Amateur dirt bike racers from across New England tore up the track on Sunday, at the Mattapoisett landfill, during the Pilgrim Sands Trail Riders annual short course scramble.

Approximately 80 riders and 100 spectators arrived for the event, according to Pilgrim Sands President Jay Larango.

“We’ve had a great day,” Larango said, noting that riders from as far away as Maine and Connecticut participated.

A nonprofit, the organization promotes off-road motorcycling by working alongside land managing agencies and private owners.

The race started at 8:30 a.m. Several heats were held throughout the day, every 50 minutes.

Larango said it’s often difficult for riders to find safe, legal trails in the area. Sunday’s event and other group-sponsored races help solve that problem.

The nearly three-mile long course offered riders a chance to race through open fields and forest.

“All too often, a kid will take his bike out onto railroad tracks or private property and ride all day,” Larango said. “This offers a safe alternative. We’re very grateful to the town for the support.”

The group also does charity work. Last year, a Toy Run held by the Pilgrim Sands Trail Riders collected 500 toys that were donated to children in Mattapoisett and Freetown.

Sunday’s event had different classes of races, including one for vintage bikes.

Christ Burton of Plymouth arrived with his 1977 Suzuki.

“It’s similar to one I had when I was younger,” Burton said. “I collect vintage bikes now, and a lot of them are ones I wanted as a kid but couldn’t afford.”

Burton’s father got him interested in the sport as a 13-year-old. Since then, Burton has rode for 37 years, but his father stopped racing a few years after he turned his son onto the sport.

“He stopped after three years. By that time I was driving myself to races,” Burton said.

Burton said Sunday was a perfect day for the race and many enjoyed the chance to ride.

“A lot of us are environmentalists,” he said. “We just like to the look at the countryside on top of a motorcycle.”

For more information and to check race results, visit www.pilgrimsandtrailriders.org.