Episode 78 - Brian Slark
For nearly seventy years, Brian Slark has rarely been far from a motorcycle—and his remarkable journey has placed him at the center of some unforgettable moments in motorcycling history.
Growing up in motorcycle-mad postwar London, Brian saved for his first bike, a BSA Bantam, and quickly discovered a love for competition. After earning British Expert status in motocross, he landed his dream job at Associated Motorcycles, working with AJS and Matchless machines as a road tester and member of the competition department.
A friendship with legendary racer and stuntman Bud Ekins eventually brought Brian to California, opening the door to desert racing and a career in the American motorcycle industry. Years later, Brian helped bring 114 motorcycles to life for The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum—a landmark experience that helped inspire the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and its world-class racetrack.
Brian also conceived the Barber Vintage Festival, helped acquire hundreds of historically important motorcycles, and was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
In this episode of Driven to Ride, Brian shares the stories, friendships, risks, and unexpected opportunities behind a lifetime spent doing what he loves.