AMA at Barbers in April

[wallypiper]

A suggestion for racewatching at Barber:

Don't bother staking out a single area. You will end up wanting to go watch somewhere else. Barber is not condusive to watching from one spot because you can't see much of the track from any one spot. They run a shuttle around the track during races.

Good spots are:

On the hill looking over the downhill/uphill run leading to pit-in (turn numbers are screwed up at Barber, it depends on who you ask.)

On the hill looking down at T2 and the run uphill to T4 (OK, these turns are pretty much the same for everybody.

The backstraight, where the map is marked.

Barber is a great track to ride but, IMHO, is one of the worst spectator tracks ever. There is no place for spectators to watch the front straight, turn one, T5 (the hairpin), the "rollercoaster", the chicane on the back straight. It really sort of sucks. The best places on the track to watch are only visible from very limited spots that get hopelessly crowded on race days. This is one of the reasons, I imagine, that MotoGP has not embraced the place. There are other reasons, but MotoGP wants to attract huge crowds and those folks have to be able to see the damn race. If they really want Barber to get duty as a spectator track for professional racing, they need to do a lot to improve spectator access.

Not saying "don't go". Just that you will get bored watching the pros exit the chicane and scream past you over the top of the hill. You will not see any passing there among the top riders unless somebody makes a mistake in the chicane, and even then you don't have a very good view of it. Plan to move around.

 

[NoCage]

A suggestion for racewatching at Barber:
Don't bother staking out a single area. You will end up wanting to go watch somewhere else. Barber is not condusive to watching from one spot because you can't see much of the track from any one spot. They run a shuttle around the track during races.

Good spots are:

On the hill looking over the downhill/uphill run leading to pit-in (turn numbers are screwed up at Barber, it depends on who you ask.)

On the hill looking down at T2 and the run uphill to T4 (OK, these turns are pretty much the same for everybody.

The backstraight, where the map is marked.

Barber is a great track to ride but, IMHO, is one of the worst spectator tracks ever. There is no place for spectators to watch the front straight, turn one, T5 (the hairpin), the "rollercoaster", the chicane on the back straight. It really sort of sucks. The best places on the track to watch are only visible from very limited spots that get hopelessly crowded on race days. This is one of the reasons, I imagine, that MotoGP has not embraced the place. There are other reasons, but MotoGP wants to attract huge crowds and those folks have to be able to see the damn race. If they really want Barber to get duty as a spectator track for professional racing, they need to do a lot to improve spectator access.

Not saying "don't go". Just that you will get bored watching the pros exit the chicane and scream past you over the top of the hill. You will not see any passing there among the top riders unless somebody makes a mistake in the chicane, and even then you don't have a very good view of it. Plan to move around.

I agree that you need to see the track from more than one vantage point to see it all, but it's still nice to have a home base... and the back straight is good for that. Part of the reason that you can't see all, or even half the track from one vantage point is due to the extreme elevation changes. The delta on elevation changes is about 60 feet. You really ought to do a parade lap to get an idea of what that means, and what the racers are seeing.
As far as MotoGP's interest in Barber as a racing venue a couple of years back, it never got to how the facilities could be changed to accommodate the event because the Mayor, Bernard Kincaid, wouldn't pony up some of the money to bring it here. He and Mr. Barber had a disagreement on some commercial property. But I gotta pay the Piper here, it would need changing, including extending one of the straights to let the MotoGP bikes wind out. They would probably also need to add grandstands. I personally like it like it is. JMHO.

 

[Jurgen]

I took a lap around the track last year, I was wondering if any of you noticed me. I was driving my Blue 2005 FJR and I had a red tee shirt on. just curious if I had any fans... ha! :yahoo:

 

[wallypiper]

Parade lap?

Couple of track days and a couple of days with Mr. Code is better for a rider's eye view.

And I agree with the straight extension. I read recently that even the AMA superbikes rarely get out of 3rd gear there. Its really a very tight technical layout. Tons of fun for track days, not really sell suited to top level racing IMHO, but very few tracks in the US are.

 

[Jurgen]

Parade lap?

Parade laps on Saturday's race last year. I agree the straight aways are very short even for a wanna be like me... HA!

 

[FlyingTurtle]

Well it was a perfect time to check this thread. Will be coming down from Ohio Thursday and are staying south of town at the Oak Mountain campgrounds. This will be our first time at Barber. We're trailering down because the better halves are coming and can't make the trip on the bikes. There will be 6 total with two guys riding down. Will look for you all on the hill(if I can find it). We'll be staying until Monday then heading home. Anyone interested is welcome to come to the campgrounds and meet up if you'd like.

Also anyone interested in coming up to MidOhio for Vintage Days or Superbike week in July/Aug. let me know. We have a group camping at the Jellystone campgrounds for both weekends.

