Page 34 - Laconia Rally News 2020

FIM NORTH AMERICA VINTAGE ROAD RACE CNHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO NHMS, JUNE 13, 14
ew Hampshire Motor Speedway will once again host the FIM North America Vintage Road Race Champion- ships on its 1.6 mile road course. The fastest vintage rac- ers from across the US and Canada will compete at this internationally sanctioned event. What is vintage? Basically all the race machines competing were manufac- tured prior to 1994 with the oldest race bikes dating back into the 1930’s. Make no mistake, the races are not just a parade of old bikes but rather it is all out elbow to elbow racing at speeds exceeding 130 mph for the fastest machines.
Of Additional note are the fabulous vintage sidecars where the passenger (monkey) hangs off the sidecar scraping his/her shoulder on the ground to act as ballast for the machine. Without that passenger ballast balancing the outfit, the sidecar would instantly flip over in a turn. Most of the passengers are women...some wives, some girlfriends and others just speed thrill seekers.
The old ridged frame Indian and Harley tank shifter race machines from the 1930’s and 40’s are a must see. No rear suspension means that sliding these old machines in the corners on the pavement is the normal way to get around the corners. You can’t dial in the rear suspension if there is none. This throw back in time racing can only be appreciated by actually seeing them in action.
ACTION AT THE TRACK!
The heart of the vintage races at this event are the machines from the 1960’ through mid 1980’s. Here the old British machines like Triumph and BSA still compete on par against the new wave of Japanese multi cylinder bikes of the 1970’s.
Admission to the races allows all spectators to park inside the NASCAR oval, wander the garages and have free access to the grandstands. Races are run rain or shine. H
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Photo Courtesy: Robert Coy Photo Courtesy: Robert Coy
Photo Courtesy: Robert Coy