The 2nd annual Barber Vintage Festival
(Page 3 of 3)
March/April 2007
By Richard Backus
The Mother Nature factor is always a consideration in scheduling events during the fall, and Alabama is no exception. The traditionally dry end of October weather decided to turn untraditional on Friday and again on Saturday night prior to the motocross, turning the grass-covered course into the world’s largest green and brown “slip-n-slide.” The early morning practice sessions saw more riders practicing their crashing and restarting skills than developing racing lines around the one-mile circuit. Although the rain never made an encore appearance, the damage was done for the racers, covering their prized machines in a coat of brown goo. Czs, Huskys, Maicos, Hondas and Yamahas became indistinguishable from each other, covered in mud and freshly un-rooted grass. The riders were no cleaner.
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While the conditions may have proved to be somewhat grueling for the competitors, it proved to be highly entertaining for the hillside full of spectators. Mud-induced front-end wash outs, inadvertent donuts and group ground-hugs were the order of the day. The assembled crowd ooed, aahed and gasped with every racer’s folly, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle as if it was a clumsy ballet performed on a grease covered stage.
Although this was the first outing for motocross at the festival, the folks at Barber have a vision for the future that should make this a permanent fixture in the annual calendar of “must do” events for anyone east of the Mississippi and a “you gotta go at least once” event for anyone from the west. The management at Barber has taken a measured approach to growing the event with experiments like adding the dirt disciplines. They plan to refine and improve the overall program each year, until they find the magic balance of activity and quality.
Given the increased costs in travel, the concept of multifaceted events not only makes good economic sense but creates more of a family reunion atmosphere than the average race meeting. Camaraderie and personal connections are a big part of the vintage racing experience, and the Barber Vintage Festival caters to that spirit. — Ricky Doughty
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