 

[Scab]

Okay, LISTEN UP! I can't remember who all I have sent my cell phone number to so, PM me for the number if you don't have it and would like it for rendevous purposes. I will be there all 3 days. I will be staking claim on some plot of land.

And please, no phone calls asking what color my underwear is.

 

[jeremybhm]

I was out there today doing a wireless survey and found the best place to watch. The roof of the building at the paddock has an awesome view of the track. You can see almost the entire thing except for the curves on the other side of trees at each end. Of course, I doubt I could get access to the roof during the race, lol.

They were running the Porche driving school, so I couldn't beg them to let me out their on my FJR either.

As far as the AMA race goes, hopefully I'll be out there w/ my 10 year old son...

 

[UPSMAN]

I have a map of the "intended" plot of land we plan to stake claim to. I don't have a definative visual clue as yet, but will post up when I do.
And cool, Jason is coming too! (Ya know you can stay at the homestead ifin ya want)

I met a very nice fellow from Oklahoma I think? last year in the shaded tree area, We chatted for a few hour's he was telling my wife and I that we would love an FJR if we were to ever ride one and you know he was right, I sold my Roadstar I now own an FJR. I will be there Saturday and Sunday with the wife in the shady section.

 

[petey]

Okay, LISTEN UP! I can't remember who all I have sent my cell phone number to so, PM me for the number if you don't have it and would like it for rendevous purposes. I will be there all 3 days. I will be staking claim on some plot of land.
And please, no phone calls asking what color my underwear is.

Scab, thanks, and try to claim part of the wooded/shaded area...comes in handy on a long sunny day. I got your number and look forward meeting a bunch of new FJR riders.

So, how are we going to ID you? Oh, I know...borrow Rad's Tiara. We'll spot you for sure.

 

[Fencer]

And please, no phone calls asking what color my underwear is.

You wear that stuff?

I don't know yet if I will make it or not. Its Spring break week for us and might be doing the fam thing.

 

[rdread]

I'm planning on riding over from Dahlonega Friday morning for the weekend. I'm staying at the Residence Inn in Inverness (I think!). I'll look you guys up when I get to the track.

Anybody else from the ATL area want to ride over Friday w/me?

Also, I have an extra gen adm ticket and paddock pass for Sunday if anyone wants to by me a Tshirt for it......My stepdaughter is not coming now that I purchased a ticket for her!

 

[Scab]

So, how are we going to ID you? Oh, I know...borrow Rad's Tiara. We'll spot you for sure.

I haven't thought of a good visual cue. I will entertain suggestions. I thought about Rad's tiara, but alas, he won't loan it. (said something like; "It's MINE, it's MINE." Then he called me a wannabe ******.) We may just have to use the cell phones to guide 'em in for a landing. Maybe it won't be that hard to see me. I am an extraordinarily handsome man and am usually surrounded in public by beautiful young women all screaming my name and begging me to autograph their breasts. That's it! I'll be the one with a sharpie in one hand and a breast in the other!

 

[donaldb]

So, how are we going to ID you? Oh, I know...borrow Rad's Tiara. We'll spot you for sure.

.............. That's it! I'll be the one with a sharpie in one hand and a breast in the other!

Radman's breast :huh:

 

[Scab]

But a breast in the hand is worth two on a chick.

 

[petey]

So, how are we going to ID you? Oh, I know...borrow Rad's Tiara. We'll spot you for sure.

I haven't thought of a good visual cue. I will entertain suggestions.

Well, I think a good number of us have "FJR" ball caps B) ( gray hair or balled heads) that's what I'll be looking for. :lol:

 

[donaldb]

So, how are we going to ID you? Oh, I know...borrow Rad's Tiara. We'll spot you for sure.

I haven't thought of a good visual cue. I will entertain suggestions.

Well, I think a good number of us have "FJR" ball caps B) ( gray hair or balled heads) that's what I'll be looking for. :lol:

yup, that would be about right, just look for the checkerboard table

 

[pickax]

Secured my time off, heading up Thursday from Fla. Got Scabs cell, Save a breast for me. looking forward to this!

 

[Fencer]

Looks like I should be able to make Sat.

For everyone riding in. The past couple years have shown a large LEO presence including a trooper helo. to target bikers. They, of course are after the squids who can't leave it at the track, but have bikes in general on their mind. I would suggest watching yourself carefully from around 20 miles or so out, as I don't expect this year to be any different.

 

[donaldb]

Woohoo! weather so far is looking pretty nice for race weekend...............hope the forecast remains accurate. If it does, then me, fjrforum member bristercl and two other buds (one on a FZ1 and the other on a Vstrom 1000) all from MS are riding over friday morning, plus one bud (on a 919) from Bessemer will meet us on 459 and ride w/us from there on in to Barbers. We should be arriving around noonish. I have Scabs cel # so when we all get in I give Scab a ring, and meet up...hoot!!! :yahoo: