Gary Nixon heads for a win on the Steel Breeze BSA triple at the inaugural Barber Vintage Festival in 2005
Okay, so the economy’s down and pre-election feuding is driving you crazy, but don’t let that stop you from pointing your bike toward Birmingham, Ala., and the 4th Annual Barber Vintage Festival, featuring the 3rd Annual Motorcycle Classics Barber to 29 Dreams Charity Ride and the Motorcycle Classics East Meets West Classic Bike Show.
It’s all coming up October 17-19, 2008, so get your schedule in order now for another spectacular weekend with Motorcycle Classics at the fourth running of Barber’s growing Vintage Festival. In addition to the fun we’ll be having it’s also the season ender for AHRMA vintage motorcycle racing, with classic bikes poring out on the world-class Barber race track vying for top honors for the 2008 season.
The Aeroshell Aerobatic Team will return for 2008, buzzing the Barber grounds while treating attendees to incredible vintage airplane aerobatics, and new this year is Rhett Rotten’s Wall of Death, with Rhett running a variety of vintage bikes on the vertical board track wall.
The museum is also hosting a Friday night fundraiser, Motorcycle by Moonlight Dinner, with former Cycle editor and racer Cook Nielson as the guest of honor. Ducati is sponsoring the evening, with all proceeds from the $100-a-plate affair going to support the museum. Tickets for the dinner include a three-day, weekend pass for the festival.
And of course we’ll be hosting our 3rd Annual Motorcycle Classics Barber to 29 Dream Charity Ride, leaving the museum at 2pm Friday afternoon and returning around 6pm, following a late lunch/early dinner at 29 Dreams Motorcycle Resort.
Al Porter with his 1962 BSA Gold Star, which took Best of Show at the Motorcycle Classics Bike Show West at the 3rd Annual Bonneville Vintage GP September 6, 2008
Saturday, we’ll hold our second show of the Motorcycle Classics East Meets West Classic Bike Show. We held the first, West, at the Bonneville Vintage GP in September, where Al Porter won top honors for his immaculate 1962 BSA Gold Star. And whomever wins at Barber will see his or her bike matched against Al’s for a final award and a full spread in the pages of Motorcycle Classics magazine. Cool stuff, so don’t miss it! – Richard Backus