Just got done watching the State of Moto video that Tyler Livesay posted. Got me thinking about about all the tracks that have come and gone in MN since I got into the sport, and how things have evolved in that time.
How are things looking in your state? If you've been in the sport for 10+ years, how are the tracks now compared to then?
In general, MN has lost the majority of its southern race tracks, and gained a couple practice tracks in that time. We have a decent amount of high quality tracks, although opportunity to ride those tracks is becoming more limited to race weekends as the years roll on.
Word vomit track history below. I'm surely missing something.
Here's a breakdown from memory for MN, extreme western WI, and D23 as a whole.
North of the Twin Cities - Brookston, Staples, Little Falls, Cambridge, Mora, Grantsburg (WI), and I think there's a new one way up north by Thief River Falls.
South of the Twin Cities - Millville, Kellog (closed), Mazeppa (closed), Elko (closed), Mankato (might as well be closed, non MC members only get 2x chances / year to ride here on race weekends), Arkansaw WI (closed, still pissed about this one), Diamond Park is pretty new (east of Sioux Falls and near the Iowa border), edit - Jordan SX at the Scott County Fairgrounds
Public practice tracks - Meadow Valley, Kingston, Annandale (Wednesdays only), Crosby, MX108 (very limited), BP73 (now closed to the public again)
Everything is closing because of insurance or because they build homes right next to the tracks that have been there for years and the people who move in immediately start complaining.
I think in the future, we’ll see more tracks on Native American reservations and less tracks on US soil unless there are laws written to control the insurance companies. It seems like they’re allowed to just do whatever they want.
Yeah, the insurance stuff is a given and well documented. I'm just curious on what states are still holding up well.
Never thought of the reservation thing. Most of them aren't rolling in casino cash though, so I don't think it will happen.
Wow I didn’t know that many Mn. Tracks closed. I researched your state a couple yrs ago. You can race 3 times a week fri night Motokazie series, then a sat, sun race. A week in July 3 fair races in 1 week. Wi. Has a lot of double header sat, sun races with a Fri practice. Mostly sand tracks with hills so there fun to race or ride. Last yr the 2-st class was the biggest aprox 29 riders . The 125 class is also popular 22-29 at some tracks. Cheap riding wed, Thur 10 bucks , Fri is now 20 & sat, sun at Dyracuse 700 acer deep sand ride park. 200 for an annual membership at a hard pack track with hills& valleys. Leaded race fuel at the pumps.
Colorado is good, but we have lost some tracks over the years. We lost Milliken a year or so ago, total bummer. Berthoud has been gone awhile now, that's a bummer. It's only a matter of time before we lose Watkins (Jewell MX) but we still have some great tracks. Thunder Valley does a great job, Aztec has been killing it lately with their prep, Sweney MX does a great job, RAM off road park, Leadville in the summer is awesome. Those combined with all the trail riding options we have, we're pretty spoiled.
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State of moto in Texas is same as it ever was unfortunately. A lot of the owners refuse to work with each other in favor of the riders so they all schedule over each other.
Recently, 3 Palms gave the title sponsorship of the Texas State AMA series to Oak Hill. Immediately after this announcement, Freestone, Underground, and Cycle Ranch announced their own NMA Texas State Championship scheduled on the same dates.
Extreme amounts of ego is still the name of the game here.
Outside of that, there's still a good amount of tracks, although the truly legendary tracks are mostly gone (Lake Whitney, Mosier Valley, Nocona, I-35mx) Oak Hill and Swan remain from that era.
There are a handful of open riding options within a few hours from the southern tip of Lake Michigan (IL, IN, WI, MI). Practice day turnout is good. Local racing turnout is low for classes other than minis and C.
Yeah Watkins is a wild one. They said they were closing end of last year but seem to just still be plugging away. Don’t forget about Dry Lake out west, that place rocks. Did the track in Craig close down or is it just little to to no prep?
Sacramento area seems to be going pretty strong still. 5 tracks within 35-45 minutes from sac. All seem to have pretty good turnouts and one gets a national.
There are also 4 ohv riding areas within an hour or so.
The tracks are expensive. But they all prep really well.
I ride around those parts as well as further east. It’s a bit expensive, used to be closer to $30, but I know insurance in California/Nevada has gotten outrageous and the tracks around here are usually groomed well so I’m OK with the price.
A new thing that sucks about Cali, is we can’t legally register/use 2022+ “competition” bikes for public lands anymore after this year. Free practice days on offroad turn tracks will very soon be illegal if your bike is newer. There will probably still be ways to get around, but the noose is getting tighter.
Seems like the state is getting serious about it this year, unfortunately. The only good news from this is that 2021 and older motocross bikes are now perma green sticker and can be used anywhere, anytime. I’m starting to stock up on older bikes and parts. The 20 year old used bike market in coastal-Cali is about to blow up!
It's okay but not the best here in WA unfortunately had a few tracks close over the years. Lost one of my favorite tracks this past year..
The closest track to me i rarely get to ride. Because for whatever reason. They only do Wednesday evening practice days in spring summer. Friday night races. They like never run on weekends.
Two of the other tracks one is more membership based occasionally has open practice days. The other one is limited number of invites. Another one has had such a hit or miss schedule.
Hopefully that's changed new track crew operator. I finally rode there a couple times this past year.
Couple other tracks rather focus more on racing then practice days. Even though they get twice the turn out on practice days.
We have maybe 4 - 5 tracks you can kinda count on something happening regularly.
WI northern part of the state is doing pretty good, southern part only has two tracks. Western part has a new owner for the old Hixton and they recently did a track refresh that looks good. A couple quality private tracks that some offer open ride days that are worth spending the day at. Race entry really varies between time of year and the track, some lucky to get 200-250 entries where some can draw up to 400-450 on a holiday weekend. Definitely down from the 90s early ‘00 but not dead, yet.
