Brian Slark (Check back for the 2023 Grand Marshal)

Bike restoration extraordinaire, motocross pioneer and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Brian Slark has been named Grand Marshal of the 17^th Annual Barber Vintage Festival held at Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama on October 7-9, 2022.

Born in London, England, on February 2, 1938, Slark’s passion for motorcycles began when his father took him to the Speedway Races at London, England’s Crystal Palace shortly after World War II. Slark purchased his first motorcycle (a BSA Bantam) in 1954. In 1957, he began working for Associated Motorcycles (Matchless & AJS) in Woolwich, London, England.  Slark worked in the Off-Road Competition Department and as a Production & Experimental Road Tester.

In 1964, Slark traveled to Los Angeles, California to race in the expansive deserts and then chose to make the United States home. While in California, he worked for BSA Motorcycles as a Service Manager, Norton-Villiers Corporation and Norton-Triumph as the National Service Manager. Slark decided to strike out on his own in 1976 by opening a British bike shop in Southern California. Two years later, he became the Volunteer Technical Editor for the International Norton Owners Association—a role he still holds today. Slark has also been employed by Clymer Repair Manuals and Lucas Industries, bringing you the help you need to repair your machine and supplying the guiding light for your British bike. In 1986, Slark sold his bike shop and moved to St. Louis, Missouri to help establish a motorcycle museum. Ten years later, he joined the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.

Competition lives in Slark’s blood. He has ridden in the International Six Days Trials in the Isle of Man, the Moto Cross Expert Class Rider in the United Kingdom and the Vintage Trials with the American Historic Motorcycle Racing Association in the 1990s.

In 2012, Slark’s legacy was solidified when he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Today, Slark is the Technical Consultant at The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.  Slark has been involved in numerous interesting projects, ranging from The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition organized by The Guggenheim Museum to an instrumental role in the establishment of the Barber Vintage Festival.

Slark will be honored at the Motorcycles by Moonlight event October 7, 2022. This special event begins with a cocktail reception followed by a silent auction, seated dinner, program and a Q&A with the Grand Marshal. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 3, 2022 at 8:00am and can be purchased at https://MBM2022.Planningpod.com

Earlybird pricing will be available from Friday, June 3 at 8:00am through Sunday, July 3, 2022 at 11:30pm.

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum houses the world’s largest collections of motorcycles, Lotus racecars and the Barber Advanced Design Center. It is dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, exhibition and history of motorcycles, vintage vehicles and motorsports.

Barber Motorsports Park is a campus of entertainment, education and creation in Birmingham, Alabama. It is the home of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, a 2.38-mile, 17-turn professional racetrack, the Barber Proving Grounds and the Porsche Track Experience.