Posted on 08/03/2008 7:00:03 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
(dpa) - Senator John McCain, 71, heads to the unlikely town of Sturgis, South Dakota, on Monday to rub elbows with the rowdy tattooed rebels of the American roads at a campground rock concert.
With a population of 780,000, South Dakota on the Great Plains is hardly an election-day prize for either McCain's Republican Party or rival Democrats.
But the state doubles in population during the annual August motorcycle rally in Sturgis, at the foot of the Black Hills, that draws an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 out-of-state "wild hogs" who roar cross country to celebrate their bike culture.
McCain plans to maximize on the crowds by providing the opening act at an annual concert that honours American military veterans at the Buffalo Chip campground, his campaign said Sunday.
McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, will warm up the crowd for performances by American Idol country music singer Kelly Pickler and the mercurial Kid Rock, according to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader newspaper online.
The annual motorcycle rally - from August 4-10 this year - is one of the country's largest, with a reputation for notorious and outrageous behaviour.
A novelty draw to the Buffalo Chip campground this year will be a firing range for cyclists to try out automatic rifles, including vintage World War I machine guns, camp owner Rod Woodruff told the Argus Leader.
It was not known if McCain would take a turn at the firing range - or if he would draw a crowd as large as the 200,000 who flocked to hear Democratic presumptive nominee Barack Obama in Berlin recently.
All I can say is ... LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Real men ride Harleys!
Only if he is ridin bitch
The rump riders are from SF. Their top patch is a rainbow and their bottom patch folds up ...
lol! That was bad. lol
Sturgis can’t be a race card. There will be bikers of all shapes, sizes and colors there. And, Lord love the ladies that ride their own.
There will be all kinds of riders at Sturgis. Die hard bikers who live on the road, yuppies with trailers full of chrome, and yes Virginia every outlaw club in the nation will be represented.
Secret Service would have a panic attack!
I may be getting older, but I refuse to grow up. And I may be out to pasture, but God opens new avenues. Just started riding 11 years ago, and I love winding two lanes away from the fast paced world.
If you are not up to a two wheeled cycle, find a well designed trike. Getting in the wind will give you a whole new outlook on life.
I have never wanted to be among those that haunt Sturgis this week each year, until now. God bless ‘em all.
The annual motorcycle rally - from August 4-10 this year - is one of the country’s largest, with a reputation for notorious and outrageous behaviour.
Argus leader BS along with the comparison to the Obama crowd draw. The Sioux Falls Argus Leader is not worth using as TP.
Oh, I almost forgot, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is hands down the largest of its kind in the world, and draws folks from all over the world.
The supposed notorious and outrageous behavior is pretty tame compared to that of twenty five years ago, but the “journalist” doing the writing probably wasn’t yet born twenty five years ago.
Good morning, Wita.
I second your opinion of the Argus Leader. It’s trash. I’ve lived in the Black Hills for nearly 40 years and have watched the Rally grow and change over that time. I always look forward to it. I have several biker friends and family members who camp out on our acreage every year. They and their friends, are without fail, courteous, respectful, patriotic and very conservative.
Our two sons are planning on being at the “Chip” tonight, so perhaps I will have an “after action” report.
Drive safely this week around the Hills. In my opinion, the Hogs have the right-of-way.
A cheery cloudy morning to ya. Hoping for that in person after action report from your sons. I’m going to check with Pennington Co Republicans this morning to see if there is an arrival time and landing party.
I got here in 1979 and don’t think I have missed one yet. The biggest change over time seems to be the spread to every major town in the Black Hills, and the transition from bad biker rally to family motorcycle event.
Like the Rolling Thunder event in DC over Memorial Day weekend. You get pretty much a cross-section of America. A few bad apples, no doubt, but I've never seen any real trouble in DC during those events (guess even the hardass outlaw clubs have respect for the event, or they don't want to mess with Federal policy agencies in DC).
McCain attends biker rally where MOST MOTORCYCLISTS VOTE.
And one not too far from Mt. Rushmore. I bet that gets woirked into McCain's itinerary.
...throwover bags plus tent & sleeping bags and the clamp on windshield and she dresses well enough for a long road trip.
Vets of Iraq, Afghan wars fight to win seats in Congress (Bill Russell)
Moments after Army Lt. Col. William Russell ended his 28-year military career, the Iraq war veteran revved up his Harley-Davidson and set out on an improbable journey.
In his first political outing, Russell is trying to topple a political giant.
The 45-year-old Republican this weekend kicked off his campaign against U.S. Rep. John Murtha, 76, of Johnstown, a powerful Democrat and decorated Vietnam War veteran seeking a 19th term.
Gorgeous. Is it a Wide Glide? Thanks for sharing. :-)
06 Deuce
and ty!
McCain could get some press here if he bares his breasts for the crowd.
He’ll be lucky to get 5,000 at the Buffalo Chip. First, the place is disgusting. Second, you have to pay to get in. I’m sure the press will get plenty of drunk women flashing McCain if he’s numb enough to go up on stage with that crowd.
(Don’t ask me how I know these things)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.