Motorcycle Heaven in Birmingham.
Every collector understands the story. First, a couple of objects—motorcycles perhaps—are acquired, soon followed by a few more. After all, bikes are wonderful to look at as well as ride—and there is still room left in the toy box. Quickly the number swells to twenty or more and there is no longer space at home, bikes are on display in every room. But it’s impossible to stop. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a few real race machines—maybe an MV Agusta GP bike, or an antique Indian board tracker?
Barber is a successful dairyman and former sports car and motorcycle racer whose original intent was to gather fine automobiles. Jeff Ray, director of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama, recalls, “While collecting a few cars, we also took in a few motorcycles. Barber quickly decided that although a car exhibited body shape, some paint and chrome, it also hid all the interesting mechanical parts. A motorcycle on the other hand is completely exposed, showing the intent of the designer, the mechanical artistry and the workmanship of the craftsman who put it together.” Thus in 1988, George Barber’s motorcycles began to replace his cars.
By 1994 a non-profit corporation had been established, creating a permanent museum. Now operating with tax advantages, the cramped downtown building could be replaced by a dedicated facility, specifically designed to show off what had become perhaps the finest showcase of motorcycles in the world.
“The difference between a collector and a museum is that a collector has temporary possession of the articles for a period of time, then they go away. A museum acquires them for permanent display,” explains Ray. “We wanted to do something special for the city of Birmingham by creating a destination for motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world.”
When the “Art of the Motorcycle” opened at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the majority of machines in that now legendary exhibit came from Barber’s collection and the worldwide interest it created helped fuel the drive to establish a new facility. Barber Motorsports Park is now perhaps the most beautiful tribute to motorcycling to be found anywhere.
Designed by Barber himself, the museum building reveals his strong background in art and architecture. The layout finds its influences in the Guggenheim’s famous spiral walkway and in an open parking garage where visitors initially view a panorama of multiple floor levels displaying the many machines.
The museum has a unique layout that satisfies both informed enthusiasts and those with general interest. “There is no specific time line for the exhibits,” says curator Ray. “It is not a ‘follow the green line’ type of display. We try to create a gallery setting as much as possible.” Some are grouped according to era, while there are also some diorama exhibits. One such is Daytona Banking, featuring bikes raced at that famous venue including those from the beach course era. “For instance, if you were interested in Triumph motorcycles, you would not find all of them in one exhibit. They would be displayed along with other machines of their particular era or type,” he says.
As one enters the building the first bikes encountered are mounted on shelves attached to the walls. This type of display is used effectively throughout to showcase entire genres of motorcycles. “It was a space-saving method that we liked at the old facility and continue to use,” Ray says. “We also had many of the bikes in glass cases, but at the new facility we have enough room that they can be shown out in the open where a visitor can walk right up to them.”
Although motorcycles dominate the museum, Barber by no means gave up his love of car collecting. When he found he could purchase an entire fleet of consequential Lotus race cars for the cost of two or three Porsches, he took the pragmatic approach. As with the motorcycles, the collection is among the finest anywhere and includes early sports cars as well as Dan Gurney’s Lotus 38 Indy car, and Formula cars up through the ‘90s.
After more than two decades of acquiring and planning—not to mention an investment in excess of $55 million—George Barber has built a fitting homage to the fine art of the motorcycle through the ages. As a result, Birmingham should now be firmly on the map as one of the mandatory riding destinations for every enthusiast.