*Edit-forgot to add Pro125 favorite track offers open ride if you have an annual membership. Great vet track that isn’t technical but fun and you might run into the legend. Owner had his own race series the last couple years but he abruptly canceled it mid-year last year.
Michigan was doing well & is about to be doing even better! Cannot wait to see what is in store for our next era for D14!
That being said, mixed emotions looking toward the -20 degree Banquet we have at Soaring Eagle Casino this weekend... haha
Yes the Texas moto politics is only hurting the racing. The NMA Texas Winter Series has been packed at the first 2 rounds, whereas the AMA Awful 8 series was virtually empty at the last round at Irondog. For example the 250B class had 1 rider. The announcement of the duel Texas State Championship series' will just further divide we are currently experiencing.
Yep, you need to buy a completely worthless bike and register it for the sticker, then put said sticker on your newer bike. Or I just say I lost my sticker for my play bikes and get an second one for $15. Use that one on the newer bike.
I think I grew up during the peak of AZ moto 25-15 years ago. It’s really weak now, I think two public tracks that are regularly open in the whole state? Rumors of Grindingstone opening again were exciting but it fell through unfortunately.
Open: ACP and Motoland
Closed: Canyon, Speedworld, Thrasherland, Firebird, Air Sarival, Verde Valley, Ocotillo, Grindingstone, ET, Motogrande, the Colosseum, maybe some others I’m forgetting. If I’m wrong on any of these let me know because I’d love to go back.
Where does pro ride?
Watkins track and land is all in probate so it could stay open for a little while, but the writing is on the wall that it will be sold off when its all sorted out. 😒 Sad part is that other than the family no one else will be able to keep it as a track because the zoning change is temporary and only to the Grimm family. It should have closed back in the late 90s when development got close but its been gas fields and not houses closing in. was riding there back in the mid 1980s when it was just a sand pit.
D5, home of racer productions. (Racer x) I shouldn't be worried?
Pit Row
Denmark MX it’s just outside Green Bay . It’s hard pack if not worked, 1 hill has 4 lanes nice floater jumps. Rest of the jumps are safe , Vet like. I heard other 125 riders say it has a great flow for 125,s , I would agree. I only rode it once last yr square holes everywhere & rocks. I rode the track in the pits. I did 1 of his races it rained all night . I thought we would hv an open ride for the guys that traveled. Do I got there late & last practice is on the track. I skipped practice & raced. I traveled to ride sand tracks. I can hv a guest it’s 30 or 35. Couple yrs ago he had 38 in 150 c his classes R not ama . Very chill atmosphere. Pay 50 I think it was to race unlimited classes.
The one up by Thief River Falls is in Brooks, DMC Motorsports. Their FB this year is advertising a new location at the fairgrounds in Brainerd.
A couple tracks that don't exist in MN anymore as well: Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon and a practice track in Sauk Centre on the SE corner of I-94 and 71. Motokazie used to have indoor races at the Red Horse Ranch outside Fergus Falls.
Overall, still a lot of opportunities. I just wished there were more in western MN. Everything is at least an hour away from us.
Just got both my 2025 moto bikes registered, OHV red stickers. My buddy registered all his 2023-2025 moto only bikes, 4 of them.
As mentioned, tracks and OHV riding are doing well in Norcal area. Prep has actually gotten really good as of late. Expensive at 50 bucks, but I'm not complaining, especially since I'll go drop 1k on a pipe HaHa.
I will be hitting you MN fellas up for track tips here soon. Moving truck leaves from here to East Gull lake two weeks from today!!
Definitely. You'll be in a good spot for many of the northern tracks. BIR is right next door too if you're into the four wheel stuff.
Edit - You're little crazy to be moving from CA to the frozen tundra in February 🤣 It's been a shitty winter for us so far.
good for you guys up and down the I-25 corridor. We got nothing on Western Slope and the drive to Front Range doesn't work for us older guys.
HA, don't I know it. We are building a house so we want to be there while it's getting worked on, otherwise we wouldn't be moving until June. 😂
I did that many years while living in San Diego. Had a new 2003 KDX220 with Green Sticker until they banned them. Found a 1983 KDX200 basket case with clean title and kept it registered with Green sticker every year and used the Green Sticker on the 2003 220. Never once got even a look from authorities in state parks or BLM land.
I've been riding MX in NC and SC for over 25+ years, and honestly, it's better today than when I started riding. Granted we've lost a handful of tracks, but gained dozens more. Then add in Club MX, SOBMX, and some of the training facilities and it's a pick of the litter on where you want to ride that weekend. Don't forget to factor in the various different types of dirt, from sand towards the beach, the sandhills near the middle, clay near the Triad and Triangle, then woods and trial riding in the mountains, its AWESOME.
Fellow North Carolinian here and I agree, it feels like any of the tracks we lost weren't really managed well or a big part of the area to begin with. The places that are thriving are always busy and are investing in improvements in both the tracks and facilities.
I'm an offroad guy and, the off-road racing is probably bigger in NC/SC area than anywhere in the country, there is also a couple offroad series that are racing at a few of the smaller motocross tracks using both the woods and track and I think these events help them stay open as well.
Way below Zero weather is brutal. Wausau is in the middle of Wi. Green Bay has -19 for Fri night but it’s Real damp in gb & windy. MN. Temps R colder eww Burr. Dangerous to travel in it . I,m looking at schedules every yr there’s double dates on big races. Example Xmas fri practice sat, sun Big race is the same day as the Millville National. Millville would be easier comp but swimming in Lake Superior when your done riding is Awesome. You wouldn’t believe the Beautiful women on the beach in t backs.
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