2024 Preseason Checklist

Be ready for the upcoming season and save time at events!

  1. Join or Renew Your AMA Membership.

    AMA memberships are valid for 1 year from the month of purchase. They also have 3 year membership options. Check your card’s expiration date. It is good until the last day of the month that is listed on the card.

  2. Join or Renew Your District 23 Membership.

    District 23 memberships are valid for the calendar year and expire on December 31 each year.

  3. Get your AMA Annual Release Card.

    The AMA offers Electronic Annual Release Forms for families to fill out for minor and adult racers ahead of their events. These are only valid for the calendar year and expire on December 31st each year.

  4. Check out the Event Schedule. The printable schedule is now available here. Remember to watch the website, weekly emails, and our social media for Schedule changes throughout the season.

  5. ALL DISCIPLINES: It is required for all competitors in Youth Classes to wear chest and back protection. The protector may be worn under or over the jersey, and it should cover the sternum, anterior ribs, posterior ribs, and spine from T1 to T12. For road racing a back protector must be worn under their leathers unless integrated into the design of the leathers.

Article: Fastest Flat Track Friends

Q&A with Rob Pretts and Jason Fox, D23 ARMCA Flat Track racers

Flat Track motorcycle racing is a small but mighty discipline within District 23 ARMCA, making up just under 5% of the district’s members. But don’t let that fool you! Behind Motocross, Flat Track has the most youth participants and the sport has been consistently growing their numbers for the last 5 years. And you don’t have to be a kid to get into Flat Track... just ask Rob Pretts and Jason Fox, who both didn’t start Flat Track racing until later in their careers and are now two of the fastest guys on the track.  

Rob and Jason aren’t total strangers to racing... Jason grew up racing Motocross, switching to go-kart racing and eventually trying Flat Track when his father started racing but gave up motorcycles all together once he became a family man. Rob started off racing Karts, then street riding, that led to Road racing... which he wasn’t too bad at—winning a #1 plate in 2010 with CRA. Similar to Jason, once starting a family, Rob transitioned away from motorcycles to mountain bikes for a while. The racing itch just needed to be scratched and both have found their way into D23 ARMCA Flat Track racing and have continued to be good friends and even fiercer competitors ever since. Rob Pretts was the 2023 overall points champion for District 23 Flat Track and Jason Fox took first in all 3 of his classes with 19 D23 wins.   

Jason Fox [83] and Rob Pretts [85] lead the Senior 40+ race at the Jacks of Spade To the MaXX part 3 Flat Track races at the Scott County fairgrounds in Jordan, MN on June 24, 2023. Photo by Hayley Selinski.

Can you both share a little about yourselves and how you got into motorcycles/Flat Track racing?

Jason Fox: I hope you have a lot of space for these answers because everyone in Minnesota Flat Track knows I love to talk, especially about myself. I started racing Motocross at 12 and that’s when I first became a D23 member. I always finished at the back and got injured a few too many times. After giving up Motocross, I tried Karting and continued to finish at the very back of the pack. At that same time my dad decided to give Flat Track a try. I thought he was completely insane to be racing on those dirt ovals with what looked like slick tires and no front brake. But after watching a few of his races I had to try it. My first Flat Track race I ran two classes. I crashed trying to pass my dad in one and I thought “oh boy here we go again, another discipline I’m awful at” but in the other class, I won. Over the next few years, I got a bit quicker and moved up in classes. I won a few races and thought I was rather good. I went to one national in 2007 and failed to make the main in what was then was called the pro sport class. Not long after that I broke my hand, met a pretty girl, bought a house, got married, had a few kids and gave up on motorcycles. I got back into Flat Track right when the hooligan stuff started taking off. It really sparked my interest in racing again. I found a cheap Harley Sportster that was blown up and I spent every spare night and weekend over the next three months at my friend’s shop getting it ready to race. 

