Hey everyone, considering making the LOOOONG trip (24 hours) from Manitoba, Canada, to Barber for the April trackday event there. I am able to get a bit of time off of work, and so I'm looking at riding this amazing track. Some questions: 1. I race expert up here in Canada, and have done trackdays at MPH, MAM and Hallett in the states. This is a bit of a biking holiday for us Canucks! 2. What is the cost of the electrical service at Barber? Saves me lugging a generator down. 3. Any recommendations about hotels nearby? 4. My wife/copilot is coming... any interesting things for the fairer sex to do around the area? 5. Can I leave my bike and "pit" (I'll be travelling as light as I can) at the track overnight? Is it secure? 6. Any other bits of advice people can share? We're hauling the bike down via an SUV and a trailer, so we're not campers/glampers...
2. What is the cost of the electrical service at Barber? Saves me lugging a generator down. Pretty sure power is $35/day 3. Any recommendations about hotels nearby? There are plenty within 15-20 minutes. If I'm springing for a hotel, I usually stay at the one right by the place. Hampton Inn, I believe. 5. Can I leave my bike and "pit" (I'll be travelling as light as I can) at the track overnight? Is it secure? Yep. I've never had any issues. 6. Any other bits of advice people can share? Here's the Barber facts thread for the November weekend.
3. The Hampton Inn just outside the park is the best place to stay. Book early. 6. Rusty's BBQ in Leeds is a good place for a casual meal. They have a great burger that in Rusty's words is "completely unremarkable". 7. There are plenty of places to explore with a short drive to Birmingham or Trussville and there is an outlet shopping center just around the corner.
I'd aim to be there late morning on Friday... They make you stage on the entrance road before they open up the paddock, so being there early means you're guaranteed to get a spot with power and you'll have time to check out the museum. If/when I go down there again, I'd try to get a large enough group together to schedule a guided tour of the bottom level. They had a lot of suuuuper rare stuff down there. I'd trust the paddock over a hotel parking lot to leave my stuff at 10 out of 10 times.
I did a review of this hotel on tripadvisor. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g30652-d72554-Reviews-Comfort_Inn_Suites-Leeds_Alabama.html The museum, if you only do a half day, your speed walking and not even reading the cards for the bikes. It's a solid day IMO. Full batteries and a big memory stick. Need a place to flop on the way down. I'm in Indianapolis.
I second that about the half day in the museum. I have been several times and could easily spend a full day in there each time. I have a friend that has been ushered out by security a few times so that they could close for the night. I'd budget no less than 1 full day for that.
James, Hello from a fellow Canadian. You're going to love the track and museum. I love the track but found it to be challenging as most of the important turn in points as well as some brake markers are downhill and blind. Anyway here are a couple of pro vids I found useful when trying to learn the track. Also if you hold an expert race license and want to ride in the Advanced group contact the office and Crystal will help you. If you plan on riding Intermediate you want to buy soon as it usually sells out very early. and one of my own from Sept 2018 Might see you down there.
Hey, Wife is from NB, I'm an imported Canadian. We live 45miles south of Nashville, TN, about 4hours from Leeds AL. Just throwing it out there, if you need anything let us know. Been to track day at Barber, lived in the south since 95.