Motocross Photography — vintage racing
Photo Tips, motocross March 19th, 2009
- Pomeroy’s Pursang
AHRMA is the American Historical Racing Motorcycle Association. My first AHRMA experience was in April 2006, at Diamond Don Rainey’s Riverport National in Jefferson, Texas. These races are great for photographers and for meeting some of the legends of motocross. There is no restricted pit area. It is a family atmosphere with historic motorcycles and legendary riders readily available for pictures and nostalgic bench racing sessions. I spent nearly an hour with Jim Pomeroy, helping him sell t-shirts and reminiscing. That’s his Bultaco in the foreground of the picture.
I had credentials for the race, doing a feature for Cycle News on Don Rainey’s replica of the bike that Brad Lackey rode to the World Championship. But the credentials were probably not necessary for the access I had. A ticket gets you just about anywhere you could want to be. And, it is surprising how accessible and friendly these legends are.
The entrance road crosses the track and circles around and through the pit area and camper sites. It is much like spending a weekend camped at any other motocross track. Everyone is friendly and motorcycles are the common interest … motorcycles and racing. 
I found Brad Lackey and his crew working out a jetting problem on the CZ that he would be riding in the Vintage Motocross event. Lackey didn’t recognize me but it had been nearly twenty-five years since our last encounter – his World Championship win. He didn’t look the same either.
After getting reacquainted with Lackey, I noticed a giant standing next to a very nice motor home. It was all 7’4” of Rik Smits, former NBA basketball star with the Indiana Pacers. I used my Cycle News connection to chat a bit and get a few pictures. Rik is a collector of vintage motocross bikes and does quite well at the races. The picture to the right is Smits making a 400cc Maico look like a minibike. I wonder how he gets that size 20 boot between the peg and shift lever?
Rik Smits Maico
There is little need for long lenses or expensive equipment at AHRMA events. A point and shoot will do in most cases. Photographing the action, however, is another story. The shutter lag on any digital camera other than a DSLR makes point and shoots impractical (but not impossible) for pictures of the races. My 18~135 Nikon kit lens is the most used of my lenses. I take the 300mm f4 for special effects – soft backgrounds, but it is really bulky and gets very little use. Another option would be the 70~200 f2.8. Again, that is a heavy choice and a bit pricey for non-professional use. I guess the best advice would be, “use what you got.”
Continuing to circle the road, I found new thrills at each pit area. There were past heroes and motorcycle legends like Jeff Smith, two-time world champion; Tommy Benolkin and his stable of Pentons; and Tammy Rice, a legend of women’s motocross.
It was a profitable weekend of nostalgia and reminiscence. I wrote two race reports (vintage nationals and post-vintage nationals) and a feature article on the Brad Lackey replica, all published by Cycle News. Even without the publication, I treasure the images and memories I brought home from that event.
A Youthful Graham Noyce
I’ll be returning to Jefferson for the Diamond Don Riverport National in April. I don’t have an assignment (yet) but this event offers too much to miss. In addition to the usual AHRMA Nationals in Vintage Motocross, Post-Vintage Motocross, Observed Trials and Cross Country races, former World Champion Brad Lackey is promoting the Vintage-AM. The Vintage-AM is takeoff on the old Inter-AM and Trans-AMA races from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Those were the days when spectators would flock to the races to watch those amazing European motocrossers show America’s best how it was really done.
More information is available at:
http://www.diamonddon.com/
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