One of the Newest Tracks in Short Course But Still Steep In History!

[Scott Rehn]

RedBud MX’s Traxxas TORC Series track is coming together w/ help from Greaves & Hord
Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Faster with better flow, jumps directly in front of the fans and a first-ever TORC sand section, RedBud’s ready for May 26-27 TORC race
By Pat Schutte
BUCHANAN, Mich. (May 8, 2012) – Officials with TORC/USAC announced today that the nation’s premier professional motocross racing facility, Michigan’s RedBud MX, will feature a newly re-designed track for the upcoming May 26-27 Traxxas TORC Series, presented by AMSOIL, short course off-road truck race.
Built by ace motocross track designer and constructor, RedBud MX’s Tim Ritchie, along with input from TORC track builder Jeff Nordstrom, the 2012 RedBud TORC track was completed yesterday after final input from veteran PRO drivers Johnny Greaves (Monster Energy/Toyota/Maxxis) and Chad Hord (BOSS Snowplows/Nissan/AMSOIL).
According to Greaves this year’s RedBud TORC track will be faster and flowier than last year’s inaugural foray into short course off-road racing for RedBud MX, adding distance to the track that brings it to a mile in length, while making for shorter lap times with up to 20-percent speed increases.
“For the most part I’d say it’s a 90-percent new track running through the same area as last year’s track,” explained Greaves. “They (Ritchie & Nordstrom) took out a lot of the slower areas, sharp corners and off-camber sections where you’d end up sliding downhill sideways and built wider turns that’ll allow you to carry considerably more speed coming out of the turn.”
Greaves said that, much like a motocross track, portions of RedBud’s terrain will be left natural – and allowed to develop throughout the weekend as the 900-horsepower, 4,500-pound trucks tear into the rich southwestern Michigan loam. “The question was ‘Do you cut into it with a dozer, or just banner it off and let the trucks work it in?’ We decided on the latter, starting with virgin grass and dirt and see where we end up,” added Greaves.
In addition to the re-design the RedBud MX TORC track will also feature a massive sand section – the first of its kind in Traxxas TORC Series racing. “We’ll start with some little rollers, much like we have on the MX track, and see what the turn into,” said Ritchie, who mined the sand right off the expansive RedBud property and trucked it into the TORC track.
Certainly well-schooled in the art of building pro MX tracks, Ritchie said he appreciated the input from Greaves, himself a former A-level motocrosser, and Hord. “What they saw was essentially the same thing I envisioned – their input was valuable in the way corners were designed, particularly the width needed versus what we go with for motocross. But at the end of the day the trees still dictated where we could run.”
For May 26-27 TORC fans at RedBud MX will be able to view more of the track from numerous vistas compared to last year as trucks will race on higher spots of the property more (vs. down in the valleys). In addition the major jumps will be located directly in front of where the majority of fans gathered last year, landing the jumps and entering more wide open, sweeping turns that’ll no doubt be prime areas for passing and making up time.
“It’s a larger track for sure, definitely faster with wider turns and longer straights,” added Greaves. “I like it … I like it a lot. The RedBud track will be better than last year, better for the fans.”
Bridging the gap between action sport and motorsports, TORC Series short course off-road truck racing delivers an edge that’ll certainly win over the legions of motocross fans at RedBud. With radical jumps, stutter bumps and berms built into the existing RedBud MX track, motocross fans and off-road fans alike can combine on one spectacular weekend of racing at Michigan’s famed dirt bike circuit!
What: Traxxas TORC Series, presented by AMSOIL – short course off-road truck racing – the world’s premier Baja-style off-road racing in a stadium setting! Who: Off-road racers from Baja to the Wisconsin northwoods, the TORC Series showcases champion drivers like Ricky Johnson, Johnny Greaves and son CJ Greaves, Scott Douglas, Mike & Mark Jenkins, Bryce Menzies, along with Michigan snowboard Olympian and X Games gold medalist/TORC rookie Nick Baumgartner! Where: RedBud MX When: Saturday and Sunday, May 26-27 Time: Gates open at 8 a.m., practice and qualifying begins at 9 a.m., opening ceremonies and racing begins at 11 a.m. Tickets: Per Day … $25 for adults, $10 for kids 6-11 (kids five and under are free); Two Day Weekend Pass … $40 adults, $20 kids!
Media contact: Pat Schutte, HPPR, [email protected]
2012 RedBud MX panoramic photo courtesy of Tim Ritchie
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[TORC_spotter_870]

Can't wait to go back there!! 16 days!

[NCwilbur]

Sounds like it will be awesome show again, lets hope the weather holds up this year.

[EdgeHost]

So far the weather outlook looks good for the weekend so crossing fingers there... It is sooo beautiful there & I can't wait to see the redesigned track, I't going to make for some more Awesome racing!

Stay tuned for all the info

www.torcseries.com

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[dirkrc51]

I plan on being at Red Bud both days, so if anyone needs an extra hand, send me a message.

[Scott Rehn]

DONT forget!! The Traxxas Off Road Championship Series Presented by Amsoil will be "LIVE STREAMING" once again this weekend. As the ONLY short course series in the country that is providing "LIVE STREAMING" for its fans nationwide, hear it and better yet, see it, AS IT HAPPENS "LIVE" from The famous RED BUD MX facility in Buchanon, MI! Check out www.torcseries.com / www.usacracing.com / http://www.xsan.tv/events/?i=4661 .. for more info!

[Scott Rehn]

Just thought I would throw this out there again for any interested parties. We received a TREMENDOUS number of compliments on the quality of the streaming from Charlotte. "I thought I was watching a TV show" Check it out for yourself and tell us what you think.

DONT forget!! The Traxxas Off Road Championship Series Presented by Amsoil will be "LIVE STREAMING" once again this weekend. As the ONLY short course series in the country that is providing "LIVE STREAMING" for its fans nationwide, hear it and better yet, see it, AS IT HAPPENS "LIVE" from The famous RED BUD MX facility in Buchanon, MI! Check out www.torcseries.com / www.usacracing.com / http://www.xsan.tv/events/?i=4661 .. for more info!

[pdailey]

I'll be down in Baja prerunning but I expect updated results! Good luck everyone.