The 2025 Vintage Cup Series continued June 21 and 22 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ, as part of the 2025 AHRMA National Roadracing Series presented by Motobilia.
Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2025 Vintage Cup features the 500 Premier class which includes 500cc four-stroke machines built up to and including 1968. Featured bikes from this era would include the 500cc Manx Norton, Matchless or Seeley G50, BSA Goldstar or 500cc BSA Twin “works” replica, Benelli “works” four, Harley KR, Honda Drixton Twin, and more.
On Saturday, Tim Joyce, piloting John Turner’s 1968 Seeley G50, led from the start, taking the hole shot with Kevin Dinsmoor, on Turner’s 1962 BMW R-50, Brian Larrabure riding a 1962 NYC Norton Manx, and Mark Heckles racing his father’s original 1959 Norton Manx close behind. Two-thirds through the race, Heckles experienced a mechanical and was forced to pull off. Dinsmoor stayed within a few bike lengths of Joyce, but wasn’t able to reel him in. Joyce maintained the lead, taking the checkered flag for the win, followed by Dinsmoor and Larrabure.
Sunday’s race had Joyce again taking the hole shot with Larrabure getting a great launch, having switched to his 1968 NYC Norton Seeley G50, then Dinsmoor, followed by Dave Roper, bumping up his 350cc 1970 Harley-Davidson ERTT. Dinsmoor was able to overtake Larrabure in turn 2, catching up to Joyce at turn 6 passing him going through turns 7-8 then setting the race pace. Dinsmoor held the lead with Joyce hot on his rear wheel until the beginning of last lap when Joyce passed him. Joyce put his head down and maintained the lead for the remainder of the last lap taking the checkered flag, Dinsmoor coming in second, Larrabure third and Roper fourth.
“As a famous fast racer once said, New Jersey was poised to be ‘Hot and Hazy, Fast and Crazy!’, and that it was! Tim Joyce, riding John Turner’s excellently prepared Seeley G50, put the bike on the top of the box both days for the AHRMA 500 Premier Vintage Cup. But not without Kevin Dinsmoor giving his beautiful Turner 500 BMW the berries the whole time. Special shout out to John Turner for fielding two very nice bikes this weekend with Tim and Kevin making him proud. I had the luxury of calling the Vintage Cup races from the air conditioned tower both days and must give a special mention to all the weekend’s track workers, volunteers, and riders who put in a great showing in the heat and humidity,” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.
Kenny continued, “Another story that must be mentioned is fast guy Mark Heckles taking his father Keith Heckles’s original 19″-wheeled 1959 Manx Norton (ex Phil Read) out of the barn and getting it out onto the track after decades of quiet. These old bikes are cranky; a different beast than what Mark is used to pushing through the corners. But he’s a fantastic racer who honoured his dad with his outright enthusiasm throughout the weekend. Well done. This is the kind of fabric AHRMA is woven from.”
“We get a few weeks off, then set our sights for Blackhawk Farms just outside of Chicago on August 1-3rd. This event is always a big draw with a great cross section of our American classic racing demographic. See you there!”
On any weekend AHRMA works to have the safest race weekends possible. We have great news to share from the weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park. “As AHRMA has had some generous donations toward the Airfence program through fundraising efforts for the Roadracing World Action Fund we are gaining access to more availability through the network. Our mission continues. At NJMP we collected $1000 in donations from riders and families during the Awards Ceremony from auctioning a new Hit-Air Safety vest,” Shared Bob Robbins, AHRMA Safety Committee Chair.
Rounds 13 and 14 of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by Motobilia will be August 2-3 at Blackhawk Farms Raceway, South Beloit IL.
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.
2025 AHRMA Roadracing Series Presented by Motobilia, 500 Premier – Vintage Cup Results:
Saturday, June 21, 2025
1. Tim Joyce, 1968 Seeley G50, Springfield, VT
2. Kevin Dinsmoor, 1962 BMW Turner R-50, Colchester, CT
3. Brian Larrabure, 1962 Norton Manx, Calabasas, CA
4. Mark Heckles, 1959 Norton Manx, Bedford, NY
Sunday, June 22, 2025
1. Tim Joyce, 1968 Seeley G50, Springfield, VT
2. Kevin Dinsmoor, 1962 BMW Turner R-50, Colchester, CT
3. Brian Larrabure, 1968 Seeley G50, Calabasas, CA
4. Dave Roper, 1970 Harley-Davidson ERTT, Hicksville, NY
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.
