500 Premier Class

500 Premier

An Inside Look at the 2021 AHRMA Featured Vintage Cup Series

WORDS BY JOE W. KOURY // PHOTOS BY ETECHPHOTO AND KEVIN MCINTOSH

It’s important to consider the significance of ‘Historic’ when the acronym (AHRMA) is unraveled. The American Historic Motorcycle Racing Association is home to some special members and historic motorcycles. There is a difference between vintage and historic, and that’s why AHRMA’s annual Featured Vintage Cup was created, to celebrate some of the most iconic racing motorcycles ever built for roadrace competition. The inaugural Vintage Cup year was 2019 and featured the 350GP class, won by Alex McLean on a 1967 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi Drixton. This year, the 500 Premier class took its turn in the spotlight with over 23 riders competing on at least 15 different brands of motorcycles or variations of these brands. Motorcycles eligible for this class: 1968, and earlier, 500cc four-stroke overhead valve and overhead cam, or 750cc sidevalve machines. The majority are 500cc singles with a few 450cc twins and 350cc singles intermingled. Many consider this to be the Golden Era of roadracing when riders like Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini ruled the world championships. It is important to acknowledge and thank the 2021 500 Premier Class Sponsors: Kandy and John Snead; Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton (nycnorton.com); Roadracing World (roadracingworld. com).

Featured Vintage Cup riders are sprinkled with special perks including enhanced trophies throughout the season, special awards for the series champion, Roadracing World Magazine articles, photos, digital and print coverage, early access to the paddock, racer spotlight features in the AHRMA MAG and the class champion gets their photo on the cover of the AHRMA MAG.

Before the weekend at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, the top four riders had a mathematical shot at the 500 Premier National Championship which is an indication of just how competitive the season has been up to this point. But the championship is not decided by total points. National Series awards are based on a rider’s best finishes in one-half the total number of up to 20 races. Andrew won both rounds at Little Tally with Tim the runner-up both days. Andrew now has a slim 171-point lead in the best of ten finishes for both riders heading into the big finale at Barber Motorsports Park. I smell a showdown. Here are the top five riders:

Andrew Mauk is the current points leader. He has been racing for 30 years, half of those with AHRMA. He is 47 years old and calls Milwaukee, WI, home. Andrew rides a 1969 Honda CB450 twin for Team Moto-Scoot and Leighty Customs. He owns Moto-Scoot, a motorcycle shop in Milwaukee. He’s won six races including Streets of Willow, Willow Springs Raceway, Laguna Seca and Talladega Gran Prix Raceway. He also competes in the Next Gen Superbike Lightweight class on a 1984 Honda VF500. His Keith Leighty-prepared, high RPM Honda 450 is a noticeable contrast to the more popular big singles on the track. His favorite track is Barber. I asked him to pick a favorite race bike. He said answering the question was tough but prefers the Honda 450 he rides in 500 Premier.

Tim Joyce at Streets of Willow photo credit: etechphoto

Tim Joyce at Heartland Motorsports Park photo credit: etechphoto

TIM JOYCE

Tim Joyce is currently second in total points. He had won four in a row before Little Tally riding to victories at Carolina Motorsports Park, Heartland Motorsports Park and Laguna Seca. He rode John Turner’s BMW R-50 one weekend and has competed on a (Maurice Candy-prepped) ’61 Norton Manx in the other races. Tim added, “Maurice’s son, Chris, decided his dad would love nothing more than to have his bike still out there, winning races. It’s been great to have these two top-notch bikes to choose from.” Tim is 57 years of age, is a self-employed carpenter and has been racing for 26 years overall and 26 with AHRMA. Bike and engine builder: Maurice Candy (Norton Manx) and Becks BMW Holland (BMW R-50). His favorite track is Calabogie Motorsports Park in Canada. He said, hands down, his favorite racebike is the Maurice Candy Norton Manx. Favorite competitors: John Ellis, Mark Morrow, Pat Mooney, Andrew Mauk, Tony Read and Wes Orloff. Sponsors: Maurice/Chris Candy, John Turner, Tim O’Brien, MAP Cycles, NYC Norton, REV’IT Leathers.

WES ORLOFF

Wes Orloff is from Mukwonago, WI. His wife, Leah, also races with AHRMA in the 200GP Plus and CB160 classes. Wes rides a 1967 Honda CB450 in 500 Premier and a Buell XB9R Firebolt in Battle of the Twins 1. Wes is 53 years of age and works as an engineer for HarleyDavidson. He’s been racing for 36 years, 22 of those with AHRMA. Dale Coffman builds and tunes his 500 Premier engine. He is sponsored by R/J Performance and Cometic (the gasket company). He really enjoys competing with Andrew Mauk since they both ride Honda CB450s. Wes has had his ‘moments’ during the series. He straightened the chicane out twice at Heartland Park, surviving two trips across the damp turf. He kept the shiny side up and rejoined the group, collecting valuable points.

