Everybody out there who has followed our GypsyNester journey for some time, or read our book, Going Gypsy, is familiar with our old friend BAMF.
He is the RV that has taken us all around North America and made our gypsy life after kids possible.
The motorhome that upon first sight, The Piglet proclaimed as “cute,” The Boy lamented “you’re going to live in your car?!,” and Decibel dubbed “BAMF” – as in bad ass mo fo.
The name stuck, but over the past few years we have found ourselves traveling overseas much more than we did when we first set out on our adventure.
This was leading to a few issues with our old friend, such as where to park while wandering the far reaches of the globe.
Most airport lots are not very BAMFriendly, so many times we had to find a storage facility for his safekeeping while we went away.
Our new home has a kitchen, a bathroom and a hide-a-bed – what more do we need?
This got us thinking about downsizing (even more) and we started looking at camper vans, known as Class B motorhomes in the RV world.
We were impressed at the innovative use of space in many of these – so when old friend BAMF gave up the ghost, we knew what we wanted as a replacement.
This new vehicle (new to us anyway), is only slightly larger than a regular van and has everything we need, a refrigerator, stove, bed, and full bathroom with shower.
They are all just really close together, so we named him Baby BAMF.
With spring in the air, the time had come to take the new gypsy wagon out for a maiden voyage.
We could think of no better way to properly christen our new baby than to run him around the track at Watkins Glen International.
Watch: This could possibly be the most hysterically dumb thing we’ve ever done (and this is saying a lot!)
One might call it a baptism of fire, or at least smoke, as in your brakes are starting to smoke.
This would be quite a test since Watkins Glen is no ordinary oval speedway, no sir, this Grand Prix course has eleven turns, including a full hairpin, so the brakes, tires, and our nerves would all be getting a good work out.
We weren’t sure that a motorhome, no matter how small, would be allowed on the racecourse, but our friends at the Corning and Southern Finger Lakes Visitors Bureau loved the idea and set everything up for us.
Actually, we aren’t that special, anybody can drive their car around the famed track as a part of their Drive The Glen program.
Admittedly, most people aren’t foolhardy enough to do it in an RV.
Even under the controlled conditions, following the pace car at non-Formula One speeds, it became abundantly clear after the first set of curves that this was no place for a top-heavy camper van.
But Baby BAMF was a trooper, and managed the raceway without rolling over.
Many of his contents did not fare as well; there may be no better way to empty the cupboards of a rolling house than to take a series of eleven sharp turns at top speed.
Flying debris aside, we figure that since he took the checkered flag with flying colors (even if it was in dead last), he should be ready for just about anything we might throw at him in the future.
BAMF, ho!
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
DELVE DEEPER and find more to do in the Fingerlakes Area of New York:
Watch us soar above it all while gliding in a sailplane
Kick some glass in Corning!
We drove our motorhome on Watkins Glen Speedway!
Go plum Western at the Rockwell Museum
See all of our adventures in New York!
A big thank you to Watkins Glen International and Corning and the Southern Finger Lakes for providing this tire-squealing adventure. As always, all opinions are our own.
YOUR TURN: We’ve been using Baby BAMF as an homage – but is there a better name? We’d love suggestions! How do you think David handled himself on the track? Does he have a future in RV racing?
Hello
Hubs has completed the high performance driving course at Bondurant Driving School in Phoenix. I’m trying to convince him that we need one of those travel vans for the Voyage. Hmmmm…..do you see the connection here?
Maybe we could start a racing series. 😉
Hubby and I have talked about traveling in Canada and the US for a year or more when we retire. A little van like that would allow you to do your supermarket visits, sightseeing, etc., all without having to unhitch a trailer, etc. Looks great to me! You could call it LAMF?
It is very convenient, Rachel. LAMF, LOL!
Very cool, I live Baby BAMF’s stylish look! Long live BAMF!
*love*
Yes, Viva BAMF in any form!
So much fun! I love the idea of traveling around the US in a camper van visiting national parks, etc. and keep mentioning it to my (less than excited) other half. After almost three years without a home the idea of a rolling base sounds kind of fun and I really like how sleek it is!
Hi David and Veronica,
You guys come up with the greatest adventures. Kudos to your creativity and sense of fun. It’s keeping you young!
Wishing you many more safe and happy adventures.
Josie
How fun!! An excellent way to put Baby BAMF through his paces!!
You should take Baby BAMF to Banff!
We would love to.
Well at least this keep you productively involved when you could have been at the Preakness riding a horse in the mud:-)
What will they think of next???
Wow! Kudos to you for trying this! Cannot imagine how much it would have taken to clean it up! I want a camper van,my ideal way to travel… still need to convince hubby!
Maybe he should watch this, might convince him. 😉
How long did it take to clean up after the run around the trace? I mean pick up everything that came flying out of the cupboards. I have driven a motor-home down the Alcan and even on that with slow speeds picking up things that came out of the cupboards was a daily task.
We tried to stow everything, but there were a few loose ends.
How about mini-bago?
Like it, there really is a model called Mini Winnie.
This is hilarious! LOL! What a riot! I love how sleek and streamlined the new Baby is! I would have been happy with either vehicle, to be honest, but totally understand the reasoning behind the further downsize. A lot more flexibility in parking and mobility. Plus, isn’t it going to be easier to say, “Oh, honey, let’s stay in a hotel tonight!” with batted eyelashes. Baby BAMF it is. Will you share more interior shots and deets?
Surprisingly, David would be the one more likely to say that. I love staying in BAMF.
Nah. You have to stick with Baby BAMF—there’s history there. However, if you deem that too infantilizing, how about Lil’ BAMF—in case you downsize even more. 😉 (So, did the person who sold you Lil’ BAMF, share any roll over stats?)
We do use lil’ BAMF sometimes. Dealers tend to keep stats like that to themselves.
What fun! I love the confidence – “I’m sure if we were racing other motorhomes, we’d be winning!”
Certainly if they were really big motorhomes, right? 😉
Too funny! Have you ever tried to see what Baby BAMF would do in the quarter mile?
No, but we know for sure that his acceleration is less than spectacular.
Call her the Babe! She is very svelte for a motor home. What make is she? I’ve been trying to convince hubby to downsize from our Winnebago Aspect. It’s great but too big for our 2 trips to the Oregon Coast every year.
It seems to be a boy though. He is a Dodge Coach House.
This is sooo cool—actually I’m referring to Baby BAMF. Maybe if Mr. Excitement sees him/her, he’ll indulge me in my RV fantasy.A girl can dream.
Keep the dream alive!