Blackhawk Farms Raceway - RR

BLACKHAWK FARMS RACEWAY BACK ON THE TRACK@ I hit the track It's been too long, I'm glad to be back Yes, I'm loose JULY 24-26 From little use 2020 REHV MOTO AHRMA I've been looking at the sky 'Cause racing has been on stand-by NATIONAL HISTORIC CUP Forget the hearse 'cause I never die ROADRACE SERIES I got nine lives Cat's eyes Abusin' every one of them as I pass by 'Cause I'm back Yes, I'm back WRITTEN BY: WES ORLOFF Back on the track

PHOTOS BY: IAN POKRIEFKA @ NVUS IMAGES

Adam Cramer & Nick Hargis in a SC3 Lost Era Sidecar get some lift in turn 3

The 2020 Rehv Moto AHRMA National Historic Roadrace Series made its long-awaited return to action (finally!) during their first visit to Blackhawk Farms Raceway—and it was worth the wait.

The AHRMA roadrace circus rolled into the scrappy little track in South Beloit, Illinois, Thursday afternoon in late July after almost five months since any competitor had experienced the red mist; there was an anxiety and excitement that was palpable in the hot and humid Midwest air. Some of that excitement and anxiety was also due to the new COVID-19 world we all live in, which required social distancing and masks. I am happy to report that despite the new challenges 2020 has brought us, the attendees did a great job respecting each other and keeping everyone safe— even if we may have doubled our steps due to ‘The walk of shame’ to retrieve a forgotten mask for the riders meeting, bathroom, showers, etc.

For some, the AHRMA weekend actually kicked off on Thursday as some of the local Chicago and Milwaukee racers took part in Big Bob’s rescheduled (and well attended) vintage circus track day, hosted by Moto-Vid. Kathryn at Moto-Vid runs a great, well organized track day and is highly recommended. Official AHRMA practice started on Friday, and by the show of hands at the riders meeting, it was apparent this was the first time at Blackhawk for the majority of AHRMA racers. We also welcomed 10 new racers (eight solos and one sidecar team) into the AHRMA fold through the road racing school. Welcome to all!

By the end of practice, most of the racers were coming to terms with Blackhawk, a tricky little track that rewards precision, but a great fit for a vintage bike in a park-like setting. Did I mention it was a hot weekend? High temperatures in the 90s along with similar humidity levels meant hydration was the order of the day. We also had heat advisory warnings on Saturday and Sunday—although certain tire vendors and southerly based AHRMA officials were chuckling at our Midwest definition of hot…

Travis Frier #073 & Kevin

Knuth #810 in 200GP Plus As hot as the temperature was, the action on the track was even hotter. Racing started out each day with the always entertaining Le Mans start CB160 race. Perennial class winner, Greg Glevicky, took wins both days, followed home on Saturday by John Scales and Dan Waite, and Sunday by Stuart Sanders and our AHRMA volunteer with the weird beard, Rosco Tuffli. Ironman Alex McClean took the win in Pre-1940 both days, and Duane Kuhlow taking the Historic Lightweight Production win, under pressure, from second place Mike Baker on Sunday, less than a second separating them.

Although Dave Roper set fast lap in 350GP, Alex McLean won 350GP both days (by a whisker on Sunday). The Sportsman 350 war was won by young fast guy, Kevin Dinsmoor, on Saturday and ‘veteran’ fast guy, Eric Cook, on Sunday.

The Sound of Thunder 1 race was up next, and local instructor/ fast guy and lightweight track record holder Kevin Van Engen showed all the big bike guys the fast way home on an SV650 turning a blistering 1:12 in the process. Kevin wasn’t to have it all his own way on Sunday however, limping home a severely chattering SV to second behind MotoAmerica Twins competitor, Kris Lillegard, on a KTM RC8.

Social distancing was most definitely not being practiced in the 500 Premiere Cup, as locals Wes Orloff and Andy Mauk were glued together for eight laps, Orloff inheriting the win after Mauk tucked the front end passing

a lapper on the final corner of a thrilling last lap. Both Mauk and Orloff DNS and DNF, respectively, on Sunday due to previous day’s crash damage on Mauk’s Keith Leightyprepared Honda, and a shorted battery on the warm-up lap for Orloff. Andy Findling survived the carnage and brought his BSA home for the win.

Race five brought out a healthy group of 14 sidecars to the Blackhawk pavement for the first time in decades, and they put on a great show. Fast lap and the SC2 win went to Tim Joyce and Kat Collins, while second place was picked up by ‘sideways is my ways’ team Trosper, with Brad Carlisle and Eddie Neubauer filling out the box. Dale Lavender picked up the TT1 win, while the Stivason family dominated SC1 and SC3.

