Rounds 11 and 12 of the AHRMA season took place June 6th and 7th at Autobahn, Joliet, IL, as part of the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series, presented by VIB-ISO. 

Sponsored by NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), and Roadracingworld.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.

A midwestern blast of rain and wind tore through the early Saturday morning Autobahn paddock, but the sun came out shortly thereafter, and the track dried in time to have a very competitive day of racing. The AHRMA 250GP Vintage Cup class points leader Craig Hirko couldn’t make it out this weekend which gave 2nd place Holly Varey a big shot in the arm to get things done. Saturday’s race gridded up and got off to a beautiful start.  Holly took off into Turn 1 in the lead and never looked back. At times folks were nipping at her heels, but she eked out a sizable lead and held onto it throughout and ended up with a picture perfect flag-to-flag win and a much needed handful of points to propel her into the championship lead.  She was followed by a very fast Jack Kainz on his ‘72 Yamaha, and Dave Roper taking third. Roper liked to joke he was the “first 4-stroke” in a grid of 2-strokes.  The top 5 riders were all putting in fast 1:49s and low 1:50 lap times and that’s moving on a little 250cc bike around this beautiful but technical track. The podium was Varey first, Kainz second, and Roper third. 

The balance of the grid, in order of finish was Jonas Stein on a 1972 Honda CB175, Craig Light riding a 1973 Bultaco, Dustin Johnson on his 1968 Yamaha YCS1, Bill Doran on a 1970 Yamaha CS3, Robert Brangaccio – 1971 Ducati, Tim Joyce on John Turner’s 1966 Ducati MK 3, and Robert Himmelmann rounding out the grid on a 1970 Yamaha CS3.

On hot and sticky Sunday, all eyes were on Holly, as another win would really cement her leading position in the championship. But as is in racing – things don’t always go as planned. As she pulled up to the grid the CS3 clutch was grabbing and dragging, and at the green flag her bike stalled, allowing the rest of the field to go by. Able to bump and get started again, the clutch grabbed too quickly and sent the bike handlebars to the sky, and down she went. Fortunately she wasn’t injured, but it put an end to her 250GP race for the day. In the meantime, the rest of the field had a great back and forth the entire race. Roper gave us a master class in smoothness and consistency on his 250 Aermacchi, with Stein and Kainz always close to pouncing at any moment. There was great racing and passing through the entire field with some fast riders putting their heads down and showing us style, the way it should be. All in all, Sunday’s race was considerably closer than Saturday, with some truly tight action. Roper took the checker, followed by Stein, and Kainz. 

The rest of the grid in order of finish was Johnson, Light, Doran, Himmelmann and Brangaccio.

“It’s great to see this 250GP class thriving as it is.  The grid was full of beautiful well turned out classic GP bikes, and this season so far, we’ve had 6 different winners, showing it’s not a runaway class. Such a beautiful sight to be up in the tower and watch these riders hit the apex through that last turn onto the straight, putting in fast times. This is the debut year of 250GP as our featured class and is turning out to be one of the most exciting and close Vintage Cups in recent memory.  

I want to personally thank Orange Cat Racing for opening the pearly gates of Autobahn and allowing AHRMA to have a great weekend of tight racing at this beautiful facility”, 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.

“Audubon was a brand‑new racetrack for AHRMA, and I expected the unfamiliar terrain to shake the Vintage Cup wide open. Instead, fate made the first move. With Craig Hirko breaking down before even reaching the track and Paul Germain absent, Holly Varey had a clear path for domination”, said Leasha Overturf, AHRMA Road Race Director.

“Saturday proved it—Holly launched off the line like a bolt of lightning and never had to look back, even with Dave Roper closing the gap late in the race.

Then came Sunday… and the entire weekend flipped in a single moment. A heartbreaking mishap on the start line took Holly out before she could even fight. Suddenly the Vintage Cup was up for grabs, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. As a longtime Dave Roper fan, I can’t complain about seeing him take the win, but the shake‑up was dramatic.

Next stop: New Jersey Motorsports Park. Let’s see how the Vintage Cup twists again.”

Rounds thirteen and fourteen of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by VIB-ISO will be June 27-28 at New Jersey Motorsports Park; Milleville, NJ.

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

Saturday, June 6, 2026

1. 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
2. 35L Jack Kainz 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
3. 7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
4. 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN
5. 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA
6. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
7. 6 Bill Doran, 1970 Yamaha CS3, Athens, OH
8. 903 Robert Brangaccio, 1971 Ducati, Basking Ridge, NJ
9. 309 Tim Joyce, 1966 Ducati MK 3, Springfield, VT
10. 62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI

Sunday, June 7, 2026

1. 7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
2. 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN
3. 35L Jack Kainz 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
4. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
5. 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA
6. 6 Bill Doran, 1970 Yamaha CS3, Athens, OH
7. 62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
8. 903 Robert Brangaccio, 1971 Ducati, Basking Ridge, NJ

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.