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Statue of the Superfast Cyclist.

Statue of the Superfast Cyclist

Field review by the editors.

Sturgis, South Dakota

The first permanent statue on Main Street in Sturgis, home of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, is of course a statue of someone on a motorcycle. Not just any motorcycle. It's an experimental Harley-Davidson "Streamliner," and the rider is famous motorcycle racer "Smokin' Joe" Petrali.

Statue of the Superfast Cyclist.

The life-size bronze, sculpted by Jeff Decker, depicts Petrali on March 13, 1937, riding racehorse-jockey-style on Daytona Beach, at a then-record 136.183 mph. Petrali's land speed record for a motorcycle would not be broken for over 11 years, and no one has ever officially ridden a motorcycle faster on sand. The Sturgis-Petrali connection is not evident in the sculpture, but the town deserves credit for choosing a statue that would look interesting to everyone.

The Petrali bronze was unveiled on June 27, 2018. Sturgis hopes that it is just the first of many motorcycle sculptures to be placed along its Main Street.

Statue of the Superfast Cyclist

Address:
1040 Main St., Sturgis, SD
Directions:
Downtown. On the south side of Main St. midway between 1st St. and Junction Ave.
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Motorcycle Museum and Hall of FameMotorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame, Sturgis, SD - < 1 mi.
Large 44 MagnumLarge 44 Magnum, Sturgis, SD - < 1 mi.
Buffalo Chip Sign and Big Motorcycle MotorBuffalo Chip Sign and Big Motorcycle Motor, Sturgis, SD - 4 mi.
In the region:
Large Mt. Rushmore Chair, Keystone, SD - 36 mi.

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