Race six, Sound of Thunder 2, was another school put o n by Kevin Van Engen, taking the win over Kris Lillegard and Chris Haesemeyer both Saturday and Sunday, while Ralph Staropoli rode to a strong SOS3 win on Saturday. Bill Doran and Dave Frick had

Eric Cook #62 & Kevin Dinsmoor #304 in Sportsman 350

an awesome race-long battle in the heat in Sound of Singles 3 on Sunday, with Bill just edging out Frick for the win. Kevin Dinsmoor put it on top of the box again in F250. Classic Sixties and 650, F125 and F250 saw some long-time AHRMA family legacy at the top, with iron worker Wesley Goodpaster winning Classic Sixties 650, second generation fast kid, Colton Roberts, taking the F125 win, and Alex Mclean McCleaning up for the win in Classic Sixties. Race eight saw a great battle of fast lightweight jockeys, Bill Doran and Greg Glevicky, with Greg on his four-stroke just edging Bill on his two-stroke. It was another squeaker in Class C Footshift as Dave Tompkins handed a rare second place to Alex McLean (who had an even rarer fall on Sunday). Ralph the mouth Wessell took the Handshift win over Warren Heir who is developing a beautiful ‘new’ Harley WR racer. Race nine was an eclectic mix of classes, with Randy Sullinger taking the BOT1 win on Saturday; Dakota Wolter returning the favor to take Sunday’s BOT1 win over Scott Billings

and Greg Hutcheson on his big Hog. New Mexican, Dennis Parrish, took Saturday’s Formula Vintage win after a dog fight with Alan Perry. Sunday’s Formula Vintage and Formula 750 was a family affair, with the nicest guys in the paddock, ‘Dad,’ Jeff Hargis, winning Formula Vintage, and F750 going to the fruit of his loins, Nick Hargis. Middleweight Superbike was won by Paul Elledge on Dan’s May’s BMW, over Kawasaki-mounted local fast guy, Ben Sloter, and Guzzi-mounted Alex Cook. Race ten saw the Next Gen Superbikes out on track with Scott Rothermel taking the win on Saturday. Daniel Peter held off locals, Steve Alexander, Mike Harlow, and Paul Elledge, to take the Motard class win. Wesley Goodpaster put it on top of the box again in BEARS, and Travis Frier, exchanging wins with Duane Kuhlow, took the Novice Historic Production Heavyweight top honor. Saturday’s Race eleven had thrilling finishes in all three classes. Modern jockey, Chris Haesemeyer, squeaked out a win over Greg Avello in Formula Thunder by only 0.074 seconds. William Wells won an even closer battle over Sven Bley in Next Gen Superbike

Lightweight by only 0.001 seconds

Driver: Daniel May/Passenger: Craig Chawla #93 SC2 Super Vintage Sidecar

Richard Richter #R3, Matthew Joy with local, Andy #469 & Alexander Cook #092 in Mauk, bringing the Keith Vintage Superbike Middleweight Leighty-tuned VFR500 home in third. The theme of close finishes continued in Vintage Superbike Heavyweight with Dennis Parrish stealing the win over Alex Cook by less than a second. Great racing by all. Randy Sullinger took the Next Gen Superbike Lightweight win on Sunday in a little less dramatic fashion, and Kris Lillegard threw down fastest lap by some margin to keep Haesemeyer’s Formula Thunder win honest on the second day of racing.

Race twelve saw Scott Billings return to the top of the box in Next Gen Superbike Saturday and J. Scott Rothermel taking Sunday’s win, while Ralph Starpoli took wins over locals, Mike Harlow and Steve Alexander, on motards in SOS3 Saturday; Alexander and his Husqvarna picked up the win Sunday. Dakota Wolter took a convincing win in BOT2, and Chi Vin regular, Matt Joy, took home the Vintage Superbike Lightweight win.

Alex McLean #122 Class C Footshift & Tanner Wiedemeyer #259 200GP Plus

Dakota Wolter in Sound of Thunder 3

The final race of the day saw the much-anticipated SOT3 race showdown between Josh Saxe on his ‘little buddy’ SV650 vs. podium regular and team 811 member, Chris Haesemeyer. No one told Dakota Wolter about it however and he took the win with Saxe in second and Haesemeyer cutting his way up from last on the grid to third. The trio turned the podium upside down with a great race on Sunday, this time Haesemeyer taking the win over Wolter and Saxe.

This is going to be a fun class to watch for the rest of the year. Thruxton Cup was won by Clint Austin both days, with Jeff Hargis taking the 750 Sportsman win over Mike Dixon and Matt Esterline.

