Barber Vintage, Kevin Schwantz, the Manx

 

                                                  photo by Michael Lawless

Well, it doesn't get much more exciting than having a true World Champion motorcycle racer visit the vintage race scene. Kevin Schwantz grabbed the headlines in the early nineties with his enthusiastic approach to getting a lethal 500cc two stroke race bike around the toughest circuits in the world. He did it at a time when the depth of talent in the field was at an all time high. His best races were the stuff of legend. Mr Schwantz brings that same passion to the grid each time he puts his helmet on and the fans were not disappointed this weekend. Despite the fact that a single cylinder is about as far away as it gets to his old two-stroke RGV500 Suzuki, Kevin used the combination of the famed 'Featherbed' frame design and Mr. McIntosh's tuning expertise to take wins on Saturday and Sunday.

 

Nobby Clark chats with another interested visitor to the McKeever race camp. Rider Alex McClean put this Manx to good use over the course of the weekend.

That's super senior Bob McKeever with his long time friend Joe Clements. They've shared many adventures in the last half century. The well known picture of Bob, astride his Norton, on the beach, preparing for the start of the 1948 Daytona 200 was taken by his dear friend with his homemade box camera. Oh, they still know how to make those old English cycles go too. 

Bob on the Beach

Pure race tackle. This is not and never was a street machine.

Jamie Waters sorts some details on his Seeley. He made it possible for dozens of racers from New Zealand to join the AHRMA weekend at Barber Motorsports.

Those hair-pin valve springs do let the oil keep that double overhead cam top end cool.

This one is a near stock set up, others opted for a more modern approach.

That's a peak behind the fairing of the Ken McIntosh 500cc Manx which was ridden, with the same forceful way, by 1993 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz.

I 've always been a sucker for that Matchless logo. The G50 and the Norton Manx

                                                          were fierce opponents now as they were in period.

If you want to win, be prepared. These lads took it very seriously as qualifying was mandatory for the 500 Premiere Class race.

How 'bout that? The spirit of Francis Beart at Barber.

Lovely period peice with short circuit tank and every detail considered for necessity. With so many Manx at Barber Vintage Festival, most fans would expect to see them at any old race event. Not so. Most events are lucky to draw one or two of the real items. Hearing 20-30 on the megaphone at once was aural delight for singles fans. Well, we're off to the museum for the next installment, see you soon.

Barber Vintage Fest Parade laps with Cook Neilson, Paul Smart and Jason DiSalvo

Photo by Michael Lawless 

We were making our way through the Barber Museum in Birmingham, Alabama when Cook strode out of the office, leathers and helmet in tow. He tossed the gear at us and suggested we follow him. Inside the elevator we went, dropping down to the limited access lower level, where the workshops are as well as other machines being prepared for display. We ended up outside the back of the museum, with the likes of Phil Schilling and Alan Cathcart waiting on Cook and his fellow riders to show. We watched the festivities get under way with the Race of the Century, a race for 100 year old machines on the race track. Someone suggested he check his Sundial to check lap times, but I think everyone enjoyed watching these grand old machines tackle the tracks many hills and curves.

Legends of Ducati V-Twin racing history, Cook Neilson and Paul Smart enjoy a brief reunion before getting ready to get in some laps at Barber Motorsports track. Both bikes are replicas, The #31 Old Blue is  near identical 750 round case Ducati specifically built for the purpose of Cook to ride at events like these. The silver bike in the background is the Paul Smart Replica, an official production replica produced by Ducati at the launch of their Sports Classic line.

2011 will be remembered as the year Ducati recaptured glory at Daytona Speedway. Young Jason DiSalvo rode his Ducati 848 to a win in a controversial race. Dunlop failed to account for changes to the new track surface resulting in rapid wear to the spec front tires and the race had to be stopped until all racers received a new front. Just before the race was stopped, though, DiSalvo's Ducati expired on last lap. During the down time brought about by the tire fiasco, DiSalvo's crew replaced his engine and they just barely made the re-start. Jason was a man on a mission, eventually demonstrating his determination with masterful moves in the final laps to snatch victory. This is the bike Jason won it on and he was about to put in some laps with his fellow Ducati legends.

Last minute preparations were made as the bikes were made ready.

I could almost swear I heard Queen's "We are the Champions" playing somewhere as the guys got going.

The starter engine is placed to the rear wheel of Cook's Ducati and the big twin booms into life. The echo bounced off the backside of the museum as he warmed up the engine.

                                                          
                                                                  photo by Michael Lawless

Cook Neilson: Winner of the Daytona Superbike race 1977

 Photo by ML

I'm pretty sure JD is telling Cook, "no, these shift on the other side, sir". On the old #31 bike, shifting is on the right side, reverse pattern. JD did get to get in some laps on Old Blue on Sunday.

photo by ML

Jason told me he'll be riding a Triumph 675 next season in the AMA pro series. He has joined his new team and moved south to run a race school here at Barber as well. Expect big things from JD is 2012. That's Jeff Craig and Phil Schilling in the background. Mr. Schilling is soon to be inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame this November for his contributions to the sport as well as his years as editor of Cycle magazine.

