As the title, a couple of chaps that were in the same garage as us at Almeria this week recommended BBS. Looked at their web site and they offer limited numbers (40 to 45 riders) and open pit lane at both Cartagena and Almeria. Obviously a small outfit so limited number of trips but bike transport looks very similar to No Limits and they have ties with B&Bs local to the tracks that look very nice. Would appreciate any feed back. Andy
Couldn't wait any longer to see if anyone had any feedback so I have just booked a 2 day open pitlane track event at Jerez in late September. Had a really pleasant conversation with a very nice lady on the phone and paid a deposit. Pick up in Wokingham which is literally just down the road and that cake, coffee and a chat with your fellow riders on brop off is the order of the day. Sounds like a much more relaxed affair and I will do a write up on our experiences. Andy
Looking forward to your feedback & images. I did a ron-haslem course but decided not to bother with the more advanced 1,000cc one as it seemed overly priced for the time you get on the bike etc.
I'm testing redline out in May, they are doing an open pit lane one at almeria later too, 495 2 days 40 max
How much are their trackdays? I can't see prices on their website. I'm tempted to book a Redline track day for later in the year, but they're a brand new company so a little reluctant to splash out until people have given feedback on them. I also don't want to pay now only for them to go under...
Hi Matt, not cheap, Jerez is £899 with 3 nights in a proper 4 star hotel. Decided to give BBS a go as they appear to be the only organiser that properly caters for mixed ability which Carole and I both qualify for in the lower ability echelons. We enjoyed Almeria and the genuinely fast riders did not take chances with the slower riders. Unfortunately the riders whose abilities didn't quite match up to their aspirations were not quite so disciplined. I'm 6' 4", 18 stone and have been riding for 49 years so I'm not easily intimidated but when you are 5' 4" and 9 stone wringing wet riding a 400, it's a different story. I'm looking forward to a relaxed couple of days with plenty of track time without the track warriors. Andy
I have done 3 or 4 euro td's with BBS they are really good, the open pit format I think works really well nobody on any of the ones I have done had any complaints, there 2-3 instructors if slower riders need any help, they may not be the cheapest but there 40-45 bikes max and with open pit there is a lot of empty track a lot of the time, I am off to Almeria at the end of April...cant wait.
And in my experience so can groups especially where the laps are untimed. To be fair the standard of track day riders has improved tremendously in 10 years but I don't think that should exclude the slower riders and smaller bikes. The thing I do have difficulty with is turning up at a track day and find you are rubbing shoulders on track with the likes of Josh Brookes and Broc Parkes as we did at Cartagena last year and Jennie Tinmouth this year. Andy
And that the more pro the rider, the less courteous they se to be to other riders. Even only if 'pro' in their own bedroom shrine
So, first report, "drop off day". Best described as organised chaos in a nice way. Lots of people dropping off bikes at the appointed time but the truck was late so no pallets to load the bikes and kit on which meant that there were a good number of bikes lining up with kit strewn all around. Truck arrived and order was soon appearing out of the chaos. I loaded mine and Carole's bikes onto a 2 bike pallet so all our kit was kept together. The only challenge was the headstock front paddock stand for the 400RR which wasn't going to fit anywhere. Note to self, try and find a different paddock stand before the next track day but space was made with the pallets carrying all the tyres so no problem. Saw the pallets doubled up and loaded on the truck and was confident and happy that the fork lift truck driver knew what he was doing. Now just looking forward to getting there on Wednesday evening and the first run out on Thursday. Andy
did you ask driver to stick it on another pallet? Normally pretty good if you ask, as they have kit for the organiser and the occasional stand or small box isn't a problem sounds exactly like Redline were. But when you get there, its like a mates trackday
Day 1, both Carole's and my bike and all our kit was in one place in the garage when we arrived at 8:30 this morning. Batteries reconnected and fuelled up before the 9:30 briefing. Track open from 10:00 with 2 sighting laps and then open pit lane. Fabulous day, fast boys (that'll be everyone else) very disciplined with no dodgy overtakes. Power commander packed up after lunch but had time to do laps after identifying it as the culpret. Organisation has been faultless, good bunch if riders and looking forward to tomorrow. Andy
Day2, track open at 10:00 and closed at 18:00. The weather in the morning was better as it was cooler, the afternoon was very hot and you dehydrated very quickly so I tended to keep the sessions short and focussed. The management used a very light touch, all the riders were very disciplined and well mannered. At no time over both days were we made to feel unwelcome or riding too slowly, no dodgy passes and nothing aggressive. Ability was mixed but of a high standard and the first red flag wasn't until 4 o'clock on the second day and the oil spill was cleared by track personnel in about 4 minutes. Was the BBS 2 day open pit lane worth half as much again as FE and NL for a similar format ? Absolutely, without question the best foreign track day we have been on. Little things like tea, coffee and water provided at no extra cost, special menu at the track restaurant and the strong sense of family really makes the difference. I also appreciated the extra night in a better quality hotel as part of the deal. Paid the deposit for Almeria in May next year we enjoyed it so much. Andy
I'd consider looking at Redline too, similar sounding vibe but grouped (smaller than NL) and about same cost as NL
