Motorcycle Classics Editor-in-Chief Richard Backus with Dave Rosenbery and
his wife, winners of the Motorcycle Classics/Barber Vintage Festival Sweepstakes.Â
The weekend of Oct. 7-9, 2011, couldn’t have been any more exciting if you love classic motorcycles and were fortunate enough to attend the 2011 Barber Vintage Festival in Leeds, Ala.
Motorcycle Classics was there and we had a blast. Sponsored by Moto Guzzi, which had a tent set up right next to ours, the Motorcycle Classics Vintage Motorcycle Show was a huge success. We had 61 bikes in all, 42 of which were Moto Guzzi’s. Add those to the beautiful Moto Guzzi’s that took advantage of our parking corral, and our space was filled with more than 100 vintage beauties. Personal highlights for us were Antonio Ricciardi’s 1951 Moto Guzzi Gambalunga and Larry Hubbard’s 2001 Ghezzi-Brian.
Dave Rosenberry, winner of the Motorcycle Classics/Barber Vintage Festival sweepstakes, brought his wife to the show and they were having a great time. Dave’s sweepstakes package included tickets for the three-day festival, passes to the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and its 900-plus collection of classic motorcycles, two front row tickets to Auctions America’s Barber Motorcycle Auction, three nights lodging, plus a pair of Barber Vintage Festival T-shirts and caps.
Making our Vintage Motorcycle Show even more special was the presence of celebrity judges Alan Cathcart, Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum Technical Director Brian Slark, National Motorcycle Museum Special Projects Coordinator Mark Mederski and Moto Guzzi Brand Manager Rick Panattieri. Alan also presented some of the awards, and spoke at length about the Moto Guzzi’s on display at our show.
Here are some photos to whet your whistle for next year’s show:
Matt Wiley of Race Tech Suspension presented a seminar on vintage bike
suspension in the Motorcycle Classics tent.
The AeroShell aerobatic team thrilled the crowd on Saturday.
Frank Templeton’s 1976 Yamaha RD400 was one of the 61 bikes to enter the
Motorcycle Classics Vintage Motorcycle Show.
George Brown’s 1973 Laverda SF1.
Antonio Ricciardi’s 1951 Moto Guzzi Gambalunga.
Alan Cathcart and Motorcycle Classics Editor-in-Chief Richard Backus.
Ducati racing legends Cook Nielson, Paul Smart and Jason DiSalvo were
signing autographs throughout the weekend.
Richard Backus, Barber Motorsports Museum Technical
Director Brian Slark and Moto Guzzi Brand Manager Rick
Panattieri take a close look at Robert Watson’s 1939 Series
A Vincent Rapide.
A visit to the Barber Vintage Festival is incomplete if you don’t make
into the world-class Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
Trophies were awarded to 11 motorcycles covering seven categories plus
the Editor’s Choice.
Of the 61 bike entered into the Motorcycle Classics Vintage
Motorcycle Show, 42 were Moto Guzzi’s.
