Governor Kristi Noem’s latest feel-good, policy-free propaganda column portrays the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally as “an event for the whole family” that “celebrate[s] faith, family, and Freedom.”
You’re not the only one laughing milkshake out your nose. Searchlight editor-in-chief Seth Tupper, who lives in Rapid City and has visited plenty of Sturgis Rallies, notes that portraying Sturgis as a pious family funfest requires either creativity or willful blindness:
As a writer, I do have to give Noem points for creativity. Her lead sentence was an attention-grabber, and her Disney-like description of the rally was strikingly original.
But I’ve been to the rally, so I know that if you go there looking for Jesus, you’ll probably also encounter plenty of crude language, crass commercialism, binge drinking and near-to-total nudity.
…It’s a mixed bag, for sure. As long as our safety isn’t jeopardized, those of us who live in the Black Hills but aren’t motorcycle enthusiasts tend to view the whole thing as merely an annual annoyance to endure.
I would never begrudge anybody the Freedom — of the capital “F” variety, of course — to attend the rally if they so choose, as long as they do so lawfully.
But trying to sell a sanitized image of the rally as a holy family pilgrimage? That’s just Dumb with a capital “D” [Seth Tupper, “The Holy Sturgis Trinity: Noem, Jesus{,} and Family,” South Dakota Searchlight, 2023.08.15].
Before Noem starts tweeting out nastygrams about Seth Tupper, she should note that Harley-Davidson’s own insurance division says Sturgis is not really a family event:
Sturgis isn’t kid-friendly, but it can be if you want it to be.
For a family-friendly version of the Rally, you’ll want to avoid nighttime activities when things tend to get wild. You’ll also want to avoid hotels that host many attendees because rally-goers frequently like to party late into the night.
Even a campground with many motorcycles can keep you and your kids up if there’s revving late into the night [Harley-Davidson Insurance, “Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2023 Guide,” 2023.05.22].
Don’t go out in the evening, don’t stay in hotels, don’t expect much sleep at the campgrounds… I don’t think my whole family would have much fun under those conditions.
Seth Tupper can now expect Noem to attack him. There is a good probability that he has pushed the over sensitive buttons of our fragile mean-girl-in-chief.
lol. I was at the Sturgis Family Event last week. Still lmao over a t-shirt some gal wore that said, “I’m here to drink and f—, and I’m about done drinking.”
Sturgis Biker One: “Dude! Welcome back! I heard ya got married.”
Sturgis Biker Two: “Yeah, man, it was like something to do.”
Sturgis Biker One: “How’s the sex, man?”
Sturgis Biker Two: “Not so good, but at least I don’t gonna stand in line.”
noem honed her arts of lying and mastering relationships with the media from her criminally indicted idol.
Lmao! Never once have I thought of The Rallies as being a fun filled Christian family event. I definitely would have never thought of associating Jesus with it. That takes some serious imagination.
I shall no longer exclaim “Christ on a crutch!” It’ll be “Jay-zus on a Hog!” ;)
My sister wore a shirt she bought there last year when her and my brother in law rode up that sported a giant black widow. The caption read in huge letters: “Wanna f—?”And on the back: “I’m hungry.” I told her she looked hot. Her husband decided to bungee cord her on the drive home to be safe. Ha!
KN’s morals and values don’t cover:
a) kids and biker babes shouldn’t mix…when the babes are letting their hair down
b) kids and hot pipes result in an ER visit
c) kids shouldn’t party with older, single men
d) Jesus may not want to party with thousands of people dressed as Judas Priest
Bet the home of Native American Spirits never reckoned with noise pollution of thousands of motorcuclesm including ones named after Indians. If angels fear to tread inside a woman’s heart, I doubt imaginary jeebus would dare step foot in the Black Hills.
While I may rail against most of the factually unsupported negative stereotypes about the Rally, I do agree that it is not designed to be a “fun filled Christian family event.” That said, we still need to acknowledge that there are events and races for kids on bikes. They have very young riders participate in the annual Hill Climb events, as well as some of the short track events. Downtown, however, is not exactly designed for children, what with the bars, open drinking on the streets authorized by the City, and skimpy costumes and painted bodies.
