(August 5, 2026, Knoxville, TN) –  The Vintage Cup series returned to the Gingerman Raceway July 25-26 , continuing with a back to back weekend in the Northern Region at Blackhawk Farms Raceway, August 1-2 as part of the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series presented by VIB-ISO, delivering a double dose of classic motorcycle racing.

Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), this year AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup features the 250 Grand Prix class, which includes any fully GP-kitted 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single cylinder two stroke; 175cc liquid cooled single cylinder two-stroke; or 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke built before December 31, 1968.  It’s a showdown of classic small displacement racing that relies heavily on corner-speed, momentum, and precise engineering, and certain to leave fans on the edge of their seats.

Typical AHRMA 250GP grids include a wide variety of motorcycles such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.

Saturday’s race at Gingerman saw Paul Germain, riding a 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, take an early lead. He secured the hole shot and led an impressive flag-to-flag to the checkers, with a large gap behind him for second.  Jack Kainz, on a 1972 Yamaha CS3, and Tim Terrell, on a 1966 Honda CB160, battled hard behind, with Kainz ultimately edging out Terrell and taking the second step on the podium, with Terrell a hard-fought third.

The balance of the results in order of finish were: Dustin Johnson on a 1968 Yamaha YCS1, David Roper riding a 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Craig Hirko on a 1967 Bridgestone TA1, Holly Varey on a 1968 VanTech CS3, Bill Doran on a 1970 Yamaha CS3, Alex McLean on Jonathan White’s 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Gregory Glevicky on a 1970 Yamaha DT1, Francis Ganance on a 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Robert Himmelman on a 1970 Yamaha CS3, and Trever Scales on a 1969 Honda CB160.

In Sunday’s race, Germain again got the hole shot, but this time Hirko and Varey were within half a bike’s length going into T1.  Although Germain led for most of the race, the riders behind were giving him serious chase and it was going to be whoever wanted to send it into the last turn on the last lap. Sadly, on that last lap, Holly had to pull off with a mechanical, leaving Hirko to put the work in to keep Germain close. As the two sprinted down the back straight Germain’s 2-stroke seized; he pulled in the clutch and let it cool for a second or two, then tried to bump it to get it going again, but no joy. As he coasted out of the last turn towards the Start/Finish, Hirko was able to pull aside and pass JUST at the line, as Paul paddled his bike across for 2nd place. Wow! Real racing excitement!   Johnson rolled over in third. The balance of the results in order of finish were Scales, McLean, Terrell, Ganance, Himmelman, Varey, Roper, and Kainz on a 1972 Yamaha CS3.

The following weekend at Blackhawk Farms Raceway brought together a strong field, including a number of returnees from Gingerman. The weather prediction for the weekend called for rain starting Friday afternoon and continuing through Saturday evening. Although the pouring rain had stopped, the track was wet for the Vintage Cup race.  Riders coming in from wet practice said there was good grip on the newly repaved surface, so we still had an opportunity for some race craft, albeit avoiding puddles!

As the green flag waved, Jonas Stein, on his 1972 Honda CB175, led flag-to-flag, with Roper and Hirko in hot pursuit for second and third, finishing in that order. In races like these there are often races within the race worth noting. McLean battled with Scales, with Scales ultimately prevailing for fifth behind Himmelman in fourth and McLean in sixth. Varey, still fighting with her bike from the front brake issue she had at Gingerman, finished seventh, and Johnson eighth.

On Sunday, track conditions were vastly different, with a completely dry track and sunny weather. Varey took the hole shot, followed by Roper and Scales. Varey led the race for a lap or two, battling Joe Ackley with Johnson joining the fray.  The racing was extremely competitive, with three and four bikes wide through some turns. Johnson worked his way from the back of the grid and took the lead halfway through the race. Ackley, on a 1972 Yamaha CS5, mixed it up with him, trading the lead and showing a wheel. Johnson was able to outpower Ackley on the front straight for the checkered flag, with Ackley taking second. Roper battled for third until the last lap, when Varey overtook him, leaving Roper fourth.