Robert Pretts: I’ve been into riding and racing most of my life. I started really getting into racing at the age of 12 racing Karts, and I was involved in Karting for almost 20 years. I raced everything from a 5 hp Briggs & Stratton up to Shifter Karts. In 1999 I got my first street bike, a 99 GSXR 600. I’ve had a few other street bikes and then in 2006 I turned my 04 R1 into a race bike and I was hooked on Road racing. I did that for 7 years, getting new bikes pretty much every year. I was decent at that. Winning a #1 plate in 2010 with CRA. I got married in 2011 and one season after having our first child my wife and I decided it was time to stop racing. I quickly turned to cross country mountain biking and racing in the summer and winter. That was hard because with little kids, I just didn’t have time to train.

In 2016 my friends, Jason Fox and Nick Hiney, eventually convinced me to go woods racing. I borrowed a bike from Nick’s girlfriend (thanks Lauren!) and tried that out. So, in 2017 I bought a YZ250X to go racing with them. I did the full D23 Hare Scramble season that year... my friends made it to a few races with me. I think it was the winter of 2019 I asked Jason, “Hey are you going to come to races with me this year?” and he said “Oh, we’re going Flat Track racing this year! The first race is at the State Fair Coliseum in 10 days.” I thought: hey, I want to do that with you guys! Jason told me that it was probably too late to pre-register for that race, I only had two days to do so, but that I should race the D23 season with them. I ended up registering for the races at the Coliseum and the following Tuesday I was driving to Illinois to buy my first Flat Track bike, a 2015 Husky FC450, and I’ve been loving racing Flat Track ever since! I’ve had a few different bikes over the last 4 years and now I’m racing a 2020 CRF 450 and a 1999 Harley Sportster.

Rob, you and Jason seem to be good friends on and off the track, how did this friendship start?

R: Jason and I met through mutual friends. I grew up in Superior, WI and met a lot of people from the cities while racing Karts. Jason was friends with some of the kids I grew up racing Karts with so our paths crossed a few times over the years. One winter while riding pit bikes at ProKart I noticed Jason was there and we started talking more and more. Jason is a great guy and I can’t thank him enough for pitting with me and going to races. We don’t drive together but normally try to caravan to and from races. He is also such a humble competitor and always so encouraging.

Jason, what’s it like being the 2x Jacks of Spade overall points champion? Those belts must get pretty heavy…

J: Talk about an ego builder! Winning that first championship belt really created a monster. Since then, I have won more than my share of races and interesting awards but that first belt will always be my favorite. I wore that thing everywhere for the next few months taking pictures and videos to prove it. I wore it to work meetings, my kids’ school drop off, the airport, grocery store, I even wore it on a scooter ride with my buddies. I also brought it to a few races to remind everyone who the champ was. Along the way I learned that you must keep your eye on that thing at all times. It has been stolen and recovered twice now. This year’s award was a rodeo style belt buckle which is also making its way around the world. Leading up to that championship there was a bunch of chatter about who was going to be the “new champion.”  My name wasn’t mentioned by anyone besides my buddy Rob Pretts. That gave me just the motivation I needed and I shut them all out... winning all four races.

Rob, even though Jason has all these belts and trophies, you’re the 2023 overall points champion for D23 Flat Track. Thoughts? Feelings?

R: Jason races 3 classes and I run 4 so I have the opportunity to get more points than he does. I’ll tell you there were a few races this summer that I felt I may have had a little something for him but it never came to be. He beat me in almost every single race all season long. He may have fell down a race or 2 but he has been so fast the last 2 years. As for how do I feel about it… I feel great about it. If I can’t win, there’s no one else I’d rather see doing so well. I like to share in his excitement.

 

What was the highlight of your 2023 season?

R: I finished second overall in 3 classes and first in 1 class so it was a good year! And I guess I have the most points of anyone in Flat Track for the season, so that’s cool.

