Piru MX
Location/address: 4375 Center Street, Piru, CA, 93040
Website: www.pirumx.com
Contact: 805.521.0515; info@pirumx.com
Number of tracks: Two; a main track for bikes over 85cc and a mini track for bikes under 150cc.
Facilities: Shade trees, hose, portable toilets, snacks, minimal parts
Cost: $15 for bikes under 80cc, $25 for big bikes; $5 off for military, police, fire or riders with Moto XXX graphics
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to dusk Monday and Wednesday; 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Check phone message on the night before practice days for up-to-date information. Track closes for a one-hour lunch for flaggers.
Track personnel: Flaggers
Description of facility: Piru MX is carved from old lemon groves, and the area has plenty of elevation changes. Lap times are approximately two minutes for faster riders. The soil is prepped hardpack that gives good traction. A variety of old-growth trees offer shade in parts of the pits.
Dirt Rider says: "Piru does a great job of prepping and watering the hard-pack soil it has to work with. When the track first opens, the surface is deep and slippery, but it lines up nicely with enough riders. The track is jumpy but is usually a very rider-friendly layout. The track is most fun on smaller bikes (125s and 250Fs). Like Gorman, it is a hot spot for the moto industry and luckily gets a cooler ocean breeze sometimes during the hot summer." --Karel Kramer
Membership required: No
Are there races at the facility: YesAvailable for private rentals: Yes
Racetown 395
Location/address: 1101 Race Road, Adelanto, CA 92301
Website: www.racetown395.com
Contact: 760.246.6330; mandi@racetown395.com
Number of tracks: Four. There is a long, fast and rough main track, a vet/novice track, a mini track and a lighted StadiumCross track.
Facilities: Portable toilets, free camping, food concessions on race days
Cost: $20
Hours: Monday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on StadiumCross track; Friday, Saturday, Sunday 8 a.m. until dusk on all tracks; StadiumCross track until 10 p.m. Visit website to double-check times.
Track personnel: Flaggers and EMTs on race days
Description of facility: This track is on open desert land, with some minor elevation change thanks to imported soil. The dirt holds water well, and preps up deep and loamy. The main track is somewhat fast with a flowing layout. The vet track is generally harder packed and less prepped than the main track. The StadiumCross track is open into the evenings under the lights, and it is super tight but fun. Racetown hosts a few grand prix-style races as well.
Dirt Rider says: "This is Dirt Rider's favorite track for shootouts since it has a lot to offer when testing bikes. Wind can be a factor, but one baseline we've come to live by when given the choice is, if it is blowing at Glen Helen, it is likely calm in the high desert. And when we go up there, we go to Racetown for one of the best all-around tracks we've ridden." --Jimmy Lewis
Membership required: No
Are there races at the facility: Yes
Available for private rentals: Yes