It’s big. Really big. Five levels and 13,500 sq metres make it officially the world’s biggest motorcycle museum, and a new building with 8500m2 more space will be added in October.
The collection has over 1300 bikes, with about 700 on display at any one time. They’re rotated at about eight to 10 per month, so the display is always changing.
The basement houses the restoration workshops – they’re not open to the public but are viewed from the spiral central concrete ramp, which is the spine of the museum.
George Barber raced cars in the 70s before taking over the family dairy business and going into real estate. Race cars were restored beside milk trucks before he began collecting motorcycles in the 80s.
Things snowballed until the present museum (designed by George himself) was opened in 2003, overlooking a 3.8km racetrack that was also constructed as part of the 300ha complex.
DETAILS BARBER VINTAGE MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM
Location: Leeds, Alabama, USA
Open: Only closed on major public holidays
Website: www.barbermuseum.org
By Phil Aynsley