J: 2023 was the best results year I could ever dream of. 19 D23 wins and three championships. The highlight had to have been the Rampage by the River border battle race between D23 and D16. It was also one of the Grand National Hooligan Championship season races so there were fast hooligan racers from Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the four qualifying heats for the GNHC class Minnesota riders won all of them. I won mine of course, Lowell Bronstad won his, Cole Fealy won his and Rob Pretts won his. Then to top it off Minnesota riders swept the podium with Bronstad winning, Mac McGrew in second and me in third.

What are you looking forward to for the 2024 season?

R: Just another season of racing and seeing friends. I look forward to seeing some of the younger kids grow and get faster. I hope to learn and get faster too!

J: I’m looking forward to those first few races and see what happens after that. It will be fun to see how the hooligan class continues to grow. I’m also looking forward to seeing how the younger riders have improved over the winter and continued to pick up their pace. The first two race weekends of the year will be border battles with D16 so it will be great to see Minnesota riders do well at those.

 

Jason, you're the 2023 D23 Hooligan Champion, do you think you'll try to race in the Grand National Hooligan Championship series next year?

J: That is yet to be decided. I’ve been going back and forth on hanging up racing again. We are doing a couple of indoor races and I plan on racing at least a few of the first D23 races. One of those should be a Grand National Hooligan series race. If I get a good finish, I may see what we can do about doing the full series. However, if I win that race, I’m for sure calling it then and there. I have accomplished all of my racing goals except for one, which is to win one more big race and give my dad a victory lap with the checkered flag.

 

Rob, you seem to be a man of many talents... from road racing, flat track and off-road to four-wheel racing like go-karts. What discipline has been your favorite to compete in?

R: I’ve had success in all of my racing and I don’t know that I can say I have a favorite. They were all my favorite at the time I was doing them. Each have been a big part of my life, at least Karting, Road racing and now Flat Track. I will say one of my favorite things about all the different racing organizations I’ve joined is that the people have been the best part! Each group was like a big family, everyone always willing to help out the next person.

 

Who inspires you in racing?

J: My dad, 100% my dad. He is everything I strive to be in life. My kids also inspire me to do my best. They don’t come to watch the races yet, but they always ask how they went when I get home. My favorite is when I tell them I got a second or third and they respond with, “oh well, try harder next time.”

 

What's the best thing about Flat Track racing?

R: Again, I think the best thing about racing is the people.

J: The people! They are just the best group of people I have ever been around. I’m getting a little up there in age now, so I have been trying to do my part to give back but along my story of racing I have had so many people help me at the track. Lending sprockets, helping wrench on a bike when things aren’t going right, pointing out areas to improve on for technique, sharing gearing and tire pressure info and mainly giving me positive encouragement. Flat trackers are just the best. If you don’t believe me, come on out and see for yourself!

 

What advice would you give to the next generation of racers?

R: Just have fun and work on something every time you’re on track. Speed will come with time and try to not pick up bad habits. Always respect your parents and competitors. If you get mad, take 10 minutes before going over and talking to that person.

J: For the young guys, aim way higher than you think and make the girl laugh. It also helps if she cannot see very well… that worked for me. For the young ladies, you can do anything you put your mind to, beating the boys is well within your reach. For anyone considering racing the hooligan class in 2024, you don’t want none of this smoke! And for everyone else, stop by my pit for free stickers.

 

Anything else you guys would like to share?

R: I would just like to say I have a great, supportive wife and family. My 3 daughters and especially my wife sacrifice a lot to allow me to get away and do something I love, and I can’t thank them enough for their support and love! I’d also like to thank a big sponsor this season, Modern Flooring and Interiors INC.

J: Thank you to everyone involved in putting on motorcycle events within ARMCA. We are incredibly lucky to have such great supporters and volunteers. I recommend everyone spend at least one day working an event to see the enormous amount of time, effort, and sweat that goes into it all.

