Cycle Connections

For this month's issue, we decided to do something a little different for a change. Rather than shooting an October 2017 cover, we thought it would be fun to display a flashback of our October covers over the past 10 years; many of which are custom bikes that tie in with a Halloween-type theme (i.e. they're orange or red). We hope you enjoy the ride down memory lane! In this month's issue, also make sure to check out our coverage of the 2017 Sturgis Races and the 2017 Bikes, Blues & BBQ Rally in Fayetteville, Arkansas!

Motorcycle competition is at the heart of the annual Sturgis Rally.  The rally traces its origin to races put on by Clarence “Pappy Hoel” and the Jackpine Gypsies.  Motorcycle competition is still featured at Sturgis with many events sponsored by the Gypsies and others.  The Jackpine Gypsies’ events include motocross, hill climb, verticross, short track, dirt drags, and a bagger race and rodeo.  The City of Sturgis sponsors Pappy Hoel Speed Classic Races on the historic ½-mile track at the fairgrounds with assistance from the White Plate Flat Trackers Association.  The Spirit of Sturgis features antique and vintage bikes also on the Sturgis 1/2-mile.  The Black Hills Drag Racing Association keeps action going at the Sturgis Dragway.  The Sturgis Buffalo Chip Moto Stampede series features multiple kinds of motorcycle racing.  Rapid City gets in on the action hosting an evening of AMA flat track racing on their ½-mile dirt track.  As usual, I dedicated my Monday in Sturgis to covering racing events.

I hadn’t been to Fayetteville, Arkansas for the Bikers, Blues, & BBQ motorcycle rally (BBB) for several years, so when I found out our good friend Mark Kozak was planning to drive his motorhome down and pull a trailer with a few of his bikes in it, I decided we were way overdue for hitting this rally once again. Nichole and Stripe had never been to Fayetteville before, and JO was excited to go again. Our friend Cajun, his daughter Stephanie, and her boyfriend Rob were also planning to attend this year, so it had the makings for a very fun weekend!