Saturday Mar 5, 2005 FCA at Barber Motorsports Track (Birmingham AL) You've probably heard about the Barber Motorsports Track in Birmingham, and now you'll have a chance to drive it. We're running a joint event with the RPM Autosport Group for a day at the track. We'll have no more than 45 cars for the day (which is a fairly small group for that large a track) in three run groups so everyone will get lots of track time, and if we have enough Ferraris, well have a run group of our own. Novices are welcome and there will be a special "lead-follow" time to introduce them to the track. Barber is a very expensive (!!) track to rent, and the fee per car is $450, but those of us who have been there before know its worth it! There are up to 30 spots available for Ferraris and other FCA-member cars if we get them filled fairly quickly; the other spots are taken by mostly Porsches, Miatas and BMWs who are part of the RPM Group. For those of you also interested in running on Sunday where it will be mostly RPM guys, well have up to 10 slots. Some of our Ferrari guys have run with the RPM group before, though it's primarily "invitation only" if you're not part of their group. If you'd like more info about the Barber track, visit our www.fca-se.com website for links that will let you see the track layout and give you info about how to run it, and you can even see an in-car video of the track so you get a feel for it. IF YOU LIKE TAKING YOUR FERRARI ON THE TRACK, DONT MISS THIS RARE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE THIS ONE! If you'd like to get an online feel for the track, including in-car video, click here and go to the bottom of that page for the "turn a lap" link. It will take you to an interactive FLASH presentation telling you how to best take the turns. There is also a button to VIEW VIDEO. Contact me via PM for reservations, or through our fca-se.com website. We may be able to rebate some of that fee later as an FCA-member benefit; I'm working on getting some sponsors to get the per-car fee down.
This track is available for download for Grand Prix Legends. It looks like it is quite a fun track, and running it on a simulator would help the new drivers get familiar with it before they hit the track. Here is a 6MB video of a lap in GPL. No comments on my line in a couple of places please. http://www2.nexband.com/~thebandit/barber_gpl.wmv Copy the link into your browser, the www2 seems to be messing the link up.
That's really cool! I think it's a great simulation, and they've got most of the track correctly rendered, except that I think that the elevation change in turn 1 at the end of the front straight isn't quite right.
Mike, count me in. Drove my 911 on that track last year, it's gorgeous and lots of fun. Should be even better in the CS. What would the fee be to drive Sat. AND Sun. ?
Bobby: PM me your contact info. The fee will be the same for Sunday as it is for Saturday as it stands now. However, for FCA members, Saturday may be less than the $450 I posted if we get some sponsorship help. And I want a ride in the CS!
Would it cost anything to come and spectate? I'd love to see/film some Ferraris tearing it up out there.
The track usually charges a small gate fee of $10-$20 unless you are listed as "crew" for one of the paid drivers. We'll know more as it gets nearer.
Great. Id love to make it down there (depends on my school schedule). The only Ferraris I have seen have been sitting around in a car show, would love to see (and her) em stretchin their legs on a track.
We do have more details for the event, including pricing. Below is a registration form you can print if you wish or download a larger one from http://www.fca-se.com/fer_barber.pdf. We already have several cars signed up, represented models so far include 308, 328, 348, F360 coupe, 360 spider, 456GT, and 575M. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I hope so. But I will have to wait til later on the decision as there are some big projects on the horizon.
I'll check with my secretary. I gave her the PDF and instructed her to send check. We have been extremely bust for the last couple of weeks. We have had a 76% increase in sales this year and are still trying to catch up.
We will be giving up our "blocked-out" spots as of January 27. After that, there is no guarantee that Ferraris or FCA members will be able to get in. You *MAY* be able to get in, anyway, but it will be on a space available basis if the other club hasn't filled them up. We do expect to have enough cars to have our own "Ferraris only" run group on Saturday. Remember that FCA members bringing their Ferrari get a $65 discount on registraton fees for this event!!
That's one of the track that I would love to run on. To bad that this is so early in the season...Best of luck, have a great time Roland F40LM
Andy, I have been informed that the Barber track, like many of the larger tracks around the country, will *not* allow full convertibles on the track if they don't have at least SOME kind of roll protection. In other words, the 360 Spider is ok since it has mini roll bars behind each passenger. A 355 GTS targa is ok, but a 355 Spider wouldn't be unless a roll bar has been added. Unless I find out differently, you may have to wait for our next track event at Little Talladega (Grand Prix). Mike
Mike, I want to go!!!! A friend of mine is going with his spec miata. I also have 2 other PCA guys who may want to go, but I DEFINITELY want to attend. Do we have spots left??? If you can get me a spot reserved or tell me what I need to do to ensure a spot I would appreciate it. If I can get some ways of having my 911S trailered over I'll drive the Daytona and run both. The Daytona would be fun to run for a session, but the 911 is a full on track car so I will run it most of the time. Anyone who may have extra trailer space going from Atlanta..... let me know! Terry
Terry, you're in. We are "giving up" our reserved block after this week, so you need to print out the form from www.fca-se.com/fer_barber.pdf and send me a check *right away*. Meanwhile, I'll commit your spot and put the money in. FoA is coming, and bringing at least 2 cars, but maybe they'll have some room. Call Hugh Steward there if you want to check. Mike