Government Relations Update

A bill was introduced on Feb 26 by a Minneapolis Legislator which would require the MN DNR to turn over all State Lands within the borders of the White Earth Indian Reservation to the White Earth tribe, with the exception of school trust land and tax-forfeit land.  The tax-forfeit land that will be sold, must be offered to the White Earth tribe for first refusal before being offered for sale to anyone else.  The MN DNR does not support this bill.  This is House File H. F. 4304,.  The Bill Author is Rep Gomez in District 62A.  This affects White Earth State Forest.

 

This State forest has these trails:

  • 14 miles hiking

  • 1.7 miles class 1/2 ATV/off-highway motorcycle

  • 56 miles snowmobiling

District 23 Newsblast 2/26/24

District 23 ARMCA is your place for motorcycling in Minnesota!

Join or renew your membership for the 2024 season online at ARMCA.org/join! We offer both non competition and competition memberships. Make sure to renew your membership by TOMORROW, March 1 if you’d like to reserve your last year’s number!

Photo Credit: 1HundredPhoto

As you’re getting ready for the upcoming racing season, we strongly recommend that you join or renew your AMA membership and fill out your AMA Annual Release forms (to receive your Release Card) prior to the season starting! The current processing times are 2-3 weeks.

Visit americanmotorcyclist.com/annual-release-forms to complete your electronic forms.

Mark your calendars ✔️ 2024 D23 ARMCA schedule! It’s going to be a busy year, over 140 competition + non competition events hosted by 27 different clubs and promoters across Minnesota - wow! We can’t wait to see you all out on the trails, tracks, and roads for another amazing year!

As always, events are subject to change. Please check ARMCA.org for the latest updates and news.

Congratulations to all of our hard working racers in 2023! Our championship digital yearbook is now available at armca.org/yearbook!

@aaronfrick57 on the cover with this awesome flat track shot by @billyperrier! A huge thank you to all the talented content creators who so generously contributed their photos: @june_anderson_photography @_bomberphotography_ @photosbymarkburger @_kcsportsmedia_ @fullerracing301 @1hundred_photo @jmak26photo @billyperrier @hmscreative @mjs__photography Tim McBride, John Otto, Oullis Photography

District 23 is looking for someone to fill our Recognition Chairperson position on the Board of Directors for 2024 and beyond! This person heads the District 23 Banquet which currently consists of the Motocross and Quad MX disciplines. Please reach out to sponsorship@armca.org if you are interested in learning more! We’d love to find someone soon so they can learn the ropes from our current Recognition Chair!

CALL TO ACTION: Protect your gas-powered vehicle! The AMA believes riders deserve the freedom to ride a machine that best fits their needs. We support efforts in Washington, D.C., and at the state level to protect consumer vehicle choice.

We’re asking our community to please support the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2023 by sending a message to your United States Senators.

For more information, visit ARMCA.org and follow the link to send your message!

PRESS RELEASE: Joint points meets announced for D23, D16, and D17! We can’t wait to see all the Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois competitors on the tracks this year! To learn more visit ARMCA.org

The 2024 D23 ARMCA race season is right around the corner and we couldn’t do it without the continuous generosity and support from our sponsors. Sponsorships help support: celebrating our members at year-end banquets, advocating for motorcycling rights in MN, covering admin costs, content creation that highlight our members, and beyond!

Interested in becoming a D23 ARMCA sponsor? More info can be found at ARMCA.org/sponsors, or by emailing sponsorship@armca.org. We offer multiple commitment levels and ROI includes both print and digital promotions on our website, email blasts, social media accounts, and championship yearbook.

