21st Annual Barber Vintage Festival Dedicated to the Memory of Founder and Visionary, George W. Barber
Motorcyclists from across the nation and around the world will converge on Barber Motorsports Park and the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum on Friday, October 9, through Sunday, October 11, for the 21st annual Barber Vintage Festival.
This year’s festival carries special meaning as we celebrate the life and legacy of park and museum founder George W. Barber, as well as the motorsports community that has flourished through his vision. Barber, 85, died following a brief illness on Sunday, February 15.
Known for its breathtaking landscaping and whimsical art, the 880-acre park hosts many events each year, including the “Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix” and “MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber.” Barber Vintage Festival, however, is the culmination of Barber’s dream.
Barber won 63 races as a driver, and contests of speed and skill are integral to the three-day weekend. AHRMA road racing takes place on the 17-turn, 2.38-mile road course, with cross-country, motocross, and trials competitions at designated areas throughout the park, and flat track at the nearby Talladega Short Track.
Last year, nearly 400 vendors participated in one of the largest vintage motorcycle swap meets in the country. A short walk from the front doors of the museum, the always well-attended gathering promises rare machinery, difficult-to-find parts, and historic memorabilia.
BMW Motorrad Days Americas, Isle of Triumph, manufacturer demo rides, and new-product reveals, plus gravity-defying stunt shows, a kids’ zone, live music, and the ever-popular “Wall of Death,” are a few of the other attractions planned for festival attendees.
Inside the museum, home to the world’s largest motorcycle collection and one of the greatest displays of Lotus race cars, visitors can take in historical seminars and new exhibitions. The celebration continues into the night with “Motorcycles by Moonlight,” our annual gala.
“Barber Vintage Festival is the realization of George Barber’s vision to create a world-class gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts,” said Brian Case, executive director of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. “As we honor his life and legacy, we celebrate the global community of collectors, fans, and riders who continue to bring that vision to life.”
Tickets are now on sale. Children 15 years of age and under are free with a paying adult. BMW Motorrad USA, Law Tigers Motorcycle Lawyers, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Triumph Motorcycles, Mecum Auctions, and Papa Johns are the official partners.
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“GSX-R FORTY YEARS” is one of two new exhibitions scheduled to be unveiled inside the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in conjunction with the 21st annual Barber Vintage Festival, October 9-11, at Barber Motorsports Park.
GSX-R FORTY YEARS concentrates on a single model line, developed, as author Marc Cook described in “Suzuki GSX-R: A Legacy of Performance,” with “a clarity of focus and a depth of commitment to a concept that few bikes in history had ever presented.”
Ultan Guilfoyle, museum board member and co-curator of “The Art of the Motorcycle,” which set attendance records when it debuted nearly 30 years ago at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, is organizing both exhibitions.
“When I first met George Barber,” said Guilfoyle, “his vision for what the museum and park could bring to Birmingham and a wider audience was astonishing for its farsightedness. Part of that vision was a robust and engaging museum exhibition program.”
Pierre Terblanche, resident mentor in the Barber Advanced Design Center, located on the fifth floor of the museum, worked closely with Guilfoyle and a talented creative team to design the open, flowing exhibitions.
This year’s festival carries special meaning as attendees celebrate the life of museum and park founder George Barber. Children 15 years of age and under receive free admission when accompanied by a paying adult.
Follow the "Barber Vintage Festival" Linktr.ee link in our bio to purchase tickets.
#BarberMuseum #BarberMotorsportsPark #BarberVintageFestival #Suzuki #GSXR40
Aug 20
“DUCATI 100” is one of two new exhibitions scheduled to open inside the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum at the 21st annual Barber Vintage Festival, October 9-11, at @barbermotorpark.
Saluting a century of rich history, DUCATI 100 draws a direct line from an electromechanical pioneer to a modern-day motorcycle manufacturer recognized worldwide for its brilliant engineering and championship-winning racing heritage.
Ultan Guilfoyle, museum board member and co-curator of “The Art of the Motorcycle,” which set attendance records when it debuted nearly 30 years ago at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, is organizing both exhibitions.
“When I first met George Barber,” said Guilfoyle, “his vision for what the museum and park could bring to Birmingham and a wider audience was astonishing for its farsightedness. To be asked to curate these two exhibitions in celebration of George’s life is a thrill and an honor.”
Pierre Terblanche, resident mentor in the Barber Advanced Design Center, worked closely with Guilfoyle to design the exhibitions. Four @ducati motorcycles designed by Terblanche—Supermono, 999R, MH900e, and Hypermotard—appear in DUCATI 100.
This year’s festival carries special meaning as attendees celebrate the life of museum and park founder George Barber. Children 15 years of age and under receive free admission when accompanied by a paying adult.
Follow the "Barber Vintage Festival" Linktr.ee link in our bio to purchase tickets.
#BarberMuseum #BarberMotorsportsPark #BarberVintageFestival #Ducati100
Aug 18
Members of the @gacbsa enjoyed a special treat this past month at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, courtesy of @honda. Matthew Crimm and Wes King, associates at Honda’s nearby Lincoln, Alabama, automotive manufacturing plant, visited the museum in support of its engineering merit-badge program.
Crimm is a graduate of The Georgia Institute of Technology, and King studied at University of Alabama Birmingham. Both majored in mechanical engineering.
