The History of SAER: Swapping with the Straight Arrows

In the late 1970s and early ‘80s the Straight Arrow Enduro Riders were known for putting on motorcycle swap meets in addition to enduros. This was a way for the club to make money, since putting on an enduro tended to at best be a break even proposition.

They were at first held at the Anoka Armory, and later at the old Minneapolis Auditorium. This was once the home of the Minneapolis Lakers basketball team, and the site of many famous concerts, including Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, and The Doors.

The SAER swap meets became quite big events, attended by local dirt bike, road racing, cafe racing, and Harley chopper groups. The mid-winter gatherings were part of the Twin Cities motorcycle scene. The last one, just before the Auditorium was shut down, was unfortunately marred by a fight between rival motorcycle gangs, where one person was stabbed (and survived). Que up “Sympathy for the Devil”…

At this time the Straight Arrows looked into acquiring their own property, for racing and riding.