Mees Wins Mid-America Flat Track

Mid-America Night Before the Indy MotoGP Flat Track Event
Marion County Fairgrounds

Story and Photos by Kurt Bauer
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, AUG. 27, 2011

Jared Mees (9) topped the 450cc class at the Mid-America Night Before the Indy MotoGP Flat Track event in Indianapolis.

With the cancellation of the Indy Mile slated for the Saturday night before the Moto GP, Mid-America decided to change the Friday night race to Saturday night, hoping to attract a lot of the Indy Mile fans. It not only attracted a lot of fans but a lot of racers, too, with 39 entries for the 450 class! With six heat races, a rider had to finish in the top two for a direct transfer to the main event. Four semifinals were run, with the winners transferring to the main. Some of the big names entered were Henry Wiles, Jared Mees, Sammy Halbert and Rob Pearson, so this would surely by an exciting main event!

Henry Wiles (17) was in the house on Saturday night. He would finish eighth in the 450cc class.

There were a handful of other talented riders anxious to race with the Pros. Sammy Halbert did not make the top two in his heat race, so he would have to make the main by winning his semi, and it looked like he would be able to do that, as he led going into the third turn on the final lap. However, Mike Avila tried to pass Halbert on the inside and ended up taking them both out. Halbert would have to wait until the 450cc Open race, as he did not make the 450cc main.

Henry Wiles (17) was on pole for the 450cc main-event start.

As they lined up for the 450cc main, it was Henry Wiles on the pole; Branden Bergen, Mike LaBelle, Briar Bauman, Sam Lowe and Brandon Wilhelm joined Wiles on the front row. Mees was starting from the third row, while Pearson was on the second row.

Briar Bauman (10) absconded with the holeshot in the 450cc main.

Bauman grabbed a monster holeshot and held the point position until Branden Bergen got by him to take the lead. Meanwhile, Mees and Pearson were slowly making their way through the field. Mees eventually took the lead, and he pulled away for the win. Mick Kirkness put in a great ride and finished second, behind Mees. Pearson was able to hold on to third place.

Jared Mees (9) took the checkers in the 450cc main at Mid-America.

Rob Pearson also had a good night, winning the 450cc Open class after a great duel with Sammy Halbert.

Rob Pearson (27) was victorious in the 450cc Open class.

Sammy Halbert (7) was runner-up in the 450cc Open class.

There were a lot of no-shows for the Speedway bikes – there were only seven bikes entered – but the locals put on a great show. The heat races were quite exciting on the fast and smooth track, with the former Indy champions B.J. Fesselmeyer and Joe “Psycho” Garrison as the front-runners. Paul “Kamikaze” Huggins was keeping the champs honest in the heat races, along with Chris Thomas and long-track veteran Dan Weicht.

B.J. Fesselmeyer finished fourth in the Speedway Bikes contest.

In the main event, it would be Garrison, Fesselmeyer, Huggins and Thomas doing the battling. Garrison took the early lead, with Huggins hanging close. Fesselmeyer, who is known for his good starts, came off the line on the outside and was trying to make up ground, as Garrison and Huggins pulled away. Garrison hung on for the win, with Huggins a close second and Thomas finishing in third.

Joe “Psycho” Garrison topped the Speedway Bikes class.

Mike O’Neill was gracious enough to bring his seven 1949 Indian Arrows to Mid-America. This was the first time in three years that all seven bikes were running at the same time. Dan Ingram was given the Indian designated as number one, but it proved to be anything but “number one,” as he had mechanical problems in his heat and the main – but that is to be expected on a 1949 bike. As the groove got harder, the Indians really came to life in the main, with Kevin Snyder taking the win.

The Indian Arrows come to the line at Mid-America.

Dan Ingram (1) at speed…

… and Dan Ingram at not-so-much speed; his 1949 Indian experienced technical difficulties.

Hopefully next year will attract more Speedway bikes and a few more Pros for the 450cc class, as all the riders really liked the track. Next year will be a shorter program, with just the four classes.

Marion County Fairgrounds
Indianapolis, Indiana
Results: August 27, 2011

450: 1. Jared Mees; 2. Mick Kirkness; 3. Rob Pearson; 4. Brandon Bergen; 5. Brad Baker; 6. Briar Bauman; 7. Sam Lowe; 8. Henry Wiles; 9. Mike Labelle; 10. Luke Gough.

450 OPEN: 1. Rob Pearson; 2. Sammy Halbert; 3. Brandon Wilhelm; 4. Sam Lowe; 5. Brandon Brown; 6. Joseph Ratz; 7. Bronson Bauman; 8. Zach Palmer; 9. Andrew Butler; 10. Kevin Wilson.

SPEEDWAY BIKES: 1. Joe Garrison; 2. Paul Huggins; 3. Chris Thomas; 4. B.J. Fesselmeyer; 5. Dan Weicht; 6. Heath Heston; 7. Lukas Michalski.

BOB STARK INDIAN ARROW: 1. Kevin Snyder; 2. Mike O’Neill; 3. Andy McRoberts; 4. Matt Stearns; 5. Rick Barger; 6. Tom Morgan; 7. Dan Ingram.

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