“King” Kenny Roberts Announced As Grand Marshal Of The 19th Annual Barber Vintage Festival
In the world of motorcycle racing, one name stands above the rest: Kenny Roberts Sr. Drawing on his innovative riding style and trailblazing personality, Roberts-christened the “King” for his dominating on-track performances and exceptional contributions to the sport in general—won back-to-back AMA Grand National Championships and three consecutive FIM 500cc Grand Prix World Road Racing Championships.
Roberts’ pioneering achievements as a racer, a team owner, an event organizer, a constructor, and a powerful advocate for advancing rider safety will be celebrated October 11-13, when the California native serves as the Grand Marshal of the 19th annual Barber Vintage Festival at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. This prestigious honor is a testament to Roberts’ enduring impact on motorcycling and his status as an icon of the industry.
For nearly two decades, the Barber Vintage Festival has extolled the virtues of classic and vintage motorcycling. Many of the great variety of historic machines that will be displayed during the weekend on the meticulously maintained 880-acre grounds and will lap the 2.38-mile, 16-turn road course were produced during the era in which Roberts, 72, rose to the top of his field. More than 85,000 people attended the 2023 event, with 2024 promising to set new records.
“We are thrilled to have Kenny Roberts as the Grand Marshal of this year’s Barber Vintage Festival,” said Brian Case, Executive Director of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. “Kenny not only delivered world-class performances on the racetrack during his competition days, but he is directly responsible for improving rider safety, both for his fellow competitors and for those who follow in his wheel tracks for many years to come.”
One of the riders who benefited directly from Roberts’ expertise is his oldest son, 2000 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr. In the 75-year history of Grand Prix motorcycle road racing, Roberts and Roberts Jr. are the only father-and-son duo to win the premier-class title. Roberts Jr., an eight-time GP race-winner, was named a “MotoGP Legend” in 2017. He will join his father at the Barber Vintage Festival.
Attending the Barber Vintage Festival is not complete without a visit to the spectacular Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, where Roberts and Roberts Jr.’s championship-winning Yamaha YZR500 and Suzuki RGV500 race bikes will be featured in a special display. Both machines are now part of the museum’s permanent collection, which is home to many championship-winning racing motorcycles spanning more than 100 years of competition history. The inclusion of these two historic motorcycles in to the permanent collection was announced at a special event at the US Round of Moto GP in Austin TX today.
In the months leading to the event, first-time and returning Barber Vintage Festival attendees can plan for a family-friendly weekend filled with an unparalleled camaraderie and a celebration of all dimensions of motorcycling. As the Grand Marshal, Roberts will be at the center of the variety of indoor and outdoor festivities, greeting fans with his trademark charisma and sharing stories from his legendary racing career.
Plans for the weekend call for manufacturer demo rides, a concours de competition, the “Isle of Triumph” presented by Triumph Motorcycles, and BMW Motorrad Days. The Henderson Auctions Fan Zone will host the “Wall of Death” and “Globe of Death” shows. Another highlight, the always popular swap meet promises hundreds of bikes, parts, and gear sellers. Tickets for the event will be available for purchase beginning May 21, with more information available at www.BarberMuseum.org.
About the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit located at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, the Museum focuses on various aspects of motorsports design, from displaying motorcycles and cars spanning over 100 years of production to the Barber Advanced Design Center— a high-tech workspace for design exploration. The Museum embraces the culture of motorsports enthusiasts by hosting programs such as Barber Design Camp and events such as Barber Small Bore and Barber Vintage Festival. With five floors housing 1,800 motorcycles, over 60 Lotus race cars, and numerous vintage and iconic vehicles, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the ultimate family- friendly environment for education, inspiration, and exploration with the mission to preserve, interpret and exhibit the history of motorcycles and vintage vehicles in motorsports. The public is welcome, and more information is available at www.BarberMuseum.org
