HISTORY

DH Productions' history is rooted in the two-wheeled environment. Don's father, Charles Hampton was an AMA flat track racer in the 1940's and 50's. Charles also is a certified Harley Davidson mechanic and owned several race bikes and managed regional race teams throughout his racing era. Motorcycle riding was an active part of his life, Charles logged thousands of miles on his Harley while traveling with friends to numerous rallies and participating in the Daytona bike week. At that time the racing was still held on the beach. Charles is a lifetime member of the famous Reading Motorcycle Club and is an active member it's Old Timers club.

Don's brother, Dave Hampton was an AMA district 6 motocross stud in the late 1970's and early 80's. Dave started out racing enduros with his trusty PUCH and motocross with a clapped out Honda Elsinore. Throughout Dave's racing career; he rode a RM 125 and then finished his last few years on board several YZ 125's. Don would serve as Dave's wrench between motos, washing the bike, fueling it, cleaning air filters, checking the spark plug, cleaning and lubing the chain and other pre-race maintenance. At these moto races is where Don got his inspiration for racing. Don would rip hot laps between motos on his Huffy Pro Thunder. Around the same time the Supertrack in nearby Phoenixville, PA open and BMX hit southeastern PA. Don was hooked and raced and practiced at the track every chance he got.

Don started racing mountain bikes in 1993 and moved up through the ranks and is now racing expert downhill, biker cross and dual slalom events at the regional and national level. To this day Don and his family still own numerous motorcycles and during the summer of 2001, while visiting his brother Dan in Germany, there was a two-wheeled family reunion of sorts. Don along with his wife Darice, his brother Dan and his Mom and Dad took a motorcycle tour of southern Germany and the Black Forest region. Don's moto quiver includes a BBR tricked out Yamaha YZ250F, a Suzuki GS 500, a Buell Blast, a 1979 Suzuki TS185 and a 1972 Honda Trail 90.

In 1994 Don partnered with Bill Gentile of Mt. Gretna Mountain Bikes, Ltd. to form Gretna Video Productions. Don and Bill saw a need for quality video production services for the growing MTB community. In 1996 Don moved to the State College, PA area and in 1997 DH Productions was formed. Don and Bill partnered again in 1998 to produce "Jamaica Soul Ride-To Air Is You Mon!". "Jamaica Soul Ride" was Don's first feature mountain bike movie and it was produced in true documentary style. The "Chain Reaction" series was launched in 1999 with "CRI-East Coast Hardcore!" and as they say; "the rest is history."