Adam Popp (52) leads the pack around the final bend in Sunday’s first “Maddog” Heat, followed closely by Shawn Sheely on the 86 bike.

NEW ULM — Dozens of motorcycle riders swarmed to the Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club this weekend for the annual fall Flat Track races.

The Flying Dutchmen have been hosting flat track races in the New Ulm area for over 50 years, and in the past 25 years, the races have all taken place near their clubhouse. This year saw a record for entries in the races. Club member Tony Effenberger said there were 170 entries for Saturday’s races. On Sunday, there were 165 entries. Around 75 individual riders participated in 24 classes of motorbike racing. On average, 130 or 140 entries are received for a single day.

Effenberger said the 250cc Class and the Open Amateur B Class had the most riders signed up, but this year 10 Peewee Bikers in the 50cc division registered on both days.

“That is unusual,” Effenberger said. It could be a sign that motorbike racing is popular with the newest generation. There were a lot of young faces at this year’s tournament.

Several children as young as five were suiting up in helmets and pads to race. Between heats, it was not unusual to see youngsters riding double with their dads and granddads around camp. There is a strong generational appeal with motorcycle racing.

Bill and Sam Hoffmeister have been coming to New Ulm’s flat track for years. The father and son racers are from Bloomington, but return to New Ulm every year. Sam Hoffmeister said it is one of their favorite tracks to race.

“It is as smooth as a billiards table,” he said. “There are no holes for a person to dodge.”

Bill Hoffmeister has been racing bikes for decades and is still one of the top riders. On Saturday, he finished first in the Master 60 Division.

Flat track racing might skew toward the younger generation, but those who started racing 50 years ago are still part of the club today, even if it is just as a spectator.

Flying Dutchmen member Alan “Smiley” Wiltscheck said he remembered a time before the club had a flat track.

“They used to charge us 25 cents per meeting,” he said. “They told us some day we would buy land. I was 18 and I thought this was crazy.” While he did not expect the club would ever have land of its own for a flat track, Wiltscheck is delighted it does.

After 25 years, the track continues to draw families from near and far, united by a need for speed.