A charity event called The Legends Ride, hosted by the Buffalo Chip and the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce, was held this year where riders each contributed $150 to participate. What did that chunk of money get them? The opportunity to do a 50-mile escorted scenic ride through the Black Hills led by Aerosmiths Steven Tyler, hob-knob with celebrity riders like Lorenzo Lamas, John Paul DeJoria of Paul Mitchell hair products and Patron Spirit Company, Toby Keith and Kid Rock (although I as media didnt see them; I was told they were participating under the radar), and top bike builders like Paul Yaffe and Corey Ness.
The ride started at the Silverado-Franklin Hotel and Gaming Complex, one of the sponsors, and ended at the Buffalo Chip Campground where guests got to stay to see Toby Keith and Lita Ford in concert that evening. The post event press release also states that Meghan McCain, daughter of Sen. John McCain was also there, but she was not made known to the media that day. Wonder why?
An event I attend every year I go to the Sturgis Rally is the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Breakfast where that years hall of fame nominees are inducted. This event holds a special place in my heart as I was inducted in 2001 (see last photos), and then was asked to emcee the breakfast three different years after that. Each year, a woman is inducted and this year Cookie Crum, a motor drome rider in 1949, was the female inductee. To see the rest of the inductees, visit the museum link above.
Lastly, I was invited to attend the Kids & Chrome charity auction and dinner, which has been going of for five years now. People pay $150 to attend this classy event. There is a silent auction with fun affordable items; then later during dinner, a live auction takes place with the crowd bidding the high dollar items. Im hoping there is way the ticket price can be more affordable in the future as this is a great event, a respite from the craziness of the rally, with all money going to the Black Hills Childrens Home Society and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. Here are my photos from all three events.
Legends Ride participants pose for a group photo at the Franklin Hotel, the start of the ride. More than 500 people on 350 motorcycles raised $61,000 going to support the Black Hills Children#39;s Home Society and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame. See if you can spot me on the left near the guy in the orange shirt.Famed motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter takes the group photo. The riders are all wearing the black souvenir T-shirt that was part of their gift bag for participating.While the crowd milled around outside, I attended a press conference inside. John Paul DeJoria and wife, Eloise, made a surprise $10,000 matching donation to the Legends Ride charities. He also donated a restored 1938 Indian with sidecar to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame.At the press conference inside the hotel, “Renegade” TV star Lorenzo Lamas announces his new Lorenzo Cycles company alongside partner Chad Greulach. Famed bike builder Eddie Trotta will build the bikes.
Next up to the podium at the Legends Ride was Steven Tyler and his team at Dirico Motorcycles, the company he#39;s a spokesperson for. At left is Steven Talarico, Steven Tyler#39;s cousin, and at right is Mark Dirico, Steven Tyler#39;s brother-in-law.Steven talks about Dirico Motorcycles. Later that week, he performed at the Buffalo Chip where he fell off the stage during one of his songs and had to be taken to the hospital with minor injuries.Steven listens intently to a reporter#39;s question. He later told us that he was so in awe of the Black Hills the first time he came to Sturgis a couple of years ago that he had to come back.Steven led the parade of bikes on a Dirico Motorcycle through the Black Hills. Later he told me took a wrong turn and got lost for a bit before getting back on track.Steven#39;s girlfriend, Erin Brady, in the purple scarf, rode on back. Take a look at that crowd clamoring for their picture.Victory Motorcycles#39; vice president Mark Blackwell on a Victory Vision rode in the Legends Ride. Victory was one of the sponsors.Betsy and I pose with CJ Hanlon of Guilty Customs and Dar Holdsworth of Darwin Motorcycles.The ride ended at the Buffalo Chip where Darla Crown, development officer for Children#39;s Home Society, said a few words. “Money raised during this year#39;s Legends Ride will help the Children#39;s Home continue long into the future… to provide love, safety, and a second chance at many of the things most of us take for granted: warm meals, bike rides, story time, creative arts and interaction with caring adults.” Next to her is Christine Paige Diers, executive director of the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame.I also attended the Kids Chrome charity auction and dinner, now in its 5th year. Here emcee Ted Sands of Performance Machine, and Karen Sorbo, professional auctioneer, talk about the items up for grabs. Everything from artwork to limited edition Harley-Davidson riding boots were bid on. Kids Chrome began in 2005 at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with a tradition of attracting a special breed of motorcycle enthusiasts and industry legends from around the globe to “Rally for a Reason” in the name of “Kids,” the Children#39;s Home Society, and “Chrome,” the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame.The most expensive items donated that brought in a lot of money was a Lehman trike and a customized Fat Boy by Roland Sands seen in background.At the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame breakfast, Cookie Crum and husband, Bob, second and third from left watch as a slide show of Cookie#39;s life and career is presented prior to her hall of fame induction announcement. That#39;s her real name. She married Bob Crum.Cookie shared stories of what it was like being a woman rider when it wasn#39;t popular to ride, and how she learned to ride the motor drome.Willie G. Davidson took the podium when it was announced he would get to be member #1 of the Sturgis Museum#39;s new membership program. We couldn#39;t think of a more deserving individual. To learn more about museum membership, click on the link in the text of the article.My name and bio in the Hall of Fame at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.Giving my acceptance speech at the 2001 Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
