AHRMA BARBER VINTAGE FESTIVAL

AMERICAN HISTORICAL RACING MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION AT BARBER VINTAGE FESTIVAL

by Derek Jackson

Anticipation was high this past weekend as the American Historical Racing Motorcycle Association returned to the 19th Annual Barber Vintage Festival at the legendary Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Barber Vintage Festival is the largest vintage motorcycle event in the country, and up to 25,000 bikes were expected over the three-day event. The festival also includes the largest motorcycle swap-meet in the country at the Vendor Village, with over 500 vendors offering rare parts, accessories and memorabilia.

The family friendly festival, where kids under 15 got in for free, included the very popular Fan Zone. Fans could enjoy the Kid’s Zone with inflatables, and watch exhibition rides in the Globe of Death and the Wall of Death. Hot Rod Walt and the Psycho-DeVilles were on hand to give pin-striping demonstrations and a live concert on stage.

BMW Motorrad Days Americas sponsored a special event in the Fan Zone celebrating BMW motorcycles and live music with a beer garden, too. Triumph Motorcycles hosted the Isle of Triumph main stage inside the infield and gave demonstration rides on their latest models.

The 2024 festival spotlighted the legendary motorcycle racer Kenny Roberts as the Grand Marshal. King Kenny is a three-time Grand Prix World Champion and a pivotal figure in motorcycle racing history.

Barber Motorsports Park is a truly beautiful location with lush landscaping and waterfalls throughout the 880-acre facility, to unique iron sculptured art works that pay homage to Birmingham’s history as one of the nation’s leading iron and steel producers. Barber is noted for its landscaping and greenery; the track has been referred to as “The Augusta National of Motorsports”. The venue is a delight to the eyes for nature lovers, art lovers and lovers of speed alike. Showcase events like IndyCars Grand Prix and the MotoAmerica Superbikes Tour make Barber Motorsports Part a premier road racing venue in the Southeast.

Barber Motorsports Park is also the home of the North American Porsche Driving School, along with various track day events. The facility recently built the “Barber Proving Grounds”, which includes a new track area and wet/dry skidpad that will accommodate additional events while the existing track is in use. Barber is just as famously known for being the home of the world’s largest motorcycle museum, with over 1,700 motorcycles in it’s collection, and up to 1,000 bikes on continuous display.

The weekend hosted a full schedule of AHRMA road racing, flat track, trials and a newly constructed track for vintage motorcross, too!

Enjoy these exclusive photos of exciting on-track action by Motorsport America’s legendary photographers Fred Hanyon, Derek Jackson and Greg McWilliams.