If you're a biker you're familiar with the annual bike week rallies held at several spots around the country. Three of the biggest names are Sturgis, Daytona, and Laconia. Other locations like Myrtle Beach and Red River also hold their own annual biker weeks. So if you attended any of these events and rode off without any souvenirs, thecheapplace.com is here to help.
Sturgis is the king of all motorcycle rallies and takes place in Sturgis, SD. This is sleepy town of 6,400 plays host to the granddaddy of them all every August. The first Sturgis rally was held 1938 by a motorcycle club known as the Jackpot Gypsies. The gypsies still own much of the area where the rally's events take place.
In their bike week stuff category thecheapplace.com has a boatload of Sturgis patches. The 2010 black shield patch bears the text "Sturgis 2010 - 70 years" in your choice of silver, red, or orange. In addition to the shield patches, there's also one with an eagle and an American flag. If you plan to attend Sturgis in 2011, get your 2010 patches sewn on before you leave home.
Laconia, NH is the site of the Laconia motorcycle rally held every year in June. The rally began in 1923 as a stop on the Gypsy Tour which passed through the city. After a 1965 riot between bikers and local police, city residents began seeing the rally as nothing but trouble. It wasn't long before the event was reduced from seven days to three. In the 1990s Laconia business leaders sought to revive bike week and it was restored to a seven-day event.
Although Laconia is not as well-known as Sturgis, thecheapplace.com still has an ample supply patches. They carry several shield patches as well as one that features a flaming bike rider against a black background with the 'Laconia' text overhead. That would make a fitting souvenir for anyone who attended in 2010.
As for Daytona, the ten-day event known officially as Daytona Bike Week draws almost half a million people annually. The races, concerts, parties, and street festivals make it the most popular of all rallies in the U.S. - although I'm sure the Sturgis organizers would beg to differ.
Regardless, the rally started with the Daytona 200 motorcycle race in January of 1937. As one of the earliest motorcycle races ever held, it gave birth to a huge party that has evolved into the modern Bike Week. The race took a break during WWII but the Bike Week rally continued anyway. The race resumed in 1947 and the rest is history.
Daytona Bike Week patches are in abundance at thecheapplace.com. The 2010 shield patch commemorates the 69 years of Daytona with a black shield and white or orange text. Other Daytona patches are similar to those from Laconia and Sturgis, with eagles and American flags aplenty. If you're interested, there are also a limited number of pins, t-shirts, flags, and posters.
