I watched Bike World today and they showed the Euro track day in Almeria which got me thinking about doing one this year. I am not sure about where I would need to take my bike and gear, where I need to get a flight to, how to get to the hotel, etc. I see that some of you guys have been before and I would therefore be most grateful for your advice. I live in East Sussex so Gatwick would be my closest airport and hopefully FE have a drop off point somewhere close to me. All the best Paul
I was gong to say get yourself booked on the 22nd March Almeria trip but it's showing as full now. Might be worth a phone call to check though. FE drop off point is Thakeham E. Sussex so ideal for you. Flights vary, this time we are going to Alicante but I think Easyjet are starting Gatwick direct to Almeria flights in spring which would be perfect. You drop off your bike, leathers and lid, tool kit, spare wheels / tyres, stands etc. a week or so before. Always at a weekend but dates vary. Book your flights and arrange a hire car from where ever you are flying to. One thing to note is that if you want to spend the night at the hotel after the last day on track you have tell FE this and they will charge you for the extra night. It's not much normal about £40 and well worth it as it's a major rush to get from the track to the airport on the last day. Far better to spend the extra night and relax with a few beers. When you arrive you drive to the hotel and check in and also do the track day signing on bit to save time in the morning. The is the hotel FE use for Almeria Hotel Punta del Cantal Suites In the morning you drive to the track where the bikes and all your gear will be spread around in a few garages. Just find your stuff and get yourself set up. At the end of each day you leave everything where it is just switch off tyre warmer and back to the hotel bar. On the last day you pack everything up and leave it by the trucks. FE load it all and you collect it from the same place about a week later. Euro trips are fantastic. I find single UK days a bit of a hassle now.
Thanks a lot abv. I thought that Bike World showed the guys being taken to the track by van and I was hoping to not have to go to the expense of a hire car. I would also need to work out how best to get my bike and leathers to Thakeham. Not much else to take as I don't have tyre warmers and I only have a rear paddock stand but I want the Harris yoke front stand. What would happen in the event of binning the bike?
not sure about getting taken to the track by van, but we've hired a focus wagon for 5 days for 40£, and are sharing it with 3 of us, os not really a cost. just find someone to share it with. you would need your bike a gear dropped off in a van or on a trailer. If oyu bin the bike there are enough guys who would help you get back on track with the needed spares or ductape. otherwise the bar is another good option I'm off to monteblanco next month with them, can't wait!!
Yeh you defintely need a hire car, if you're on your own I'd post up on trackdayriders.co.uk and other forums, see if you can jump in with someone else. As Skippy says it's not really that expensive. If you bin the bike FE will bring it back to their yard and you'd need to pick it up from there. Also as Skippy says everyone would muck in to get you back out there. The paddock at euro trips is even more friendly than at UK days. I've seen plenty of bikes cobbled back together with odd parts from different bikes, cable ties and duct tape !
I've just watched that Bike World programme that was one of FE's Exclusive VIP Almeria trips hence the transfers and being driven to the track being included. The normal trips you get around 100 people not 30 and it's 3 sessions an hour not open lane.
and the VIP trips are nearly 2 times more expensive and they are only 3 days where as they normal times are 4 days. 3 days openpit lane is a lot of track time, and you won't get alot more out of it than the 4 days on their normal days. I only do open pitlane days when we are training for endurance races, this is the only way we can empty the fuel tank in one go, come in fill up, change rider and do it all over again....
Thanks very much guys. Looks like I need to arrange something when others are going also and share cost of car hire, etc
dont forget there are alot of other tracksd out there,dont just limit yourself to Almeria,it's good but there are better tracks
I've just looked again. There is still space on the 22nd to 24th March trip. I'm in a group of 6 with 2 cars between us so we've got room if you're interested. We're flying from Gatwick. PM me if you want more details. I can even lend you a set of tyre warmers.
now, this is why I think we have a great forum here... guys like ABV offering support and company... great stuff mate
