AFT WINNING DESPITE THE CRAZINESS

AMERICAN FLAT TRACK WINNING DESPITE THE CRAZINESS Going Gonzo At The Indy Mile

By Charlie Williams

We had the most interesting visitor in Indianapolis “But now you’re the Chief Executive Officer for American recently. Michael Lock… yeah, me neither. Flat Track and you’ve got me interviewing you for a big He reminded me of Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now. “We some English humor. need more bikes over here, flag wavers over there! I love the smell of race gas in the evening!” The deafening roar “Well thanks Charlie, that’s encouraging and in fact I am of V-Twins reminded me of the helicopters. glad you are here, I need your help.”

The majordomo of American Flat Track motioned us in to the coolest truck I’ve ever seen, see photos for awesomeness! “Please tell Dealernews about yourself Michael.” I went straight for the jugular with my hardhitting journalistic style!

“Well, when I got out of school, I went to work for Honda in England, then moved up to Honda Europe, then moved to Triumph Motorcycles, then Triumph America. After going back to college for a year, I moved to Ducati where I helped to build the brands to a strong position then to run Lamborghini America for a few years.”

I consoled him that it will be okay, I’ve never been able to hold a job, either. time magazine like Dealernews.” I kidded him that was

Michael continued: “I was here in Indy 11 years ago for my first Flat Track race, it was the night before the MotoGP and Valentino Rossi was here. Kenny Roberts rode the TZ750… it was a really good experience for my first race.” First impressions count. “It was very raw, very gritty and pure… I was immediately hooked!”

“Then a few years later this opportunity came up and I was really intrigued so I went for it. Now here we are, hosting motorcycle racing during the pandemic of the century!” Seems like the right guy to have the stewardship of flat track, even though it is uniquely American racing.

“That’s what I need your help with Charlie, getting the story out about how American Flat Track has proactively and aggressively pursued salvaging our entire series. My number one goal… If we can’t get our 16 races in, sponsorship obligations are compromised and that would be very bad for AFT, after so many hard-fought years of growth.”

So far, so good. Double-headers like the Indy Mile and combination of races without restricted fan access and COVID protocols in place, Lock has so far been able to pull off the impossible. In fact, AFT landed its first title sponsor in years despite the craziness (see sidebar). How has he been able to play the Robert Duvall role and expand AFT’s beachhead?

“When the shutdown started, we contacted NASCAR and asked for their assistance,” Lock explains. “NASCAR is a substantially bigger industry and they already had an army of attorneys and experts working up their plan.”

I knew I liked Michael when he said: “So NASCAR, can we lift your plan?”

NASCAR said “Yes.” And soon Michael and his team were drafting their own 38-page book on how to host a race under strict COVID precautions.

Michael cut his operations team to the bone, 22 people on the property. Part of that squad HAD to check every single person’s temperature and watch them autograph a ream of forms. Racers, pit people, TV camera crews and even me, the esteemed media, gets checked out every time at every venue. Actually, it was a painless procedure that went smoothly and quickly.

“We promised the Indianapolis Health Officials we were going to do this event according to our COVID Protocol Book and by hook or by crook we’re going to follow the rules we wrote,” he continues. “That would be bad to get shut down breaking own rules!”

We laughed and he continued: “I know the fans feel shorted, all the media and press feel slighted, but it was necessary to cut everyone but our core 22. So what I need you for is to mend fences with everyone who feels like AFT left them out! We are sorry! Just let us get this season done and we’ll come back next year bigger and better,” he promises. Okay, I can ask the industry fans to be more sympathetic of your plight and push the TV coverage since people might not be able to get the in-person experience during this crazy season?

“Yes! Exactly Charlie! We had more than 250,000 viewers of our first race back at Volusa! TV works when we can’t accommodate the in-person experience,” he exclaims… obviously impressed with my keen perception of the obvious. “In the case of the Indy Mile Double-Header, we have an agreement in place with the Indy Fairgrounds to run with a fully socially distanced crowd comprising a maximum of 25% of normal capacity. “

We took the obligatory selfie with our masks on and Michael thanked me and motioned towards the door. “Don’t you want to know anything about me,” I asked?

“Not really, I’m trying to run a race and you were 45 minutes late.” Okay maybe I did sleep in a little, but it was only half-past noon. “English humor,” he assured me as he cut me loose.

Since I was now on the inside of the security perimeter with no adult supervision, I went straight to the inside of turn one instead of showing myself out. AFT was hosting a practice day before the doubleheader of racing over the weekend, apparently just for my benefit since there were no fans in the stands.

