Mud Racing: Sunday, August 7 and Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Mud racing is the dirtiest form of entertainment to hit the Buffalo Chip agenda since… 1978 when a few swine briefly took over the stage.  This year the likes of Wuffy, Yellow Thunder, Mud, Sweat and Gears and the pro mod by the name of Gear Hog brought the side-by-side mud racing action to the Sturgis Rally. The tuff trucks and tractors from the seven states and Canadian Provinces made their way to the Buffalo Chip Sports Complex to take part in the party.

Mud Racing is a sport that combines the adrenaline of drag racing with the brains (and creativity) of auto engineering.  In most cases, racers have spent a year building, refining and making every decision that goes into the fabrication of their trucks.   The Buffalo Chip Mud Races will feature five classes of trucks : sportsman, super stock, pro stock, pro mod and extreme classes.  Each of the trucks will do their best to out-pace the competition and reach the checker flag.  The track is 175 feet long and is only complete with twelve to fifteen inches of mud.  The race starts much like a black-top drag race but gets exciting with mud flying and the trucks reaching high speeds in less than thirty seconds.  “It gets entertaining when you can’t even see the paint on the machines!” says SDMRI event coordinator, Jimmy.  He and his family enjoy the hobby and continue to get others involved.

“It’s a friends and family type of group. If someone has a problem in the pits there is always another guy that is willing to help.” Pam, the driver of the infamous Bumblebee considers her fellow racers her second family who ‘doesn’t mind it if you’ve got a few layers of dirt caked on for the whole day.’

The Sports Complex is also home to the Hill Climb and the Guns of Freedom machine gun exhibit.   It is located on the north side of Alkali Road across from the east entrance.  Events are typically separately ticketed, please check your event to be sure.

Get the information first by subscribing to the Buffalo Chip Newsletter, an enewsletter with all things Buffalo Chip, Camping, Sturgis and Concerts.

For more information on the South Dakota Mud Racers visit them at an upcoming race or online.  

Sunday, August 7 and Tuesday, August 9, 2011;  3pm – 6pm; $10 Advance & $15 at the Gate