Jerez WSBK Trip

[Capnrip]

Had such a good time at Portimao last year at WSBK we decided to go to Jerez this year. Did the BMW VIP package again, it was great and not that expensive. Race was the 19th and 20th of October, but thanks to an airline ticket snafu and WSBK moving the race date we ended up spending two weeks in Spain, which isn't the worst thing that's ever happened. I was last in Spain 50 years ago as a 15 year old. Those were the Franco days, so I was hoping with democracy and all that that any statute of limitations or record of me possibly misbehaving would be gone. Or those that may have held a grudge would be dead. So our itinerary would be this: Segovia, Toledo, Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, pick up a rent a car and spend a week in Jerez doing day trips and the race, back to Seville and then fly home from Madrid. We did two weeks in Spain with just a backpack each, the place we had in Jerez had a a washing machine but no dryer. Our place there looked like the Clampett's were staying there with all the clothes hanging up to dry. So a few tourist photos, Spain is really a beautiful country and their train system is fantastic. Cruising along at 150 mph and it feels like you're sitting in your living room. Algebra was never my strong suit but when two trains meet and pass each other at 150 mph it don't take too damn long for them to pass.

View from our hotel window in Segovia.


Next day we moved to Toledo, and stayed in a 1200 year old building. It was beautiful and looked like a museum. Here's the pool in the basement.



Spent a day in Madrid and then to Cordoba. I really wanted to see the Mezquita, and it did not disappoint.



Some food porn from Cordoba as well. Beef loin over potatoes with honey mustard sauce and siracha served on slate. If you'll notice underneath the slate the placemat is a record album.



Trying not to bore you with too many tourist photos as this is a motorcycle site but we saw some cool stuff so thought I'd share.

In Jerez for a week so we did a day trip to Ronda, a town we saw on a Microsoft screensaver. Here's the classic Ronda shot.
We had to hike down from the top or that bridge to take this picture.



Next we went to Gibraltar, about an hour an a half away.


Going to save this installment before I lose it all and go into a profanity laced tirade.


more to come, racing soon

[Capnrip]

Friday was a race day for us, no actual races but practice sessions. Our friend from England told us Friday was more relaxed and you could get pictures and autographs more easily and it was true. Here's a shot of the start finish straight going into the first corner.



Photo of Elizabeth with Axel Bassani who rides for Kawasaki.



I really wanted to meet Garrett Gerloff, an American rider from Texas who rides for BMW. We got to meet him after one of the practice sessions and he was super nice. He was happy to see some Americans I think. If you want a really nice guy to root for in WSBK you'd be hard pressed to find a better guy.



So Saturday is Super pole and the first race. Toprak Razgotlioglu who rides for BMW was in a good position to clinch the WSBK championship and did in the first race by finishing second. Here's him celebrating with a stoppie in front of our grandstand.



Here are some more random photos from practice and racing.





So it's the end of the last race of the season and you don't have a ride for next year. .Do you care what the back tire looks like when you bring it back? Neither did Tito Rabat.

[Capnrip]

Jerez was a great place to see a race. You could leave and re-enter freely, and the grandstands we sat in with our paddock passes was a great spot. Just after turn 11 but you could see a good bit of the track including the last corner before the start finish stretch.

The BMW VIP thing was really cool. You get a meet and greet with the riders, food and whatever you want to drink for two days, a pit tour and a pit walk. And really not that expensive.

Elizabeth and I with Michael van der Mark.



Toprak and I. It only looks like he's being held against his will. Both of BMW's riders were very fan friendly.



A couple from the pit walk before Sunday's race.

[Capnrip]

OK, winding down. And don't worry Lee, what you're thinking about is coming in a bit.

Jerez was a neat town to stay in. We stayed in the old town in a one bedroom apartment with a washing machine for under 100 a night. Everything close by, cobblestone streets, the whole bit. What we didn't know, and found out on Saturday, was that there was some holy week celebration, one they hold once every 20 years. The street we stayed and parked on was closed off and people were streaming into town. There wasn't a parking space anywhere to be found so we went back past the track to another village and hung out there for a couple of hours thinking the parade would be over. Nope. We came back and it was as bad or worse. We drove all over Jerez looking for a spot, there were people parked anywhere you could fit a car. Finally, a little over a mile outside of town we found a spot and walked back towards our room. We didn't exactly know where we were but when we saw the town square we thought we had it made. Nope. I've never been in a crowd of people that close together. We made a few attempts to get around it, and maybe after about a half hour we were able to meander on some side streets and back to our little apartment. Not sure what time the party broke up but I looked outside our window at 0330 and folks were still out there. I went to sleep with earplugs as they were carrying the virgin Mary on a float with a band behind them. Reading an article in the Jerez newspaper the organizers were caught off-guard by how many folks came. Still, it was a neat place to stay. So the next morning we got up about 6 to see if our car was still where we left it. It had gotten quiet by then, and I thought this was a nice picture of their Alcazar in the morning light.








Luckily our car was still there and we drove back to our parking lot.


Right behind our apartment was the big market, we bought fresh fruit, cheese and bread there. As someone who comes from a family of fishermen, I was impressed by their fish market.






We spent enough time in Jerez that some of the people in shops we frequented recognized us. Thought that was pretty cool. So races over we head back to spend Monday night in Seville and prepare to fly out on Tuesday. We had tickets to see the Alcazar in Seville, which is supposed to be one of the two best in Spain. Unfortunately I got an email saying our tickets had been canceled due to a private event. Who gets to do that? The King and Queen of Spain. There were national police everywhere, and while they were courteous, you weren't getting anywhere near for a look. So the last thing we wanted to see was the Setas de Seville. Basically giant mushrooms. It was one of the coolest things we did. Here they are during the day.




There is a walkway on the top and you can go up and get a view of Seville. At night they do a light show up there as well. It was way cool and a great way to top off our last night in Spain.




So that's it, the rest was up to Iberia Airlines which was one of the best airlines I've ever flown. Oh wait, I forgot about Lee. Lee here's Elizabeth's annual rest room picture.







You're welcome!

[Capnrip]

I'll try reposting them tomorrow Lee

[wildbears]

Incredible venue!\

[Lee]

More pictures are showing today. I can see the bathroom picture

[Pittsdriverwes]

Wow, what a spectacular trip! Thanks for sharing it!

[allikanbe]

You should have hopped on that bmw and taken a lap.

[Capnrip]

Scott Redding had a nice M1000 XR by his truck I wouldn't have minded taking for a spin.

[955i]

WES! Somehow I missed this entire writeup! Awesome trip. You and Elizabeth look like you were enjoying every minute of it. Lots of nice photos> Thanks.