RSD Super Hooligan Race Joins the Moto Stampede® at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip®

If Sturgis was like a crazy cousin, then the legendary Buffalo Chip would be the insane asylum that welcomed them. Over 500 thousand motorcycle enthusiasts come to the Sturgis Rally every year and over half of those come to the Buffalo Chip, making it the largest motorcycle concert venue in the world. The chip features ten days of the biggest acts in music, and everything from zip lining to rattle snake jumping. And for the second year in a row the most insane of the crazies come out on heavy machinery to race a dirt track in front of the main stage and a crowd of drunken fans. Each August, the ground rumbles and the dust flies as cowboys and cowgirls saddle up in a thundering herd called The Moto Stampede, a Wild West bar banging flat track race, presented by Indian Motorcycle.
 
Starting off the ceremonies was the four Super Hooligan heats. Things were looking smooth with no one getting injured, but the 4th heat was stacked with racers making the start squirrely and looking more like a heard of mad buffalo on the charge with every rider going into a tight first turn. Somehow Rider #101, J.J. Flairty pulled the holeshot but was quickly passed by # 7, Brad Spencer, on the third lap.
 
 
Those who didn't finish in the top 3 from each heat race, got one more chance in the LCQ (that means "Last Chance Qualifier" for all you new moto ranch hands out there). Being it the last chance and all, meant this is the one when the big boys put it all on the line. Over 20 racers charged from the start but only one rider makes it to the main. There was crash after crash. Indian riders, Roland Sands (#10), clipped the back of Cameron Brewer (#24). When asked about the crash on the mic after the race, Brewer said, "My boss just took me out!", I guess all is fair in racing and work if you're at RSD. Duran Morely, a 17 year old who not only was out there racing on the RSD pickle Tracker but he also built an FXR for photographer Michael Lichter's custom bike show, Old Iron Young Blood. On top of that, he rode the 3200 mile roundtrip from CA to Sturgis was out on the track sliding in style. Aaron Guardado from Suicide Machine Co. pulled off the start in the lead but it was # 12, Josh Sanger from Fort Collins, CO who came out of turn 2 first for the holeshot. Supercross racer, #56 Cody Gilmore came from a mid-pack start to win the LCQ and advance to the back row of the Superhooligan main event.
The winners from each Hooligan heat race advanced to the 4-lap, winner-take-all $1,000 Dunlop Dash for Cash. There were 3 Harley's and a Triumph. Number 80, Hunter Klee pulled the holeshot but was passed by Joe Kopp almost immediately who kept the lead for the win.
 
 
The AFT track started slick but ended up getting a little sticky except in the apex of the corners, where you need it the most. The top three riders of the Super Hooligan mains gave it their all but held their spots almost right from the beginning with #3 Joe Kopp coming in first, #7 Brad Spencer second and #72 Jordan Baber 3rd. Joe Kopp took home the coveted Bell Powersports trophy helmet award custom painted by Airtrix. Kopp and Baber were tied for the K&N holeshot award, but Kopp gave it to Baber at the awards ceremony. Spencer commented when handed his award, "when you get beat by a man like that, second ain't bad". No matter if you're pro or amateur, hooligan racing is different than any other moto sport and it levels the playing field in unpredictable ways, pushing riders harder and having fun along the way.
 
Each race crowns a new rider and bike with the Motul Cleanest Bike award. This event’s winner was Dan Riley from Gunn Design who just finished building a brand new BMW R nineT hooligan race bike for the Michael Lichter bike show. He pulled it off the art gallery floor, entered it in the race and took it for a roost.

There was $5k up for grabs for the Pro Singles guys on 450s. Racer #23 James Monaco pulled the holeshot to be passed by #132 Jesse Janisch who battled it out for 1st the entire time. Eventually it was #62 Dan Bromley who won, with #132 Janisch in second and #23 Monaco in third. There were a handful of vintage tank-shift class entries, and only a few Lady Hooligans entered, so the two classes were combined into one race. Stephaine Pietz, number 57, pulled the holeshot and won and then pulled right from the track to race the Amateur Hooligan Class. Despite her efforts or skill, number 7 Dawson Shieffer on Carey Hart’s Indian Scout Sixty took the lead and hung on for the Hooligan amateur main event win his first time racing a hooligan Indian Scout.

In the "Run What Ya’ Brung" class there was everything from Dyna's, 450's, boonie bikes, stunt riders from every coast doing wheelies and a Grom with its turn signal on. No one ever really cares who finishes first in this class, instead it's all about letting loose and pushing the limits of crazy. In the heat race there was a wreck out of the gate but that didn't slow down racer number 666 who kept the lead standing up in the turns and then won but crashed on a slow rider right after passing the checkered flag. A few of the riders went rouge and rode around one last time doing stunts for the crowd. After the races, Roland Sands and Carey Hart each gave away custom-built Indian Scout Sixty hooligan race bikes on the main stage. . The bikes were raced in the Superhooligan races and given away the same day to a couple of lucky guys that entered the giveaway drawing online. All of this is crazy but it was just the opening act to the master of the insane ceremonies, Ozzy Osbourne, who rocked the stage until midnight. Only in Sturgis can you go from bar banging to head banging and live to tell the tale. It kind of makes you wonder how they will top it next year.

