Racers prepare to break in the new starting gate at Hire Park in Warsaw. (Photo by Jerry Landrum, BMXMania.com)

“If you’re going to ride at a world class level, practice at a world class level,” says Dan Rumple, track operator at Hire Park in Warsaw.

Hire Park, a BMX dirt track located on Arthur Street near Pike Lake, has been offering a area riders a very nice riding experience for many years, but it’s stepping things up this summer.

In the last month or so, Hire Park retired its old starting hill and replaced it with a bigger, better one. “The world standard is a 5-meter starting hill,” says Rumple. “And that’s what we put in. It’s huge.”

After piling up the colossal starting hill, a state-of-the-art starting gate was installed on top. Rumple says there’s nothing else like it within a 13-hour drive from Warsaw, which is likely to make it a practice destination for top riders within the state and beyond.

Additionally, the first straightaway and first corner were redone to accommodate faster speeds. Rumple says most riders will hit 20-25 mph at the bottom of the hill; experienced riders could even get up to 30 mph.

The new starting hill nearing completion. (Photo by John Faulkner)

“It’s been one of the biggest projects we’ve ever had at Hire Park,” Rumple says. “It’s been sun up to sun down with some awesome volunteers.”

Some 20 to 30 riders, parents, grandparents and others have donated their time to help get the hill ready for the 2015 inaugural race this weekend. “The process has been awesome, the help has been awesome,” says Rumple. “It’s just been amazing. There’s a wow factor every time we get here.”

Hire Park is hosting a local race on Saturday, May 16 for any local riders eager to try out the new starting hill. There will be two races: a regular BMX race at 2 p.m., registration starts at 1:30 p.m., and a 4X race for mountain bikes later in the afternoon at 5:30 p.m. These races are in connection with the Fat & Skinny Tire Fest. For the rest of the summer, the park will be open for normal operations.

“We practice Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5-8 p.m. Races are every Saturday – except July 4 – through Oct. 10,” says Michelle Marquis, the riding coach at Hire Park. “Facebook, Twitter and our website are the best ways for people to find out what’s going on at the track.”

“We will be offering a new/beginning rider clinics on Wednesday, June 3 at 6 p.m. and again on Wednesday, June 17 at 6 p.m. in Preparation for our Olympic Day Free Race. Cost is $10 for these clinics,” Marquis says. “New riders are welcome at any of our practices or races. We have loaner bikes and helmets available if needed. Riders need to wear long pants, long sleeves and full face helmets.”

Upcoming races at Hire Park this summer are:

• June 6 – Warnicke Scholarship Race (no membership required)
• June 20 – Olympic Day Race (free and no membership required)
• June 27 – Race For Life (fundraiser for leukemia/lymphoma society, no membership required)
• July 25 and 26 – ‘Sawtacular Big Points weekend (includes DK Gold Cup race, Pro Am and multi points races)
• Aug. 8 – state qualifier race

Visit www.hireparkbmx.com for more information. Hire Park wants to thank K21 Health Foundation, Bowers Jewelry, Pete Paseka – C.S.I., Carey Excavation, Ferguson Farms, MacAllister Rentals, Phend and Brown, Super Seal, Faztek, Rex and Barbara Reed, Warsaw Park Department, Warsaw Street Department, and all the volunteers.