Hangtown is looking sexy!

AussieParaMX wrote:

These dustbowl Cali tracks always look sad, even with the signage up on race day they look sad.  

chasetwo79 wrote:

As an east coaster who now lives in Cali, I agree. Hangtown is not a visually appealing facility. It’s for sure a national caliber track, but...

As an east coaster who now lives in Cali, I agree. Hangtown is not a visually appealing facility. It’s for sure a national caliber track, but the visuals aren’t great. 

The issue is just that all California tracks are in the ugly high dez or valley. 

A national at Mammoth would be a cool event. I think the issue there though is Semi-hauler parking though. 

Dan-The-Man wrote:

Have a National race on Easter and it’s all green and wet.

Mudd801 wrote:

You dont see all that green grass and those 2 lakes ? heavy sarcasm on a seriouse note,  anxious to see how the track races this...

You dont see all that green grass and those 2 lakes ? heavy sarcasm

on a seriouse note,  anxious to see how the track races this weekend.    

number six wrote:

. just. couldn't. resist. 

.

just. couldn't. resist. 

Rowdy Sparks wrote:

Am I the only one who is a little confused by the people who run this sport's infatuation with sand? 

JM485 wrote:

After riding practice today here are a few takeaways:   1. I suck   2. There's a lot of sand, definitely more than years past but...

After riding practice today here are a few takeaways:

 

1. I suck

 

2. There's a lot of sand, definitely more than years past but it will get mixed in a bit throughout the amateur racing tomorrow.  The sand isn't everywhere though and there will still be some hardpacked sections, so the variety might make for some interesting tire choices.

 

3. The Fly triple is BIG, I don't know how big exactly but I was in 4th on my YZ250 giving it about all it had to get over it.  It's built well though, when you get over the size it's a super fun jump but damn was it scary the first time haha.

 

4. There are actually some kind of old school feeling sections to the track, most notably in the sandier sections after the first corner and coming down the first hill.  They built some really large rolling features in those areas that aren't really jumps, just kind of big sandy mounds.    

 

5.  I'm very curious to see what the pro do through the uphill rollers.  I never found a good rhythm through them today with the limited track time we had so I want to see how they tackle it, they're all kind of oddly sized and spaced

 

6. Did I mention that I was reminded just how bad I suck at this riding thing?

 

Overall I love the track, this actually feels like a pro level track that's very challenging to ride and tests you in a lot of different ways.  If our local tracks weren't glorified vet freeways it probably wouldn't seem so crazy but it was really refreshing and fun to ride something that made you think about how you approach it, looking forward to the races tomorrow.      

SEMAC wrote:

Its horrible for viewing,went there last year,and i have like a more than dozen nationals Unadilla,Red bub.you name it and there are fences all over the...

Its horrible for viewing,went there last year,and i have like a more than dozen nationals Unadilla,Red bub.you name it

and there are fences all over the track,at least at Pala you can watch the riders closely

CPR wrote:

Track looks great and there’s been some awesome races there over the years. However forgive my ignorance with not knowing the area, but around the track...

Track looks great and there’s been some awesome races there over the years.
However forgive my ignorance with not knowing the area, but around the track looks like a moonscape!
Is it usually that bad? Is it extra dry there?

NorCal1975 wrote:

The track is on the edge of the central valley, and this is the start of the dry season in California.  Probably won't rain again until...

The track is on the edge of the central valley, and this is the start of the dry season in California.  Probably won't rain again until late September/October.  6 weeks ago all of that grass would have been bright green, and just a few miles up the road it starts getting wooded, with thick pine forests only 20 or 30 miles east.  Its not a desert, the area actually gets 25 inches of rain a year with many lakes and rivers nearby, and just a bit further east of the track they get 40 to 50 inches a year as you get further up into the foothills... 

 

CPR wrote:

Track looks great and there’s been some awesome races there over the years. However forgive my ignorance with not knowing the area, but around the track...

Track looks great and there’s been some awesome races there over the years.
However forgive my ignorance with not knowing the area, but around the track looks like a moonscape!
Is it usually that bad? Is it extra dry there?

NorCal1975 wrote:

The track is on the edge of the central valley, and this is the start of the dry season in California.  Probably won't rain again until...

The track is on the edge of the central valley, and this is the start of the dry season in California.  Probably won't rain again until late September/October.  6 weeks ago all of that grass would have been bright green, and just a few miles up the road it starts getting wooded, with thick pine forests only 20 or 30 miles east.  Its not a desert, the area actually gets 25 inches of rain a year with many lakes and rivers nearby, and just a bit further east of the track they get 40 to 50 inches a year as you get further up into the foothills... 

