Blog
THE BARBER VINTAGE MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM is one of the world’s foremost collections of historic, meticulously restored vehicles—nearly 700 of them motorcycles, on five floors. While Hurricane Matthew battered the southeastern coast on the weekend of Oct. 7, 2016, central Alabama enjoyed absolutely sublime weather—dry, mild and sunny, with gusty breezes merely hinting at the storm raging farther east. This idyllic atmosphere welcomed throngs of motorcycle enthusiasts (73,541, to be exact) gathering for the 12th Annual Vintage Festival at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.
It’s hard to imagine a more diverse crowd or a more eclectic event. Certainly, the festival attracts a multitude of fans and machines you’d expect at a celebration of vintage motorcycling. But all ages of people and bikes were well represented, and anyone interested in motorcycles and their history—if only their very recent history—would find plenty to intrigue and entertain them. Warning: middle-aged folks who reflexively dismiss such fare as “old” and personally irrelevant will have to confront the reality that the bikes they rode as teenagers are currently—gasp!—antiques. So, take a deep breath, relax into this fact, and enjoy a broader swath of motorcycle-related pleasures.
Unfortunately, circumstances conspired to limit my sampling of this year’s Vintage Festival activities to Saturday only. My hurried tour hit just some of the high points, but it would actually be impossible for anyone to see everything offered, even if attending all three days; there is so much going on simultaneously. Study the facility map and attraction schedules in advance, then prioritize and plan your days accordingly. Although the sprawling 830-acre layout is well designed and free trams run continuously around the perimeter to make foot travel more efficient, events are widely spaced on the grounds and closely on the clock. The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum greets visitors near the park’s entrance. It is a hulking structure, where about half the world’s largest motorcycle collection is on display at any given time. Some gorgeous old racecars, including a special set of Lotuses, round out the assortment. The museum is truly an event in itself, and would have completely justified the trip to Birmingham, even without the Vintage Festival going on behind it.
Read more: https://www.mcnews.com/ride-better/destinations/riding-to-the-barber-vintage-festival/
