Was considered an “outlaw” club by
the AMA in the 1950s and AMA riders were barred from competing with
the AFM.
In 1960, John McLaughlin threatened to sue the AMA in California for anti-trust practices
because they were banning racers who participated in AFM events. The
AMA stopped their restrictions. Forty-one years later John was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
Was an AMA affiliate from 1972-1975.
All AFM racers had to show both AFM and AMA licenses at each event.
Until 1963 or so, often held races as
part of sports car events. The bikes would have one race during
intermission, with everything from 50cc to 500cc on the track at the
same time. Santa Barbara races would have over 20,000 spectators!
Had Wes Cooley (Sr.) as President from
1960-1964. He left the AFM after a dispute and formed the ACA, which
led to the ARRA and the present WSMC.
Had a special year in 1965. In
California, the AFM incorporated as a non-profit, held its first
Scrambles, its first Enduro, and its first “Moto-cross”. (Well,
the moto-cross was on January 1, 1966 but that’s close enough.)
Starting in 1964, limited female
competitors to 50cc-125cc.
Had a street race around the Sacramento
fairgrounds in 1968.
Had a race, the Tastee GP, sponsored by
Tastee Freeze in 1972. It was at Riverside.
Used push-starts until the early 70s.
For a while after that, bikes would line up in their grid position
but facing backwards. Just before the race start, the bikes would be
fired up, ridden in the reverse track direction for a short
distance, then turned around and gridded as usual.
Member Art Baumann won the National
Championship road race held at Sears Point in 1969 during the filming
of “Little Fauss and Big Halsey”. Riding a Suzuki 500 in the
125-mile race, he lapped up to 4th place while suffering from
hepatitis. It was the first time a two-stroke won a National
Championship road race.
Former member Don Emde won the Daytona
200 in 1972 on a Yamaha 350. It was the first 200 victory for
Yamaha; it was the smallest engine ever to win; and it was the first
time a two-stroke-powered machine had won the race. It was also the
only time a father and son have won at Daytona. (Don’s father,
Floyd, won Daytona in 1948.)
Former member Steve Baker became
America’s first roadracing World Champion in 1977 (World Formula
750).