“We are incredibly grateful to Matthew and Wes for sharing their time, expertise, and passion for engineering with our scouts,” said Liz Johnson, Ph.D., education programs manager. “Their enthusiasm was contagious, and they were wonderful ambassadors, inspiring the next generation of engineers and highlighting the incredible career opportunities available right here in Alabama.”
This was the first time the museum offered the two-day program during the summer months. Traditionally, it has only been available on select Saturdays during the school year.
Honda produces 340,000 vehicles and roughly the same number of six-cylinder engines annually in Lincoln. The plant employs some 4,500 associates.
Photos: @wes.sparks.photo
#BarberMuseum #BarberMotorsportsPark #ScoutingAmerica #Honda
Aug 16
George Barber never got to drive a Porsche 906. He ordered one of the new lightweight homologation specials to replace a 904 damaged in the 1965 12 Hours of Sebring. When the factory stepped in to dictate his co-driver, however, Barber canceled his order.
This 906 is one of three Porsche reproduction projects currently underway at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Some years ago, Barber saw an advertisement for a 906 in a car magazine and asked Senior Restoration Technician Lee Clark to look into it.
Barber struck a deal, with the car to be delivered complete, minus the engine and transmission. Circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic delayed fulfillment, so Clark picked up the body and rolling chassis and trailered it to Birmingham.
“I spent a lot of time finishing the car and correcting some things, like modifying the chassis to accept a 3.2-liter 911 engine and type 915 gearbox,” said Clark. “Our intent was to build a car that we could easily maintain with available parts so we can demonstrate it.
“When I first drove it, the engine sounded great, the transmission shifted well, and the brakes stopped the car. Casey Hooper at Eurasian Auto Service set up the chassis, and I’ll do a final test drive after I install a driver’s harness.” Somewhere, George Barber is smiling.
Photos: @wes.sparks.photo
#BarberMuseum #BarberMotorsportsPark #Porsche
Aug 13
Save the date, race fans: The UAB Medicine GT World Alabama benefiting Teal Wings of Hope at @barbermotorpark is just around the corner. General Admission, Champions Club, and GT Drivers Club tickets are available, plus Birmingham Car Festival packages.
While you’re at the park, set aside time to visit the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, recognized by Guinness World Records as housing the world’s largest collection of motorcycles. The museum is also home to a wide array of Lotus cars and other unique machines.
Premium tours are offered Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., as well as Sundays at 1:00 p.m. All include a docent-led stop on the Conservation Level. Complete your park experience with the purchase of a book, toy, or T-shirt from the gift shop.
Follow the link in our bio to become a museum member.
#BarberMuseum #BarberMotorsportsPark
Aug 11
@rahalducatimoto tested for two days in July at @barbermotorpark, and freelance photographer Wes Johnson captured the action. Team Principal @bspies11 was joined by three of his four riders: @pjjacobsen, @josh_herrin, and @alessandrodimario27. @kayla_yaakov was absent due to an injury sustained at an earlier round of the @motoamerica series.
Spies added his name to the list of AMA Superbike race winners at Barber Motorsports Park in 2006, earning pole position and winning both premier-class races. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet the 42-year-old Texan and see his title-winning 2008 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum during the Barber Vintage Festival, October 9-11.
Follow the "Barber Vintage Festival" Linktr.ee link in our bio to purchase tickets.
Photos: @wes.sparks.photo
#BarberMuseum #BarberMotorsportsPark #BarberVintageFestival
Aug 9
What’s on the lift? That’s George Barber’s personal 1987 Porsche 928 S4. Barber enjoyed a lot of racing success in Porsches. This silver metallic example was his second 928. He drove it frequently, accumulating nearly 30,000 miles. Then, inexplicably, he parked it.
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum’s conservation team is readying this 32-valve, 5.0-liter V-8 grand tourer for a return to the road. The timing belt, water pump, and steering assembly were replaced. Original-spec tires are ordered.
A unique feature is the 12-hour clock, purchased separately. “You can now claim to be the only owner of a 928 with this type of clock,” wrote Hans Struffert, Porsche Cars North America national service director. “I am certain you will not have any problem installing this gem.”
Photos: @wes.sparks.photo
#BarberMuseum #BarberMotorsportsPark #Porsche
Aug 6
For motorcyclists of a certain age with a fondness for roads that twist and turn, the Suzuki GSX-R750 Limited Edition is perhaps the Holy Grail of mid-1980s Japanese sport bikes. So, how did the more track-focused Limited Edition differ from the standard model?
For starters, it was fitted with a dry clutch, floating front brake discs, the electric anti-dive front suspension from the GSX-R1100, and a solo-only racing seat. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price was $6499, $2000 more than the higher-volume GSX-R750.
In 2013, Cycle World Contributing Editor Nick Ienatsch rode a Limited Edition at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California, back-to-back with a new Suzuki GSX-R750 Yoshimura Limited Edition. The title of the story was “Superbikes with Soul.”
“You sit on a modern sport bike but in the Limited, the low seat making the reach to the clip-ons extremely comfortable,” wrote Ienatsch. “The bubble surrounds you with the fuel tank between your elbows, and it’s an amazingly placid place to spend a few laps.”
Photo: Wes Johnson/Sparks Photography
#BarberMuseum #BarberMotorsportsPark #SuzukiGSXR
Aug 4
