INDIAN RETURNS TO STURGIS

Back in “Pappy” Hoel opened an Indian Motorcycle dealership in Sturgis, South Dakota. Soon after that he helped co-found the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club. One of that club’s first functions was to host a motorcycle tour of the nearby Black Hills. The event also featured a dirt track race with nine racers and a couple hundred spectators showing up to watch. This humble event was the start of what is now known as the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

In 1947 Hoel’s dealership is reputed to have sold more Indian motorcycles per capita than any other dealer. After Indian went out of business in the 1950s, Hoel continued to sell other brands of bikes. Prior to his death in 1989 he received the Dud Perkins Award from the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) and was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 1998 as a true pioneer of motorcycling.

It’s been 60-some years since an Indian motorcycle has been sold in Sturgis, but that is about to change thanks to Bruce Eide. Eide, who offers Indian motorcycles at the Vern Eide Motoplex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; is opening up the new Indian Motorcycle Sturgis showroom located at 2106 Lazelle St. The Grand Opening Party is scheduled for this Saturday June 28, 2014. There will be all kinds of activities including a Free lunch, drinks, stuff for kids to do and of course demo rides all day long and then live music into the evening.

Source and image: Indian Motorcycle Sturgis
Posted by Sam Kanish