Name the things that make up a good day on a motorcycle. Good weather is part of a good day. Riding attire that doesn’t pinch you in the wrong places. (Are there right places? Moving on.) What else makes a good day on the road? If you said the food at the end of the ride, you know what Gildshire has in mind. Starting in 2019, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally officially celebrates bike trip food, by hosting a Road Grub Throwdown.
What’s a Road Grub Throwdown?
We are so glad you asked, because it’s a food competition, judged by carefully selected arbiters. Two culinary pros and one Powersports honcho make up the judging panel. There is a pre-determined time limit.

We love the Sturgis Rally, but how much more will we love it with this in store?
Each Throwdown entrant gets a ten by ten-foot space, with the outdoor cooking implement of their choice (grill, smoker, etc.) and utensils provided. Each day brings about a new theme. One day might be chili, the next hot wings, and competitors are encouraged to enter in more than one category. Each day’s top 1-5 competitors (depending on the number of entries) win prizes that may include merchandise or cold, hard cash. The total points champion for the show Throwdown wins a coveted grand prize.
In addition to the competitive aspects of the Throwdown, there are cooking demos, local restaurant spotlights, and an abundance of top-quality cooking and food items in the vendor display area. They even have a catering tent available for attendees who wish to buy the wares offered by local culinary talent.
The people who come to the Sturgis Motorcycle rally come for the camaraderie, the newest bike creations, along with the opportunity to hobnob with the occasional bike-minded celebrity. Up until now, they haven’t come for the food. Gildshire expects that to change with the advent of a Road Grub Throwdown event on the streets of Sturgis, South Dakota.
So grab your bike, your biker babe (or biker guy) and your best recipe for Louisiana Barbecue and plan to attend the next Sturgis rally in August. We can’t wait!