Way back in 1938 when the first race was held at Sturgis, no one could have possibly known what the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally would become. Even so, at least one person was thinking ahead and keeping track of some of the history of the event. Pearl Hoel was the wife of J.C. “Pappy” Hoel, the Indian Motorcycle Dealer, who along with friends, is credited with starting the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club and subsequently starting the races that would eventually grow into the biggest motorcycle rally in the world.
As early as that very first weekend of racing, Pearl Hoel stashed newspaper clippings and saved them for future generations. Now, you can come to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and page through some of the papers Pearl kept. The museum is home to two of Pearl’s scrapbooks – one of which includes articles from the newspaper covering the very first race.
Other items in the scrapbooks include old photos of friends riding, many clippings focusing on the rally, some financial records from the Jackpine Gypsies club, and brochures produced about various events and races throughout the years.
After Indian went out of business in the mid-1950s, J.C. “Pappy” Hoel became a Yamaha dealer – and continued in the motorcycle sales business until his retirement in 1970. Letters of thanks for Hoel’s years of service to the Yamaha company are also included in the scrapbook. They came from a service manager, a sales manager, and even Mr. H. Kawashima, Vice President & General Manager of the Yamaha International Corporation.
Despite not knowing how the rally would grow and prosper, Pearl held onto some great memorabilia, and we’re lucky enough at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame to be able to share it with you.
