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It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in Northeastern Pa. A town called Sturges. Like its sister town Sturgis in South Dakota, this day Sturges was made for bikers. Although the NEPA Sturges hasn’t been around quite as long — only four years — it has made quite a hit for bikers who can’t make the trip out to the South Dakota rally. This year’s event saw 681 bikes (from Rock 107 DJ John Webster’s Facebook post after the rally) from around the area. On top of the events, the sun and warm temperatures helped to bring people out.
This year had a special touch. Riders were asked to bring donations of things like flea collars and baby wipes and many other things that were being collected by the Soldier’s Angels Chapter II. Pat Munley, chapter president, says that “We were contacted by the brigade (4th Br. Combat Team, 1st Armored Div.) who we’re collecting for. They said they needed supplies. We send them out as they are needed.” This was their first year being part of this event, and according to Pat, “We sure hope to be here next year.” In true biker form, these guys answered the call recently to join in the ride for the Miracle for Mathew ride and met some of the people who came to the Sturges event.
Pat then introduced me to Tom Tito of the Hazleton group, who is running an event on Aug. 15. The event starts at Hazleton City Hall at 10 a.m. The 65-mile run benefits “our local heroes and their families and supplies first-response backpacks to support hospitals,” Tito says, adding, “We are able to do what we do because of what our service men and women do for us. Freedom isn’t free.” He reminds us that “All gave some and some gave all so that we can have the kinds of events we do.”
Both men express their gratitude to the people that came out to the event and brought supplies and especially to Daniels and Webster and Rock 107 and the Wildcat Saloon who helped get all of this together.
Walking through the parking lot who did I find but my friend Scooter. I ran into Scooter, the dog, and his owner Ken Wolfe who I had met at the Stephanie Jallen run. That Scooter sure gets around for a dog! He was hanging out is a shaded spot near the parking lot. Like most rallies, Sturges provides a place for meeting old friends and new ones.
Not everyone came on a bike however. Stephanie Ricino of Sturges just came to watch and says this were second year attending. She comes for the “the noise, the music, the people. The people are awesome, and it’s a good cause.” Speaking from experience ,she says that “It gets bigger every year.” Her favorite bike in the crowd was the “one with the skull mirrors and the ape hangers.” Jamie Keating and Jamie Semanison both have bikes, and Keating says he comes “for all the bikes and the people.” Semanison comes because of “the fact that it supported the army.” Her little brother is in the army.
For me, trip up started out at Outsiders in Wilkes-Barre, where the Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club and anyone that wanted to join in would ride together to Sturges. There were about 30 bikes or so in the group that flew along Route 81 heading north. I have to say that the uneven road on 81 made it a rather interesting ride. The newly paved areas were wonderful, and I know that the construction will make it better for all riders, but until then I think I’ll take an alternate route north for now. Hopefully PennDot will have this road finished by this time next. I’m looking forward to a smooth ride.
The event was very well organized. Parking was a little tight, but there were flag people stopping traffic and helping the bikers to park. There was lots of music, and Daniels and Webster were on hand to greet everyone. You could have a hotdog and beverage outside or go inside where it was cool to get something to eat. There were bikes coming and going the entire time we were there. As we left some two hours later, you could still see bikes coming in to join the fun. The event somewhat resembled a regular bike night, except it was in the daytime and had some extras like a band and the radio station.
So if you missed it this year and you can’t go to South Dakota next year, try our homegrown version of the event. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, and you can do it all in one day.
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