Here is the third story in the wyoming windblown series

[pcombe]

clapping

Here is the third story from the Wyoming windblown collection by Paul Combe

I hope you enjoy my reminising?

I lived for many years in the small town of Newcastle, Wyoming (about 9 mi. from the border of South Dakota) and one of the advantages to that location, besides having the entire black Hills to roam on my Harley was the fact that I was only about 60 miles from the Sturgis rally.

I started attending the rally when I wore a much younger mans hair length, (Hippie degenerate motor cycle trash?) and never had TOO much excitement going on at one time.

The whole purpose of my attending was to try to hit a NEW LOW every year!

Now, over the years that became increasingly difficult. Back then you could party pretty hard in just the downtown area without a lot hassle from the cops. Now they roam around in gangs for crying out loud and you best behave as if you were part of the temperance movement.

Deadwood was wide open in the early years before they shut down the brothels, and gambling changed the entire attraction of the place.

The hog jam in Hullet, Wy. Was not a stand out destination, as you could cut your wolf loose just about any where within 100 miles of the rally, and now the hog jam looks like an ice cream social?

You may be able to raise a little hell in the campgrounds as long as you stay there; DUI has become the states major source of income Near as I can tell.

And political correctness has tainted, what used to be for BIKERS!

But I want to reminisce about the early days and talk about some of the shining times ok?

You know, You may have seen me there?

(I was the guy dressed in blue jeans and a black tee –shirt!)

I always made it a point to camp in the Buffalo chip campground so I could always be close to the action and big name concerts.

The sanitary facilities were something way to unsanitary for the conditions, and you better set up your tent along the back fence so you wont get run over by a drunk on his bike at three am. Just in case things ever settled down long enough to get a little shut eye, usually about 3 days into the rally? ( Of course, Electric wine didn’t have anything to do with it.) Ever try to sleep next to a 20’ tall speaker?

That’s about what it was like, and any thing your decadent little heart could desire was in that campground somewhere.

I remember the night some ugliness took place and was shocked by how many of the so called bikers in the crowd turned out to be undercover law and Uzis suddenly appeared in the hands of folks on and close to the stage to protect the band.

That- (look for me in Sturgis, I will be dressed in blue jeans and black tee shirt mode of dress turned out to be a boon for whoever decided to rob the bank during the 50th. Rally. (I am to dumb to think of it and lack the nerve myself)

But think about it?

They robbed the bank in broad daylight and once they stepped out the door they looked like 5,000 other people on the street. To My knowledge they were never seen again.

Some of the funny quirks about being on main street, come to mind?

My wife and I were sitting on a window ledge at one of the rallies enjoying an Indian taco when a drunk, flying colors, took it upon himself to stand in front of Susan and mimic her every move, The guy was wasted and I really didn’t want to hurt him, he was just having fun, showing of to his club brothers, making a nuisance of himself, knowing I wouldn’t do any thing about it because of all the back up he had?

Susan was getting scared so I handed her my taco and up-ended the jerk and stuffed him head down in the trash can at the curb.

His buddies just laughed at it!

It looked like some thing from laurel and hardy really.

There are so many people on the streets that you could barely get through the crowd and yet most times, when some one would bump you a might hard they would turn and apologize?

That rarely happens at a rodeo!

The guy who looked most likely to cut your throat turned out to be a dairy farmer from Minnesota.

The only way you could tell the millionaire from trash like me was to see what he rode in on.

rich urban bikers didn’t ride the type of bikes I built in my garage out of spare parts, (although I loved those old choppers) and painted with a spray can. (“Poe folk got Poe ways”) There were folk from Yale, and folk from jail!

The guy you better watch out for was the one that rode in with a rolled up towel for a seat.

Speaking of seats, I was on the main street one day when a guy rode in on a red/white/and blue, Kawasaki ninja.

He was also wearing a matching set of red /white and blue designer leathers, he backed into a parking place not to far from where I was standing and it was hard not to notice that there were clear plastic windows cut out of his pants that showed of his buttocks.

I don’t think both feet touched the curb when a gigantic arm shot out of the crowd and knocked the poor miss- guided soul up against his bike and his clear plastic windows came into contact with the exhaust when he knocked over his star spangled nerdy ninja.

(I will let your imagination play out the rest of it) Sure was funny at the time! He left in a hurry, kinda like a calf with his backside branded?

That melted plastic must have hurt?

The idiot was lucky he didn’t choose the Buffalo chip to commit his lunacy in ; his rice grinder would have been that year’s choice to burn in effigy to the Harley Gods!

.

Now a chick would have been applauded for her obvious, feminine, sense of fashion!

The feminine fashion at the rally ranged from the modest to the ever popular pair of chaps with a g string for underwear and set of pasties to barley cover her fun bags more pointy points?

