The Donnie Smith Show — Midwest Extravaganza, Bike, Car & Tattoo Expo, is bringing authentic Indoor Flat Track motorcycle racing back to the Twin Cities, where the roots of the sport were born.
For 13 seasons, from 1968 to 1980, the revered Minneapolis Armory hosted “The Indoors,” Indoor Flat Track racing that filled otherwise dreary winter months with handle-bar-to-handle bar, down-and-dirty, bar-banging action. Over those years, hundreds of privateer racers found a home in which to compete. As one of the largest, most successful and longest-running flat track events, The Indoors put the sport on the map. Now the Twin Cities will welcome the heart-pounding thunder of flat track racing once again on March 23, 2018 at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
“Flat Track plays into that American spirit of independence, competitiveness and the need for speed,” said Neil Ryan, promoter of the Donnie Smith Bike & Car Show. “We have a rich heritage going back into the ‘60s. The Donnie Smith Show’s always had a swap meet component, along with the biggest custom show in the region. Adding racing back to the mix brings it full circle and completes the package.”
The stars of the show come from diverse rider backgrounds ranging from crusty championship legends and pro flat trackers to battle-hungry amateurs. When these guys thunder off the line it’ll be no-holds-barred as they battle it out around the track.
The historic return of Indoor Flat Track racing to the Twin Cities promises to tap into the high-energy fan enthusiasm sparked by the recent explosion of races across the country being coupled with bike shows, concerts and pro championship events.
The schedule, the purse and the particulars
Races begin at 3 p.m. with semi-finals taking the starting line at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2018.
Classes include Pro Twin, Pro Single, Hooligan, Vintage, Amateur and Mad Dog with a $15,000 cash and trophies. Racers may enter at IndoorFlatTrack.com.
Tickets are $15 in advance on the above website. The first 500 children 12 and under in the door accompanied by a parent will receive free entry.
Sponsoring the Indoor Flat Track races are GEICO Motorcycle, Russ Brown, Sturgis Buffalo Chip and Dennis Kirk.
The Donnie Smith Show will take place at the St. Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat., March 24 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 25, 2018. In addition to motorcycles and cars, the 225,000-square-foot indoor event showcases a Tattoo Expo and a popular swap meet billed as “The Largest Parts Extravaganza on the Planet.”
