Barber Vintage Celebration, 2012

Barber Vintage Fest is DEFINITELY a "must attend" event.

...and it's best to show up a day or two early to take the proper amount of time to see the museum (1 full day is not enough unless you walk fast and aren't interested in certain kinds of motorcycles like antique board track racers and Cushman servi-cars, or if you don't particularly care for vintage Lotus race cars and the like). As fine as the museum is, you won't want to miss ANY of the racing, and/or visiting all through the pits.

I agree with GP - the museum is not a one-day event. If you like Lotus, Mr Barber has got to have the most comprehensive collection of Lotus cars in private hands, including excellent copies of the first four cars.

My favorite Lotus is the XI, and as a younger man I dreamed of getting one of the Westfield Eleven kits - then had dreams of building a copy of a Cooper Monaco - not quite so pretty, but a more effective machine, IMO.

Barber also has on display two AJS porcupines. One is in race trim, and the other has the bodywork suspended off the bike for a better look at the motor.

If you like the classic 350 and 500 English GP bikes - Norton, Matchless, AJS, BSA, Velocette - you'll see pretty nice examples there.

I met Paul (Smart) and Cook (Neilson) while there, too.

I was a little disappointed at their P11A, though. Atlas timing cover, chrome front fender, no front silencer brackets, Ranger rear fender, missing pillion footpegs, fork lower caps on backwards, no removable baffles in the silencers, etc

motorson said:

That Fuller Norton will have oil in the frame. If you look close you can see the little connections and the one up by the steering head where it goes from the top tubes to the down tubes. Skinny tubes but it goes all the way around.

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And look at those skinny tubes on the engine mounts. :shock: The head steady looks like it will force the engine to move in an arc rather than vertically.

I made it to LOP and Barber with a side trip to Florida. Eleven states and a little over 4000 miles. Two flat tires to remember. One sudden deflation at 85mph on the Arkansas interstate [woopie] and one a hundred miles later in Oklahoma in the dark with a narrow shoulder. Two trucks came by side by side and blew my bike and me into the deep ditch along the road where my bike rested pretty much upside down dumping the gas until Matt and crew came to my rescue. A small crease in the fuel tank was the only damage. Jim

I made it to LOP and Barber with a side trip to Florida. Eleven states and a little over 4000 miles. Two flat tires to remember. One sudden deflation at 85mph on the Arkansas interstate [woopie] and one a hundred miles later in Oklahoma in the dark with a narrow shoulder. Two trucks came by side by side and blew my bike and me into the deep ditch along the road where my bike rested pretty much upside down dumping the gas until Matt and crew came to my rescue. A small crease in the fuel tank was the only damage. Jim

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Sounds too damn familiar Jim - so maybe we need a 12 step program before its too late? LIkely you were flattened on I-40 freeway. You were right about using up a new rear tire eh. Now you know the reason Peel has extra plumbing check valves-vents as provision to retain oil when upside down and a kill cord. Glad you are one tough critter but then what choice did ya have after point of no return? These take downs sure test electric connections too.

Wes and I tried to make LOP by Friday after noon but Wes had mystery cut out that took all day and part a night of cold rain to get back. Just a couple miles from home timidly safely putt putting I got slammed down on L knee the R knee then upright like nothing wild just happened. I called Wes about an hour later and he'd just gotten in after slip slide up 8 mile of mud saying would of been faster to just walk bike up - ugh.

Yes I used up the old tire on the way to Barbers but it was the new tire I had installed while I was there that picked up a little nail and tore a half inch hole in the tube. The only reason I stayed upright was because of what I had been taught in race school. Like pull the clutch and grab a big hand full of front brake to unload the rear tire. The rear end then followed the front all the way to a stop even with both beads unseated and the inner tube hanging out the side. I am really glad the road was straight. Jim

Jim, you and Kenny both made the most of a tough wknd in different ways. That's why you guys are pros.

Making lasting memories the old fashioned way on motorcycles Jim. New tire or old tire all the same to nails and screws and wire. You Lucked out a few different ways, for one the bead stayed intact and didn't wrap a wire round axle/swing arm till locked. I just ride flats down w/o much hard braking till almost stopped then expect one last extra intense flipflop to save with feet out. I've had to try ride back out of ditches a few times d/t truck pinch offs not air blast - so freaked out i discovered phase 3 and 4 handling phenomena of controlled crashing. Other times I splat into surface rather below road grade but so far been able to ride off again.

What happened to you, antics of body when blown upside down below grade?

Wes and I got so delayed we realized even if able we'd be arriving at LOP after dark and thought we'd not be able to dry out the whole time, so we talked ourselves out of it, not an option in you or others cases. I wanted to act friendly to John Maygar, till he got softened up by our Kickapoo Joy Juice. Maybe next time.

This years AHRMA race standings. Scroll to Race Class: Formula 750
http://www.ahrma.org/ahrma_pdfs/results ... _day1.html

Sorry to have missed the Vintage Festival this year. Its a long hike for me but we went to the 2011 event and it won't be the last.
The museum was jaw dropping, absolutely stunned me when I walked in the first time. I agree it requires two days before the
festival. Walking all the aisles, talking to fellow riders, watching the races. Overload of the senses for this boy.



Like they say, if you haven't been put 2013 on your calendar.

Holmeslice said:

Folks,

I hope some of you will be heading down to 'Bama for the Barber Vintage Celebration in just over a week's time.
I will be there racing my Seeley Commando and Seeley G50. We should be on the ground level in the paddock along the front straight.

If you make it down, please come say hello. Mi Casa/Su Casa (or however that's spelled).

