Portimao

[Yorick]

You’ll go ok when it dries

Red hot here. No rain.

I know hope you’re enjoying it I love the place

Clicking my heels until the action starts Saturday

[Tricky]

I seem to remember Tricky going there a good while ago with some mates including some Bemsee racers.

One lad, the most unassuming guy to look at, Greville he was called, was in the 1.51/1.52's on a Triumph 675 - may even have been a bit quicker than that....mind you, he was fecking quick and won numerous championships with the club.

I'm sure @Bigyin will remember him. It was at the time Steve and Sarah Jordan were racing.

Kev

If you mean Greville Ball, ginger hair, glasses and super quiet bloke but could pedal a bike rather well

Yup he could- the fastest (and most nerdy looking )accountant I ever met- clever bloke too.

Not sure he made it into the 1:51s, but he was definitely doing low 53s for fun on a not particularly fast 675 triple - I reckon my old ZX10 which I had at the time would have had a good 50 or so geegees ( © Yozza ) more and despite that looooong front straight (especially on a slow bike) I couldn't get near him
Anyway, that was back in the olden days when I still used to chase laptimes - top bloke, but his seemingly effortless speed depressed me a bit at the time and was my main reason for the " hate" comment of the circuit in my earlier post TBH

[hawkati]

Just caught this thread - it's a stunning circuit and I absolutely loved riding it despite bike being an utter arse at the time. (Wayward tps and quick action throttle = speed&death) Rode there & back again and definitely plotting a return excusion.

[Tricky]

Just caught this thread - it's a stunning circuit and I absolutely loved riding it despite bike being an utter arse at the time. (Wayward tps and quick action throttle = speed&death) Rode there & back again and definitely plotting a return excusion.

Saw and enjoyed your thread on that James, that was a trip and a half one way and another- you is a madman

[Count Steer]

I seem to remember Tricky going there a good while ago with some mates including some Bemsee racers.

One lad, the most unassuming guy to look at, Greville he was called, was in the 1.51/1.52's on a Triumph 675 - may even have been a bit quicker than that....mind you, he was fecking quick and won numerous championships with the club.

If you mean Greville Ball, ginger hair, glasses and super quiet bloke but could pedal a bike rather well

Yup he could- the fastest (and most nerdy looking )accountant I ever met- clever bloke too.

I knew someone like that. Not the same bloke, but looked like an accountant's clerk. Quiet as a mouse. Got on a bike and, no drama, looked relaxed (actually looked slow!) but smooth as you like and got round faster than most, whatever they were riding. Saw him at Brand's in a club race and it was like watching a loop of one lap. Dunno what he was like when it came to mixing it in close races though...I always imagined he would be like a cold, calculating, numerate assassin.

[Yorick]

Blimey. There's some serious kit here. Mine's the only road bike

20231006_172059.jpg (1.29 MiB) Viewed 510 times

[weeksy]

Blimey. There's some serious kit here. Mine's the only road bike

20231006_172059.jpg

Welcome to trackdays.... that's how they are fella.. Everyone has £20,000+ race-spec-bikes.

[Yorick]

Blimey. There's some serious kit here. Mine's the only road bike

20231006_172059.jpg

Welcome to trackdays.... that's how they are fella.. Everyone has £20,000+ race-spec-bikes.

I've got my excuses in early

[Tricky]

Blimey. There's some serious kit here. Mine's the only road bike

20231006_172059.jpg

Welcome to trackdays.... that's how they are fella.. Everyone has £20,000+ race-spec-bikes.

Not quite everyone

And he's still got 200 geegees so he'll be reet

[Yorick]

Couldn't bring chairs so had planned to buy a couple of camping chairs from Decathlon. Bugger. Hardly any stock. Cheapest 45€. Sod that.

First job I do anywhere is to keep the barman sweet. I have here. So sent the missus to the bar with big smile and stuck her chest out.

Now we've got 2 spare chairs from the bar

20231006_192054.jpg (967.55 KiB) Viewed 492 times

[Yorick]

After donkey's years being in the instructor's garage, I'm having to mix with the riff-raff. Kin 'ell. They do like to take up space. I found a tiny spot.

And fuck me if they aren't all warning their bikes up already.
Nobody is out until 10:00. 50 minute away.
I'll cope.

[weeksy]

Lol yup. It's all very amusing watching how people act. Warmers on at 6.30am. Bike warmed up using ECU program to warm correctly.

[Yorick]

Lol yup. It's all very amusing watching how people act. Warmers on at 6.30am. Bike warmed up using ECU program to warm correctly.

2 lads across from us have laptops on the tank

[Yorick]

First session hated it. No idea where to go. Felt flat.
Studied the circuit map and going better. Knee down a few times.
Still going gentle to learn the corners.

[weeksy]

You felt flat or the track felt flat ?

My first session there was damp and i was first out behind the instructor... I had Couch, Ron, Fil, Joe, Marcus, Andy, Nathan all lined up behind me... The instructor was on full wets and buggered off.... I had no clue where the heck to go !!!! it was... challenging

[Yorick]

You felt flat or the track felt flat ?

My first session there was damp and i was first out behind the instructor... I had Couch, Ron, Fil, Joe, Marcus, Andy, Nathan all lined up behind me... The instructor was on full wets and buggered off.... I had no clue where the heck to go !!!! it was... challenging

My head was flat. Wondered if I'd made a big mistake.
I couldn't keep up with the instructor. No tyre warmers so a bit hesitant.

[Yorick]

3rd session didn't enjoy.
4th I'm getting some bends about right. Toes down is a new thing for me

[Yorick]

Been chatting to a lad about my age who's staying at our hotel.
He seemed a bit too friendly,.until he let slip that he'd followed me round at many a UK trackday Recognised my YOR1K reg plate

Didn't want to ask for instruction, but just tagged along behind for the ride.

Small world and fame at last

[Yorick]

I was surprised at my fitness. 5 full sessions easy.
6th session I was flagging at the end.

Got half the bends sussed and gliding through and keeping up with others.
120 through last bend dragging knee and 170 on straight.

Missed last session and hit the pool.

20231007_181543.jpg (1.76 MiB) Viewed 411 times

[Tricky]

Sounds good, although 170 sounds a bit steady on your monster before throwing out the anchors-I'd have.min 190 mph on the clocks before I even considered it - even on a 600

Anyway, this thread has made me realise that I'd defo liketo get back to portimao in the not too distant