2014 Barber Vintage Festival

BillT · Jul 1, 2014

Tickets went on sale yesterday, June 30, and one of the camp areas is already sold out.

$50 for 3 days general admission, October 10,11,12 - an extra $20 gets you into Ace Cafe Corner and part of the Paddock.

Aside from being the best non-Harley event in North America, you've got great vintage racing and one of the best Museums in the world. Whether you like vintage American, British, European, Japanese or pure racing bikes, some of the finest examples are there. Just a few English racers on display

Velocette 350 and 500
Manx 350 and 500
AJS Boy Racer and Porcupine (2)
Matchless G45, G50 and G50CSR
BSA Goldstars
North Tridents... and on and on

swooshdave · Jul 1, 2014

Three problems with the Festival:

Too hot.
Too many people
and too many awesome bikes!

Oh, and too far away.

bill · Jul 1, 2014

you have been living to far north to long

swooshdave said:
Three problems with the Festival:
Too hot.

you have been in the sticks to long

swooshdave said:
Three problems with the Festival:
Too many people

I don't see this as a problem

swooshdave said:
Three problems with the Festival:
and too many awesome bikes!
(

this sounds like a personal problem. MOVE CLOSER :mrgreen:

swooshdave said:
Three problems with the Festival:
Oh, and too far away
.

comnoz · Aug 6, 2014

swooshdave said:
Three problems with the Festival:

Oh, and too far away.

You don't have to walk all the way- that's what they make motorcycles for....

jaydee75 · Aug 7, 2014

I was looking at a bug-covered Norton in the pit area last year. It had a lot of unusual features. I spoke to a man nearby and he began to tell me about it's fuel injection, etc. Then I found realized it was Comnoz in the flesh.
I was very impressed that he had ridden to Ala from Colorado. A real Norton enthusiast, (and a nice guy)!
Jaydee

Big_Jim59 · Aug 15, 2014

Anyone going to Barber this year? The last time i was there was in 2008 and I swore I would go again with a bike and I am! I am not a big fan of rallies or gatherings but this event has it all for me. The racing, the vintage motocross and trials, the museum, the auction, the pits and above all the people, it's just a great place to meet great people from all over who love bikes like I do.

It will use up all my "at a boys" with my wife and my employer but I will get there this year. I still don't know if I will ride the VFR or trailer the Norton. I suspect that the Norton would make it just fine but the VFR is more comfortable for long distance days.

comnoz · Aug 15, 2014

Big_Jim59 said:
Anyone going to Barber this year? The last time i was there was in 2008 and I swore I would go again with a bike and I am! I am not a big fan of rallies or gatherings but this event has it all for me. The racing, the vintage motocross and trials, the museum, the auction, the pits and above all the people, it's just a great place to meet great people from all over who love bikes like I do.

It will use up all my "at a boys" with my wife and my employer but I will get there this year. I still don't know if I will ride the VFR or trailer the Norton. I suspect that the Norton would make it just fine but the VFR is more comfortable for long distance days.

I will be heading over to Barbers after the LOP rally -on my Norton. Jim

Big_Jim59 · Aug 15, 2014

comnoz said:
Big_Jim59 said:

Anyone going to Barber this year? The last time i was there was in 2008 and I swore I would go again with a bike and I am! I am not a big fan of rallies or gatherings but this event has it all for me. The racing, the vintage motocross and trials, the museum, the auction, the pits and above all the people, it's just a great place to meet great people from all over who love bikes like I do.

It will use up all my "at a boys" with my wife and my employer but I will get there this year. I still don't know if I will ride the VFR or trailer the Norton. I suspect that the Norton would make it just fine but the VFR is more comfortable for long distance days.

Click to expand...

I will be heading over to Barbers after the LOP rally -on my Norton. Jim

Of course you will ride your Norton cross country! That's why you have super hero status among us mortals. The last time I rode the Norton to LOP I broke an engine mounting bolt and have yet to live down the dirty looks from the wife who had to drive out with the truck. (I didn't want to risk damage to the engine case by riding it home.)

I usually ride out and take in the LOP on Saturday using a lesser brand of bike. I don't know if I will this year. I am not much of a camper and I don't know anyone. Like I said, I am not much of a rally guy and I don't know what to do with myself if I'm not riding.

comnoz · Aug 15, 2014

I never break little things like bolts -just big things like pistons.

Big_Jim59 · Aug 15, 2014

comnoz said:
I never break little things like bolts -just big things like pistons.

Pistons are important to a smooth running and reliable motorcycle!

When I broke that bolt I could hear a jingling sound. We stopped and I told Burt "it sounds like a washer dancing around on a stud." Sure enough, a close check under the engine reveled a bolt, under the engine, sticking out toward the primary drive side with a washer dancing around on it. If they had a test for degenerative engines sounds I would pass with flying colors. The schools I went to had no such tests and so I was branded a poor student.

captmark · Aug 26, 2014

Driving alone to Barber with bike in a trailer. If any one the East Coast is interested drop a line to
duhmate@gmail.com
Tks
Mark

BillT · Sep 11, 2014

A buddy of mine and his son will join me and my youngest. Gonna trailer up the G15, Ranger, 850, Rich's Triton and the '69 Daytona he and his son are finishing up. We've got a camp spot in the park, but will be riding back and forth to the Hilton in nearby Hoover.

Mike Sti · Sep 29, 2014

I’m riding the 73’ Norton down from Pittsburgh starting Wednesday. Stopping over in Louisville and arriving on Thursday at Barber. At least that’s the plan.

tomtietjen · Oct 2, 2014

Kittanning to Barber by way of Louisville on a Norton in 2 days, that's badass. I'm leaving Zelienople on Wed. on my E-glide w/hack taking a more direct route. Wouldn't think of trying it on my roadster.

BillT · Oct 14, 2014

Got back from Barber yesterday - what a festival!

Only did a fraction of what I wanted to do, but did get a couple chances to talk to Brian Slark and Cook Neilson. Cook was the editor of Cycle Magazine, and Slarkey supplied the Commado 'S' that won the first ever Superbike shootout in 'Cycle'. (he still swears the Commando was stock, though BSA and Triumph complained about their triples being beaten by the Commando).Talked with Jim Comstock in Kenny's paddock - the leftover salt from Bonneville was wrecking havoc with his harness. Saw Kenny race on Saturday. Mixed classes, but he caught and passed a few in the Superbike class with his Seeley Commando in the F750 class, taking a podium. Ranger got a 3rd place in its class at the AMCA show, and the bike that won the class - a 1965 R69 - also got best of show. Rain threatened several times, but never was a factor.

Very little drama - all the bikes got through the weekend and we all had a great time. Glad to be off for Columbus Day, as I got home about 4 AM Monday.