Overall, Blackhawk was a great event to kick-start the rest of the AHRMA season. Great racing and great to see the AHRMA family again. Blackhawk Down. On to Gingerman…

MORNING PADDOCK WALK @BLACKHAWK FARMS RACEWAY PHOTOS & WORDS BY: KEVIN MCINTOSH

Kevin Knuth dialing in his foot control

Kevin Rammer showing off his nicely powder coated frame. Mike Baker just enjoying it

Warren Heir Sr. & his Class C Handshift Harley

Byron P Hannah II making a few tweaks to his F125 bike

Brian Woods & Rachel Brink's rig in Surgery

Dave Roper dialing in his bikes

Dale and Murisha Lavender’s rig security I'm sure Joey Haupt (RIP) was all smiles when Tavis Frier took first place in Novice Historic Production Heavyweight on his old XS650

Colton Roberts' stable of bikes

Not sure how Jeffrey Miller did on the track, but he definitely won coolest vintage hauler in my eyes

Rosco keeping it Cheap and Shameless

CONGRATULATIONS TO: LEAH ORLOFF

Award Photo by: Kevin McIntosh

AHRMA WOMAN ROADRACER OF THE YEAR

GINGER MAN,

RACING! 2020 REHV MOTO AHRMA NATIONAL HISTORIC CUP ROADRACE SERIES --- JULY 31 - AUGUST 2 --- IT’S GREAT TO BE WRITTEN BY: KEVIN MCINTOSH

350GP, F125, F500, Sportsman 750 start: 338 - Andy Findling 74 - Wes Orloff 76 - Stuart Carter Z7 - Jerry Duke 97X - Francis Ganance 7 - Dave Roper 9- Colton Roberts 17G - Randy Knoop 97L - Dave Rhodes 641 (Hidden)-Craig Hirko

Fresh off the return Photo by: Ian Pokriefka @ NVUS Images Brian Larrabure #14 Photo by: Jack Lahrman to roadracing at Blackhawk Farms, the back-to-back weekends gave the air of some return to normality, even if it is one that includes social distancing and facial coverings. We are back to racing and it feels good! Granted, I was a bit nervous driving from Wisconsin through Illinois considering the recent travel ban (at the time) between the two states; just a reminder how far we truly are from the normality we once knew. So, keeping the fluid intake to a minimum and steering clear of Chicago, I made my way as quickly as possible to the safety of Michigan and the closest accessible gas station. Boy, this travel thing is sure tricky now… The entrance sign to Gingerman Raceway is always a welcome sight, but for whatever reason, it always takes way longer to reach it coming off Highway 196 than I remember. Did I pass it? No, just be patient, there it is, there is everyone in their pits, on the track, Gingerman, it’s so good to be back! Race 1 Out of the Gate in the Le Mans race on Saturday, Jonas Stein #123, John Scales #294 and Brian Larrabure #14 made things interesting finishing first, second and third in the alwaysanticipated Le Mans-start race. Greg Glevicky #1C, was plagued by mechanical gremlins that found him out of the race by lap three. Like a bit of deja vu, Sundays Le Mans race saw the same results though at a slower pace due to overnight rain. Glevicky was able to get back on pace and made Larrabure work for a second third place with a photo finish (.073 second difference). Class C Footshift was a weekend battle between David Tompkins #33Q and Alex McLean #122, with David coming out on top both days. McLean did make things interesting Sunday with a strong start, crossing the finish line a half-second behind Tompkins.

X76 - Driver: Ryan Hunt/Passenger: Gregory Glevicky 66 - Driver: Erik Green/Passenger: Heather Yampolsky 309 - Driver: Tim Joyce/Passenger: Kat Collins X82 - Driver: Eric Trosper/Passenger: Celia Trosper

Alan Feinman #187 & Jerry Nickell #3N

Novice Historic Production Photos by: Jack Lahrman Lightweight was dominated by Mike Baker #17C on Saturday Race 3 with a Difference of 36 seconds Sportman 750 was, one might say, “Pure Michigan,” between first and Tim Terrell #22B with track locals Jeff Hargis #84 and Matt Esterline #237 in second place. going head-to-head and putting on a great show for all those On Sunday, Baker let Terrell and trackside. Esterline would find the checkered flag first on Shane Powers #019 battle it out for Saturday and Hargis, after some reworking of his front end, the top spot. Both riders were fully would find victory .888 seconds ahead of Esterline on Sunday. in-sync through the first half the race, with Terrell Stuart Carter #76 found another gear in Sunday’s 500 finally pulling away for the win. Premier Vintage Cup race and bested Wes Orloff by a

Race 2 slowed down for Stuart as they both elevated their pace from Sound of Thunder 3 was a tale of many close races Saturday, the difference was Stuart dropping 23 seconds to on both Saturday and Sunday. Joshua Saxe #1d find the win. reminded everyone both days why he has the difference of just .122 seconds at the checker. Wes by no means #1 plate, taking first both days, while Chris Race 4

Haesemeyer #80X chased him all weekend for Formula Thunder didn’t disappoint with a two 2 second place finishes. three-way battle for first place on Saturday.

