The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum on the grounds of Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., is undertaking a major expansion.
The museum, which opened in October 2003, will add more than 84,000 square feet for total of almost a quarter-million square feet on five floors. In March 2014, Guinness World Records authenticated the museum as having the world’s largest motorcycle (1,398) collection.
Barber Motorsports Park has hosted the Verizon IndyCar Series race weekend since 2010. In April, Verizon IndyCar Series drivers participated in the opening of a 440-foot-long pedestrian bridge from the museum to the race course infield.
Other capital improvements include a proving grounds and classroom and new garages for its driving school and immersion program.
“This expansion will help keep us as the benchmark for motorcycle collections worldwide,” said George Barber, founder of the museum and racing facility. “People visit Birmingham from all over the world to see this museum and its collection, and we want to continue to ‘wow’ them with what they see.”
Speedway Children's Charities benefit from INDYCAR involvement
Charitable programs combined to raise more than $55,000 during the Verizon IndyCar Series’ championship-deciding GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend at Sonoma Raceway.
Proceeds from the majority of events will benefit Sonoma County youth organizations through the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities.
Six finalists selected for Team USA Scholarship
Six young American race drivers are vying for two Team USA Scholarship slots, with the winners traveling to England to compete this fall in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch and the Walter Hayes Trophy Formula Ford event at Silverstone. Winners will be selected later this month.
Finalists chosen from a group of 12 candidates:
* Michai Stephens, 23, Evanston, Ill., F1600 Championship Series
* Tommy McCarthy, 16, Fremont, Calif., SCCA Spec Miata/USAC midgets
* Austin McCusker, 17, Glen Head, NY, F2000 Championship Series
* Timo Reger, 18, Houston, Texas, Skip Barber Racing Series
* Dakota Dickerson, 18, San Diego, Calif., Skip Barber Racing Series/Spec Miata
* Ben Auriemma, 17, Manhasset, N.Y., F1600 Championship Series
Of note
Indy car veteran driver Davey Hamilton, the analyst on the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts of Verizon IndyCar Series races this season, finished fourth in the International Classic 200 for supermodifieds on Sept. 6 at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway. This weekend, he'll be driving a semi truck in Nebraska. … Heamin Choi, 31, will make his Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires debut with Schmidt Petrson Motorsports with Curb-Agajanian this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. He competed in USF2000 and Pro Mazda.