2012 Gratz Flat Track Reunion.

Saturday, May 19th, 2012: Deep in rural Pennsylvania, just north of the Appalachian Trail lies a dusty old half-mile horse-track that saw rubber for the first time in over thirty years. Flat Trackers from as far as Alaska came to participate at the dormant district 6 AMA dirt oval. Old and young, modern to vintage, the grandstands were full, and the competition was fierce. Gratz is a legendary place in AMA's rich PA history - just check out these testimonials (yeah, I really don't have anything to add other than it was a spectacular day with friends and flat track racing is really one of the most exciting motorcycle competitions to spectate live):

"There was no place like Gratz. It was the one track you had to run. Even Nixon came to Gratz. there were all kinds of tracks around district 6 back then. Scrambles, TTs, all with their own quirks, but Gratz was the jewel. Gratz was the one to win.." -Doug Bowers #82

Everybody ran Gratz. Eves and Schaeffer, Gary Deel, Serbu, Bowers, Johnny Ward, Gary Fisher, the Varnes, The Texters, Bob Holmes Luke Zechmann and so many other guys. Everybody had a story and everybody wanted to win. It was what we all lived for." Joe Park #75

The britbike.com crew came. Probably the only English bikes at the event that weren't competing.

Show stopping Norton Flat Tracker!

The most stylish race-bike hauler of the day.

Gentlemen, start your engines! Heart racing yet?

A Triumph stuffing it into the corner. Time warp!

River City Cycle is a Triumph shop in Alaska that sponsored the event.

Olivia gave me the diet cupcakes and kept the good ones for herself. Just look at that devilish grin!

Moto-porn

Classic Yammy

This Triumph only goes left. Check out the box-swingarm.

Jake Shoemaker of Glenmoore PA, shows Mike Lawless his newly constructed bike.

Bugs worked out at Gratz, paint to be applied after the cinders of been cleaned off.

Jake putting his 4 stroke parallel twin to the test.

God damn look at this bike....

Just too many great classics to include. Having a pair of matching racers must be nice.

Thanks to Gratz fairgrounds for allowing the bikes to basically destroy the horse track for the day. Hopefully this reunion will become a regular part of D-6 racing.