'08 AHRMA Barber Sun. Airhead Race

Lots of of close racing and passing here! This is footage from the AHRMA Airhead Invitational race at the Barber Vintage Festival on Sunday, October 19. Our race started in the second wave. Three REALLY fast 750s and a 1000 (ridden by Tim Joyce, Glenn Campbell and Will Harding) jumped out to an early lead, and I took off in pursuit, and had fun catching and passing riders from the first wave.

I held 4th place for a couple of laps, and had ANOTHER GREAT time racing with Jeff Marcoux (in the blue and black leathers). Jeff got around me at the 1:34 mark, and we swapped positions back and forth the last several laps. (He killed me coming out of the hairpin turn all weekend, and I seemed to be able to reel him back in by the end of the backstretch.)

In the last turn coming to the white flag, a back marker got between us and I had to really slow down because I didn't know which line the slower bike would take through the turn. Jeff took advantage and opened a lead of at least 100 yards on the front stretch, and I put my head down and rode like crazy. I was able to get to his back wheel in the final turn and made a last-ditch effort to dive inside of him, but Jeff closed the door. I had a good run at him coming to the checkers, but Jeff held me off by a bike length.

If the race had been another 50 or 60 yards . . .

I race a 1973 BMW R75/5 in AHRMA's BEARS class (British-European-American Racing Series). See ahrma.org for more information.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• BMW
• vintage
• motorcycle
• racing
• AHRMA
• Barber
• airhead

[matteblk]

Thanks for sharing Stan... and helping me remember how to get around the track in the run up to this year's race

[tunapete37]

Wow! Great footage of a great race-long battle. Made me wish I could have been out there with you.

[tim19457]

Great footage guys,  very cool

[USCRA614]

I totally blew a downshift in the Alabama rollercoaster on the last lap and ran wide. I thought for sure you'd get by me somewhere. I heard you downshift on that 2nd to last turn and I knew you were coming up the inside. I just held my line and hoped you wouldn't stuff me. Great racing with you Stan! Thanks for posting the vids.

Jeff Marcoux