Greg Hutcheson #56R, Thomas Ryan #002 Chris Haesemeyer #80X came out on top both and Shane Quigg #762 battled it out for Saturday and Sunday, with Tim Nelson #850 third place both days, with Shane rounding about as close a second place as you can get, out the podium Saturday and Greg on just .001 behind on Saturday and .097 on Sunday. Sunday. Mark Hoyt #89R was a very close Dakota Wolter joined the fun on Sunday third, just .0493 seconds behind, or should I and matched up perfectly with Arch E. York say next to the other podium finishers on #71Y with Wolter just ahead by .342 seconds Saturday. at the finish line in seventh position. Daniel Peter #X0, Mike Harlow #X30 Saturday’s Sound of Singles 2 had a great and Steve Alexander #43A blasted across battle between Steve Alexander #43A and Mike the finish line (in that order) within Harlow #X30. It really doesn’t get much closer seconds of each other in the Motard than this with lap differences of .562 all the way race Saturday. Peter repeated his win on down to .034 between the two. Now that’s some close racing. Matt Esterline #237 & Jeff Hargis #84 battled hard and split the weekend. Sunday with Alexander just a few ticks back in second place.

Photo by: Ian Pokriefka @ NVUS Images

Photo by: Ian Pokriefka @ NVUS Images

Race 5 – Sidecars

A grid of almost 20 sidecars Saturday was a pretty cool thing to see; maybe not the most of any recent side car grid, but during these challenging times, it was proof (along with 3 new monkeys passing race school the day before) that growth is happening on the three-wheel side of AHRMA racing.

Driver Tim Joyce and Kat Collins #309 dominated all classes while taking first both Saturday and Sunday in SC Super Vintage (SC2). A distant second was Driver Eric and Celia Trosper X82 on Saturday and Driver Daniel May with Craig Chawla #93 on Sunday. Just to confirm, you weren’t seeing things if you thought you saw Gregory Glevicky as a monkey on Ryan Hunt’s rig #76 in Lost Era Sidecar. What doesn’t that guy do? Lost Boyz sure know how to have fun, and win. The duo took home first place on Saturday, with Sean & Susan Stivason #458 taking second and Adam Cramer’s rig rounding out the podium. Race 6

Jonas Stein #123 continued to reign in the small displacement bikes with a win in 200 Grand Prix Plus on Saturday. Colton Roberts #9 followed, with John Scales #294 right behind. Brian Larrabure #14 and Greg Glevicky #1C were DNS for Saturday’s race, but Sunday was a different story with Glevicky coming out of what seemed to be a mechanical funk, dropped the hammer, not only taking the checker, but also besting Saturdays fastest class lap time by five seconds and improving on his fastest lap time from last year on the same track by two seconds. Race 7

Gary Orr #111 had things wrapped up in Battle of the Twins 1 900cc-Open on both Saturday and Sunday. The battle for second and third was where the action was, with Greg Hutcheson #56R besting Brian Larrabure #14 to the line by .134 of a second for second place Saturday and Paul Canale #553 keeping Dakota Wolter #65W and Scott Billings #35R at bay for the last podium spot. Sunday saw similar action for second and fourth, with Larrabure moving up into second ahead of Hutcheson by .034 of a second at the checker. Wolter and Billings diced it up for fourth place almost replicating Saturday’s results with Wolter a step ahead or .048 of a second ahead to be exact.

Vintage Superbike Heavyweight saw Mark Hoyt #89R run away with the lead Saturday. Sunday’s spotlight was on Dennis Parrish #1R and Alexander Cook #092 swapping the lead multiple times throughout the race, with Parrish catching the checker just over a halfsecond ahead.

All cylinders were firing during the Bears race on Saturday with Wesley Goodpaster #80 and Daniel May #93 shadowing each other until the end when Goodpaster was able to pull ahead for the win.

Clay Land, who started off strong, dropped off the pace early on and limped across the finish line for third place. His issues would follow him into Sunday’s race, starting strong, but then ending the race early, while Alan Feinman stepped up and found the second podium spot of the day. Race 8

Great Scotts! Next Gen Superbike 2 was a nail biter both days with J Scott Rothermel #29J edging out Scott Billings #35R by almost the same difference each

Photos by: Ian Pokriefka @ NVUS Images

day, .0494 on Saturday and .0471 on Sunday. Hard to believe two riders could be so closely matched; Billings even bested average top lap speed on Sunday, but it just wasn’t enough to get the W. P h o t o b y : K e v i n M c I n t o s h Coming in third place both days was Philip Philip A. Johnson back to racing after a 23-year hiatus. Johnson #22. You may Welcome back! not know him, but if you do a little research you will find he is an ex-AMA pro racer who competed against the likes of Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer and our very own David Aldana back William Brian Wells #92R, in the day.

Philip A. Johnson #22, Robert Himmelmann #62x

Photo by: Ian Pokriefka @ NVUS Images

Philip picked this very weekend to mount a return to roadracing after 23 years away from track. Let just say he was a bit more than elated to be back on the track competing once again. In Next Gen Superbike Lightweight, Sven Bley #83B took home the win both days, with the rest of the pack a good distance behind. Andrew Mauk #X95 found the checker in second place on Saturday, while William Brian Wells #92R rounded out the podium Saturday in t h i r d and second on Sunday, just edging out Robert Himmelmann #62x by .173 of a second.

