The Ranch at Carlisle: NY State Moto Topsoil & Grass Drag

First Tracks: Park Overview & Riding Basics

Welcome to The Ranch at Carlisle, where upstate New York farm dirt trades hay bales for horsepower. This 129-acre patch in Schoharie County is still a working farm, but the only thing getting harvested here is pure, unfiltered speed. Forget about wild woods or mud holes deep enough to eat your ride—this place is all about perfectly prepped topsoil, built for traction and tuned to push your engine until it begs for mercy.

The heart of the action? The 59-acre Diamondback MX track, carved out of serious upstate soil. This isn’t a place for throttle-happy rookies—one wrong move, and you’ll be eating ruts for breakfast. The John Coen Memorial AMA Pro-Am brings out the region’s fastest, all gunning for glory and a shot at the Loretta Lynn’s Area Qualifier. If you want to prove you’ve got what it takes, this is where you do it.

When the motocross crowd takes five, the 4-Lane Grass Drag Strip fires up. Picture side-by-side drag races, snowmobiles screaming down the turf, and staging lights ready to drop the hammer. Motors, Mud & Mayhem weekend? That’s when the rulebook goes out the window. Diesel trucks, burnout pads, and wild freestyle runs fill the air with the sweet stench of burning rubber and high-octane dreams.

This dirt has a stubborn streak a mile wide. The Diamondback track started life in Modena back in ‘92, bounced over to East Durham for a decade, and finally landed here in Carlisle in 2021. Founders James Slaughter and John Coen didn’t just move in—they rolled up with earthmovers and sifted every rock out of the soil, leaving a racing surface that grabs harder than a badger with an attitude.

Whether you’re lining up a 450 on the gate or rolling out a turbo beast for the drags, the energy here is always cranked to eleven. Bring your best suspension and your bravest game face—by the afternoon, the track will chew up the unprepared. It’s loud, it’s wild, and it doesn’t care about your feelings. If you don’t respect physics (or you cheaped out on parts), this place will teach you a lesson you won’t forget.

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The Dirt: What Makes This Park Worth the Ride

This place is a wild mashup of hay bales and horsepower. Picture tractors and combines rubbing elbows with million-dollar race haulers—because that’s exactly what you’ll see. It’s a working New York farm by day, and by weekend, it’s ground zero for some of the rowdiest mechanical mayhem you’ll find anywhere in the state.

Diamondback 3.0 isn’t just a track—it’s a survivor with a stubborn streak. Born in Modena in ‘92, then tearing up East Durham for a decade, this legendary circuit finally put down roots in Carlisle in 2021. After years of wandering, the founders rolled in with earthmovers and made this farm its forever home. Third time’s the charm, right?

They didn’t just build a track—they engineered a playground. Tons of upstate rock got yanked out to leave behind dirt that grips like a vice when the crew works their magic. But don’t get too comfortable: after a few motos, that perfect surface turns into a battlefield of ruts and bumps that’ll test your suspension—and your spine.

Diamondback MX is the main event—the big show. We’re talking monster triples, steep tabletops, and rhythm sections that’ll make your heart skip a beat. Bring your A-game and a suspension that can take a beating, because this is no place for Sunday cruising or sightseeing. If you’re looking for a casual ride, keep moving.

When the dirt bikes cool off, the grass strip heats up. Four lanes, one mission: unleash every last pony under your hood. Whether it’s snowmobiles tearing up the turf in winter or side-by-sides battling for bragging rights in summer, this drag strip is where speed junkies come to settle scores.

If you like your racing with a side of chaos, check out the sprint enduro loop—where dirt, roots, and adrenaline collide. And for the diesel crowd, there’s a concrete burnout pad big enough to make your tires cry, uncle. When POWERfest rolls around, the air gets thick with smoke and the sound of engines begging for mercy.

Leave the monster mud tires at home—this isn’t a swamp run. Here, it’s all about the right tool for the job. Motocross? You want soft knobbies. Drag strip? Bring the cleats. Survival depends on speed, grip, and suspension, not how high you can climb over a log.

Most weekends, it’s all rules, routines, and family-friendly vibes. But when Motors, Mud & Mayhem hits the calendar, buckle up. The whole place transforms into a horsepower-fueled circus—diesel pulls, side-by-side showdowns, and freestyle madness that’ll have you glued to the fence line. It’s organized chaos, and you don’t want to miss it.

