So was Godzilla needed or not?

Idk what that tent was but it was not a vip viewing tent I don’t think, walls were down all day on it with no windows. Ironman is the worst track I’ve ever been to spectate at by far. Can’t see much at all 

The big jump was way better than the big tent.

What a surprise.

I agree on it being terrible for spectators. 

It’s a great track and facility, but we sat down toward the start for the first moto, and I’ve never been to a race where I felt more lost as to what was actually happening on the track. 

Then we moved up by the porta pots for the second, slightly better. The third we found a place by the fence just across the bridge, and at least we could tell the who was where as far as placing. 
 

Got to see the leaders go by for about 3 sec per lap. 

It might have been better with Godzilla intact, but the track still raced great and looked amazing.  

I thought it was a great MXDN venue, and the promoter was on point on logistics, from our perspective.  We day parked and had zero problems each day getting in and out (free parking!).  It was relatively easy to walk in/out and to move around the track.  When they opened the gates to the track Sunday morning (in the dark) it was just a matter of minutes before nearly all of the fence-line spots were occupied.  Giant crowd.

Ironman does suffer in that it's hard to get a single vantage point that lets you see the entire track due to the elevation changes, trees and just the size of the place.  It's best if you settle in, have someone to hold down your location, and move around to see different viewing spots through the day. We started on top, down track from the bridge, and ended up watching Sunday from the new woods area.

Clean bathrooms, plenty of food/drink vendors, and just a great day of MX.  Hope they get another MXDN in the future.

Yes viewing is not good at all. The section through the bridge and along that section after it really was the only place you could see as you said. I felt like the commentary and screens were poor too. You could hear the loud speakers in the town weirdly when I stopped there before the event but didn’t think you could hear it well at the event 

That tent was in a terrible spot, would have been way better just to leave those two sweet booters in place.  Viewing from that tent would have been garbage.  Viewing overall was not as bad as I thought, but only if you were in the right spot.  We got the top of the hill just to the west of the big tabletop.  From there we could see them come over the wall jump by the mechanics area, then all of the track before the big booter and a couple of turns after (by looking over that hill through the fence).  We could see about 2/3rds of the track, but most viewing spots would only allow you to see 30 to 50%.  Always amazes me where some people choose to sit (where they can only see 1 or 2 corners).  

What was frustrating was that we got their long before the gates opened on Sunday, and were the first people to that fence line by the big jump, to get our spots.  But we found it completely covered with peoples camp chairs from the day before, some of them tied to the fence.  I have no idea why the track workers let people "keep their spots" overnight.  They should have put those chairs into a pile, like they did at Redbud in 2022.  Needless to say, we moved some chairs, and I was happy to have the conversation with a couple of pissed off people who showed up at 11 am thinking they were going to have their primo seats reserved.  I asked a couple of them if they bought some special ticket that allowed them rent their own section of the property for the weekend, lol.

It was a much better event and atmosphere then I was expecting.  Way more energy and buzz than Matterley Basin last year IMO 

Yeah it was really bad for spectating. I had been there in 2020. But that was during covid so not many people were there and I didn't notice. You could barely see any of the racing unless you were constantly moving. Which was impossible with so many people there. How about all the sponsor signs lining the roller section so you couldn't see it at all?! Maybe worse for spectating than Southwick, which is a pretty high bar

Hell no, there's no reserving a spot the day before 😂 😂 

Nice try!

I went to France 2023.  

Venue was way overpacked,  no enough facilities  vibe was high, and the viewing on that hill side is amazing. Could see 80% of the track!

Redbud we could see maybe 60% on the infield 

Ironman we could see maybe 20% at most.  but the venue was organized and setup nicely. 

I think where the best viewing was was all those 3 VIP tents, 

Oh, I feel the need to point out the porta john's were immaculate all weekend. IMMACULATE. I've never seen a facility keep up with cleaning them so well

What really is needed at Ironman is a 2nd crossing to the inside ofvthe track. The wooden bridge is neat but its a log jam of epic proportion.

Agreed.  And for future MXDNs, a "standing" scoreboard so the track spectators can see where the championship stands after moto 1 and moto 2.

I agree, the facility was amazing. Garbage cans cleaned up non stop, the best porta potty’s I’ve ever been in anywhere, anytime I went in one it looked like no one even used it. Tons of camping/parking that was relatively flat. Guys that parked us into our camping were super nice and so was all security.  

There was a second entrance, that I never found until Sunday.  It was just the side of the Godzilla hill.  Between the diamond VIP area and the Godzilla hill.  

The tent that was at the top of the Godzilla was indeed a VIP viewing area, either silver or gold.  

My viewing area was pretty good, could see them for probably 1:20 out of the 2ish minute laps, including the start.

I think I only saw one overflowing garbage can. That was it! They really were on their game 

This was my viewing area, I can't complain.

Yeah that had to be one of the best spots. How early did you get there to set up?

Agreed. All the facilities were very impressive

Put some chairs there shortly after the 125 race in the morning, so around 10:15.  It was pretty full already.

 Viewing was indeed difficult. Next race I’m a gonna be at least 6’6””

I was in the club VIP tent for all 3 motos.  You could only see from the big tabletop jump to a larger jump before the cover bridge.  Had to watch the rest on the tv.  

Ha my group was not too far left of you. I thought it was a good spot for viewing most of the track.

I did not think that at all , their was very little places to get food and drink in the track it's self., getting in and out was awesome!

The tent at the top of godzilla was for Gold VIP.. The tent to the right (Closer into the trees was mcaillster cat) 

and to be honest the view was buns from directly ontop of godzilla.......... the other tent mcallister cat was far superior. (One moment ill upload some pics/videos from both) 

This view is down on the side of the hill to the left.. closer to people behind the gate and to the right of the diamond vip area.

Happy Ironman got its day and the way they ran it by the sound of things will guarantee a return in the future. Each time I have gone I loved the track and they do a great job.  Being organized and clean goes a long way with events like this. Track changes can be made to get some of the original flow back. Live and learn, looked like an amazing event and fun had by all. Glad it didn’t turn into Ryder Cup debauchery. 

Go to Hangtown. So many people along the fence with ez ups. So many people on the hills with them. On top of that the “dirt crew” or whoever the local club is has a bunch of power tripping volunteers. Ironman on the other hand has all the trees and elevation to get in the way but I believe is a way better facility. 

You really have to be on one of the hillsides to see a lot. I felt like we could see pretty good.  Got to our spots at about 8am each day.  On the fence line you can't see much.  

If you took out LaRocco’s Leap, Red Bud would still be an acceptable track, but it just ain’t the same without the signature jump.  I thought spectating sucked at MXdN this year.  I’d encourage you to come back for a national.  It’s much better, but you still need to move around if you want to see the whole thing.

Unpopular opinion: I don't care if they stop having the MXdN in the states because all they do is ruin our tracks. Red Bud with the sand they claim they didn't bring in and Ironman with taking out the coolest feature.