Funny thing is that there are multiple groups and individuals on Main Street that are trying to convert strangers to their particular brand of religiousity. They push free books, bibles, and other items for anyone willing to accept them. As an incentive some even offer a free entry for a Harley drawing to anyone that will sign up for their mailings. I have personally enjoyed talking with some of the proselytizers at length about the Bible and religion, explaining that I am a non-believer that is fascinated by theology. I have actually met some very interesting and friendly biker type folks selling religion (in contrast to angry fundamentalists coming to my door to convert me but frequently calling me evil for the questions I ask and condemning me to hell). And there is the ubiquitous presence of the Christain Motor Cycle Riders club with their branded benches, jackets and patches celebrating their religious conversions. Also there is the typical guy dragging a cross on Main street I guess in an effort to symobize Jesus and his walk to Golgotha. Anyway perhaps such enthusiastic religious recruiters are the basis for the silly claim that the Rally is a Christian event.
Sometimes grudznick thinks about recruiting a few younger fellows into the Conservatives with Common Sense who own motorcycles. We could do a breakfasting for the bikers and get in some of our own prosthetisting. Our tent would be among the favorites.
It’s about as family oriented as Vegas on a Saturday night. For God’s sake, who is Noem trying to convince.
Do Christian family events include sex trafficking, biggest boob contest with size F and beyond only, pole dancing, nicest ass on the back of the bike contest, and so many more that I can’t remember? There were no longest dick contests or manly chest contests so I don’t go. Although the kids could learn a great deal about adult life under the influence of alcohol and drugs, accidents, murder, and who knows what else.
Noem is an embarrassment for this state.
I’d be interested to hear from a few Christian families that choose to go to Sturgis on the Governor’s approval. Would they concur with her advertised rating?
“Let’s hit Surgis on the way to the Creation Museum.” — said no Christian family ever!
Onward Christian Bikers sounds better than Onward Christian Soldiers
She definitely become West River asset! You people keep her there. Donnie will be there to promote her agenda!! He’s a real Family and JESUS oriented character as well. Maybe he’ll give her another late night plane.
Noem in an earlier time, would have reigned behind the “purple door ” in our community. If you spend time driving the backroad pavement in the northern hills, you will experience highly sexualized billboards. The family, God, and American values go out the window when exploitation earns revenue. What if we had a Governor that paid attention to the needs of SD people? I am tired of self-promoting political huksters.
just go away…….
Nick nails the predictable Noem Administration. Ian Fury went on Twitter to say Seth Tupper and Searchlight have no credibility. Tupper responded swiftly and factually.
Bikers be bikers. I don’t have a ton of experience with the rally and try to avoid the congestion in all its forms.
But i can share why. As a performing musician in the hills since junior high, from the stage the few times i have stooped so low as to accept gigs there, i have observed the audience and have been repulsed by the orgy that goes on late at night.
1st, was my own experience from the audience in high school. We backed up an early city concert headliner (who sadly since passed away in the proverbial rock star manner—choking on ones own vomit from drug and alcohol overdose.)
That night there were Rapid City’s own Cain’s Chainers, and perhaps young Pontious Pilots, on the floor, in the dark, drunk and stoned, amidst bottles and cans during the headliner performance, biker chicks on thier backs, pushed around, pants down, spread by bikers between their legs.
The last time, not that long ago, on another Saturday night/early Sunday morning performing at a small, remote Black Hills dive-bar, Florida and other out-of-state licensed, rusty, heavily-ridden, crusty Harley’s out front (not your new polished bikes ridden by elites —like Kristi— who arrive by private jet at RC Regional Airport!), the band was loud, but increasing our amplified volume could not keep us from being completely drowned out by the audience noise. It was unnerving milling about such a hard-core out-of-town biker crowd. Dangerous.
A few other random experiences over the years, looking up during slow songs, observing gross, open molestations from the dancing couples. I can live without it.
I had commented another rally article it would be interesting to get Mike Flynn to bring his Jesus/QAnon Circus to the Rally. Maybe the article was an invitation for next year..
I read the Governor’s tome extolling thenliving Christ being present at all times in Sturgus. It is exhibit #1 in the constant stream of “Governor Noem distributes Taffy to gullible South Dakotans while pandering to people with money to donate to her various funds.” She is not a serious person.
We have not heard from Ms. Taffy for some time, but perhaps if she circulated around The Rally she is ready to come back into the public light.
Grudznick..I know that you are fixated on the Governor and gravy, in that order, with Taffy a distant third. You are truly a strange ranger.