This week, we’re opening The Vault to highlight the history of this weekend’s host site for the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Spring Creek Motocross Park in Millville, MN. When it comes to a variety of track conditions and varying obstacles, Spring Creek has it all. Consisting of large jumps, big hills, off-camber turns, sand whoops, hard-pack sections and more, this track really throws the book at riders. With all the different types situations riders encounter at Spring Creek, it’s no wonder it has produced some of the most fantastic moments in moto history. Let’s twist the throttle and launch into the Racer X Vault and take a look at some of the most memorable races in this historic venue’s history.
The first race at Spring Creek Motocross Park was held in 1983. Ron Lechien, Bob Hannah and Danny Chandler took 125, 250 and 500 Class wins, respectively.
Ryan Dungey returns to his home track this weekend looking for another win.
Carl Stone photo
In 1985, Spring Creek saw Bob Hannah take the final win of his outstanding career over Johnny O’Mara and Rick Johnson.
The late Donny Schmit, a local hero whose name lives on in the form of the famous Holy Schmit jump, took a victory the first time he raced at Spring Creek. The win took place in 1987 in the 125 Class over George Holland and Erik Kehoe.
It’s been quite a while since Yamaha has won an overall in either class at Spring Creek. John Dowd gave them their last win there aboard a YZ250 in 1994.
In 1999, Nick Wey went 1-5 aboard a KX125 at Spring Creek to take the first and only National win of his career.
While we’re on the subject of first-time winners, we’d better mention that both Mike LaRocco and Andrew Short got their first National wins at Spring Creek. LaRocco’s came in 1990 on a Suzuki, and Short’s came in 2005 on a Honda.
The G.O.A.T lapped the entire field in the second moto in 2006.
Carl Stone photo
Just as he did at so many other venues, Ricky Carmichael regularly handed out beatings at Spring Creek. In fact, RC was so good at Spring Creek in particular that he won every single premier class moto he ever entered there.
And speaking of Ricky Carmichael, in a muddy 2006 Spring Creek National the G.O.A.T. pulled off one of the greatest and most talked about performances in the history of the sport when he lapped the entire field in the second moto.
Last, but certainly not least on the list of Spring Creek’s jaw-dropping moments, is Chad Reed’s horrific crash that took place in the second moto one year ago. Reed was in the air for so long that television play-by-play caller Jason Weigandt was able to actually call the crash as it was happening, getting out several sentences before Reed came crashing back to the ground! Amazingly, Reed remounted and charged all the way back to fourteenth to take fifth overall and salvage his points lead.
As usual, these instances are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to great races and memories from Spring Creek. Dive into the Racer X Vault, and share your interesting findings in the comments section below.
