Big wheels in Black Hills today. Some preliminary estimates for the 81st edition of the Sturgis Rally are calling for record attendance. The high water mark was set in 2015 when 739,000+ powersports people flooded into South Dakota. Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen said there was no debate about hosting the rally since there's been few pandemic restrictions in South Dakota. He said it was too late to reconsider once the delta variant arrived. "By the time it happened everything's already been planned, done, organized, ready to go, and people are already here so there's not much we can do."
Meanwhile South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is an active participant in the rally. She led the Legends Ride earlier in the week and a painting of Gov. Noem on horseback went for $55,000 at Monday's charity auction at the Buffalo Chip. According to the Rapid City Journal, a couple from Texas ponied up for the picture and Gov. Noem said she’s going to install the painting herself.