Congratulations to Beau Crazysnake (U.S.M.C. retired) for winning the RSD X Buffalo Chip Moto Stampede Indian Scout giveaway bike!!!  
 
"This was an amazing experience!! I couldn't believe I had won, (I never win anything) Roland, great job on the bike build. The more I look at it the more I realize the amount of work that went into it. Thanks again brother." -Beau

Super Hooligan flat track racing is BACK! Roland Sands and his crew will go handlebar to handlebar in the second annual RSD Super Hooligan race presented by Indian Motorcycle inside the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s amphitheater on Wednesday, Aug. 9. We invite racers and fans of motorcycle racing to participate and attend during this year’s 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. At the Buffalo Chip, the riders are scheduled to take to the track for Round 6 of the Super Hooligan National Championship (SHNC) race series with classes including: Super Hooligan, Amateur Hooligan, Run What Ya Brung (costumes encouraged), Vintage, Tank Shift, Lady Hooligan and a $5K Cash Purse Pro Open Singles class. Afterwards, stick around to enjoy the blistering audio of Ozzy Osbourne. All brands of bikes are welcome to race. 

The Street Drag Invitational Races with Crazy John will also be back to pit even more show bikes in head-to-head, hat drop street races down the middle of the amphitheater immediately preceding the Super Hooligan races. Two Indian Scout Sixties, one customized by Roland Sands and the other by Carey Hart, will be given away on the main stage that evening. Register to win one of these bad ass customs at BuffaloChip.com/EVENTS/Moto-Stampede/Motorcycle-Giveaway.

“The Buffalo Chip has paired these races with one of the rally’s biggest concerts, Pop Evil and Ozzy Osbourne, to create a series of events all on one day neither the rally nor the world has ever before seen,” said Rod Woodruff, Sturgis Buffalo Chip President. “The Super Hooligan races will shake the ground with excitement and gather steam for an incredible night of world-class rock on the main stage.”

Audiences at the Buffalo Chip will have an up-close viewing experience of the RSD Super Hooligan races. The track winds through the center of the amphitheater and offers track-side and prime, elevated viewing areas.

One pass includes access to all races, concerts and events held within the campground and tent camping. Passes may be purchased for each day with multi-day packages offering the best value. More info can be found HERE.

SHNC Contingencies & Prizes

Indian Motorcycle

· $1,000 Winner-Takes-All bonus to winner of Super Hooligan Main Event.

· The Super Hooligan Series Champion will win a Factory Indian FTR750 professional GNC flat track race bike – awarded in Huntington Beach, CA October 14th. *Winner must be present at final round

Dunlop Tires

· $250 (first) / $150 (second) / $100 (third) payouts for Super Hooligan Main Event.

· $1,000 Winner-Takes-All Super Hooligan Dunlop Dash for Cash event.

Bell Helmets

· $250 (first) / $150 (second) / $75 (third) payouts per Super Hooligan Main Event.

· Custom painted helmet trophy for Super Hooligan winner at each round.

· $2,500 bonus to be awarded to Super Hooligan Series Champion at final round. 

K&N Engineering

· $300 Winner-Takes-All Holeshot Award for Super Hooligan Main Event.

Motul

· $300 Cleanest Hooligan race bike at each race. TBD by SHNC.

 

For the most up to date schedule and SHNC standings visit our Super Hooligan Blog.

 

About Super Hooligan:

The spirit of hooligan racing comes from a simpler time, when you raced – and could ride home on – any bike you owned. With its roots in Southern California motorcycle culture, today’s flat track hooligan racing category is rapidly gaining in popularity with riders of all ages and experience levels across the nation by offering the fun of motorcycle competition in a less structured environment. Combining the craft of custom motorcycles and racing the Super Hooligan rules are loose and limit the bikes to 750CC and up twins in stock frames with dirt track tires and no front brakes.

About The Sturgis Buffalo Chip

The Sturgis Buffalo Chip® is the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling®. It is the world’s first and leading entertainment destination for the motorcycle enthusiast. Since 1981, the venue’s high-profile, nine-day festival, known as The Best Party Anywhere®, remains one of the world’s most televised and longest running independent music festivals. Located three miles east of Sturgis, SD on 600 creek-fed acres, it offers eight stages of entertainment, a swimming hole, bars, mouth-watering food, showers, cabins, RVs, camping and more to visitors traveling from all corners of the world. The Chip's concerts and races are free with camping. More details are available at www.BuffaloChip.com.

About Roland Sands Design:

Roland Sands Design is a motorcycle, product and apparel company that has its roots in racing, custom bike building and design. Our inspiration comes from a high performance background that blends the love of two wheels with the desire to create unique products. We live the two wheeled life and our crew is a diverse collection of road racers, off-road, dirt track, super moto and custom bike builders and riders. It's this diversity that allows us to work with the best in the industry on a wide variety of projects. Follow all bike builds, new products and the life and times of the Roland Sands Design crew at www.rolandsands.com.

For more information email info@rolandsands.com.

by vatsal.patel@coalitiontechnologies.com BigCommerce