Tony Read at Gingerman Raceway photo credit: Kevin McIntosh

JERRY DUKE

Last, but not least, is Jerry Duke. ‘Least’ actually applies here since Jerry rides a ’67 Ducati 350 Scrambler. Jerry is consistent, and that relatively diminutive Duc is fast. He also flogs it successfully in the 350 GP class. 62-year-old Jerry is from Florence, Alabama, and rides for Duke Racing. Longshore Cycle Center in Florence, Alabama, is a sponsor. I picked his brain a couple years ago at Little Tally, curious how he was getting that much go out of his 350 single. He didn’t elaborate but did say he knows the engines well including all the tricks to make them fast and durable. Tony Read is sitting in fourth position. He’s from Charlotte, TN, and rides a BSA B50 (most of the time). He borrowed Andy Findling’s Gold Star for one race when the B50 refused to cooperate. Tony won both rounds at Roebling Road Raceway and can also be seen on the 200GP Plus grid riding a BSA B25. Tony is 44 years old and has been racing with AHRMA for 13 years. His bike builder is fellow racer, Andy Findling. Andy and Ed Valiket build the engines. Sponsors include Andy Findling and Patrick McGraw. Barber Motorsports Park is Tony’s favorite racetrack. Tony said he loves riding the B50 but his Triumph 750 ‘fits like a glove’ and gets the nod as his favorite racebike. When he’s not racing or riding off-road Tony works as a Lighting Director/ Production Electrician. Tony has experienced his share of hard luck in the series when he was taken out in turn one at Carolina Motorsports Park. But that’s racin’.

Jerry Duke at Roebling Road Raceway photo credit: Stan Foxworthy

With the first twenty rounds of the 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series in the books, here’s a list of all the riders and their motorcycles listed by national points standings in descending order (6th through 22nd):

6. Brian Larrabure, ’68 Seely Matchless G50 7. Helmut Niederer, Seely G50 8. Dave Roper, ’70 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi ERTT (350cc) 9. Andy Findling, ’61 BSA Gold Star 10. Jeff Elings, ’65 Matchless G50 11. Allen Siekman, ’66 Honda CB450 12. David Rutherford, ’71 BSA B50 13. Ron Melton, ’62 Norton Manx 14. Chuck Crocco, ’71 BSA B50

For the 2022 season, AHRMA has chosen the Vintage Superbike Heavyweight class as the Featured Vintage Cup. Eligible bikes for this class include a variety of machinery, up through the 1982 model year, based on showroom-stock bikes: Race-prepped four-cylinder Japanese bikes in the 900-1000cc range; Unlimited-displacement pushrod triples such as Triumph Trident and BSA Rocket 3; Unlimited-displacement twins including BMW, Moto Guzzi and Harley-Davidson. Even the Honda CBX competes in this class. Don’t miss out, get your machines ready. The off-season beckons you. 15. Christian Jensen, ’61 Norton Manx 16. Stuart Carter, ’67 AJS Matchless G50 17. Patrick McGraw, ’67 Triumph T100R Daytona (Fiona) 18. Matthew Winiarski, ’68 Ducati 350 Mark 3 19. Jamie Waters, ’61 Matchless McIntyre G50 20. Ian Yater ’67 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi 21. James Pooler, ’65 AJS G50 22. John Turner, ’62 BMW Becks R-50

(131) Steve Metz, (042) Thomas Montano, (291) Jason Braun, (15A) Michael Essin, (111) Gary Orr photo credit: Kevin McIntosh

Corkscrewing Corkscrewing

Through the Fog Through the Fog

WORDS BY DAVID STARK // PHOTOS BY ETECHPHOTO AND KEVIN MCINTOSH

@ Laguna Seca

The inaugural AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca brought historic bikes to an equally historic venue for rounds 13 and 14 of the 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series. Packed grids in each of the 14 events put the diversity of the AHRMA roadracing program on display. While their bikes may have been different, many racers shared one thing in common: they were borderline awestruck at the opportunity to compete at such a famous venue and to experience the dramatic Monterey peninsula weather.

“It’s absolutely incredible, elevation changes, the track,

the climate,” said Tony Doukas from Punta Gorda, Florida, who crossed the continent to race a Honda CBR600RR-powered sidecar with his passenger, and wife, Lisa in the Modern TT class. “Who knew on the Fourth of July it would be 60

degrees?”