Press Release: Joint Points Meets for AMA Districts 16, 17, & 23

With the release of the 2024 Competition and Recreation Schedules by American Motorcyclist Association Districts in the Midwest, many races are “Joint Meets”  points-paying events in multiple districts. Between Minnesota and Wisconsin many Flat Track, Hillclimb and Off-Road venues feature points being awarded in both District 16 and District 23. The middle of all this action will feature an AMA National Hillclimb on August 2-4 near Red Wing, Minnesota hosted by the Indianhead Motorcycle Club, site of the joint D-16/D-23 Hillclimb May 11-12. The Flat Track season will both start and end at the indoor Cedar Lake Arena near New Richmond, Wisconsin for both Wisconsin and Minnesota while the Trollhaugen Hare Scrambles near Dresser, Wisconsin will challenge the best from both District 23 and 16.

Here’s the complete rundown of Joint Meets including the Dual-Sport ride near Finlayson, Minnesota October 6th:

Flat Track

April 20 & 21 – Cedar Lake Arena, New Richmond, WI. Indoor Flat Track. D16 & D23 Points Meet including Youth and Quad classes.

May 11 – Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, WI. ⅜ mile Flat Track. D16 & D23 Points Meet including Youth, Quads & GNHC Hooligans

June 22 – Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, WI. ⅜ mile Flat Track. D16 & D23 Points Meet including Youth, Quads & GNHC Hooligans

October 5 & 6 – Cedar Lake Arena, New Richmond, WI. Indoor Flat Track. D16 & D23 Points Meet including Youth and Quad classes.

Off-Road

June 30 – Trollhaugen Hare Scrambles, Dresser, WI. D16 & D23 Points Meet including Youth classes.

July 20 – MORA Youth Enduro, Snake River, Minnesota State Forest. D16 & D23 Points Meet.

July 21 – MORA Enduro, Snake River, Minnesota State Forest. D16 & D23 Points Meet.

August 17 – Duquette Youth Enduro, Jackie Berger Memorial Park – Kerrick, MN. D16 & D23 Points Meet.

August 18 – Duquette Enduro, Jackie Berger Memorial Park – Kerrick, MN. D16 & D23 Points Meet.

Hillclimb

May 11 & 12 – Indianhead Hillclimb, Red Wing, MN. D16 & D23 Points Meet.

June 22 & 23 – CMJ Raceway, Hixton, WI. D16 & D23 Points Meet.

July 14 – Valley Springs M/C, Bay City, WI. D16 & D23 Points Meet.

August 2-4 – Indianhead AMA National Hillclimb, Red Wing, MN.

Recreation/Dual-Sport

October 6 – Moose Lake, Finlayson, MN. D16 & D23 Dual-Sport Ride, Norsemen M/C.

Be sure to contact the respective Clubs/Promoters as to details on each event.

District 16: amadistrict16.com

District 17: amadistrict17.com

District 23: armca.org

CALL TO ACTION: Protect Your Gas-Powered Motorcycle!

As Congress and state legislatures are increasingly concerned by efforts to limit the sale of gas-powered vehicles, the AMA supports efforts in Washington, D.C., and at the state level, to protect consumer vehicle choice.

In December 2023, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI-05) and Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09) led the U.S. House of Representatives efforts to pass the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2023 — which would prohibit federal emission standards requiring two-thirds of new vehicles to be electric by 2032.

Learn more & Send a message to your senator

Namura Technologies Member of the Week 12/27/23

Member of the Week: Colton Engen

What discipline(s) do you participate in? Class(es)?

I raced in the Schoolboy 1 and 14-24 C motocross classes and I did 1 race in 125 12+ this year.


When did you begin riding and racing? At what point did you become a District 23 ARMCA member?

I began riding and racing this season and I became a D23 ARMCA member this year too.

 

What is the greatest accomplishment of your riding/racing career?

I took 5th place at the Little Falls area qualifier!

 

What are your goals for 2023? Beyond?

My goals are to get a 250 for next year and to win some trophies!

 

Why do you continue to race in D23 ARMCA?

I love all the tracks and I live in Minnesota.

 

Who inspires you in racing?

Carter Drechsel

 

How has motorcycling impacted your life? 

It’s helped me be way more positive! And that adrenaline rush when you’re on the line and the gate is about to drop.. it releases all the stress from the week before.

