Sturgis adds to its growing lineup of activities and events this year with the announcement of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Legends Ride. This ride will feature big-name celebrities, and all rider contributions go to support charities.

The ride will be led by actor and director Lorenzo Lamas of Renegade and actor Rusty Coones of Sons of Anarchy. Livewire and Triumph will also join in the fun by providing motorcycles for Buffalo Chip President Rod Woodruff and Buffalo Chip Executive VP Daymon Woodruff.

Related: Def Leppard and Death Wire Daredevil Spectacular at Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Other celebrities joining the ride will include Tommy “C. Thomas” Howell, Cory Ness, Zach Ness, Roland Sands, Michael Lichter, and more. The Legends Ride will take place Aug. 7, 2023. At the end of the ride, those few who reserved a spot will enjoy the Legends Lunch, a gourmet meal shared with some of the celebrities.

For more information about the Legends Ride and the celebrities who will join the ride, read the press release below.


Sturgis, SD (May 17, 2023) – The Sturgis Buffalo Chip has announced its celebrity ride captains and special guests for the 16th annual Legends Ride on Monday, Aug. 7. The big names bolster the growing list of celebrities participating in the The Ride That Rocks during the 83rd Sturgis Rally. Ride captains are actor and director Lorenzo Lamas (Renegade) and actor Rusty Coones (Sons of Anarchy), and they will lead a ride through the beautiful Black Hills alongside special guests that include actor and musician Tommy “C. Thomas” Howell (The Outsiders); custom motorcycle legends Cory Ness, Zach Ness, and Roland Sands; renowned photographer Michael Lichter; and Buffalo Chip founder and president Rod Woodruff. All rider contributions support Legends Ride charities: South Dakota Special Olympics Rapid City Flame and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame. View the full list of Legends Ride celebrities at LegendsRide.com.

In addition to top celebrities and pillars of the motorcycle industry, legendary OEMs Livewire and Triumph Motorcycles have joined the Legends Ride in a big way by becoming ride co-captains and providing motorcycles to lead the scenic ride. These machines will be ridden by Buffalo Chip President Rod Woodruff and Buffalo Chip Executive Vice President Daymon Woodruff.

“Part of the fun of the Legends Ride for people is spending time with these amazing celebrities who share the same passion for supporting charitable causes,” said Sturgis Buffalo Chip President Rod Woodruff. “In addition to the fun and the riding, the legendary and heartfelt aspect of this ride is the support and dedication these celeb guests are giving of their time for a very special cause. This is an experience that’ll be cherished forever by all involved.”

Legends Ride Sturgis Buffalo Chip
Photo courtesy Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Legends Ride Celebrity Guests

Lorenzo Lamas: Lorenzo Lamas has starred in five television series and in over 50 movies. He is most known for his roles on television, notably as Lance Cumson on CBS’ Falcon Crest and Reno Raines in the syndicated hit show Renegade. Lorenzo has been an avid motorcyclist for over 30 years. He has participated in the Love Ride to benefit MDA and various charities since its inception in 1983 and is also on the foundation’s board of directors. When he isn’t behind a pair of handlebars, Lorenzo is a commercial helicopter and airplane pilot. He often flies disadvantaged children to summer camps and people too sick or financially challenged to travel normally on domestic flights. Lorenzo is no stranger to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, having previously served as emcee for the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame ceremony, as well as a past celebrity guest on the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s Legends Ride.

Rusty Coones: Rusty Coones is an American actor who starred in the incredibly popular FX original crime tragedy drama series Sons of Anarchy as Rane Quinn. Rusty makes his debut in the fifth season’s episode “Andare Pescare,” in which he plays a member of SAMCRO. Rusty made another appearance in the FX original series Mayans MC, a spinoff of Sons of Anarchy. In the first season, he makes his debut in the series’ closing episode, “Cuervo/Tz’ikb’uul.” He was also featured in the 2019 feature film Nation’s Fire. Coones is set to appear in Guiso, which is still in the pre-production phase.

Find more Sturgis news and announcements here.

Tommy Howell: Actor, writer, producer and musician Tommy “C. Thomas” Howell is known around the world as the actor and leading man behind the iconic Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders, or The Reaper in Criminal Minds. From Elizabeth Taylor and Francis Ford Coppola to Steven Spielberg and Patrick Swayze to Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield, Tommy has worked with the best in Hollywood on his journey through more than 240 credits. Along with memorable roles in classic films such as Red Dawn, The Hitcher, and H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds, he’s portrayed legendary figures ranging from Baby Face Nelson to “The Hillside Strangler,” Kenneth Bianchi. He currently has multiple TV shows and films in production. In 2020, Tommy returned to his rural music routes and began recording music with some of Nashville’s most elite musicians. He has an EP on the way and is bringing “An Evening of Music & Storytelling” to select stages.

