Ed Bargy Retires After Final AHRMA Starter Duty at Barber
Ed Bargy, AHRMA’s longtime national starter, retired after flagging the last race of the 21st Barber Vintage Festival. He began racing in the 1950s, helped establish WERA, and operated a motorcycle racing school. His safety contributions included requiring red flags at all corner stations and two ALS ambulances at road-race events.
Bargy’s motorsport involvement began in 1955, when his brother-in-law took him to a 5/8-mile oval. At 11, he won his first trophy in hydroplane racing. During early-1960s military service in England, he discovered motorcycle road racing and created a street-course training program for fellow airmen.
He later helped found WERA, won regional and national titles, and launched the Ed Bargy Motorcycle Racing School. AHRMA named him Official Starter in 2022. His safety legacy includes corner-station red flags, two advanced life support ambulances at road races, and motorcycle-specific corner-worker standards. He still runs his school.
Bargy’s retirement may be felt most by AHRMA racers, officials, and corner workers who relied on his consistent starts and safety advocacy. His example could encourage event organizers to maintain high medical and flagging standards, while his school may continue shaping riders beyond competition. Fans and volunteers might also notice a change in grid culture, though his legacy could persist through the procedures and mentorship he helped establish.