Different bikes, riders add variety to AHRMA’s 2021 Featured Class
(April 20, 2021, Elora, Tennessee) A different mix of bikes and riders competed in the third round of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) 2021 Vintage Cup sponsored by Roadracing World (roadracingworld.com) and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com) captured the evolution of motorcycle road racing in the mid-1960s.
The 500 Premiere class was featured on both days of the 2021 Bridgestone AHRMA National Historic Cup Road Race Series at the Streets of Willow racetrack in Rosamond, California on April 17 and 18. Andrew Mauk from Milwaukee, Wisconsin won both days aboard a 450cc Honda CR500 replica.
Mauk explained his winning technique, “I got the holeshot, didn’t turn around and got to the finish line first.”
Mauk’s winning bike is based on a 1969 Honda CB450 built by Keith Leighty from El Paso, Texas. “Back in the day they had what was called the Honda CR 500 GP bike and this bike is built to those specs. We’ve been racing it for 15 years. Originally we won a Sportsman 500 championship on it and then two years ago won the 500 Premier championship.”
Jeff Elings, from Santa Barbara, CA, took second on Saturday and Sunday aboard a 1958 Matchless G50. An updated frame and Quaife six-speed transmission, helped Elings navigate the notoriously technical and bumpy Streets of Willow course. Elings said, “I really like it on a tight track, it’s really narrow and just kind of cruises around the tight corners. And it has a lot less shifting than a two-stroke.”
Alan Siekman from Ben Lomond, CA, finished third both days. The event marked his return to the track after a two-year hiatus and was the maiden voyage for his motorcycle.
Siekman was aboard a Honda CR450 replica. “It’s based on the bike Jimmy Odom rode at Daytona in 1967.” The actual Odom bike is owned by a friend that allowed Siekman to study, measure and replicate every nuance. “I was able to copy the frame modifications that Honda did exactly. This bike is measured and made off of one of the three original bikes.”
“I love the big, glorious British bikes, but these early Hondas have a unique soul that can’t be denied,” said class sponsor Kenny Cummings from NYC Norton. “Like Orloff at the last round, Mauk and Siekman brought the good Honda show, with Elings’s G50 smack dab in the mix, giving us all a real history lesson out on the racetrack.”
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.
Race Results (Saturday, April 17, 2021):
- Andrew Mauk, 1969 Honda CB 450, Milwaukee, WI
- Jeff Elings, 1958 Matchless G50, Santa Barbara, CA
- Allen Siekman, 1967 Honda CR450, Ben Lomond, CA
Race Results (Sunday, April 18, 2021):
- Andrew Mauk, 1969 Honda CB 450, Milwaukee, WI
- Jeff Elings, 1958 Matchless G50, Santa Barbara, CA
- Allen Siekman, 1967 Honda CR450, Ben Lomond, CA
