BARBER MOTORSPORTS VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE RALLY, LEEDS ALABAMA.
My motorcycle: 750 cc, V-Twin, cruiser, Honda. Model "PHANTOM" (not making that up!! "Phantom" is the name of this model!)For 18 years, I have been a fan of the Barber Motorsports Vintage Motorcycle Rally. I have attended 16 of them.
Always full of great history, stories, photo ops, incredible engineering---and the people-watching is beyond my ability to adequately describe. All walks of life and backgrounds, from brain surgeons on $50,000.00 trikes, to Outlaw Motorcycle Club members, prowling the Swap Meet for 1957 Harley parts.
Triumph, KTM, BMW, Ducati, Honda, --- just everyone who made the rally what it is-- they were fantastic. Displays were eye-popping. The motorcycles allow and encourage close up admiration of engineering and the tweaks.
I sleep in the forest, in my 4 man tent, along with hundreds of other bikers, of all ages and backgrounds.
It's a no-judgement zone. People look at what others have done with the equipment or camping stuff and everyone talks and gabs and is excited to be there.
Ready to strap it on and get that 320 miles out of the way!!
Plan was to leave on the morning off the 5th at 0500. Wanted to be through Montgomery, Alabama before first light, because it is the ugliest place in North America.
6 hours to Leeds, AL. Had an issue with some fasteners and so got out on the road at about 0615. Still made it to Barber in time to claim an excellent camping spot! PRIMO !!!
I stop at Buccees in Leeds Alabama. Those who know Buccees, know. It's a destination. Chopped BBQ, brisket, pork, chicken---full fresh bakery. Also a grocery store with everything a traveler or camper or local resident could need. Clothing, equipment, blankets, accoutrements, food, medicine, water, snacks---it's like a truck stop (no trucks allowed) that has E V E R Y T H I N G!
Swap meet area, old bikes, books parts, leather just insane crazy stuff and people-watching action creating a million dollar 'people-show'
My interior of my tent. It's a 4 person. I can almost stand. It is cozy. Oh yeah. Sleeping on the ground! It rained several hours the first night. As the water pattered off of the tent, sleeping in the woods, listening to that was really nice. Plus, the rain tended to dampen the crazy hell raising in the camping area and even toward the pits. The rain started to drizz;e and softly slap the tents, and the camp went quiet. The woods went black and we all got some good sleep.
Campsite
Forest behind site, I am protected on three sides
Home For 3 days. Absolutely the best camping spot I’ve ever had a Barber because once you get experienced, you know that you need to camp out on the side where the forest is to illuminate being surrounded by people for three days. It seems obvious but only the experienced rally goers take the spots
Departing rally on Sunday morning from, obvi, Buccees! They have salads and wholesome snacks and things as well, so it helped when we were all stuck out at Barber, where eating healthy is a challenge. I was able to ride out to Buccees on saturday and grab an actual large salad. Something different from French Fries and / or smoked animal parts.
Breathtaking Indian chief. Indian always brings wonderful old BIG motorcycles that instantly transport one to the 30's and then late 50's. They are dream machines. I am always sad their manufacturing / management history has been a little scattered and left them behind a bit. They are still making excellent motorcycles.
Reading Standard. Comes out of the early part of the 20th century. They were growing up and into the industry with Harley Davidson and Indian etc., but they never raced and made a name, and they never marketed effectively and the brand undeservedly died. Never took off because they didn't race like Indian or Harley Davidson
Beautiful old machines
These performers eventually put three motorcycles and two additional women in this globe and ride them every which way, as in upside down :-]
Globe of
Death ☠️
100 years anniversary for BMW 1923
Above is one of the very first BMW motorcycles to come off the assembly-line in 1923. 100 years ago and it still starts and rides just fine.
Look at this classic beauty. It practically TALKS to you, as you walk around and marvel at the build, the engineering and the history.
They had every motorcycle that BMW manufacturers on display at BARBER this year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of BMW motorcycle manufacturing
All the way from the first edition off the assembly line in 1923, all the way to 1800 cc machines, beautiful engineering, and power beyond belief.
On the way 320 miles
Tent set up
Found a Starbucks 2 towns over. Gave me an opportunity to use the feature on my watch that let's me take remote and candid shots of myself, while I do cool things.
Track cooling off
water features include bathing maidens and gators---as well as monstrously large goldfish.
My bestie BUCCEE
Riding the tram around Barber, it's people watching extradionaire... there are people from every walk of life, every experience level...all interested in different things. It is insanely interesting and fun.
Saturday crowd. I ride the tram around to get off my feet and expand my horizons. This was a trip to the swap-meet.
1800 cc new huge boxer twin BMW
The globe of death
I Gesture in anticipation of globe of death
Gator and bear
Trikes BMW $ 47000. Marlene said I could drop the guy a check right there, since we are not out of checks, we must have money.
Out on track after superbikes
Up through endlessly ugly South Alabama
Gasstop in Dothan Al Loves truck stop
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