A few people camp out at Barber - there are camping facilities on site. For a modest fee you can actually rent a spot in the swap meet that also allows you to park on the spot and camp on the spot as well as selling parts etc. It's a great deal - also includes passes to the festival. Barber has shower facilities I'm pretty sure for campers, but I haven't seen these myself.
Some hotel it - I'm booked into the Hilton near Birmingham - awesome commute to and from Barber every day. I stayed there last year along with the fine folks from Dime City Cycles etc. as we were at the festival by 8AM and there till close daily. Need my beauty rest
so the hotel was a necessity. Our morning commute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLPPxe3zoC0
There is food of course available on-site, but I'm sure some campers pack in food. Lots of amenities in the area - groceries, Walmarts etc.
For $20 you can do the Parade Lap which goes each day of the festival. This was our lap from 2010 - it's not just a lazy ride around the track - decent speeds but you have to be careful. Sadly my video wasn't recording for the 2011 lap which was I think faster.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXCXLyNxVI8
Tons of awesome riding in the area. 12 hours drive is nothing - I drive 2 days to be there
Little taste of the atmosphere from 2010 at Kiley's (MUCH larger group in 2011 and MUCH MUCH larger group expected in 2012):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1IO5dffx04
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPOtp--oxuw
And here's 70 pages of posts / photos talking about 2011's get together
So you'd best book a room and pack your bags 'cause you're coming.
http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=27183.620