As you enter RedBud MX for the 43rd annual RedBud Nationals, there stands a large sign honoring the late Gene Ritchie, who died this past February.

Ritchie, who had come to Buchanan on a snowmobile trip, had the vision that a piece of property tucked away in the southwest corner of Michigan could become a motocross track.

Ritchie, his wife Nancy and some partners turned that piece of property into what has become the premier stop of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Series.

More than 25,000 people show up annually to watch the sport on July 4th weekend.

They scream “REDBUUUUUD” at the top of their lungs and push the drivers to compete at the highest level.

I do not know how many times I have heard the drivers talk about how the fans make RedBud such a special place to race.

Prior to the racing Saturday, there was a memorial lap held in Gene’s honor with members of his family and racers taking part.

It was a fitting tribute to Gene, who was an avid rider himself.

RedBud opened in 1973 and held its first professional race in 1974.

And since that time, RedBud has become the focal point of the Lucas Oil series.

I would compare it to the Daytona 500 in NASCAR and the Indianapolis 500.

It is a race that every rider wants to win and have a line on his resume that reads “RedBud Nationals champion.”

While Gene will be greatly missed, you can count on the Ritchie family to continue operating RedBud MX and for it to be a July 4th weekend event for many years to come.

I have marveled at how a small town like Buchanan can be such a large player on the national stage in motocross.

But the community, like the Ritchies, does a great job of welcoming not only the participants, but also the thousands of fans who flock there each summer.

And RedBud could not be a more perfect setting for such an event.

The track is one of the toughest on the circuit and there is plenty of camping available for the fans, which begin arriving days before the actual race.

RedBud has also become the home of one of southwest Michigan’s best cross country events in the falls.

Buchanan High School began hosting the RedBud Invitational a few years ago and recently hosted the MHSAA cross country regional.

The future of RedBud MX is in good hands as Gene Ritchie’s family will carry on the great work be began more than 40 years ago.

 

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com.