Bushy Park’s decision to throw open its gates six evenings a week to accommodate community activities such as cycling and walking in a safe and controlled environment has been welcomed by a growing number of regular users. Since the middle of last month, the Circuit has been open from 4pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday and on Sundays, when there’s no race meeting or track day activity.
While the pits remain closed, the track is open to pedestrians and cyclists only and there is no admission fee. Patrons are asked to park in the North spectator car park off Gaskin Road and enter through the pedestrian gate adjacent to Gate 3 (near the Clubhouse), after which venue security staff will show them how to access the track.
Bushy Park Barbados Business Development Manager Zoe Manning said: “Although we have so far only promoted this free access through social media, we have been encouraged by the steadily growing numbers. We’re attracting up to 15 cyclists almost every afternoon, some walkers and we have had some mothers bring their babies in prams and youngsters on tricycles, too.
“For the cyclists, in particular, we offer a safe and controlled environment with a far smoother surface than many public roads where they have ridden in the past; they can concentrate on their training, without worrying about oncoming or following traffic . . . or what might be around the next corner.”
David Matthews, the father of one of the island’s top cyclists, Darren Matthews, heads up a group called Friends of Cycling, which has been making regular use of the St Philip venue. He says: “My cycling team and other cyclists have started to use Bushy Park for training on afternoons, and we have been very impressed with the facility."
Bushy Park Barbados briefs:
• this Sunday (February 8), the Barbados Karting Association (BKA) will organise the opening race meeting of the Bushy Park Barbados season, the first of 10 rounds of the BKA’s 2015 Frutee Championship. With the addition of a significant number of first-time competitors in the recently-imported Easykarts, thrilling action is in prospect. Gates open at 8.00am, racing starts at 10.00am; General Admission - $5.
• the following Sunday (February 15), the circuit will host the SR3 Invitational Radical Racing and Open Track Day. Activity will start at 10.00am, with the track open to cars (race, street and drag), karts and motorcycles. For participants, registration is now open at the Bushy Park Barbados Office, with karts and motor cycles at $50, cars at $75. For spectators, admission charges will be General Admission - $5, Clubhouse - $10; coolers, cans and food allowed, no glass bottles.
• Radical Driving Experiences, the first of a wide range of opportunities that will be available to enjoy the thrill of lapping Bushy Park Barbados, are now under way. These include passenger rides in a Suzuki-powered Radical SR3 with an experienced race driver, the chance to drive the two-seater open-topped sports car with an instructor in the passenger seat and, once the necessary criteria have been reached, the chance for patrons to lap the circuit ‘flying solo’. If required, catering can be provided, air-conditioned suites are available and participants will also receive mementoes. Further Driving Experiences will soon be launched, including the Karting Experience.
For more information on Bushy Park Barbados, go to www.bushyparkbarbados.com
For further media information, contact Bushy Park Barbados Media Team:
e-mail: media@bushyparkbarbados.com
