AMA Racing is pleased to announce further details about the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, which will take place during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this July 24-26 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
"America’s vintage motorcycle racers are among the most enthusiastic motorcyclists anywhere, and it’s about time they were recognized with a Grand Championship event of their own," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "There is no better venue for the inaugural running of the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships than AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the country’s grandest celebration of motorcycling heritage."
The AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships will feature motocross, hare scrambles, trials and road racing at the sprawling Mid-Ohio complex. Dirt-track events will be held at the nearby Ashland County Fairgrounds in Ashland.
"The AMA’s Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum and AMA Racing are in the unique position of leveraging the Association’s 85 years of history and experience to produce a truly special event," Dingman said.
Dingman added: "In addition to promoting the event, the AMA will sanction and run all the vintage races at Mid-Ohio. This is because the AMA has been notified by AHRMA and Rob Iannucci that they have been unable to settle their ongoing dispute on or before April 30, 2009, as we had previously stipulated to both parties back in February following the AMA’s settlement with Mr. Iannucci."
Supplemental rules, class structures, a weekend schedule and online pre-entry forms for all off-road and dirt-track disciplines will be available by Monday, May 4, at AMARacing.com. With certain exclusions, racers 12 and older will be permitted in classes featuring motorcycles with displacements of 250cc or less. All other classes, except for road racing, will permit riders 14 and older.
Pre-entry fees for all off-road and dirt-track disciplines are $40 for the first class and $25 for each subsequent class in the same discipline. Rules and entry information on the road-racing program will be announced shortly.
Competitors who pre-register will receive two $10 gift cards per racer from AMA benefit partner BikeBandit.com, which already provides a 10 percent discount to all full AMA members. The cards are good toward any purchase from the online retailer. In addition, pre-registered racers and a guest will each receive one free entry each to the AMA’s Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. BikeBandit.com gift cards are limited, so competitors are encouraged to pre-enter at AMARacing.com as soon as possible.
"I’m also pleased to announce that all proceeds from the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships — from gate fees to entries to merchandise sales — will benefit the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation," Dingman said. "Along with all proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, these funds will help support the AMA’s Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum and its mission of telling the amazing stories of America’s motorcyclists for years to come."
National championships will be awarded to class winners in all disciplines, and winners of A classes will earn National No. 1 plates to defend at the 2010 AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, explained AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley.
"Riders in designated A classes also will vie for the honors of AMA Track Racing Vintage Grand National Champion and AMA Off-Road Vintage Grand National Champion," Bromley said. "The AMA Track Racing Vintage Grand National Champion will be the single rider with the highest point total in select classes in dirt track and road racing. The AMA Off-Road Vintage Grand National Champion will be the rider with the highest point total in select classes in motocross, hare scrambles and trials."
Classes that earn points toward these honors are listed in the supplemental rules.
"Competitors and teams will find that our class structure is clean, simple and straightforward, borrowing much of its design from the AMA rulebooks from the mid-1970s," said Bromley. "Because the AMA Vintage Grand National Championships echo an honor that the AMA bestowed on such giants of the sport as Joe Leonard, Carroll Resweber, Bart Markel and Kenny Roberts, these are going to be very special titles."
Individuals who are interested in volunteering at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships are welcome, including those people who are affiliated with other vintage racing organizations. To volunteer, contact Connie Fleming at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1258.
