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Old will meet new Thursday night as North Central Speedway will host the Vintage Outlaw Grand National motorcycles with $20,000 in prize money on the line.
Fans who enjoyed the AMA event at NCS in September will get a chance to see champion Jared Mees return to NCS. Billy Hofmeister will also make a return to flat track racing.
Hofmeister has close to 40 years of racing experience along with 14 years of racing Grand National.
“Jared Mees was last year’s winner at the AMA Pro event and he runs the series now,” said NCS promoter KT Torbert. “Then there are former champions such as Billy Hofmeister, who dedicates his time now to building Grand National Replicas, and won first place in a bike contest at the Minneapolis Motorcycle Show. He will be racing that bike, alongside his son who also races.”
Vintage Twins, Singles, and Pro 450s will race on the flat track surface starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Adults pay $20 for entrance and ages 6-16 are $10. Ages 5 and under will be admitted free.
“The Vintage Outlaw Grand National is an event we have created for those motorcycle racing enthusiasts to get that old bike out of the garage and come race for some big money,” said Torbert. “It gives some guys that aren’t daredevils anymore a chance to race again. But there are still plenty of the young guns coming to give them a run for their money.
“We expect a good field of riders and a really good show. We plan to show some cool motorcycles and otherwise and see them go really fast for some big money. There will be three classes, Expert Twins, Single, Pro 450s and also a class for 1968 and older.”
The event will run in conjunction with the Minnesota State HOG Rally, which is also being held in Brainerd, and creates a unique opportunity to attract a large number of motorcycle racing fans.
“We will be running the program very similar, with qualifying laps, a meet and greet the riders segment, followed by the regular program, including heats and the main features,” Torbert said. “This year though there will be an added bonus of a burnout or wheelie contest. This is a special weekend for HOG members because it is their state HOG rally so there should be great excitement in the air.”
Next week will be full of racing at NCS with motorcycles Thursday night, and the regular Saturday night program, which is also Rice Night with Sauk Rapids/Rice residents able to pick up free tickets at O’Brien’s Pub in Rice. The Hornets start at 5 p.m., followed by the regular program at 6:30 p.m.
