Nothing much remains of the main street in Chimney Rock, North Carolina. Workers continue to move earth and replace utilities scoured away by Hurricane Helene nearly one year earlier. Demolition of damaged buildings continue. Access remains limited. For decades, this scenic section of the Hickory Nut Gorge attracted riders to the twisting roads through the Hickory Nut Gorge … [Read more...] about Helene, a Year After: Chimney Rock Remains in Riders’ Hopes and Memories
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Rally in the Valley, Elkin & Jonesville, NC, Aug. 1st – 3rd
This summer, the Yadkin Valley proudly welcomes the first ever Rally in the Valley - NC’s ‘best little rally’ held in the towns of Elkin and Jonesville. Located at the base of the Blue Ridge and a short distance from piedmont metros including Charlotte and the Triad, the towns of Elkin and Jonesville have a lot to offer for the motorcycle community. The inaugural Rally in the … [Read more...] about Rally in the Valley, Elkin & Jonesville, NC, Aug. 1st – 3rd
Lines of Speed, Shadows of Time: Hans Muth and the motorcycles that move us
In many ways, 1935 was a pivotal year. In February, my father was born in Princeton, New Jersey, at a time when it was hoped that the worst of the Great Depression was behind us. In November, Hans Muth was born in Brandenburg, Germany. Also, 1935 was an important year at BMW, where both the R12 and R17 models were introduced. In addition to carrying BMW into the future, they … [Read more...] about Lines of Speed, Shadows of Time: Hans Muth and the motorcycles that move us
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and Park: The Motorsports Oz at the Appalachians’ End
The curves and straightaways of the motorcyclist’s yellow brick road lead not to a mythical place of wizards and witches, but rather to Birmingham, Alabama. For that is where a rider’s Oz resides, better known in our real world as the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and Park. Barber exists not as a magical, made-up motorcycle nirvana but rather a two-wheeled dreamy … [Read more...] about The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and Park: The Motorsports Oz at the Appalachians’ End
Looking Behind, Looking Ahead: Barber’s Executive Director Brian Case
If the Barber Complex is motorcycling’s Oz, then its Executive Director Brian Case would be most akin to Oz’s mayor since founder George Barber holds the wizard title. Case has helmed the museum since 2023, overseeing an expansive and extensive collection of more than 1,800 motorcycles (with one thousand always on display) and more than 160 vintage automobiles, including the … [Read more...] about Looking Behind, Looking Ahead: Barber’s Executive Director Brian Case
