Welcome to Motorama, The Cathedral of Chaos

Motorama, the birthplace of Arenacross, has transformed into a modern-day Cathedral of Chaos each February in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Rumor has it that witness accounts of the event are strictly prohibited (like Fight Club I guess?); however in recent years secret security footage has been leaked onto the dark web in the form of Matt Burkeen’s Arenacrash YouTube. How exactly does an event founded by a blue-collared farmer inviting his friends to a true grassroots racing event become the Holy Grail of ArenaCRASH?

“In the summer of 1977, Armin Hostetter and his three sons were finishing up their 5th race season at Trail-Way Speedway. A 6th generation farmer by day and a motorcycle racing enthusiast by night, Armin wanted to see his passion for racing continue year round. During his yearly visits to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, he became aware that the large arena had a dirt floor base. That coupled with the fact that no one was racing outdoors over the winter, gave Armin a brilliant idea – it was time to organize and promote the very first indoor motorcycle race which today is better known as arenacross racing. With a few phone calls, he put together the first Motorama event which took place February 15th and 16th, 1978, known as the Harrisburg Indoor Motorcycle Championship.” – Motoramaevents.com

It is without coincidence that the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Arena hosting Motorama is shaped like a historic colosseum with steep seats and a round floor far beneath. Modern day racers must be gladiators to survive and emerge victorious as racing action can often look like knights jousting to the death on their horses. Warriors in full gear are often laid out across the battlegrounds resulting in the crowd erupting to celebrate the horrific blood-bath before their eyes. In my best efforts to become Bill Nye the Science Guy, I set out to investigate the evidence that has surfaced and have discovered the master-formula that created this legendary event.

The Gladiators

The warriors that grace the battlefield at Motorama appear to be a combination of racers who have developed an addiction to whiskey throttle and haven’t discovered how to locate the streets of Baltimore. Front wheels to the sky is the norm and it is a thing of beauty.

Four-Legged and Mini Horses

Quads are AWESOME! Yes, I just typed that. The two-wheeled riders are definitely exciting, but Motorama is one of the few arenacross events that allows four-wheels. For this event only, twice the wheels equal twice the fun (for the spectators)! Don’t agree? You haven’t reviewed the footage. Also, watch out for the full-size warriors on mini horses known as pit bikes. These are well-known kamikaze pilots.

A Warrior’s Armor

Before the gladiators are released into action they are staged behind a gate. Spectators gaze down the line-up picking their favorites by recognizing unique features from each rider and their horse’s attire. Seasoned survivors feature visor-less helmets, dare-devils duct-tape their emergency contact #911 on their side-plates, and the most defiant, whiskey-addicted riders will have the numbers 69, 420, or 666 tattooed across their uniforms.

A Battleground Prepped for Doomsday

Whether the arena surface is purposely steam rolled to concrete to maximize the pain when warriors fall or if it makes wiping up the blood easier, one thing is for certain: pain and destruction will be maximized! We have also not been able to determine if organizers soak the surface with water to increase the violence or if it is just blood seeping to the surface from years of injury and despair.

Rules of War

The only rule of war at Motorama is that there are no rules. It is clear many competitors throw out track direction and boundaries with the rulebook as well. Once the battle walls are closed, no one (especially flaggers!) and nowhere on the floor is safe until after the checkered flag flies and every gladiator along with their horse has left the floor. Warning, do not let your guard down after the checkered flag until completely off the race track. Actually, you aren’t even safe from a brawl once in the pit area!

Motorama is a modern-day Colosseum where spectators surround the battleground with equalized-excitement for competition, bloodshed, and violence. We salute the gladiators that line up risking everything for a chance to grace the winner’s circle at the Holy Grail of Arenacross – The Cathedral of Chaos – MOTORAMA!