 

Hammer 663s wrote:

Another fact is that whole area is 20-50' deep in mine tailings from the strip mining of gold back in the 1800s. A lot of the...

Another fact is that whole area is 20-50' deep in mine tailings from the strip mining of gold back in the 1800s. A lot of the rock and rubble that they blasted out of the Sierras ended up in the valley where there was endless space to dump it. There is almost nothing worse than being outside the top 5 going up Big Moe on a 450. The roost will break bones. Here in the PNW we bitch about roost up Horsepower Hill but it's child's play compared to Big Moe's roost. I lived in Shingle Springs for years, 15 minutes away, and have a love/hate relationship with that track. When it's good it's amazing, but it isn't often good. It's either overwatered slop or concrete. It goes from one to the other in about an hour. Less if it's over 100f. 

avidchimp wrote:

So, like Elsinore without the bone breaking roost?  That place is a light switch in the summer. It's really difficult to keep any moisture in the...

So, like Elsinore without the bone breaking roost?  That place is a light switch in the summer. It's really difficult to keep any moisture in the dirt in CA. after April.

avidchimp wrote:

So, like Elsinore without the bone breaking roost?  That place is a light switch in the summer. It's really difficult to keep any moisture in the...

So, like Elsinore without the bone breaking roost?  That place is a light switch in the summer. It's really difficult to keep any moisture in the dirt in CA. after April.

plowboy wrote:

How deep is the water table in those parts?  Or, how deep a well do you need to get water?

JM485 wrote:

After riding practice today here are a few takeaways:   1. I suck   2. There's a lot of sand, definitely more than years past but...

After riding practice today here are a few takeaways:

 

1. I suck

 

2. There's a lot of sand, definitely more than years past but it will get mixed in a bit throughout the amateur racing tomorrow.  The sand isn't everywhere though and there will still be some hardpacked sections, so the variety might make for some interesting tire choices.

 

3. The Fly triple is BIG, I don't know how big exactly but I was in 4th on my YZ250 giving it about all it had to get over it.  It's built well though, when you get over the size it's a super fun jump but damn was it scary the first time haha.

 

4. There are actually some kind of old school feeling sections to the track, most notably in the sandier sections after the first corner and coming down the first hill.  They built some really large rolling features in those areas that aren't really jumps, just kind of big sandy mounds.    

 

5.  I'm very curious to see what the pro do through the uphill rollers.  I never found a good rhythm through them today with the limited track time we had so I want to see how they tackle it, they're all kind of oddly sized and spaced

 

6. Did I mention that I was reminded just how bad I suck at this riding thing?

 

Overall I love the track, this actually feels like a pro level track that's very challenging to ride and tests you in a lot of different ways.  If our local tracks weren't glorified vet freeways it probably wouldn't seem so crazy but it was really refreshing and fun to ride something that made you think about how you approach it, looking forward to the races tomorrow.      

LouisianaMotocross wrote:

It was 94 Monday when we were riding. Even that was manageable compared to the 102 ride days last summer. Unloading the bikes at 8:30am and...

It was 94 Monday when we were riding. Even that was manageable compared to the 102 ride days last summer. Unloading the bikes at 8:30am and it was already 92. Any highs above 98 and I’m out this summer. 

JM485 wrote:

Keep in mind Hangtown is literally in the middle of a dirt pit that radiates heat, if the temperature is 86 in the surrounding towns it’s...

Keep in mind Hangtown is literally in the middle of a dirt pit that radiates heat, if the temperature is 86 in the surrounding towns it’s likely close to 100 down at the actual track.  Throw in the humidity from the water on the track and it can be miserably hot out there even in sub triple digits.  

aeffertz wrote:

Oh no, I’ve summoned the “you think that temperature is hot/cold” people.  I’m sorry. 

jnickell wrote:

It's all relative...  I was just in Maui and 80 degrees feels considerably hotter than 80 in Sacramento. I grew up in Redding, CA where it...

It's all relative...  I was just in Maui and 80 degrees feels considerably hotter than 80 in Sacramento. I grew up in Redding, CA where it hits 105 to 110 on the regular and I was choking on the early morning heat (actually the humidity) in Oklahoma when I was in the military. So yeah, 87 is not "hot" in Sac.  Though it is close.

aeffertz wrote:

No, I get it. We get 90% humidity 90 degree days in the summer and -30 degree winters here as well. It's just funny and honestly...

