Hot scooters on display at Cushman Club of America rally in Sturgis, SD (Photo: Ken Bingenheimer)
More than 1,000 Cushman scooters and a variety of service vehicles (think golf carts and more) have descended upon Sturgis, SD, this week, for the Cushman Club of America's annual rally.
Lured by the chance to "Come play where the big boys play," the Cushman aficianados have responded affirmatively and are putting a very different face on this small town, which is generally associated with images of much larger two-wheelers.
"This is gonna be the meet to remember," said rally organizer Jeff Bartheld, obviously savoring the arrival of the event he has put so much work into.
Registrants hail from 45 states, and one came from Australia.
Tomorrow, June 14, Main Street will be open only to scooters and at 3 p.m., when a group photo is planned, it should be engulfed in the manner Main Street is every year during the motorcycle rally. During that time, representatives of the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce, the Jackpine Gypsies, the rally committee, and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum will each pick five scooters to receive medals as the best of the bunch.
A second, juried scooter show will take place in the community center, with prizes to be awarded on Thursday.
On Tuesday the more rugged scooterists, numbering around 120, will make a grand ride through the Black Hills, presenting what is sure to be a memorable spectacle.
Maury LaRue, mayor of Sturgis, noted that it will be very easy for the town "to accommodate a three-day rally that wasn't going to sprawl all over the town." Because Sturgis has numerous buildings and facilities that are only used two weeks out of the year, for the biker rally, the town is making a major effort to attract other groups. The Cushman Club event is one, and in just a few days a club of Ford Mustang lovers will have their rally here. Then there will be a bluegrass festival.
"This is a very different crowd," Maury said, referring to the Cushman group. "They're here to look at Cushmans and to ride. They're also not here to camp. They're here in their RVs."
Jeff Bartheld remarked that, "These folks are here thinking, 'I want to relive my youth. Oh boy, here we go!'"
Related articles:
Cushmans come to play where the big boys play: Sturgis
Old coots on scoots fill Sturgis Main Street
Cushman Rough Riders tackle the Black Hills
Comments
I'm betting the noise level was some what different than what they have at the rally in August.
My favorite slide was the one with the red Cushman trike.
First of all "Harley engine in a Cushman body" - did you ask him to start it up? That should answer your question.
Also, Were those 'ape hanggers' on that blue scoot on slide #10?
Never mind. I looked at it again - it's not. However, did you see anything like that?
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