Best National Weekend of the year

What's everyone's opinion on the best National weekend of the year. I'm saying as far as Track, Viewing, Fans, Camping/ Parties, Pitts, amateur practice/racing, Location, everything. I know the popular answer is going to be Redbud but curious to see what others have to say 

Poll

Best National Of the year

Choices
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SonofThor32
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5/20/2025 6:04am Edited Date/Time 5/20/2025 6:08am

Washougal is an amazing track as a spectator, you can pretty much go literally anywhere around the track and still get REALLY close to the action.  The downside which at this point in my life is significant, but getting in and out of the track is pure misery.  I have done the arrive at 7AM thing two years ago, it was not as bad getting in, but that is really freaking early.  And leaving the track at the start of the final 450 race, still had us sitting in traffic for hours getting out.  Anyway, if you have more patience than me, Washougal should be high on this list.

For good views, track beauty, pure fun, and ease of getting in and out, Redbud is of course my favorite.

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Press516
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Gilbert, AZ US
Fantasy
5/20/2025 6:10am

Red Bud, yes…. Then maybe Thunder  Valley for me, from a race perspective.  Not so much camping, etc.  Although we did camp last time there, we were 20 miles in to the Forest and not near another human, which is highly desirable for my wife and I.

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stewie94
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La Plata, MD US
5/20/2025 7:48am

biasedly budds creek my home track but other than budds its redbud , the popular answer but rightfully so , mainly due to the 4th of July weekend atmosphere tht surrounds the race weekend 

2
Lentz117
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Rochester, MN US
5/20/2025 8:35am

REBUD is by far best atmosphere since 4th of July weekend. Everyone is just pumped. Spring Creek is best track though, TV doesn't do it justice. Have yet to go to Washougal.

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The Shop

alphado
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Erie, PA US
5/20/2025 8:36am

Labor Day Weekend at Steel City!

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Magoofan
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Shadow Glen (for those who remember), CA US
5/20/2025 8:48am

Pala....

When we will have a full field....before the injuries and drop outs begin. 

 

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8
5/20/2025 8:56am
alphado wrote:

Labor Day Weekend at Steel City!

Steel City was an epic track it sucks that it's not around anymore 

7
pummel
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Salem, OR US
5/20/2025 9:00am
Washougal is an amazing track as a spectator, you can pretty much go literally anywhere around the track and still get REALLY close to the action...

Washougal is an amazing track as a spectator, you can pretty much go literally anywhere around the track and still get REALLY close to the action.  The downside which at this point in my life is significant, but getting in and out of the track is pure misery.  I have done the arrive at 7AM thing two years ago, it was not as bad getting in, but that is really freaking early.  And leaving the track at the start of the final 450 race, still had us sitting in traffic for hours getting out.  Anyway, if you have more patience than me, Washougal should be high on this list.

For good views, track beauty, pure fun, and ease of getting in and out, Redbud is of course my favorite.

Sorry but I just can't agree with you about Washougal. I go to the Washougal national for the experience but it's very difficult to actually watch the race. Between the "VIP" and corporate areas covering most of the best viewing spots, the people hard camped on most of the fence lines and a lot of the track dug lower than the spectator areas it's not easy to watch the race. I go for the experience then watch the race on TV at home to see what happened. 

1
Mick 22
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Cranberry Twp, PA US
5/20/2025 9:04am

When High Point was held Memorial Day weekend, as it was for a long time, it ranked right up there.

4
BoxcarWilly
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Thunder Bay, ON CA
5/20/2025 9:31am

Millville rules. 

4
Falcon
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Menifee, CA US
5/20/2025 9:48am
Magoofan wrote:

Pala....

When we will have a full field....before the injuries and drop outs begin. 

 

Pala, because it's the 1st race. The track, the viewing... not so much. 

I like Thunder Valley. Great views of the track, great scenery, and decent dirt. 

3
TeamGreen
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Thru-out, CA US
5/20/2025 9:56am
Washougal is an amazing track as a spectator, you can pretty much go literally anywhere around the track and still get REALLY close to the action...

Washougal is an amazing track as a spectator, you can pretty much go literally anywhere around the track and still get REALLY close to the action.  The downside which at this point in my life is significant, but getting in and out of the track is pure misery.  I have done the arrive at 7AM thing two years ago, it was not as bad getting in, but that is really freaking early.  And leaving the track at the start of the final 450 race, still had us sitting in traffic for hours getting out.  Anyway, if you have more patience than me, Washougal should be high on this list.

For good views, track beauty, pure fun, and ease of getting in and out, Redbud is of course my favorite.

pummel wrote:
Sorry but I just can't agree with you about Washougal. I go to the Washougal national for the experience but it's very difficult to actually watch...

