Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum & Races - Oct 9-11

[GeorgeInDallas]

http://www.barbervintagefestival.org/index.php


I've been there the last two years (I ride), and it's the most fun I've ever had with my clothes on.  The Barber Museum is the Smithsonian of motorcycle-dom.  The races and people are magnificent.  FREE pit passes.

They have camping on the grounds, but I think I might stay at one of the many lovely B'ham motels nearby.

Anyone else interested?  Bueller?  Bueller?

[fastwin]

I would love to do this... but I can't. Bad timing. Leo (who used to live here and moved back to Atlanta) has made this scene several times and has posted up in the past about how freaking cool it is. I honestly would rather do this than either of the US MotoGPs or WSBK races. The museum itself is worth the trip, all the vintage races and displays are just a bonus! I will make this someday. It's on my top 3 destination trips of all time. I have said this before... I could live in the museum and just dust the bikes for a living and I'd never be closer to heaven! [moto]

[Cher]

Hmmm, very possibly... I've always wanted to go there.  Is this a 4 or 5 day trip, total?

[Samsonite]

I so want to go too.....

[svoloch]

Hmmmm....  The Svoloch is thinking....

[Giannis]

Cant make the Vintage Festival but im Driving tomorrow there... Stay Thursday all day and drive back Friday... Just so i can see the museum, take pics of any single bike drool all over the rare bikes... Hopefully get souvenirs.. then Thuesday Flying back to Athens Greece for good this time..

[fastwin]

Never say never and never say "this time for good".

Very cool "last trip", it will be very memorable for sure. It's a long drive but it will be worth it. Heck, you may just want to live there and stare at all the neat bikes. You may never make it back to Greece once you see the museum! Hey, didn't I just say never say never?

Post up some pics whenever you get a chance. [moto] Enjoy the trip!!

[GeorgeInDallas]

Here's what I've found worked best for me: 

Leave D early on Thursday a.m., stop in MS for the night and roll into B'ham early Friday a.m. - check into motel and go directly to Barber Park. 

By Sunday afternoon, I'm pretty well burned out, so I saddle up and start the ride back.  Stop somewhere along the way, finish up on Monday - home Monday afternoon/evening, back in the mines on Tuesday morning.

So, leave Thursday a.m., return home Monday p.m.  It's about 700 miles each way, so breaking the trip up makes it a little more manageable; the first time I went, I did non-stop each way - NEVER again.   

It'd be nice to have some company.  It'd be nice to ride with some other beautiful, sparkling Ducs, too.  Especially if one or more is equipped with radar detectors. 

[RED]

Charles liked to go out there for this. Wish I could go. Have to think about it. Check with my scheduling specialist....(spousal unit).   

[Giannis]

Never say never and never say "this time for good".

Very cool "last trip", it will be very memorable for sure. It's a long drive but it will be worth it. Heck, you may just want to live there and stare at all the neat bikes. You may never make it back to Greece once you see the museum! Hey, didn't I just say never say never?

Post up some pics whenever you get a chance. [moto] Enjoy the trip!!

Yes the Museum is a Must See i spent 7 hours there today checking every single bike and car and taking about 700 pics!!!!

ill sort those pics as soon as im in Greece, Yessss still going...

[fastwin]

Can't wait to see them all! How many thousands of pics did you take? No... seriuosly. How many thousands?

[svoloch]

This would have been cool to go to, but the wife is on the carnival committee, so I am going to be a carnie that weekend.  Sigh.  Maybe next year...

[RED]

Wow, those SS's are my dream scooters. The 1970's 900SS's are my all-time fav Ducatis. I keep reminding myself I had a chance to buy one at the time I bought my 1978 BMW R80/7      .  I can't go on like this....  

[fastwin]

I have a Berliner Imports '77 900SS basket case project bike that never made it past "basket case" status. The '77s had a neat/weird jack shaft assembly that moved the shift lever from the right side to the left side to comply with the new (at the time) Federal law that standardized all bikes. Brake/right, shift/left. The '78 models had the engine cases permanently modified for left hand shift but the '77 bikes still had the older 1976 style right hand shift set up. OK, end of Ducati trivia class.

What is really sad is that I came THIS close to buying an original 1976 750SS from a guy in Arkansas. Back in the 70s and early 80s the only real Ducati owners organization in the US was called Ducati International Owners Club. It was run out of some guys house in Florida, forget his name. No internet back then (or cell phones ) so he printed up newsletter flyers for the club members that had a classified section. Got my newsletter and bingo, there was the 750SS for sale. Called the guy immediately and someone had beaten me to the phone by 5 minutes and had already landed the deal. Sight unseen. That bike today in pristine condition might bring $80K. One sold on ebay last year for that!