80th Anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Sturgis, SD (February 14, 2020) Few entities and people have stood the test of time and can rightfully be called legendary like those joining the Sturgis Buffalo Chip lineup today. The Buffalo Chip’s self-proclaimed house band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, is continuing a legendary tradition by finishing off their 40-plus year career with an ultimate send-off on the Wolfman Jack Stage on Sunday, Aug. 9. This is Skynyrd’s second stop at the Chip as part of their three-year “Farewell Tour.” In keeping with the theme, 36 of the world’s most celebrated motorcycle builders have accepted Michael Lichter’s invitation to create and display a motorcycle in the style of their choosing for the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s 2020 Motorcycles as Art exhibit titled “Heavy Mettle: Motorcycles and Art with Moxie.” All invited builders have completed at least 20 custom builds and been in business for at least 20 years. The one-time exhibit will also feature photographs captured by Lichter over his 40 plus-year career. The exhibit is free and open to the public at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Event Center from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 through Friday, Aug. 14, 2020.
“These iconic entertainers and builders have influenced generations,” said Rod Woodruff, Sturgis Buffalo Chip President. “We‘re honored to be the only venue to make it on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Farewell Tour’ twice simply because they love the Chip and our fans so much. Hosting these legends along with the biggest names in motorcycles will truly provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our guests.”
“This is a big year for me,” said Michael Lichter, curator of the Buffalo Chip’s Motorcycles as Art exhibit. “It is the 80th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the 40th year I have been photographing it and the 20th year I’ve been producing motorcycle-themed exhibitions during Sturgis. The builders chosen to display bikes in this momentous show not only have the spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship, but the moxie it takes to become a legendary figure in an industry rife with heavy mettle characters.” 
Concerts and Passes:
Those interested in seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd or any of the other Buffalo Chip entertainment may do so with purchase of a campground admission pass. All passes and upgrades are now on sale at BuffaloChip.com, including three-day and single-day passes, Fan VIP and Top Shelf upgrades. Pre-sale prices will end on February 17 at 5 p.m. MST.
Bands announced to perform at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip in 2020 include:
Friday, Aug. 7
Puddle of Mudd
Saturday, Aug. 8
Shinedown
Sunday, Aug. 9
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Monday, Aug. 10
REO Speedwagon
Tuesday, Aug. 11
Willie Nelson and Family
Wednesday, Aug. 12
ZZ Top
Thursday, Aug. 13
TBA
Friday, Aug. 14
TBA
Saturday, Aug. 15
TBA
The 2020 Motorcycles as Art Builders:
Arlin Fatland, 2-Wheelers, Denver, CO
Bill Dodge, Blings Cycle, Daytona Beach, FL
Billy Lane, Choppers Inc, Nashville, TN
Brian Klock, Klock Werks, Mitchell, SD
Carl Olsen, Carl’s Cycle, Aberdeen, SD
Cole Foster, Salinas Boys, Salinas, CA
Cory Ness, Arlen Ness Enterprises, Dublin, CA
Dave Perewitz, Perewitz Cycle Fabrication, Halifax, MA
Don Hotop, Don’s Speed Shop, Fort Madison, IA
Donnie Smith, Donnie Smith Custom Cycles, Blaine, MN
Eddie Trotta, Thunder Cycle, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fred Cuba, Fred’s Speed and Sport, Hastings, NB
Fred Kodlin, Fred Kodlin Murdercycles, Hessen, Germany
Jeff Cochran, Speedking Racing, West Harrison, IN
Jerry Covington, Covington’s Cycle City, Woodward, OK
Jim Nasi, Jim Nasi Customs, Inc., Phoenix, AZ
Ken Nagai, Ken’s Factory, Inc., Nagoya, Japan
Kiwi Mike Tomas, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles, Riverside, CA
Lou Falcigno, C And L Hog Chop, Port Lucie, FL
Mondo Poras, Denver’s Choppers, Reno, NV
Pat Patterson, Led Sled Customs, Dayton, OH
Paul Cox, Paul Cox Industries, Port Jervis, NY
Paul Wideman, Bare Knuckle Choppers, Wright City, MO
Paul Yaffe, Paul Yaffe Originals, Phoenix, AZ
Richard Pollock, Mule Motorcycles, Poway, CA
Rick Fairless, Strokers Dallas, Dallas, TX
Roland Sands, Roland Sands Design, Los Alamitos, CA
Ron Finch, Finch’s Custom Cycles, Pontiac, MI
Russ Mitchell, Exile Cycles, Agoura Hills, CA
Steg VonHeintz, Steg’s Psycho Cycles, Downey, CA
Steve Carpy Carpenter, Carpys Cafe Racers, La Mirada, CA
Sugar Bear, Sugar Bear Choppers, Springville, CA
Tomoaki Matsumura, Shiun Craft Works, Kobe, Japan
Many more announcements to come soon.
For more information about the Buffalo Chip’s free-access Motorcycles as Art Exhibition visit MotorcyclesAsArt.com
For more information on concerts and other events at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip visit BuffaloChip.com
About Michael Lichter
Michael Lichter began photographing custom bikes and the biker-lifestyle in the 1970s. Working with Easyriders Magazine since 1979, he has produced over 800 stories for them. Michael is also a regular contributor to 16 other publications around the world, has 11 coffee table books to his credit and exhibits his photographic art in galleries and museums in the USA and abroad. As a curator, Michael first started creating themed exhibitions with custom motorcycles and art in 2001 at the Journey Museum in Rapid City. In 2009, the annual exhibition was moved to the purpose-built 7,000 square foot gallery at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip where it was given the name “Motorcycles as Art” and continues to this day. Michael has operated out of the same commercial photography studio in beautiful Boulder, Colorado for more than 35-years. Visit www.facebook.com/
About Motorcycles as Art
Every year the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s indoor Motorcycles as Art exhibition presents a changing conceptual theme that brings together the most innovative collection of groundbreaking custom bikes from today’s premier builders with artwork from the most famed moto-artists. The Sturgis Buffalo Chip and curator, famed photographer Michael Lichter, present an environment that must be seen to appreciate. Free to the public and open for just seven days each year, all are invited to take their time and walk through history in the making that is the Motorcycles as Art exhibit.
About the Sturgis Buffalo Chip
The Sturgis Buffalo Chip® is the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling®. It is the world’s first and leading entertainment destination for the motorcycle enthusiast, awarded AMA Track of the Year in 2016, American Flat Track Event of the Year and South Dakota Excellence in Tourism Innovation award winner in 2017. Since 1981, the venue’s high-profile, nine-day festival, known as The Best Party Anywhere®, remains one of the world’s most televised and longest running independent music festivals. Located three miles east of Sturgis, SD on 600 creek-fed acres, it offers six stages of entertainment, a swimming hole, bars, mouth-watering food, showers, cabins, RVs, camping and more to visitors traveling from all corners of the world. The Chip’s concerts and races are free with camping. The Motorcycles as Art exhibit curated by Michael Lichter showcases the works of the world’s best bike builders. Numerous bike and stunt shows and all shopping, live music and events at the CrossRoads are free and open to the public. More details are available at www.BuffaloChip.com.
Further Inquiries:
605-347-9000
Sturgis Buffalo Chip
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