Ham and Jam keeps Wyoming Highway Patrol on their toes - KOTA Territory News

Ham and Jam keeps Wyoming Highway Patrol on their toes

It's about 70 miles from Sturgis to the little town of Hulett, Wyoming but Wednesday rows and rows of bikers made their way across the state line to enjoy the rally Ham and Jam style.

"Everybody's here to have fun everybody's enjoying themselves, it just don't get any better," said Hulett City Council member James Olson.

Free music and free food always draw a crowd; and while the Ham and Jam has a reputation for being extra scandalous, Olson says it has calmed down. "I got to say the last couple years have been extremely tame; I mean as far as everybody behaves," said Olson. "Most well behaved crowd I've seen in ten years."

But Wyoming Highway Patrol is still on their toes every Rally Wednesday. It's not the destination it's the journey that has law enforcement worried. Windy roads mixed in with heavy traffic and a little bit of alcohol is never a good combination.

"A majority of the people make a circle so they'll come from Sturgis, the Sturgis area, through Hulett Ham and Jam then back through Sundance for the burn outs," said Lieutenant Marty Noonan. "Our major concern is DUI and that's what we look for."

It seems alcohol is everywhere at the Ham and Jam, but bikers say there is a trick to staying sober.

"You have a beer you have two waters," said Tennessee biker Danny Underwood.

"We never drink and ride it's a bad combination. Soon as the kick stands are down that's when it goes on. It's rock and roll time. We've had a lot of practice this week," said Duff Nasty and his friends Kim and Tom Sankovich.

But no matter how safe you are at rally accidents happen.

"My major concern is always injury and fatal crashes," said Noonan. "I want everybody to make it home safe."

And as the rows of these modern day cowboys ride off into the sunset, law enforcement are always nearby just in case.