The Buffalo Chip® opened its gates to some of the biggest names in music, movies and motorcycling during Monday’s sixth annual Legends Ride®.
This charity ride, which served as the unofficial start to the Sturgis Rally, lined up more riders than any previous year for a guided scenic ride starting at the Silverado-Franklin in Deadwood and ending at the Legendary Buffalo Chip. This year, the celebrity charity event gave rally-goers the chance to ride alongside such celebrities as Dee Snyder of Twister Sister, Arlen Ness, Corey Ness, Zach Ness, Jim “Hacksaw” Duggan, Robbie Knievel and Paul Teutul Sr. of Orange County Choppers.
Upon arrival at the Buffalo Chip, Legends Ride participants were treated to a catered reception with live music from the rockabilly band The Living Deads and a live auction, which featured a custom bike that sold to the highest bidder at $55,000. With the help of hundreds of riders, the Buffalo Chip was able to present a check for $81,490 to the Black Hills Special Olympics and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame on stage after a performance by blues phenomenon, Jared James Nichols. Orange County Choppers also got in on the evening of generosity by giving away a custom chopper on the stage to wounded combat veteran, Robert Five, following the Doobie Brothers’ performance.
“What a night!” says Rod Woodruff, president of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. ”It was great to have Paul Sr. at the Chip presenting this bike to such a deserving combat veteran. Especially on such powerful night for us, with CMT film crews throughout the amphitheater and one of the largest crowds we’ve seen yet.”
Record numbers of Sturgis Rally attendees made their way to the Buffalo Chip amphitheater for the highlight performance by Kid Rock which was filmed for CMT’s Bike Week.
Kid Rock pulled out all the stops, both for fans at the Chip and CMT viewers at home with his huge entourage of top-notch musicians, hit songs, pyrotechnics and lights. It seemed the American icon might have even called in a favor from above as his light show included huge bolts of lightning and claps of thunder that seemed to almost synchronize with the performance. And as the sky opened to a deluge of rain, it appeared to only fuel the energy from the expansive crowd.
The Buffalo Chip’s non-stop event schedule continues Tuesday with Biker Belles, a charity ride celebrating women in motorcycling, which raises funds for Horsepower and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. Tuesday also brings acts Sweet Cyanide, TESLA and Toby Keith to the main stage.
Campground admission passes are still available and all concerts are free with camping. Passes also grant guests access to the Bikini Beach swim paradise, 25 bars, thrilling exhibits, and outrageous events. The 32nd annual Sturgis Buffalo Chip Motorcycle and Music Festival runs July 29 through Aug. 11, 2013. More details are available at www.BuffaloChip.com or by calling (605) 347-9000.
