Barber Vintage Days October 4-6, 2019 – Leeds, Alabama
Barber Motorsports Park is the Augusta National of motorcycle venues where every motorcyclist is Royalty. No kidding. This place is just spectacular. Landscaped and manicured like Augusta, but inviting motorcyclists of all stripes riding whatever you please wherever you want to go on the grounds. No parking permit required. If you have not been, you’ve gotta go. Save the Date: October 4-6, 2019.
This was my fourth trip to Barber, but my first to Vintage Days. Considering 2019 will mark the 15th Annual event, those of you who are regulars at the Festival may ask, “What took you so long?” I have no good answer. Speaking of you “regulars”, I did not see anyone in MSTA gear but me. I am not a Facebook guy and must do better on the MSTA forum in order to see if there is a meet-up at these events. For those readers who have not celebrated this festival, but want to go, here are some observations.
Activities: Vintage racing; a huge swap meet that expanded to a second area in the park due to growth; demo rides, but not all brands; vendors; demonstrations; cool unusual motorcycles everywhere; and free shuttles to take you there. Check the website for more, including the Bonham’s auction.
Link: https://www.barbermuseum.org/events/barber-vintage-festival/
Tickets: Online or on arrival at the Hampton Inn registration desk right across from the entry to the park. You will get a wrist ribbon coded to your selection for access. This makes it easy for the motorcyclist to ride in, flash the wrist ribbon and move on. My 3-Day Ace Corner General Admission cost a Benjamin. Loved the idea that “all taxes were included” – no digging for change or odd numbered totals.
Camping: I did not camp, but you can. Tents, RVs, whatever. It looks like a huge party and a chance to sleep with 100,000 motorcycles in one night. I exaggerate.
Racing: All vintage of course, including the sidecars. Who wants to be the monkey?
Other Accommodations: This is a big event so expect above average hotel pricing and limited availability in the near radius of the Park. For MSTA members only I will share my choice – the Drury Inn Birmingham Southeast. Drury has “Kick Back” from 5-7PM with wine, beer and non-gourmet food sufficient for your evening meal if you have had lunch at Barber. There is an upscale restaurant option next door, if the Kick Back menu does not suit you. This Drury is 15 miles from Barber with a secret “Waze for motorcyclists” non-freeway route through a beautiful, cool, tree-covered route on Sicard Hollow Road that turns into Rex Lake Road and goes straight to the Hampton just past the park entrance.
Other Secrets for MSTA Members Only. Okay, I am being selfish here, but it seems the crowds are getting bigger every year despite what you read about motorcycling as a declining sport. So, I do not want everyone horning in on these tips. But you loyal MSTA folks, of course, should take advantage.
Tip No. 1 – Become a member of the museum. You are going to go in anyway, which will cost you the admission fee of your choice. But I know you love motorcycles and would do anything to support a fabulous museum like Barber (acclaimed as the best in the world.) So, upgrade. Join the museum Turn 9 Club for only $80 less 10% for “Travelers”, plus tax. This gets you “unlimited” access to the Museum for a year, the magazine, and access to the hospitality suite and the private area of Turn 9 outside the hospitality suite. During Vintage Days, the hospitality suite is fully stocked with food, beverages, treats and snacks. Shhhh. I cannot see this lasting if everyone knows about it.
Tip No. 2. See reference to Sicard Hollow Road above. Explore a few of the crossroads too.
Tip No. 3. In keeping with MSTA’s recent plans to cross-promote with other clubs, let me suggest that you go to the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club tent. And check the website: https://vjmc.org/ Lots of cool vintage here. You do not need a vintage Japanese bike to join. Annual dues are $30 and come with the bi-monthly color magazine (60 pages!) and lots of like-minded motorcyclists. At the Barber Festival the real perk is the parade lap offered for free to all VJMC members on Sunday. Actually, we got four and a half laps. Passing prohibited.
