Racing for Everyone: The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association

If you've every dreamed about racing motorcycles, but thought that you couldn't because your motorcycle was too old, or that it would be too expensive, or that you weren't fast enough—well, welcome to a whole new world my friend. From dirt track ovals to the country's premier road racing tracks, the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) stages racing events for motorcycles of nearly every type and era.

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Stacie B. London's "Triple Nickel" Honda 160.

Don't let the word "historic" fool you into thinking that AHRMA races are only for the exotic racing machines of yesteryear—they have racing classes and categories that make room for bikes of every stripe. Road Racing classes like "Vintage Superbike" and next "Gen Superbike" are about recreating the look and feel of U.S. Superbike racing from the 80's and early 90's, with rules that emphasize stock machines. You probably never imagined you could race that 1992 GSX-R750 sitting in your garage. However, with some simple and safety minded modifications, you can race it at an AHRMA road racing event.

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A very stock looking Bonneville racing at Barber

There's even a class a called the "Thruxton Transatlantic Challenge," which is open to only slightly modified Triumph Thruxton's and Harley Davidson Sportsters. Events called "Sound of Singles," "Battle of the Twins," and "Sound of Thunder," make for interesting mixes of motorcycles you won't see racing in anywhere else.

On the grid at Barber.

There are too many different classes and eligible motorcycles to list, but the scope of machines you'll see racing at an AHRMA road racing event is mind boggling. From pre-1940's hand shifters, sidecar's modern Supermoto motorcycles, and everything in between, AHRMA stages its road races in a cup series with events across the country throughout the year. Racers participating in multiple events have the opportunity to race on some of the most incredible race courses in North America, Sonoma Raceway (formerly Sears Point), Road America, and the Daytona International Speedway, just to name a few.

Something to suit every taste at the Barber Swap Meet

A high point of the AHRMA Roadracing calendar takes place at the Barber Motorsports park in Leeds, Alabama during the annual "Barber Vintage Festival." On top of exciting racing, the festival hosts a motorcycle swap meet that is like no other. From parts by the pound to incredible and hard to find machines, there are vendors for every kind of two wheeled motorcycling. The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum located at the track is worth the visit on it's own.