AZTRUCK is about right but when I read FARs it seems to me that you DO need a BFR before you use your FAA pilot certificate - like QUELCH says. However, some FAA Inspectors I have talked to agree and some do not. But it can't do any harm to do a little preparation in the UK before going to the US if you can. SENSIBLE seems to be confusing pre-rental checkouts and BFR checkrides.
Another thing - I can't find an FAA Flight Inspector or Designated Pilot Examiner in the UK or elsewhere in Europe currently to do checkrides for the initial issue of an FAA pilot certificate or rating. Does anybody know of one? Any ideas?