It would only take a year for the Black Hills Motor Classic to become an international event. The first to show up, and show up ready for speed, were Canadians. Bringing some of the fastest bikes from around the world, they would put up their skills against the quickest riders in the United States.
Yet, the second annual Rally in 1939 would begin on a more leisurely note. Led by the Jackpine Gypsies, a gypsy tour was held that took hundreds of riders through the Black Hills, making sure to hit all of the scenic spots along the way. For those who weren’t up for such a long ride, shorter tours were also led to locations such as Spearfish Canyon.
But at the heart of the Rally, the official Black Hills Motor Classic, stood trials of speed and daring. For two days, August 12th and 13th, records would be broken, time and time again.
Speed is the Game
Sturgis quickly made themselves known as the place to be when it came to speed and thrills while on a motorcycle. During the first Rally, Sturgis established itself as having the fastest half-mile track in the nation. For the second Rally, they were going to show off just how much speed could be had.
Looking to lead the pack were two men from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. Bringing in four bikes was “Doc” LaRay. His crown jewel was a Norton Special, which was considered the fastest European racing bike. Bringing in two bikes of his own, “Speed” Buchanan was looking to make a name for himself in Sturgis, after having torn up tracks through the states.
A local, Albert Nelson, was also looking at clinching a win in Sturgis. During the first Rally, Nelson had made his racing debut, and from there he began to dominate. In Milwaukee, he would collect 10 first place wins, and a handful of second place finishes.
Hundreds of other racers would pour into Sturgis for the weekend races. Some were wanting to make a name for themselves, while others wanted to race against the best of the best. Sturgis had the fastest track, the quickest riders, and the biggest thrills.
It wasn’t just motorcycles though that were going to reach breakneck speeds. Before the motorcycle riders discovered just how fast they could get on the track in Sturgis, automobiles had first reached the peak of speed, and that hadn’t changed during the Rally.
Instead of finely tuned, precision engines, racers took up in something a bit more universal; Ford Model Ts. The cars were stripped down, and hot rodded, to not only thrill the audience, but also give them some laughs.
By the end of the weekend though, one rider did emerge as a standout. Breaking his own record, Spegelhauf of Milwaukee, one of the nation’s top riders, came out victorious after clinching the win in the special feature event. He would fly around the half mile track in just 30.5 seconds.
A City Alive
The excitement wasn’t reserved just for the track when it came to the Black Hills Motor Classic. The city of Sturgis as a whole came to life.
Daily street parades would welcome families into what largely became a circus event. Having seen success the prior year, the race committee wanted to see their event grow and blossom, and that it did.
Besides the parades, ariel trapeze acts and an animal show were set up downtown. The goal was to add a host of attractions to be held downtown in order to give individuals of all ages something to do after the races, and join in a sense of community. A biker culture was beginning to form, where riders wouldn’t be just competitors, but a community; a family.
It was that spirit that really drove the formation of the Rally. And it was that spirit that allowed the Rally to grow year after year, attracting the best of the best from all around the world.
Growth and a Halt
As with previous years, the third annual Rally in 1940 had grown even larger. Not only did the races become even more competitive, but the attractions for the entire family grew as well. Community meals were held, and all sorts of unique acts could be seen throughout the weekend.
The third annual Rally would also see a local bring home the championship, as Albert Nelson captured victory.
As World War II began to rage on in Europe, the Rally would become a great distraction, at least for a while.
In December of 1941, the United States would enter WWII. Riders who would have seen themselves seeking thrills in Sturgis were now being sent overseas to overcome the threat of fascism and the rise of Adolf Hilter’s Nazi regime.
Turnout for the fourth annual Rally would be lower, which had been expected. And then, the Rally simply was gone.
For four years, 1942-1945, the racing committee made the decision to pull the plug. Due to gas rationing, they decided to postpone the fifth annual Black Hills Motor Classic.
With the Rally still being in its infant stage, cancelling for four years could have been a death blow. But instead, it would become the formation of something a bit different. The foundation had been laid, and people changed by the war would begin placing the next set of bricks down.