On Saturday 6th September, The Bushy Park Racing Facility played host to the Connect Barbados contingent with our Bushy Park Experience.
More than 100 operators from United Kingdom, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Canada, USA, Trinidad & Tobago, Martinique, Dominican Republic, Brazil and Argentina were in the country for the 2014 Connect Barbados Tour Operators Forum. This forum was opened at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Thursday, September 2nd with a dynamic presentation by Mr. Mark Maloney, Executive Chairman of BPCi. His presentation showed the full house a roar of engines with an adrenaline rush set of videos and more to leave them anxiously awaiting their tour of the facility.
The tour started at the Grade 3 FIA Racing Circuit at 9.00 am with the arrival of the buses through the South Pit Gate. They then were driven through the pits and onto the track as they made their way to the SOL VVIP location in the centre of the track. It was from this vantage point that Mr. Maloney welcomed all and gave them a brief history and was then also able to point out the various land marks. He also discussed with them the upcoming Race of Champions event on 13th and 14th December 2014, and also the Top Gear Festival on 16th and 17th
May, 2015, both of which they will assist in promoting on their return. They were given a briefing on the Radical Racing cars and also joined in viewing a short display of these cars. Immediately after they were treated by some professional drivers who took the enthusiast dare devil tour operators for their driving experience . They all lined up to sign their waivers and be outfitted in helmets and suites to feel the Bushy Park Experience first hand. On completion of their rides not a sour face was in the house….. they all exited their racing cars, wobbly legged but with smiles and wanting another ride. This all happened in a cool, relaxed St. Philip atmosphere on a cloudy day with breeze blowing and refreshments serving along with light snacks which lead to a take away like no other.
From all reviews, this was their highlight and everyone said what a truly enjoyable experience they had. It is from this that they will return home and work to reposition Barbados and The Bushy Park Experience as a country and a facility to experience .
