Hall and Spargo Swap AHRMA 2024 Vintage Cup Wins – Again

(September 10, Knoxville, TN)  The 2024 American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Vintage Cup has become a duel between two players racing two very different motorcycles: Chris Spargo, riding John Turner’s 1967 Yamaha TD2 and Rob Hall on Stuart Carter’s 1965 AJS Seeley 7R.

Rounds 16 and 17 of AHRMA’s 2024 Vintage Cup series, which highlights the 350 GP class, were held September 7 and 8, at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, PA as part of the 2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series.

Spargo and Hall battled on Saturday with Spargo taking the win, and on Sunday, Spargo broke down and Hall put his head down, securing the win.

“Should these bikes be in a museum rather than on the track? After the epic battles between Hall and Spargo this weekend, I unequivocally say no,” said Greg Tomlinson, 2024 Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “You can’t spell ‘AHRMA’ without ‘Racing’ and that’s exactly what we did this weekend.”

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. 

In Saturday’s race, Hall took the holeshot, chased by Alex McLean, riding Rob McKeever’s 1967 HD Aermacchi 350, and Spargo. Hall led the first lap with Spargo in second position and Mclean in third. 

Spargo overtook Hall crossing the start finish line, and the pair continued to trade positions for the rest of the race. 

The long straight sections of the Pittsburg track allowed Spargo to take full advantage of the TD2s two-stroke engine, while the torque from the Seeley’s four-stroke engine and its nimble handling favored Hall through the corners in the back section of the track.

On the final lap, Spargo set up a pass as the pair negotiated the downhill section of the track, made it stick, and took the checkered flag just ahead of Hall. McLean finished third, rounding out the podium. 

The balance of the grid, in order of finish was:  fourth Eric Watts, on a 1972 Ducati 350; Craig Light, in fifth riding a 1973 Bultaco; Don Galloway, sixth racing his 1968 Yamaha DT 250; Jim Jowers, in seventh on a 1960 AJS 7R; Eric Watt’s uncle, Larry Watts riding a 1968 Ducati 350; John Tunstall, on a 1968 Ducati 350; and David Roper, racing his AJS McIntyre 7R.

On Sunday, in a repeat of Saturday’s start, Hall again led into the first turn with Spargo and McLean on his rear wheel. Spargo quickly took the lead and began to increase the gap.  During the second lap, entering turn three, he experienced a mechanical failure forcing him to retire from the race.  Hall then took over the lead as McLean tried to reel him in. Hall raced to victory, with McLean in second, and Watts third.

The balance of the grid in order of finish: In fourth position, Larrabure, riding his 1967 Harley-Davidson AERMACCHI Ala D’Oro, Jowers fifth, Roper sixth, Tunstall seventh, Larry Watts eighth, Spargo ninth, and Light tenth.

“Sitting in the tower at Pitt and being able to watch Saturday’s dogfight from above, it was a beautiful sight. Pitt is a beautiful facility, a true rider’s track, and on Saturday Spargo made it work for him.  I was happy to finally be able to present to him the 350 GP Vintage Cup special trophy, which is only given for Saturday’s races.  This award has eluded Spargo this whole year, as, up to now his wins have only come on Sunday,” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton. “Sunday saw Chris showing promise again for a lap, but he disappeared out of view and Rob maintained his lead pace, giving a good race to Alex McLean, and brought his Seeley 7R home at the top of the box on Sunday.  An important race weekend for Spargo and Hall for those elusive points. We’ll see how this scores as we prepare for our final race weekend in a month’s time at the beautiful Barber Motorsports Park in October.”

Rounds 18 and 19 of the AHRMA National Road Race Series will be during the 2024 Barber Vintage Festival, October 12 and 13 at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, AL

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, September 7, 2024

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

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

3 – 122 Alex McLean, 1967 HD Aermacchi Drixton, Jacksonville Beac6 – h, FL

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

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

6 – 35G Don Galloway, 1968 Yamaha DT 250, Sturgeon County, AB

7 – 37 Jim Jowers, 1960 AJS 7R, East Hampton, NY

8 – 141 Larry Watts, 1968 Ducati 350, Blacklick, OH

9 – 36T John Tunstall, 1968 Ducati 350, St. Petersburg, FL

10 – 7 David Roper, AJS McIntyre 7R, Hicksville, NY

Sunday, September 8, 2024

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

2 – 122 Alex McLean, 1967 HD Aermacchi Drixton, Jacksonville Beach, FL

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

4 – 14 Brian Larrabure, 1967 Harley-Davidson AERMACCHI Ala D’Oro. Calabasas, CA

5 – 37 Jim Jowers, 1960 AJS 7R, East Hampton, NY

6 – 7 David Roper, AJS McIntyre 7R, Hicksville, NY

7 – 36T John Tunstall, 1968 Ducati 350, St. Petersburg, FL

8 – 141 Larry Watts, 1968 Ducati 350, Blacklick, OH

9 – 19 Christopher Spargo, 1967 Yamaha TD2, Hopkins, MN

10 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA

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.