(NEWS RELEASE)

On September 27-29, the AMA Pro Santa Rosa Mile weekend, presented by SDI Insulation and brought to you locally by Bud Lite, will once again roar into the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Round 12 of this year’s 13 race AMA Pro Flat Track Championship, the Santa Rosa Mile will be the next to last race in this season’s championship. There will be a lot riding on the line for each and every rider as they battle their way through the field for those all important championship points. Last year’s AMA Pro Santa Rosa Mile winner was Sammy Halbert. Hailing from the state of Washington, Halbert would like nothing more than to become a two time winner. However, everyone else in the field is equally as determined to take the checkered.

More than just a spectacular, action-packed AMA Pro flat track event, the Santa Rosa Mile Weekend also gives fans the opportunity to attend a variety of fun-filled, exciting events throughout on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday and Saturday evening, in the Chris Beck Arena, some of the country’s best upcoming short track riders will vie for top honors. It has long been known that many of the top stars of AMA Pro Flat Track cut their teeth on local Northern California tracks and then graduated to the Expert Class. Friday and Saturday night’s races will provide a unique chance to get an up close

look at who the stars of tomorrow will be.

On Friday evening at 6:00 pm the Santa Rosa Mile will host the Motion Pro Grand Marshals Dinner in the Showcase Café. Honoring the late Gary Nixon and the late Bart Markel, this year’s Grand Marshals will be Gary Nixon daughter Kary Ann Murphees and Bart Markel’s son Bart. Come and enjoy an excellent catered dinner and some of the area’s best wines. You will have a chance to meet this year’s Grand Marshals, some of the Legends of Flat Track and many of the AMA Pro Flat Track stars of today’s Grand National Championship. A fantastic evening of camaraderie, lots of bench racing, great food and wine and lots of fun, you won’t want to miss this dinner.

On Saturday the Art, Wine and Bike Festival will run from 11am to 6pm. Featuring wines from Ramspur Winery, Highway 12, Manzanita, Foyt Family Wines, V-Twin Winery, JJ Custom Wines, Sunce Winery, Annadel, Manzanita Creek Winery, Korbel, and Owl Ridge Wine Services. Fans will be able to sample a variety of the very best wines found in the Sonoma and Napa Valley and nibble on delicious hors d’oeuvres while looking at some outstanding motorsports art.

This year’s artists will include works by well-known artist Robert Carter, sculptures by Jim McCoin, Hot Shoe Moto Art by Mark Kully, photographs by Mike Doran, motorsports art work by Jack Knight, photographs by Gaby Scharlach, paintings by April Phillips, drawing by Rhiannon Gomez, fine art by Mark Niemi, prints and original art work by Stanley Mouse, RPM Photo Art, and a painting by Dana Tyrell.

In the Finley Building, fans will be able to view an incredible display of specialty custom bikes from such well-known designers and builders as Kirk Taylor of Custom Design Studios, Brian Schimke, Alan Kraus of Kraus Motor Co., Jim Giuffra, Dante DePaola, plus a number of personally owned one of a kind custom machines.

One of the highlights of this show will definitely be the showing of Metallica’s James Hetfield’s bike “Widowmaker.”

A collaborative project between Hetfield, Kirk Taylor of Custom Design Studios, and Custom Chrome, the “Widowmaker” is the perfect example of what can be done by anybody with a vision, creativity, and the Custom Chrome catalog. Built solely using either products from the Custom Chrome Catalog or with parts hand fabricated by Taylor and Hetfield, this is truly an awesome, one of a kind machine.

On Saturday night, short track action will continue with the running of the District 36 Pro Am race in the Chris Beck Arena. Up close and personal, the non-stop action of these up and coming riders will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Then on Sunday, the Santa Rosa Mile will thunder into action.

Special ticket packages for all events are available and information can be found at http://www.santarosamile.com .

Mark your calendar now and make your plans to attend this weekend of spectacular events. It is not to be missed.