Sorry but I just can't agree with you about Washougal. I go to the Washougal national for the experience but it's very difficult to actually watch the race. Between the "VIP" and corporate areas covering most of the best viewing spots, the people hard camped on most of the fence lines and a lot of the track dug lower than the spectator areas it's not easy to watch the race. I go for the experience then watch the race on TV at home to see what happened. 

The modern VIP areas taking up too much “good viewing” are pretty much the same situation at all the Nat’s; however, with a bit of hiking…I’ve always found some great viewing areas. 

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1
Sachmo831
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South Bend, IN US
5/20/2025 10:01am

The Red Bud night track really cranks up the atmosphere. One of the best parts of the weekend whether racing or just watching.   Do any other nationals have something similar?

shortty761
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Newport News, VA US
5/20/2025 10:32am

Budds Creek is the second best national for in person BY FAR. Washougal is the best

5
lumpy790
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York, SC US
5/20/2025 10:51am Edited Date/Time 5/20/2025 10:52am
alphado wrote:

Labor Day Weekend at Steel City!

I don’t remember Steel City being on Labor Day weekend. 

I remember always going to High Point was on Labor Day weekend. It was always a Huge party for all the Morgantown college students to come to and pass out drunk next to the track. 

Budds Creek was always on Fathers Day weekend.

Red Bud has always been on the July 4th weekend. 

2
MX Culture
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Lake Geneva, WI US
5/20/2025 10:57am Edited Date/Time 5/20/2025 10:57am
Sachmo831 wrote:
The Red Bud night track really cranks up the atmosphere. One of the best parts of the weekend whether racing or just watching.   Do any...

The Red Bud night track really cranks up the atmosphere. One of the best parts of the weekend whether racing or just watching.   Do any other nationals have something similar?

Budds Creek used to have night racing on Friday (or Saturday back in the day), but don't think they've had that for a while.

RedBud night track this year will have something cool besides the regular racing. Stay tuned.

1
RichieW13
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Thousand Oaks, CA US
5/20/2025 11:03am
alphado wrote:

Labor Day Weekend at Steel City!

lumpy790 wrote:
I don’t remember Steel City being on Labor Day weekend. I remember always going to High Point was on Labor Day weekend. It was always a Huge...

I don’t remember Steel City being on Labor Day weekend. 

I remember always going to High Point was on Labor Day weekend. It was always a Huge party for all the Morgantown college students to come to and pass out drunk next to the track. 

Budds Creek was always on Fathers Day weekend.

Red Bud has always been on the July 4th weekend. 

It looks like Steel City was on Labor Day weekend from 1993 through 2012, except for 2007.

1
5/20/2025 11:59am
Sachmo831 wrote:
The Red Bud night track really cranks up the atmosphere. One of the best parts of the weekend whether racing or just watching.   Do any...

The Red Bud night track really cranks up the atmosphere. One of the best parts of the weekend whether racing or just watching.   Do any other nationals have something similar?

MX Culture wrote:
Budds Creek used to have night racing on Friday (or Saturday back in the day), but don't think they've had that for a while.RedBud night track...

Budds Creek used to have night racing on Friday (or Saturday back in the day), but don't think they've had that for a while.

RedBud night track this year will have something cool besides the regular racing. Stay tuned.

I do remember 2007 Budds having night racing inside the dirt circle track 

Ehm24
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San Diego, CA US
Fantasy
5/20/2025 12:09pm

I've always been a big fan of Millville. It looks so cool on TV. Is there any other track with that much elevation change?

1
RichieW13
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Thousand Oaks, CA US
5/20/2025 12:13pm
Ehm24 wrote:

I've always been a big fan of Millville. It looks so cool on TV. Is there any other track with that much elevation change?

Glen Helen

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pummel
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Salem, OR US
5/20/2025 1:23pm

I'm curious- You guys have a lot of opinions about national tracks, How many of them have you actually been to?  Watching on TV isn't an informed opinion. 

I've been to nationals at 

Washougal, Hangtown, Glen Helen, Pala, Thunder Valley, Red Bud, Buds Creek and Loretta Lynns....

2
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motomike137
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Fenton, MI US
5/20/2025 1:39pm Edited Date/Time 5/20/2025 1:47pm

Red Bud for the vibe. I can't imagine the fever gets any hotter at any of the other rounds. It's a circus!

motomike137
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Fenton, MI US
5/20/2025 1:46pm
Washougal is an amazing track as a spectator, you can pretty much go literally anywhere around the track and still get REALLY close to the action...

Washougal is an amazing track as a spectator, you can pretty much go literally anywhere around the track and still get REALLY close to the action.  The downside which at this point in my life is significant, but getting in and out of the track is pure misery.  I have done the arrive at 7AM thing two years ago, it was not as bad getting in, but that is really freaking early.  And leaving the track at the start of the final 450 race, still had us sitting in traffic for hours getting out.  Anyway, if you have more patience than me, Washougal should be high on this list.

