Bulding and Racing a Vintage Seeley Norton

Putting your mind to something and then getting it done is what often makes the difference between those who go somewhere in life and those who don't even know where they are. This of course, is not always true, as absolutes are very hard to come by in this universe. And, when goals like this are achieved, it is often only possible due to money, incredible skill, access to certain special resources, and a number of the right connections. However, the task is difficult and the path treacherous and the journey is filled with failures no matter who you are or what the scope of your project.

To read, see and hear a story of incredible dedication from two undeniable talents in vintage motorcycle racing - building, modifying, and racing them - please check out this story of the Seeley Norton and the two people behind the quest, Kenny Cummings and Dan Rose. The visuals alone are worth the click!

http://seeleynorton.com/

Maria Costello Dominates Vintage Racing in America

This is late, again...no excuses, but a significant list of reasons.

Maria Costello receives the MBE from Prince Charles

Maria Costello took the AHRMA by storm at two events - Barber Motorsports Park and Daytona. The first is the annual Barber Vintage Festival where Costello took two wins and one second place, and the next was a round at the Daytona Speedway where she picked up two more wins. This was a second trip across the Pond for the talented racer as she was invited here last year, too. Chance are, she will be here again...I only hope I get to see her race.

For a brief story from a local (in the U.K.) newspaper, take the link below:

http://tinyurl.com/67whrpd

More details to be found here: http://costelloracing.blogspot.com/

Even MORE News - Father and Son AHRMA Effort & Two Auctions!

Art Delor and his son, Alex, will be competing in the Daytona Bike Week AHRMA races in Florida this week (starting today, actually). Delor races a historic Indian and even takes it as far as wearing an authentic Indian racing uniform and keeping his 1939-40 Indian logbook. His 17-year-old son Alex is his pit crew, and he has over 9 years of experience with helping his father race. There is more after the links.

http://tinyurl.com/ycgtgh2

http://tinyurl.com/y9eea2b

With results from Monday: http://tinyurl.com/yd649ee

Bonhams managed to clean out the RAF Museum in Hendon, UK. However, they were selling motorcycles from history, not British aerial warfare artifacts. The Pampalona Collection was up for auction with over 100 machines, mostly pre-1950, and 88% of the items offered were sold. For some details about the event, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y9gdoxu

The Daytona Antique and Classic Motorcycle Auction will be held on Saturday 6 March 2010 at Stetson University in Deland, Florida. There is not much detail beyond that after the link, but at least you can get the address.

http://tinyurl.com/yfzeub4

Early photos from the event: http://tinyurl.com/y8qj4zh

More Afternoon Moto News - AMA Arenacross, AHRMA at Daytona & Sturgis

The AMA Arenacross series will be returning to Kansas City for its fourth round this coming weekend. It is shaping up to be a competitive season in the Championship; well, except for Kawasaki’s Tyler Bowers who is dominating the racing so far this year. For more details, you know what to do...

http://tinyurl.com/yafnqoe

The AHRMA has just released their schedule of events for the 2010 Daytona Bike Week event in Florida. The event will be held 26 February to 6 March. The list of events is rather interesting as it spreads the AHRMA events over the entire week; that means that, if you want to see them all, you have to be there all week. So, make your plans to attend now; though, it may be too late to get local accommodations...

http://tinyurl.com/yd83pkb

They are already aware of their status as you can tell by the name (which is just not right, somehow) - maybe the owner has a huge ego? The Legendary Buffalo Chip is getting ready for the Sturgis Rally in South Dakota. It is the 70th anniversary (just like the H-D 100th, it is not completely true), so there will be a huge line-up. For all of that information, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ycj3ytg

More Afternoon Moto News - AHRMA, Honda Australia & Scams, Cheats and Hoaxes

And attorney in Steamboat Springs, Rob Stricker, has won the AHRMA's 2009 Vintage Trials Series in the Rigid Heavyweight Intermediate Class. His ride in the event was a 1952 BSA Goldstar. Stricker is a long-time rider with a long history in trials riding. Check out the article...

http://tinyurl.com/yftf7dh

Honda Australia has announced that they are restructuring and will cease operations of the Honda Riders Club of Australia effective immediately. As with the American version, which is still barely active, its activities spanned the entire range of sports associated with Honda motorsports products. All of that work will now be done in-house at the Australian HQ.

http://tinyurl.com/ylxz7zw

MCN (UK) has produced a very cool read about scams, cheats and hoaxes in the motorcycle world. Some are quite amazingly interesting and others are just plain laugh out loud funny. The one about the FP1, though, I would like to research more just to find the truth - not to hurt anyone, but to finally know what actually did happen. OK, so take the link and read them, you will enjoy it!

http://tinyurl.com/ye2qu7h

Thursday Has Even More Moto News for Us - Historic Auction, Desmosedici and AHRMA

Coming up at a Bonhams auction in Stafford, England, on 25 April 2010, a model from the very first production motorcycle batch will be auctioned off. The 1895 (circa) Hildebrand & Wolfmüller is considered by experts to be the first motorcycle built on a production line and it was also the first two-wheeled vehicle to be called 'motorcycle' - actually, it was the German 'motorrad'. The estimate is between £110,000 to £300,000!

