(August 26, 2026, Knoxville, TN) – The final round of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) 2026 Vintage Cup will once again offer racers the opportunity to compete for a portion of a generous purse.
AHRMA and NYC Norton have announced a $3,000 purse to be divided amongst the top five finishers in the Saturday, October 10, 2026, 250GP race during the 21st Annual Barber Vintage Festival.
Sponsored by NYC Norton (nycnorton.com) and Roadracingworld.com, AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup features the 250GP 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.
“AHRMA is a tight-knit family with a true interest in keeping our classics on the racetrack. This is never more evident than when folks step up – many of whom are not even racing within this class – to contribute to the AHRMA Vintage Cup Challenge Purse for our year-end 250 GP race, taking place Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the spectacular Vintage Festival at Barber Motorsports Park,” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.
He continued, “I’d like to personally thank Kevin Dinsmoor, Bob Robbins, Alex and Cindy McLean, Bob Blakely, and Brian Larrabure, for their generous contributions towards this year’s purse. This gives a nice little bit of grass roots support to our riders who have come out in force throughout this season. NYC Norton is proud to have sponsored such a wonderful class with great racing throughout the year, and we look forward to the Awards Presentation Saturday night!”
“The Vintage Cup has delivered pure excitement all season, and adding a purse to the final round will only elevate the energy. It also reflects the deep commitment of the racers who generously contribute to this program and believe in what it represents.” shared Leasha Overturf, AHRMA’s Road Race Director.
The purse distribution is:
- 1st Place $1,125
- 2nd Place $750
- 3rd Place $525
- 4th Place $325
- 5th Place $275
The purse is not funded by the AHRMA organization, and no racer is obligated to accept it.
To be eligible for the cash purse, a Vintage Cup 250GP racer must meet the following criteria:
- Be a licensed AHRMA member/competitor.
- Be in compliance with the AHRMA Barber Racer Eligibility Requirements (found at ahrma.org/schedules-results).
- Take part in the Thursday or Friday practice.
- Be registered in the “250GP Vintage Cup” class to race on Saturday.
- Compete on a race bike which conforms to the 250GP machine requirements (refer to ahrma.org/ahrma-handbook).
Other licensed road racers that don’t meet the AHRMA Barber Racer Eligibility Requirements, may request a special waiver from AHRMA. Waivers must be submitted through the online AHRMA Barber Waiver Request Form no later than midnight Central Thursday, October 3rd).
To register, visit ahrma.motorsportreg.com. Additional information can be found at the 2026 Barber Vintage Festival AHRMA Schedules & Info. Questions should be directed to [email protected].
To celebrate the 21st Annual Barber Vintage Festival, there will be over $30,000 in cash purses awarded to AHRMA racers throughout the weekend across a multitude of classes and racing disciplines.
Come see the action in person, hear the roar of these and other classic and modern racing motorcycles and visit the racers and machines in the paddock.
AHRMA gate passes are available HERE. ALL Spectators who have purchased gate passes either through AHRMA or Barber are welcome to access the paddock after signing a waiver.
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 about 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.
