PA’s Breezewood Proving Grounds Set to Kick Off 2015 Season
- Updated: March 20, 2015
As a rider in Baltimore County Maryland, where there are few places to ride or race off road, Dan Harris had the idea to purchase land and open up a riding facility. He dreamed of it 10 years before finding the abandoned Basketball Camp in Breezewood Pennsylvania back in 2001. The camp had sat empty for over 12 years. He sold his home and lawn care business and dove right into purchasing the camp and some basic equipment in December 2001. Dan moved onto the property in a camper with a few good friends and started renovating the buildings and constructing the tracks. He was able to open the Breezewood Proving Grounds, or BPG for short, a few months later in March of 2002. At that time there were three full size motocross tracks, a kid’s track and 7 miles of harescramble style trails. They had a successful first summer but were unfortunately shut down over a law suit brought on by neighbors in November that same year. It took almost three years before Dan could get the park re-opened again in July of 2005, minus the biggest track and the wood’s trail. The park has done very well since re-opening and they have been able to make considerable improvements, including the swimming pond with beach area, water slide, high-dive and diving-board, the stage for live music, an announcing tower and a new starting gate with concrete base. They have added the Parts Store, the dining hall, bathrooms and 28 hook up sites over the years as well.
Memorial Day 2003 was the first Outlaw Race at the park. There is now a complete six race series that averages 300 racers per event! BPG allows open riding 8am to 4pm on race day, then racing 4pm until dark. A one moto format, has been extremely popular. It allows riders the opportunity to get plenty of ride time and practice before lining up on the gate for some great racing.
In 2008 they had their first 5-day, 5-night Dream Camp at the park, where Pro ATV racers Jason Dunkelburger, and 2-time, and then current National ATV Champion Dustin Wimmer taught riders advanced racing techniques. Training with National Pro Racers is such an amazing opportunity, and being able to stay in the cabins and have meals provided makes for an incredible camp. Over the past seven years Dream Camp has grown to having eight National Pros attend as trainers at one time, it’s a truly “Dream Experience” for riders. 2015’s pro line up is current points leader and 2x Pro Class Champion Chad Wienen returning for his 3rd year as a Dream Camp trainer. Former 2x Pro Class Champion Dustin Wimmer returns for his 8th consecutive year training at the Proving Grounds. John and Michelle Natalie will once again be here, John is first ever Daytona Supercross Winner and former National Champions. Josh Upperman, Thomas Brown, and Nick Moser will all be returning for their second year as trainers. And new for 2015 is Joe Byrd, as the Joe Byrd Training Facility will be sponsoring the camp.
2014 was their first ever Rally in the Valley where the park hosted a street bike event along with open motocross riding at the park. The event was a great success even with less than optimal weather conditions. There were still over 300 people in attendance. This year Dan is expecting over 1000 Street bikes, dirtbikes, quads and trikes on August 8th for the 2nd annual Rally in the Valley! This July 4th marks 10 years that the park has been open for and there is going to be a huge riding party and celebration. There is going to be a beach party with live music, free food, free mechanical bull, free beer, night time swimming, bikini contest and more! The Annual Quad Pulled Couch Race, where racers modify couches to be pulled with a rider on board will also be at the July 4th celebration. The winning team rides free the remainder of the year.
Other notable events for 2015 are, Wheels Up Girlz sponsored Women’s Weekend May 9 & 10, where women ride free on Saturday with great give aways all weekend; Kids Weekend July 25 & 26, where kids 15 & under ride free on Saturday. Kid times on both big tracks throughout the weekend with riding games and more; Fathers Day Weekend where dads ride free all weekend with a paying child. They also have an Outlaw Race and a Parent Child Team Race, where parent and child line up behind each other, and have to stay together, so the team is only as fast as the slowest member, for some it will be the parent, other teams it will be the child.
Improvements for this year include black top for the entire driveway into the park, allowing for a cleaner trip into the park for your truck or RV, less dust, and less erosion and run off. More bleachers and a new spectator area are also planned for the intermediate track and the addition of three permanent trailer/campers for yearly rental. Dan is also working with Engineers to design plans that will allow them to develop riding trails at the park. This is a long slow process and they do not expect to have approvals before 2016. As always the park will continue to improve and get better. The Proving Grounds always welcome ideas and suggestions on ways to make improvements. The park is open 5 days a week from 8am to 8pm, closed only on Tuesday and Wednesday. Riding is $40 for one day. A 2-day Sat/Sun pass is $70 and if you purchase one it allows you FREE Riding on Friday, so you actually get 3 days for $70. Kids on 70cc or smaller is $20 per day. Non riders are $10 for up to 7 days. Hook up sites are available for $40 per night. Cabin rentals can be booked in advance and are $20 per day per person, cabins have AC, full bathrooms and kitchens.
Amenities at the park include, real bathrooms, clean showers, dining hall with big screen tv and great food, swimming with beach area and waterslide, volleyball, horseshoes and basketball. Motorcycle rentals are available for kids 12 and under and women. There are permanent yearly camp sites, weekend hook up sites and a fully stocked parts barn. There is no riding permitted after dark – for any reason, no riding when equipment or water truck is on a track, no riding without a helmet and no being stupid, these are all simple rules that keep it safe and Fun!
Hope to see you at Breezewood Proving Grounds this year.
Be sure to check out their website at breezewoodprovinggrounds.com The Proving Grounds are also on social media so you can keep up with all the happenings.
Follow them on Facebook and on Instagram:@breezewoodprovinggrounds