For good views, track beauty, pure fun, and ease of getting in and out, Redbud is of course my favorite.

pummel wrote:
Sorry but I just can't agree with you about Washougal. I go to the Washougal national for the experience but it's very difficult to actually watch...

Sorry but I just can't agree with you about Washougal. I go to the Washougal national for the experience but it's very difficult to actually watch the race. Between the "VIP" and corporate areas covering most of the best viewing spots, the people hard camped on most of the fence lines and a lot of the track dug lower than the spectator areas it's not easy to watch the race. I go for the experience then watch the race on TV at home to see what happened. 

I've been a couple times and thought it was really good for spectating, I might be riding a high though when I've been there because I live so far away and I just love the area and the setting of the track Smile I have the same attitude you have about Red Bud which I've been to a million times so maybe that's part of it. I'm so familiar that I get irritated by things. Actually, Red Bud had a VIP area on the south end of the track for many years in a prime viewing area that always irritated me. 

motomike137
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Location
Fenton, MI US
5/20/2025 1:50pm
Washougal is an amazing track as a spectator, you can pretty much go literally anywhere around the track and still get REALLY close to the action...

Washougal is an amazing track as a spectator, you can pretty much go literally anywhere around the track and still get REALLY close to the action.  The downside which at this point in my life is significant, but getting in and out of the track is pure misery.  I have done the arrive at 7AM thing two years ago, it was not as bad getting in, but that is really freaking early.  And leaving the track at the start of the final 450 race, still had us sitting in traffic for hours getting out.  Anyway, if you have more patience than me, Washougal should be high on this list.

For good views, track beauty, pure fun, and ease of getting in and out, Redbud is of course my favorite.

I went last year, and I was bummed when I found out the class order got switched! I was there to see Deegan as much as anything. I bailed as soon as the 3rd moto was over and got out of there without too much drama. I went west from the track entrance and straight down to Camas so maybe that helped?

pummel
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Location
Salem, OR US
5/20/2025 1:50pm
I've been a couple times and thought it was really good for spectating, I might be riding a high though when I've been there because I...

I've been a couple times and thought it was really good for spectating, I might be riding a high though when I've been there because I live so far away and I just love the area and the setting of the track Smile I have the same attitude you have about Red Bud which I've been to a million times so maybe that's part of it. I'm so familiar that I get irritated by things. Actually, Red Bud had a VIP area on the south end of the track for many years in a prime viewing area that always irritated me. 

The difference is Red Bud has so much open area between the lanes where you can just look around and see the race. You have to choose what side you're seeing but you can usually see a lot of one side or the other. 

1
5/20/2025 2:49pm
I've been a couple times and thought it was really good for spectating, I might be riding a high though when I've been there because I...

I've been a couple times and thought it was really good for spectating, I might be riding a high though when I've been there because I live so far away and I just love the area and the setting of the track Smile I have the same attitude you have about Red Bud which I've been to a million times so maybe that's part of it. I'm so familiar that I get irritated by things. Actually, Red Bud had a VIP area on the south end of the track for many years in a prime viewing area that always irritated me. 

pummel wrote:
The difference is Red Bud has so much open area between the lanes where you can just look around and see the race. You have to...

The difference is Red Bud has so much open area between the lanes where you can just look around and see the race. You have to choose what side you're seeing but you can usually see a lot of one side or the other. 

You stand by the last corner and run over to the the backside, you can see everything but the back flag pole table. 

1
5/20/2025 3:57pm
pummel wrote:
I'm curious- You guys have a lot of opinions about national tracks, How many of them have you actually been to?  Watching on TV isn't an...

I'm curious- You guys have a lot of opinions about national tracks, How many of them have you actually been to?  Watching on TV isn't an informed opinion. 

I've been to nationals at 

Washougal, Hangtown, Glen Helen, Pala, Thunder Valley, Red Bud, Buds Creek and Loretta Lynns....

Out of all the currently used tracks I’ve been to High Point , Redbud, Buds creek , Ironman, Unadilla. Have not made it to any of the west coast tracks 

1
1
5/20/2025 4:09pm

Not putting Washougal on the poll is criminal. It’s the most beautiful track on the circuit. It’s up in the mountains hidden away like a gem. Most of the other tracks are right off of a freeway.


Warning. Controversial opinion. As far as Red Bud goes, I know the vibe is off the charts and it’s always a party due to 4th of July weekend etc. But, I’ve never been that impressed by that track. Is it better in person than on tv? Other than Larocco’s Leap it just seems kind of meh, with a lot of flat boring areas that aren’t that interesting.

 

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Zycki11
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Edwardsville, IL US
5/20/2025 4:10pm

Red Bud

Ironman(needs an earlier race in the series)

Millville 

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