The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association Ltd. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to restoring and competing on classic motorcycles. With well over 5,000 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. AHRMA traces its roots to efforts to organize vintage roadracing during the late 1970s in the Northeast. In the early '80s, other groups began emerging around the nation, adding scrambles, observed trials, dirt track and concours events to the competition options available for vintage riders. Among these organizations were the California Vintage Racing Group and, in the Southeast, the Historic Motorcycle Racing Association. By 1986 it was clear that a national organization would be necessary to administer this burgeoning sport. AHRMA was originally formed as a privately held business corporation. Other groups were brought together under one banner and one set of rules, and in 1989 AHRMA was reorganized into the member-owned association of today. AHRMA offers vintage national and regional roadracing, motocross, dirt track, observed trials and cross country competition. The machines active in AHRMA these events span a full 50 years, from the 1920s to the mid-'70s.  The national-championship schedule typical includes 15-20 rounds apiece in roadracing, motocross, dirt track and trials. AHRMA nationals take place at some of the finest and most historic venues: Daytona, Mid-Ohio, Sears Point, Willow Springs and Peoria, to name but a few. Realizing that the definition of "classic" varies from one generation of enthusiasts to the next, AHRMA has in the past few years begun to add classes for long-travel motocross machines from the late 1970s to early '80s and for roadracers from early in the AMA Superbike period (up to the 1980 model year). These Post-Vintage motocross classes have been incorporated in many of AHRMA's regional series and also have their own national circuit. The three Vintage Superbike classes have been added to AHRMA's normal roadrace program. In an effort to bring single-cylinder roadracing to the U.S. and to rejuvenate twins racing, AHRMA in 1993 began offering Sound of Singles® and Battle of Twins® classes, with a full national series in 1994. Bolstered by the presence of world-class riders on machines such as the exotic Britten V1000, AHRMA's Daytona SOS/BOT events have attracted worldwide attention. Since 1995 the organization has been offering the almost-anything-goes Sound of Thunder® for singles, twins and triples, with Daytona as the opening round of the world Sound of Thunder series for several years. Including these innovative modern bikes with the vintage program has met with widespread acceptance and allows AHRMA to host its own events instead being the guest of another racing organization. The organization occasionally sponsors concours d'elegance, swap meets and banquets featuring world-renowned speakers. One of the organization's best-known activities began in 1992 when AHRMA and BMW of North America began promoting the BMW Battle of Legends®, extremely popular events pitting motorcycling's legends against one another on identically prepared BMW motorcycles. Tens of thousands of fans enjoy the Legends races during Classics Days each year during Daytona's Bike Week. Legends and non-racing Legends Emeritus have included David Aldana, Hugh Anderson, Mark Brelsford, Don Castro, Yvon Duhamel, Chris Draayer, Don Emde, Walt Fulton III, Dick Klamfoth, Kurt Liebmann, Dick Mann, Bart Markel, Eddie Mulder, Jody Nicholas, Gary Nixon, Reg Pridmore, Phil Read, Roger Rieman, George Roeder, Jay Springsteen, John Surtees MBE, Don Vesco, Walter Villa and Walter Zeller. Races have been held at Daytona Beach, Florida; Loudon, New Hampshire; Sears Point, California; and Lexington, Ohio. The BMW Battle of the Legends Grand Finale took place in March 1997 at Daytona International Speedway. AHRMA members enjoy a professionally edited monthly journal, Vintage Views; an annual racing rulebook/handbook; access to a site on the World Wide Web (www.ahrma.org);   a variety of AHRMA logo products; and the AHRMA/MBNA MasterCard. The association maintains a Benevolent Fund to aid riders who are injured or otherwise in need. Surveys have found AHRMA members are mature, fairly affluent, well-educated and very dedicated to motorcycling. Among the findings of our January 2002 survey (along with other data where noted): Occupation %   Age % Business owner 26   16-30 2 Professional/technical 22   31-40 12 Craftsman 14   41-50 41 Administrative/management 11   51-60 28 Retired 10   60+ 15 Sales/marketing 9   Average age: 47* Other 5       Service 4   Highest level of education % Military 1   Some high school 1       High school or equivalent 37 Household income %   Trade school 22 Under $30,000 8   Bachelor's degree 31 $30,000-$60,000 32   Master's degree 7 $60,000-$100,000 32   Doctorate 3 $100,000+ 24             Motorcycle magazines read % Motorcycle-related spending $   Vintage Views 96 New/used motorcycles 6,614   American Motorcyclist 77 New parts 999   Cycle News 49 Services 834   Other 40 Used parts 582   Cycle World 38 Tires 442   VMX 27 Suspension 418   Classic Bike 19 Safety apparel 385   Motorcyclist 18 Tools 370   Roadracing World 16 Fuel/lubrication 295   Classic Racer 15 Logo clothing/items 198   The Classic Motor Cycle 12 Books/magazines/manuals 165       Chain/sprockets 161   Average annual travel (all)   Total spending 11,463   Round trip air fares 6 Average motorcycles owned: 19   Hotel nights 19       Campground nights 10 Use the Internet 75%   Rental car days 15 Internet users who buy on-line 54%   Miles driven 20,790       Days at AHRMA events 12 Motorcycle activities %       Motocross 63   Membership in other groups** % Street riding 60   American Motorcyclist Assn. 90 Racing restoration 54   Local club 29 Trail riding/dual sport 49   AMA region 13 Spectating 47   WERA 7 Observed trials 32   Antique Motorcycle Club 7 Hare scrambles/cross country 27       Dirt track 27   AHRMA competition preferences*   Roadracing 26   Motocross (vintage & post-vintage) 3,055 Officiating/volunteering 20   Observed trials 1,585 Pit crew 15   Dirt track  1,321 Concours restoration 13   Roadracing (including SOS & BOT) 1,283 Enduro 11   (Included are 2,754 members who compete in more than one discipline.) x         Different types of motorcycle activities in which members participate %       1 or more 100       2 95       3 84       4 65       5 44       6 26       7 14       8 6       9 4   *Data from entire membership database  10 4   **From 1996 survey (not asked in 2002) Promotional opportunities. Taken as a group, AHRMA members represent nearly $60 million in annual motorcycle-related spending (and that doesn't include race entries or travel). Advertising space is available monthly in Vintage Views, the annual handbook, occasional event programs and on the AHRMA website. AHRMA coordinates direct mailings to the entire membership or selected subgroups. Contact Peggy Cozart (see below) with advertising needs. For sponsorship opportunities and vendor/display space at events, contact Cindy Cowell. For more information: National Office: Cindy Cowell, executive director, 2375 Midway Rd SE, Bolivia, NC 28422; 910-253-8012; fax 910-253-8313; ccowell@ahrma.org. Membership: Lorie Smith, membership coordinator, P.O. Box 1648, Brighton, MI  48116; telephone 810-225-6085; 810-225-6095; ahrmanatlmemship@aol.com.  Publications/website/advertising: Peggy Cozart, director of communications, 2277 Brengare Drive, Decatur, GA 30033; 404-964-4582; fax 404-315-9244; pcozart@ahrma.org.