The British Biker Cooperative’s Rally & Show is not Sturgis—and that’s why I like it. I guess I really like it for what it is not, as much as for what it is. It is a small, uncrowded, unhurried, laid-back gathering that brings together great people and their bikes. The British Biker Cooperative 43rd Annual Rally & Show convened on July 19-21 this year at the Eagle Cave Resort near Blue River, Wisc., in the secluded, spectacular hill country that forms the northern edge of the broad Wisconsin River Valley. There is no Interstate and no heavy traffic—unless you count the occasional mammoth farm machines that ply the hilly, curvy, blacktopped back roads surrounding the site. This means few of the aggravations that larger events can entail.
To be clear, my support for the British Biker Cooperative Annual Rally & Show is no knock on those much more prominent events. It is just to say there are some real virtues to be had in smaller, more personal events without huge crowds and traffic jams, and a little less noise.
The rally and show this year commemorated the resurrection of historic British brands—Triumph, Norton, and, more recently, BSA—with all three brands represented at the Rally & Show; modern and classic examples of Triumph and BSA with several vintage Norton machines appearing in the bike show on Saturday.
The rally is family-friendly, and the camping area includes a “quiet area.” However, the goings-on are anything but dull. Friday included motorcycle games and a welcome gathering under the British Biker Cooperative tent with music and movies.
Saturday featured breakfast available in the Recreation Hall, followed by a group ride through the spectacular Driftless Area and the annual Ride-in Motorcycle Show that incorporates a non-British class. Lunch and dinner were served by a local food truck vendor. There were presentations of awards and door prizes, and the British Biker Cooperative Tent Party featured live music. Adding to the fun of the events and the show, the weather was superb from start to finish this year.
The British Biker Cooperative 43rd Annual Rally & Show is a people’s choice event. Winners in each class are determined by votes cast by participants at the rally, whether they are riders, bike owners, or neither. Special thanks to Peggy Kasper for providing the bike show results.
Photography by Gary Ilmenen
British Biker Cooperative 43rd Annual Rally & Show
Best of Show
- Don Danmeier, 1955 Vincent Series D Black Shadow
Custom
- 1st Place: Kyle Winkels, 2003 Triumph America
- 2nd Place: Riley Hansen, 2007 Triumph America
Radical
- 1st Place: Mark Verhalen, 1975 Norton Commando
- 2nd Place: Ted Kukla, 1971 Triumph Bonneville 650
Rat Bike
- Logan Harden, 1970s Triumph Trophy
Non-British
- 1st Place: Tom Sarasin, 2016 Indian Chief Vintage
- 2nd Place: Clay Ullrich, 1973 Moto Guzzi 850
Late Stock
- 1st Place: Scott Hermann, 1970 BSA Lightning
- 2nd Place: Lucas Harden – 1970 Triumph Trophy 250
Modern Retro
- 1st Place: Kyle Winkels, 2002 Triumph T-100
- 2nd Place: Kyle Winkels, 2009 Triumph T-100
Modern Stock
- 1st Place: Dave Miller, 2009 Triumph America
- 2nd Place: Mark Fredricks, 2015 Triumph Thunderbird
Modern Cruiser
- 1st Place: Doug Aretz, 2020 Triumph Speedmaster
- 2nd Place: Dan Kasper, 2022 Triumph Speedmaster
