AHRMA Wrap-Up 2017

Barber Motorsports Park Oct 12th-15th 2017

They say lightning doesn’t strike twice. Apparently hurricanes don’t follow the same code of conduct. When the Dime City Crew arrived at Barber Motorsports Park it was positively beautiful, and hurricane Nathan was still just lil’ ol’ tropical depression 16. Four days later there was a palpable sinking feeling of Talladega deja vu. So while this report will once again be absent one day of race results, silver linings were bountiful. Four glorious days of test and tune race practice, a massive swap meet, parade laps, the celebrated Barber Museum, and an overwhelming sense of family. You wanna talk about making the best of things; the people gathered for Barber transcend the idea.

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The inaugural AHRMA Formula Thunder Pro Challenge took place on Saturday. The race featured a cash purse of over $18,000 for the top five finishers, with a substantial $8000 1st place cut awarded to former AMA / World Superbike Racer Geoff May. 2nd was claimed by Moro-America pro racer Taylor Knapp, and 3rd to crowd favorite pro racer Jason Disalvo.

The racing season finale at Barber brings the largest turn out of Vintage racers. The race grids were packed, and highly competitive. By Wednesday night the paddock was 90% full, truly a sight to see. Everything from priceless vintage MV Agusta’s with provenance to six-figure full custom pro-race bikes. The sights, sounds, and smells of the paddock were endorphin inducing.

DCC presence was abundant from the Fan Zone mobile showroom to the paddock. We had an incredible turnout in the fan zone. Our diverse and loyal fans always make the effort more than worthwhile. The Dime City paddock this year was something special in its own right. Helping hands in every direction, a truly enviable lineup of race bikes, and even some Michelin star worthy community meals. If your bike has issues, or you go hungry in the DCC paddock it’s your own fault!The LeMans race saw 20 riders and their holders lined up and ready for battle. After a holeshot start, the finish was not the kind of excitement you strive for in racing. After contact with another rider, Scott Turner managed to keep the bike shiny side up and ran under the checkers in a respectable 8th place. The 350 and 500 Sportsman races both managed to get red flagged and restarted. Even with the commotion and break in concentration, Mr. Turner clinched 4th in both.

The DCC crew showed up with some serious representation in the Production Lightweight class. Jim Korn raced into 5th, with Scot Fiedler on his heels in 6th, Rian Mondriaan 9th, and the illustrious Herm Narciso 10th. In Production Heavyweight, Jim and Rian resumed their close-matched on track rivalry. This time Rian edged out Jim for the 3rd place podium finish, with Jim right on his six sewing up the 4th place spot.

Rounding out the day of racing, our lone Vintage Superbike Middleweight racer, the affable George Hernandez faced a formidable grid, taking the 9th place finish.

Saturday afternoon AHRMA announced that racing on Sunday would be cancelled due to Tropical Storm Nate which was forecast to be a Category 1 Hurricane by the time it would make landfall Saturday night. I can appreciate severe weather. It is certainly to be respected and feared, however admiration for the beauty that lies in the chaos, and sheer power isn’t unreasonable. That said, there is no place for a hurricane on a race track except perhaps for the CBR1000F Hurricane. This time there was to be no double points provision, just another thrilling race season on the books and another drive home in the rain.

Here is a look at the AHRMA season results for our amazing stable of misfit racers. Heading the pack, is the lovable Scotty Turner with an impressive 28 podiums, overall Sportsman 500 Champion, first runner up Sportsman 350, and a top 5 overall in CB160. Jim Korn collected 26 podium finishes, overall Production Heavyweight Champion, and first runner up in Production Lightweight. George Hernandez, when not being a shining example of how to enjoy life, managed 2 podium finishes and a top 5 overall in Middleweight Superbike. Rian Mondriaan in his debut season took an impressive 4 podiums, and gave Mr. Korn some exciting competition. Not bad for a rookie! Scott Fiedler ran into an unfortunate incident in the first race of the season where he went down and broke his thumb. This kept him out of a majority of the races, but didn’t keep him from being an invaluable source positivity and camaraderie. Next season buddy!

If you have any inclination to go racing at all, stop putting it off and just do it. There is more support than you can shake a wrench at, and the initial cost can be kept very low while producing big money fun. If you’re afraid you’ll get addicted, stay away from the Dime City crew, we have the good stuff that you just can’t put down. We sincerely want to encourage new and experienced people alike to participate, and can’t wait to see you guys next season. You have all winter to build your speed machine, and www.dimecitycycles.com is there for you 24 hours a day seven days a week.

DCC


(via Dime City Cycles)

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