Marjoe Gortner probably did more than any other person in more than a decade to change the perception of motorcycling and to enhance the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally when he organized the 2000 television show called “Sturgis: The Great Ride,” according to the organization. The show recorded a ride that began at Peter Fonda’s ranch in Montana and ended at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, and featured numerous other rally experiences including a one-of-a-kind daredevil jump by Robbie Knievel through the Chip’s stage. The show was the very first motorcycle related show to be broadcast on a non-sports-oriented channel when it debuted on the Travel Channel. It was broadcast repeatedly for three years and was the most watched show on the Travel Channel for more than two years. It was also only the beginning of television shows that brought the motorcycling experience to a wider audience than ever before. Gortner has been involved in film-making, acting, television documentaries and charitable fundraising for many years.
Lonnie Isam Sr. is an expert in the history of antique American motorcycles and has bought, sold, collected and restored hundreds of them. His passion for performance Harley drag racing spans more than three decades. He used his knowledge gained by racing to help bring the sport to what it is today. He started a motorcycle shop in Houston called Competition Motorcycles which became famous for vintage motorcycles and performance drag racing. Isam eventually moved to the Black Hills, bringing one of his manufacturing companies – Competition Distributing Inc. – which specializes in design and manufacture of correct reproduction parts for pre-1936 Harley-Davidson and other early American motorcycles. Isam has been committed to the growth of the community of Sturgis through his work with the Sturgis Economic Development Corp., the Future Sturgis project and a downtown redevelopment committee.
The annual Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Breakfast is scheduled on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 9:00 a.m. at The Lodge at Deadwood in Deadwood, S.D.
Breakfast tickets are available for a $35 donation, tables of eight for $300. Tickets may be purchased through the Museum at 605.347.2001 or online at www.sturgismuseum.com/cart/
Press release posted by Mary Slepicka
