The maiden Broken Spoke Saloon housed a display of the Next Generation and Beyond (Brian Elliott of Black Sunshine Customs, Rod Davis of Stripped Down Cycles, Scott Williams of Williams Originals, etc). Partygoers and campers could experience the Biggest Drive-In Biker Bar, the Limpnickie Lot, The Good Ol’ Days Racetrack, Vendors Village and The American Motor Dome. This year was special as the Vets Moving Wall was on site for the spectators to experience. What else? The Biggest Biker Pool, the Sugarbear and Michael Litcher Ride attracting 300 riders, the opening of the Legends Gallery (with photography work from Colleen Swartz, Speed King’s Jeff Citron and master painter David Uhl and John Guillemette). And of course endless live concerts all week long. Broken Spoke Saloon. (pictures Left Geno Stull. Right Colleen Swartz).
Broken Spoke county line campground is where it’s at in Sturgis I’ll never stay anywhere else. Good times great people and the knuckle, pans, and shovels outnumber the twinkie baggers out there..the VINTAGE BIKE ADDICTION is in our blood.
http://vintagebikeaddiction.blogspot.com/
I had a great time at the Spoke Campground this year. Beer, Mini-bike races, bands, beer, dirt track racing, beer and loud music coming from the Led Sled trailer…………it all made for a kick ass time. On top of all the fun and entertainment the amenities were awesome, I always had a hot shower to get me going in the morning.
Yeah its the best kept secreat out there………we go there for beers and a swim on the hots days……all the best to jay and the staff!!
Having been at the Broken Spoke County Line, for the past 3 years, this year was the tops in regards to attendance, class acts, motorcycles, industry celebrities, events, and general public. With bringing the gang from Limpnickie Lot as well as the music provided each night, to the spontaneous races (on and off the dirt track), this was the place to be. Team that with RV and tent camping at a reasonable price (99 for a week), where else should someone be next year?! Jay, Brian and the team at Target Logistics have a commitment to bringing this industry back to the basic’s and i think they’ve done a good job so far. Looking forward to seeing what they have planned for next year.
This was my third year in Sturgis and I’ve stayed at the Broken Spoke County Line every year I’ve been out. I must say that I have never had so much fun in Sturgis. I really can’t stand the downtown flavor of Sturgis so the County line is a great place without all that downtown rif raf but with all the crazy good times. The Staff there is great…. by that I mean they actually let you have a little to much fun with puffing there chests and the Bathrooms are the best in Sturgis….. very Clean! I’ve slept in many a ditch and can respect a good clean bathroom!
You can see some of the crazy shit that went down at the spoke every night right here….. kemosabeandthelodge.blogspot.com
Jay and John most DEFINITELY know how to get down.
Thanks for the hospitality in Sturgis, boys. You run a first-class joint and your early support is much appreciated.
cg
Sturgis was great and being at the Broken Spoke is always a part of that for me. I was honored and so very pleased at the great gallery that I was asked to be a part of and I wait all year long to go on the Cycle Source ride (Tuesday) and this year was no exception. We left from the County Line and headed just 25 miles north to the ranch where we rode bikes, horses, had some food, rounded up the late calves and helped to immunize, castrate and brand them with the ranchers. It is always the absolute highlight for me and it just shows you that you don’t have to set a single foot on main street to know what Sturgis is all about.
The first year I stayed at the Spoke I was one of about 20 campers, last year we were one of 200 and this year we were one of 2,500… but with over 600 acres it still feels like a friendly rally with real people and good times.
Thank you to Jay and Brian and Joe for putting such a fabulous venue together and to all of my friends and the Limp Nickie Lot for being all in one place. I didn’t need to go far to see everyone I wanted to visit or meet the kind of people I wanted to know.
Can’t wait for next year! I hope to do more work with the gallery and I am encouraging Jay to become a minister so we can have weddings there! (No, not for me!)
Jay has proven that he has the perseverance and vision to make something out of nothing. (Does anyone recall the protests when the County Line was first coming together?) Each year he’s added more to do and welcomed more diverse groups to participate.
For those who say the County Line is too far from Sturgis, settle down, it’s just a couple of miles up the road. Besides, it’s that very singularity that has developed into distinctive character, giving the Spoke County Line an identity all its own. Be there or be square!
I also camped out there with my son Chad. We had a great time out there! It was great taking a swim in the HUGE pool after some late nights (early mornings).
But there was also some great fun at the Broken Spoke on Lazelle.
A big Thanks to Jay, John and all the staff at the campground!
jay is a fixture at the Broken Spoke and rocks. Its always fun and its great to visit with friends and always something interesting going on. My 15 year old son just got his m/c license 3 days before Sturgis and his favorite hang out spot was the Spoke. Congrats to everybody. Next year Jay needs to provide an oil pan so Teach can drain his pants once in a while. Looks like riding knuckleheads is dirty work
Without a doubt, I had fun with all the above. Ron Finch is a treasure everyone needs to spend time with, and hanging out with him will blow your mind. There was always something to do, e.g. – going to the ranch, roping Lichter!!!, watching the young’uns building a bike, watching Carr on the dirt track, etc, etc. Awesome … looking forward to next year!
Had a great Time at the Broken Spoke. Jay is truely one of the nicest people Ive ever met. I wouldnt stay anywhere else when I go to Sturgis. Plus the Limpnickie Lot Rules. Great Times Had By ALL!
Brian
Teach, Nice photos. Kudos.
We stayed a lessor known campsite east of town and like the reports from those of you at the Broken Spoke, attendance was up from the year before. So I’ll be curiouis when the final attendance figures come in as to whether or not attendance was up or down. But it was definately up at our campsite. Maybe camping out east besides Glencoe or Buffalo Chip is becoming more popular.
The moving wall at Broken Spoke was great to see. The volunteers on hand there said they hope to make it a permanent stop there each year so hopefully will get to see it each year. Not sure if I can post a pic in the reply section, but if it works, it is below.
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All of Jay Allen’s visions were executed with great praise from the staff to every customer. All week I would over hear people talking on there phones about how pumped they were on the facility…. There’s a great positive vibe, wether your in the bar, or out on good ol’ days raceway. My Home at the Rally will forever be the Broken Spoke County Line.
Kudos To Jay Allen !!!
Jay rocks! Although I stayed a little north of the Broken Spoke Campground, my buddies and I spent a lot of time at Jay’s awesome BSC, I’ve been going to Sturgis since 1989, but 09 was the best yet due to Jay’s vision of what biker heaven should be…
Helleva job .
Jay ran 184.667 mph ( record run ) at Bonneville last week .
See you at the B U B races at the end of the month .
Ray
Sturgis County line is the preveiw for Jay and Bonneville is the finale, GO JAY
Jay, you always put on a great show at the events. We didn’t make it out to Sturgis this year but we hear that the Broken Spoke Campground was better then ever… Great job. Thanks for everything you helped with in the past, hope to see you soon.
Ray, Craig and the crew
Jersey Devil Motorcycles