The heats of the preliminary race started around 1 p.m. after the track was properly prepared, and attendees witnessed bikers of all ages compete in multiple events on the day.

Among the racers was the Blue Bayou Racing team, a group from Sioux Falls, SD, who focus on providing equipment and seat time to young racers who may not be able to afford it themselves.

Robert Jones, a retired professional flat track racer with the team, said the group gives young racers an opportunity they may not otherwise have.

“What we’re trying to do is take these kids, we’re going to take them to the Amateur Nationals this year,” he said. “We brought them here to this track, we’re trying to get seat time. We’re trying to help them out for their talent and take them to the next level to be a professional star.”

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Jaden Murphy (57) of Sioux Falls, SD, races in an event at the Flying Dutchmen Flat Track racetrack on Saturday.

Jones said the group had been attending the event for the last eight years.

“One of my really good friends is [longtime event attendant] Billy Hoffmeister, he’s almost 70 years old and he’s still racing,” Jones said. “We’ve raced against each other for over 25 years as friends and competitors.

“We enjoy the facility here, we enjoy how they do it. We just thought it would be a great spot for seat time.”

One of Blue Bayou’s racers, 18-year-old Emma Gottsch, has been racing since she was 4, but this is her first year with Blue Bayou. It is also her first time at the Flying Dutchmen’s race track.

“It’s pretty fast,” Gottsch said. “I like the blue groove track. A little slick, but we’ll make it work.”

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Racers compete in a youth event at the Flying Dutchmen Flat Track racetrack on Saturday.

Gottsch attends around a dozen races a year and raced in the Open A amateur and Pro events on Saturday.

Jaden Murphy is another Blue Bayou racer for the first time this year though the 16-year-old has been racing since he was 3. This was Murphy’s fifth time racing in New Ulm, and he also cited the speed of the track as a big positive.

“It’s a blue groove track, so it’s really fast,” he said. “You’re going pretty fast on the straightaway, and I like sliding into the corners pretty hard.”

Murphy raced in the Open A and Pro Expert races on Saturday and competed in the 250 on Sunday.

There were 25 total race event finals on Sunday, and 25 race winners were crowned. Artie Dietz of Madelia won the 65cc DTX, while Eric Dietz of Madelia won the Maddog event. Kirk Wellman of Sioux Falls won the Super Singles, whiel Jacob Howk of New Ulm won the 50cc DTX Peewee race. Brad Baker of Water Town, MN won the Master 60, while William Cato Jr. of Dennison, MN won the 50cc DTX JR. Howk won the 500cc DTX SR event, and Paxon Wenz of Howard, SD won the 250 race.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Paxton Wenz of Howard, SD, crosses the finish line during heat 1 of the 250 event at the Flying Dutchmen Flat Track racetrack Saturday.

Lela Wenz of Howard, SD won the 50cc MOD race, and Robert Pretts of Anoka, MN won the Open Twin event. Artie Dietz won the 85cc DTX race, Erik Moldenhauer of Rogers, MN won the Maddog Max and Cam Anderegg of Eagle Lake won the 125cc. Scott Walter of Amery, WI won the Senior 40+ race, Anderegg won the Schoolboy race, and Chantel Stephens of Watertown, SD won the Girls race. Jack Freeman of New Ulm won the Hooligan, while William Cato of Dannison, MN won the Open Amateur A 450.

Anderegg won the Supermini event, And Jake Drummond of Minneapolis won the Vet 30+ race. Kirk Wellman of Sioux Falls, SD won the Vintage Pre-1982 race, and Chase Stephens of Watertown, SD won the Open B Amateur race. Scott Walter of Amrey, WI won the Vet 50+ event, Aaron Frick of Buffalo, MN won the 450, and Kiryn Wellman of Sioux Falls, SD won the Women’s event. Finally, Cato won the Pro/Expert/AFT race.