James Valley Cycle Club

About James Valley Cycle Club

James Valley Cycle Club is a members only motorcycle club with a 13 acre riding area in southern Davison County, just outside Mitchell, South Dakota. It was established in 1970 for young dirt track riders and it has kept that beginner friendly character ever since. The riding area is for play and practice only, no racing, and it is open year round to members.

Fifty Years of Finding a Place to Ride

The club started in 1970 when local riders were looking for somewhere legal and safe to ride. Early riding areas included the ground near the Mitchell sewage treatment plant and later a spot in Hanson County, before the club finally bought the 13 acre property it uses today.

Street bike riders joined the club in 1993 and now share the calendar with the dirt riders, with attendance growing year on year. Membership reaches across several counties and into other states.

One long standing club tradition is the Bike Blessing, held on the last Saturday in April, when members gather to start the riding season with a bit of good luck and a reminder about safety.

Where Beginners Are Welcome

The club says plainly that beginner riders are always welcome, and the riding area is set up for exactly that. It is a place for young and old, male and female, to learn the basics in a fenced, traffic free environment rather than on a road or in a ditch.

The club recommends the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Dirt Bike School DVD and openly encourages members to bring children, grandchildren or a partner out to practice balancing, clutching and simply riding in the dirt. Riders working on motocross skills use the same ground.

The club is also candid about gear. Their guidance points out that a roost protector only stops flying rocks and does nothing else, which is the kind of blunt advice a parent buying a first set of gear needs to hear.

March of Dimes Poker Run

The club’s proudest annual event is the March of Dimes Poker Run, which has run since 1995. It brings riders together from across South Dakota and beyond to raise money and awareness for the March of Dimes, whose mission is improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

By the event’s twentieth year, the club had raised more than fifty thousand dollars for the cause. It remains the biggest date on the JVCC calendar.

Members Only, and Serious About It

Access is strictly limited, and the rules are worth reading before you consider joining.

You must be a member in good standing to be on the property, and no visitors are allowed. The gate stays locked at all times, both entering and leaving, and the lock is changed on the first of January each year. Members pay a fee for a key, and key sharing is prohibited.

Riding hours run from 8:00 in the morning to 8:00 at night. The riding area is open year round except on New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, with no exceptions. If one of those holidays falls on a Monday, members can ride the weekend before.

Other rules include a limit of eight riders on the track at once, mandatory helmets, functional exhaust on every machine, parking on club property only, no riding on roads or ditches outside the fenced area, no firearms, and packing out whatever you bring in. Parents are responsible for minors on the property.

Those rules exist because the club operates under a strict contract for the land. Following them is what keeps the riding area open.

Getting There and Joining

The property is in southern Davison County near Mitchell, in the James River valley of eastern South Dakota, with Dimock nearby. Directions and membership information are both on the club website.

The club also runs a flea market and other special events through the year, with details posted on the site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ride at James Valley Cycle Club without joining?

No. You must be a member in good standing to be on the property, and visitors are not allowed.

Is this a race track?

No. The 13 acre riding area is for play and practice only. No races are held there.

Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes. The club was built around beginner riders and actively encourages members to bring children, grandchildren and first time riders out to learn.

What are the riding hours?

8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, year round, except on major holidays when the property is closed.

Which holidays is the property closed?

New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. If the holiday falls on a Monday, members may ride the weekend before.

How many riders can be on the track at once?

Eight.

Are helmets required?

Yes, at all times while riding. Other protective gear is strongly recommended.

What is the March of Dimes Poker Run?

The club’s annual charity ride, running since 1995, which has raised more than fifty thousand dollars for the March of Dimes.

Where is James Valley Cycle Club located?

In southern Davison County near Mitchell, South Dakota 57301.

More information on James Valley Cycle Club; Click here https://jvcycleclub.weebly.com/

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