This place doesn’t play nice with rookies. If you can’t hold your line in a chewed-up corner or keep your wheels straight while flying through the air, you’re in for a rough ride. With forty riders breathing down your neck and jumps that’ll make your stomach drop, you'd better bring your skills—or bring a camera and watch from the sidelines.

Mother Nature calls the shots here. One minute, the dirt’s perfect for carving corners; the next, a rainstorm turns it into a mud-slinging, goggle-ripping mess. When winter hits, forget the dirt—now it’s all about ice racing and snowmobile drags. If you like your racing with a side of unpredictability, you’ll fit right in.

Forget hidden bogs and sneaky creek rocks—this place is all about man-made mayhem. The only thing waiting to bite you is gravity, and it’s got a mean streak. Think coming up short on a triple or washing out in a berm that’s seen more action than a demolition derby. By the end of race day, your body and your ride will both be begging for mercy.

This is where the big dogs come to play. The John Coen Memorial AMA Pro-Am? That’s not just a race—it’s a showdown in honor of a legend. And if you’re gunning for a Loretta Lynn’s ticket, this dirt is your battleground. Bring your A-game, because the green flag here has a habit of exposing every weak link in your machine—and your ego.

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Basecamp: Amenities, Camping, and On‑Site Services

Welcome to off-the-grid living, motorsports style. No power, no water, no hookups—just you, your rig, and a patch of honest-to-goodness farm dirt. If you didn’t pack it, you’re not getting it. So load up, roll in, and get ready to rough it like a pro.

Forget about spa days—there’s no indoor plumbing or fancy showers here. Mud-caked gear? You’ll have to settle for a power-wash station meant for bikes, not bodies. If you want a hot shower after a day in the trenches, you’d better have brought your own. Otherwise, embrace the dirt—it’s part of the experience.

When nature calls, it’s all about the porta-potty hustle. No fancy restrooms here—just a fleet of blue boxes scattered around the paddock. Pro tip: stash your own TP in your gear bag, because these units get busier than the starting gate on race day.

Thirsty? You’d better BYOW—bring your own water. There’s not a drop of drinkable stuff on site, so if you want to stay cool and keep your engine (and yourself) from overheating, pack enough for the whole crew. Running dry out here is not a good look.

Got a big rig? Bring it. This place is as flat and open as a cornfield in July, so even the longest RVs and biggest trailers have room to stretch out. Just follow the parking crew’s lead during big events—they’ll squeeze you in tight, but at least you won’t be dodging tree branches.

No online reservations, no dibs—just old-school first-come, first-served. Roll in, claim your patch of dirt, and hand over your cash. When the big events hit, spots disappear faster than a loose lug nut, so get there early if you want elbow room.

Furry copilots are welcome, but only if they’re on a leash and on their best behavior. No dogs on the track, in registration, or anywhere near the action. If your pup’s got a bark that rattles the paddock, you’ll be packing up and heading home early.

Hungry? Need a spare part? It’s all about pop-up vendors here—no permanent shops, just a rotating crew slinging food, coffee, and the basics. If you break something and the vendor’s out, you’re out of luck. Plan ahead or risk being sidelined by a busted lever.

Your ten-minute lifeline for supplies. When you burn through yNeed a last-minute fix or a caffeine hit? Cobleskill’s just down the road—ten minutes, and you’re back in civilization. Speedway’s got your midnight diesel, Stewart’s has the coffee and snacks, and if your rig throws a tantrum, there’s a whole lineup of auto parts stores ready to bail you out. The staging hub and primary meetup zone are located squarely at the main gate entrance at 442 Lykers Road. Gates strictly unchain at 7:00 AM on race weekends, though early arrivals can sometimes sneak into the paddock by 4:00 PM on Fridays. Mandatory rider meetings happen right at this pavilion around 10:15 AM, and if you miss the briefing, you do not touch the track.

When the sun goes down, so does the action. No night riding, no exceptions. The track goes dark, and if you try to sneak in a midnight lap, you’ll be packing up before sunrise. Save the light bars for another adventure.

