Don’t miss the Indian Motorcycle Minnesota Mile and American Flat Track racing at Canterbury Park on Saturday, Sept. 29.
By Dan Jacobson Sr.
The lights will come on for the stars of extreme flat track as Canterbury Park hosts the American Flat Track (AFT) Minnesota Mile, presented by Indian Motorcycles, Saturday, Sept. 29. Gates open at 1 p.m.
American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe.
Known as the original extreme sport, Flat Track motorcycle races 100-horsepower twin-cylinder purpose-built bikes and 70-horsepower Singles DTX bikes (factory chassis). Races are held across in major markets from coast to coast from March until October. Tracks vary from one mile and half-mile short track ovals to the premier left/right turn with a jump TT venues at Daytona International Speedway and in Peoria, Ill.
What to Watch
As the 2018 AFT season draws to a close with two events Canterbury Park and the conclusion at the Meadowlands Mile in New Jersey, many AFT teams are licking their chops to close up the points race seasonal money and bragging rights. The No. 1 spots have already been secured by Twins racer Jared Mees for Indian Motorcycles and Dan Bromley for AFT Singles on the North American KTM 450.
Minnesota has two horses (pardon the pun) in the AFT National Championship Minnesota Mile race:
• Mac McGrew of Hawley, Minn., on the only Honda RS750 M3 Racing Twin.
• Cole Fealy of Stanchfield, Minn., on the Vanilla Cycles Honda 450.
• Five-time champion Mees is a tough competitor at every event.
• The Bauman brothers, Briar and Bronson, stood atop the podium at Williams Grove, Penn., are always worth the admission price.
• Bryan Smith was the winner of the Springfield Mile II.
• Kenny Coolbeth Jr. is closing out decades of AFT pro-racing and makes his last trip to the Minnesota Mile as a racer.
Looking at the top 10 in points, there could be big changes throughout… This means thousands in prize money at the season’s end.
The Venue
Canterbury Park as a premier venue is very fan friendly. Viewing is excellent, with the video jumbotron support keeping the mile under control.
Scottie “Hollywood” Deubler covers the play-by-play, keeping the rookie flat track fan engaged.
Check in early to take in the practice/qualifying, fan walk and visiting the vendors taking part of the historic Minnesota Mile presented by Indian Motorcycles.
By Dan Jacobson, Sr., is a motorsports journalist, racer, promoter and track-venue specialist celebrating 50 years of smoke, rubber and racing.
