Road America Vintage Motorcycle Classic 2012

By Motorcycle Classics Staff
Published on October 8, 2012
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Road America 2012 was the best yet, with beautiful weather and plenty of great vintage racing.
Road America 2012 was the best yet, with beautiful weather and plenty of great vintage racing.
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Dustin Foretich racing his 2006 Triumph Thruxton at Road America.
Dustin Foretich racing his 2006 Triumph Thruxton at Road America.
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Gary Swan of Mission Hills, Calif., races a Honda in Sportsman 350.
Gary Swan of Mission Hills, Calif., races a Honda in Sportsman 350.
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Stacie B. London of Los Angeles races a Honda CB160.
Stacie B. London of Los Angeles races a Honda CB160.
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Paul Elledge (left) and Brady Walker get set for the Vintage Superbike Lightweight race on Saturday.
Paul Elledge (left) and Brady Walker get set for the Vintage Superbike Lightweight race on Saturday.
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Ken Debelak of Nashville, Tenn., races a pair of vintage Hondas.
Ken Debelak of Nashville, Tenn., races a pair of vintage Hondas.
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John Schults of La Porte. Ind., races a pair of vintage Harley-Davidsons.
John Schults of La Porte. Ind., races a pair of vintage Harley-Davidsons.
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Frank Willink of Sunnyvale, Calif., races a Triumph Thruxton.
Frank Willink of Sunnyvale, Calif., races a Triumph Thruxton.
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Kenny Cummings of New York, N.Y., races a 1968 Norton.
Kenny Cummings of New York, N.Y., races a 1968 Norton.
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Joe Rybacek, 1954 M-G Falcone Sport. European, Best Restored.
Joe Rybacek, 1954 M-G Falcone Sport. European, Best Restored.
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Kevin Hahn, 1971 M-G Ambassador. European, Best Rider.
Kevin Hahn, 1971 M-G Ambassador. European, Best Rider.
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Heath Hemauer, 1974 Norton Commando. British, Best Rider.
Heath Hemauer, 1974 Norton Commando. British, Best Rider.
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Burt Richmond, 1957 Velocette LE 200. Editor's Choice award.
Burt Richmond, 1957 Velocette LE 200. Editor's Choice award.
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Todd and Ben Meyer (right), 1952 BSA Gold Star. British, Best Restored.
Todd and Ben Meyer (right), 1952 BSA Gold Star. British, Best Restored.
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Burt again, for Diane Fitzgerald, 1968 Honda CL125A. Japanese, Best Rider.
Burt again, for Diane Fitzgerald, 1968 Honda CL125A. Japanese, Best Rider.
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Dave Spooner, 1978 Yamaha XS650. Best Custom.
Dave Spooner, 1978 Yamaha XS650. Best Custom.
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Phil Taylor, 1938 H-D FXRT. American, Best Restored.
Phil Taylor, 1938 H-D FXRT. American, Best Restored.
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Samuel Oliva, 1971 Honda SL350. Japanese, Best Restored.
Samuel Oliva, 1971 Honda SL350. Japanese, Best Restored.
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Riders line up for a group photo below the 40-foot observation tower at Broughton Sheboygan March Park.
Riders line up for a group photo below the 40-foot observation tower at Broughton Sheboygan March Park.
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AHRMA racer Rick Richter of Hayward, Wis., the Motorcycle Classics/Road America Getaway Giveaway winner.
AHRMA racer Rick Richter of Hayward, Wis., the Motorcycle Classics/Road America Getaway Giveaway winner.
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There were a lot of great classic bikes to see at Road America 2012. Here's hoping for even more next year!
There were a lot of great classic bikes to see at Road America 2012. Here's hoping for even more next year!

Unofficially billed as “America’s National Park of Speed,” the 4.048-mile Road America circuit was built in 1955, when the track was carved out of 525 acres of beautiful Wisconsin farmland. Located a stone’s throw from Elkhart Lake, Wis., the circuit was constructed when road racing on the surrounding public roads — ongoing since 1950 — was banned. Since then, Road America has become hallowed ground, its original 14-turn configuration never altered.

June 8-10, 2012, welcomed the 3rd Annual Road America Vintage Motorcycle Classic, and good weather this year made this the best yet, as the first two events witnessed occasional rain and wind, putting a mild damper on things. But not this year. With temperatures in the 80s and plenty of sun, spectators were able to really enjoy all the event had to offer.

On track

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) put on a great race weekend as usual, with vintage and modern racing Saturday and Sunday. A highlight for spectators and racers alike, and the beginning of the racing schedule both days, was the Battle of the CB160 LeMans Start, with 15 racers lining up across the track on their small-bore Hondas, waiting for the signal to race across the track and bump start their bikes before roaring off. The home advantage paid off for Evie Hunt of Kenosha, Wis., who finished first in the CB160 races on both Saturday and Sunday.

With 10 races held every day, there was great vintage racing action for fans of every flavor of vintage bike, from pre-1940 hand-shift singles and twins to vintage superbikes and 2-strokes, Battle of the Twins, the Thruxton Transatlantic Challenge (which features modern Triumph Thruxtons) and even modern motard racing.

Under the big tent

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