Staff photo by Fritz Busch Charlie Dietz, (11) of Madelia, left, and Kiryn Wellman of Sioux Falls, S.D. battle for the lead in the women’s race at the New Ulm Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club Flat Track Races Saturday. Dietz finished first, Wellman second. Races continue Sunday noon.

NEW ULM — Motorcycle racers from near and far revved their engines to the red line at the Flying Dutchmen Flat Track Races Saturday.

A. J. Smith, 20, a Hancock, Wi. welder, drove 279 miles to New Ulm to race.

Competing in Open B and 450 cc classes, he talked about what he thought about the local track.

“I really like this place, maybe even more than the one I race on near home,” he said. “This is my first time here and I really like the track layout. The groove (fastest, most efficient path around a race track) is wide with more lines on it than most. It makes for really competitive racing. There is traction all around the track. It was in really good shape from the start and it’ll just get better.”

Adam Reinhart of Courtland said he enjoys racing at the Flying Dutchmen Flat Track. He got busy early Saturday afternoon, finishing second in the Mad Dog small bike (under 200 cc engine) race.

Reinhart also raced his Harley-Davidson Sportster in the Hooligan (big bike) class later Saturday.

“It’s going to be an interesting season. We’re opening up our new track, the Throttle Valley Flat Track, just off Highway 37, just east of Highway 14 near New Ulm with a doubleheader (with the Tanner Stark Bank and Revline) June 20-21,” Reinhart said. “It’s exciting opening up a new track. We started building it last year. I’m pretty excited. We’re getting lots of support and think it’ll be a good event for New Ulm.”

He said his Throttle Valley Flat Track is a “paper clip style, one-sixth-mile flat track with shorter corners and a more narrow design, compared to the one-third mile Flying Dutchmen flat track.

“We’re preparing our track with the same materials used on the Flying Dutchmen track that is one of the best tracks there is,” said Reinhart. “There is a lot invested in the new track. We’re getting good community support. Hopefully, we get lots of support from the racers. That’s what we need. We’re super excited.”

Carrie Reinhart of Courtland described what brings her to the races.

“I like watching young kids learn to ride from the older riders and the camaraderie of all the riders. They help each other out. My husband (Adam) and son Jaxson race,” she said. “And it’s a beautiful day. I count laps from the race track tower and ride a kid-sized motorcycle in the Mom’s Race.”

Jaxson Reinhart,13, who began racing at age five, said he enjoys “ripping,” going full speed, racing motorcycles with friends, He said he also enjoys racing at Cedar Lake, Wi. and at Faribault.

Spectator Steve Nelson of New Ulm said he enjoys watching motorcycles race and supporting the local club.

“It’s fun. I like seeing everybody, watching races and enjoying the day,” he said.

Flying Dutchmen Flat Track racing results will be printed in The Journal after they are received.