Bike Week

This is the week. The week everyone who ever thought they wanted to ride a motorcycle motivates to the center of the two-wheeled universe, Sturgis, South Dakota. This year my energies are all centered on our Sturgis 70th Anniversary book, due out in November of this year. Saturday I took a nice ride to Devils Tower in Wyoming, because I figured it would be my only chance to have an afternoon all to my self. On Sunday morning my work-week started with a trip to the ‘Spoke to cover the Sugar Bear/Michael Lichter run.

As part of my marketing plan for the Sturgis book I had 3,000 business cards printed up – each one is essentially a coupon, offering people the same early bird special you see on the home page. Just order before September 15 and you get our twenty-eight dollar book for only eighteen, and free U.S. shipping to book.

Sunday morning, the Sugar Bear/Michael Lichter run leaves the huge Broken Spoke Saloon/campground just north of Bear Butte.

In order to help promote the book I’ve been handing the coupons out to anyone who slows down enough to accept one. I’ve even gone up on stage, at one of the big venues, to hype the new book. Anyone who knows me knows that the last place I wanna be is up on stage, but a man needs to do what a man needs to do.

Though I tend to run solo, though this year I have help from two crack journalists, Scooter and Ernie. Scooter is a great photographer, and can often be found at Bonneville, or an AHDRA race event. In fact, we helped Scooter publish a book of drag racing photos last year. Ernie is a non-motorcycle guy with a background in magazines, and we all thought it would be good to have a non-biker on the team to lend a fresh perspective to the coverage.

Yes, Tim Remus on stage, though after the comedian got done with me I decided to re-think this Hollywood thing.

As I write this from the coffee Shop in Spearfish, Ernie is headed to the Chip to get his credentials, before heading downtown. And Scooter is probably hanging out with Michael Lichter in Deadwood getting good pics of the Legends Ride. There are worse ways to try and make a living.

Our humble abode for the week, the Iron Horse Motel in Whitewood. Only $250 per night for a small room, bring earplugs if you hope to sleep.

My crack team of hard-hitting and very professional motojournalists, Ernie on the left and Scooter at the table.