Women Riders Take Center Stage at Legendary Rally
Posted on 25. Jul, 2009 by admin in Open Road
In an ongoing effort to celebrate women riders, and those who dream of riding Harley-Davidson will host its third annual Women’s Day on Sunday, August 2, 2009, during the 69th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The Motor Company will also offer a variety of activities for women throughout the rally between August 1-7, 2009, at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, including an interactive women’s area featuring motorcycle and product information, seminars and giveaways.
Women who visit the interactive area at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center will find a wide array of information, from new functional and fashionable gear, to becoming a mentor to new riders, demonstrations on how to pick up a bike, and a scavenger hunt, as well as information for new riders looking to get behind the handlebars of their own motorcycles.
Harley-Davidson will donate $5 to Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) for each woman who completes the scavenger hunt.
Next month one of the country’s most popular motorcycle events takes place in South Dakota, the 69th Sturgis Rally.
Riders from around the world will arrive at Rapid City, S.D. in the first week of August for the what’s widely considered the largest motorcycle event in the United States.
The first rally was held on 14 August 1938, by the “Jackpine Gypsies” motorcycle club, who still own and operate the tracks, hillclimb, and field areas where the rally is centered. The first event was called the “Black Hills Classic” and consisted of a single race with nine participants and a small audience. The founder is generally considered to be Clarence “Pappy” Hoel, who purchased an Indian Motorcycle franchise in Sturgis in 1936 and formed the “Jackpine Gypsies” that same year.
In 1989, founder Pappy Hoel died at age 85. But the rally lived on, with over 600,000 visitors and participants in 2000. In 2002, the city realized the need for a department that would be in charge of organizing and marketing the annual event.
In 2003, the Black Hills Motor Classic officially became the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. 2005 marked the 65th anniversary for this famous bike week with an attendance number of 525,000.
Last year 415,000 people attended the rally.
During Harley-Davidson’s Women’s Day, the Motor Company will offer special seminars focused on teaching women how to customize their motorcycle for fit, function and style; healthy eating tips while out on the road; and best practices for conducting a pre-ride safety check.
Following is a complete schedule of activities planned for Harley-Davidson’s Women’s Day*:
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Motorcycle Customization & Fit Shop (located in the Parts & Accessories Tent)
10:00 a.m. How to Pick up a Motorcycle
11:00 a.m. Healthy Eating on the Road
11:30 a.m. About the Bikes
12:00 p.m. How to Pick up a Motorcycle
1:00 p.m. T-CLOCS Seminar (pre-ride safety check)
2:00 p.m. How to Pick up a Motorcycle
3:00 p.m. Healthy Eating on the Road
4:00 p.m. How to Pick up a Motorcycle
* All activities to occur in the Women & Riding Tent unless otherwise noted.
“We’re looking forward to Women’s Day at Sturgis,” said Leslie Prevish, Women’s Outreach Manager for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “These initiatives help showcase our dedication to educating and empowering both current women riders and those who dream of hitting the open road. The events are also great opportunities for women riders to connect and share their inspiration for riding.”
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