Riders in the Sturgis Buffalo Chip®’s signature Legends Ride® cheered Monday as the two student-built Buffalo Chip Challenge bikes were sold at auction, raising a record amount in support of the annual charity event. The two bikes up for auction were a 2014 Indian Chieftan customized by a team under the direction of Keith Terry, John Shope and Chris Malo, and a 2014 Harley Davidson Road King customized by a team led by Randy and Nick Cramer and Paul Yaffe.
Collectively the bikes brought winning bids of $120,000, with the Team Yaffe Harley going for $60,000 and the Team Shope Indian bringing in $61,000 all in support of the Legends Ride. The Legends Ride has traditionally supported local charities, Black Hills Special Olympics and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. In addition to donations to these two causes, ride donations for this year’s event will also help students interested in a career in the motorcycle industry by providing educational scholarships. After seven consecutive sell-out years, the ride has raised more than $375,000 for charity.
Buffalo Chip President Rod Woodruff and Black Hills Special Olympics President Jack Lynass,last year burned the note on a van purchased through Legends Ride donations. 2015 donations will be used toward another van used to transport Special Olympics athletes to events and training sessions.
“The Legends Ride is one of the most popular annual Buffalo Chip events and not only gives riders a chance to meet some of the biggest celebrities at the rally, but more importantly supports some incredibly worthy local charities,” said Rod Woodruff, Sturgis Buffalo Chip CEO. “We are most excited about the opportunity this year to encourage students to pursue a career in the motorcycle industry. Everyone who has taken part and paid the rider fee helped to fulfill the dreams of students and special athletes.”
Some of the biggest names in television, film, music and motorcycling joined hundreds of riders from around the globe for the annual ride through the scenic Northern Black Hills that raises money for the local charities. Hundreds of Legends Riders gathered on Deadwood’s Main Street this afternoon to take part in the auction and socialize with these celebrities.
Supermodel, Elle McPherson was a fan favorite at the ride today. Members of the bands performing at the Buffalo Chip this week attended, signing autographs and riding new Victory motorcycles on the ride. David Uhl, R. Lee “Gunny” Ermey, John Shope, Roland Sands, Cory and Zach Ness, actor Zahn McClarnon, Moonshiners Bill Canny and Josh Owens with his dog Cutie Pie, and Olympic bronze medalist Lloyd Eisler also joined the ride. Continue reading ’75th Sturgis Rally. Buffalo Chip Legends Ride Pays Off.’
I have never been big into motorcycle racing although I have watched quite a few races, at the Daytona Speedway. Last Wednesday, I was a guest of Black Hills Harley-Davidson® GM/Co-Owner and event promoter Terry Rymer at the Black Hills Half-Mile in Rapid City and jumped on the opportunity to learn more about dirt-track racing. This type of racing is uniquely American and the AMA Pro Flat Track series is one of the oldest motorsports championships in the nation.
Greeted by retired racer and now commentator Chris Carr, a seven-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship and a motorcycle land speed world record holder, and invited to listen to its live international broadcast in the TV production booth, I learned a lot and got quite excited during the different heats and final (18 riders, 25 laps) Chris Carr and myself talked about the technical feasibility of getting the TV feed of his broadcast, giving you the option to watch live the races in my website a couple of times every year. Are you interested? Tell me in “comments” Continue reading ‘Sturgis 75th. Being A Guest At The Black Hills Speedway.’
