STURGIS – The City of Sturgis is proud to announce that Gloria Tramontin Struck will serve as Grand Marshal of the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

This announcement comes on a special day for Gloria – today, July 7, 2025, is her 100^th birthday.

Gloria is a living legend and one of the most respected figures in the world of motorcycling. Her appointment is a tribute to more than eight decades of riding, trailblazing, and inspiring generations of riders.

"I am truly honored to be named the Grand Marshal of the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Motorcycling has been my life, and to be part of this incredible event, which celebrates the freedom and camaraderie that riders share, is a privilege,” Gloria said.

Gloria embodies everything the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally stands for — freedom, tradition, and the unbreakable bond between rider and road, said Sturgis Mayor Kevin Forrester.

“Her legacy has paved the way for riders across the country, especially women in motorcycling. It is an incredible honor to have her lead the 85th Rally,” he said.

Born in 1925 in the family’s apartment behind the family’s motorcycle shop in Clifton, New Jersey, Gloria’s story begins where many riders dream of ending up — on two wheels and never looking back. The Lexington Cycle Shop, founded by her parents in 1915, sold bicycles and motorcycles of all kinds. After the death of her father in 1928, Gloria’s mother continued to run the business, helping to shape what would become a legacy of motorcycling in the Tramontin family.

Gloria learned to ride at age 16, reluctantly at first, under the watchful eye of her older brother, Arthur “Bub” Tramontin — a professional hillclimber and longtime Harley-Davidson dealer.

By 1946, Gloria had joined the Motor Maids, a newly formed women's riding organization. She has remained an active member ever since, logging hundreds of thousands of miles across the U.S. and abroad — always on her own bike, rain or shine, from Cumberland Gap to the Stelvio Pass in the Alps.

“Gloria represents the heart and soul of the motorcycling community,” Forrester said. “Her grit, warmth, and unwavering commitment to the riding lifestyle embody the spirit of the Sturgis Rally.”

Through the years, Gloria has owned and loved many bikes—starting with an Indian Pony and a 1941 Bonneville Scout, followed by a brand new 1946 Indian Chief. In 1950, she switched to Harley-Davidson and has never looked back, owning more than seven Harleys since.

Her riding adventures span all 48 continental states and much of Europe. Whether riding at locations across the U.S. with her Motor Maid sisters or maneuvering 80 hairpin turns through the Alps, Gloria proved that age is just a number — much like the odometer on the motorcycles she has owned, marking new memories with every tick.

As Grand Marshal, Gloria will participate in festivities at this milestone Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, a fitting honor for a woman whose life has been defined by freedom, strength, and the open road.

Sturgis – The Ride. The Roar. The Rally.

Photo courtesy Marilyn Stemp