Stator, The GSR travelling mascot.

[dpep]

The Day The Music Died

The Day The Music Died

In the wee morning hours of February 3rd, 1959 just outside of Clear Lake, Iowa a small single engine airplane crashed into a cornfield killing the pilot and all three passengers--Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. (Big Bopper) Richardson. It was the day the music died as immortalized by Don McClean in his now classic musical tome American Pie.

As one who was a big Buddy Holly fan when he was alive I have long had Clear Lake, IA on my bucket list. Clear Lake happens to be pretty close to the most direct route from Indianapolis to Sturgis--too close in fact for me to resist. And I am happy to report that Stator was there to share every bit of the experience with me.

This particular pilgrimage has two equally essential destinations. The first is the Surf Ballroom where the 1959 Winter Dance Party Tour (Holly, Valens, Richardson, et al) gave its final performance. The second is the memorial at the actual crash site which is located in a corn field a few miles north of town.

Below are shots of the Surf Ballroom which is still in operation as a music venue but also serves as a sort of library/museum/shrine/memorial for the people who performed there that fateful evening and the tragic event that followed. There aren't any floor displays but just about every inch of accessible wall holds pictures, posters and other memorabilia.

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[dpep]

Inside the Surf with Stator

Inside the Surf with Stator

Dance floor and stage.

Back of the hall.

Food & Beverage area.

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[dpep]

More Inside The Surf

More Inside The Surf

The walls tell the tale.

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Stator takes the stage at the Surf

Road buddies sharing the stage at the Surf Ballroom.

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[dpep]

Where the Music Died

Where the Music Died

At the Surf Ballroom you can pick up a sheet with directions to the actual crash site which is in a corn field next to a dusty, white gravel road a mile or so from the hardtop and about 7 miles north of town. I must admit that the gravel part gave me pause. My basic maxim when it comes to street bikes (forged from numerous previous misjudgements) is that "when the pavement stops...so does my motorcycle." When I leave hard surface I like it to be on a motorcycle model that begins with the letter "K" and has a tall, skinny front wheel. That does not describe the Yamaha Majesty scooter that we were on. But there was no way I was going to get this close and not finish the trek. Besides I knew that Harleys were making it there and back. The road proved to be not that bad except for the dust.

There were a few bikes parked at the gravel intersection where the trail to the memorial starts.

Here is the marker for the trailhead.

The trail is straight, flat, wide, and a half mile long.

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[dpep]

The Memorial

The Memorial

Here are our shots of the memorial itself. Nothing too lavish.

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[gs58]

During his stay Stator just pitched right in and was a member of the family. Here is Stator helping me replace the starter on my BMW RT.

And here he is helping my mom celebrate her 90th birthday at the end of July.

A real party animal isn't he!

 

[marvinsc]

Great pics Don. There is a lot to see in this big old country. Glad Stator is getting a tour of the heartland.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the pictures. I was beginning to think they went out of style.

I recognize Stator alright. Darn bear climb and sits on anything he set his sight on.

He will taste anything in a mug too.

 

[gs58]

Thanks for the photos and the bit of history dpep. That Don McLean song has always interested me because of all the hidden meanings and identities. Can anyone tell me who James Dean lent his jacket to?

 

[dpep]

Thanks for the photos and the bit of history dpep. That Don McLean song has always interested me because of all the hidden meanings and identities. Can anyone tell me who James Dean lent his jacket to?

Give me a day or two and I will post the Clear Lake/Buddy Holly segments again over in Off Topic which would be the proper place for a music discussion including your question.
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[Redman]

Thanks for the entertainment and bit of history.
Good pictures. Did good at finding ways to propup Stator someplace in photos.

And stator has aviation helmet ... like yours.


Am Awaiting the further story of you on scooter with fuzzy teddy bear at Sturgis during bike week.

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[dpep]

Sturgis at Last

Sturgis at Last

So we pulled away from Clear Lake a little after noon and headed for Sturgis 600 miles or so west. We got in around 10:00 or so aided by gaining a time zone hour. The Majesty is a very good long haul mount except for the relatively small gas tank. The exits and gas stations are very far apart on the plains and I stopped about every 110-120 miles or so to be cautious.

My old friend Bob from Ft Wayne, Indiana goes out for Sturgis every year in his toy hauler. He always rents the same space in a residential neighborhood from a Sturgis resident with whom he has gotten to be good friends. Stator and I bunked in with Bob and a couple other Hoosier friends in the toy hauler so we had good digs for the week a little removed from the maddening crowds.

The GSers who were at the Indiana ride this year met Bob who was on a nice 1800 Gold Wing. But he also has a Harley side and Sturgis is where it shines brightest. It was great fun zipping around with the two big Harleys on my 400cc scooter which had no problem keeping up. We passed more bikes than passed us.

Here is Stator taking a break at one end of Main Street. He enjoyed the crowds. Our little bear is a party animal.

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[dpep]

The Wall Experience

The Wall Experience

Our first outing was to the Badlands which are an hour or so east of Sturgis. One of the park entrances is at Wall, SD, home of the world famous (world's largest) Wall Drug Store, Basically a huge building with a labyrinth of rooms and passages in which are sold just about anything legal you can think of. Tourist kitsch? Absolutely. But worth your time just to say you have been there and to check it off. Our first stop in Wall was (at Stator's insistence of course) a bar across the street for a round of bloody marys.

After his bloody mary Stator decided to take a flower pot break before heading to the Drug Store.

A photo op in front of the post office.

Another flower pot break, this one in front of the Wounded Knee museum. (Wounded Knee itself is actually
located 80 miles south on the other side of the Badlands.

And here is Stator playing on some of the Wall Drug Store decorations.

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[dpep]

To the Badlands

To the Badlands

Stator posing at the entrance.

Here are some shots of the Badlands taken from a motorcycle by someone else in our group.

After a long dry ride through the badlands Stator was of course ready to take in one of the popular Rapid City watering holes.

Here he is rendering judgment on the establishment's craft dark beer. He said he'd had better.

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[dpep]

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore

On our second outing we ventured to Mt Rushmore which is a little over an hour ride south and a litte east from Sturgis. Here is Stator in the middle of our group shot at the entrance to the monument.

Stator adds his handsome visage to the four stone faces.

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[dpep]

Devils Tower

Devils Tower

Our last outward trek was to Devil's Tower which is in Wyoming about and hour and a half west of Sturgis. Most folks know of the Tower from the Close Encounters of the Third Kind movie.

Stator enjoying a 24 oz Fosters at the park concession.

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[dpep]

Full Throttle Saloon

Full Throttle Saloon

On our last full day in Sturgis we had to let Stator see what the Full Throttle is like in person. It is only one of many biker bars in Sturgis, but it is the one most people know about because it is featured in a Reality show on TruTV.

The little buggar always seems to have a way with the ladys.

Posing for a shot above the main couryard.

Stator was particularly innterested in meeting the ladies in the body painting area.

There he goes again.

My ex-wife has a cousin who works promotions for Twisted Tea which is owned by Sam Adams.

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[max parsons]

Well that easily trumps my effort.Great work.I am now jealous of that bear.

 

[2BRacing]

Thanks for sharing Don. You have set the bar for future hosts in terms of locations and photos! Very interesting to see places of historic interest as well as beautiful countryside.

 

[850GT_Rider]

A stellar job of getting Stator out in the world! :encouragement: