Totally agree on this last one, adding the MA class and the amount of track time they needed with also needing as set as possible times (all of which is totally understandable with their structure and TV/streaming coverage and so on) and such was tough with as many riders as we had for the rest of the event. They were great to work with and did everything they could to help us as we did them but it was a lot to add to an already packed schedule.
I wouldn't put anything on IRP based on the last shots I saw of the road course. A vintage only event just isn't feasible as lovely as it sounds. There's a reason we added modern stuff to VMD and why AHRMA has as well to their events. Yeah they have a lot of the littler/older bikes showing but those are ALL of those bikes still running and the riders won't do more events.
The first 5+ years the AMA had a Vintage racer do the rules. I can't remember exactly when but I finally took them over so they weren't some weird hybrid no one understood and matched the VMD classes to the AHRMA rules for those bikes.
It is not "game playing." As you well know, putting together a season schedule is difficult, and if you're not grandfathered in, getting dates during prime season, can be even more difficult if not impossible. AHRMA took what was available and worked with AHRMA's schedule. Given the AMA's multiple rejections of AHRMA's proposals and efforts, I don't think either side has strong feelings one way or the other - it is simply a matter of what makes business sense for both organizations. The AMA has a different vision of the future than either AHRMA or WERA. While you, I, others, may disagree with it, for varied reasons, it is the AMA's vision and decision, and thus, we will see what transpires. Cheers, Dave
Mongo, with the AMA giving you the middle finger for VMA 2026, are we still required to renew with AMA memberships for 2026?
For now we feel supporting the AMA as an org is worth it (Ev is a lifetime member and I have been for like 35+ years) and also for our riders to be able to get an MA license. We will keep looking at it.