Team Doukas took second behind the Essaf/Richards team on Saturday with the Janes/Zahn team taking third. Multiple eras of sidecar racing were represented at the MotoFest™ with 15 entrants spread over six classes. The technical nature of the track captivated racers on large and small bikes. “It’s a blast because that Corkscrew is the most insane thing you’ll ever ride in your life,” said Dan Waite, who traveled from Chicago to race his Honda CB175.

“This is my second year here so I will absolutely come back. It’s amazing how the weather changes from the morning to afternoon. It becomes the most beautiful place in the world.”

Waite shared the CB160 Exhibition Race and 200GP Plus with more than 30 other competitors. Christopher Akaydin took the CB160 race victory on Saturday with Damian Doffo in second and Gabriel Droetti third. Dustin Johnson would win Saturday’s 200GP race with Doffo and Droetti second and third again. Droetti, from Temecula, California, said that racing was just one of many reasons to enjoy the event. “Great track,

great people, we’ve been having a successful weekend, thank God, everything has been working out so far. The fog is a little bit of a problem in the morning, but the rest of the day gets a lot better. We get quick and there’s very good camaraderie between all the riders and it’s just a great atmosphere and a great place to be.”

Corkscrew addiction hit the Midwest hard in 2020 and continued into 2021. “This

is my second trip, I was fortunate enough to make it here last year as well, the facilities are great,

we got a garage this weekend, the track is awesome once the

fog blows out it’s ready to go,” said Jim Eich, from New Lenox, Illinois. “There’s nothing like the Corkscrew here. I’m still

working on it. If you can just come here and do the Corkscrew well, you do well all around the track.”

Eich rode his BMW to second in Vintage Superbike Middleweight on Saturday behind Matthew Joy while Alexander Cook was third. Joy won Vintage Superbike Lightweight, as well, with Ed Milich second and Eich completing the podium. The quick-turning Motards were perfect for the Corkscrew’s series of mind-bending technical corners. “I think

it’s an amazing track. I love the layout, how the bike feels on the track I also like the historical significance of riding on a

track where all the greats have been,” said Motard racer Paul Elledge. A crash during the Vintage Superbike Middleweight race on Saturday while aboard one of Daniel May’s BMWs sidelined Elledge for the rest of the event. Undeterred, Elledge reported he even enjoyed being a spectator. One reason for the large turnout of racers from the Midwest and East Coast was Daniel May. For a second year in a row, May coordinated transportation for a number of race bikes. “Last year it started when we were trying to get bikes out

here and we were looking at crating them and shipping them,”

May said. “I talked to Kenny Cummings and said, ‘Well, I need

to get bikes out,’ long story short, we found a hauler out of New Jersey who can haul 30 bikes. This year we brought 28 bikes and two sidecars. Fortunately, we have a great driver who is willing to get the bikes here, guaranteed, stay for the weekend and load us up on Sunday.”

May also was on the podium in each of his races. He took first place in BEARS abord his BMW, and third in Formula 750 behind Cummings and Brian Filo. May, and his passenger Craig Chawla, also won the SC2 sidecar class on Saturday and took second on Sunday behind winners Erik Green and Heather Yampolsky. The historic, technical and challenging road course was a perfect venue for the equally historic 500 Premier race bikes. AHRMA Trustee Brian Larrabure, from Calabasas, California, used the low-end grunt of his 500cc four-stroke single-cylinder 1968 Seeley G50 to win on Saturday. The rest of the podium was dominated by similar single-cylinder bikes: David Roper took second on a 1970 Harley-Davidson ERTT and Helmut Niederer, also on a 1968 Seeley G50, was third. Andrew Mauk, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, rode his higher-revving twincylinder 1969 Honda CB450 to victory on Sunday. Larrabure and Neiderer were second and third. Mechanical challenges didn’t stop some racers from enjoying the event. Brian Wells, from Tallahassee, Florida, raced his exotic Honda VFR400R in Next Generation Lightweight, and said his weekend was not as expected: “I’m having some

horsepower problems, the bike’s handling fine but it’s not making the power it should make so it’s a bit frustrating. I’m still having fun because I like seeing all my friends and being around the racetrack is good.”

