SECTION 16 - AHRMA, THE ORGANIZATION

The Origins of AHRMA
The seeds of today’s American Historic Racing Motorcycle were sown in the late 1970s and early 1980s as different groups and individuals began to organize vintage racing on a regional basis. Roadracing was the first type of competition to appear, spearheaded in the Northeast by Robert Iannucci. In the Southeast, Bob and Marrie Barker and Will Harding launched the Historic Motorcycle Racing Association (HMRA). Other groups also began emerging around the nation, adding motocross, trials, flat-track and concours events to the competition options available for vintage riders. In the West, Fred Mork, Dick Mann and Mike Green were nurturing the California Vintage Racing Group (CVRG).
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. In 1989 AHRMA was reorganized into the current member-owned not-for-profit association. Along the way, many other individuals and organizations have lent a helping hand. The late Tom McGill, the late Mike Smith, Beno Rodi, Jeff Elghanyan, Gary Winn, the American Motorcyclist Association, Daytona International Speedway, the Championship Cup Series, BMW of North America and the American Motorcycle Institute are a few who have contributed greatly toward AHRMA’s success.

AHRMA Organization
AHRMA is governed by a 12-member Board of Trustees, six from east of the Mississippi River and six from west of the Mississippi, elected from among the membership. Trustees serve three-year terms and may be reelected any number of times. The accompanying organizational chart gives an overall view of AHRMA’s structure, as described in greater detail below.

Getting More Involved
Opportunities for involvement cover a wide range, from assisting at events to serving on the Board of Trustees. To volunteer your help putting on an AHRMA event, contact the national office or one of the race coordinators listed in Section 17. To discuss other ways you might become involved, contact the Executive Director.
Four Trustees are elected each year, two from the West and two from the East. The process begins when a call for nominations is published in the October Vintage Views. Any full member in good standing is eligible to run. Members vote by means of a ballot appearing in the December Vintage Views. Trustees take office at the board meeting held during the first quarter of the year. Trustees meet three times per year in person at revolving locations. These meetings are generally open to AHRMA members, and members are encouraged to attend. Other meetings are held as necessary by telephone conference call or in person. The Board chooses three officers - Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary, who make up the Executive Committee. This committee meets frequently, usually by conference call, to consider various matters of importance.
The Board also appoints committees, such as the four Rules & Eligibility panels, the Awards Committee and the Risk Management Committee. Rules & Eligibility Committees consider rules issues and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees for changes to the annual handbook. These committees also consider questions of eligibility for specific machines and offer interpretations and clarifications of rules. Suggestions for rules changes may be made using the form provided in the back of the handbook. The Awards Committee oversees the various special awards given to the prior year’s outstanding competitors at the annual awards banquets during Daytona Bike Week. The Risk Management Committee objectively reviews AHRMA rules, procedures and policies to ensure the organization exercises proper standards of care, providing a reasonable balance of safety and fun for entrants and the public.
The Executive Director oversees the day-to-day operations of AHRMA. He directs other staff members and serves as staff representative to Board committees. The Executive Director is responsible for appointing the various competition coordinators. In turn, these coordinators are responsible for Race Directors and other competition personnel described in Section 5.

org chart

Competition Opportunities
AHRMA provides national-championship series in roadracing, motocross, observed trials and dirt-track. These series are coordinated by the national office in Tennessee. At the same time, regional and local groups often organize other series and individual events. Information on all AHRMA competition, including a calendar of events, appears each month in the association’s newsletter, Vintage Views, and on AHRMA’s website, www.ahrma.org.

AHRMA Membership
Eligibility: AHRMA, at its sole discretion, may accept as an AHRMA member any individual or business entity interested in vintage motorcycle racing, so long as the individual or entity has properly filed a membership application and thereby agrees to abide by AHRMA rules, has paid the fee prescribed for membership, and meets the required qualifications. The decision to admit an applicant shall be made by the Executive Director.
AHRMA is dedicated to the highest degree of safety, sportsmanship and integrity in the sport of motorcycle racing. Participation or involvement by a member (including in the case of a business entity, involvement by any stockholder, director, officer, employee, partner, or agent thereof) in conduct deemed inappropriate by AHRMA, at its sole discretion, shall result in such penalties as may be imposed by AHRMA, including but not limited to, revocation of AHRMA membership. AHRMA reserves the right to reject any application or revoke any membership for cause, so long as such rejection is not based on race, creed, color, sex, or national origin.
The decision to reject or revoke membership or impose other penalties shall be made by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall immediately notify the member so suspended in writing of the suspension. The suspended member shall thereafter be entitled to a reasonable opportunity to be heard, in person or through a representative, by the Board of Trustees or a committee appointed by it. The Board of Trustees may thereafter rescind or terminate the suspension, or continue the suspension for a definite term, or expel the member, and its decision shall be final.

Benevolent Fund
The Benevolent Fund was created in 1992 as a means of helping AHRMA members in need (anyone who wants to make a request or suggestion for assistance should contact the AHRMA office). AHRMA offers a variety of raffles and other fund-raisers benefitting the Benevolent Fund. Members also are encouraged to contribute directly.
Assistance of up to $1,000 for any incident is available from the fund. To be considered, the person must be a member in good standing for at least one year, and the injury must have occurred at an AHRMA-permitted event. The person’s injuries must have been reported to a race officials by the end of the day when it occurred. Applications involving exceptional circumstances, but not associated with an AHRMA event, may also be considered. Application forms are available from the AHRMA national office. The form may be completed by someone other than the injured member. Final decisions on assistance is made by the Executive Committee, after a recommendation is made by the Benevolent Fund Advisory Committee. All applications for assistance are kept confidential.

