Photo Credit Kevin McIntosh

In recent years the American sport of motorcycle dirt track racing has blossomed, however AHRMA’s DT program has lagged behind. In large part, this was due to an ineffective business model.

Beginning last October, we began to form plans designed to invigorate our DT series. It took lots of time, some money, and some diplomacy to make these plans a reality.

AHRMA’s Dirt Track Program will burst onto the scene for the second half of 2021. There will be a host of changes and exciting new venues. We will be renting race tracks and promoting events ourselves so that AHRMA classes get the top billing they deserve. Our sign-up and scoring processes will benefit from tech upgrades. There are plans in place to enhance our media and social media presence, exposing us to more potential racer-members.

In addition to our traditional classes, there will be Director’s Choice classes for popular old and not-quite-as-old bikes.These classes will have relaxed eligibility requirements, designed to engage racers who are not yet AHRMA members.

We will host short tracks and TT at most events.

By the way, we have negotiated some of the TTs to be ‘open traction’ events (bring on those knobbies).

As much as we love racing motorcycles, it’s always a little better in front of lots of fans. To this point, check out where we will be racing beginning as soon as this June (current schedule here):

Sturgis SD (during the big Rally), Perris and Lake Elsinore CA (of ‘On Any Sunday’ fame), COTA in Texas (the big RoT Rally), Ashtabula OH, Georgia Practice Facility, and of course the Henryetta OK season finale .

We will race all around the USA.

More good news is that AHRMA’s good friend David Aldana will be staying on as AHRMA’s Dirt Track Ambassador.  Road race director Alex Mock will assume the duties of DT event promoter, with off-road director Tony Paul over-seeing the necessary business items behind the scenes.

It is our intent to improve financial viability, increase press coverage, have bigger classes, increase AHRMA membership, and offer better awards.

What can you do to help assure our success?

  • Bring out those old bikes and enter an AHRMA DT (or two).
  • Encourage your buddies to do the same.
  • Volunteer to work a stint at the track (tech, flag, set-up, tear-down, etc.)
  • Contact AHRMA through the contact form at ahrma.org/contact with questions or offers to volunteer.

I thank all those who have helped in this major transition, and to those who will answer the call to help us succeed.

Arthur Kowitz
AHRMA’s Chairman of the Board