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Nice to meet you there Kenny. My son and I enjoyed speaking with you and getting a close up look at those stunning Seeley Commando/G50 bikes. Be well.

Rich

comnoz said:

Yes I used up the old tire on the way to Barbers but it was the new tire I had installed while I was there that picked up a little nail and tore a half inch hole in the tube. The only reason I stayed upright was because of what I had been taught in race school. Like pull the clutch and grab a big hand full of front brake to unload the rear tire. The rear end then followed the front all the way to a stop even with both beads unseated and the inner tube hanging out the side. I am really glad the road was straight. Jim

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I would have had to throw those pants straight in the trash. Good speaking with you at Barber. I enjoyed your insight and knowlege. I am sure you are trying to pay catch up, but Ill give you a call next week.

Rich

Barber was a mixed bag for me this year. I broke my foot in Thursday's 4th practice session riding my Seeley 750. I passed a backmarker in Turn 5 and screwed it on a little too quick and the rear broke free and spun around on me so fast I didn't have time to react. Over the highside I flew. I remember in mid-flight thinking "Ooofah, this is gonna hurt". The bike came down on my foot and I smacked my noggin pretty good. I tried to get up but fell back down, so I laid there for about 30 seconds, doing the extremity check. When I did get up, I knew my weekend's plans had changed.

Funny story: I rode back to the paddock on the crash truck, refusing to take the ambulance. After I managed to get my boot and sock off I could tell I was messed up, so asked a friend to see if he could find out where the best hospital was in Bhm so he could drive me in. He ran out to the pit lane and asked an official looking guy wearing a Barber shirt who was walking by if he knew the area. The gent responded, "Uhhhh, well yes, I guess you could say I do". My friend proceeded to tell him about my malady and asked if there was a decent hospital nearby. The guy walked straight into my pit, under my tent, reached out his hand to shake mine and said, "Hi, I'm George Barber. How can I help you?". I just about had a coronary. I didn't feel worthy! George sat down and talked with me while he radioed one of his guys to bring driving instructions to UAB hospital. He offered up a car service to take me in (I politely declined). What a wonderful dude he is. On Friday, he came back over to check on me, and remembered my name. Pretty cool. I told him there was "no place on earth I'd rather be". And that was the truth.

I managed to get a little practice in on Friday, but was in big pain. In Saturday's race I went out on my G50 but couldn't keep the foot on the peg so pulled in after 2 laps. No F750 for me.

Sunday was a different day. The foot felt a little better, the swelling was down, and I made it out in 500 Premier on the G50. I took off and led from the start for 6 laps. I was having a blast and a great dust-up with a couple of fast dudes right at my heels. I didn't feel much pain, and it didn't matter. Then, on the exit of the infamous T5, I missed a shift, then another, then another. The box wouldn't go into gear. I managed to get it in, but had been passed by two others. I pushed hard to catch, but it popped out of gear yet again (maybe 2 other times). So I took my 3rd place and was okay with that. I ran a great race until then, and the bike was absolutely flying. When I got back to the paddock and sat down I was in a lot of pain and it was obvious my foot wasn't going to make another race, so that was the end of my racing for this year. C'est la vie.

I had a great time laughing and BSing with all the folks who came by. Good to see you all. The weather was perfect, and in my forced downtime I actually got out from under my canopy to watch some racing.

Today it's back to work on bikes. Complete with a sad limp and Technicolor toes.

Kenny, sorry to hear of your misfortune; hope everything heals up quick and straight.

Mr. Barber is without a doubt, the finest sort of man you'll ever meet. I bought a bike from a guy that told me the story of how he and his best friend drove down from St. Louis and showed up about an hour before the museum opened, so they were sitting in the parking lot sipping convenience store coffee and chatting when "some old dude" climbed out of a nondescript van in the opposite corner of the parking lot just sort of wandered over, and asked "how're you boys doing?". They told him they just couldn't wait to get in and see the museum, they'd heard so much about it over the years. He then told them to come with him, and he led them over to the front door. Next thing you know, he pulls out his keys and opens the door. Well, of course, it was Mr. Barber, who then took them on an all-morning private tour of the place.

I met him in '07, and when I returned a full year later in '08, he still remembered my name. Besides an amazing memory, the guy is as real as it gets. And he loves bikes.

I, too, believe Barber is absolutely the BEST facility for bike racing that there is.

Nice collection of photos from a guy on the Bevelhead list.

http://coreylevenson.zenfolio.com/f131312452






Many more pictures, see link above.

I never saw this bike before but no matter where I saw it I would say "Jim Comstock".

It has suspension, it has brakes, it has fuel injection - who else?

Wow, If I knew I was going to get my picture taken I would have scraped some of the bugs off.

No worry there Jim. You can see the small crowd forming in the reflection on the fairing. Stainless steel exhaust?

Dances with Shrapnel said:

No worry there Jim. You can see the small crowd forming in the reflection on the fairing. Stainless steel exhaust?

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Yeah, it's just mandrel bends welded together. Jim

On the left is my cousin Thad. Second from the left is my Uncle John. Not sure who's in the middle, is that Matt? In the Norton shirt is my brother. And sporting the Ducati shirt and Norton hat is my dad. Yes, I'm jealous. :mrgreen:

On the left is my cousin Thad. Second from the left is my Uncle John. Not sure who's in the middle, is that Matt? In the Norton shirt is my brother. And sporting the Ducati shirt and Norton had is my dad. Yes, I'm jealous. :mrgreen:[/quote]

In the middle is the man behind the shine. He does the polishing for Matt.