Last-minute cancellation leads Faribault Harley-Davidson to create track, host race

With about a month until the race, organizers were shocked to hear the venue was cancelling.

The Cannon Falls City Council had convinced the board of Cannon Valley Fairgrounds to cut ties with Faribault Harley-Davidson, following complaints about noise associated with the race. The venue pulled out as the host of the race.

The chair of the Fair Board had just built a “totally gorgeous” go-kart track earlier this year, which they planned to use for the race. Jacks of Spade Team Lead Rob Rehberger said the race’s fate was in question when they found out they couldn’t use it.

But then, Faribault Harley-Davidson Owner Ann Hofmeister had an idea.

“We were afraid we were going to have to cancel,” Rehberger said. “And then Ann says, ‘Why don’t we try this?’ We ran it by all the racers, and for the most part, they seemed pretty positive for it. Now, we’re just hoping for a good turnout. And tonight will tell the tale whether it’s going to be a functional track.”

The last few months, some changes have been going on at Faribault Harley-Davidson. A second asphalt lot with a lot of yellow lines is being used for a 3-day motorcycle course now offered at the store.

The lot is 200 feet long and 300 feet wide, and a hill overlooks it. The hill will be where the spectators sit at the new venue.

Thursday evening, a couple of racers joined Rehberger, who named the team using based on his son’s belief that the inversely-named playing card represented “the workin’ man.”

“The boys were going to get the team together,” he said. “And we lost Zachary a few years back. So Jake thought the best way to honor his memory is to start a race team. And we’re fortunate enough to get guys like this to do it. So it’s all done in the memory of my youngest son, who sadly passed away.”

The plan was to have racers from the Jacks of Spade team do some laps around the lot, in order to determine whether it is going to work.

As racers Jacob and Adam Schmidt made their way around the track, Rehberger and others placed cones where the turns would best fit.

Racers also previously only raced on dirt, which hurts less to fall on and lets you go faster on turns. The asphalt made them nervous at first, but it ultimately resulted in no injuries or serious concerns for one.

“I think it’s going to work,” Rehberger said.

But there is still plenty of work to be done. For example, hundreds of feet of snow fencing is being put in around the track, as well as more than 150 hay bales to protect riders and spectators.

Kelm’s BBQ and Oasis 55021 will have food and lemonade sold out of food trucks, and spectators are asked to bring their own chairs or something to otherwise sit on in the grass.

Faribault Harley Events Coordinator Pam Hernandez said she’s expecting 50-80 racers. Rehberger said there’s be several races during the event, separated by bike and age.

“It’s a real family community. It’s amazing,” Rehberger said.