Quiet hours hit at 10:00 PM sharp—no exceptions. The gates lock, the paddock goes hush, and only the quietest generators are allowed to hum through the night. Fire up anything louder, and you’ll get a late-night visit from the track crew.

Professional track extractions only. There is no permanent, public-facing mechanic shop on the farm, nor are there any rental machines to borrow if yours blows up. Operations are heavily monitored by race director James Slaughter and a professional crew of AMA track flaggers. If your engine seizes or you yard-sale your bike over a tabletop, stationed EMTs and on-site ambulances handle the medical trauma while heavy tractors drag your shattered metal off the active dirt.

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The Damage: Trail Passes, Pricing, and Add-Ons

Admission will set you back eighteen to twenty bucks for a weekend wristband—unless it’s a big bash like POWERfest, then it’s twenty. Pay at the gate or save yourself the hassle and grab your pass online before you roll in.

Kids six and under? They get in free—perfect for families rolling in with a full crew. But if your little mechanic is lining up for a race, that free ride ends at the starting gate.

Zero weekday open riding. Do not show up on a random Tuesday expecting to drop your tailgate and shred the topsoil for a cheap day rate. This facility is locked down tight during the week, meaning operations and access are tied strictly to Friday through Sunday event schedules. If the racing associations are not running an official event, your wallet stays in your pocket and your rig stays parked on the highway.

Want to hit the track? You’ll need to join the club—literally. AMA and MSC memberships are required before you even think about staging your bike. Day passes are available, but if you’re a regular, go annual and save yourself the hassle.

Open practice session price tags. Dialing in your suspension on Saturday will cost you $40 to $50 per rider, per practice group. You cannot just pay once and ride all day until your engine overheats. You are paying for specific, scheduled track time, meaning if you want to dial in different machines or run multiple skill levels, you have to buy a pass for every single session.

Sunday racing? Forty bucks per class for amateurs, fifty or sixty if you’re chasing Pro-Am or Expert glory. Podium dreams come with a price tag—so bring your speed and your wallet.

Want to cruise the pits in style? That’ll be twenty bucks for your UTV, golf cart, or pit bike. Slap the sticker on or risk getting parked faster than a blown head gasket.

Co-pilot costs and strict passenger bans. Standard motorsports physics and AMA rules apply here, meaning passengers are absolutely banned from hopping on the back of a dirt bike or a racing ATV. However, during massive truck and side-by-side festival events, you can bring a co-pilot to help navigate the chaos. Those passengers simply pay the standard eighteen to twenty-dollar general admission fee at the front gate, just like any other spectator on the fence line.

Dry camping is usually included with your weekend pass—unless it’s a big festival like POWERfest. Then it’s fifty bucks for tents and overland rigs, and a cool hundred if you’re rolling in with a monster RV or stacker trailer.

No surprise fees here—there’s no power or water to charge you for anyway. Pay your flat camping rate and rely on your own batteries and water tanks. Off-grid means off-grid.

Ironclad weather and breakdown policies. This property operates under a brutal, zero-refund policy for wristbands and gate entries. If you pay your practice fee and instantly shatter a clutch basket on the first lap, you do not get your money back. If the upstate skies open up and turn the screened topsoil into heavy, mechanical-binding mud, the races run rain or shine, and your cash belongs to the track.

Change your mind? You’ve got a tiny window. Cancel more than 30 days in advance, and you’ll get half your money back. Wait any longer, and your cash is locked in for good.

No stopwatch-wielding buddies here—everyone needs an official XtremeScore transponder for lap timing. It’s ten bucks per bike, so add it to your race-day budget.

Want the VIP treatment? During big festivals, you can snag premium parking for twenty to forty bucks. It’s first-come, first-served, and totally separate from your admission, so grab your spot early if you want the best view.

Saturday practice means color-coded stickers and a stack of fees. Each session is forty bucks, and you’ll need the right sticker on your helmet for every group. Miss a sticker, and you’re off the track faster than you can say ‘flagger.’

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The Technicals: Trail Obstacles, Terrain Types, and Difficulty

This isn’t a wild jungle—this is a finely tuned playground. Half the farm is pure motocross, with the rest split between grassy staging, a wooded enduro loop, and a drag strip. Every inch is built for speed, not bushwhacking.

