I won't go into a long winded explanation of the weekend, simply because it's difficult to describe. Anyone that's enthusiastic about vintage motorcycles should make the way to Birmingham, Alabama and experience it for themselves. The following is a group of photos from my perspective:
You aren't going to see many of these. This is the road going version of the Matchless G50. Know as the CSR, and affectionately called the Coffee Shop Racer. Complete with magnesium cases and timing cover. Rare stuff...
The Matchless and AJS club round out their display nicely with original banners.
The Salt Ghost.
I've wanted to see this bike for a while, and I don't even like Triumphs. But this thing is about as cool as it gets. All the grit and all the cool bits, make this bike something special.
How often do you see a Rudge? And then how often do you see 5 of them lined up and ready to race?
Two Norton Internationals tucked back next to an RV in the paddock.
Manx Norton replica racer
Another Norton International
Seeley G50
I watched the guy ride in on this down and dirty Atlas special. Not set up to my liking, but he most definitely didn't care, and that's what made it cool.
On to the museum. I should start by saying that the facility is absolutely impeccable, and spotlessly clean. My hats off to George Barber for amassing such a collection of machines, and then allowing common folk to enjoy them all in one location. And for a very reasonable $15. Best part of all, nothing is roped off, so you can get up close and personal and view each bike from all angles.
Triumph "Slippery Sam"
Rob North Triumphs
Russian made racer which I had never even heard of before.
The John Surtees collection alone is worth the trip.
Detailed shots where you can see everything is drilled for lightness. The sign of a proper race bike.
Front brake with the actuating lever neatly operated between a cut out in the air scoop.
Surtees MV Augusta
I think it's pretty obvious at this point that I'm a Norton nut, so close up shots of a Manx are high priorities for me.
1962 spec 4 leading shoe front brake. cast in magnesium of course.
Anti vibration float bowl mount.
Overhead cam driven tach drive.
John Surtess Matchless G50
The single cylinder Vincent Grey Flash. Far more beautiful than the twin cylinder Vincent, in my opinion.
The Morbidelli collection is on loan to the museum, and is the kind of stuff, that most would never get to see.
All of the foot controls were machined in some sort of plastic, so if the bike goes down, they simply disintegrate, rather than cause damage. Very neat details.
Dresda Triton, which I'm not a fan of, but the historical significance of these bikes, is impressive. Dave Degens started Dresda motors back in the 1960's and is accredited for building more Tritons than anyone on the planet. He also built, raced and won on a Triton at an endurance race in Barcelona.
The G50 Matchless is always gorgeous. A competitor to my beloved Manx Norton.
The AJS Porcupine is insanely rare, insanely cool, and probably priceless.
George Barber, of course has two of them.
Gear shift lever is odd, in that it faces right to left, rather than front to back. I wonder how it felt for the rider making gear-changes.
The CMA brake is rare. The 4 leading shoe version is even more rare. This one was mounted on the right side of the bike rather than the normal / left side.
A nice looking Norton Atlas. I wasn't a fan of the RK Leighton seat, but the rest is quite nice.
John Player Norton. So ugly that it's beautiful.
Strangely, this one had an Avon GP tire on front and rear. I've always known them as a rear tire, so I'm curious how it rides.
A Christmas tree display of small displacement bikes.
Lovely Manx Norton oil tank.
My buddy walked the museum with me, and he's an absolute nut for Italian race bikes. So this Mondial was high on his list.
Very early twin disc brake set up, with cable operated calipers. Made by Campagnolo.
Left and right handed GP carbs on the parallel twin Matchless
Bultaco TSS road racer
Paton
The Britten is impressive. In person it's over the top impressive. John Britten and his loyal group of friends built nearly every single piece of these bikes from scratch. Look up the Britten online and watch the documentary. It's inspiring.
DKW
Riveted monocoque framed Krauser
An incorrectly restored Norton 99, with later model gas tank and strange paint. But who am I to judge...
A wall of Parillas
I'm not sure what brake this is. The hub with the scalloped spoke flange looks like a Robinson, but I don't recognize the brake plates. Either way, I'd love to have one, whatever it might be.
Pre War Nortons
The always hideous, yet extremely rare Gus Kuhn Commando
The newly built Brough Moto 2 bike which they hope to race in 2014 as a wild card slot. I actually don't understand this bike at all. The carbon fiber bodywork is really trick, but the motor is a Honda CBR 600. So how does that make it a Brough?
Dunstall Commando
And lastly, a couple of shots of the amazing race track. It reminds me more of a British circuit like Cadwell Park. The way it doubles back on itself allows you to view most of the track from nearly any vantage point in the park.
All in all a great weekend. A great experience shared with close friends and about 60 thousand complete strangers. I could point out a hundred things about the place that I didn't like. But what would the point of that be? They would all be outweighed by how great the place is.
And to George Barber, my hats off to you sir. Truly amazing, and much appreciated.
Great pics. Two additions: It's MV Agusta, not Augusta. And Degens won in 1965 and 1970 at the 24 hour Barcelona race, pre- unit and then unit motors.
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