Cory Ness: The chief designer behind all that is Arlen Ness Motorcycles today, Cory Ness runs the day-to-day business and designs new parts and accessories at the world-famous company. His award-winning innovations can be seen on covers and spreads in national and international motorcycle magazines and have made appearances at all major international custom bike shows. 

Zach Ness: It’s clear to see that Zach Ness comes from a long line of legendary custom bike builders. As the third generation of Ness builders, Zach’s personal style is very different from that of his family, but each of Zach’s incredible customs include touches identifying them as true Ness motorcycles.

Roland Sands: Born into the motorcycle industry, Roland Sands, a 2023 Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, has grown into an important and influential builder, accessory designer, culture creator, and businessman. Well-known to television audiences through his years of AMA Roadracing and his audacious builds on Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off, Sands ultimately took the championship in 2006, cementing his position as a legendary builder. Standing on top of the podium is never tiring for the Southern California native, and he has continued to build the Roland Sands Design brand to this day, selling apparel and crafted accessories for many brands of motorcycles as well as event creation and racing. The Royal Enfield he will be riding on this year’s Legends Ride is the new Meteor 650 which brings the brand that started in 1901 directly into the cruiser scene. Sands took the pure and elemental lines of the new model and is creating another masterpiece that showcases how even an approachable and budget-friendly machine can be fundamentally changed into a rolling work of art.

Michael Lichter: Michael Lichter started photographing custom Harley-Davidsons and the biker lifestyle in the 1970s and his continuing contributions have earned him international recognition. Lichter is credited with 10 books on motorcycling, more than 1,200 magazine articles, and numerous other printed materials.

Rod Woodruff: Rod “Woody” Woodruff is the president and CEO of the Legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip. Since its beginnings in 1981, Woody has transformed what was once 20 acres of leased land into a 600-acre destination that is the focal point of the Sturgis Rally and The Best Party Anywhere.

Legends Lunch

To make a memorable day even more memorable, the small group of fortunate individuals who reserved their place at the Legends Lunch will have the opportunity to join ride co-captains Lorenzo Lamas and Rusty Coones, as well as Tommy “C. Thomas” Howell and Rod Woodruff, for an intimate and gourmet meal. Funds from the Legends Lunch benefit the Shriners Childrens Transportation Fund.

Worthwhile charity events are just part of what the Sturgis Buffalo Chip will present again for 2023. Guests will have the opportunity to experience world-class entertainers, thrilling events, legendary rides, powerful freedom celebrations, top-tier bike shows, heart-pounding stunts, white-knuckle racing, and so much more. Entertainment is free with camping. A full list of Sturgis Buffalo Chip events is available at the Buffalo Chip’s website. The Buffalo Chip is home to the Sturgis Rally Information Center and is the official sponsor of the free Official Sturgis Rally Registration Program.

2023 Sturgis Buffalo Chip Event and Entertainment Lineup

Friday, Aug. 4

  • ZZ Top
  • Buffalo Chip Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party™
  • Support Bikers Moto Meetup
  • Full Throttle Magazine Official Rally Kickoff Bike Show
  • Parade into the Amphitheater 
  • Beer Wall Smash

Saturday, Aug. 5

  • Koe Wetzel
  • Schools Out Chopper Show
  • Wango Tango Custom Gold Wing Show
  • Motorcycles As Art Exhibit opens

Sunday, Aug. 6

  • Lynyrd Skynyrd
  • FXR Show & Dyna Mixer
  • Monday, Aug. 7
  • Limp Bizkit
  • Lita Ford
  • Legends Ride
  • Hardcore Cycles Performance Show
  • Sassy & Classy Over 35 Model Search 

Tuesday, Aug. 8

  • Styx 
  • REO Speedwagon
  • Biker Belles Women’s Day Celebration 
  • Biker Belles Women’s Bike Show
  • Sportster Showdown
  • Mini Bike Show

Wednesday, Aug. 9

  • Whiskey Myers
  • George Thorogood & The Destroyers
  • Rusty Wallace Ride
  • Evo Entanglement
  • Bike Show Mafia Bike Show & Godfathers of Bass Soundoff

Thursday, Aug. 10

  • Def Leppard
  • The Death Wire Daredevil Spectacular
  • Freedom Celebration
  • Western Frontier Motorcycle Ride
  • Rats Hole Custom Bike Show

Friday, Aug. 11

  • Entertainment TBA

Saturday, Aug. 12

  • Entertainment TBA

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