The post parade cool down and the guys eagerly swap stories of their brief adventure on Saturday. Neilson was  the featured guest for the event, but he was always willing to share the spotlight with the friends.

photo by ML

Triumph enthusiast and master blogger, Matt Smith with the Ducati. Check out his work at http://www.smokeandthrottle.com/  and  http://www.theselfcenteredman.com/

That Saint Chistophers medallion is the last things bugs see before they're sucked into the carb bellmouth according to legend.  More to follow in the pits at Barber on our next post on racing at Barber on a 1961 Norton Manx.

Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival Part 1 Ducstock

7:30 am Friday October 2012. While you were sipping coffee, we were at the track, that oft-repeated phrase of Steve McQueen's character in the film LeMans, "racng is life, everything else is just waiting" playing over in my head. I'd been up for twenty-five hours by now, but sleep would have to wait. I was there with my brother Mike and buddy Matt to contest the AHRMA Classic 60's Class races on my 1961 Norton Manx 500cc We wanted to take in the whole 'Barber Vintage Festival Experience.'

 As soon as we got our pit in order and could take a breather I spotted a Ducati 900 SuperSport whose Italian rider spoke virtually no English. Fortunately, he had a mechanic to help out that weekend, the great Reno Leoni, tuner of many fast Ducati's over the last forty years.

That's Mr. Leoni, sorting out a last minute issue with Chris Jensens Ducati 750F1. Reno was kept busy with our small group of pit tents being dominated by Italian machines.

 Aermacchi, Ducati, Benelli, Aprilia all present and accounted for. Frank Giannini was in the camp as well keeping a watchful eye on his rider Tim and Kerry and the bikes. Frank and Kathy Smith were there as well supporting the Jersey Girl herself, Ms. Kerry Smith on her Honda 350 Twin.  

We were headed out of the pits to get registered for a afternoon practice session when we stopped by a staggeringly good collection of Ducati's in the paddock. Mike chose this 1957 Ducati 175 as his mount of choice when the owner kicked started it with one shot. Just the ticket for those Moto Giro events.

The wicked NCR "New Blue" as built by Rich Lambrechts. A modern tribute to the Cook Neilson and Phil Schilling Daytona winning Ducati  750 of 1977.

Most people associated the color red with Ducati, but they've been virtually every flavor including the legendary Silver Shotgun metalflake wonder bike.

A 750 Super Sport Round Case. Same frame structure as the later 900 SS and the purest version in collectors eyes. The green framed 1973 shown here features the Imola style fiberglass tank with clear strip to create the worlds most obvious fuel gauge.

We had some time on our hands before practice got started, so we hopped on the tram car and went to check out "Ducstock". It's a small gathering put together by Vickie Smith of exquisitely prepared and presented Ducati in a hidden alcove on the Barber Motorsports complex accessable through a long, low tunnell. Someone grabbed a handful of unmuffled V-Twin exhaust and let her rip as we entered, it was appropriate fanfare for what lie inside.

Sexy seventies styling. But only twenty years

prior to that, 'the Little Puppy' below was high-tech wheels for post war Italy.

Mike Gontesky, one our longtime pit mates, brought along his Ducati Cucciolo. It had neat features like a twin 'monoshock' style suspenion. It was the machine that gave birth to every machine that followed  from the Bologna manufacturer.

A 1958 125Grand Prix 125 Ducati. It was, in my opinion, the most exquisite vintage Ducati I've ever seen. Great colors on a very important bike in the Desmodromic story.

Outside the cathedral of cycledom, Rich unvield his newest creation, another merger of vintage Ducati air-cooled V-Twin perfection and streetfighter/cafe style. Very aggressive and built as if the factory had commissioned it. Don't be surpirsed if the Sport Classic series offers a version like this in the near future. It had a very purposeful, athletic yet sinister look.  E V I L.

Real-deal TT1 Ducati's were in force. Tube frame, V-Twin engined sports machines were part of the raw race tackle. This one belongs to Ralph Stechow and is the ex-John Williams AMA BOTT bike from 1984.

Tony Rutter Ducati. Classic Colors.

TT2's to die for

NCR has a very big briefcase that was packed with titanium and carbon fiber goodies that must have been the lightest bit of carry on you'd ever feel. There workmanship is truly some of the finest detailed and imaginative products you'll see anywhere in motorcycling today.

The Gulf livery on the Ducati is perfection.

Loudbike? Yes, that is correct, sir.

Ducati's are not unfamiliar with flat track fans. Why, even ex-World Champion Nicky Hayden has put in time on the mile with his Ducati.

For me, one of the greatest and most collectable of the modern era, the Ducati Super Mono. Dead sexy, rare, very fast, no compromises. Not a race bike built for the road. This is a race bike built to tame tracks, like Mr. Barber's 16 turn masterpiece. Light, single cylinder artistry, much like what Ducati had produced in the 1950's.

It was getting near lunch time here in Alabama, time to get ready for this afternoon's pactice session. Check back for more on Barber Vintage Fest in upcoming posts. There'a lot to cover. It was the most memorable race weekend I've had in along time.