Has the High-Point track lost its soul?

Crush
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20957
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4/26/2009
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Sydney AU
6/17/2016 4:02am
I don't know... feels more and more like Red Bud. Just straight up and down, big jump, turn blah blah blah...

Where are the off cambers? The cutbacks? The wall turn? The GP section? The steps? The tight hairpins... Let's not even start on Bradshaw Bouelvard!

Was always my favourite track to watch, it was different, a throw back to real MX... now it's just homogeneous AMA dirt combined with flowy road race arcing turns, which get one lined, and yet more massive jumps.

One Lap: Jordon Smith on High Point - More Motocross Videos

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Ramrod
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4728
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4/1/2008
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Ontario CA
Fantasy
1880th
6/17/2016 4:20am
It's been developed into a four stroke track now?
WVUpetro2013
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427
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3/18/2015
Location
Hurricane, WV US
6/17/2016 4:24am Edited Date/Time 6/17/2016 4:35am
I haven't raced the track since 2010, but I can say it is still hands down my favorite track I have ever ridden. Mostly because of all of the up and down hills. I haven't raced it since they put that giant quad in the back, which on video looks pretty gutsy. I really have enjoyed spectating there every year.

Edit: on a side note, I believe the same discussion took place last year, and I want to say DC came on and suggested some of the changes we brought on to make the track safer. For instance rerouting the take off for step up after the downhill rollers to remove the risk of hitting a downed rider, ie the weimer mookie incident.
6/17/2016 6:00am
My favorite track for years and I like the changes.

The Shop

Trav138
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1472
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3/8/2012
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PA US
6/17/2016 7:09am
Yep spot on Crush since around 05. The track seems to be on this yearly major overhaul and most times it doesn't work imo. I miss the off camber downhill sections, they were so hard to go fast on, then the pros would just kill it.
Ing
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3655
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8/16/2006
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Spring Hill, FL US
6/17/2016 7:28am
I've never heard of another track being compared to RedBud in a bad way. If High Point has no soul, neither does RedBud?
731chopper
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DFW, TX US
Fantasy
390th
6/17/2016 7:37am
If there's one thing RedBud has, it's soul. I get the all the dirt is the same comment for the past 5 years but this year hasn't been that way so far.
S.Loyer
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1750
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1/4/2012
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Palmer, AK US
6/17/2016 7:37am
According to the boys over at Pulp, no.
Tarz483
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2/25/2009
Location
Mankato, MN US
Fantasy
379th
6/17/2016 7:43am
Whatever happened to Broc Sellards
Seems to me like all of a sudden ge was just gone
I dont remember ever seeing him move up to
250/ now 450
Class?
mx_phreek
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2008
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10/7/2009
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Manchester GB
Fantasy
242nd
6/17/2016 8:01am
I don't like all that grey loam/sand they've added all over place. Bit here, bit there.. Looks like a patchwork quilt. Should be proud of the tracks heritage and dirt. Every year we lose a little bit of each tracks character and they become more and more the same. Sandy loam dirt prepared the same. Blaa blaa.
bvm111
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9287
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7/1/2008
Location
Las Vegas, NV US
6/17/2016 8:10am
I never thought I would say this, but, it does seem like every track now has a 150ish step up triple... not sure I understand why?
Mx746
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533
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11/30/2010
Location
Marietta, GA US
6/17/2016 8:33am
While i love High Point, i miss the late 70's track layout.
6/17/2016 8:48am
Just want to use this opportunity to say that the epic 1997 mud race when Bradhsaw won..... I was there. I was a kid, and it was my first pro race. Will never forget that MUD
6/17/2016 8:52am
I loved that big double they had even though it didn't last long. It didn't seem very dangerous, looked killer because it was a hip jump and going inside to roll it wasn't a huge penalty. The right/left after it was always kind of awkward though.
JBlain619
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1712
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6/10/2010
Location
Severna Park, MD US
6/17/2016 9:09am
Crush wrote:
This is High Point!