http://tinyurl.com/ylhwzgd

Ducati has now decided to explain why they have changed the firing order of the cylinders of the Desmosedici GP10. It is often referred to as a 'big bang' engine and Ducati has done it to make their MotoGP bike easier to ride and, thus, race. They have also had to update almost all parts of the engine internals to improve the engine life to meet the new 6 engine limit for the season.

http://tinyurl.com/ylnbuxx

The AHRMA has selected Bubba Blackwell to be Grand Marshall for the 2010 Road Racing Events at Daytona International Speedway. Blackwell has a long list of race victories, was "AMA/CCS Heavyweight Superbike National Champion" and then went into doing stunts around the US on a H-D XR-750. You can be a part of the events 1 - 2 March 2010 at the Speedway.

http://tinyurl.com/ychnbmw

Thursday Morning Mixture of Moto News - Christmas Eve Edition - Part 1

Yep, the holiday is only one day away now, so let's see what we can find in the news...

We have yet another mention of the Road America Vintage Motorcycle Classic, which takes place 11 - 13 June 2010. The Motorcycle Classics magazine has teamed up with the organizers to present the Road America Motorcycle Classics Ride and Show. Just one more reason to make the trip!

http://tinyurl.com/y8to5rc

Now, how about a trip into history with the 1973 Triumph X75 Hurricane. It is a great history lesson and a look into the British motorcycle marques of the era. Go and have a look at a true icon in motorcycling, and one which is now very rare.

http://tinyurl.com/ybujyxc

How about some wrap-up from the MotoGP rookies testing taking place out in Malaysia at Sepang? Well, both Aoyama and Simoncelli were there and Aoyama set the faster lap. However, it is only testing and each team could have been working on something different with vastly different results. Get updated, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ydjprqr

That's it for part 1, next is - you got it! - part 2.

2010 AHRMA Motorcycle Racing Schedule Released

This may be old news, but this is the first time I have found this schedule online. So, if you are into AHRMA as much as I am, you need to take a close look at the 2010 schedule!

http://tinyurl.com/ycglznn

PR: Events Added to Road America Vintage Motorcycle Classic

The event is the return of racing for the AHRMA and will take place 11 - 13 June 2010 at, of course, Road America in Wisconsin. They have added events for motocross, cross country and trials on courses built specifically for vintage racing. It will only make your trip there more busy, but you will be busy having fun!

http://tinyurl.com/ygqeaal

Virginia International Raceway Announces 2010 Event Dates

About the only events we are interested in are the motorcycle dates, and there are plenty of those on this calendar. Too many to list here, for sure. They have also announced season ticket pricing. So, take the link and check out the schedule for something you may want to attend!

http://tinyurl.com/yh59yo9

AHRMA Racer David Matthews Still Going Strong

At 55 years of age, and living in Mooresville, North Carolina, he still likes to go fast - I can only hope I have his passion when I get that age (which is not far away for me). He took home two championships in the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association 2009 season - SumperMono (SM) and SuperMono2 (SM2) - both classes for single cylinder motorcycles. He also won both Regional Championships in both classes in the MidWest and Pacific Regions! His weapon of choice is a 1996 MuZ Skorpion 660 and his competition knows the backside of it all too well.

http://tinyurl.com/yd8x82s

Dates Announced: 2010 Bonneville Vintage GP at Miller Motorsports Park

The AHRMA and Miller Motorsports Park have now announced when you will be taking a vacation...well, I wish we all could do so to attend this event! It will be held during 3 - 5 September 2010 in Utah. The usual races will be held, speed trials will be going on at the Salt Flats, swap meet, vendor booths and some demo rides will be offered. It is - as the other two were - not to be missed if you can get your time off from work...

http://tinyurl.com/ykf9en6

60 Years-old and Still Living in the Fast Lane!

As if I will even make it to 60; but, if I do, I want to be as capable as Terry Dailey of Moody, Alabama! He read a newspaper article about Barber Motorsports park and the AHRMA Vintage Motorcycle Festival to be held in October and decided he would take part. An amazing story from a very experienced racer who just started back into his past...

http://tinyurl.com/ybakz5v

Series of Reports from Bonneville Vintage GP

This came to me via a group post (F-160 Group on Yahoo) and I figured that others might enjoy it as well. Ken Bingenheimer from the 'Examiner' was at the event and produced several articles about his weekend. If you were not there, this is a good way to catch up on the action from last weekend.

http://tinyurl.com/kscbyf

Photos from Miller Motorsports Park Bonneville Vintage Grand Prix

I did not find much news on the AHRMA Bonneville Vintage GP last weekend, but I did manage to get a mail from a local group who were there. These are some photos taken at the event, so please enjoy!

http://tinyurl.com/nvaxbs

Even more photos! http://tinyurl.com/num4og

5th Annual Barber Vintage Festival in October

Out at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, the annual Vintage Festival will be held 9-11 October 2009. Everything vintage motorcycle will be there - races, displays, swap meet, stunt shows, etc. The AHRMA will also hold its racing series during the event. If you have not been to Barber, this is a good time to go!

http://tinyurl.com/mdv2tq

AHRMA Announces June 2010 Vintage Motorcycle Classic

Yes, I keep hearing about the rumblings between the AMA and AHRMA - not to mention the various other controversies surrounding the historic motorcycle association. However, it is still worth attending their events just to see the vintage iron racing on the track. So, in June of next year, head out to Road America for the event and have fun with your history!

http://tinyurl.com/nm4oyy