No, I get it. We get 90% humidity 90 degree days in the summer and -30 degree winters here as well. It's just funny and honestly kind of strange how whenever you mention heat, cold or any sort of weather, there's always a group of people that want to brag how much gnarlier their weather is. 

90 degrees in the sun is still warm, I don't care if you dig ditches in 110 degrees during the summer. Like what are we suppose to say to them? "Cool dude, you've been outside in a hotter temp. Congrats, very proud of you. They should probably wear snow coats this weekend!"

JM485 wrote:

After riding practice today here are a few takeaways:   1. I suck   2. There's a lot of sand, definitely more than years past but...

After riding practice today here are a few takeaways:

 

1. I suck

 

2. There's a lot of sand, definitely more than years past but it will get mixed in a bit throughout the amateur racing tomorrow.  The sand isn't everywhere though and there will still be some hardpacked sections, so the variety might make for some interesting tire choices.

 

3. The Fly triple is BIG, I don't know how big exactly but I was in 4th on my YZ250 giving it about all it had to get over it.  It's built well though, when you get over the size it's a super fun jump but damn was it scary the first time haha.

 

4. There are actually some kind of old school feeling sections to the track, most notably in the sandier sections after the first corner and coming down the first hill.  They built some really large rolling features in those areas that aren't really jumps, just kind of big sandy mounds.    

 

5.  I'm very curious to see what the pro do through the uphill rollers.  I never found a good rhythm through them today with the limited track time we had so I want to see how they tackle it, they're all kind of oddly sized and spaced

 

6. Did I mention that I was reminded just how bad I suck at this riding thing?

 

Overall I love the track, this actually feels like a pro level track that's very challenging to ride and tests you in a lot of different ways.  If our local tracks weren't glorified vet freeways it probably wouldn't seem so crazy but it was really refreshing and fun to ride something that made you think about how you approach it, looking forward to the races tomorrow.      

urbanlift707 wrote:

Spot on report! The uphill rollers had me feeling like it was my first day on a track, so excited to see the pros there! Here...

Spot on report! The uphill rollers had me feeling like it was my first day on a track, so excited to see the pros there!

Here is a lap of practice from today for all to scope it out. 
 

 

 

avidchimp wrote:

So, like Elsinore without the bone breaking roost?  That place is a light switch in the summer. It's really difficult to keep any moisture in the...

So, like Elsinore without the bone breaking roost?  That place is a light switch in the summer. It's really difficult to keep any moisture in the dirt in CA. after April.

plowboy wrote:

How deep is the water table in those parts?  Or, how deep a well do you need to get water?

JM485 wrote:

After riding practice today here are a few takeaways:   1. I suck   2. There's a lot of sand, definitely more than years past but...

After riding practice today here are a few takeaways:

 

1. I suck

 

2. There's a lot of sand, definitely more than years past but it will get mixed in a bit throughout the amateur racing tomorrow.  The sand isn't everywhere though and there will still be some hardpacked sections, so the variety might make for some interesting tire choices.

 

3. The Fly triple is BIG, I don't know how big exactly but I was in 4th on my YZ250 giving it about all it had to get over it.  It's built well though, when you get over the size it's a super fun jump but damn was it scary the first time haha.

 

4. There are actually some kind of old school feeling sections to the track, most notably in the sandier sections after the first corner and coming down the first hill.  They built some really large rolling features in those areas that aren't really jumps, just kind of big sandy mounds.    

 

5.  I'm very curious to see what the pro do through the uphill rollers.  I never found a good rhythm through them today with the limited track time we had so I want to see how they tackle it, they're all kind of oddly sized and spaced

 

6. Did I mention that I was reminded just how bad I suck at this riding thing?

 

Overall I love the track, this actually feels like a pro level track that's very challenging to ride and tests you in a lot of different ways.  If our local tracks weren't glorified vet freeways it probably wouldn't seem so crazy but it was really refreshing and fun to ride something that made you think about how you approach it, looking forward to the races tomorrow.      

smoothwakey wrote:

Nice, thanks for taking the time to write out a track report. How was I going from sand to dirt to sand etc on that double...

Nice, thanks for taking the time to write out a track report. How was I going from sand to dirt to sand etc on that double double section?

