Local Minot riders take time to travel to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, each year.

Jeff Behrens, Minot Chapter president of the B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S. Riding Club, has been attending the rally for the last 15 consecutive years. This year’s rally begins Friday and continues through Sunday, Aug. 11.

Each year Behrens checks his motorcycle to make sure everything is in good order, loads his things and rides to the rally. When asked about what it takes to get ready for the rally, he said “not a whole lot,” explaining that he takes a tent, camp chair and a bag of clothes and necessities for this year’s three-day visit. He stays on the various campgrounds, rotating from venue to famous venue each year.

Hundreds of thousands of people make the pilgrimage each year to the biggest motorcycle rally in the world.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a gathering of motorcycles that began in 1938, when a group of Sturgis locals started a motorcycle club called the Jackpine Gypsies. The rally, first known as the Black Hills Classic, gathers over 500,000 people each year, according to Harley-Davidson information.

Behrens has been riding street bikes, or motorcycles meant for paved roads, for the past 31 years, recently buying a large Indian brand touring bike meant for long-distance travel. He said he grew up with riding and has spent the majority of his life enjoying it.

At the rally, he said, he looks forward to seeing the people – the friends he has made over the years whom he only gets to see during the rally. He also enjoys seeing all the bikes on his stops. This year he is excited to see Jelly Roll and Kid Rock performing during the event, along with many others at the many venues throughout the area.

“It’s a good time,” Behrens said. “You get to see something different, and all the motorcycles are pretty cool.

“Everyone that rides should at least experience it once. There is a lot to see and do down there. The rally experience is a lot different than just riding the hills,” he said, speaking of the Black Hills, the famous geographical area where the rally takes place.