Hurricane Hills Sports Center

Hurricane Hills Sports Center in Clifford is Northeast Pennsylvania's motocross destination, with an AMA District 34 affiliation, its own Hurricane Hills MX Series, and rounds of the Tri-State Trax Series all on the same calendar. That race density puts it in the top tier of regional Pennsylvania venues.

For racers, the District 34 affiliation means a sanctioned home venue with predictable race-day operations for anyone chasing points. The in-house Hurricane Hills MX Series adds the property's own championship, and the Tri-State Trax rounds bring broader regional competition to the same track. You do NOT need an AMA or district card to line up here, which makes it an easy first race.

The weekend rhythm splits practice and racing. Saturday open practice runs 10 AM to 4 PM at $40 per rider, bikes only, in set groups: A and B, then C, then Vet, then 65 and 85, then beginner and 50cc. Sunday is race day at $40 per class, with sign up from 7 to 9 AM, a chapel service at 8:30, the mandatory riders meeting at 8:45, practice at 9 and racing from roughly 10:45.

Race sign up has a quirk worth knowing: entry forms and data cards are handed out at the FRONT GATE only, and you take the completed form to the base of the tower during sign-up windows, either the evening before or race morning. You get a practice sticker once you are registered. Wristbands have to stay on all weekend, because leaving and coming back without one means buying another.

Admission is family-tiered and everyone entering pays it: $20 for ages 11 and up, $5 for ages 4 to 10, free for 3 and under, and it is non-refundable. Camping is $25 for Friday and Saturday nights or $15 for Saturday alone.

The class sheet is deep, running from 50cc splits for 4 to 6 and 7 to 8 year olds up through 65s, 85s, Super Mini, Schoolboy and Collegeboy, 125 two-stroke, 250 and Open in A, B and C, and vet classes at 25+, 30+, 40+, 45+, 50+ and 55+, plus a Women's 85cc and up class.

The facility is set up for families watching as much as riding. There are bleachers on all tracks, an enclosed concession stand with indoor dining, and the camping and parking area carries proper street lighting that gets dimmed for sleeping hours, with Elk Mountain Ski Area on the horizon from the campsites. Race announcements go out over the track's own radio station on 90.7 FM, so you can follow the program from your pit. Scoring runs on Trackside software from a dedicated computer room. There is also a BMX fun track on the property, and off-track lodging about six minutes away.

One track rule that catches people: spectators are not allowed on the racetrack during races, with a single exception, 50cc racers may have one parent or guardian on track to help the riders.

Under-18s must be with a parent or guardian, who signs an extra release on entry and has to stay for the whole time the minor is riding. Responsibility can be handed to another adult only with a dated, notarized letter naming the parent, the minor and the stand-in guardian, including authority for medical decisions. It is valid only for the dates written on it, so you need a fresh one each weekend.

Gear is enforced: a DOT or Snell offroad helmet, goggles, long sleeve jersey, pants, gloves and boots at least nine inches high. Bikes need a working silencer, no kickstands, and lights removed or taped over. Knee protection, a neck brace and a chest protector are strongly recommended but not required.

Lights come on for select evening events, adding summer-evening race weekends without running a full nightly schedule.

Hurricane Hills sits in Lackawanna County, north of Scranton. Riders in Greenfield Township, Carbondale, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Honesdale along the I-81 and I-84 corridors are close, Catskill-region New York riders cross the state line, and Binghamton riders come south for the District 34 racing. Schedule at hhmotocross.com.