10/20/2008 - Barber Vintage Festival & Airshow Draws Flyers and Riders [Video & Photo Gallery]
LEEDS AL- If you think AirVenture is the Greatest Aviation Show, you may also think Barber Motorsports Vintage Festival is the Greatest Motorcycle Event. Roaming the immaculate grounds, you can see license plates from as far away as Alaska and Ontario. Just like Oshkosh, this year you can watch the most popular airshow performance, the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team.
Every year, more race fans, motorcycle riders and sporting aficionados come to Barber's Vintage Festival "Mecca of Motorsports," over 30,000 of them. The event always changing, always growing is raising the bar on sporting and racing entertainment.
Defining the word "vintage", a Century Race requires entries must be at least 100 years old. No, not the rider- but motor bikes, like a 1908 Indian or a 1905 Harley. And many of the riders are dressed in period clothing. Spectators have the opportunity to enjoy all aspects of vintage motorcycling in one place. A huge variety of all day racing for three whole days also includes vintage racing cars from the Barber Museum.
-Vintage Festival brings out motorcycles and cars from the Barber Museum, AlabamaAviator image-
New for this year was Rhett Rotten's Wall of Death, a motorcycle stunt show over 100 years old. The show is an extreme act of motorcycle racing and death cheating stunts. Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association displayed several pristine fire trucks, some dating back almost 70 years ago. Browsing a Swap Meet (aka: bikers flea market) covering several acres is full of everything from biker clothing to parts to completely restored motorcycles for sale.
-Rhett Rotten Wall of Death act is over 100 years old, AlabamaAviator image-
Just like AirVenture, you can come and stay throughout the event while camping. Accommodations include deluxe motor coach parking to pitching a tent with your club group. Getting around the park the scenic way is easy by riding convenient trams. Ample friendly volunteers help everyone move in the direction they want to go.
-Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, AlabamaAviator image-
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, the centerpiece of the park, is considered the largest of its type in the world. During the Festival, several events there include special lectures, seminars and a gala benefit dinner. Visitors to the museum are amazed at displays of almost 750 motorcycles and 60 cars.
Many large sanctioned races are held at Barber's through the year but there is only one Vintage Festival. If you missed this one, mark October 9-11, 2009 for next year. It is the perfect place to celebrate Alabama Fall weather and satisfy your need for speed. -Betty Meyer, See More at the click to enlarge GALLERY. FMI: Barber Motorsports
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