Wondering who else might be heading to France in October. Ernee should be insane and a tough place for our guys to defend the Chamberlain Cup.
The last MXdN that I went to in Europe was in 2004 at Leirop (Holland). The USA didn't send a team, but we went anyway and it was a total blast! Scott Kandel and I had launched our Wonder Warthog Racing privateer support programs here in the states earlier in the year, reimbursing the entry fee of every privateer who made the show at a SX or National. We were trying to build the brand, so we brought 600 t-shirts with a big "Warthog des Nations" logo printed on the back and the flags of all the different countries on the left front to give away over there. It's amazing how quickly you can make new friends when you're giving away free stuff! Hahaha!
Scott had rented an actual castle (no shit!) in Belgium for the week and even hired a five-star Michelin chef to cook for us. Local Dutch boy, Marc "Camero" De Reuver was one of the best sand riders in the world at that time and a favorite to win on Sunday, but that didn't stop him from partying with us at the castle, or from throwing on the WWR cape and racing at an "Industry des Nations" event that MxMatti and Plons promoted on the Wednesday before the MXdN. It was three guys per bike and you traded off every two laps. I teamed up with Andy Bell and a Euro FMX guy, but wadded hard in that slushy wet Dutch sand on lap two and slammed my ribcage on a buried tree root. I gave the bike to Bell and laid around the rest of the day, feeling worse by the minute.
I had some blood in my piss and wound up in a Dutch hospital that night to get checked out. They insisted I stay overnight for observation since I had some internal bleeding and shit could go sideways...you never know. It seemed like a nice enough hospital, with good looking nurses, modern equipment and porn playing on the TV in the lobby, but I didn't want to miss out on the party at the castle. I argued hard that I probably wouldn't bleed out and die at the castle, but no one wanted the hassle if I did.
The hospital changed shifts two hours later and I woke up to some wretch pushing my gurney into the elevator. When the door opened they wheeled me into Hell on Earth. It was like that crazy scene in the movie, "Jacob's Ladder", with the wobbly wheel and demons. It was filthy, dank and they put me in a room with an old guy who was in his death throes...his moans and wailing were like nothing I've heard before, or since. I lasted less than five minutes before I bolted back down to the lobby and called Scott to rescue me. The docs weren't happy and made me sign a release of liability, but they were probably gonna harvest my organs if I had stayed. It ended up being a couple of broken ribs and a bruised ego...Bell still gives me shit about it.
Anyway, the Euro fans really go apeshit crazy in every aspect for the event and the whole experience is just off the hook. The MXdNs I've been to here in America are always a good time and the racing is great, but it is a whole different beast over there. I haven't been to Ernee, but Scott has and said it's excellent. We're not renting a castle, but I booked a couple of houses, one in Paris for a few tourist days, then another in the countryside near Ernee for Fri through Tues. So far, flights and lodging are cheaper than I expected, but I know how that shit goes. If any of you Vitards or Motodrive slackers are going to Ernee and want to bench race, drink and swap lies with me and Scott, bring your A game and your chain saws...we'll buy the first round.
I’ll be there.
We are staying in a motorhome at the track - trying to get in and out everyday on French country roads is a clusterfuck.
It's about time because 19 years ago an American guy in a funny suit said he'd buy me a beer, he gave me a t-shirt and I raced against him at the Universal MXDT, but he never bought me that beer!
Here's to hoping he'll keep that promise in Ernee. It'll be my 20th Des Nations and i've been looking for him each time...
Great story. Man I’d love to go. My wife and I are going to Greece the following week, perhaps I can sneak out early
As GuyB would say "I was thinking of going"...
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Thinking of going! My daughter recently got a teaching job in Linz, Germany beginning in September and I thought of going to catch the end of Oktoberfest, then shooting over to MXdN.
Long shot, though...I'd be going by myself. First thought is public transport to CDG, rent a car and camp at the track.
Anyone doing anything similar or familiar with camping at Ernee?
Am I nuts?!
We were in, had a VRBO, many of the prerequisites handled…. Now we have a conflict and can’t make it.
But it’s also fair to say that our guys go pretty well at Ernee and will hopefully be in contention for at least a podium.
