Welcome to AHRMA, the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association

With about 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing organization in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The Association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes. The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a 501(c)4 not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles.

Discipline Information

Types of racing with AHRMA

AHRMA offers vintage National and regional road racing, motocross, dirt track, observed trials and cross country competition. The machines active in AHRMA events span a full 100 years, from the 1920s to the 2020’s. The national-championship schedule typically includes at least 15 rounds in each competition discipline. AHRMA Road Race events have taken place at some of the finest and most iconic venues in the United States: Road America, Daytona International Speedway, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, New Jersey Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park, and more.

A Bit of History

AHRMA traces its roots to efforts to organize vintage roadracing during the late 1970s in the northeast. In the early ’80s, other groups began emerging all around the nation, adding scrambles, motocross, observed trials, dirt track and concours events to the competition options available for vintage riders. Among these organizations were the California Vintage Racing Group and, in the southeast, the Historic Motorcycle Racing Association. By 1986, it was clear that a National organization would be necessary to administer this burgeoning sport. AHRMA was originally formed as a privately-held business corporation. Other groups were brought together under one banner and one set of rules, and in 1989, AHRMA was reorganized into the not-for-profit, member association of today.

Realizing that the definition of “classic” varies from one generation of enthusiasts to the next, AHRMA has added classes for long-travel motocross machines from the late 1970s to the mid-’80s; these post vintage motocross and cross country classes have been incorporated into many of AHRMA’s regional series and also have their own National circuit.

In an effort to bring single-cylinder roadracing to the US and to rejuvenate twins racing, in 1993, AHRMA began offering Sound of Singles® and Battle of Twins® classes, with a full National series in 1994. Bolstered by the presence of world-class riders on machines such as the exotic Britten V-1000, AHRMA’s Daytona SoS/BoT events attracted worldwide attention. In 1995, the organization began offering the almost-anything-goes Sound of Thunder® for singles, twins and triples; the Spring race at Daytona was the opening round of the world Sound of Thunder series for several years. Including these alternative, innovative modern bikes with the vintage program has met with widespread acceptance and allows AHRMA to host its own spectacular events.

AHRMA members enjoy a professionally-edited journal, AHRMA MAG, 10 times each year; an annual racing Handbook/rulebook; access to the organization’s website (www.ahrma.org); hotel and other discounts, and a variety of AHRMA products. The association maintains a Benevolent Fund to aid injured riders.

The organization occasionally sponsors concours d’elegance, swap meets and banquets featuring world-renowned speakers. One of the organization’s best-known activities began in 1992 when AHRMA and BMW of North America began promoting the BMW Battle of Legends®, extremely popular events pitting motorcycling’s legends against one another on identically-prepared BMW motorcycles. Tens of thousands of fans enjoyed the Legends races during Classics Days each year when Daytona was still on the roadrace schedule during Daytona’s Bike Week. Legends and non-racing Legends Emeritus have included David Aldana, Hugh Anderson, Mark Brelsford, Don Castro, Yvon Duhamel, Chris Draayer, Don Emde, Walt Fulton III, Dick Klamfoth, Kurt Liebmann, Dick Mann, Bart Markel, Eddie Mulder, Jody Nicholas, Gary Nixon, Reg Pridmore, Phil Read, Roger Reiman, George Roeder, Jay Springsteen, John Surtees MBE, Don Vesco, Walter Villa and Walter Zeller. Races have been held at Daytona Beach, Florida; Loudon, New Hampshire; Sonoma, California; and Lexington, Ohio. The BMW Battle of the Legends Grand Finale took place in March 1997 at Daytona International Speedway. More about the event is remembered in a 2014 AHRMA MAG article.

Our National Series Sponsors

In addition to our National Sponsors, there are a number of sponsors we would like to recognize which can be found by clicking the button below: