AHRMA 2024 Vintage Cup 350GP Hall and Spargo split wins at Rounds Three and Four

(Knoxville, TN)  There was a point in motorcycle road racing history when two-strokes and four-strokes were evenly matched and the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is revisiting that time all year long.

Rounds three and four of AHRMA’s 2024 Vintage Cup series, which highlights its 350 GP class, were held March 16 and 17 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC as part of the 2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series.

Rob Hall, racing a four-stroke 1965 AJS 7R, split wins with Christopher Spargo, who was aboard a two-stroke 1967 Yamaha TD2.

Sponsored by Hagerty Insurance, Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2024 Vintage Cup features the 350 GP class which includes 350cc four-stroke and 250cc two-stroke powered machines built up to and including 1968.  Featured bikes from this era would include bikes such as the AJS 7R “Boy Racer”, 350 Manx Norton, Benelli 350-Four, Aermacchi 350 Road Racer, Yamaha TD2, and more.  350 GP is a true Grand Prix class from the “golden era” up until the early 1980s and was won by such great racers such as Giacomo Agostini, Jim Redmon, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, and Geoff Duke. 

“This weekend’s racing at Carolina Motorsports Park mirrored the heady days of the ‘60s-early ‘70s era 350 Grand Prix racing, with very fast 4-stroke machines being suddenly challenged by sometimes faster 2-strokes machines,” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton (nycnorton.com). “The top step couldn’t have been populated by two nicer guys, Rob Hall on Saturday and Chris Spargo on Sunday, both of whom race hard as can be and come back with smiles on their faces.”

The start of Saturday’s race saw Alex McLean, on Rob McKeever’s 1967 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi Drixton taking the lead for the hole shot through turn one with Rob Hall aboard Stu Carter’s 1965 AJS 7R in hot pursuit.  McLean, determined, held the lead through laps one and most of two but coming out of the last corner onto the front straight, got a little exuberant on the throttle causing the bike to step out and he lost control and crashed. Hall, now unchallenged with a comfortable gap, maintained the lead throughout the balance of the race, taking the checkered flag.   Eric Watts, riding a 1972 Ducati 350, held second position until the last lap when Christopher Spargo, on John Turner’s 1967 Yamaha TD2, pipped Watts in turn one, taking over second and bumping Watts to third position.

The balance of the grid in order of finish included: James Pooler, 1967 Suzuki X6 Hustler in fourth position, Craig Light fifth on a 1973 Bultaco, Brian Larrabure bringing in sixth on his 1967 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi Ala D’Oro, Dave Rhodes seventh riding a 1966 Yamaha TD1, Alex McLean, finishing in eighth, David Roper experienced a mechanical and came in ninth on his 1960 AJS Surtees Special 7R, and completing the grid was John Tunstall on a 1968 Ducati 350.

On Sunday, Spargo was able to get the hole shot into turn one and held the lead with Hall in hot pursuit, pulling alongside Spargo a number of times but never succeeding overtaking him.  McLean followed up in third, and Eric Watts in fourth.  Spargo continued to increase his lead, finally taking the checkered flag with Hall taking second, and McLean rounding up the podium in third.

The balance of the grid, in order of finish was Eric Watts in fourth, David Roper fifth riding his trusted 1968 Harley Aermacchi ERTT, Craig Light in sixth position, Brian Larrabure finished seventh, David Rhodes eighth position and Larry Watts (Eric Watt’s uncle), riding a 1968 Ducati 350 in ninth.

“Two strokes and four stroke motors deliver their power differently with two strokes providing a high-rpm hit great for high speeds while the four strokes have a torquey punch that helps them get out of corners.” said Greg Tomlinson, 2024 Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “Some tracks favor one type of bike over the other and AHRMA is going to visit all kinds of track this year which means the Vintage Cup, which has both kinds of bikes, is really up for grabs.”

Round five of the AHRMA National Road Race Series will be April 21 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA.

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 Vintage Cup 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.

2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series, 350GP – Vintage Cup Results

Saturday, March 16, 2024

1 – 270 Rob Hall, 1965 AJS 7R, Charlotte, NC

2 – 19 Christopher Spargo, 1967 Yamaha TD2, Hopkins, MN

3 – 87 Eric Watts, 1972 Ducati 350, Blacklick, OH

4 – 787 James Pooler, 1967 Suzuki X6 Hustler, West Salem, OH

5 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA

6 – 14 Brian Larrabure, 1967 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi Ala D’Oro, Calabassas, CA

7 – 97L David Rhodes, 1966 Yamaha TD1, Columbia, IL

8 – 122 Alex McLean, 1967 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi, Jacksonville Beach, FL

9 – 7 David Roper, 1960 AJS Surtees Special 7R, Hicksville, NY

10 – 36T John Tunstall, 1968 Ducati 350, St. Petersburg, FL

Sunday, March 17, 2024

1 – 19 Christopher Spargo, 1967 Yamaha TD2, Hopkins, MN

2 – 270 Rob Hall, 1965 AJS 7R, Charlotte, NC

3 – 122 Alex McLean, 1967 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi Drixton, Jacksonville Beach, FL

4 – 87 Eric Watts, 1972 Ducati 350, Blacklick, OH

5 – 7 David Roper, 1968 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi ERTT, Hicksville, NY

6 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA

7 – 14 Brian Larrabure, 1967 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi Ala D’Oro, Calabassas, CA

8 – 97L David Rhodes, 1966 Yamaha TD1, Columbia, IL

9 – 141 Larry Watts, 1968 Ducati 350, Backlick, OH

About AHRMA:

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage 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.