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      04-22-2008, 11:34 AM   #1
isitspringyet
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Alabama & Barber Motorsports Park

I have seen other Alabama residents, but we don't have a thread. I have been interested in going to Barber's to test track, and wondered if anyone is planning to go, or if anyone already has gone in another car? I'm getting close to having my 135i, so after it arrives, I really want to test it without killing anyone (including myself!) on a backroad.

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      04-22-2008, 12:13 PM   #2
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I'd recommend you join the Alabama chapter of the BMWCCA. They typically have track days every so often at Barber. As far as I know you can't just go to the track whenever you want. Though the entrance road to the track is pretty fun to drive in itself.
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      04-22-2008, 12:17 PM   #3
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I want to goto the barber school... I think it will be a treat to myself later this year.
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      04-22-2008, 04:44 PM   #4
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I just looked at BMWCCA, Heart of Dixie chapter, they have a 'driving school' at Barber's on the 24,25th of May. That probably will be tight for me. Especially if I stick with the break in period.
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      04-22-2008, 05:13 PM   #5
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I am getting married that weekend, darn.
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      04-23-2008, 09:24 AM   #6
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It's my Birthday on the 25th, so you picked a good weekend! Congratulations! Are you taking the 135 with you on the honeymoon?:smile:
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      05-03-2008, 09:43 AM   #7
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Oh man... I'm in Huntsville. Didn't know about that track. That would be a lot of fun to drive on...

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      05-08-2008, 07:42 PM   #8
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My BMW is in production right now. Live in Birmingham but bought the car in Atlanta. Hopefully it will be delivered mid June.
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      05-09-2008, 01:57 AM   #9
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Barber is one of the finest road course facilities in the country. i've heard others describe it as the "Augusta" of race tracks.

i have about 20 days at Barber since it opened, with BMWCCA and PCA. it is fun, tight track with generous run-offs and only a couple of tight spots where your car can get bent.

it is a simply must-do for anyone who loves driving! what you can do on the track is so much more extreme (and safe) than street driving, that it really makes you a less aggressive driver on the street.

an accident is not likely to be covered by your insurance, but the odds of contacting something or someone with your car is really very low if you are a beginner.

figure $400 for the school fee, and you'd probably use a 1/4 to a 1/3 of your tire and brake pad life in a weekend. throw in gas, oil change, and inspection (yes, even for a new car), i usually call it an even grand for a weekend. you get 2 hours of driving a day with classes in between.

not something you'd do every weekend (unless you're wealthy), but it is a hell of a lot of fun.
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      05-09-2008, 08:44 AM   #10
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Thanks for the information! I'm in Birmingham also, but bought from Tom Williams.

Has anyone gone through NASA for Barber? They have a session at Barber on the wekend of June 6-8th. http://www.nasa-southeast.com/2008Jun06.jsp It looks like the HPDE has 4 levels for driver training, from novice (me) up to instructor. I hadn't heard of NASA until I saw it on a post on the racing forum.

My CA at Tom Williams races motorcycles at Barber, as does my Brother-In-Law, and they both love it. I am going to have to do this sometime, but it looks like my 135i won't get here until May 16th or 19th, so I doubt the BMWCCA will work for me this time.

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      05-29-2008, 06:27 PM   #11
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I live "over the mountain" and have been around the track several times on my scooter. Love it. I have been around Talladega Superspeedway in both directions. Freaky.
We should have an "Alabama Day" get together...
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      06-04-2008, 03:09 PM   #12
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I've been busy driving on Smyer Road and Old Overton Road! Just went over 1200 mile driving back from Macon, GA yesterday. I'm in the slums of Vestavia, work in Homewood, have only seen two 128i's in Homewood. One was a vert, the other a coupe. I was talking to a friend with a 330ci the other day and we are thinking about joining BMWCCA and going the next time they are at Barber. I'll track when and post it. If you see a AW 135i going a wee bit too fast in this area, that will be me!
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      06-04-2008, 03:49 PM   #13
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Smyer road is incredible. I drive it all the time in my MX-5. I am surprised I haven't seen a 135i coupe yet, I have only seen a champagne colored 'vert (I live in mtn. brook). Another great road is Sycard Hollow which goes from near The Summit to Grants Mill Road.
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      06-04-2008, 03:59 PM   #14
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Try it at night with the adaptive headlights! It really sells you on them. I had forgotten about Sycard Hollow, also Grants Mill over the mountain to Lake Purdy. My wife warned me today about bicyclists going up Smyer. I almost bought a 325 way back (10 years or more) after test driving it up Smyer, but the interior was cheap looking. BMW has really improved things inside the cars.
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      06-04-2008, 04:55 PM   #15
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Yeah, I take my moms 335i up Smyer and its fun to see the headlights go back forth. And your wife is right about the bikers, they are there a lot in he late afternoon but at night its completely empty. Grants Mill is good but the road is rough in the corners and its slightly disconcerting when taking the corners quickly to have the car jump to the side because the roads are so rough.
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