Barber Motorsports Park
Encyclopedia
The Barber Motorsports Park is a 740 acres (299.5 ha) multi-purpose racing facility located on the eastern fringes of Birmingham, Alabama
, USA near Leeds
. The facility was the vision of George Barber, and includes the Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum. In July 2009 officials announced that Barber will be the site of the IRL IndyCar Series
Grand Prix of Alabama beginning in the 2010 season
. Barber is also the home of the North American Porsche Driving School and the Kevin Schwantz Motorcycle School.
, designed by Alan Wilson
, viewable from several naturally wooded or grass-covered banks.
The track has hosted numerous motorsport races including Grand-Am, Vintage Racing Series events, and AMA Superbike
. It serves as the home of the "Porsche
Driving Experience" and the Kevin Schwantz
Suzuki
School. It also hosts the Keith Code
California Superbike School and the Jamie James Yamaha Champions Riding School.
On October 12, 2007, the IRL's IndyCar Series
conducted an open test at Barber. In March 2009, the IRL again conducted testing at the track, one of only two preseason test sites prior to the 2009 season. It has been confirmed that a three-year contract has been signed for an early season race beginning in 2010. The race will be held in lieu of the Detroit race on April 11, 2010.
The track had also been nominated by FIA as the official test track for US F1 Team.
s and dragonflies
, a pair of lion
s and a sisyphean
figure pushing a boulder. HealthSouth Corporation, based in Birmingham
donated its "Pulling the Wagon" statue to the park in 2009. The statue used to sit at the front of the HealthSouth's Corporate Headquarters on Highway 280
. The statue served as symbol for HealthSouth's corporate slogan "Pulling the Wagon", which was created in 1984 under former founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Richard M. Scrushy
. The statue was removed in March 2003 from HealthSouth Corporate Headquarters Campus. Today one of the statue's figures holds up a motorcycle.
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum began life in 1988 as a private collection of George W. Barber. However, in 1994 it officially opened to the public in Birmingham, Alabama. The Museum was relocated to its new location at the Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, Alabama, on September 19, 2003.
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum features a collection of over 1200 vintage and modern motorcycles and racing cars. It is considered the largest motorcycle museum in the world, as well as the largest collection of Lotus race cars. The internationally acclaimed motorcycle collection includes bikes dating from 1904 to present production. There are approximately 600 of the 1200 motorcycles on display at any given time from 16 countries that represent over 140 different marques from as far away as Australia
, New Zealand
, and Sweden
.
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, USA near Leeds
Leeds, Alabama
Leeds is a tri-county municipality located in Jefferson, St. Clair, and Shelby Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a suburb of Birmingham. As of the 2009 population estimate, the population of the city is about 11,474.-History:...
. The facility was the vision of George Barber, and includes the Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum. In July 2009 officials announced that Barber will be the site of the IRL IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
Grand Prix of Alabama beginning in the 2010 season
2010 IndyCar Series season
The 2010 Izod IndyCar Series season was the 15th season of the IndyCar Series, and the 99th recognized season of top-level American open wheel racing. It was the series' first of six planned seasons under Izod title sponsorship, a multi-million dollar deal which was announced on November 5, 2009...
. Barber is also the home of the North American Porsche Driving School and the Kevin Schwantz Motorcycle School.
Track
The park, which opened in 2003, features a 16-turn, 2.38 miles (3.8 km) road courseRoad racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
, designed by Alan Wilson
Alan Wilson (motorsport)
Alan L. Wilson is an American designer of motorsports road course race tracks.Considered one of the most prolific track designers, Wilson has designed and built more than 20 race courses, including Miller Motorsports Park, , Barber Motorsports Park, Motorsports Park Hastings, Gingerman Raceway and...
, viewable from several naturally wooded or grass-covered banks.
The track has hosted numerous motorsport races including Grand-Am, Vintage Racing Series events, and AMA Superbike
AMA Superbike
AMA Pro Superbike is the premiere superbike racing series in the United States. It is part of the AMA Pro Racing series which was sold to and is managed by the Daytona Motorsports Group...