These were invariably worn by women who could get away with that look and many a roll of film was burned to prove that you had actually been to see the elephant, as we westerners in all our new found political correctness, would say it!

Inevitably some chick that looked like a model in a leopard skin bikini could be found

Chained to a parking meter in front of the bar.

I don’t know, maybe it was an advertisement?

Maybe someone chained her there to keep her out of trouble while he had a beer?

Or perhaps she was there to shock the sensibilities of the tourist?

(The whole place looked like a zoo anyway and I never bothered to ask her,

I was warned that you didn’t want to try a free her!)

During the rally it seems girls just couldn’t keep their tops on and many woke up the next morning with a tattoo, and have one of those “Gods, what have I done moments?”

It had always surprised me when the little woman was unmarked at the end of the week because the Rally had a power of its own and the whole aura of the place could suck you in.

They sold all kinds of leather halter tops on the main street of Sturgis and I will tell you a story within a story/

Susan (my wife to be) and my friend’s wife had their eye on a couple of halter tops and wanted to try them on.

My friend’s wife Kathy just tried it on right there.

But Susan being of the more modest type didn’t want to do it in the alley behind the booth.

I was distracted by something (perhaps one the aforementioned ladies?) and didn’t see her get escorted to the rest room of a service station across the alley, I turned around and panicked when she wasn’t there at the booth.

One of the sales ladies told me where she went and I thought I better keep an eye on things. She was only about as big as a button and I always kept her within my site at the rally.

(I have never figured out how we got together in the first place? (Try, if you will, to give Polly-Anna a staring roll in west side story?)

Any way there was the biggest man I have ever seen (he looked like the genie from the lamp) standing there with his arms crossed and said “YOU AINT GOIN IN THERE”

My miss spent youth flashed before my eyes because I knew damn well; I WAS going in there no matter what. (I didn’t know who he was? I assumed her escort would be a female)

I was saved by her coming out wearing a leather halter top that looked like a rabid squirrel got to it before she did, but I wisely held my council.

Later in the day our friends went with us to deadwood and heading into the # 10 saloon, there was a couple old men sitting on a bench out front as we passed I heard one of the old boys chuckle in his old mans voice,

“Heh! Heh! Heh! There must be shortage of leather now adays!”

I guess I didn’t mention that Kathy was rather well endowed?

I think I finally used Susan’s top for a chamois.

I remember the time a big grudge fight promoter tried to set up a tough bikers match.

Before the end of the week he was complaining in the Rapid City journal journal that he thought bikers were tough?

His big tough mans contest was going broke. You Know? I really can’t remember talking to anyone that said they had saved their money for two years to go to Sturgis, and get the crap kicked out of him?

It tickled me to see him fall on his collective ass.

The bungee jumping booth across the street made a killing!

Speaking of killing:

I was there, off main St., on the night, during the 50th rally when a big old boy from Australia got hopped up on Meth. And tried to take on the police and every one in the crowd with a Bowie knife.

There sure wasn’t anything about it that is good to remember.

The man really was 6’ tall and seemed bullet proof. It sure took enough of them to stop him.

You know, I didn’t go to the rally every year after that, I started going in the other direction and only went back about every five years.

I guess it’s really true?

That old age has mellowed more of us than religion ever did?

I went back a few years ago, and noticed that that the place is more of a tourist attraction to my way of thinking; you can’t hit a NEW low without going to jail.

The accepted ladies attire has changed dramatically and not to my liking,

I think I seen a few of the women who, if they weren’t the same half naked girls from 30 years ago, they must have sent their mothers in there places?

Maybe, I have just gotten old enough to believe that a guy might visit the ZOO once, a year?

But I no longer have to sleep with the animals!

[patriot]

I enjoyed reading your post. I've been to Sturgis only to leave the day before the rally began. I didn't see any reason to bathed in the showers of the many "Harley rally" activities. I own a Harley and enjoy the American Classic, however you might call me a stiff. We ride with the GWRRA folks and have and always enjoyed the low intensity rallies. However, Paul, I really liked your post because of the details and gave us a little ensight to the foregone Sturgis activities. Thanks for you post.

[pcombe]

I enjoyed reading your post. I've been to Sturgis only to leave the day before the rally began. I didn't see any reason to bathed in the showers of the many "Harley rally" activities. I own a Harley and enjoy the American Classic, however you might call me a stiff. We ride with the GWRRA folks and have and always enjoyed the low intensity rallies. However, Paul, I really liked your post because of the details and gave us a little ensight to the foregone Sturgis activities. Thanks for you post.

This the third story, beginig with pull up a stump i have posted on the forum.

I have written quite a few tales over the years and will include one every now again if folks enjoy them. This is a new one.

