Atlanta to Birmingham, Al. 22-23 Oct 2005: It was a nippy October morning in Atlanta, right around 30 degrees. Lovely day for a ride with my buddy. I shoulda got the hint the night before when he called and was waffling on a route. We were scheduled to meet at 8am near Dallas, Ga. I got the call as my bike was warming up. He got all soft on me, “It's cold, and we’re coming back tonight?” He pussed on me. Said he’d wear a pink shirt if I wanted him to, but he’s a loyal Bikernet reader. So if he reads this, I’ll call us square!!
It was an awesome day for a lone wolf ride. My favorite kind actually. 80-90 Mph all the way and no BS. It was cold, but I learned, on the North Slope oilfields of Alaska, ya gotta put that outta your head and dress for it.
I was headed to the AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Assoc) races at Barbers for a couple reasons. The great ride of a couple hundred miles, the awesome facility that is Barbers, the classic races that are AHRMA, to see a buddy who was working corners during the races….
These guys are great. The event has a feel that is unlike any other. It reminds me of when I was a kid and went to the Sat nite races with my dad. Just a good time, no huge crowds, and the pits were totally open.
I’ve met Jay and Gary previously. Gary is my corner worker buddies favorite, while I’ve been a Springer fan since I was a kid. I met Jay in Daytona while hangin’ in the pits with Joe Kopp.
Jay is a true legend, and was inducted into the hall of fame recently. His racing career spans 30 years. Made the H-D flat track team in 1975….I think. All that aside, you can walk right up to this guy and shake his hand, and he’ll actually talk to you, like a conversation. Most racers are great people at heart. It’s when someone else (media) makes them “bigger and better” that things get outta hand. Jay is a great guy. Ya gotta love the story about Jay getting fined $100 for drinking a beer in the pits after the races, and saying “you might as well make it $200, cuz I’m gonna have another one!!!”
If you see this crusty old fucker David. Just walk away, no better yet, RUN. He’s nothing but trouble! He’ll have you drinking or something worse, in short order!! Especially if you are female or have a woman with you!! A truly corruptive element. That’s why I like him!! One of my best buddies, shown here with an H-D XR750TT like Springer’s, BADDAASSS BIKE!! Nixon rides a Triumph triple (see previous pic).
The pits are alive with Vintage bikes!! Numerous classes like hand shift flatheads along with Brits, Japs, 2-strokes, and street bikes like these….plus swap meet and bike shows.
Now for the Barber Facility. This place is first class!! Mr. Barber’s family has been in the dairy farm business for along time. He spent, I’ve heard, over $50 MILLION on this place. It’s truly unbelievable. A race track and world class museum.
The track was designed and built specifically for motorcycles. It’s 45 wide, 8-story, 2.3 mile, 16 turn track that is beautiful! I hope to take the Ed Bargy road race school on it next year.
This place is outstanding! I’ve been to races for decades all over the country, Seattle Intl, Portland, Jersey / Pa / NY, Charlotte, Atlanta and Rd Atlanta (I drove my 67 RS / SS Camaro around AMS for 4 laps….a blast!!), Talladega, Daytona, Duquoin, Hagerstown, Volusia county, etc…….Barber is the best I’ve seen…ever.
The museum is truly a marvel, and is known around the world. I’ve heard Mr. Barber has over 1,000 bikes. The displays are excellent, and he also opens the shop up, CNC machines, the works. One display that stuck in my mind is the board track. It’s like 15’ tall, a mock-up board track turn with the bikes placed on it!!! More on the museum later.
I’ve learned from years of reading Bikernet that there was still something missing from this fledgling report, yeah, and notice how it’s even pertinent to the subject matter!! Huh?huh? Do I pass?
Here’s some more brain teasers. Name several things Jay and Gary Nixon have in common? OK, they both raced flat track for factory team, Jay for H-D, Gary for Triumph. But there’s more… Come on, come on? Hey you, the big kid in the back row they call Bandit. I know you got the answer for this one.
Both wore the AMA Pro #1 plate, but what else? Come on, both wore #9 as well. That’s correct Bandit, help yourself to a beer!!! Get me one while your in there, and what is her name anyhow?
More flat track stuff. What is the significance of the AMA # plates 2-9? Only former series champs (#1’s) can wear ‘em.
Now lets talk about the museum. Four or five stories, mostly bikes, but also some old race cars. Displays are old wood crates, info plaques for each bike…well done. You can stand inside and watch the race outside on the track!
Hey, a couple years back I was out at Edwards AFB working flight test for the FA22 program, and decided to go to Costa Mesa for some speedway racing,what a blast!. This pic is for anyone who enjoys that racing.
Here are several more pics that my words will add no value to! I’ll just let ‘em speak for themselves! I will say the pics don’t do these bikes justice. You must see them in person.
I HIGHLY recommend a visit if anyone is ever in the Atlanta / Birmingham area. A true motorcyclist will not regret it!! It’s in Leeds Ala, about 2 hrs from my place just west of Atlanta, go ahead and make me show you to the place! Twist my arm!! I’m serious, I’d gladly use any excuse to ride to Barbers, even if the track ain’t hot, the Museum alone is worth the ride!!! Talladega Superspeedway is also very close to it, and could be a side-trip.
A great day, with some great people, great bikes, at a great place. It could have been better if my buddy Jeff hadn’t went “girlie” on me!!!! Sorry Jeff, gotta get ‘em while the getting is good!
I left my place at 8:30 am, rode in a t-shirt while there. I enjoyed good food, drank a couple beers with lunch, hung in the sun, spoke to legends, saw friends, bought parts, rode home, rolling in about 8pm. I could see my breathe as I shut the bike off. Clear sky full of stars. Grabbed a cold beer from the garage fridge and toasted the gods for making me one lucky SOB!!.
A rookie hopeful Bikernet correspondent…..
–Charlie Young
Powder Springs (Atlanta), Ga.