The writing was on the wall (results board) in Vintage Superbike

Lightweight, while Joshua Saxe #619 took home the W on Saturday with a solid lead of nine seconds ahead of Matthew Joy. It was Joy improving his pace every lap and into second place that set the stage for an exciting race

Photo by: Ian Pokriefka @ on Sunday. Both

NVUS Images Bree & Danilo Ghiotto making some trackside adjustments to their

SC Super Vintage (SC2) rig.

Joy and Saxe lowered their lap times on Sunday, but Joy keep the momentum going from Saturday and crossed the finish line a half a second ahead for an impressive W, while Jim Eich #51P took a respectable third place both days. Race 9 Sound of Thunder 2 saw some of the most evenly matched groups of riders all weekend. Battles ensued through the entire grid. Chris Haesemeyer #80X, Garrett Carter #026 and Ralph Staropoli finished in that order with just a fraction of a second separating the podium finishers on Saturday.

Other notable battles on Saturday were Joshua Saxe #1d besting Gary Orr #111 for fourth by .159 of a second with Brian Larrabure #14 one second behind them taking sixth place.

Down the leader board, Andrew Crouter #681V finished in 17th place ahead of Shane Quigg #762 with a .221 difference at the finish.

On Sunday Haesemeyer picked up the

Wes Orloff blasting to first place in Vintage Superbike Middleweight. His BMW borrowed from Paul Elledge who suffered an arm injury during practice. Photo by: Craig Chawla

pace and gave himself a four+ second lead over Orr and Staropoli. The fifth-place spot was hard fought with Sven Bley #83B hitting the checker less than a second before Tim Nelson #850.

In Superbike Middleweight, Wes Orloff #133 switched things up a bit from his normal classes and rode a 1982 BMW R69 made available by a Paul Elledge injury during the practice rounds. Wes and Alexander Cook #092 had a good time on the track on Saturday, making it one for the memories with Orloff inching out Cook by .163 of a second. Matthew Joy rounded out the top three podium spots with a distant third place.

With no Orloff on the Grid on Sunday, it was all Alexander Cook. Ben Sloter #71R was 11.5 seconds behind and Matthew Joy taking another third-place finish. Race 10

Great Scotts Part 2! Not to be outdone by an earlier split time of .001 or 1000th of second finish, J. Scott Rothermel #29J and Scott Billings #35R can match the one millisecond split. To what I’m sure was pure frustration, Billings had to take second once again, but at least he can take comfort in knowing

Alan Fienman's son Paxson, shows all the signs of a future monkey. Danilo Ghiotto approves with a smile :) Photo by: Kevin McIntosh

surely frustrated Rodney Menke #34R, who was charging hard at the end, but finishing third (what might seem like an eternity comparatively behind the leaders) at 1.431 seconds. Sheesh, that is some close racing!

Battle of the Twins 2 0-900cc on Sunday showcased two evenly matched riders in Dakota Wolter #65W and Tony Prust #15X, with Wolter taking the checker .753 seconds ahead of Prust for the win. Race 11

Sportsman 350 was the tale of two totally different races. Saturday showcased a great battle between Eric Cook #62 and Kevin Dinsmoor #304. Seemed more of challenge of who will blink first. With times pushing into

She's ready to go!

Newcomer and daughter of long time

AHRMA racer Francis Ganance, Morgan

Ganance jumps on the 1c machine of Gregory Glevicky to start her career with AHRMA by taking the Race Academy on Friday.

While Corey Golla isn't racing, he's probably the coolest school superintendent in history. Lucky kids in that district!

Member of the

TUTU Crew Spotted! Learn more, next issue...

Sportsman 750 territory, the two were locked onto the prize going into the last lap. Not sure what happened, but Dinsmoor blinked or I’m guessing had some sort of mechanical issue as he slowed dramatically in the final lap and the W went to Cook.

Sunday saw a fresh battle between Jack Mattlin #297, Greg Potter #132 and 250 Grand Prix racer David Roper #7. I’m sure this made for interesting corner action, but in the end, Roper couldn’t keep up and it was a .248 split between them with Mattlin taking the win.

Race 12

It was all Chris Haesemeyer in Sound of Thunder 1 pushing lap times down to mid 1:30s and easily taking first Saturday. Clint Austin #1t and Tim Nelson #850 rounded out the podium Saturday. Sunday, with Haesemeyer not on the grid, Austin and Nelson took a run for first with Austin taking the win 1.594 seconds ahead of Nelson. In review:

All in all, it was a great weekend of racing… with a few sprinkles to keep us on our toes and light on the throttle as needed.

There was very little difference in the race weekend experience, social distancing has always been popular in the paddock, masks just make us look like hummm, a doctor… The Doctor??? Maybe a desperado or outlaw, just leave your leather chaps at home, okay… thanks!

Some creative DIY farings on Jonas Stein's and Brian Wagner's bikes Corey Golla (Left) relaxing with family after a good day on the track

Photos by: Kevin McIntosh

It was great to finally see the new AHRMA merch in full swing and flying off the table. Now we all can feel cool on the racetrack and look cool off it!

