Last fall Brenda Vasknetz left her position as the director of events for the city of Sturgis. This meant that the largest motorcycle rally in the world didn’t have a director to coordinate the event. Well, the city wasted little time filling that gap and has hired Jerry Cole as the new rally and events director, but will he be able to fill the big shoes left for him?
Will New Blood At Sturgis Change The Legendary Rally?
Cole has been all over the Black Hills serving as a recreation coordinator for many cities. He was the director of commerce groups in Hill City, South Dakota and Dickenson, North Dakota. Most recently he tried to run for a city council seat in Rapid City, SD, but he came in last. Now he’s going to mold the largest motorcycle event in the United States into something even greater.
Does Cole Even Know What Sturgis Is About?
Though he claims to not be a Sturgis Rally veteran, Cole says he has been to the rally a few times, and even though he’s not the ‘biggest’ motorcycle enthusiast, he says he has owned a bike ever since he got his first at the age of 15. That’s when Cole fixed up a 350-Yamaha and the owner gave it to him as payment. That bike owner also let the boy come and wrench on bikes in his shop—a good start for the future director of the Sturgis Rally.
What Else Has He Done In His Career?
Cole would go on to earn a bachelor of arts degree in recreation and work for cities all across the Black Hills. He launched an event called the Northwest Games in Washington, and the Black Hills Fat Tire Festival, which still runs in Rapid City. He says he has plans to make Sturgis even better, and he might just have the experience to do it.
What do you think? Will Mr. Cole change Sturgis for the better? Do you think bikers will enjoy what the future of the rally holds? Log onto our Facebook and Twitter pages to tell us what you think.
Remember August is not far away, but the only way to make it to Sturgis is to ride safe—A message from your Law Tiger motorcycle accident attorneys at the Metier Law Firm.