Tryg Westby at Barber with Dane’s YZF-R6Back in March, the American motorsports community lost a one of its heroes following a street-bike crash – Dane Westby, nicknamed the “Wolverine” by five-time Daytona 200 Champion Scott Russell.The road-racing community quickly responded, and memorials began around the country for the 28-year-old Tulsa, Okla., native.
And on Wednesday, Dane Westby’s father Tryg – owner of Yamalube/Westby Racing – further memorialized his son by donating Dane’s #00 Yamaha YZF-R6 to the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Ala.It’s the same Yamaha that Dane won both AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike races at Barber Motorsports Park in 2014.“Dane had loyal fans all over the U.S. and throughout the world,” Tryg said. “Now that his golden #00 R6 is here in its new home at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, his fans will have a chance to visit the Museum, see the bike, and remember my son.“I’m certain that he would be thrilled to know that his racebike is in the Museum and at the track where he won both races last year. Dane loved Barber Motorsports Park. He loved the Museum, the track, and the awesome fans who cheered him on here. I’m proud to donate Dane’s bike in his honor.”Jeff Ray, Executive Director of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, also commented: “The Barber Museum is honored to become home to the Yamalube/Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 that the late Dane Westby rode to victory in last year’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike races here in Birmingham.“We appreciate that this bike has a history at the track at Barber Motorsports Park, and with it having been ridden by Dane Westby, it becomes an especially important bike in our collection.”Yamaha reports that the bike joins the Museum’s collection of more than 1,400 pristine motorcycles and automobiles, and it will be displayed alongside the racebikes of world-renowned motorcycle racers like Jarno Saarinen, Yvon DuHamel, Colin Edwards, and many more.About Barber Vintage Motorcycle MuseumGeorge Barber’s zeal for speed ignited his vision for today’s museum. Having raced Porsches in the 1960s, Barber held an impressive record of 63 wins. A thriving business executive, Barber rediscovered his motorsports passion in 1988 and began collecting and restoring classic cars. But, since the world’s best and largest car collections had already been established, Barber heeded some advice from longtime friend Dave Hooper, a motorcycle enthusiast, who suggested Barber shift his focus from cars to motorcycles. Barber seized the opportunity to build the world’s “best and largest” motorcycle collection.The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit Foundation located at the 830-acre Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, AL. Over the course of the past decade, the Barber Museum has brought people from around the world to Alabama, and it was named the #1 tourist attraction in Birmingham in 2014.The museum is the home of the world’s largest motorcycle collection. Each year, it hosts vintage motorcycle and racecar events, including the Barber Vintage Festival and Barber Historics.For additional information, visit Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory + Steve ’Stavros’ Parrish
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.
Our first segment features the new Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory. Senior Editor Nic de Sena brings us his report on the flagship version of Aprilia’s upright middleweight machine. He gives us insight into whether it’s worth spending the extra money on the Factory version, and also of course, whether this sporting Aprilia is really the motorcycle for you.
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The next guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.
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In this segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with (arguably) one of the most interesting Suzuki race riders of all time. the iconic RG500 alongside teammate double World Champion Barry Sheene. The two were almost as famous for their exploits off-track, as for their success on it. Those were the days! Steve also raced the Isle of Man TT for about ten years where he won 13 Silver Replicas, and got a podium finish. His insight into that particular brand of mayhem are fascinating.
But there’s waaay more to Steve Parrish than his motorcycle racing. He is also the most successful Semi-Truck racer ever, and, little known piece of useless trivia—he’s my birthday twin: 24th February. He is a natural entertainer and you can’t miss his recounting of the world’s most entertaining—and arguably terrifying—double-decker bus ride ever. If any of you were actually on that hell-ride then we’d love to hear from you!
Jeff Ray, Executive Director of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, also commented: “The Barber Museum is honored to become home to the Yamalube/Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 that the late Dane Westby rode to victory in last year’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike races here in Birmingham.“We appreciate that this bike has a history at the track at Barber Motorsports Park, and with it having been ridden by Dane Westby, it becomes an especially important bike in our collection.”Yamaha reports that the bike joins the Museum’s collection of more than 1,400 pristine motorcycles and automobiles, and it will be displayed alongside the racebikes of world-renowned motorcycle racers like Jarno Saarinen, Yvon DuHamel, Colin Edwards, and many more.About Barber Vintage Motorcycle MuseumGeorge Barber’s zeal for speed ignited his vision for today’s museum. Having raced Porsches in the 1960s, Barber held an impressive record of 63 wins. A thriving business executive, Barber rediscovered his motorsports passion in 1988 and began collecting and restoring classic cars. But, since the world’s best and largest car collections had already been established, Barber heeded some advice from longtime friend Dave Hooper, a motorcycle enthusiast, who suggested Barber shift his focus from cars to motorcycles. Barber seized the opportunity to build the world’s “best and largest” motorcycle collection.The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit Foundation located at the 830-acre Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, AL. Over the course of the past decade, the Barber Museum has brought people from around the world to Alabama, and it was named the #1 tourist attraction in Birmingham in 2014.The museum is the home of the world’s largest motorcycle collection. Each year, it hosts vintage motorcycle and racecar events, including the Barber Vintage Festival and Barber Historics.For additional information, visit Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