Completing the top finishers were Hirko, Scales, Kainz, and Himmelman. (To make clear of the difference between the two days’ racing; Dustin Johnson finished last on Saturday, and first on Sunday!)  

“Wow, what a couple of weeks of racing. Going into this weekend we saw championship points quite close between Hirko and Varey – both of whom had more than 10 races already – so any points acquired had to be podium finishes to chip away at some of the lower points that get tossed away. Sadly, Holly didn’t get much needed points at either race at Gingerman, and Hirko’s Sunday win really put a wedge into the championship.  Going into Blackhawk, Holly and Hirko didn’t get high in the standings on Saturday, so again a wash points-wise for them, but Holly’s Sunday showing gave her a needed boost to begin closing the gap with Hirko.  We shall see….  We are heading into our penultimate round a Nelson Ledges on September 11 – 13, 2026, and I can assure all who are following, these riders are serious and this race weekend will be the lynchpin into how this all plays out for the big show at Barber in October.  Can’t wait”, said series sponsor Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.

AHRMA first launched the Vintage Cup series during 2019 by spotlighting the 350 GP class.  The series resumed during 2021 and highlighted the 500 Premier class.  It was followed by Vintage Superbike Heavyweight in 2022, and Formula 750 in 2023.  In 2024, the second rotation of featured classes was initiated with 350GP, followed by 500 Premier in 2025.  250GP was added to the series in 2026 – the first year it has been featured.

“The last two rounds of the 250 GP Vintage Cup were nonstop intensity from my seat in race control. Germain’s breakaway at Gingerman immediately made me think about what it meant for Hirko and Varey—then his bike quit just feet from the line on Sunday, handing Hirko the win in one of the wildest finishes I’ve seen,” said Leasha Overturf, AHRMA’s Road Race Director. 

At Blackhawk Farms, rain, mechanical issues, and a hungry newcomer reshuffled everything. Jonas Stein took off in the wet, and by Sunday the dry track brought a whole new fight. Holly finally had a sorted bike, grabbed the hole shot, and delivered one of the best battles of the weekend while Dustin Johnson powered to the top step.

Two weekends, pure excitement. Nelson Ledges can’t come soon enough!”

From Bob Robbins, co-Chairman of the AHRMA Safety Committee: “AHRMA loves to be at Blackhawk Farms where they always deploy soft barriers kept on site from the Roadracing World Action Fund through donations from various fundraisers to keep riders safe at their motorcycle events.  That safety initiative makes the track safe and keeps AHRMA coming back.”

Rounds nineteen and twenty of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by VIB-ISO will be September 12-13 at Nelson Ledges, Garrettsville, OH.

The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event. Highlights from each Vintage Cup race will be reported in RoadRacingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.

• 2026 AHRMA Roadracing Series Presented by VIB-ISO, 250GP – Vintage Cup Results: 

Gingerman Raceway – Saturday, July 24, 2026

1. 61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
2. 35L Jack Kainz, 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
3. 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
4. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
5. 7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
6. 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
7. 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
8. 6 Bill Doran, 1970 Yamaha CS3, Athens, OH
9. 17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
10. 73 Gregory Glevicky, 1970 Yamaha DT1, Cincinnati, OH
11. 97F Francis Ganance, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Cincinnati, OH
12. 62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
13. 779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC

Gingerman Raceway – Sunday, July 25, 2026

1. 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
2. 61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
3. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
4. 779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
5. 17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
6. 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
7. 97F Francis Ganance, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Cincinnati, OH
8. 62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
9. 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
10. 7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
11. 35L Jack Kainz, 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI

Blackhawk Farms Raceway – Saturday, August 1, 2026

1. 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN
2. 7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
3. 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
4. 62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
5. 779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
6. 17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
7. 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
8. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA

Blackhawk Farms Raceway – Sunday, August 2, 2026

1. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
2. 709 Joe Ackley, 1972 Yamaha CS5, Rio Rancho, NM
3. 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
4. 7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
5. 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
6. 779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
7. 35L Jack Kainz, 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
8. 62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI

About AHRMA:

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles.  With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.