Shout-out goes to Derek “Stickboy” Bennett for making the trip up in support of all those with tire-related needs. You rock!

Oh yea, please remember to pre-register, it helps keep grids manageable and not suddenly bloated on race day. Remember, registration fees are refundable, so there really is no risk, it just makes the racing experience better for all.

Thank you to the Tutu Crew and everyone else who volunteered their time to make it another successful race weekend. Let’s keep it going!

Pit pet Stella and owner Cass Crawford saying hi next to Jason Roberts' 350GP Ripper, a Yamaha TD2B

Thank you to Derek "Stickboy" Bennett for supporting all our tire-related needs .

WHY STARTERS COMPLAIN ABOUT

The good, the bad and the simply hard to read number plates

BAD

FRONTNUMBER

PLATES

BY: ED BARGY

The problem is most frustrating with more and more tracks being built with flying bridge starter stands. These tracks also have no provision or option for the starter to get trackside for working the race flags. Now, the starter is further away from the racers as they come to the finish line.

Elevated stands are designed for automobile racing not motorcycle racing. The problem is in the sitting position of the racer. The car racer is generally sitting in at least a semi-reclined position and can easy to look up at the flying bridge. Motorcycle roadracers, on the other hand, are leaned forward in a racing tuck. This makes it difficult to look up at the elevated start stand. The diagram below (Figure #1) shows the field of vision of a car driver (green) vs. a bike racer (red).

BODY POSITION: CAR DRIVERS VS. MOTORCYCLE RIDERS

#1

Below are a couple diagrams showing racer distances from the flying bridge. This diagram (Figure #2) shows the relative fields of vision as they approach the flying bridge. Now, when the bikes are still far enough from the finish line, the rider can fairly easily look up. You can see that the start tower is out of the motorcycle rider’s field of vision sooner that the car driver.

FIELD OF VIEW: CAR DRIVERS VS. MOTORCYCLE RIDERS

(Figure#3) As the rider gets closer to the starter stand, there are three points to take into consideration 1.Is the point, where the racer can easily look up (green dashed line) 2.Is the point where most racers are no longer looking up at stand (solid red Lines) 3.Is the point where the starter will throw the flag on the riders (solid orange Lines)

#3

STARTER'S TOWER

Point where starter displays flag for leader Point where racers no longer see tower Point where racers can see flags

Now the question is, “How does this relate to bad number plates?”

Before the starter can display a flag to the leader he must be able to easily and quickly read the front number plate of the approaching bikes before they get to point #3. He needs enough time from being able to read the front plate and react to get the flag out in time for the racer to see it. The starter must be able to read the front number before the #2 point in the drawing to be able to get the flag out by the time the racers get to point #3. In most cases, the starter cannot display the flag when the leader is at point #1 because of the backmarkers about to be passed by the leader.

(Figure #4) shows these points from the starter and manual scoring’s perspective. A.Is where the starter needs to be able to read the front number plate. B.Is the point where the starter needs to display the checkered flag before the racer stops looking up. C.Is the point, unfortunately, where most number plates can actually be read by the officials and the racers have already stopped looking up.

Now, the argument most often brought up to justify poor numbers, is, “We have computer scoring, so we don’t need

clear numbers.” My question now is, “How does that help the starter?” Even if we had, which we don’t, someone in the tower calling out to us, say for example, ”Your leader is #367,” the problem is, we still have to look trackside and visually find #367, which is usually in a pack of backmarkers, and then get the flag out in time. If we can’t read the number by the time the rider gets to point “C,” the racer is no longer looking up and the flag will actually come out when the racer is at Point “D.” When I was racing, I had the biggest clearest numbers I could fit on the front. I wanted the starter to be able to read them. I wanted the announcer, the spectators, the corner workers and potential sponsors to be able to read them and know who I was.

If you read the chapter on number plates in the rule book, you will see that nowhere is “Artistic License” given to the layout of the numbers. Also, the companies that make these real pretty, artistic, and fancy looking numbers don’t read or FINISH LINE even know our rules for number displays. #3 So, the favor I’m asking all racers is to take a good look at your numbers. If they don’t match the rules and are difficult to read from a distance, please fix them. I also “challenge” anyone, to come up to the starter’s stand and try to pick out and write down the numbers of the first 10 to 15 racers as they come to the finish line. I’ll bet no one will take me up on this. ☺

Thank you for reading,

Shady Acres Motocross Park Shady Acres Motocross Park Friendsville, MD 7/25-26/2020 ______________ ______________

2020 Hagerty AHRMA National Cross Country Series

Author: Joshua Schucker

The nation’s best vintage cross-country racers settled into Shady Acres Motocross Park for rounds five and six of the Hagerty National Series in late July. Shady Acres is a beautiful, sprawling property that served as a dairy farm in a past life. Truthfully, you would be certain the facility is still an active farm as you pass the barns, pastures, and hay fields. However, once you reach the back half of the property, the motocross track comes into view and you realize that the only Kaws around here are lime green.

