Barber Motorsports Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Barber Motorsports Park

Location	Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Time zone	UTC-6 (UTC-5 DST)
Coordinates	33°31′57″N 86°37′08″W / 33.53250°N 86.61889°W / 33.53250; -86.61889
FIA Grade	2
Owner	Barber Motorsports
Operator	ZOOM Motorsports
Broke ground	2002
Opened	2003
Architect	Alan Wilson
Major events	Current: IndyCar Series Indy Grand Prix of Alabama (2010–2019, 2021–present) MotoAmerica Championship of Alabama (2015–present) GT World Challenge America (2014–2016, 2024) Former: Atlantic Championship (2021–2022) FR Americas (2019–2020) IMSA Prototype Challenge (2017–2018) Rolex Sports Car Series Porsche 250 (2003–2013) AMA Superbike Championship Championship of Alabama (2003–2014)
Full Circuit (2003–present)
Surface	Asphalt
Length	2.38 mi (3.83 km)
Turns	16
Race lap record	1:06.8182 ( Patricio O'Ward, Dallara DW12, 2021, IndyCar)

Barber Motorsports Park is a huge racing place in Birmingham, Alabama, covering about 880 acres (360 ha). It was created by George W. Barber and is home to the amazing 230,000-square-foot (21,000 m²) Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum. Since 2010, it's been the exciting home of the IndyCar Series' Grand Prix of Alabama race. Every October since 2005, the park also hosts the Annual Barber Vintage Festival. Plus, it's where the Porsche Track Experience teaches people how to drive high-performance cars.

The park's race track is officially recognized by the FIA as a Grade Two circuit. This means it's a top-notch track suitable for many big races.

The Main Race Track

Aerial view of the circuit, showing its curves and green surroundings.

The track at Barber Motorsports Park has hosted many exciting races. These include the IndyCar Series, Grand-Am events, and motorcycle races like MotoAmerica. It's also the main spot for the Porsche Track Experience. Famous driving schools, like the Keith Code California Superbike School, have also used this track.

Barber is well-known for its beautiful landscaping and green areas. People often call it "The Augusta National of Motorsports." This is because it's as pretty and well-kept as a famous golf course.

Barber Proving Ground: A Test Track

The Barber Proving Ground opened in 2014. It's a special 14 acres (5.7 ha) area used for testing vehicles. It has a track and a large wet/dry skid pad. This area is used for many things, like teaching safe driving skills. It's also used for testing new products and vehicles.

Near the proving ground is a two-story building. It's 9,800-square-foot (910 m²) big and can be rented for meetings or events. There are also two large garages, totaling 16,800 square foot (1,560 m²). These garages support programs like the Porsche Track Experience.

Off-Road Adventures

Barber Motorsports Park isn't just for fast cars and motorcycles. It also has special courses for off-road vehicles!

Vintage Motocross Course

There's a 0.7-mile (1.1 km) long vintage motocross course. This course is for older, classic dirt bikes. The first race on this course was during the 11th Annual Barber Vintage Festival. Off-road vehicle makers also use it to show off their new models.

Vehicle Off-Road Course

This course is about seven miles long and covers 50 acres (20 ha). It's a trail system that can be set up in different ways. The trails have various types of ground and big changes in height. You'll find natural features like water crossings and rock paths.

Obstacle Course

This course has unique challenges for off-road vehicles and ATVs. It's a loop with nine special features. These include a railroad crossing and a concrete path with potholes. There's also a steep 45-degree trail and concrete stairs. An observation deck lets people watch the action below.

Year-Round Fun at the Park

You can take garden club park tours at Barber Motorsports Park all year. These tours use an open-air tram and have a guide. They start in front of the Barber Museum. The tours show off the park's plant collections. This includes special Hightower Willow Oaks, which are very rare.

Amazing Sculptures Around the Track

The area inside the race track has many large and cool sculptures. You can see giant steel spiders and dragonflies made by artist Bill Secunda. There are also sculptures of lions and a figure pushing a boulder.

The Turns 5 & 6 part of the track is even called "Charlotte's Web." This is because of a huge spider sculpture placed there. It's also a great spot for racers to try and pass each other.

You'll also find five large steel gates made by Branko Medenica. They show themes of motorsports and wildlife. A moving, wind-powered sculpture by Edward Lee Hendricks is near a pond. Another artwork by Hendricks is at the nearby Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport. In front of the Barber Museum, there are three big stainless steel sculptures called The Chase by Theodore Gall. These huge artworks took over a year to create!

Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum

Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum logo

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

George Barber loved old motorcycles and noticed there wasn't a museum showing their history. He wanted to save motorcycle history in the United States. He also wanted to show bikes from all over the world.

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum started in 1988 as George Barber's own collection. But in 1994, he made it a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It first opened to the public in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1995 (30 years ago) (1995).

In 1997, the museum sent 21 motorcycles to New York's Guggenheim Museum. They were part of a famous exhibit called The Art of the Motorcycle. After this success, Barber decided to build a unique place with a race track. He even asked world champion racers John Surtees and Dan Gurney for advice. In 2003, the museum moved to its current home at Barber Motorsports Park.

The museum has more than 1,600 old and new motorcycles and race cars. It's known as the largest motorcycle museum in the world. It also has the biggest collection of Lotus race cars. The motorcycle collection includes bikes from 1904 to today. Over 900 motorcycles are on display. They come from 16 countries and represent more than 140 different brands. Some are from as far away as Australia and Sweden.

A unique way motorcycles are displayed at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.

Fastest Laps at the Track

Here are some of the fastest official race lap records at Barber Motorsports Park, as of April 2024:

See also

In Spanish: Barber Motorsports Park para niños