About Us:

The Marin County Motorcycle Association (MCMA) is a non-profit, all volunteer organization. We maintain a modest (1200 acres) sized trail riding area 35 miles North of San Francisco. We are a club...not a riding facility or race promoter.

A Brief Club History...

The M.C.M.A. was organized at B&J Sport cycle Shop (former name of Cycle Town), in Feb. 1965. The following officers were elected for a 6 month term. President - Bud Jenkins, Vice Pres. - Dave Schwab, Secretary - Lucy Horton, Treasurer - Helen Williams, Road Captain - Chuck Harper. There are still a few of the original members with the club. The original colors of the club were white letters on a turquoise background. Dues were $1 per month, plus a $5 filing fee. Membership in the AMA was mandatory. A wife of one of the members made racing vests for all members and they wore them at events and in parades, hare scrambles and other events held at China Camp until 1969 when a lawsuit forced the owner to terminate our lease. Over the years the membership changed along with the meeting sites and places to ride. Since Dec. 1970 when Jerry Diaz was president, the club has leased part of the Gambonini Ranch. The club membership has varied from 40 to 150 memberships. Currently we have a total of 325 memberships. In the early 1980's the club lost the use permit with the county of Marin. Thanks to John Balstrom and other dedicated members, the county officials were convinced to allow us to ride 8 months out of the year. In 1994, Don Perkins, Ron Schultz, and Ron Lollar worked miracles to get the county of Marin to issue a new Use Permit, allowing us to ride year round, and only close when it rains, for a period of time designated by the amount of rain fall.

General Info:

RIDING AT THE RANCH:

CLUBHOUSE
Lock it up when you leave. The new clubhouse is definitely deluxe, so to keep it that way, please lock it up when you leave to keep the critters, cows and other unwanted guests out. This includes the gates around the clubhouse as well and the parking lot gate.

Lock Instructions:

Open:
1. Push the Schlag button to activate system
2. Punch in the 4 digit code
3. Pull on door handle, turn deadbolt to the left

Close:
1. Push the Schlag button to activate the system
2. Pull on door handle turn deadbolt to the right until it’s locked

MCMA Swag:

Why buy MCMA Swag?

Great Holiday Gift and/or for your Winter Needs!

• Perfect way to represent your Club affiliation
• Outfit your family, friends, and co-workers: Hats, Shirts, Sweatshirts (hooded or not), polo’s, Beanies, Window Sticker and much more…

Contact Patti Beckstrom (use your roster)

Or

Send us an E-mail and provide your name, phone number and/or requests—We can ship!!

Interested in becoming a member? Come to a Club Meeting or send us an email request.

Club meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at the Ranch.

Ranch Rules

To all Members,

The Board and Officers of this club have worked hard to put together this list of rules and explanations to help all members, old and new, understand what our rules are and why we have them. The rules are to create a safe environment and clearly define what is allowed or not allowed based on safety and how we are governed by our county Use Permit. Please read and fully understand them. We have a great thing here at the Gambonini Ranch and many people volunteer their time fighting to keep it. Please be a good member and abide by all the posted rules so we can enjoy the club for many years to come.

This ranch is a working cattle ranch—Cattle have the right of way! Never chase or intimidate any livestock on the property while riding or in the parking area.  If any cattle escape onto the road it is your responsibility to get them back on the ranch property behind the fencing.

ALL TRAILS ARE TWO WAY unless clearly marked otherwise. Be ready at all times to avoid oncoming riders at the ranch, anytime and anywhere—be safe.

It is your responsibility to know, inform, and enforce the rules, with all parties of your membership.

