Despite The COVID-19, Sturgis Rally 2020 Will Beguile The Masses

The summer of 2020 is beyond the usual summer; nothing is normal this year. The coronavirus has totally changed the lives of masses. Since its inception, the COVID-19 pandemic has spread everywhere around the globe. Public health restrictions including social distancing, lockdowns of businesses, educational institutes, markets, recreational places, and overall social life to curtailing the spread of the disease have led to cancel festivals, concerts, movie releases, and sports events. Many vacations, trips, and large celebrations have been limited or halted for the time being. All in all, everything has moved from the prevailing state, and motorcycle rallies are no exception. Because of spending so many months under strict lockdowns, seeking out fun activities has become even more important now. Doing something you are actually fond of will distract you from problems, depressions, stresses, and help you cope with life's challenges. After so much speculation and contemplation about the occurrence of Sturgis Rally 2020, the cat has finally come out of the bag. The organizers have decided to make this event happen and please people in these most desperate times. The event will be organized under certain SOPs and strict restrictions proposed by the administrative authorities of the state.

Source: AA Motorcycle Shipping

A brief background of this event:

The history of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally started on 14th August 1938. That year, it was organized by a famous motorcycle club, the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club and led by a motorcycle dealer named Clarence “Pappy” Hoel. At that time, the rally included a series of motorcycle races and riding skills competitions like motocross, flat track, and hill climb events. Throughout the past 80 years, Sturgis bike week has certainly grown and evolved to become the most alluring event for motorcycle enthusiasts. Talking about the location, the rally is organized in the city of Sturgis which is located in western South Dakota, on the eastern side of the Wyoming border, and lies in the heart of the Black Hills. The city offers some of the most unique and beautiful scenery in the country, including Mount Rushmore. Because of the city’s location, this rally gained so much popularity among the motorcycle community.

When will Sturgis 2020 start?

The Sturgis Bike Rally 2020 will start on 7th August and will go through August 16th, and there’s a lot to do within that time for the riders. Riding is, of course, at the forefront but there are tons of other things of fun in this event too. Make sure to stay in a place close to the event so you won’t miss what different events have to offer. Additionally, you must keep in mind that the activities will be limited this year due to the coronavirus pandemic but still there will be a lot to enjoy.

What will this year’s Sturgis rally include and exclude from the event?

In past, Sturgis rallies include the following famous events and must-do of the rally: Buffalo Chip(a destination at the South Dakota that offers campgrounds and cabins besides hosting concerts, races, and lots of big parties), Motorcycle Museum(preserving the history of motorcycling from interactive displays to a lounge with famous motorcycle movies to a collection of vintage motorcycles), concerts(Every night of the event there’s live music from local, home-grown bands, up-and-coming regional acts, and well-known and celebrated national artists to entertain the bikers), rally rides and races(there is event rides like the Mayor’s Ride that brings together riders to benefit local emergency services, The Pappy Hoel Memorial Ride to honor the event founder and support local charities, etc), and vendors(they sell t-shirts, patches, and pins; you can also find sales on gear, accessories and bike upgrades directly from the dealers), etc.

Unlike the previous rallies, in Sturgis Rally 2020, all of the city-sponsored events, such as the opening ceremonies, the parades, a B1 Flyover, and entertainment and live music at the Harley-Davidson Rally Point have been canceled. Additionally, some of the bands originally on the roster on July 21 were also removed from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally’s website by the organizers. However, there is still a lot to enjoy in the event. There are around 25 acts listed, from hard rock acts to country for fascinating the participants. The list also includes Wyoming group Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band. Moreover, other events will include drag races and a poker tournament in this year’s rally.

What are the SOPs and instructions to follow on the event?

As of now, there are 895 corona cases registered in South Dakota, with 49 hospitalized in different hospitals. The state has seen more than a hundred deaths because of this ferocious pandemic since mid-March. There has been a spike in corona patients throughout July. The city administration has advised vendors to use masks, medical gloves, and other protective items of the corona safety kit. All these items could be provided by the city administration when required. Furthermore, motorcyclists are allowed to park on Main street and not anywhere else. The administration will also install sanitation stations throughout the Sturgis. Moreover, the idea of mass testing is also discussed but not agreed upon yet. All these precautionary measures have one common goal of reducing the number of participants gathering at once and controlling the spread of coronavirus. People are strictly advised to keep social distancing, wear masks, and clean their hands every now and then.

Where to stay during the event?

Staying in Sturgis can be economical or luxurious according to your affordability. Camping in the campgrounds of Sturgis is adventurous and saves you from making a big hole in your pocket. You can stay on the mild side or where the party goes on all night long, the choice is totally yours. Each campground provides normal amenities like shower houses and restrooms while some have little bars and places to get something to eat after a long day on the road too. Surprisingly some of them even have swimming pools which are great for cooling off after a long day in the saddle. You can also stay in the town’s accommodations if you like. There is something for everyone at Sturgis.

Source: Rad Season

How many bikers are expected to participate in Sturgis Rally 2020?

The message has been widely broadcasted across social media and electronic media that with some restrictions, Sturgis Rally 2020 will throttle ahead. Despite the fact that South Dakota has seen a spike in coronavirus infections in July, it will host hundreds of thousands of bikers for the 80th edition of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This event hosts around 500,000 bikers every year and according to city statistics, the highest attendance was just under 740,000 in 2015. But due to travel restrictions in some countries including Canada, only about half the usual number of people, nearly 250,000, are expected to roll through western South Dakota, seeking the freedom of cruising the beautiful mountains and mesmerizing landscapes in a state that has skipped lockdowns. This event could be the biggest of all anywhere so far during the pandemic. Though residents were split as the city weighed its options, yet many people worried that the rally would cause an unmanageable outbreak of COVID-19.