Leaving at 4:30 in the AM got us through the major cities outside the rush hour traffic snarls and put us at our first stop - Coventry West in Lithonia, Georgia. If you are a Jaguar enthusiast this is heaven. Imagine floor-to-ceiling racks filled with reclaimed Jaguar components ready for re-manufacturing (you'll have to - I left my camera in the car!). Jaguars of all vintages were lined up outside and inside the vast building in various stages of dismantlement. Several shops were busily rebuilding engines, brake calipers, steering racks and differentials. There was even a large section of new parts on the shelf and ready for counter sales or for shipment to customers around the world. The folks at Coventry West were gracious and very enthusiastic about Jaguars.
After loading the XJS headliner, we stopped for a quick lunch and headed to Birmingham and the Barber Motorsports Museum. The museum is located on the grounds of Barber Motorsports Park off I-20 east of Birmingham - Leeds, actually. The collection reflects the passion for motorcycles of George Barber who amassed this collection of hundreds of motorcycles and then built the race track and museum. The facility is stunning - five stories of motorcycles from the dawn of motorcycle building to new models showcasing the latest technology.
Of interest to me was the collection of Lotus racing cars. You can imagine my delight in actually seeing the Lotus Formula 1 cars I only read about. A couple of replicas on display included the first Lotus - a modified Austin 7. Frustratingly, the cream of the automobile collection is visible, but off limits to visitors. The basement collection includes more Lotuses, but a Jaguar E-Type had just been received and was being given a detailing. I would have loved to have seen the AC Cobra 289 and Morgan Plus Four up close, too.
Even with the basement off limits, I still recommend that you put this museum on your list of places to visit.
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