BikeBound at Barber 2015!

Senior Correspondent Rick Brown reports from the 11th Annual Barber Vintage Festival at Barber Motorsports Park outside Birmingham, AL.

Great weather, incredible facility, fantastic bikes, massive swap meet, Malcom Smith, vintage racing–including roadracing, cross country and trials. Barber Vintage Festival is simply everything that we at BikeBound salivate over!

For those who have never been to Barber Motorsports Park, the place is amazing. The largest motorcycle museum in the world, as well as a world class race rack, in a setting reminiscent of a beautiful country club in the hills just outside Birmingham, AL. No wonder some people call it the “The Augusta National of Motorsports.”

This event, if you haven’t attended, needs to be on your bucket list. Fear not, however, for BB was there to bring you some of the highlights from this year and to entice you to be there next year.

Some Unforgettable Moments from BVF2015

5 of the 10 Brittens in existence, on the track at the same time, AT SPEED, including a stand up wheelie the length of the front straight.
Malcolm Smith, ever the gentleman, signing copies of his autobiography, while smiling and chatting with a legion of admirers.
Conner Cummings casually describing his 170 mph get off, over a cliff, at the Isle of Man, during an informal chat at the Ace Corner. He suffered massive, life threatening injuries and, against the advice of all his doctors, refused to allow his leg to be amputated. Very self-deprecating, he brushed over the numerous surgeries and rehab he underwent to return his love of motorcycle racing, including this year’s IOM.
Sitting on a rock, on a beautifully manicured hillside, shaded by old growth pines, watching the Superbikes powering out of turn 11 on the back wheel.
Wandering through the huge swap meet, talking with some of the craftsmen who are creating amazing, innovative, and unique bikes, a number of which will be featured on BB in the coming months.
A Cushman Eagle, powered by a Truckster twin engine that had been bored, stoked, fuel injected, and puts out north of 60 hp on the dyno. It sounded like a Ducati with open pipes. The work was impeccable and it even had disc brakes.
Walking among the sea of bikes parked along the roads, marveling at the variety of bikes, from a CBX with a sidecar rig, endless vintage Japanese iron, and even 7 perfectly restored Nortons side by side.

This is a celebration of the bikes we love and we hope to see you there next year.