Motorcyclists from around the state met in Winslow last weekend for the American Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education’s (ABATE) annual fundraiser Too Broke for Sturgis. As the name would suggest, the event originally began 32 years ago as a cheaper alternative to the iconic South Dakotan motorcycle mecca that can have a hefty price tag.
The event, which was held for more than a decade at Mormon Lake south of Flagstaff, was almost canceled when new owners of the space no longer wished for the event to be held there. State president of ABATE, Jim Butsback, said, “We were ready to cancel it this year because we had no place to hold it, but Lonny Gose called me up and said he had just purchased a spot in Winslow he wanted to make into an event space where we could have it.”
The event has traditionally been held at the beginning of June, but to give the organization enough time to properly plan an event of this size, they pushed it back to the last weekend in July, which was still cutting it a bit close because the entire event came together in less than four months. Butsback added, “I just want to give a big thanks to the people of Winslow, Mayor Birdie and City Manager Coolidge for welcoming us. I don’t think we could have made it happen without all the support.”
The event had lots to do for those attending, including motorcycle-related games such as one where riders had to see how slow they could ride on their bikes without their feet touching the ground, a tattoo contest, a bike show, a poker run, other games and contests, and raffles which made for an entertaining weekend for all participants. Organizers wanted to stress that despite it being an 18 and older event, they still want to invite people from all walks of life to come and take part in the festivities.
The event had more than enough food trucks from all over the Southwest, including those that traveled from Utah, California, and all over Arizona to be in attendance for the event, as well as several local vendors from Winslow. Also at the event, were talented artists who showcased their skills in creating custom paint jobs for motorcycles, while expert mechanics offered specialized custom upgrades for bikes. Organizers charged $40 to camp at the event for the three nights that it was held, making it an affordable place for bikers to show off their leather and meet other bikers from around the state.
Too Broke for Sturgis acts as ABATE’s biggest fundraiser of the year, which funds the rest of the year’s operations. ABATE is a 100% volunteer-based organization, and participants do several things in the community such as Christmas toy drives, voter registration drives, motorcycle safety and awareness events, and other charitable causes around Arizona. The main goal is to be a political action group lobbying for the rights of motorcyclists. The ABATE tents at the event have the phrase, “Dedicated to the freedom of the road” noted on them, which is an apt description of the kind of issues they support, not only on the state level but the national one as well.
Michael Infanzon, ABATE’s legislative director and lobbyist, spoke about the different causes the organization has supported in the past, including getting lane filtering legalized in Arizona in 2022. Lane filtering, not to be confused with lane splitting that states like California have, allows riders to move in between cars in traffic as long as both sides of traffic are stopped and the road they are on is 45 miles per hour or below. Infanzon said, “One of the most dangerous things for a motorcycle is getting rear-ended.” Which lane splitting helps protect riders from. ABATE has had their hands in legislation for the safety of riders for decades, including allowing bikers in the HOV lanes in 1992 to more recent fights against ethanol in fuel which is damaging to smaller engines.
The event filled restaurants and hotel rooms in Winslow and gave the city a much-needed economic boost. Butsback said he would be very interested in hosting the event in Winslow again in the future but wanted to give people more of a reason to get excited about visiting the area. He is considering in the future having the campground portion open up longer than the event and encouraging participants to explore many of the nearby sites like Meteor Crater, the Grand Canyon, Standin’ on the Corner and many of the other attractions the area has to offer.
With engines roaring and hearts united, the Too Broke for Sturgis event in Winslow proved to be an unforgettable celebration of motorcycles, camaraderie, and charitable spirit. As the sun set on the weekend, the riders left with memories to cherish and a reason to return.
