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Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement
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Thank you for your patience.
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.
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Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.
1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.
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Sturgis One Helluva Party
posted Thursday, 31 July 2008
Woodruff ready to get party started
Buffalo Chip owner is prepared to host annual concert series
By Tom Lawrence
The Weekly News
STURGIS Rod Woodruff is throwing one helluva party in the next few days, but he will spend as much time working as celebrating.
Woodruff, owner of The Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground, said he spends much of the Rally hustling around his campground, working with his 300 employees and making sure his guests are happy.
In fact, during the previous 26 years The Chip has been open, Woodruff said he has only attended one complete show: Johnny Lang in 1996.
“Absolutely stunning show,” said Michael Sanborn of Rapid City, who will attend his 30th Rally this year and has seen many of the concerts.
Sanborn recalls Cher appearing on the stage that night, autographing a motorcycle that was raffled off to raise money for a children’s cranial charity.
Nights like that helped build The Chip’s image as a nationally renowned performance venue, he said. But despite that reputation, Woodruff — the man in charge — will do whatever it takes to keep the campground humming along.
“I’ve seen the guy in the parking lot parking cars,” Sanborn said. “The guy’s a workaholic. He’s always running around doing something.
“The standing joke is, we need to make a T-shirt that says, ‘Where’s Woody?’”
Woodruff, a slender, quiet man in his early 60s, will catch some tunes this year while he hustles around and keeps the good times flowing — and the money coming in. It’s a hectic time and he clearly loves it.
“I’m here 24/7 for months,” Woodruff said during an interview at the campground July 23.
He admits that some of the acts are booked because he enjoys their music.
“Oh, certainly,” Woodruff said. “We’re going to have a party, we’re going to have what I like.”
He said he talks with “everybody that’s anybody” and sees what acts are touring. Some acts negotiate the deals themselves; others ask Woodruff — “Woody” to almost everyone — to deal with their agents or managers.
He said Iron Butterfly’s 1985 show was the most successful show he’s ever produced at The Chip. The band’s biggest hit, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” came out in 1968 and The Chip’s baby boomer crowd roared as they performed.
“It was just a huge crowd,” said Sanborn, who was at the show. “I think it was a turning point insofar as it was a lot of people he hadn’t see there before. This was the one that kind of made the turn.”
This year, The Chip has its usual lineup of hot rock and country acts such as Kid Rock and Kellie Pickler blended with classic rock mainstays like Alice Cooper and ZZ Top.
Picker will open for Kid Rock on Monday, Aug. 4. It would seem an unlikely mix — the wild man of country/rock and “America’s little sweetheart,” as Woodruff describes Pickler. But that kind of combo works at The Chip, he said.
“I would assume that’s going to be one of the biggest nights we’ve had,” said Sanborn, whose marketing firm works for The Chip
“Kid Rock was tickled to play with Kellie Pickler,” Woodruff said.
She also enticed a very high-profile “MC” who will appear on stage before Pickler. Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said he wanted to come to The Chip the same day Pickler was showing up, Woodruff said.
“That’s a historic deal,” he said of McCain coming to The Buffalo Chip. “When we discussed it, I said, ‘That would be cool.’ And it’s historic.”
Having a presidential candidate appear at The Chip may entitle it be placed on the National Historic Registry, Woodruff said.
The Secret Service has toured the campground and was impressed by the security set-up, he said. It’s another coup for Woodruff, a dedicated Republican who calls McCain an “awe-inspiring patriot.”
Lawyer turned promoter
He’s a genial host, sipping a beer as he works, slapping backs, posing for photos and asking bikers if they’re having fun. Woodruff, educated as a lawyer, worked as a state’s attorney, a prosecutor and a defense lawyer before opening The Chip in 1982.
He’s proud of helping to “put South Dakota on the map” with the concerts, which have been featured on MTV, national news reports and in countless newspaper and magazine stories.
Woodruff is already negotiating for next year’s acts and is determined to make this year’s Rally a little bit better than last year’s.
He’s continually made improvements, adding more flush toilets this past year, putting in a patio bonfire and doing a lot of underground infrastructure work.
A new “front of house,” where the sound is mixed, was added to the amphitheater. A second-story VIP lounge is atop the sound room and follow spotlights are on the third floor.
His wife Carol, who has worked at The Chip since 1990, makes sure things get done right. “She keeps us all straight and happy,” Woodruff said.
Putting on the shows during the Rally is a full-time job, Carol Woodruff said. “It’s a year-round business,” she said.
Rod Woodruff said putting on a series of concerts and hosting more than a week of frivolity for bikers and others who want to party isn’t rocket science. But it takes effort and smarts.
It helps that musicians like Kid Rock and comedians like Sam Kinison, who performed at the campground in 1990, spread the word that playing The Buffalo Chip is a great experience.
Kinison, the screaming, profane but hilarious comedian who died at 38 in 1992, enjoyed his time at The Chip. “He and Wolfman Jack partied their fool heads off,” Woodruff recalled with a smile. “What a life that guy led.”