No hidden washouts or rock gardens here—just man-made obstacles and gravity doing its thing. Come up short on a triple or blow a berm, and your suspension better be ready to take the hit. This is survival of the fittest—machine and rider.

Forget green, blue, and black trails—here, it’s all about your class. AMA and MSC rules keep the chaos in check, splitting sessions by engine size and skill. Peewees get their own turf, far from the Pro-Am heavy hitters.

This is the kingdom of 450 dirt bikes and tricked-out sport ATVs. When festival season hits, side-by-sides and diesel trucks take over the grass and burnout pads. If your ride loves speed and big air, it’ll feel right at home.

Swamp buggies? Not here. Leave the giant mud tires and sky-high lifts at home—this place rewards low, fast, and nimble. Bring a lumbering utility rig, and you’ll just be a rolling speed bump for the real racers.

No gear, no ride. Helmets and boots are non-negotiable, and chest protectors have to cover all the important bits. Sun beating down? Doesn’t matter—you suit up, or you sit out.

Keep it quiet—strict sound checks are the law of the land. If your exhaust is louder than a cannon, you’ll be pulled over for a test. Fail, and it’s back on the trailer for you.

Break down on track? No DIY rescues—let the pros handle it. Flaggers lock it down, dozers haul you out, and the show goes on. Stay safe and let the crew do their thing.

Sunny skies mean hero dirt—traction for days. But let it rain, and the track turns into a mud pit that’ll test your radiator and your patience. Deep ruts, packed fins, and a whole new level of challenge.

Fast bike? Great. But if you’re not at least fourteen, you’re not lining up in the adult classes. Bring your ID and prove you’re old enough to handle the horsepower.

It’s not just about big jumps—there’s a wooded enduro loop that’ll keep you on your toes, with dirt, roots, and everything in between. The drag strip? Pure farm turf, so bring your paddle tires if you want to launch hard.

Break something? Pack it out. No dumping busted plastics or tires—leave a mess, and you’re out for good. Respect the land and keep it clean for the next round.

No bears, but keep an eye out for deer on the edges of the farm. Most important—stay inside the property lines. Cut through the woods or park where you shouldn’t, and you’ll be disqualified before you even hit the throttle.

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The Final Throttle: What to Know Before You Go

The Ranch at Carlisle isn’t just a farm—it’s a full-throttle playground built for speed freaks and dirt junkies. Sunrise in Schoharie County means the air is thick with race gas and the sound of engines screaming for mercy. Radios crackle, wrenches fly, and the whole place buzzes with the kind of energy that makes you want to suit up and get in the mix. This is not a place for the timid. Show up ready, or get left in the dust.

This place has history—and attitude. After years of bouncing around New York, the Diamondback crew finally put down roots and built a track that’s all bite, no fluff. In the morning, the dirt grabs like a vise. By afternoon, it’s a rutted battlefield that’ll punish any lazy throttle hand. You’re not wrestling with the woods here; you’re going toe-to-toe with gravity and physics on jumps that separate the bold from the broken.

Want to make it through the weekend? You'd better be self-sufficient, because this place is off the grid in every way. No hookups, no showers, no magic water spigots—just you, your rig, and whatever you remembered to pack. Forgot to bring enough water? You’ll be overheating faster than your bike on a hot lap. The only water here is for blasting mud off your plastics, not for sipping. Run out of supplies? Cobleskill is your pit stop, so plan ahead or prepare to hustle.

When the AMA points races hit pause, this farm flips the switch from serious to straight-up wild. The drag strip comes alive with snowmobiles and turbo side-by-sides itching for bragging rights. Down at the burnout pad, diesel trucks fill the air with tire smoke and pure chaos during POWERfest. The family-friendly vibe takes a back seat, and the fences fill up with fans hungry for horsepower and mayhem. If you want to see what happens when rules take a vacation, this is your show.

This isn’t your average Sunday cruise through the woods. The Ranch at Carlisle is a purpose-built playground for anyone who wants to push their machine—and themselves—to the edge. Whether you’re gunning for the checkered flag or just want to see how much air you can catch, the energy here is off the charts. Bring your best setup, hold your line, and be ready to pay the price for every mistake. If you’re hungry for speed, this is the New York dirt you need to ride.

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THE SPECS