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.