Loading…
Birmingham, AL
Live motorsport conditions at the circuit
Temperature
38F
Humidity
45%
Wind
18 mph
Pressure
1013 hPa
Density altitude
-1,285 ft
Track surface
36F
No public description is available for this track.
Elevation (ASL)
600 ft
Precipitation
none
Alerts
0
“The term "trail-braking" undoubtedly comes from explaining the process of trailing away the braking loads as the car decelerates while turning. In corner entries where the brake-turn segment is longer, you try to find a specific combination of braking and cornering effort that slows the car and puts it on the right path for the apex.”
Going Faster! — Carl Lopez (Skip Barber)
Barber's 16 turns demand trail braking in nearly every corner entry. Lopez's concept of finding the right "combination of braking and cornering effort" is the key to unlocking speed here. With the smooth, grippy surface providing consistent feedback, Barber is an excellent track for developing trail-braking technique — the car responds predictably to pedal modulation, making it easier to calibrate your inputs.
“A car going uphill has better traction than one going downhill. Make note of pavement changes, especially in the middle of a corner. You may want to alter your line to take advantage, or lessen the disadvantage, of where there is maximum grip.”
Speed Secrets — Ross Bentley
Barber's significant elevation changes create traction variations throughout every lap. Bentley's principle about exploiting elevation for traction applies in many corners here — the uphill sections allow later braking and more aggressive throttle application. Map the elevation profile to your driving: push harder on the uphills and build in margin on the downhill approaches.
“Corner-entry speed is more important than late braking. Instead of simply using the strategy of braking later, change your mental picture of the corner-entry speed and you will naturally brake later and carry more speed into the corner.”
Ultimate Speed Secrets — Ross Bentley
Barber's smooth, grippy surface provides consistent feedback that makes Bentley's mental-picture technique especially effective. With 16 turns per lap, even 1 mph more entry speed in each corner compounds dramatically. Focus on updating your corner-entry speed target for the key corners — T1, T5, and the downhill T12-T13 complex — rather than trying to brake later. The smooth surface rewards the driver who carries speed rather than the one who brakes deep.
Find HPDE organizers, car clubs, and sanctioning bodies that run events at Barber Motorsports Park.