Agreement Not to Sue and to Indemnify
In order to promote the sport of motorcycle racing, to achieve prompt and final competition results and in consideration of receiving the numerous benefits to them, all members, including competitors and officials, expressly agree that determinations by AHRMA officials (and rulings of the Board of Trustees when made) as to the applicability and interpretation of AHRMA rules are non-litigable, and they covenant that they will not initiate or maintain litigation of any kind against AHRMA or anyone acting on behalf of AHRMA, to reverse or modify such determination or to recover damages or to seek any other kind of relief allegedly incurred or required as a result of such determination. If a member, competitor or official initiates or maintains litigation in violation of this covenant, that member, competitor or official, agrees to pay AHRMA for all damages, costs, travel expenses and attorney fees incurred by AHRMA, its officers, directors and/or agents in such litigation.

Communications
AHRMA’s monthly magazine, Vintage Views, is the official conduit of information from AHRMA to its members and from member to member. You are encouraged to contribute articles, columns, letters, race reports and photographs. An extensive web site is maintained at www.ahrma.org, featuring event schedules, results, points standings, member information, this handbook, featured machines, classified ads, suppliers and more.
Advertising opportunities are available in Vintage Views, the handbook and other special publications. See Section 17 for the address and phone number of AHRMA’s director of communications/marketing/advertising.

Special Awards
Numerous special awards are presented at the annual awards banquet. Among them are:

Sportsman of the Year, AHRMA’s highest award, presented to a member for outstanding contributions to the vintage movement.
AMS Racing Off-Road Mechanic of the Year. Presented to an outstanding mechanic/bike builder in motocross, trials or cross country.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum Trophy, awarded to the Sportsman 750 roadracing champion by George Barber.
Alan Barker Trophy, given in memory of the late son of AHRMA founder Bob Barker to the year’s 350 Grand Prix roadracing champion.
Barker Constructor/Rider Award. Sponsored by Bob Barker for outstanding machinery and performance by its owner.
BMW Brighter Image Award, Given on behalf of BMW of North America to the individual or small team displaying the ultimate in integrity, appearance, sportsmanship and positive attitude.
British Bike Woman’s Award, given by British Bike magazine for outstanding contributions by a woman AHRMA member.
British Only M/C Parts Inc. Cup, awarded by British Only to the Sportsman 500 roadracing champion.
Demoisey Memorial Award, presented to the outstanding husband and wife team, by Ginny Demoisey in memory of Johnny Demoisey.
Hailwood Cup, a trophy won by the late Mike Hailwood racing in the U.S. (and donated by his wife, Pauline Hailwood), presented to the 500 Premier roadrace champion.
Bob Hansen Trophy, presented by Terry and Allison Naughtin in honor of the famed tuner. It is awarded for an outstanding performance on a Honda twin in the Grand Prix roadracing classes.
Hensley Handshift Trophy, given to the top handshift rider by Jeff Glasserow in memory of Indian restorer Dean Hensley.
Brad Lackey Trophy, honoring the first American World Motocross Champion (1982, 500cc), it is presented for an outstanding performance in the Sportsman 500 Expert motocross class.
Al Knapp Trophy, presented by GMA All American Racing for exemplary performance on an American motorcycle in dirt track.
Oscar Liebmann Award, presented to the rider with the highest roadracing point total on a BMW.
Mike Lightfoot Trophy, presented by the Santa Clara Riders Unlimited in honor of the late AHRMA trustee for outstanding contributions to the vintage motocross program.
Brian Martin Trophy, sponsored by Pete Silfven and awarded to the Premier Lightweight Expert trials champion.
Jim McClinton Award for outstanding performance on a four-stroke in a rider-age class in motocross.
Tommy McDermott Trophy, honoring the first American to earn a Gold Medal in the International Six Days Trial (1949, Wales). It is presented for an outstanding performance in AHRMA’s national cross country series.
Tom McGill Trophy, memorializing a man who played a large part in formulating AHRMA’s roadracing rules, is presented to a member for outstanding performance on a cammy Norton.
Bill Nilsson Trophy, honoring the first 500cc World Motocross Champion (1957), is presented to the Premier 500 Expert motocross champion.
Jim Pomeroy Trophy, honoring the first American to win a World Motocross Gran Prix on the first attempt. (1973, Spain). It is presented for an outstanding performance in the Sportsman 250 Expert motocross class.
Port Royal Motorcycle Museum Award for the 200 GP roadracing champion, presented by Rusty Lowry and Boston Nichols.
Cal Rayborn Trophy, named for the famed Harley-Davidson team member, recognizes exceptional performance on a Harley-Davidson.
Don Schmutzler Award, presented by the family of the late Don Schmutzler for outstanding contributions to the sport of vintage observed trials.
Irene Smith Trophy, presented for an outstanding performance by a female competitor in an off-road discipline.
Jeff Smith Trophy for the Expert-level rider with the highest points total on a four-stroke in any Classic or Premier class.
Mike Smith Trophy, presented by Ed and Jean Smith in memory of the late AHRMA trustee to a committed AHRMA volunteer or official, chosen from among nominations made by the membership.
Triumph International Owners Club Award to the rider with the highest points total earned while riding a Triumph motorcycle in any individual roadracing class.
Syd Tunstall Trophy, sponsored by Malcolme Tunstall and awarded to the Sportsman 350 roadracing champion.
Vintage Iron Premier Award for the rider who accumulates the most points in any Premier motocross class.

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