PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association’s national championship vintage motocross program during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 10-12 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, will include more opportunities than ever for racers of vintage, post-vintage and non-current motorcycles to relive the sport’s glory days.
The motocross races are part of the Moto Armory AMA Off-Road Vintage Grand Championship, which also includes the hare scrambles and trials competition that takes place during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the country’s grandest celebration of vintage motorcycles and the people who love them.
This year, the event will feature a three-moto format for all classes, an optional Friday open practice, a new non-current class, trackside interviews, medals for moto winners and more. In addition, competitors will be treated to the same vintage-friendly track layout that they’ve come to enjoy.
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Tom White returns as the race announcer.
“AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days really takes me back, and as someone who appreciates the history of our great sport, there really is nothing else like it,” White said. “From the pits to the track to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers who come out to support the event, there’s so much to be a part of at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.
“We have people of all ages racing bikes of all ages, having a wonderful time with motorcycles and each other,” White added. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Pre-entry for all the racing at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is available now at www.xtrm.com/web/Promoter/Event/EventInformation.aspx?Pf3sDiwaB7xDxCdB06ec/A==12abc12.
AMA Motocross Operational Coordinator Alex Hunter said that one change for 2015 that he expects to be a big hit is the three-moto format.
“Racers always like more racing,” Hunter said. “We’re running three motos for all classes over Saturday and Sunday. Vintage-class racers vying for the AMA Vintage Grand Championship will have plenty of time to compete in both trials and motocross on Sunday.”
Riders who arrive on Friday also can participate in an optional Friday open practice for $10 per rider. There will be no charge for the Friday open practice for riders who have competed in an AMA vintage motocross event that’s part of the AMA Vintage Grand Tour. A list of these riders will be kept at registration. (The next motocross events on the AMA Vintage Grand Tour are the Mid-America Vintage and Post-Vintage Championship at Legends Raceway Park in Jonesboro, Ark., and the Midwest Vet Vintage Classic at Sunset Ridge MX in Walnut, Ill., on June 27-28.)
Hunter added that classes will be designed to appeal to everyone, from serious vintage racers to casual riders who might only race once a year at the event.
“One of our goals with AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is to give more riders than ever a fun, professional and authentic place to race their old dirt bikes,” Hunter said. “Some of those old bikes may be right at home in a museum, and others might spend their nights in an old shed or barn. At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, it’s all about having a good time on two wheels with thousands of like-minded riders.”
Vintage classes are intended for bikes up to the mid-1970s. Post-vintage classes include bikes from the late-1970s to mid-1980s. Non-current classes feature bikes up to 1990. For details, see the AMA Amateur Competition Rulebook at www.americanmotorcyclist.com > Racing > Rules.
Hunter said that, as always, the motocross track at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will be a throwback to classic tracks of the 1960s and 1970s that emphasized natural terrain and wide, flowing layouts.
“Modern tracks and today’s top-level amateur competition are great, but both can be a bit intimidating for weekend warriors on decades-old machinery,” Hunter said. “Even if you are just bringing out an old dirt bike for your first race, we have a class for you at this event. The track is fun but easy to ride, and our vintage riders know how to race in a responsible way.”
Hunter added that fans could still expect to see some seriously quick riders in the expert-level classes.
“There definitely will be some intense racing in all the A classes at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days,” Hunter said. “Racers will not just be competing for AMA National No. 1 plates but to also earn points toward AMA Off-Road Vintage Grand Championship honors.”
There will be a few modern touches, such as the spectator seating, trackside interviews and track signage.
“For racers who appreciate a modern starting gate, I would like to assure them that we’ll have one in place this year, as we have in past years,” Hunter said. “A big thanks to Jeremy Osborn at Ohio’s Briarcliff MX for loaning us the gate for 2015.”
All the vintage racing at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is part of the AMA Vintage Grand Championship, which awards AMA National No. 1 plates in motocross, hare scrambles, trials and road racing. In addition, the dirt track races that take place the same weekend at the nearby Ashland County Fairgrounds are a round of the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series.
Three special awards also are up for grabs at the event. A-class riders in vintage motocross, hare scrambles and trials will earn points toward both the AMA Off-Road Vintage Grand Champion and AMA Vet/Senior Vintage Grand Champion awards, while road racing and dirt track competitors will compete for the AMA Track Racing Vintage Grand Championship.
As always, a professional photographer will be on site capturing the on-track action. High-resolution images from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will be available for free at http://gallery.americanmotorcyclist.com following the event.
For 2015, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is a fundraiser for the facility, which houses the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and other thematic exhibits that celebrate motorcycling’s heritage.
The museum was founded in 1990 to provide a permanent home to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, which celebrates and preserves the rich tradition of motorcycling in America through the recognition of the sport’s greatest heroes. Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days are donated to the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization tasked with funding the operation of the museum and Hall of Fame activities.
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days also includes North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet with parts, bikes and memorabilia from all eras. Bike shows bring out examples of some of history’s most beloved motorcycles, while stunt shows, such as the American Motor Drome Wall of Death, and demo rides of current production bikes keep attendees entertained. Seminars feature some of the country’s leading experts on numerous motorcycling topics.
It all adds up to one of motorcycling’s premier events. Learn more, see photos and read stories from past AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com.
To receive the latest news and updates about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, see www.americanmotorcyclist.com/vmdupdates or search for the hashtag #AMAVMD on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join