. It serves as the home of the "Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
Driving Experience" and the Kevin Schwantz
Kevin Schwantz
Kevin Schwantz is an American former World Champion motorcycle road racer during the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Early life:...
Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
School. It also hosts the Keith Code
Keith Code
Keith Code is a former motorcycle racer,writer, and founder of the California Superbike School.He has been called "arguably the best known and most successful on-track motorcycle instructor in the world".-Rider training:...
California Superbike School and the Jamie James Yamaha Champions Riding School.
On October 12, 2007, the IRL's IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
conducted an open test at Barber. In March 2009, the IRL again conducted testing at the track, one of only two preseason test sites prior to the 2009 season. It has been confirmed that a three-year contract has been signed for an early season race beginning in 2010. The race will be held in lieu of the Detroit race on April 11, 2010.
The track had also been nominated by FIA as the official test track for US F1 Team.
Sculpture
The infield of the track is adorned with a number of large sculptures, including a series of large steel spiderSpider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s and dragonflies
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
, a pair of lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s and a sisyphean
Sisyphus
In Greek mythology Sisyphus was a king punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this throughout eternity...
figure pushing a boulder. HealthSouth Corporation, based in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
donated its "Pulling the Wagon" statue to the park in 2009. The statue used to sit at the front of the HealthSouth's Corporate Headquarters on Highway 280
U.S. Route 280
U.S. Route 280 is a spur of U.S. Highway 80. It currently runs for 392 miles from Blichton, Georgia at U.S. Highway 80 to Birmingham, Alabama at I-20/I-59. For much of its route, U.S. 280 travels through rural areas and smaller cities in southern Georgia and east central Alabama. Once the...
. The statue served as symbol for HealthSouth's corporate slogan "Pulling the Wagon", which was created in 1984 under former founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
Richard M. Scrushy
Richard M. Scrushy
Richard Marin Scrushy is an American business man and founder of HealthSouth Corporation, a global healthcare company based in Birmingham, Alabama....
. The statue was removed in March 2003 from HealthSouth Corporate Headquarters Campus. Today one of the statue's figures holds up a motorcycle.
Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum
George Barber had a serious interest in vintage motorcycles. He recognized that there was no museum that reflects the history of motorcycles around the world. He wanted to preserve motorcycle history in the United States in a way that represents an international aspect and to supply an example of motorcycles that until then could only have been seen in books and magazines.The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum began life in 1988 as a private collection of George W. Barber. However, in 1994 it officially opened to the public in Birmingham, Alabama. The Museum was relocated to its new location at the Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, Alabama, on September 19, 2003.
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum features a collection of over 1200 vintage and modern motorcycles and racing cars. It is considered the largest motorcycle museum in the world, as well as the largest collection of Lotus race cars. The internationally acclaimed motorcycle collection includes bikes dating from 1904 to present production. There are approximately 600 of the 1200 motorcycles on display at any given time from 16 countries that represent over 140 different marques from as far away as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Track Records
| Driver | Time | Avg. Speed | Date | Vehicle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car (official) |
Will Power Will Power William Steven Power is an Australian motorsport driver, who currently competes in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, driving for Team Penske.-Australian Racing:... |
1:10.1060 | 118.107 miles per hour (190.075 km/h) | April 10, 2010 | Dallara Dallara Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993... -Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than... IndyCar IndyCar Series The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and... |
| Car (unofficial) |
Will Power Will Power William Steven Power is an Australian motorsport driver, who currently competes in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, driving for Team Penske.-Australian Racing:... |
1:09.4557 | 119.213 miles per hour (191.855 km/h) | March 23, 2009 | Dallara Dallara Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993... -Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than... IndyCar IndyCar Series The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and... |
| Motorcycle (official) |
Mat Mladin Mat Mladin Mathew "Mat" Mladin is a retired Australian professional motorcycle racer who last raced for Yoshimura Suzuki in the AMA Superbike series... |
1:23.664 | 115.474 miles per hour (185.837 km/h) | April 2008 | Suzuki GSX-R1000 Suzuki GSX-R1000 The GSX-R1000 is a sport bike from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles. It was introduced in 2001 to replace the GSX-R1100 and is powered by a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.-2001:... |