Also if you’re hitting jumps wide open in 4th I think we have different definitions of sucking haha 

urbanlift707 wrote:

Also proof that California can and does have pretty tracks even in June, this was taken last weekend at my house. An abundance of green!

Also proof that California can and does have pretty tracks even in June, this was taken last weekend at my house. An abundance of green!

smoothwakey wrote:

Nice, thanks for taking the time to write out a track report. How was I going from sand to dirt to sand etc on that double...

Nice, thanks for taking the time to write out a track report. How was I going from sand to dirt to sand etc on that double double section?

Also if you’re hitting jumps wide open in 4th I think we have different definitions of sucking haha 

urbanlift707 wrote:

Spot on report! The uphill rollers had me feeling like it was my first day on a track, so excited to see the pros there! Here...

Spot on report! The uphill rollers had me feeling like it was my first day on a track, so excited to see the pros there!

Here is a lap of practice from today for all to scope it out. 
 

 

 

zehn wrote:

Always one of my favorite tracks! Glad to see the booter is back and the sand should be interesting. The changes to the downhill off chamber...

Always one of my favorite tracks! Glad to see the booter is back and the sand should be interesting. The changes to the downhill off chamber left turn hopefully will open up that section a little, it’s always been very tight going through there 

urbanlift707 wrote:

Also proof that California can and does have pretty tracks even in June, this was taken last weekend at my house. An abundance of green!

Also proof that California can and does have pretty tracks even in June, this was taken last weekend at my house. An abundance of green!

Dan-The-Man wrote:

Where do I sign up?

JM485 wrote:

Great video, what classes are you racing?     I feel like I never got the rollers figured out, my best line was to double in...

Great video, what classes are you racing?  
 

I feel like I never got the rollers figured out, my best line was to double in, then kind of manual the third one and jump from the fourth over that lower one.  Similar to what you did but instead of doubling over the last raised roller I was using that to jump over the next one.  I don’t know what’s faster but your line scared me because I was afraid to clip my back wheel and endo down the drop haha.  

Hammer 663s wrote:

I had 2 wells in Shingle Springs. 425 and 475 feet, about 5-10 GPM. Both got cloudy about September and in a dry year one or...

I had 2 wells in Shingle Springs. 425 and 475 feet, about 5-10 GPM. Both got cloudy about September and in a dry year one or the other would go dry. There's no aquifer or real "water table" - it's all crevice water. My neighbor's well went dry and he did 2 dry holes before he found something. Hooking up to the El Dorado Irrigation District public lines was a $30,000 meter fee, 10 years ago. I'm sure it's worse now. I'd guess to thoroughly water the entire Hangtown track is easily 50,000 gallons and it's gone in a few hours. 

JM485 wrote:

After riding practice today here are a few takeaways:   1. I suck   2. There's a lot of sand, definitely more than years past but...

After riding practice today here are a few takeaways:

 

1. I suck

 

2. There's a lot of sand, definitely more than years past but it will get mixed in a bit throughout the amateur racing tomorrow.  The sand isn't everywhere though and there will still be some hardpacked sections, so the variety might make for some interesting tire choices.

 

3. The Fly triple is BIG, I don't know how big exactly but I was in 4th on my YZ250 giving it about all it had to get over it.  It's built well though, when you get over the size it's a super fun jump but damn was it scary the first time haha.

 

4. There are actually some kind of old school feeling sections to the track, most notably in the sandier sections after the first corner and coming down the first hill.  They built some really large rolling features in those areas that aren't really jumps, just kind of big sandy mounds.    

 

5.  I'm very curious to see what the pro do through the uphill rollers.  I never found a good rhythm through them today with the limited track time we had so I want to see how they tackle it, they're all kind of oddly sized and spaced

 

6. Did I mention that I was reminded just how bad I suck at this riding thing?

 

Overall I love the track, this actually feels like a pro level track that's very challenging to ride and tests you in a lot of different ways.  If our local tracks weren't glorified vet freeways it probably wouldn't seem so crazy but it was really refreshing and fun to ride something that made you think about how you approach it, looking forward to the races tomorrow.      

smoothwakey wrote:

Nice, thanks for taking the time to write out a track report. How was I going from sand to dirt to sand etc on that double...

Nice, thanks for taking the time to write out a track report. How was I going from sand to dirt to sand etc on that double double section?

Also if you’re hitting jumps wide open in 4th I think we have different definitions of sucking haha 

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Don’t let Josh saying he sucks fool you at all. Dude can ride!