You’re nuts if you don’t do it .
was there in 05 with Scott as we cheered on BT who was trying to chase down RC,
Ernee is an amazing venue, if you can, go, you wont regret it,
Hey dude, save me a spot on a couch or something. Por favor.
Nah....haven't thought about it at all
I was there, BT was unreal that day. I'll also be there this year working. And sleeping at the track in a camper.
I was at both but the sand surfer on the smoker I can still see clipping that chest nut fencing pinned ,mind you RC passing everts on the last ride on the smoker at zandvolt is my top mxdn memory as for atmosphere is a giving at Any event
Will be there too with friends ! Missed the 2005 and 2015 for personal reason, ain't no way i am missing 2023 ! Ernée is probably one of the crazyest atmosphere for Mxdn.
Hope all the best riders will be there (HRC hear me out for sexton)
Planning on going. I’m affraid they will ban the chainsaws… at least they did it in Lommel…
Group of us going, wouldn't miss it. The MXdN is always the race of the year.
The last time it was in Ernee, the campsite resembled a scene from Mad Max when we were leaving Monday morning. Piles of molten metal and smashed up caravans allover the place.
You be careful in your motorhome Brent, it might not make it out of there rolling.
If you can swing it you should go! Life is too short. Planning to go in 2024 for my 2nd oldest sons "senior" trip (high school). Wish it was at Ernee next year, looks like a great venue for the event. The weird thing is we are only a little over a year out from the 2024 race and there has been no announcement on the venue (unless I missed it). Come on Infront, put out the 2024 MXDN race location! We are eager to find out where we are going.
I‘M going alone as a vip so don’t care much being alone over there just eat and enjoy the show
I’m thinking of doing the same thing. Just sleep in the back of my estate car. Don’t really have anyone to do the trip with.
Pit Row
Same. The Mad Max scene at the campground does have me a bit nervous. I'd camped at Unadilla from 1981 until they paused camping sometime in the late 80's/early 90's and Mad Max seems something I used to know. Back then, I was in my 20s with a bunch of guys in my home country, though!
Now, I'm a middle-aged American dude who'd be by myself sleeping in a rental car knowing minimal Francais (sp?)!
MXdN site shows camping with showers/toilets/catering on site. Know if ice is sold to keep the beers cold?!
I’m also unfamiliar with French but at least we can hang out if you want I’m gonna sleep in my car also
I was at Ernee MXoN in 2015... and can confirm the camping is wild!
However the camping area for Ernee is one of the biggest I've seen. We made the wise decision to camp in the field furthest from the track, which happened to be the tamest and least wild, which was ideal for getting a bit of sleep. It did make for a longer walk to and from the track but it was still worth it in my opinion.
The main camp was non stop all night, with make shift DJ set ups, pit bike races, fires, fire works, chainsaw gatherings and general partying. It's nuts but at the same time harmless enough, the vast majority are friendly and just out to have a good time.
There is/was a toilet/shower block but it was pretty rammed so you may want to go during 'off peak' times to avoid a que.
I can't wait to go back again, it is an awesome venue for the event.
Did we just become best friends?
Yep!!! 😂😂
Because of the date change, i will be racing/working in Belgium, so will miss it.
Ernee is awesome as an event, last time we went last minute, which was great , not sure the actual layout is that great there any more, its a bit of a goat track these days IMO.
Hope you wouldn't mind me catching up with you guys if things come together. Gotta do a deep dive on logistics and costs, but IDK when I'd have another chance to piece such a trip together.
Steve, I went to the Ernee GP in 2003 to watch Stefan Everts win all three classes in one day. Of all the Gp’s and MXDN I’ve ever attended, it’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Just the crowd and the tracks layout and food was fantastic. You’ll have a great time. Hope your healthy and doing well.
Wich other sport brings people together loaded on positivity and companionship at a nation competition. Mx really has different level of fans compared with other sports
VIP Packages: 2023_MXoN_ VIP_Presentation_31:3:23 (fim-moto.com)
Note prices don't include VAT.
luke11 and Paul_Jacky...wish I'd have been going and to have caught up with you in Ernee, but my MXdN plans didn't work out. C'est la vie.
Hope everyone who goes has an awesome time and I'll be watching from NJ with beer and Cheetos in hand!
Not the Deegans, or anyone from Star. They can't be arsed.
Post a reply to: Anyone else thinking about going to Ernee for the MXdN?