https://youtu.be/_z1pgK7BVB4
Agreed Crush! I wish they would do a throwback race to this layout. That section that goes into the woods before you make the 180 turn onto Bradshaw Blvd is off camber and gnarly!
JBlain619
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1712
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6/10/2010
Location
Severna Park, MD US
6/17/2016 9:12am
Tarz483 wrote:
Whatever happened to Broc Sellards Seems to me like all of a sudden ge was just gone I dont remember ever seeing him move up to...
Whatever happened to Broc Sellards
Seems to me like all of a sudden ge was just gone
I dont remember ever seeing him move up to
250/ now 450
Class?
He works for Western Powersports and still lives in Ohio. Raced the Arenacross series for a couple of years even when he worked at WPS full time. Awesome guy on and off the bike!
6/17/2016 9:15am
Ramrod wrote:
It's been developed into a four stroke track now?
^What he said.
pete24
Posts
2733
Joined
10/20/2011
Location
Marlborough, MA US
6/17/2016 9:28am
back in the day the locals would dump 5 gals of gas in the pond at night and light it on fire, went on for quite a while and they never got caught, when that ended the soul went with it
BobPA
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8023
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10/31/2013
Location
PA US
6/17/2016 9:45am
I agree that the track just does not have the same old school feel it used to have. Still a pretty cool layout though.

I did a few LL qualifiers there and it was one of the most brutal, yet fun, track I've ever raced. My first time there I was soundly beaten by the local crowd as my line choice was nothing short of pathetic.
Steve125
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1352
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11/24/2010
Location
CT US
Fantasy
2759th
6/17/2016 10:17am
All the tracks are changing.. Almost as if there's a Motocross Formula that track owners must follow if you want a National there. Southwick is back this year and the guys are busting their butts putting in more jumps among many other improvements. Some changes are a great idea, like the EMT station and announcing tower, but some of us old timers feel that track lost its soul way back when they moved the pits due to the need for Semi Trucks to park in them comfortably. Time goes on...
JW381
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10643
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7/21/2009
Location
Harrisburg, OR US
6/17/2016 10:33am
Definitely my favorite track. I kinda see what you're saying Crush. There does seem to be a little Red Bud emulation going on at a few venues.
Premix
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1514
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1/5/2014
Location
AS US
6/17/2016 11:22am
I do miss that hip jump. Vurb had a video a few years back of JG33 airing that thing out with some style. Still a gnarly track.
MX Culture
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3090
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6/19/2009
Location
Lake Geneva, WI US
6/17/2016 12:59pm
I was thinking of the wall turn last night after he turned left back to the first turn.
It was a very unique turn back in the day, but let's be homest, there is no place for that in modern motocross.
It's been 10 years since I've been, but it was one of my faves. Loved the pre and after parties in Morgantown too. Epic.
twizzler
Posts
1008
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
CA US
6/17/2016 2:22pm
Yeah I think it's lost it's luster but not sure it's lost it's soul, but I know what you mean. I raced there from 88-93 used to be my favorite track in that region. Also used to race Rock Bud, I mean Red Bud when it had lots of rocks and was fairly hard packed. Neither track today is what they were then. Time goes on, styles and flavors change - that's life. But now seems every national track is sandy prepped and has a big uphill gap double or triple. Nothing very unique with any track now, seems cookie cutter is the required design factor for television, the teams and the four strokes.
JB479
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805
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1/11/2012
Location
AU
6/17/2016 2:28pm
Does anyone remember Pourcel back in 2010 doubling the tunnel jump?

mx_563
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2058
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
CA US
6/17/2016 2:39pm
I've never been to any east coast tracks but I tend to agree with the assessment that AMA tracks have become homogenized. I had fun watching the Reed clip from Italy this week. I wonder what he thought of the track prep...heh heh...
dboivin
Posts
2926
Joined
5/19/2010
Location
Saginaw, MI US
6/17/2016 2:40pm
rather just see 125's come back. tracks will adapt.

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