The 2021 Bridgestone American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) National Historic Cup Roadrace Series Vintage Cup, which highlights the 500 Premier Class, is turning into a high-speed history lesson for racing fans.
The latest lesson, taught May 29 and 30 at the inaugural AHRMA Classic MotoFest® in the Heartland at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas was: BMWs are still highly competitive on a road racing track.
These rounds of the Vintage Cup sponsored by NYC Norton (nycnorton.com) and Roadracing World (roadracingworld.com) had the most entries so far this year with 13 machines pre-entered. With Topeka sitting virtually in the center of the country, racers traveled from all four corners of the lower 48 to meet in the middle.
Tim Joyce won both Saturday and Sunday on John Turner’s 1962 BMW R-50. It was Joyce’s first time racing the air-cooled, horizontally opposed twin. The victories demonstrated the diversity of motorcycles racing in the 2021 Vintage Cup. Previous rounds have been won by British and Japanese machines.
The weather was predicted to be overcast for the inaugural but as racing started on Saturday, the track was dry with the promise of clearing skies. By Race 7, pearls of sunshine were glinting off aluminum tanks in the 500 Premier class.
Prior to the race on Saturday, Joyce shared with Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton, “It’s a beautiful bike but down on power. If it handles, then I may have a chance.”
At the highest level of racing in AHRMA, Joyce couldn’t afford to make mistakes, and his performance all weekend was perfect.
In Saturday’s race, Wes Orloff got a great start and held the lead with Andrew Mauk in second, followed by Joyce. Orloff hit a false neutral causing him to pull straight through the chicane. He came back on the track but it was too late, and Joyce was able to take the checkered flag with Mauk in second and Dave Roper bringing up third.
On Sunday, Orloff again took the lead at the start with Mauk in second then further behind was Joyce. Orloff held the lead up until the white flag lap, and after having set the fast lap in the race, Orloff lost focus when distracted by a downed racer, causing him to take a field excursion in the chicane in a repeat of Saturday. He came back onto the track and connected with Mauk, making it possible for Joyce to drive through and take the checkered. Mauk placed second behind Joyce, with Orloff taking third on the podium.
“Dale Coffman built a bike capable of winning, but I didn’t get it done this weekend,” Orloff said. “Big congrats to Tim and John with the BMW, and I look forward to the next round.”
Mauk is the current points leader riding Keith Leighty’s 1969 Honda, with Orloff in second competing on Dale Coffman’s 1967 Honda. Of note, Roper, bumping up from 350GP, is wringing the neck off of his Carl Engellenner-tuned 1968 Harley Davidson Sprint Special.
“I was so proud to stand on the skybridge and look down on all those beautiful Grand Prix bikes lining up for the start,” said Cummings. “This is proof of concept and the Vintage Cup is a success.”
The 2021 Vintage Cup Trophy will be awarded to the 500 Premier class winner at select events including Roebling Road, Heartland Motorsports Park, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca and Barber Motorsports Park. Race dates and event registration links are available at: ahrma.org/schedules-results.
ABOUT AHRMA
AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring and competing on historic motorcycles. With more than 3,000 members, AHRMA is the leading historic motorcycle racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.
Race Results, Saturday, May 29, 2021
1. Tim Joyce, 1962 BMW R-50, Laurel Hill, FL
2. Andrew Mauk, 1969 Honda CB450, Milwaukee, WI
3. David Roper, 1968 Harley-Davidson Sprint Special, Hicksville, NY
4. Wes Orloff, 1967 Honda 450, Mukwonago, WI
5. Tony Read, 1971 BSA B50, Charlotte, TN
6. Stuart Carter, 1967 AJS Matchless G-50, Royal Oak, MI
7. David Rutherford, 1971 BSA B50, Talking Rock, GA
8. Ron Melton, 1962 Norton Manx, Port Costa, CA
9. Colton Roberts, 1967 Triumph T100, Pawnee, IL
10. Jerry Duke, 1967 Ducati 350 Scrambler, Florence, AL
11. Andy Findling, 1961 BSA Gold Star, Kalamazoo, MI
Race Results, Sunday, May 30, 2021
1. Tim Joyce, 1962 BMW R-50, Laurel Hill, FL
2. Andrew Mauk, 1969 Honda CB450, Milwaukee, WI
3. Wes Orloff, 1967 Honda 450, Mukwonago, WI
4. Tony Read, 1971 BSA B50, Charlotte, TN
5. David Roper, 1968 Harley-Davidson Sprint Special, Hicksville, NY
6. Stuart Carter, 1967 AJS Matchless G-50, Royal Oak, MI
7. Jerry Duke, 1967 Ducati 350 Scrambler, Florence, AL
8. David Rutherford, 1971 BSA B50, Talking Rock, GA
9. Andy Findling, 1961 BSA Gold Star, Kalamazoo, MI
10. Ron Melton, 1962 Norton Manx, Port Costa, CA
