Base residents check out the motorcycles at the “Touch of Sturgis” bike show Saturday at Yongsan Garrison, South Korea. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — The Yongsan Motorcycle Club Road Dragons teamed up with local Morale, Welfare and Recreation officials to bring “A Touch of Sturgis” to Yongsan on Saturday.
About 50 motorcycles sat parked in rows in the bowling alley parking lot, with chrome gleaming and leather seats heating up under the brutal sun. Rock tunes blared as bikers and visitors strolled through the lot taking photos.
The goal, explained club member Bob Soska, was to give the community a small glimpse of what’s happening thousands of miles away in Sturgis, S.D., where tens of thousands of bikers gathered Aug. 7-13 for the 66th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Club president Don Clarke said it was a good chance to explain the organization to anyone interested in riding in South Korea.
Members could “introduce them to our club and talk to them a little bit about our mentor” program, Clarke said. Anyone seeking to join the club must work with a mentor — an experienced rider with considerable miles under his or her belt on South Korean roads. Once a newcomer passes a “checklist,” the next step is joining a formation ride. If the person follows the safety guidelines and “passes” the test, an invitation to join the Road Dragons follows.
Safety is a big part of the organization, explained Clarke. During Saturday’s event, volunteers passed out wallet-sized cards with information on what to do if someone is involved in an accident. Emergency information numbers for areas around the peninsula are included on the card.
The club’s Web site — www.roaddragons.com — includes additional safety tips, as well as a full list of upcoming events, tech tips and a photo gallery.
Clarke said anyone interested in the club, which has about 50 active members, can find contact information on the Web site.
