AMA
Vintage Motorcycle Days: Will Harding keeps vintage
racing on track
Old
bikes going fast at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
PICKERINGTON, Ohio--For many of the thousands who trek to
the American Motorcyclist Association's (AMA) Vintage
Motorcycle Days each summer, the allure of old bikes going
fast is a powerful one. In fact, it's not unusual to
discover that many fans are racers themselves. A case in
point is Will Harding, one of scores whose passion for
vintage racing will be on display at Mid-Ohio Sports Car
Course, July 25-27.
Harding is co-founder of the American Historic Racing
Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) and one of the more active
racers in the paddock. He's often spotted pushing his own
race bike to the grid and this year he's campaigning a
Vintage Superbike BMW and a sidecar rig in a sport that is
experiencing a surge in popularity.
"The people who are taking interest now grew up in
what I think of as the great motorcycle boom, the end of
the '60s, when stuff started to come out that was
reasonably priced and reliable," said Harding.
"Maybe they're getting back into it, finding their
first bike again. We're also seeing people who never had
motorcycles take it up. Probably a lot of guys can spend
the money now when they couldn't then."
While vintage racing attracts past AMA champions like Jay
Springsteen and Gary Nixon, there are few barriers to
vintage motorcycle racing newcomers. "We have novice
classes, so there's a place for everyone," explained
Harding. "We'll get guys who have never raced, or
guys who maybe raced once or twice. I think the appeal is
they don't have to go 200 mph, and they're able to ride
with older ladies and gentlemen who are a little more
sedate."
One of the big attractions of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
is that all forms of racing are on display at Mid-Ohio's
modern complex and the nearby Ashland County Fairgrounds,
including road racing, motocross, cross-country, trials
and dirt track.
"The dirt side has been growing very, very
well," said Harding. "I think one reason is that
it's fairly inexpensive to get into. A lot of people have
those old bikes in their garage or barn, and they're easy
to get going. We've added cross-country to the program
this year, and that will be popular. Then there's trials,
the simplest form of racing we have-just get on a bike and
try not to fall down!"
Harding's love is road racing, and he's been an AHRMA
national road-race referee for many years. "I try to
make it run smoothly, so some guy can get from the pits to
the grid, and never knows anything about all the work that
went into it. He's just having a good time and finds that
his scoring sheet is correct. If we're doing our job, the
average racers don't even know we're there." There's something for everyone at AMA Vintage
Motorcycle Days
In addition to vintage motorcycle racing, AMA Vintage
Motorcycle Days offers many attractions. Swapmeet™,
sponsored by Motorcyclist Retro magazine, is the biggest
draw. Collectors, bargain hunters and curious
motorcyclists from throughout North America flock to the
event each year to enjoy what has become the world's
largest motorcycle swap meet.
Triumph is the featured Marque of the Year for 2008, and
1970 Grand National Champion Gene Romero and seven-time
AMA Grand National Enduro Champion Bill Baird will be
co-grand marshals. Triumph motorcycles from past and
present will be on display, and there will also be a
Triumph-only bike show. An added bonus is the Vintage
Triumph Roadshow with Triumph expert and Baxter Cycle
owner Randy Baxter, who will be on hand to appraise
classic Triumphs and Triumph memorabilia.
Other AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days activities include:
2002 World Champion Triumph stunt rider Kevin
Carmichael, Team FMX Freestyle, Team Extreme
Motosphere and Ryan Young's Trials Stars Show.
Motorcycle demo rides provided by Triumph, BMW,
Buell, Can-Am Spyder, Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, KTM,
Kymco USA, Moto Guzzi and Vectrix.
Motorcycling seminars sponsored by Kymco USA,
featuring noted world travelers, authors, writers,
builders and experts such as Zack Coffman, John Healy,
Don Hutchinson, Clement Salvadori, Mike Seate, Alice
Sexton, Ted Simon, Bob Vail, Craig Vetter and Mark
Wilsmore.
A special display by the North American Laverda
Owners Club, featuring Laverda founder Piero Laverda.
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Auction.
Guided rides of the rolling countryside around
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
All proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the
non-profit Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in nearby
Pickerington, Ohio. Advance tickets to AMA Vintage
Motorcycle Days can be purchased at www.midohio.com
or by calling (800) MID-OHIO. For more information, visit www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com.
About the American Motorcyclist
Association
Since 1924, the AMA has promoted and
protected the motorcycling lifestyle. AMA members come
from all walks of life and they navigate many different
roads on their journey to the same destination: freedom
on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycle
organization with nearly 300,000 members, the AMA
advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of
local, state and federal government, the committees of
international governing organizations and the court of
public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and
partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition
events than any other organization in the world. Through the
Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the
heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For
more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.