NJMP 2021 BRIDGESTONE TIRES AHRMA NATIONAL HISTORIC CUP ROADRACE SERIES
JUNE 18-20 - 9 th ANNUAL
MILLEVILLE, NJ
NEW JERSEY
WORDS BY JOE W. KOURY // PHOTOS BY ETECHPHOTO
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with the always entertaining and competitive CB160 Le Mans start race. Rob Hall and Chris Akaydin traded wins on their Honda twins; Rob won on Saturday by just over a second and Chris nipped Rob by half a wheel on Sunday. Keith Hamilton wasn’t far behind them claiming third spot on day two. The fast guys were next with Mark Heckles (Ducati NCR) snagging the BOT 1 win over Gary Orr (BMW R9T Racer) and turning the weekend’s fastest lap at 1:27.857. On Sunday, Orr won over Dakota Wolter. Alan Perry crossed the finish line first in Formula Vintage with a narrow threesecond margin over Martin Jarusek (second) and Kevin Rammer. On Sunday it was Perry, Rammer and Mark Morrow.
But this was not just a motorcycle race, it was the Ninth Annual AHRMA Vintage Motorcycle Festival and Swap Meet with Friday Night Bike Night and Bike Show at the Finish Line Pub.
Michael Murray won the Sportsman 350 race both days by seven second margins over David Miller on Saturday and Eric “Ake” Smith Sunday. The battle for third came down to a scant .028 seconds with Chris Jackson barely edging John Waverka for that last podium spot. The sprint for second place was even closer in Sunday’s Sound of Singles 2 race. Marc Purslow won with Adrian Jasso taking second place over Dave Frick by .001! Christian Jensen (Ducati 888) and Michael Platt (Kawasaki Z7) went bar-to-bar in Next Gen Superbike both days and on Sunday, Matt Esterline (Honda CB750) locked up with Jeff Hargis (Yamaha XS650) for the narrow win
he venue shifted from the Heartland to just shy of the South New Jersey shore for rounds eleven and twelve of the Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Roadrace Series. The 2.25-mile, 12-turn “Thunderbolt” racecourse is located adjacent to the Millville Airport. Beginning in 1941, this was the site of the U.S. Army Airfield Gunnery School for fighter pilots flying the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. The track was named after this famous WWII aircraft. There were plenty of roadrace pilots anxiously awaiting their shot at the track which is one of my favorites. My reaction to cutting laps there was always, “Wow. What a brilliant layout. Genius.”
On Friday, twelve students successfully completed the AHRMA Academy of Roadracing (AAR) under the tutelage of capable rider and instructor, Mark Morrow. Mark enthusiastically shared the AAR student numbers so far this year: Roebling Road Raceway 13; Carolina Motorsports Park 23; Streets of Willow 12; Willow Springs Raceway 6; Heartland Motorsports Park 19, New Jersey Motorsports Park 12, Laguna Seca 20. Over 100 new racers. Welcome aboard. We were not able to make the trip this year, but a few riders did mention there were more than a few mosquitos to battle. There were some close battles on the tarmac both days beginning
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AMERICAN HISTORIC RACING MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION
AUGUST 2021