Thanks for your comment patriot.

Paul

[Papa Zook]

Great story Paul..

[pcombe]

Great story Paul..

thanks zook

[Bikerbozo]

Hey, I start reading and you are writing about Sturgis "way back when" and I am thinking, good, I will hear something about way before I made it out there. Then you have to go and write it was the 50th. That was the 1st rally I rode to. By myself, on an old Harley, hair out to there. Stayed at the Buffalo Chip also. You might have spotted me, I was the one in blue jeans with a black t-shirt on. Did 6 rallies straight after that. Then last one in 2000. Crazy times. But too many trailers queens now.

And yes, I was also the guy snapping off millions of rolls of film.

[pcombe]

Hey, I start reading and you are writing about Sturgis "way back when" and I am thinking, good, I will hear something about way before I made it out there. Then you have to go and write it was the 50th. That was the 1st rally I rode to. By myself, on an old Harley, hair out to there. Stayed at the Buffalo Chip also. You might have spotted me, I was the one in blue jeans with a black t-shirt on. Did 6 rallies straight after that. Then last one in 2000. Crazy times. But too many trailers queens now.

And yes, I was also the guy snapping off millions of rolls of film.

I guess i was trying to cover quite a few years in a limited space bozo.

I started going to the races and such in the late 70's. The races and hill climbs were always a good time, No matter what year i was there i always got a kick out of biker rodeos also.

You probably know that the races were what gave birth to the rally even before my time.

I never saw much sense in the way they did burn out competions down town though.

I put to much work into building my bike to put the front wheel against a wall, rev it to the max and dump the clutch.

Of course it's handy for the tire salesman if not the parts guy's and tow truck drivers.

I guess it gave some overtime to ambulance attendants when their scooter got away from them also.

I beleive i did see you there! You really stood out dressed the way you were.

The fiftieth stands out in my mind as being some of the last of the golden sturgis days, before it became the number one place to haul your motorcycle to, to buy a tee-shirt that said " I RODE MINE" , and Deadwood became dead wood.

The bear butte biker bash at the fiftith was a good one too, if i remember it right?

I have, seen some real good concerts that i would'nt normally have a chance to see.

That hasn't changed.

I will tell you about a virtually unknown place to stay about 45 miles from the rally on highway 85 about 25 miles from Newcastle toward Sturgis, at four corners,wyoming.

You will have to ride your bike 5 miles down a gravel road but it has always been maintained.

The Place is Called Mallo Camp. There is a small 16 unit motel there with a family kitchen on one side and a commercial kitchen on the other. You can rent the whole place or by the room. The place is in a real pretty spot too.

Best kept secret in the black hills, until now!

[Bikerbozo]

As you say, too many trailers. Seems to be getting towards family friendly also. No, that's not a compliment. Haven't been there since 2000. Wife won't camp anymore there. That's where all the fun is. Also don't see point of trying to get to campgrounds through the traffic for that dang bar. I remember needing a tire years ago. They were running out because of all the people doing burnouts.

[americanbadass]

Up until 5 years ago we used to camp at Glenco.....world famous for their NUDE bike parades...all night long there would be bikes rolling up and down the campground with nekked women on the back. Don't remember a lot of it...but I think we had fun. By the time we rode back to Salt Lake, we were so exhausted we'd sleep for 2-3 days straight!

Since then we have rented a house in Spearfish (20 miles outside of Sturgis). I guess that is when you know your getting old...besides that I hear now that nekked dudes are in the parade as well....

[Bikerbozo]

When last there, my wife spotted a guy wearing just chaps. She tells me to take a pic. I told her there was NO WAY I was looking through a zoom lens at THAT and handed her the camera. Stayed at both Buffalo Chip and Glencoe over the years. In Glencoe, I carried an inflatable pool and 100' of garden hose. Added bubble bath. Nice way to hang out by the tent.

[pcombe]

When last there, my wife spotted a guy wearing just chaps. She tells me to take a pic. I told her there was NO WAY I was looking through a zoom lens at THAT and handed her the camera. Stayed at both Buffalo Chip and Glencoe over the years. In Glencoe, I carried an inflatable pool and 100' of garden hose. Added bubble bath. Nice way to hang out by the tent.

was that YOUR pool? OH MY! Sorry dude!

Listen to us?
Three flower children that went to seed Hah! Hah!

I think if i were to go this year my buddy just bought a big new motor home.
I guess i would stay in Custer and so not have to sleep with the critters.

It's a far cry from a crash truck full of gear,parts,bikes and drunks eh?

Oh well, it's just the high cost of low livin, but it WAS livin!
I'd do it again, and probably would't remember it this time either!

When you reach our age, it's well to remember that there are old bikers, and bold bikers,
but there is no , old,bold bikers.