Dutchmen MX Park in PA Worth the Drive?

Dutchmen MX Park is the only track near me running an open practice (I don't race anymore). I've watched some youtube vids of recent track days and like the layout. Saw that their website mentions that they are working on improving the dirt. Anyone here have experience with this track/is it worth a 4.5 hour drive? Do they prep/groom the track during the day or is this a place that really lets it break down? Any feedback on the place would be appreciated. 

 

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1 day ago
Smuffers wrote:
Dutchmen MX Park is the only track near me running an open practice (I don't race anymore). I've watched some youtube vids of recent track days...

Dutchmen MX Park is the only track near me running an open practice (I don't race anymore). I've watched some youtube vids of recent track days and like the layout. Saw that their website mentions that they are working on improving the dirt. Anyone here have experience with this track/is it worth a 4.5 hour drive? Do they prep/groom the track during the day or is this a place that really lets it break down? Any feedback on the place would be appreciated. 

 

The trick with PA tracks is to show up 45-60 mins after the advertised start time (usually 10, so hit Sheetz and plan on 11) because pretty much most PA track operators have a habit of oversaturating, and deep disking that dark red (almost purple) dirt they have there.  

That way, it develops those ruts that lay over vertical, and doesn't get migrant dust by 130.  

4
FGR01
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AZ US
Fantasy
1 day ago

Man, if you guys could have seen Dutchmen in the 70's and 80's... whew.   Winter Enduro demo derby on the oval track.....  😵   One of the gnarliest races I ever did was a hare scramble there in the snow on top of semi-thawed mud and field grass with ruts up to the seat.... lol

3
Crutcher
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Lawrence, KS US
1 day ago

Just watched video of the track, is it worth the drive?? Where do you live, the moon??? Track looks amazing get your ass over there!

2
cwel11
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Orangeville, PA US
1 day ago Edited Date/Time 1 day ago

It’s our closest decent track, we’ll be there Saturday. Scott and his family took it over a year or so ago and are good people and always looking to make it better and keep riders happy. Depending on prep and turnout it’ll definitely rut up. The guys comment above about PA track prep is not totally wrong lol. They have decent dirt but there will be a rock or two (it’s PA there’s no escaping that) They will groom before of course and usually groom and water midway through the day. They split practice but you should still get plenty of seat time. There’s actually a lot of other tracks running this weekend so may not be packed. It’s kind of an unanswerable question regarding the drive, it would highly depend on if you like the track or don’t. My son is a 16 year old B rider and I’m a 46 yr old B rider and we both enjoy it. Hopefully this helps. 

3

The Shop

jtmaster
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Ephrata, PA US
1 day ago

Zero elevation change. It is worlds better than it was back in the 90s though. It was just coal dirt back then. They have a fairly long beginner track too for new riders, at least they did, I assume they still have that. 

1
1 day ago

4.5 is a hike for any track but Dutchmen is really good as long as you like ruts and don't mind a couple big jumps. They do typically water and disc it pretty deep for the morning and let it ride for the day other than water if it starts to dry out.  

1 day ago
cwel11 wrote:
It’s our closest decent track, we’ll be there Saturday. Scott and his family took it over a year or so ago and are good people and...

It’s our closest decent track, we’ll be there Saturday. Scott and his family took it over a year or so ago and are good people and always looking to make it better and keep riders happy. Depending on prep and turnout it’ll definitely rut up. The guys comment above about PA track prep is not totally wrong lol. They have decent dirt but there will be a rock or two (it’s PA there’s no escaping that) They will groom before of course and usually groom and water midway through the day. They split practice but you should still get plenty of seat time. There’s actually a lot of other tracks running this weekend so may not be packed. It’s kind of an unanswerable question regarding the drive, it would highly depend on if you like the track or don’t. My son is a 16 year old B rider and I’m a 46 yr old B rider and we both enjoy it. Hopefully this helps. 

Thanks for the feedback. I don't have a problem with overwatering to start the day its just the way you have to operate when there are a lot of riders. Who else is running this weekend that is in the area? I only saw that Field of Dreams has their Spring Fling this weekend.

cwel11
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Orangeville, PA US
23 hours ago

Doublin gap running practice, happy ramblers d6, tomahawk masters, Evansville sx, rocket mx practice. 

