Woodtick Races Pt.3: And The Racing Goes On, The Bill & Dan Andrews Era.

The 6th Annual in 1985, the Woodtick Races, starts a new era - The Cuyuna Bar has New Owners, and a new name – introducing “The Woodtick Inn. 

This year’s Woodtick races were hosted by: Bill and Dan Andrews, and a second, ‘Red’ track drawn up by Bill’s daughter was added to facilitate a smoother running of the ‘heat races’. Two tracks, no waiting.

I was there to not to referee, but to either just watch or to enter as a contestant – alas as a, I have never won! Along with the races, other events and Venders were added to lend a festival atmosphere.

I returned a couple of years later at the 8th Annual in 1987 - Again this year the races were hosted by: Bill and Dan Andrews. This was my girlfriend, Sara’s 1st trip with me to see the madness – she married me anyway. The Woodtick Races made the Minneapolis paper again this year with a Star Tribune report Bob von Sternberg with the byline: “Woodtick Races? In Cuyuna? Being a bit crazy helps.” 

Then we jump ahead to 1990, the 11th annual Woodtick races. When we go up to Cuyuna from Minneapolis for the races it is a family trip and at 1 year old, this is my daughter’s first trip with us, and it is an ‘annual’ event for the bikers.

Bill Andrews

16th Annual 1995. . . and where will it go from here? For some people it is an annual pilgrimage. They come from far and wide, some locals, (or used to be locals), some city slickers, and of course the usual group of bikers and biker ‘mamas’. My daughter and I attended this year on my 50th birthday - “Dad, your woodtick is not moving”, guess what I lost again. The current owner and host, Bill Andrews saw me and shook his head, “Look what you started!”

And the racing goes on . . .  stay tuned for Part 4!