Of course, you could say the same for Woodruff. He said he feels making The Chip a fun place for his customers and the acts is a secret to success.
“We have that reputation. It’s such a nice place to play,” Woodruff said. “People come for the fun they expect. What we have is a party.”
Woodruff, owner of The Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground, said he spends much of the Rally hustling around his campground, working with his 300 employees and making sure his guests are happy.
In fact, during the previous 26 years The Chip has been open, Woodruff said he has only attended one complete show: Johnny Lang in 1996.
“Absolutely stunning show,” said Michael Sanborn of Rapid City, who will attend his 30th Rally this year and has seen many of the concerts.
Sanborn recalls Cher appearing on the stage that night, autographing a motorcycle that was raffled off to raise money for a children’s cranial charity.
Nights like that helped build The Chip’s image as a nationally renowned performance venue, he said. But despite that reputation, Woodruff — the man in charge — will do whatever it takes to keep the campground humming along.
“I’ve seen the guy in the parking lot parking cars,” Sanborn said. “The guy’s a workaholic. He’s always running around doing something.
“The standing joke is, we need to make a T-shirt that says, ‘Where’s Woody?’”
Woodruff, a slender, quiet man in his early 60s, will catch some tunes this year while he hustles around and keeps the good times flowing — and the money coming in. It’s a hectic time and he clearly loves it.
“I’m here 24/7 for months,” Woodruff said during an interview at the campground July 23.
He admits that some of the acts are booked because he enjoys their music.
“Oh, certainly,” Woodruff said. “We’re going to have a party, we’re going to have what I like.”
He said he talks with “everybody that’s anybody” and sees what acts are touring. Some acts negotiate the deals themselves; others ask Woodruff — “Woody” to almost everyone — to deal with their agents or managers.
He said Iron Butterfly’s 1985 show was the most successful show he’s ever produced at The Chip. The band’s biggest hit, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” came out in 1968 and The Chip’s baby boomer crowd roared as they performed.
“It was just a huge crowd,” said Sanborn, who was at the show. “I think it was a turning point insofar as it was a lot of people he hadn’t see there before. This was the one that kind of made the turn.”
This year, The Chip has its usual lineup of hot rock and country acts such as Kid Rock and Kellie Pickler blended with classic rock mainstays like Alice Cooper and ZZ Top.
Picker will open for Kid Rock on Monday, Aug. 4. It would seem an unlikely mix — the wild man of country/rock and “America’s little sweetheart,” as Woodruff describes Pickler. But that kind of combo works at The Chip, he said.
“I would assume that’s going to be one of the biggest nights we’ve had,” said Sanborn, whose marketing firm works for The Chip
“Kid Rock was tickled to play with Kellie Pickler,” Woodruff said.
She also enticed a very high-profile “MC” who will appear on stage before Pickler. Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said he wanted to come to The Chip the same day Pickler was showing up, Woodruff said.
“That’s a historic deal,” he said of McCain coming to The Buffalo Chip. “When we discussed it, I said, ‘That would be cool.’ And it’s historic.”
Having a presidential candidate appear at The Chip may entitle it be placed on the National Historic Registry, Woodruff said.
The Secret Service has toured the campground and was impressed by the security set-up, he said. It’s another coup for Woodruff, a dedicated Republican who calls McCain an “awe-inspiring patriot.”
Lawyer turned promoter
He’s a genial host, sipping a beer as he works, slapping backs, posing for photos and asking bikers if they’re having fun. Woodruff, educated as a lawyer, worked as a state’s attorney, a prosecutor and a defense lawyer before opening The Chip in 1982.
He’s proud of helping to “put South Dakota on the map” with the concerts, which have been featured on MTV, national news reports and in countless newspaper and magazine stories.
Woodruff is already negotiating for next year’s acts and is determined to make this year’s Rally a little bit better than last year’s.
He’s continually made improvements, adding more flush toilets this past year, putting in a patio bonfire and doing a lot of underground infrastructure work.
A new “front of house,” where the sound is mixed, was added to the amphitheater. A second-story VIP lounge is atop the sound room and follow spotlights are on the third floor.
His wife Carol, who has worked at The Chip since 1990, makes sure things get done right. “She keeps us all straight and happy,” Woodruff said.
Putting on the shows during the Rally is a full-time job, Carol Woodruff said. “It’s a year-round business,” she said.
Rod Woodruff said putting on a series of concerts and hosting more than a week of frivolity for bikers and others who want to party isn’t rocket science. But it takes effort and smarts.
It helps that musicians like Kid Rock and comedians like Sam Kinison, who performed at the campground in 1990, spread the word that playing The Buffalo Chip is a great experience.
Kinison, the screaming, profane but hilarious comedian who died at 38 in 1992, enjoyed his time at The Chip. “He and Wolfman Jack partied their fool heads off,” Woodruff recalled with a smile. “What a life that guy led.”
Of course, you could say the same for Woodruff. He said he feels making The Chip a fun place for his customers and the acts is a secret to success.
“We have that reputation. It’s such a nice place to play,” Woodruff said. “People come for the fun they expect. What we have is a party.”
Say what?