In the United States, AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) is the only national sanctioning body for vintage and "alternative modern" race machinery. The AHRMA modern program consists of Supermono, Battle of the Twins, and Sound of Thunder. All sorts of thumpers (a single to you newbies), twins, and triples can compete, from Saxon Triumphs to blank-check Brittens to lowly Honda Ascots. Guys familiar with AHRMA talk about it in hushed respectful tones, for this organization has come to foster a fantastic environment in which regular guys compete on shoe-string budgets in an exciting and competitive but safe racing format. With little press coverage and next to no sponsorship, AHRMA racers sacrifice to attend every meet. Their sense of passion is palpable and it works to form real bonds among the participants. It is standard operating procedure to help your competition, and many a night an AHRMA racer will stay up tearing down and rebuilding the engine of a bike that will beat him the following morning. It's just the way things are done.

Hord At Play. pic courtesy of Nick Devink

Being a fellow Hawk rider, I have known Hord for several years, and at my request he has kindly agreed to share some war stories from the past racing season.

Bid Sid editor (BS): What is your favorite track?

Hord: Mid-Ohio. It's technical, has a bit of a tricky surface, and isn't all that horsepower-dependent, at least not like the Road Americas of the world. [Road America is a premier track in Wisconsin.] For some reason I always seem to go well at there... I just dig it I guess. However, my luck at Mid-O is erratic at best. In 1997 I won both of my races on the Chicken, but the following year the motor exploded on the first lap of practice. Also the turnout for the AHRMA weekend at Mid-Ohio is huge, and more riders can mean more problems. This year at Mid-O during Saturday morning practice I came into the Carousel with a good head of steam when I encountered a slower rider on the outside, apparently getting ready to head into the pits. So I took my usual line, was leaned over, when all of a sudden the rider peeled to the inside of the track. With a chirp and a whap I was down and sliding. Still don't know if I actually hit the rider, but it was pretty close if I didn't. The damage was the usual lowside stuff, easily fixed but we only had 30 minutes to do it before the race. A lot of tools and duct tape flew around, but with the help of my pitmates the job got done. As I headed out on my F3 warm-up lap I discovered the bars and front wheel were about 20 degrees out of line. Oh well. I lead into turn 1 and that's about as exciting as it got. I clicked off a couple of quickish laps to gap the rest of the 30+ bike pack, settled into a rhythm, and took the checkers.

BS: As the season progresses, how does the battle for total points effect your mental strategy as you approach each individual race.

Yeah, the racer quandary; this year, I came into the last race in South Carolina with relatively small point leads in both Battle of the Twins Formula 3 and Formula 2, and I must confess I was a nervous wreck all weekend. I couldn't figure out a strategy ... race with abandon, or reserve?

Saturday I took the abandon approach in F3 and won the race, extending my lead slightly and therefore "only" needing a 4th place finish on Sunday to secure the title.

But later that same day I turned around and went into reserve mode during the F2 race, ignoring pack leader Pat Mooney on his Buell, and settling into 3rd position behind points-nemesis David Podolsky aboard his Ducati 750. I later passed him for 2nd, but only when it was safe to do so.

On Sunday when I gridded for the F3 final, I knew I had to ride hard enough to finish 4th, but not so hard to take myself out and hand the championship to Fast Frank Shockley and his fast and reliable Triumph. I nailed the start and led the first lap and my riding strategy was pretty much my race with abandon mode. Then, heading into the braking zone of a corner known as Mulligans, my damned throttle hung Wide Freaking Open. Somehow my flailing managed to get the errant slide to slam shut. After that I rode the remaining laps like a complete wuss and nabbed 2nd, and with it the F3 championship. So obviously I have yet to figure out exactly how you balance the short term drive to win versus the long term drive to rack up points. Perhaps all racers struggle with the conflict, and you never settle it.

BS: Over this last season, which competitors and race moments stood out?

My last lap battle at Road America with Dave Fulkerson, who was riding a Guzzi 850/1100. He's a lunatic, very fast. In the last corner I was run off the track by a TL1000; Dave slipped by on the inside, and I couldn't draft by in time for the checkers. My first F3 loss since late '97, and by half a length to add insult to injury. Can't blame the lapper really, I just chose the wrong line around.

Also the F3 race at Gingerman. Frank Shockley is wicked fast on that vintage Triumph twin of his. While I was trying to catch him in the turns, Steve Von Borstel smelled opportunity, and passed us both on his rapid 72hp, supersport-spec (!) SV 650, forcing me to settle for second again.

BS: I know you have some people you would like to thank now that the craziness has come to a close till next season.

Rick McWaters and Cycle Tech (www.reish.net/cycletech). I've said it before, I'll say it again- I COULD NOT RACE without his help. Jay Wright at Bare Bones Machine, for Bridgestone tire support. Excellent tires, excellent contingency program. Win enough races and you don't have to worry about buying tires. See them at www.barebones.net. And give Mike a yell at Reish Dot Net. if you want to put up a racer web page. Go9, of course--without their constant supply of twisted support, I would be nearly normal. Mark Hatten--thanks for hauling me around. Hawkster and AHRMA friends everywhere and my wife Kari and son Jacob, for tolerating this ridiculously addictive hobby.