"America's Toughest Track" Reborn: Sandy Oaks Raceway, Keithsburg, IL

That video on the quad was out for a long time, any  more recent videos/helmet cams? Looks like a cool place to ride

I,ll check it out later I,m in EL paso doing laundry etc . 

I know im gonna be making some trips out there to ride. Already talked about it with more than a few locals.

All you have to do to be successful is a good prepped track when you say its gonna be prepped and when you post a pay out make sure you pay it out and dont stiff the riders and make them kick down the door to your office. Yes thats happend in IL. 

From the locals talking about it I think youll be just fine.

Back in the day, the Factory Box Van Days, both Bell & Glover tested there for a few days prior to Southwick on our 500’s.

Jon R. & I were amazed. Jon R. was there before & it was my 1st time to the Storied Track. Aside from Tracks in Florida back in the day & Southwick of that era as well, Sandy Oaks rivaled even the Best Europe had to offer. 
The only Track that came close to me was Lommel in ‘81 at the des Nations. If it’s truly back, MX Sports should definitely find a way to get it on the schedule. Currently Southwicks really the only Sandy Track we still have & though still Tough, it’s not like it used to be. We in America need another brutal Sand Track on the schedule.

Layout and surrounding with the trees is beautiful. The right side of the video reminds me of the sand pits I grew up riding.  

For the love of god though, do not groom the track! Let it get rough same as it was before. Sand tracks aren’t meant to be groomed. Nothing worse than a freshly flattened sand track. Tell guys like @motomind00132 to get a fuckin street bike if they want a “prepped” track. Bunch of pansies those guys are. 

Remember, it can’t be “America’s toughest track” if you groom it all the time. Good luck 👍 

I would love to ride this track! But Illinois? Only if Prof125 agrees to meet me there! 125”s only!

I live about 2 hours from there. I really need to check it out. I heard it'll make a man out of ya. lol 

I remember Cocoa Beach in Florida and it and Sandy Oaks were mentioned in the same breath.

If anyone wants to check it out there is a hare scrambles there this Sunday. 
Obviously there will be woods racing but I’m pretty sure they will use parts of the mx track. 

Www.Wfopromotions.Com 

96?? My 96 CR125 was one of my favorite bikes of all time

Was there for the '77 national.  It was as rough as described.  And it was jungle-like heat/humidity.

We rode amateur day, and it about killed me.  I wasn't at all sure I could race my second moto, and I was 22 and in shape at the time.

Glad to see the track is being re-opened.  Will have to think about whether I want to to subject myself to it again!

I attended the '77 National and was blown away by the speed the pro's had on the sand.  Saw Jimmy W. come to a stop when his prototype KX125 ran out of fuel.  It was the first time I'd heard of Broc Glover and he impressed me that day.

I rode a hare scrambles there in the chillier months of the early '80's, maybe November or March?  I thought I was in pretty good shape at the time.  The Sandy Oaks course proved to me that I definitely was not. 

93 with my 96 250 tank & shrouds👍…. One of my favorites 

I live about 2 hours south of Keithsburg, this place is awesome! Would the facility still have weekend openings to ride and train? have to work and pay bills during the week haha

Awesome that you bought the track back to life, good luck and hope it goes well!!!!!!!!

I rode here growing up in the fall, winter, springtime! I was about 2 hours away but the ground doesn't freeze so it was our go to spot in the cold months. You just threw money in a box & went & rode. 

All the mxer's knew the track layout, never got prepped ever, but we all rode the same layout. Then we would go over the "field" & make turn tracks or just hit whoops down & back. great times.

As for Loretta's training..i think that would be tough. Loretta's differentiator is rutted black dirt, so for me personally i'm trying to ride more of that style heading into Loretta's. I do think you could run a facility but maybe not focus so much on Loretta's. It would be good training for Baja Brawl, Pine Ridge. Maybe could do a pre baja boot camp for 2-4 weeks or something of that style if you are looking for specific race training.

What's the details on the membership program? that sounds awesome!

Looks dreamy. Nothing more fun than getting absolutely worked by a sand track. It would be awesome if you managed to get Mxsports put it on the calendar. I know it’s a long shot but we can still dream right. I’m not in IL but I might have to check it out one day anyways. Not many of these gems left.

Brian Myerscough said the same thing. He said hardest track he ever rode, and he got lapped twice by Hannah. 

Looks just like what i learned moto on, a sand track in out out of the woods. Glad its coming back and best of luck! Very cool!!!!

I raced a qualifier there in 1980.  Graded smooth at the start of the day and the roughest track I had ever seen by the time we got to the motos.  I've raced on some of the famed Florida sand tracks and Keithsburg was every bit as brutal, and more! It sprinkled rain most of the day and I was thankful for it. 

The video before it was groomed looks like every whooped out sandy practice track I grew up riding in west Michigan. They put hair on my chest. 

The before photos remind me of the "secret" practice tracks we had in Tallahassee back in the 80's.  Endless, rolling sand whoops.  I was actually sad to see them all gone in the "after" shots even though I know they'll be back soon enough.  Let 'em grow!

Reminds me of Motomasters in Mexico, NY back in the 70s

Still the most fun race I’ve ever done. I didn’t do all that great but I’ve never rode in that much sand and I had a blast. I wish that place was my local spot but it’s now too far away. 

Looks badass. I rode at that property about 3 ish years ago when I used to live out that way. It was all whooped out trails and a sand pit, but now it  seems way more legit. Keep us updated!