Joyce Triumphs at Carolina Motorsports Park for Rounds 3 and 4 of the AHRMA 2025 Vintage Cup

The 2025 Vintage Cup Series continued March 15 and 16 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC, as part of the 2025 AHRMA National Roadracing Series presented by Motobilia.

Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2025 Vintage Cup features the 500 Premier class which includes 500cc four-stroke machines built up to and including 1968. Featured bikes from this era would include the 500cc Manx Norton, Matchless or Seeley G50, BSA Goldstar or 500cc BSA Twin “works” replica, Benelli “works” four, Harley KR, Honda Drixton Twin, and more.

Going into this weekend AHRMA saw healthy pre-registration for the 500 Premier class, with some pukka GP bikes and fast riders signed up.

Saturday saw multiple entries fielded by single owners: John Turner putting three bikes on the track, with Tim Joyce on a 1968 Seeley G50, Harry Vanderlinden on a 1968 Honda Drixton 450, and Kevin Dinsmoor on a very trick 1962 BMW Turner R-50. Larrabure Framing fielded two bikes, with Brian Larrabure on a 1962 Norton Manx, and Vintage Cup sponsor Kenny Cummings on a 1968 NYC Norton Seeley G50 (a bike he had built for Larrabure several years ago). Everyone’s favorite, Rob Hall, took pole with his Carter/Rutherford 1965 Matchless G50. Wes Orloff was riding Dale Coffman’s very fast Honda CR450, and Tony Read was debuting his 1968 Seeley Triumph 500. Completing the grid was Jerry Duke bumping up from 350GP on his 1967 Ducati 350 Scrambler.

The start of the race saw Joyce and Hall glued to each other through the first series of turns. Orloff caught up quick and passed the two, holding the lead, until he exited at T11 and couldn’t keep the bike lit to return to the race. Dinsmoor, making up for a slow start, rode hard to get up with the lead pack, and ultimately passed Joyce and Hall on lap three to hold the lead for a lap, until coming in a little too hot in the tight T11 and losing the front, putting him out of contention. For the remainder of the race Hall and Joyce traded first place several times in a very exciting duel, with Cummings maintaining his position in third. On the last lap, Joyce passed Hall on the back straight and held a defensive line into the final turn (but not too defensive, said Joyce) goading Hall to dive up the inside, but on the exit, Joyce chopped off any opportunity for Hall to get a decent drive, and Joyce took the win, with Hall in second, and Cummings in third.

There was much discussion about the threat of severe weather on Sunday causing many of the racers to pull up stakes and head home Saturday night. The rains and wind came Sunday morning, but by race time the track was drying and the bold stalwarts Joyce, Dinsmoor, and Orloff lined up for a 3-bike smackdown. Joyce got the holeshot and led the entire race, but Dinsmoor kept him honest, even as his BMW started misfiring progressively worse as the race went on, Dinsmoor giving it all he had to keep up. Orloff also put his head down and kept the leaders in sight, and all made it to the checkered flag safely. Joyce said this weekend he had some of the best racing in recent memory, and that says a lot.

“For the last two years I’ve been off the track dealing with some hand issues and have enjoyed my managerial cat-bird-seat duties, watching these Vintage Cup races go off so smoothly,” says Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton. “However, when offered by Larrabure Framing a ride on their Seeley G50 on Saturday, I couldn’t say YES fast enough! It was great to shake off the cobwebs and feel the intangible butterflies lining up on the 500 Premier grid in the beautiful Carolina sunshine, only to look around and see so many absolutely beautiful 500cc Grand Prix level racing machines lined up out there with some very fast blokes with their heads down, waiting for the green flag to drop. This is perhaps the most challenging vintage class to keep entries up, simply due to the sheer costs of keeping these machines running, let alone keeping them competitive, so being part of the action with all the racers riding hard, putting in serious lap times, makes me a proud sponsor and competitor. Hats off to team owners and riders for putting on a great race. I’m looking forward to our West Coast competitors to join the fold. There are some beautiful bikes out there–I’ve seen them–and this is my subtle prod to get them tuned up for Willow Springs and Inde back-to-back weekends next month.”

AHRMA launched the Vintage Cup series during 2019 by spotlighting the 350GP class. The series resumed during 2021 and highlighted the 500 Premier class. It was followed by Vintage Superbike Heavyweight in 2022, Formula 750 in 2023, and the series restarted with 350GP in 2024.

500 Premier was AHRMA’s first and most historically significant post-war racing class. 500cc grand prix motorcycles hit the world stage starting in 1949. That class endured for decades and ultimately morphed into MotoGP.

This class has always featured AHRMA’s heavy hitters, riding many of the same machines as former world champions Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, and Phil Reed, to name a few.

“Saturday’s racing in the 500 Premier class at the AHRMA Vintage Cup was an absolute masterclass, an incredible display of skill and determination from start to finish. The action was fast, fierce, and constantly shifting, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Congratulations to Tim Joyce for his well-earned victory, and a heartfelt thank you to all the riders who put on such an amazing show. We’re also deeply grateful to the bike owners for sharing their rare and exceptional machines, giving us all the chance to witness these incredible pieces of racing history in action. It was a day to remember, and we’re already looking forward to the next races out West, I can’t wait to see what those bikes will bring at the legendary Willow Springs!”, said Greg “GT” Tomlinson, AHRMA Chairman of the Board.

Rounds four and five of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by Motobilia will be held April 19-20 at the 2.5-mile “Big Willow” course at  Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California.

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 are 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.

2025 AHRMA Roadracing Series Presented by Motobilia, 500 Premier – Vintage Cup Results

Saturday, March 15, 2025

1. Tim Joyce, 1968 Seeley G-50, Springfield, VT

2. Rob Hall, 1965 Matchless G50, Charlotte, NC

3. Kenny Cummings, 1968 NYC Norton Seeley G50, New York, NY

4. Brian Larrabure , 1967 Norton Manx, Calabasas, CA

5. Harry Vanderlinden, 1968 Honda Drixton 450, Hickory, NC

6. Tony Read, 1968 Triumph 500, Charlotte, TN

7. Kevin Dinsmoor, 1962 BMW TURNER R-50, Colchester, CT

8. Wes Orloff, Honda CR450, Mukwonago, WI

9. Jerry Duke, 1967 Ducati 350 Scrambler, Florence, AL

Sunday, March 16, 2025

1. Tim Joyce, 1968 Seeley G-50, Springfield, VT

2. Kevin Dinsmoor, 1962 BMW TURNER R-50, Colchester, CT

3. Wes Orloff, Honda CR450, Mukwonago, WI

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.