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8/31/2018
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San Antonio, TX
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Hey everyone, I am hoping to attend my first national this year and would like some advice on which of the races would be the best experience. I am curious how the tracks rank as far as spectator experience. Is there a big difference in facilities (restrooms, concessions) and views of the track? Are there tracks that are standing room only vs places to sit in a lawn chair?
The races below are within the window of when I can escape work. Which would you recommend?
The races below are within the window of when I can escape work. Which would you recommend?
Poll
The Shop
Both offer great spectating and fun crowds. Plus, who doesn't love the Hill people?
It's on my bucket list to attend some of the more westward nationals like Spring Creek, Red Bud, and Washougal.
Negative is your pretty much going to be walking up hill or down hill most of the time. If you don't leave early enough to get to the track. The like 8 mile section of road out of town to the track gridlocks and you'll have to wait in traffic to get there.
Positive is there's plenty of trees around so if you want to get out of the heat n sun you can easily. They just remodeled their main bathrooms on site but it's mostly portable stuff. They do all of the amateur racing the days during the week before the national. Portland is about 30 mins away and Vancouver is a pretty major city area. If inclined swimming in the washougal river nearby is possible.
Red Bud has a really great/wild atmosphere and camping antics but there isn’t one spot that you get to see a large portion of the track. You kinda have to pick one side of the hill. Though the last couple of years they have hauled in these portable jumbotrons which has made the viewing experience pretty good as long as you have one of them in sight on the side of track you’re on. Lots of standing, bleacher or set up a chair spots.
Spring Creek has a similar vibe, just a bit more toned back on the wild fan side. Still great camping activities and parties in the pits at night. Me and my buddies will always float the creek in some tubes and have a few drinks which is fun when there’s nothing going on! Viewing is also pretty good, I’d say. There’s a large hill by the finish line that you can set up some chairs and allows you to see probably 80% of the track, you just don’t see the whoops at all. There’s a hill in the middle of the track right by the start that gives pretty decent viewing up close to a couple of sections but you kinda have to walk back and forth and it’s often kinda crowded for a nice set up camp type of spot, though it’s not impossible.
I hear the the Track Snacks in B lot are interesting but I haven't been to Redbud myself yet.
Pit Row
Did you like the area or did not leave much of an impression either way?
Y'all are gonna be shocked when you see the changes that are being done to WW. There's now 3 entrances/exits. There's huge tunnels going under the track so spectators can get in the infield. Dreamtraxx is there as I type this making over the track. If you have facebook, go to the WW page and get a look at the video of them hoisting that gigantic metal tube they're gonna bury to make the tunnels.
In the end though, if you have a choice, go north. It should be cooler there. I can guarantee you Jacksonville will be hotter than five hells and so humid you'll be able to swim through the air to your seats. I watched Eli melt in the second moto of the USGP in the month of September. You could just tell the humidity got to him. That and the fact that it was the last moto of the year for him and he just wanted to get back to 5000 feet elevation and dry air.
I've only been to Millville so I can't speak for other nat'ls, at some point I will make it to more.
But Millville really has the total package. Especially if you want to practice or race during the national weekend. The facility is amazing and pretty much in the middle of nowhere (which I enjoy for motocross), nearest city aside from tiny towns is Rochester which is 45 min south.
Arrive Mon-Tues (wait in line in the lot across from the entrance to cty rd 11) to get a perfect camping spot close to the track. Wednesday morning they open up the entry lanes (hundreds of rigs lined up between the lanes in the gravel and the adjacent field by afternoon). While waiting in line you could ride a mile up the road to Meadow Valley and ride an awesome practice track (decent amt. of jumps, dirt that's very similar to Spring Creek). Then in the late afternoon they open up the gates and the place is filled to the brim.
Thursday is amateur practice, with press day in the afternoon. Amateur race day on Friday, I have yet to race Fri/Sun of that weekend but having drinks with good friends and watching some great racing during the Friday am day is a blast.
Then have a hell of a lot of fun partying with the live music/bands fri & sat night in addition to music thurs night. The creek is always cold and during the pro day it's a nice relief to walk through to head back to the rig between motos for a.c and grabbing more beer. Like others said from certain vantage points you can see the majority of the track from a few spots with the exception of the whoops. The sound & echos of factory/modded bikes off the "mountains" is incredible.
The vibe from Friday morning through Sunday at Millville is unbeatable IMO.
Puts a smile on my face just thinking about it. Best week of the year and at one of the best places on the planet.? I hope it never leaves the schedule.
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