When it comes to land-use and OHV rights, it seems there are always fires on the horizon and “action alerts” to respond to, but every now and then there’s a true DEFCON 1 moment that warrants circling the wagons. That critical moment is now, because the future of Hangtown MX, the Prairie City SVRA, home of the Hangtown Motocross Classic, is at risk.
A solar project directly adjacent to the OHV park is trying to move forward in Rancho Cordova, and if it proceeds, it could likely spell the end for this iconic venue on the AMA Pro Motocross circuit. A large OHV community presence at the upcoming OHMVR (Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation) Commission meeting, scheduled for Thursday, September 4, could help urge the county to withdraw the project.
For those in the Northern California area, in-person attendance will have the strongest impact. For all others, the OHMVR Commission meeting can be attended online. Click here for virtual meeting registration for the September 4 OHMVR meeting at 9 a.m. Pacific Time.
OHMVR COMMISSION MEETING INFORMATION
VIRTUAL MEETING REGISTRATION
REGISTER FOR SEPT 4 ZOOM MEETING HERE
DATE: Thursday, September 4, 2025
TIME: 9 a.m. Pacific Time
LOCATION: Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge
ADDRESS: 820 Sundial Bridge Dr., Redding, CA 96003
“We’ve seen this dozens of times,” explains OHV land-use advocate Don Amador, of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. “Encroachment by industrial development spells the death of OHV areas in close proximity. Off-road powersports activities are considered a nuisance activity to adjacent landowners, eventually resulting in the closure of riding areas.”
The D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) energy development firm is behind the 2704-acre solar project. Last week (August 28), DESRI hosted a public meeting with representatives from OHV and conservation organizations to hear objections to its plans. In this unprecedented occasion, the OHV community actually finds itself on the same side as conservation groups that are also pushing back against the solar-project proposal.
“I think Sacramento County Planning made a huge mistake by failing to notify the OHMVR Commission about this solar project sited next to Prairie City SVRA,” said Amador, himself a former chair of the California State Parks OHMVR Commission. “In addition, the project proponents committed a major planning error by not reaching out to the OHV community and competition organizations back in 2021 during the pre-scoping efforts.”
Amador and the OHV community were only made aware of the project in April of 2025, conveniently only days before the public comment deadline on May 5.
“What they didn’t count on is the OHV community finding out about this project and taking action. They also didn’t count on OHV joining forces with environmental groups. We have the potential to make some serious noise on this, and I’m looking forward to seeing an overwhelming number of motorcyclists and powersports enthusiasts showing up at the OHMVR Commission meeting to show that we won’t be pushed aside.”
Read more about this issue on Amador’s Quiet Warrior Racing blog site.
Tune into a podcast to hear more about the Prairie City Solar Project Controversy.
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