2

3

1. (43) Dave Kaechele + Kaechele, D, (66D) Erik Green + Yampolsky, H, (93) Daniel May + Chawla, C (photo credit: etechphoto) 2. (88) Wade Boyd + Lindauer, E; (S69) Kelly Bell + Glover, J (photo credit: etechphoto) 3. Crossing the finish line (photo credit: Kevin McIntosh) 4. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 (03) Jesse Davis (photo credit: etechphoto) 1

5 6

Enthusiasm for racing at a legendary venue caused too many competitors to take too many chances throughout the weekend. On-track incidents resulting in red-flags during race one, four and five marred Saturday’s program and resulted in fewer laps for the second half of the events. Red flags returned in race one and six on Sunday. The lure of Laguna Seca extended beyond AHRMA regulars and into the professional racing community. AMA Superbike champion Joshua Hayes and Canadian Superbike champion Jordan Szoke both competed in the Phillip Island Challenge on almost identical motorcycles. Saturday’s race was a nail-biter with Hayes taking the win over Szoke by less than a half-second. Szoke, from Hamilton, Canada, grew up around vintage racing and was already familiar with many AHRMA members who have competed north of the border. “I grew up racing

Honda CB350s and 450s with my dad, so I’m familiar with a lot of this stuff.”

Asked about the Yamaha FJ1300-powered customframed Phillip Island bike he raced, Szoke said, “People really

underestimate these things. I think we opened a lot of eyes yesterday, Josh and I, just how good they are. They rip. They’ve got big power, but the chassis are really nice, the brakes, the tires, it’s similar to what I race my superbike on, everything in that aspect is awesome. They really are a joy to ride. When you go to Phillip Island and there are five rows of these things it’s really awesome racing. One of the most enjoyable bikes to race, for sure.”

Kevin Callaway, from Detroit, Michigan, took third on Saturday on one of David Crussell’s Phillip Island Challenge race bikes. “I came out here to race a Kramer and David gave me the

opportunity to race this bike when we were chatting on Friday

morning,” Callaway said. “It’s been an honor because I’ve been

following his program since he started it and started building these bikes.” Callaway described his experience as, “A lot of work. The chassis is really good, it’s really solid but the bike is a little bit heavy. It makes a lot of power, but it also wants to be ridden hard so the harder you ride the bike, the better it gets. It’s hard to tame but it’s a lot of fun.”

The growing popularity of newer, yet obsolete, grandprix motorcycles was demonstrated by more than 20 bikes on the grid for the Open Two-Stroke race. Mojo Yamaha added a special incentive by offering a cash prize to the best finishers on a 125cc, 250cc and big-bore machines. Szoke collected $500 on Saturday aboard Mike Studzinski’s M-Factory West Yamaha TZ250 by winning Open Two-stroke and being the first 250cc racer. David Crussell took second place on Saturday overall and earned $500 by beating

7 8

the rest of the big two-strokes on his Yamaha TZ750. Vince Rolleri, aboard a TZ250 was third. Jon Schendel was fifth on Saturday and eighth on Sunday yet took home $500 each day with a third-place finish in Open Two-stroke and besting his fellow 125cc racers. Szoke repeated the win on Sunday with Ralph Staropoli, aboard a Honda RS250, second and Kyle Ferris, third.

AHRMA vintage motocross racers competed on a naturalterrain course just west of the paved track and observed trials sections were set up on the hillsides around the infield. A group of very special knobby-tired competition bikes did make it onto the road course right before racing started on Saturday. More than a dozen motorcycles, either raced or prepared by Dick Mann, completed a lap of honor for the legendary racer and fellow AHRMA member who passed away just weeks before the event. Motorcycle collectors and restorers, and autograph hunters all scored at the swap meet and autograph session in the exhibition area organized by Maurice Turgeau. Post-race activities on Saturday included live music and an informal “slow race.” Competitors paired off to determine who could reach the end of a 20-yard racecourse last without putting a foot down. AHRMA racer Greg Tomlinson coordinated the event that ended with a final showdown between AHRMA Executive Director, and former professional observed trials competitor, Curt Comer squaring off against Szoke. Known for competing on fast motorcycles, Szoke also was uniquely qualified for the slow race. “I rode vintage trials

bikes when I was younger and then moved over to modern stuff. I was going to ride David Crussell’s Kawasaki Z-1 in the slow

race because it’s got those big motocross bars,” Szoke said.

“I then said, ‘You can’t put me in there it’s cheating because I was the trials champion of Canada, but they talked me into it. I was riding a Triumph with the brake on the left side, so it was hard to balance at first. I did a couple runs with Dave on the back and the final was funny with the minis. It’s good to see the atmosphere is so laid-back here and everybody is just having fun riding the old bikes.”

9

10

5. (71R) Ben Sloter + Pluta, J 6. (113) Andrew Gray, (618) Eric Lindauer, (45) Edwin Hazer, (71B) Unidentified, (736) Stephen Pettinger, (53) Mitsuhiro Kiyonaga 7. (76R) Marc Purslow 8. (5) Greg Tomlinson 9. (4) Joshua Hayes, (101) Jordan Szoke 10. (736) Stephen Pettinger 11. (57R) Peter Hokenstad, (2) Tsutomu Okada (photo credit for all: etechphoto)