Located just south of Friendsville, Shady Acres Motocross Park is situated in the far western part of Maryland. Just minutes from West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and close to the eastern continental divide, this region is home to rolling hills and mountains that create a beautiful landscape. The ample pits at the park sit fairly high in elevation allowing a gorgeous view of the surrounding area. And, if the draw of a national cross country event is not enough, the largest freshwater lake in the state is less than five miles to the south. Deep Creek Lake is popular vacation destination in the area and is surrounded by resorts, condos, unique amenities, and attractions providing a cool vibe and interesting opportunities to explore following the day’s racing.

WHY STARTERS COMPLAIN ABOUT ______________ Michael Wright Photo by: Joe Spayd James Smith Photo by: Joe Spayd Robert Ragon Photo by: Joe Spayd

Shady Acres’ owners, Tim and Paula Thomas, are obviously Vintage: proud of their facility and very enthusiastic about motorcycle Thirty-three riders hit the course Saturday morning for the racing and the people involved. Both could be seen throughout vintage race, and after four laps, a familiar face sat atop the the property and pits all weekend meeting, conversing, and podium. Christian Brumbaugh has taken the vintage class ensuring that everyone was having a good time. The Thomases by storm this year in national and regional competition. His treated the participants with genuine affection and made every Yamaha was pulling away from second place Brian Grove effort to please. Tim even spent considerable time and effort throughout the race. Dave Kutskel wedged his Honda in to water and maintain the motocross track for some casual MX third between the Husqvarnas of Grove and fourth place Joe racing in the late afternoon for anyone interested (the track was Cole. Brothers Larry and Kyle Warner followed each other great!). Mimicking the care and concern of the ownership, the across the line in fifth and sixth respectively. Both team of National Cross Country Coordinator, Becky riding Yamahas, Kyle’s performance earned Hayes, and the Mid-Atlantic Cross Country him top intermediate honors and served Region’s crew facilitated a well-run event notice to his expert class sibling. There throughout the weekend. Mid-Atlantic’s may be a black stripe in Kyle’s future. Dave Kutskel and Mike Zdybak were Brian Turk rode his IT200 to the charged with creating a top-level offclass win in Pre-Modern Novice road loop using the variety of terrain and a 14th overall position provided at Shady Acres. The course placing him just ahead of took full advantage of the farm’s Rusty Kerns for top novice existing construct to jump from class rider in the final results. grass track, to single track, to farm lane, Suzuki TS185-mounted Ken circling a couple farm ponds, weaving Cichy would claim the top spot through pasture and fence rows, back to in Sportsman 200 Intermediate the woods for flowing two-track with 58 Brian Ashcraft action followed by the Hodaka of fun elevation changes, and the ultimate 67K Marty Strouse Grant Reichart in second. Tommy in unique course design, a sprint through Photo by: Joe Spayd Grimmel, the president of Potomac the milking parlor of the abandoned Vintage Riders, a huge sponsor dairy barn. Heavy rains leading up to the event forced some late-minute changes and presented a few muddy areas. However, the area was blessed with great weather during the weekend, and the course provided a fun layout and great racing. To make things more interesting, the course was run in reverse on Sunday and was equally enjoyable and competitive. of local vintage racing, would pilot his Penton to third behind Reichart. Cichy would go on to repeat his class win on Sunday as well. Becky Hayes, AHRMA’s Cross Country Coordinator did all she could to hang with Emily Reichart in the Women’s Intermediate class but would have to settle for second both days behind Reichart’s double class wins. ______________