3
Mungusman
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Williamsport, PA US
22 hours ago Edited Date/Time 22 hours ago

Go to the oak motocross park, awesome place. Check it on facebook. It’s in coalport, PA

1
alphado
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4029
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8/15/2006
Location
Erie, PA US
22 hours ago
Mungusman wrote:

Go to the oak motocross park, awesome place. Check it on facebook. It’s in coalport, PA

I really want to check that place out.

20 hours ago
Mungusman wrote:

Go to the oak motocross park, awesome place. Check it on facebook. It’s in coalport, PA

I'm coming from NJ and that's over 8 hours of driving. Unfortunately, I can't justify that for open practice. 

sandtrack315
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Philadelphia, PA US
19 hours ago Edited Date/Time 19 hours ago

At that drive length, I would go to southwick. Field of dreams and E-Town not cutting it? 

1
19 hours ago

At that drive length, I would go to southwick. Field of dreams and E-Town not cutting it? 

E-Town isn't running and Field of Dreams has a race this weekend (I don't race anymore). That aside, I am looking for other places to ride. E-Town is great, but the same track gets tired after awhile. Field of Dreams is a great facility, but I'm not a fan of how the track is built. The last time I was there the jump faces were unnecessarily steep. That's great if you are young, full of piss and vinegar, and are itching to hit some booters, but I'm damn near 40 and don't need to be 30ft up in the air anymore. Vet track was fun, but calling it a "vet track" is a bit of a stretch. That thing was built for 65s! Have not been to Field of Dreams since the new owners took over so idk if any of that is still true. 

1
geo309
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264
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7/9/2008
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PA US
18 hours ago

I am in the same boat . We usually do FOD or eTown . We are going to make the ride to Dutchman tomorrow to see how it is . 

FOD with the new owners has been good . I know a couple of years ago they steepened all of the faces but that is not the case anymore . They have some  good changes since taking over . I am 66 and enjoy it . 

For NJ tracks we might only have FOD not sure how much longer E-Town will be open . I hear they want to put houses up . Time will tell. 

PGas32
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Elkton, MD US
17 hours ago

Not sure where in NJ you are, but The Landing MX in Easton, MD might be an option for you. They’re only open on Sundays, though. 

17 hours ago
geo309 wrote:
I am in the same boat . We usually do FOD or eTown . We are going to make the ride to Dutchman tomorrow to see...

I am in the same boat . We usually do FOD or eTown . We are going to make the ride to Dutchman tomorrow to see how it is . 

FOD with the new owners has been good . I know a couple of years ago they steepened all of the faces but that is not the case anymore . They have some  good changes since taking over . I am 66 and enjoy it . 

For NJ tracks we might only have FOD not sure how much longer E-Town will be open . I hear they want to put houses up . Time will tell. 

I had heard about the possibility of housing going in there. I suspect they may run into some pretty significant soil contamination issues given the properties history. It sounds cynical, but I'm hoping the cost of remediation of that soil will deter any would be developer from trying to build there. 

Good to hear that FOD has leveled off the jump faces. They felt like freestyle ramps the last time I was there and steeper faces make judging speed/distance so much harder. In the words of Toby Keith "I ain't as good as I once was."

Sounds like I may see you at Dutchmen tomorrow! 

 

1
17 hours ago
PGas32 wrote:

Not sure where in NJ you are, but The Landing MX in Easton, MD might be an option for you. They’re only open on Sundays, though. 

Central NJ, that's about 5 hour drive time. 

PGas32
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Elkton, MD US
17 hours ago
Smuffers wrote:

Central NJ, that's about 5 hour drive time. 

Oof, yeah it’s not that good!  Especially given the forecast for Sunday. Let us know what you think of Dutchmen - I haven’t been but it’s on the list. The Tuesday open practices are appealing 

geo309
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7/9/2008
Location
PA US
17 hours ago
Smuffers wrote:
I had heard about the possibility of housing going in there. I suspect they may run into some pretty significant soil contamination issues given the properties...

I had heard about the possibility of housing going in there. I suspect they may run into some pretty significant soil contamination issues given the properties history. It sounds cynical, but I'm hoping the cost of remediation of that soil will deter any would be developer from trying to build there. 

Good to hear that FOD has leveled off the jump faces. They felt like freestyle ramps the last time I was there and steeper faces make judging speed/distance so much harder. In the words of Toby Keith "I ain't as good as I once was."

Sounds like I may see you at Dutchmen tomorrow! 

 

I am on a KTM 349 .

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