Get Up to Speed

Want to add some off-the-water adventure to your trip? If you’re fishing the Logan Martin, Lay, Martin and Jordan lakes, a road trip through the center of Alabama may be just what you need to get your motor running.

Start in Talladega at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Talladega Speedway. The hall of fame and its museum are home to an impressive collection of historical and prestigious motorsports artifacts. You’ll see historic vehicles from various worlds of racing, including stock cars, open wheel, NHRA, road racing, modified, motorcycle and much more. The facility also houses the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Hall of Fame, the Quarter Midgets of America Hall of Fame, the Alabama Racing Pioneers Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Writer’s Hall of Fame. You’ll also get an up-close look at the famed Talladega racetrack. Speedway tours are available on days when the track isn’t closed for testing or racing.

In Birmingham, Barber Motorsports may not be as well known, but it is equally impressive. The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum – recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest motorcycle collection – has more than 600 mint-condition motorcycles on exhibit. With 1,400+ motorcycles spanning over 100 years of production, the Barber collection represents 200 different manufacturers from 20 countries. Plan ahead and you can participate in a driving adventure of your own. The Porsche Sport Driving School offers one- and two-day workshops that allow students to take to their “classroom” on the Barber Motorsports Road Course for the experience of a lifetime.

Just to the west in Vance, Alabama, you can explore another legend in the automotive industry at the Mercedes Museum, including a plant tour. They say this is “where German engineering meets Southern hospitality.” The visitor center tells the rich history and exciting future of the famed car company, with exhibits including iconic classic Mercedes-Benz automobiles, authentic Mercedes-Benz race cars, concept cars and the “peerless safety” demonstration.