Patrick Reusse: Dirt bike fanatics whoop it up in Millville

MILLVILLE, MINN. — Spring Creek bubbles its way along the edge of a dramatic valley located less than a mile from a winding portion of Hwy. 60. Dramatic is the word and not pristine, since this valley is home to the Spring Creek Motocross Park, called by many prominent competitors the best dirt bike course in the country.

The AMA national series made its annual stop in southeastern Minnesota over the previous several days, with the pro finals on Saturday afternoon.

"This is the smallest crowd I've seen at this event," said Lane Jensen of Bingham Lake. "Maybe it snuck up on people. It's always been in August, with the big races on Sunday."

A visitor suggested that perhaps Minnesotans are so wound up over the pending arrival of Brett Favre that they couldn't leave the ESPN crawl to make the drive to Millville.

"I don't think dirt bike fans care about Favre," said Randy Thompson of Windom. "For sure, I could care less."

Whatever the historic size of the turnout, there still were thousands in this largely under-25 crowd lining the valley's high ground to watch the sport's stars make their leaps and climbs.

The Spring Creek course is notorious for its whoops -- the rapid-fire mounds on a far end of the track. Stirring enthusiasm there was the "Whoop Monster."

Ryan Dungey, the 19-year-old from Belle Plaine, had finished burying the field in the first moto for 250cc bikes. The Whoop Monster took in this race, then disappeared to the other side of the creek to what he calls the "Whoopmobile."

He returned a few minutes later with a soft-covered cooler. That seemed logical, what with this crowd's fondness for beer, but then young kids started rushing toward him.

The Whoop Monster reached into the cooler and handed miniature bikes to young boys, and stuffed animals to young girls.

He also was asked to stand with fans for many photos. He pulled a veil over his face on those occasions, although later he was willing to reveal his identity:

Gerry Havican, formerly from Windom and now living in Jackson.

"I watch the race down here with my whistle and give support to the racers in the back of the pack," Havican said. "The guys in the top 10 have plenty of fans. I cheer for the underdogs."

Havican said he spent $1,000 on miniature bikes and stuffed toys to give away to kids at this year's event.

Back near the start-finish line, there were bittersweet moments taking place. There was tribute paid over the public address system to Bob Widstrand, the long-time owner of Bob's Cycle Supply on Rice Street in St. Paul.

Widstrand died in March at 79. He was a pioneer in promoting dirt biking as a sport in Minnesota. He started the supply company in his basement in 1971, expanded to a store a couple of years later and sold the business to employees in 1997.

"Everyone knew him as 'Cycle Bob,'" said Rob Jara, now the sales manager at Bob's Cycle Supply. "He would say the business was 'a hobby that went amok.' Bob truly was a guy who cared more about helping a customer with a bike than making money."

"Bike accident in May. Broke my leg, my arm, split my liver. It was bad."

She was the passenger on a sports bike driven by James Nobley, 32. She said a car pulled out. They went into a ditch and Nobley, her boyfriend, died at the scene.

"I checked myself out of the hospital this week," she said. "I couldn't take it anymore. And Jesse, a friend of ours, said, 'We'll go to the races ... I'll push you around.'

"This is great. Lots of excitement."