Have You Ever Seen So Much Racing Heritage In One Place Before?

George Barber raced, modified, and maintained Porsches in the 1960's (63 first-place wins). He started collecting and restoring classic sports cars in 1989, but his interest soon turned to motorcycles. Mr. Barber recognized that there was not a museum which reflected 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. This was the theme used in the development of the Barber collection. An interesting aspect of the collection is that restorations are done in-house. Out of the same shop a vintage motorcycle race team operated with the challenge of maintaining and racing historically significant machinery. These bikes were routinely campaigned around the United States so that they could be enjoyed and appreciated in their original setting, rather than collecting dust in a garage. The Barber Vintage Motorcycle Team has won seven national championships.

The collection now has over 900 vintage and modern motorcycles and as well as a substantial collection of Lotus and other racecars. It is considered the largest in North American and possibly the world. There are approximately five hundred motorcycles on display at any given time. (There are over 900 in the collection.) These bikes range from 1904 to current-year production. There are bikes from 16 countries that represent 143 different marques. The common street bike is represented, as well as rare one-off Gran Prix race machinery. Bikes have been purchased from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden, but also as close as down the street.

Take a look at 001's personal tour of The Barber Museum

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85bmw745i - 6/14/2008 8:46:50 PM

0 Boost

Yeah but who else does Lexus compete with in the rolex series? and Pontiac was kicking Lexus butt for a long time.

ChicaneShooter - 6/15/2008 7:50:13 AM

+1 Boost

honda has an incredible racing history, with motorcycles as well as cars.

when honda first decided to export, they sought publicity be entering the Isle of Man bike races. after shipping bikes and support personnel half way around the world, soichiro saw the competition and opted to NOT EVEN ENTER, seeing his machines were so outclassed.

but within less than 1/2 a decade, honda bikes were SWEEPING THEIR CLASSES. coming in 1-2-3; repeatedly. in ALL classes from 50cc up to 250cc. they even had a SIX-cylinder 250!

then, there is their Formula One efforts...

ChicaneShooter - 6/15/2008 7:55:23 AM

+1 Boost

there are...


incidentally, they were DOMINATING F1 when they quit the last time. probably since they had no real competition, and decided to battle toyota in the CART and IRL wars.

so they sold some of their unbeatable F1 engine secrets to Ferrari, who subsequently became the dominant power in F1.