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Barber of Birmingham
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George Barber
Jan Morgan
12/01/2003
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Photography by Jan Morgan
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Every collector understands the story. First, a couple of objects—motorcycles
perhaps—are acquired, soon followed by a few more. After all, bikes are
wonderful to look at as well as ride—and there is still room left in the toy
box. Quickly the number swells to twenty or more and there is no longer space at
home, bikes are on display in every room. But it’s impossible to stop. Wouldn’t
it be cool to have a few real race machines—maybe an MV Agusta GP bike, or an
antique Indian board tracker, or even one of Kenny Roberts’ Yamaha TZs?
 So, a
building must be found with sufficient real estate that the fun of acquisition
can continue. So many motorcycles, so little time. But when does the idea to
create a formal museum occur? After the first hundred or so? Three hundred? In
the case of George Barber that number had risen to over eight hundred—and he
isn’t finished. (Click image to enlarge)
Barber is a successful dairyman and former sports car and
motorcycle racer whose original intent was to gather fine automobiles. Jeff Ray,
director of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum (205.699.7275, www.barbermuseum.org) in Birmingham,
Alabama, recalls, “While collecting a few cars, we also took in a few
motorcycles. Barber quickly decided that although a car exhibited body shape,
some paint and chrome, it also hid all the interesting mechanical parts. A
motorcycle on the other hand is completely exposed, showing the intent of the
designer, the mechanical artistry and the workmanship of the craftsman who put
it together.” Thus in 1988, George Barber’s motorcycles began to replace his
cars.
 Barber began to purchase entire collections, housing them in a
nondescript old building that had once been used for the maintenance of milk
delivery trucks. As the number of motorcycles grew, the exhibit was opened to
the general public. Eventually, almost ten thousand visitors a week were coming
to see “that dairy farmer’s motorcycle collection.” (Click image to enlarge)
By 1994 a non-profit
corporation had been established, creating a permanent museum. Now operating
with tax advantages, the cramped downtown building could be replaced by a
dedicated facility, specifically designed to show off what had become perhaps
the finest showcase of motorcycles in the world.
“The difference between a
collector and a museum is that a collector has temporary possession of the
articles for a period of time, then they go away. A museum acquires them for
permanent display,” explains Ray. “We wanted to do something special for the
city of Birmingham by creating a destination for motorcycle enthusiasts from all
over the world.”
When the “Art of the Motorcycle” opened at the Guggenheim
Museum in New York, the majority of machines in that now legendary exhibit came
from Barber’s collection and the worldwide interest it created helped fuel
the drive to establish a new facility. Barber Motorsports Park is now perhaps
the most beautiful tribute to motorcycling to be found anywhere.
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