Hangtown newbie

It can be really hot with not much shade. Keep that in mind. Wifey might want some kind of shade 

Pack plenty of water/beers into race find a good staging spot or just walk around track throughout the day. Hill behind the start is a good spot.

Plenty of local tracks, riverbeds and woods riding within an hour drive. Or head north towards coast for woods riding as dirt is still good since heat is just starting now

Agreed, it's of course blazing hot some years. The usual national stuff with a lot of walking and heat. I like the infield in the middle of the track that you access down the hill with the parking lot to your left. There is usually a Red Bull sand pit with an awning for kids. My daughter has been going since she was 5 and loves it.

The club folks are really great people.  They know the best spots and love talking.  Sunscreen, big hats and lots of water.

Are they allowing beer now ? Last time I went, they would not let us walk in with even just the one beer I was drinking. Had to go outside the gate drink the beer and then they let us in. 

we stopped going because the view is so bad if you like to walk around to get different angles. there's too many VIP areas, and the open areas all have private awnings at the fenceline.

so, i guess get there super early and commandeer a spot with a giant tent before anyone else does and stay put in one spot the whole time?

bring cash for the beef jerky, it's pretty good. 

If you want to come see the Redwoods on the north coast(about 5 hours from Hangtown) hmu and you can come moto my track! It’s beautiful up here this time of year and around mid 60’s for temps. As far as Hangtown goes, it’s a good track to spectate from IMO, at least better than pala and washougal since you can almost see the whole track from most spots. Enjoy!

If it's hot viewing from the starting line side is best because the sun is at your back for the races not in your face.  

If staying in a hotel (Town center) in El Dorado Hills is really nice, has a bunch of restaurants and a chill vibe.  It's pretty much as close to the track as places in Folsom also.  Don't suggest staying in rancho Cordova.  

They don't allow awnings below the fence line on the west side and have been decent about enforcing it the last few years.  The east hill is covered in easy ups for sure.  We always sit on the west side of the track on that hill to the south and west of the start, no awnings allowed and the sun will be mostly behind you when the motos start.  You can see 90% of the track from there.  Bring in a cooler with all your food and drinks.  Just no glass or alcohol but they don't check very well, lol.  I second the shade and sunscreen recommendation, maybe a big straw hat.  It can be really hot, but sometimes we get lucky and its fairly mild.  A few years ago it rained and the high did not even make 70!  Have fun

i wish this map detailed the designated areas. o well. 

"Pop-up shade structures are permitted only in designated areas around the track, and this policy will be strictly enforced in NON-DESIGNATED areas."

https://hangtownmx.com/map-of-the-park/

I really like my house in So Cal but these pics make me want to move. Nice yard !!

Take umbrellas or at least wide brimmed hats. The sun is brutal. 

Funny that I was thinking about Hangtown in the middle of the night last night.  It is too hot for me to go anymore - I am almost 70.  But my favorite spot to watch at a moto start is the bottom of Big Mo.  The congested pack sweeps left and roosts the entire fence line.  it is so bitchin!  Can't see the rest of the track though.

I have been there probably 20 times. I have watched from all over the track. I think it is a great spectating track. To me the best place is (0n the map above) is where it says "Monster Rollers". Not sure why called that unless they changed that section. It's where the step up has always been. It's all the way across from the start area the pits and vender row but from there at the fence just before the step up you can see all of the track except the uphill after the start. It can be very hot as mentioned but I have been there when it was very nice also. One year around 2001 or 2002 it was perfect for the first motos and then completed flooded the the track with rain the second motos. You never now what you may get. Watch the weather close leading up to it. I've stayed at hotels in Rancho Cordova and had no issues. Get to the track early if you want a spot by the fence. Be prepared to walk a ways on rough slippery hilly ground from the car to the spot you pick. I would usually get there between 7:00 and 7:30. I miss going there now that I live in Georgia.

Tracks in SoCal, I would go to Cahuilla Creek. Their vet track is pretty safe and fun with some elevation. Main track is also very good. Just depends on your speed and level. Glen Helen is almost a must just to say you have ridden it. On a normal day it's pretty safe with the jumps. They route it different from time to time so sometimes you get to go to the top of Mt. St. Helen but sometimes they cut it off and you only do about half. Still it's fun. They usually don't have flaggers there (at least the didn't 4 years ago when I lived there). Pala is ok but it can be very busy. It's flat so I don't like that. But I went there a lot because it was the closet to me.

Have fun.

As far as tracks down here. I’d avoid Elsinore, dirts not great. Pala has good dirt & prep, Cahuilla is - last time I was there which is a few years ago tbf -  usually really good. If I was only picking two those would be my choices . 

Forecasting 95 on race day at present.  It started a bit later this year in this part of the valley, it's been cooler later in the spring, but the ramp up has started.

If not that on Friday then maybe . . . https://www.fastfridays.com/

I’m drooling over that, nice spread 👍 

The location choice of the Saloon is fucking hilarious to me. Great place to get blacked out drunk in my early 20's...

OP, I love sitting by the Step Down or on the hill by the rollers, Pop ups are usually allowed on the hill by the rollers for the first half (top section) of the hill only if my memory serves me correctly. 

My strategy was always, arrive at like 9am and park as close the Step Down as you can, bring a small cooler with beer and water (beer on the bottom), bring a camp chair and a claw hammer, buy a Guts Racing umbrella and a Straw hat. Wear shorts, and bring sunscreen. 

Have a great time. 

Edit: The claw hammer is to dig out the hill for the rear legs of your chair so you can sit level. OG's know this is the way.