We haven’t had racing at the Indy Mile in five years. The old clay based track had been modified by the equine people, they added tons and tons of sand, the new track surface looked terrible for bikes. Honestly it looks hard as concrete with sand and gravel sprinkled over the top.

Continued from page 55 Steve Morehead, the official AFT track boss, tried water and the giant brush machine to groom up the new track, but only the rubber laid down by hundreds of laps seemed to help. However, lap times were actually several seconds a lap faster 20 years ago! But as the evening went on, laps got faster and faster.

I choose a high spot between turn one and two. I got out my lawn chair and enjoyed the show on a nice August night. The Fairgrounds were basically empty, skeleton crews of track workers, emergency crews… even race teams were stripped to the minimum. I was the Press… but even the media was not allowed to this COVID-closed event. Not a problem, just don’t tell Mr. Lock I overstayed my welcome.

I came back to the Fairgrounds Friday night as an “Indianapolis hooligan” — my friends and I have snuck in this race track many times over the past decades… besides, 25% people allowed means 75% less security to dodge! I watched the mains from the end of the backstretch where speeds reach their maximum, 130+ mph… and security couldn’t see me!

Limited numbers of fans were allowed on Saturday night so I chose the infield and stood on the tailgate of my friend’s truck. The stands had fans socially distanced and the infield was surprisingly full, but still properly distanced. The racing was excellent and we had a very good time at the races. To see a Mile in person should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Yea we’re in a crazy time and only time will expose just how crazy things really are! Keep your fingers crossed that Michael and the AFT team can keep this great sport going! I truly enjoyed the show… and America needs for things like AFT racing to succeed to take our collective minds off the pandemic, politics and pandemonium.

AFT POINTS FUND BOOSTED Series Sponsor Secured

Despite the pandemic, AMA Pro Racing announced a big addition to its family of sponsors. As part of a landmark multi-year partnership, Progressive

Insurance has been named Title Sponsor and Official

Insurance Company of American Flat Track.

“This exciting relationship between Progressive Insurance and the AFT series comes at a time when interest in the

BRIAR BAUMAN DOUBLES UP IN INDY

Track’s premier class to finally claim his maiden Mile victory and complete the career Grand Slam. It took just one day for him to earn a second! Bauman did the double with a tactical ride to win the Indy Mile II. Saturday’s rematch at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center took on a different shape compared to Friday’s Indy Mile I, as Jared Mees was determined to prevent the reigning Grand National Champion from checking out early. Lap after lap, Mees would dive back into the lead on corner entrance. Doing so not only kept Bauman corralled behind him, it also put him under threat with both Bryan Smith on the Harley-Davidson/Vance & Hines XG750R and Brandon Robinson on another Indian FTR750 running in close contention. sport is growing fast,” said Michael Lock, CEO of American Flat Track. “We are very happy to be working with America’s largest motorcycle insurance carrier and bringing their expertise to our fanbase.”

“As the #1 motorcycle insurer in the U.S., Progressive is passionate about motorcycling,” added Eric Doubler, Progressive’s Recreational Vehicle Business Leader. “We’ve been a long-standing supporter of the two-wheel community, with product offerings and sponsorship of motorcycle events, rallies and racing teams spanning over decades. This agreement marks our commitment to the sport during a key period of growth.”

The sponsorship includes a $50,000 year-end points fund, awarded to the top performing riders in the AFT SuperTwins presented by Vance & Hines, AFT Production

It took Briar Bauman nine seasons in American Flat

Twins and AFT Singles divisions. After taking and losing the lead on numerous occasions early, Bauman switched up tactics and spent the bulk of the second half of the race just waiting in third, leaving the Mile experts Mees and Smith to dice with each other. After Mees had secured a solid lead ahead of Smith, Bauman seized the opportunity to make the high line work, powering past both Smith and Mees. Bauman took the checkered flag with 1.147 seconds over Mees.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Bauman said. “Honestly, I had both Jared’s and Bryan’s posters on my wall when I was growing up. I watched them every chance I could. Getting to race with them is a little bit surreal… The racing was clean and fast and the track was gnarly. All-in-all, it’s a dream come true.”

Brandon Robinson lost touch with the leaders with around three minutes to go but had built up just enough space to hold off as last month’s cover boy Sammy Halbert for fourth. Briar’s brother Bronson was 5th, edging Jeffrey Carver Jr. (No. 23 Happy Trails Racing FTR750).

Bauman’s sweep of the Indy Miles moved him ahead of Mees in what’s promising to be a season-long heavyweight title fight, 90-87. Halbert is a distant third with 66 points to his credit.