Press Release | June 6, 2016
This is a press release from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days…
Pickerington, OH (June 06, 2016) – Riders of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in the July 8 vintage and post-vintage hare scrambles during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the July 8-10 vintage motorcycle festival at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
International Six Days Enduro U.S. team member Mandi Mastin and her team of brother Cody Mastin, Paul and Matt Bucher, Asa Abel and Dave Chamberlain lay out the hare scrambles course and manage race operations.
“We design the trail for all levels of riders,” said Mastin, who has been running the event for six years. “We keep it rideable and enjoyable for beginner or novice racers, along with keeping it fun for the expert racers. We understand that some of the people who come to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days only race this one event all year long.”
Mastin says her team starts going to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course about six weeks before the event to begin preparing nearly 2.5 miles of trail and scouting new routes in the wooded area of the 330-acre complex.
“We usually have seven to 10 days into cleaning up the old trails and laying out the full course,” Mastin said. “Each year, we try and make some changes from the previous year’s course to keep it fun for those who race this event every year.”
Many racers also get their first taste of competition at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. The accessibility of the event, as well as the laid-back atmosphere of vintage racing, make it an excellent option for new racers. Last year, AMA Associate Editor Heather Wilson raced for the first time there. She shares her experience in the hare scrambles at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days in the video below.
“For me, the racing can be challenging, and it can be fun, but it’s really more about the relationships and the people that you meet along the way,” Wilson said. “I hope that more people will jump into riding and racing and give it a try. There’s something for almost everyone.”
Online registration closes at midnight July 3 for most competition at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. Registration for all events also will be available at the track for $10 more.
Competitors in vintage and post-vintage hare scrambles, motocross, dirt-track, trials, mini road racing and road racing can view the race schedule and register at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/events/AMAVintageMotorcycleDays/VintageRacing.
For 2016, with the generous support of Suzuki Motor of America, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days honors the career of Suzuki rider and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Wes Cooley. The infield display, Celebrating 40 Years of AMA Superbikes, presented by Suzuki, will showcase the rich history of AMA Superbike racing with a number of historic championship-winning machines. The central piece of the display will be Cooley’s 1980 championship-winning GS1000, which Cooley will ride in demonstration laps around the road race course each day.
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features the Moto Armory AMA Off-Road Vintage Grand Championship, including vintage and post-vintage motocross, hare scrambles and trials, as well as vintage and post-vintage road racing on Mid-Ohio’s road race course and dirt-track racing at the nearby Ashland County Fairgrounds sponsored by Nationwide Insurance. Mini road racing and a pit bike race also will be held during the event.
The weekend includes North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet sponsored by Federal Motorcycle Transport, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show presented by Old Bike Barn, the American Motor Drome Wall of Death, a classic motorcycle field meet, demo rides of current production bikes, seminars, live music, raffle bikes, a beer garden with the region’s best craft beers, and displays of AMA clubs and custom bike builders.
AMA members who buy event tickets directly from the AMA by today, June 6, receive an exclusive price discount. AMA members can call (800) 262-5646 to purchase a weekend pass for $45, a one-day pass for $25 for Friday or Saturday, or a $20 pass for Sunday, a $5 savings off the regular advance rate. There is no service charge for AMA members when purchasing through the AMA.
For more details on AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, see www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com and www.facebook.com/AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.