AMA Press Releases Racing

AMA Thanks Roadracing World Action Fund for Soft-Barrier Deployment at AMA Vintage Grand Championship

2023 AMA VMD Road Race

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 19, 2021) — The American Motorcyclist Association expresses its appreciation to the Roadracing World Action Fund for assisting with soft-barrier deployment at the AMA Vintage Grand Championship, taking place July 23-25 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, presented by Royal Enfield.

“We appreciate the contribution of the Roadracing World Action Fund,” said AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier. “Thanks to the soft-barrier deployment around the road race course at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, AMA members competing in the road-racing program during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will be better protected in the event of a crash.”

“Soft barriers for road racing represent the progression of technology making racing safer, and therefore, even better,” added Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course President Craig Rust. “Thanks to the contribution of the Roadracing World Action Fund, the vintage road racers at the AMA Vintage Grand Championship will be more confident to give it their all in pursuit of championships and victories at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course next weekend.”

The Roadracing World Action Fund, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization with a mission of helping prevent racetrack injuries, provides soft barriers, also known under the brand names Airfence and Alpina, for use at road race and dirt track events. The pre-inflated barriers are positioned in front of walls and other trackside obstacles and force air through blow-off valves to absorb impact energy in the event of a rider crash.

“We’re happy to provide soft barriers for the AMA Vintage Grand Championship,” said John Ulrich, founder and president of the Roadracing World Action Fund. “The mission of the Roadracing World Action Fund is to help improve rider safety, and the deployment of these sections will help accomplish that. We thank all who have donated to the Roadracing World Action Fund to make this and other deployments possible.”

The 2021 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, presented by Royal Enfield, will feature an On Any Sunday theme, celebrating 50 years of Bruce Brown’s epic moto documentary, with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer David Aldana — one of the film’s legendary stars — serving as Grand Marshal. There will also be a special outdoor screening of the beloved film on Friday, July 23.

Racers and fans will appreciate all the racing action, from road racing and motocross to cross-country, dirt track and trials — and much of it with an AMA Grand Championship flavor. Riders as young as age 4 are permitted to compete in motocross, while those 12 and up can ride in trials, dirt track and hare-scrambles events. There’s also exhibition pit-bike racing on Saturday. Learn more and register today at vintagemotorcycledays.com/page/racing/.

The event will also include all the vintage-oriented happenings that classic-bike fans love, including Hall of Fame activities, vintage bike shows and the legendary swap meet. Tickets are still available at midohio.com or can be purchased at the gate on the days of the event for an additional $10.