AHRMA Race at Inde 2025

Article by Frances Sayre
Photos and videos by Frances Sayre, Marc Beyer, Craig Chawla, and Chris Kram

Marc and Franny, representing Kraut Racing, got back to the AHRMA circuit this year. For those of you who don’t know what AHRMA stands for it is the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association. Most of the race classes feature vintage machines within a specification of vintage, power, and equipment. It had been 11 years since racing with AHRMA so we were excited and nervous. The race tracks where the racing occurs change from year to year. This was the first time a race was held at Inde Motorsports Ranch so most racers were not acquainted with the track That was our advantage as we had ridden the track there so many times before.

Marc prepared his 1971 BMW R75/5 for the Bears class and his 2001 Suzuki SV650 for the SOT2. Franny prepared her 1975 Honda CB400F for Formula 250. Franny had to add a muffler, her new AHRMA numbers, and in addition put on some new rear sets. Marc had to tune the new style Dellorto 36mm carburetors. They all got fresh fluids and new tires.

Thursday we drove to Inde Motorsports Ranch to set up our “Van Camp” with the competitors in the pits. We saw familiar faces and looked for our fellow competitors in our classes. There were several other racers from New Mexico also competing. The amazing variety of racers always amazes me. There are the retired professional racers such as Dave Roper who is the only American to have won at the famous Isle of Man to amatuers like ourselves. Franny was one of only 4 women racers at this event.  We caught the buzz of vintage racing and went to bed early to be ready for the track day.

Friday April 25th was practice all day. Each class got 3 sessions in the morning and 3 sessions in the afternoon.First thing in the morning, we had to get our machines through tech. We prayed that we had read all the rules correctly and there were no demands to alter anything. Success! Next was the mandatory riders meeting at 7:15am. There were racers that completely tore down their bikes right in the pit for a rebuild. Most of us just tuned things and concentrated on getting around the track hitting all the apexes and corners.

Then dinner out in Wilcox at the steak house with our New Mexico friends Steve Brown, Jay Tom, and Dennis Parrish. We saw many other racers that we recognized from our earlier stints with AHRMA.

Saturday April 26th – This day was serious! No more putting around. Everyone had 2 practice sessions in the morning and racing started after lunch.

Race 1, Wave 2 – Franny was in the first race: Formula 500, a bump up class for her. On the grid were also other classes gridded in front and an entire race wave that started first. She took 3rd.

Race 9 – Franny and Marc were in this race but in different classes. Marc was in the Bears on his BMW R75/5 and Franny was in Formula 250 on her CB400F. How did we do? Marc got 1st place!! and Franny got 3rd in a close race for 2nd.

Race 11 – Marc was in SOT2 a highly competitive modern vintage class on his Suzuki SV650. Marc took 5th place but was determined to be faster the next day.

Abhi Eswarappa from Iconic Motorbikes, a fellow Bears racer who was also on a BMW R75/5, came over and recorded an interview for a podcast with Marc about his Bears’ win.

There was an awards ceremony. We both got on the podium! Another wonderful dinner out with our friends at a Mexican restaurant, Isabella’s. Early to bed.

Sunday April 27th – Another riders meeting at 7:15 then racing started right away.

Race 1, Formula 500 – Franny stalled on the just before the grid. The crash truck came after the race and carted her back to the pits. What went wrong? A faulty battery that was intended to be replaced but was forgotten. The total loss system requires the battery to be on the charger even between races. A wonderful fellow racer lent her a battery so she could compete in her next race.

Race 9 – Franny (with her borrowed battery) and Marc were again in this race but in different classes. Marc took another 1st in the Bears on his BMW R75/5 and Franny took another 3rd Formula 250 on her CB400F. This additional first place earned Marc a front cover on World Motorcycle Racing online magazine!

Race 11 SOT2– Marc pulled it together on day 2 of this race and took 3rd!Way to go Marc.

The event was over so we packed up and drove back to Santa Fe. We retold our race track stories and planned for the next AHRMA race event in Hastings Nebraska.