 

What is your favorite food to eat on race day?

The egg bites my aunt makes!

 

How do you get pumped up to ride/race? Music? Pep talks? Maybe quiet time is more your style?

Pep talks from my aunt.

 

What else do you like to do for fun?

I ride snowmobiles when there is snow on the ground.

 

What advice has a fellow rider/racer given you that you follow?

When in doubt.. throttle it out!

 

What advice do you have for other D23 ARMCA members?

It doesn’t matter if you’re slow or fast.. as long as you’re having fun, that’s all that matters!

Namura Technologies Member of the Week 12/20/23

Member of the Week: Anya Heiniemi

What discipline(s) do you participate in? Class(es)?

Girls Jr 9-12 and Girls Sr 12-15 in motocross.

When did you begin riding and racing? At what point did you become a District 23 ARMCA member?

I believe I joined D23 ARMCA in 2016.

 

What is the greatest accomplishment of your riding/racing career?

Qualifying in both classes of the Northstar Series Championship and the D23 ARMCA Championship!

 

What are your goals for 2023? Beyond?

I hope to make it to Loretta Lynn's Ranch.

 

Why do you continue to race in D23 ARMCA?

The community is very nice and you can get along with others really easily!

 

Who inspires you in racing?

My dad and my cousin, Gabe Heiniemi.

 

How has motorcycling impacted your life? 

I’ve made so many friends throughout these years of racing.

 

What is your favorite food to eat on race day?

Berm Benders Raceway cheesy fries!

 

How do you get pumped up to ride/race? Music? Pep talks? Maybe quiet time is more your style?

My dad’s pep talks.

 

What else do you like to do for fun?

I like to ski and ride snowmobiles.

 

What advice has a fellow rider/racer given you that you follow?

Stay on 2 wheels!

Namura Technologies Member of the Week 12/13/23

Member of the Week: Rich Burns

What discipline(s) do you participate in? Class(es)?

B Veteran in Enduros and Hare Scrambles


When did you begin riding and racing? At what point did you become a District 23 ARMCA member?

I started riding road bikes when I turned 18, but started riding dirt bikes a little late in the game compared to some, at 27. I started racing and became a D23 Member 2 years later in 2017.

 

What is the greatest accomplishment of your riding/racing career?

I made it to every Hare Scramble and Enduro in 2022—it was a big time commitment, but a very fun way to spend a summer!

 

What are your goals for 2023? Beyond?

I hope to keep making new connections through the D23 community, and I’ve also been trying to cross off new riding destinations over the past few years. So far I’ve been out to Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and South Dakota. British Columbia might be next on the list!

 

Why do you continue to race in D23 ARMCA?

The people! It’s definitely not just about race results. Over the past 7-8 years of attending D23 races, I’ve met genuinely great people who support and encourage one another.. both on and off the bike. It’s fun seeing familiar faces at events weekend after weekend and continuing to make new friends that share the same passions!

 

Who inspires you in racing?

The riders that are still at it after decades. There are some really fast and experienced people at the events that have been riding and racing since I was in diapers. I hope that I can reach their pace some day!

 

What is your favorite food to eat on race day?

Well it’s a drink, not a food… but I enjoy a good hot milk. I am convinced this is unrelated to me being known for dry heaving during the races.

 

What else do you like to do for fun?

Anything outside; backpacking, hiking, camping, dog parks, road biking, mountain biking, snowboarding.. brewery patios.

 

What advice has a fellow rider/racer given you that you follow?

In the end, it’s faster to back it down from your absolute maximum pace and stay upright, than it is to push too hard and fall down. Falling down is not fast. Great advice that I’m still working on trying to follow.

 

Anything else you’d like to mention?

Shoutout to all the volunteers and workers that make this all possible! There are a lot of people that put in a lot of hours clearing trails, organizing events, working events, etc. so that the rest of us can get out and enjoy them. Thank you!