AMA Racing releases more details about AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

Classes, supplemental rules, online entry, racer gift cards announced

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- 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.

About AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days includes vintage racing, North America's largest motorcycle swap meet, bike shows, demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, stunt shows, the new product Manufacturers' Midway, club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs, and guided rides through the rolling Ohio countryside. The Marque of the Year for 2009 is BSA, whose bikes became synonymous with racing in the United States when the brand swept the top five positions at the Daytona 200 in 1954. The Classic Clubs this year will be the Sandcast Only Owner's Club (SOOC), and the International CBX Owners Association.

This year will be particularly special because it commemorates the 85th anniversary of the AMA, and will feature a parade of classic motorcycles representing each year of the AMA's 85 years. Museum staff has compiled a list of significant models produced since 1924 for the parade. Volunteers with bikes on that list are encouraged to contact the Museum for information about participating. Information is at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

For more information about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, visit AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com. Tickets can be purchased at the website for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course: www.midohio.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 routes 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 its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.