800 miles… the all new record for average distance traveled for a single track weekend. Our “Cannonballers” are the hardest of hardcore #trackrats in GTM, upping the ante every year. We’ve flown in for big races like F1@COTA, we’ve rubbed elbows with Andy Pilgrim and John Heinricy at NCM, we’ve done a double-header at PITTrace & Mid-O, celebrated Halloween at Road Atlanta… but nothing compares to Barber Motorsports Park!
Barber MSP is a really good lap.
Crossing the gates after the long and windy entrance road, you realize there is something special here, something different, a sense of excitement and awe washes over you – you know the feeling, the one you had as a kid when your parents took you to an amusement park for the first time? Barber MSP is an amusement park for petrol-heads which happens to include a well balanced 2.38 mile course with 16 turns of varying complexity, blindness and elevation.
Below is a lap around Barber MSP in the No.31 GTI during the first session on Saturday. (Note: still getting used to the track).
To say that Barber MSP is beautiful, or well-manicured, would be a severe understatement.
The course, the facility, the landscaping, the entire experience was gorgeous and unlike any other track we’ve been to.
One of the many "water fixtures" at Barber MSP, as seen from the Museum.
Barber MSP was built by Alabama native George W. Barber (-NOT- Skip Barber as many believe) and includes the 230,000-square-foot Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum. Barber MSP is also home to the IndyCar Series’ Grand Prix of Alabama since 2010. Barber MSP is riddled with “little extras” throughout the campus. Apparently there are over 60 statues of varying sizes you can go on a scavenger hunt for. If you have some extra free time this is a fun exercise, we’ll give you a hint and say that some are obvious and others require you to look in the weirdest places: above buildings, on top of towers, even between bridge trusses while on track!
The museum is breathtaking with over 1,400 motorcycles on display, as well as the largest collection of early lotus racing cars in one place. The facility has it’s own restoration shop in the lower levels which is only accessible by special tours. Truly a sight to behold, and a great place to watch parts of the track. #museumturn #kinkturn #downhillesses.
The weekend wasn’t without it’s issues, all three #mk4mafia VW’s (Judd G’s Jetta, Mike C’s Beetle and Eric M / Tania M’s GTI) had varying issues during the weekend and thankfully all were patched up and survived the trip. Despite set backs, little track time was lost. Good thing, since Barber makes you impatient and has an “insatiable effect” on the driver, you just want to keep driving it. It’s that much fun. Can’t wait to return. Grrr….
Weather Report:
Alabama, in July… I doubt I have to explain much more than that. Chrissy C got creative and setup a kiddy-pool with ice bags and a fan to give us the illusion of a cool breeze. It worked… until it just became a pool. LOL.
Weather Report Tania M? - Let's just say it's "HOT" (94 degrees in the shade).
We were eventually driven out on Sunday afternoon by a torrential downpour that forced the track to close for over an hour. With additional delays due to flash flooding in certain turns, we decided it was better to cut our losses than risk an incident.
Special thanks to our Southern States Region and especially John W and his wife Carolyn for organizing and hosting the weekend.
Saturday night dinner party!
The entire experience was amazing and we’re sorry you missed it! – There are already rumblings around GTM HQ about Cannonball 2020, and talk of a special run in 2023 for the 100th Anniversary of LeMans! Stay tuned. More pictures from this weekend are available via the Vault and Instagram.
Until next time #merrymotoring #bucketlist.
More photos available in the Vault!
