AHRMA traces its roots to efforts to organize vintage roadracing during the late 1970s in the Northeast. In the early '80s, other groups began emerging around the nation, adding scrambles, observed trials, dirt track and concours events to the competition options available for vintage riders. Among these organizations were the California Vintage Racing Group and, in the Southeast, the Historic Motorcycle Racing Association. By 1986 it was clear that a national organization would be necessary to administer this burgeoning sport. AHRMA was originally formed as a privately held business corporation. Other groups were brought together under one banner and one set of rules, and in 1989 AHRMA was reorganized into the member-owned association of today.

AHRMA offers vintage national and regional roadracing, motocross, dirt track, observed trials and cross country competition. The machines active in AHRMA these events span a full 50 years, from the 1920s to the mid-'70s.  The national-championship schedule typical includes 15-20 rounds apiece in roadracing, motocross, dirt track, cross country and trials. AHRMA nationals take place at some of the finest and most historic venues: Daytona, Mid-Ohio, Sears Point, Willow Springs and Peoria, to name but a few.

Realizing that the definition of "classic" varies from one generation of enthusiasts to the next, AHRMA has in the past few years begun to add classes for long-travel motocross machines from the late 1970s to early '80s and for roadracers from early in the AMA Superbike period (up to the 1980 model year). These Post-Vintage motocross classes have been incorporated in many of AHRMA's regional series and also have their own national circuit. The three Vintage Superbike classes have been added to AHRMA's normal roadrace program.

In an effort to bring single-cylinder roadracing to the U.S. and to rejuvenate twins racing, AHRMA in 1993 began offering Sound of Singles^® and Battle of Twins^® classes, with a full national series in 1994. Bolstered by the presence of world-class riders on machines such as the exotic Britten V1000, AHRMA's Daytona SOS/BOT events have attracted worldwide attention. Since 1995 the organization has been offering the almost-anything-goes Sound of Thunder^® for singles, twins and triples, with Daytona as the opening round of the world Sound of Thunder series for several years. Including these innovative modern bikes with the vintage program has met with widespread acceptance and allows AHRMA to host its own events instead being the guest of another racing organization.

The organization occasionally sponsors concours d'elegance, swap meets and banquets featuring world-renowned speakers. One of the organization's best-known activities began in 1992 when AHRMA and BMW of North America began promoting the BMW Battle of Legends^®, extremely popular events pitting motorcycling's legends against one another on identically prepared BMW motorcycles. Tens of thousands of fans enjoy the Legends races during Classics Days each year during Daytona's Bike Week. Legends and non-racing Legends Emeritus have included David Aldana, Hugh Anderson, Mark Brelsford, Don Castro, Yvon Duhamel, Chris Draayer, Don Emde, Walt Fulton III, Dick Klamfoth, Kurt Liebmann, Dick Mann, Bart Markel, Eddie Mulder, Jody Nicholas, Gary Nixon, Reg Pridmore, Phil Read, Roger Rieman, George Roeder, Jay Springsteen, John Surtees MBE, Don Vesco, Walter Villa and Walter Zeller. Races have been held at Daytona Beach, Florida; Loudon, New Hampshire; Sears Point, California; and Lexington, Ohio. The BMW Battle of the Legends Grand Finale took place in March 1997 at Daytona International Speedway.

AHRMA members enjoy a professionally edited monthly journal, Vintage Views; an annual racing rulebook/handbook; access to a site on the World Wide Web (www.ahrma.org);  a variety of AHRMA logo products; and the AHRMA/MBNA MasterCard. The association maintains a Benevolent Fund to aid riders who are injured or otherwise in need.

Surveys have found AHRMA members are mature, fairly affluent, well-educated and very dedicated to motorcycling. Among the findings of our January 2002 survey (along with other data where noted):