2023 RTTL Extravaganza, the Portimao edition.

[weeksy]

Yes.. you hear correctly....

Now, i'm giving you all a LONG time to get your acts together and start saving... just 70-80 a month will see you right on this.

I know we all had this planned in 2020 but Covid hit that plan TWICE and was canned, however the world has now moved on and we're in a better place for travel, so i'm not seeing any issues.

Obviously there's no dates currently for it, but they'll come out and we can get a date and get it booked.

I know we all love a bit of Pembrey, but as Alan was saying to me the other day "Been there, done that now...." and throwing in the numbers/groups and issues that may arise from that, then it may well be time to throw in a Plan B and get something in for Portimao.



So this is the thread for discussion, planning, thoughts and "yeah why the heck not"

I'll even bring a bike

[dern]

I'm definitely in as long as the dates work.

[Yorick]

Woo hoo. Please me sir

[weeksy]

I'm definitely in as long as the dates work.

That'll be the toughie as different people have different needs, critieria, wants etc.... We can of course only do what dates a given TDO puts up.... but we'll of course try to accomodate as many as viable.

[Yorick]

I always did Euro dates in the cold UK months. Then I got a short break in the warm sun.
Just an idea. I'll go anytime apart from middle of summer.

[weeksy]

I always did Euro dates in the cold UK months. Then I got a short break in the warm sun.
Just an idea. I'll go anytime apart from middle of summer.

They mostly only organise things at the colder times of the UK year, there's a lot less in the way of dates in 'summer' probably for this reason.

But lets see when dates come out.

[dern]

I'm definitely in as long as the dates work.

That'll be the toughie as different people have different needs, critieria, wants etc.... We can of course only do what dates a given TDO puts up.... but we'll of course try to accomodate as many as viable.

If the dates come out relatively early it'll be fine, I'll book stuff around it. I assume you can just book the track time and sort your own transport and accom? Would be nice to make a week of it with Siobhan if she wants to.

[weeksy]

I'm definitely in as long as the dates work.

That'll be the toughie as different people have different needs, critieria, wants etc.... We can of course only do what dates a given TDO puts up.... but we'll of course try to accomodate as many as viable.

If the dates come out relatively early it'll be fine, I'll book stuff around it. I assume you can just book the track time and sort your own transport and accom? Would be nice to make a week of it with Siobhan if she wants to.

Generally you can yes. I've not done it that way, but people have before yes... The deals they run usually include Track-time, Bike-transport, Hotel...

Things not included are. Food/drink, flights, transfter/hire-car.

https://eurotracks.nolimitstrackdays.co ... &aff=&src=

See above...

Unlike some UK tracks/dates, POrtimao WILL sell out... once it's full, it's full... if people don't book, it's on them, not me.

[Yorick]

I'm ready. Been looking and plenty of Airlbnb places around the town

[dern]

I'm ready. Been looking and plenty of Airlbnb places around the town

Yep, van is packed.

[Yorick]

I'm ready. Been looking and plenty of Airlbnb places around the town

Yep, van is packed.

It's a 32 hour ferry for us. We'll have dog with us and probably go off touring for a few days.

[Yorick]

Maybe combine with this ?

Screenshot_20220905-124346_Samsung Internet.jpg (292.52 KiB) Viewed 534 times

[2xtwins]

Yeah, certainly worth considering......

Albeit I don't think the Trike would fit in a stillage so the 890R would have to be called into service .

Kev

[Noggin]

I'm in, depending on dates!! I can't do May (not allowed) or June (too risky after metal out)!!!

But after that I will either take time off work (whatever it is!) or not be working (autumn)!!

I bloody love Portimao. Would be freaking awesome to go back on track on the most amazing track I've ridden!!!


Obviously - depending not only on dates, but also the FUF staying the TF away from me for a year!!

[Dodgy69]

Tbh, I'm not feeling it at the moment, not like last time. Not sure why I was really looking forward to it last time but the covid bollox it up. Maybe I just can't be arsed with all the sorting out and stuff. We will see, but excellent positive thinking from Mr Weeks.

[Couchy]

My favourite track prob done 21 days there I’m in as it’ll give me the chance to buy something proper

[Bigyin]

My favourite track prob done 21 days there I’m in as it’ll give me the chance to buy something proper

Again

Not sure yet myself after the last experience of what happened but its a while off yet and if i am honest i think i would probably prefer a different bike than the Multi although i was looking to take it last time but conversations this weekend reckoned i needed something i didnt ride all the time to get faster as i have a large comfort zone on the big Ducati rather than a cheap bike covered in cheap Chinese plastics i wouldnt care about chucking down the road as much

[Yorick]

My favourite track prob done 21 days there I’m in as it’ll give me the chance to buy something proper

You can show me round fatty

[weeksy]

Not sure yet myself after the last experience of what happened

I completely get that and people like yours and @Dodgy knees thoughts will be pivotal in whether this sort of event goes ahead.

Last year/this year i suggested we move the plan over to somewhere like Silverstone but that was met with a blank look and it only ended up being myself and @Welsh Muffin who made it to Silverstone, which is weird because it's an epic track and easier to get to for most than Pembrey and Portimao lol.

But without the 'core' riders, then something like Portimao makes less sense than i'd like... I don't do these things for me as such.. i do it to see you lot and try and keep the forum spirit going. So Portimao was a bit of a curve-ball after chatting with @Alan PBTD in the office.

His suggestion was a tour of France, but i don't think that'd fly so i pretty much dismissed that one.

Speaking about this to @Welsh Muffin last night she's concerned in a financial context and that again is something i'm not ignoring, time may be tougher next year for some/many/all.

[Tricky]

I'd definitely be up for this, dates permitting- have a tour/road trip around Italy planned mid-may, but currently pretty open outside of that

If the dates come out relatively early it'll be fine, I'll book stuff around it. I assume you can just book the track time and sort your own transport and accom? Would be nice to make a week of it with Siobhan if she wants to.

You can, but for me the question is why would you, as the package deal that UK TDAs offer includes the bike transport and usually reasonabley decent resort hotels- Certainly in the case of Portimao, the hotels that NL use are decent with pools, right on the beach and in amongst a good choice of restaurants and bars etc and just it makes it all so easy and painless.
You just drop your bike and kit, and spares etc you want to take down at a depot in Swindon the weekend before, it's then loaded onto an artic, and you jump on a flight (that you choose and organise yourself) and roll up to the pre-booked hotel a week later, and when you get to the circuit, your bike and kit is sitting in the paddock ready and waiting for you.
As for making a week of it with OHs, this is more than likely what I will do if it goes ahead, and exactly what I did for Cartegena earlier this year- Isabella came too and at the end of the 3 days on track, instead of driving to the airport and heading straight home, we spent the next 4 days having a leisurely drive up the coast and a bit of beach/ sight-seeing time etc, made it a doubly nice break rather than " just" a jolly boys trackday/beer/talking bollocks sort of trip