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Ranch Rules

1. Mufflers and spark arrestors are required on all motorcycles note accepted sound levels below. There are two reasons for this rule. 1) Prevent fires. 2) Our Use Permit requires it. Not using a spark arrestor puts our club at risk. No club, No Ride!
2. Blue number plates with your club number in white are required on the front of all motorcycles. This is so that you can be identified as a member who belongs on the trails. It must be clearly displayed.
3. Current membership cards are required of all riding members. You must be able to prove your membership to the gatekeeper and/or any officer or board member who inquires. Members who bring non-members to the club to ride will lose their membership. This includes children and friends of your children.
4. Do not fuel bikes while engine is running. This is for your safety. Engines get very hot. Gas is very combustible. Bad combination! If you do this in a race you will be disqualified.
5. No bicycles or ATV's allowed at the club-except for the trails committee quad that is only operated by a trails committee person. Bicycles and ATV’s add an unsafe element to the club and that puts us all at risk.
6. All trails are two way except where designated. Ride in control and ready for oncoming traffic at all times. This is for your safety. Any accident puts our club at risk.
7. Close and latch any gates you open. This is to prevent cows from wandering. Keep in mind the club is situated on a working ranch if the livestock get out on to the road this creates a big liability for us and our landlord. Close any gate you go through—no exceptions.
8. Ride on designated trails only. Do not ride on trails marked "Closed", or any trail you are not sure is open. Our use permit clearly defines the trails we can ride on. The trails committee opens and closes trails in accordance to our permit and trail conditions. Stay on open trails only-no exceptions.
9. Report unsafe conditions or people, or fix it yourself, if possible.This is for the safety of you and your fellow members. If any unsafe trail condition occurs, please inform the gatekeeper or any officer, trails committee or board member so that they can address it. If someone is being unsafe, it is your responsibility to report it to the gatekeeper or any officer, trails committee or board member so that they can address it.
10. Do not leave underage children unattended at the property. You are responsible for your children while at the club at all times. This obviously is for the safety of your family and respect for the other members. You are responsible for your children's actions. Vandalism will not be tolerated.
11. A parent or legal guardian must accompany members under 18 at all times. Minors riding with adults other than their parents must carry a signed medical release. If your child is injured while riding, someone must be able to authorize certain medical procedures. Noncompliance puts our club and your child's safety at risk. Your child may be refused medical attention until you can be contacted without a legally signed medical release. Kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times when riding.
12. The big parking lot track is for minis and beginners only. The parking lot Pee Wee track is for beginner riders on 50cc bikes only. This is to allow our younger less experienced riders and their parents to have a safe enjoyable experience at the ranch. Please be respectful when they are using the track.
13. Take your garbage and recyclables home with you. The club does not have garbage service. Please take all garbage you bring to the club back out of the club. It is your responsibility to keep the grounds free of trash—this is a working ranch and trash can harm the livestock—if you bring it—take it—no exceptions
14. Dogs must be on leashes and in control at all times. This is for the safety of your fellow members and you’re pet. A collision between a bike and a dog is not good for either involved. Also some people are not dog people; don't ruin their time at the ranch.
15. Do not throw cigarette butts or trash on the ground. Cigarettes make the cows sick, and are a fire hazard as well. Keep in mind we are on a working ranch and anything left behind can cause injury to livestock, if eaten. Respect the club and others—no exceptions
16. Weekend gate hours while the club is open, are 9 AM to 5 PM. Members planning to stay past 5 PM must notify the gatekeeper. Last to leave locks the gates and clubhouse. This is to ensure that the Ranch is properly closed up when the last person leaves. Failure to do this could allow cows onto the road, putting themselves and cars and motorcycles on the road in danger. Cows are very damaging to club houses and picnic areas, as well.
17. Allowable hours for riding are 9 AM to sunset every day when the ranch is open. Do not ride before 9am or after sunset—riding during off hours is a serious offense and could jeopardize your membership
18. The gravel road is for cars and trucks not dirt bikes. Please exit the parking lot via the dirt trail alongside the gravel drive. Leave room between your parked vehicle and the path to allow riders to use the trail. This is to keep our road in good shape year round with as little expense to the club as possible.
19. Speed limit on the fire road between the clubhouse and the tree track is 10 miles per hour on weekends. This is to prevent head on collisions on a heavily used trail. Safety issues are permit issues. This is also the most heavily traveled route by the kids. They travel from the parking lot to the tree track. Let's keep them safe.
20. Speed limit through the parking lot is 5 MPH. There are two reasons for this. 1 Safety. At times there are children, pets and adults not paying attention in the parking lot. 2 We don't want to draw any unwanted attention our way. Passers by can view what we do in the parking lot. Breaking this rule puts our use permit in jeopardy by drawing unwanted, unneeded negative attention.
21. Maximum dba Level of any motorcycle is 96. This is a very serious issue. Our use permit requires us to be "good neighbors." We do not want any complaints from our neighbors or passing motorists or bikes regarding the noise level. We need to be able to prove that we are taking measures to keep in the good graces of our neighbors. It is your responsibility to have your motorcycle checked for the noise level. Ask a club officer how you can have your bike checked. At most work parties we will have someone available to test your motorcycle if we know it is needed, if we know you need your bike tested. You cannot ride if your motorcycle is too loud.
22. Winter closures. It is your responsibility to check the Hotline (not website) to see if the club is open or closed. Never ride without being completely sure that the ranch is open. Making the mistake of riding when the club is closed is viewed as one of the worst violations by the board and officers of the club. You will lose your membership if you ride when the club is closed period. If you are unsure, check the club hotline. Our use permit strictly mandates how we operate the club during the winter season.
23. Firearms. Display or discharge of a firearm at the club will be grounds for immediate dismissal. Even though we are in the country this is not a firing range. (This rule also includes paintball guns, BB guns archery, etc ... )
24. Alcohol and drug consumption. Riding your motorcycle or operating club equipment after consuming alcohol is not allowed. We don't want any accidents, the liability and jeopardy to the club is too great.
25. Camping and campfires. The maximum camp time allowed at the ranch is seven consecutive days. This is not a place to live it is a place to camp. Fires are only allowed in the fire pit at the clubhouse. If you are the last to leave the club the fire needs to be extinguished prior to leaving. A fire would jeopardize our clubs existence. From time to time at special events we will have fires at other locations but members are to keep the fires contained in the fire pit at all other times.
26. Membership renewal. The burden of renewing membership on time in order to not lose your membership is the responsibility of each member. The club is not responsible to keep you informed as to when or what work parties or gate duties need to be performed in order for you to stay an active member. The club is not responsible to inform you as to the date when your renewal is due. You must have paid your dues and preformed your duties as a member by no later than 7/31 or you will lose your membership. It is your responsibility to know whom and where and how much is to be paid. No excuses. If you solely rely on a newsletter or notice to renew to be mailed and don't receive it that is not an acceptable excuse.