Joyce Doubles Up on AHRMA Vintage Cup Wins at NJMP
(June 28, Knoxville, TN) The threat of rain didn’t dampen the spirit of vintage road racing in New Jersey or slow down double winner Tim Joyce.
Joyce dominated the ninth and tenth rounds of the 2023 American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Vintage Cup which was part of the Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Roadracing series held at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) in Millville, NJ.
Sponsored by Hagerty Insurance, Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2023 Vintage Cup features the Formula 750 (F750) class which includes 750cc two and four-stroke powered machines built up to 1972. During the rounds at NJMP, nearly a dozen F750 bikes competed each day.
“I couldn’t be present for this event, but I was excited to see the live timing,” said Carl Anderson, AHRMA’s 2023 Chairman of the Board. “This Championship is still a tight race that will likely go down to the final rounds.”
On Saturday, Tim Joyce, riding an NYC Norton Seeley NRE, started from pole position and led flag to flag. Kevin Dinsmoor, on his 1967 CMR Seeley CB550, was second and showed he might be able to pressure Joyce on Sunday.
Tony Read, riding his newly refreshed 1973 Triumph Bonneville, was third. Mike Dixon, historically a Sportsman 750 racer, bumped up to the Formula class, taking fourth on his 1970 Yamaha XS.
The balance of the grid showed the diversity of the F750 class which has made it an entertaining season so far: Martin Morrison, raced a 1976 Honda CB550, Daniel May, and Brad Phillips were both on 1972 BMW R75s, Dan Sokolich was on a Yamaha RD 400, Walt Fulton, raced a 1972 Harley Davidson XR750 and Craig Charles, was aboard a 1974 Triumph Trident.
For Sunday’s race, and now leading the championship, Joyce opted to race his 1973 Triumph T-140. Dinsmoor chased Joyce’s tailpipes for four of the six laps, pushing both into the 1:39 lap times, fast on fifty-year-old technology. Unfortunately, Dinsmoor lost the front end in turn five of the penultimate lap, allowing Read to take second behind Joyce, who proved his old Triumph still had it. Dixon rounded out the podium. The rest of the grid finished in the following order: Phillips, May, Morrison, Fulton, Charles and Dinsmoor.
“We watched the weather coming into this weekend, knowing that rain is a great equalizer, but the track was dry for both Saturday and Sunday’s Vintage Cup races allowing the riders to push to 100%. Standing atop the NJMP control tower, I was able to watch the entire race and was so proud to see the breadth of machines and riders making it out to compete in AHRMA’s 2023 featured class,” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton. “I’m looking forward to the sunshine of California for rounds eleven and twelve at the AHRMA Classic MotoFest of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Some fast west coast racers are certain to add to the action.”
The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event.
Highlights from each Formula 750 race will be reported in RoadracingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.
2023 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series, Formula 750 – Vintage Cup Results
Saturday, June 24, 2023
1 – Tim Joyce, 1968 Seeley NRE 750, Springfield, VT
2 – Kevin Dinsmoor, 1967 CMR Seeley CB550, Colchester, CT
3 – Tony Read, 1973 Triumph Bonneville, Charlotte, TN
4 – Michael Dixon, 1970 Yamaha XS, Wataga, IL
5 – Martin Morrison, 1976 Honda CB550, Newark, OH
6 – Daniel May, 1972 BMW R75/5, Wilmette, IL
7 – Brad Phillips, 1972 BMW R75, Roebuck, SC
8 – Dan Sokolich, 1977 Yamaha RD 400, Washington, MO
9 – Walt Fulton, 1972 Harley Davidson XR750, Montrose, CO
10 – Craig Charles, 1974 Triumph Trident, Abington, PA
Sunday, June 25, 2023
1 – Tim Joyce, 1968 Seeley NRE 750, Springfield, VT
2 – Tony Read, 1973 Triumph Bonneville, Charlotte, TN
3 – Michael Dixon, 1970 Yamaha XS, Wataga, IL
4 – Brad Phillips, 1972 BMW R75, Roebuck, SC
5 – Daniel May, 1972 BMW R75/5, Wilmette, IL
6 – Martin Morrison, 1976 Honda CB550, Newark, OH
7 – Walt Fulton, 1972 Harley Davidson XR750, Montrose, CO
8 – Craig Charles, 1974 Triumph Trident, Abington, PA
9 – Kevin Dinsmoor, 1967 CMR Seeley CB550, Colchester, CT
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.