Steve Bowman Photo by: Joe Spayd

Fred Veator Photo by: Joe Spayd

Brian Grove Photo by: Joe Spayd

trip from Tennessee worthwhile by grabbing second place in the overall standings and the class win in Post Vintage Expert. Brian Grove held the early lead in the class before trouble on lap four handed the lead over to Farris. John Brunnett (SWM) and Wade Brown (HUSQ) would also make their way past Grove, which relegated him to fourth. Steve Bowman would fill out the overall top five and finish in second behind Cole in a competitive field of six in the Post Vintage 50+ Expert class. Adam Cadle would nail down third in that class, and those three would go on to repeat that finishing order in Sunday’s event as well. Ten riders took a shot at the Post Vintage 60+ Intermediate ______________ ______________ class. Bill Malec took an early lead, but it wasn’t going to last. Dave McIntyre took over the lead on lap two and didn’t look back for the win. Mike Zdybak was making a charge for the lead as the race wound down but would ultimately settle for second a mere five seconds behind. Dave Mitchell would take home third completing a top three sweep for Honda’s venerable XR200R. Sunday would see the same number of racers hit the course, but the domination of Brumbaugh came to a close. It Joe Spayd would take a rider of Fred Hoess’ ilk Photo by: Brett Reichart to make it happen, as he joined in the David Leibgold action Sunday and took the overall win. Photo by: Brett Reichart Brian Grove would overcome his problems Sunday’s top finishers were nearly a mirror of Saturday with Brumbaugh again leading thirty-eight riders to the checkers. Brian Grove kept him a bit more honest this day in sticking to Brumbaugh’s tail throughout the race to finish second. Kutskel appeared to have another third overall wrapped up until Cole made a move the last lap and finished ahead of Kutskel by only four seconds! Steve Harouff would take his sharp 1974 MX Yamaha to top honors in the Vintage 50+ Intermediate class and a strong fifth overall. The hotly contested Sportsman 200 Expert class would claim overall positions six through eight. Timothy Grow would take the class win on his Husqvarna followed by the Yamahas of Larry Warner and Greg Barratt. Grow and Barratt were only seconds behind Saturday’s winner, Warner, each lap on Sunday until Grow made his move past Warner on the last lap and reached the checkered flag mere inches ahead of Warner. Richard Colahan would defend his class win from Saturday with another Classic Intermediate crown Sunday. Lee Stebleton and Lewis Mayer would finish one-two in the Vintage 60+ Intermediate class on a pair of unique bikes— Stebleton on an Austrian Puch and Mayer rockin’ a Rokon. Lewis Mayer Photo by: Brett Reichart William Ryburn Photo by: Joe Spayd during Saturday’s afternoon race and finish a respectable second, while Brumbaugh would settle for third. For the second day in a row, Joey Spayd II took charge of the Post Vintage 200 Intermediate class with a win over Edward Klinger and Kevin Whipkey. Klinger kept pressure on the youngster both days but was unable to get past him. It was a great father/ son weekend as the Original Joe Spayd would also take class wins on Saturday and Sunday in Post Vintage 200 Novice during the morning races. Jason Hearn’s IT490 was a finelooking machine, as Tommy Grimmel can attest, as he watched Hearn make the move past him on lap three to take the Post Vintage Open Intermediate win. The competitiveness of the Post Vintage 60+ Intermediate class was again a highlight on Sunday. Mike Zdybak would carry some of his closing lap speed from Saturday’s race into Sunday as he stalked Dave Mitchell for three laps before finally pouncing at the last minute. Mike’s XR would clear Mitchell’s by two seconds for the win. Great course, great location, great venue, great racing, great friends in Friendsville. If you’re able to visit the Thomases and their Shady Acres motocross Park next year, believe me, it’s well worth the trip. And bring a spare bike for some great motocross action following the afternoon races, or a boat for the lake! Thank you to the property owners, the event Post Vintage: coordinators, and volunteers who keep us racing and keep us Although 49 other riders tried, Brumbaugh was at it again safe. Also, thanks to Hagerty Insurance for stepping up as in Saturday’s post vintage race. He took the overall yet again the primary sponsor for the 2020 AHRMA National Cross on his IT200. Cole and Kutskel also held their standing in Country Series. Full results and national series point standings the top four, but Husky rider Clayton Farris made his long can be found at https://www.ahrma.org/schedules-results/.

VMC Frames AHRMA National Vintage Dirt Track Series HEADS TO KANSAS!

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS LAKESIDE SPEEDWAY / August 15th, 2020

Words & Photos by: Tom Schuman

The Great Plains Flat Track Group were hosts to our first AHRMA short track race in Kansas City, Kansas. A big thanks go out to Randy Koster and Jimmy O’Dell for welcoming AHRMA to their event. The Lakeside Speedway facility hosts weekly car races: USRA Modified, USRA Stock Cars, etc., on a 4/10th mile track. This was the first motorcycle event to be held at this facility. The track owner prepared the racetrack on Saturday and from what the riders said, the groove came in nicely which made for some excellent racing.

This was the first AHRMA race in Kansas, and the AHRMA turnout was not as good as we were hoping. But the racing did not lack excitement. Beno Rodi, #27, took first in the Dinosaur class with Preston Palmer, #59d, taking second. David Aldana, #13, did not disappoint the crowd with wins in multiple classes: Sportsman 600, Senior 50+, Super Senior 60+ and Seventies Singles. Jeff Durand, #79, carded a win in the Sportsman 750 and a second in the Classic 500 class riding a Triumph. He also is a new AHRMA member. Mike Newton, #42m, took the win in the Classic 500 class with Daniel Beher, #116, taking third. Other winners in the Sportsman 750 included Clayton Nelson, #45, in second and Beno Rodi, #27, in third.

The fans were great and followed the safety guidelines for COVID-19. In talking to many of the fans, they had no idea that they would be seeing the “On Any Sunday” and racing legend David Aldana. The line was long at Aldana’s pit after the races for autographs and stories from the past. Many asked when AHRMA is coming back. One thing is for sure, Lakeside Speedway will be on the calendar in 2021.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped put on a great event.

Be sure to mark your calendar for MotoFest! Don’t miss AHRMA’s return to Topeka, Kansas, May 28-30, 2021.

David Aldana #13, Mike Newton #45, Beno rodi #27 & Unkown #2 in staging area

Beno and Preston resting in between races

Dan Beher #116 & Preston Palmer #59D