The Ultimate Playground
Hidden down a dusty road in Murietta, California, is a 20-acre property that most motorcycle riders could only dream of owning. Right in the heart of what many now look at as the moto capital of the world is Blackmore Ranch.
Looking down the long tree-lined entrance, you’d be forgiven for mistaking Blackmore for a horse property or the home of a millionaire who just wanted to get away from the crowds. But glancing up at the huge gate posts reveals a sculpture of a motocross racer on the left and a fire-suite-wearing drag racer on the right. Not a jockey to be seen anywhere.
Blackmore Ranch is owned by third-generation local Jeff Blackmore, whose family has been in the heavy earth-moving business in and around Murietta for over 100 years. The Ranch has been the home of the family business, but Jeff now calls his home The Ultimate Playground. And what a playground it is.
Jeff loves motorcycles and fast cars and he’s been racing motocross since he was a kid. Now, as an adult with a healthy bank account, he decided in 2015 to start collecting a few bikes for his big workshop. He started with a replica of local hero Rick Johnson’s 1987 RC250. Then, like most old racers he started buying some of the old bikes he used to race. A YZ80 here, a. CR500 there and before long the shed was covered in bikes.
Big deal, right? Who doesn’t have a few bikes in a shed? Well, that’s where things start getting a little crazy. Jeff has a group of local friends who also ride dirt but don’t have the time to drive miles away to a track, so Jeff decided to build his own vet-friendly track on the property. Once a week they all gather to bench race, blast around the track and enjoy a beer at the raceshop bar. Did I mention the full bar?
One thing led to another, and before long, Jeff’s enormous earthmovers were grading a short flattrack course alongside the motocross jumps. Then he paved a tight go-cart track amongst the trees and surrounded that with huge berms for the BMX kids. Jeff even dug a huge lake big enough for jet skis and topped it all off with a few putting greens.
It’s hard to take in the beauty of the surroundings on your first visit to The Ultimate Playground, but luckily, Jeff has a solution to that problem. Blackmore is now the Ultimate Event Center where private and corporate events are arranged by Jeff’s partner, Jennifer. They organize regular car shows, hot rod cackle events, and endless motorcycle events.
It’s not unusual to see moto royalty wandering the Blackmore grounds. The Lawrence brothers have ridden the motocross track at a Honda corporate event and close neighbors Rick Johnson and David Bailey recently hosted a dual-sport ride out of the property. Jeff’s hero, Jeff Ward, who used to practice on Blackmore property when he was racing, is also a regular guest.
The Ultimate Playground also hosts more unusual events that have included 800 attendees for a concealed-carry training event, and even a corporate boat show around the lake. For those more moto romantically inclined Jennifer has also arranged many weddings among the vintage motorcycles that line the race shop walls.
If you’re in the Southern California area it’s definitely worth looking out for upcoming events at Blackmore. Check them out @blackmoreranch or contact jen@blackmoreranch.com. Chances are you’ll bump into a famous racer you’ve always wanted to meet.
