MILLVILLE — Thousands of spectators flooded into the Spring Creek MX Park in rural Millville for a beautiful fall weekend of AMA Pro Motocross Nationals racing unlike any of the previous 36 series held there.
Postponed from the usual sweltering, muddy weekend in July, crowds wore sweatshirts and jackets instead of shorts, standing by trees already sporting orange and yellow leaves.
Of course, the reason for the postponement — the COVID-19 pandemic — brought a lot of other changes.
All of the race staff wore face masks. Everyone was required to wear masks in the pit area, where the racing teams camped and prepared for the race. In fact, security took everyone’s temperature as they entered the restricted area.
Signs everywhere reminded people that “It’s Cool to Be Covered,” showing images of people wearing masks. Few of the spectators wore masks in the outdoor setting, though the racers, track workers and vendors were all covered as a safety precaution that allowed the races to occur.
ADVERTISEMENT
Jeff “Woody” Woodrich, who was working security at the bridge entrance to the track area, had his mask on. While many were supportive or at least cooperative, some of the visitors were not fans of even the staff wearing masks.
“I got ridiculed by a fan for wearing this (face mask) outdoors. They said, ‘You are stupid and you are very gullible,’ ” said Woodrich, with what sounded like a smile under his mask. “I just said …, ‘I’m just doing my little part to make sure that you can be here for this great event.’ We’re doing what we need to do for safety to make this happen.”
Masks weren’t the only new thing at Millville this year. Cool breezes and dry ground were also novelties for longtime spectators.
“It’s different,” Woodrich said as families pushing strollers and other fans streamed by his spot marked by a “Bridge Guy” sign. “But I’ll tell you, a National in September is paradise.”
Legendary for its brutal heat, the July races are also often known as soggy affairs.
“Instead of Millville, a lot of people call it Rainville,” he said of the usual July events.
ADVERTISEMENT
The weather is what inspired Neil Furman to drive two hours with his wife and three young daughters from Waconia for the races.
“I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to watch a fall Millville (series),” he said. “It’s always muddy or hot here. This is a great fall day, so we brought the kids.”
While there were somewhat less than the usual 20,000 that typically attends the annual event, the crowds were still close enough that it was hard to pick out an individual from a distance. Unless the person you were looking for was “Mr. Millville.”
Eddie Kruger, aka “Mr. Millville,” stood out wherever he went. He sported neon-green coveralls with “Mr. Millville” stenciled on the back with red, white and blue boots on his feet.
However, the most eye-catching feature of his annual race ensemble was the large American flag on a pole that he carried with him. Actually, the pole was secured in a leather harness to allow him to keep it with him as he walked around the track.
The first obvious question is “Why?”
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s just something for fun. Because of this, a lot of people know me,” said Kruger, who is also a racer. He added that it was nice to have cooler temperatures, as his race outfit can get pretty warm during July.
When asked about the flag, Kruger couldn’t remember exactly why he started carrying it, other than out of patriotism.
“I think my flag broke off my camper one year and I carried it some. Then the next year, people asked me where my flag was,” he said. “So I had to carry one, I guess.”
In the family reunion-like atmosphere of the Millville races, Kruger might be labeled as an eccentric uncle.
Woodrich said the racers and fans at Spring Creek are definitely a family.
“It’s our ‘moto family,’ and I’m doing my part to make sure this race on the greatest hill of dirt happens for all of the families,” he said. “This is more than just racing.”
