The average age for a motorcycle club is three years, and after 62 years, this club is still running strong. The club owns all the property on which most of our club activities take place. There is approximately 40 acres adjacent to Interstate 90 between Exit 30 and Exit 32, the busiest section of Interstate 90 during the Sturgis Rally. Our lighted short track, motocross track, field meet area, hillclimb area, clubhouse, office and our state approved concession business are located on these grounds.

The Jackpine Gypsies are a non-profit organization. They donate to area charities, including: the local food bank, Sturgis High School and Christian Motorcycle Association.

We have over 150 members living all over the United States and abroad. The average age of our club members is 40. The average age of our spectators is 42, while the average age of our riders is 23.

The short track at the Jackpine Gypsies club grounds was first used in 1963. Since that debut race, many improvements have been made. The racetrack is now wider, it has permanent seating, the lighting system has been improved, there is an announcer, a sign up building and a clubhouse, where the concession business is located. The club holds races every other weekend and a full week of races during the rally. A motocross track was added on in the 1980's and then in 1996 a new track was built. The sport of motocross is beginning to grow again, in fact, in 1998; we held five motocross races, which attracted over 500 racers.

During the Sturgis Rally, we hold 12 events, including: motocross racing, a 1/2 mile race, hill climbs, road tours and short track racing. We had over 6000 spectators and hundreds of racers during the week of the Rally. As you can see, the Sturgis Rally has grown quite a bit since the first rally in 1937!

Even at 99 years young, Pearl was the best source of information on the Rally. Because she was there from the beginning, and because this event was her passion, her gift of recall and her ability to share oral history was constantly in demand, and she reveled in each opportunity.

South Dakota is rich in history and has many stories to tell. We would be remiss if the legend of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was not included and if Pearl Hoel was not honored as one of  it’s most important and recognized guardians.

We lost Pearl on February 27th. No longer will we see her face  smiling warmly, nor will we hear her retell a story, but she will live on in our hearts and in the history of Sturgis. She was a true friend to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Much of our success is owed to this gentle woman who was generous enough to grace our facility and share her life with us and with the thousands of visitors we see each year. We will miss her, but we know she isn’t far away. These are her Hills, and this is her Rally. Her role has simply changed from hostess and historian, to guardian. Of this you can be certain, she is off some where reunited with Pappy, riding around on an old Indian, watching over her town and her two wheeled friends.

PEARL HOEL, THE FIRST LADY OF THE STURGIS RALLY – by Pepper Massey-Swan

When I first met Pearl she seemed fragile, small of stature, soft spoken, smiling and in her late ‘80’s. My opinion was soon modified. The more time I spent with this amazing woman the more I learned of her strength, tenacity and sense of purpose.

Born in 1905, Pearls journey to the Black Hills of South Dakota and fame must have seemed a long way away. Although she moved to Rapid City at the young age of five, her meeting with Pappy Hoel, the man credited with beginning the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, didn’t happen until the 20’s, by chance on a blind date at a community dance. Prior to becoming Mrs. Hoel, Pearl spent her time teaching children in rural schools. It was said that not only did she teach, she also was responsible for all the custodial duties at her small school and to earn extra money she cut and styled the local women and children’s hair.

Shortly after her marriage to Pappy in 1929, Pearl worked as an investigator for the WPA, helping needy rural families during the Great Depression. Later she went on to become Meade County’s Clerk of Courts, was elected as Register of Deeds and eventually elected County Auditor. All the while Pearl lent her time, energy and moral support to Pappy in his motorcycle dealership, the formation of the Jackpine Gypsies, the motorcycle races and his participation in the Rally. Pearl shared with me once that due to her position in the county and her involvement with the Rally that at one time she knew everyone in town by name. “Now I don’t remember names all the time, but I still remember the faces,” she sighed. She’s a little hard on herself. At 97 Pearl is sharp as a tack and knows more about this town and the Rally than most of us could ever hope to remember.

While Pappy is credited with being founder of the Rally, Pearl is widely praised for its success and continuity. She was the woman behind the man, always gracious, always generous. The Hoel’s played host and hostess to attendees for many years, setting up a large tent in their yard for campers. Pearl had coffee and donuts available, prepared meals and hauled them out to the racers and to riders participating in the tours. She still hosts a coffee party at her home each year during the Rally and welcomes back old friends.

The consummate hostess, Pearl was the woman in the background, preferring to let Pappy shine while she took care of details and made folks welcome. To this day it’s common for Pearl to invite a guest or reporter into her home and share some of her well preserved memories.

In August 1983 Pearl proudly took Pappy’s side as he was presented with a proclamation by the Governor honoring him with J.C. “Pappy” Hoel Day, and later as the AMA presented him with their most prestigious Dud Perkins Award for “outstanding contribution to the sport of motorcycling”. She has received few awards but the recognition and respect this gentle woman receives from Rally attendees and the community of Sturgis speaks volumes of her place in our hearts and minds. Pearl Hoel is our most precious treasure, the best of us and the true spirit of the Rally. She is and always will be our First Lady.