Well after visiting the circuit in Feb 09 its memory lingered with me all year, I had to go back to see if it really is my favorite track. Fortunately the ever understanding Mrs S fancied the trip and everything was booked early January.

 

Bongo and me took the bikes down the day before we were flying so it was a bit of a rush trip and we just dumped everything to be loaded by the staff. We'd gone way past the M1 exit we wanted partly due to Google maps and partly due to nattering constantly on the way down. We had a laugh at the services at some piss head being pushed out of a limo by his mate while spewing everywhere.

 

Monday 1st early start up at 4am and off to Liverpool airport. A bloody wheel had come off the suitcase so I had to drag it around.

 

We were soon in the land of oranges and San Miguel.

 

We got to Llieda and easily found the hotel. Like Bongo has already said its was a great hotel and the staff were good too.

 

A pizza and beers had and bed we even got a lie in, I like to get away a day early and have a rest day up front.  Me and Carol had a nice walk around in the morning, Llieda has quite a bit of history and architecture although its a bit spread about.

 

Headed for the circuit in the afternoon and met Bim and John who told us about this super loud bike that turned out to be the Inmotec team from Spain. Here's a link of them at Alcarras previously.

 

 

Loud wasnt the word!! It vibrated your ear drums. They stopped us filming them but we did get some footage.

 

Bucko and Toddy arrived and the bikes hadn't so we headed back to the hotel.

 

Met everyone in the bar that night, lots of friends from her and there.

 

An early night soon bought morning and it was an early start off to the circuit, not as early as some and my place was reserved with bike in place by the very kind Bongo, Bucko and Tody, cheers fellas. Carol and myself helped get the other bikes in the garage and we were soon joined by Emma, Trev, Bim, Martin, Brian and Richard.  who everyone thought everyone else knew but I dont think any of us knew him beforehand, he soon fitted in though.

 

I had one scare that morning when I went light headed, I made the mistake of getting Bongo on my shoulders so he could zip tie the extension lead over the garage then walking with him up there!!

 

Great first day with a damp, drying total wet theme. The afternoon was great chasing around with Bim in the pissing down rain, this is the place for kneedown wet action, mega grip. I even insult passed Luke Quigley! Around the outside in the wet. Mind you he passed me many times over the 3 days, fast as fook leaving darkies everywhere.We had a Birthday cake for Gemms and sang happy birthday to her at lunch.

 

We had a meal in an Italian that night 13 of us it was like the last supper has Judas (Bongo) sat at Jesus's (Buckos) side as he'd spilled the beans to Ryan about Buckos comedy crash!! We also discovered it was Buckos Birthday so they had cake again.

 

Thursday bought a wet track but no rain, I left wets on for the first session, I had hired a transponder for 10e for the day, bargain. Did a 2.05 and the track was pretty bloody wet.

 

Missed the next session and put drys on, next session saw me beat last years time, great fun. The day was dry but pretty windy but I only noticed it in one section of the track. Bim got the videos out in the afternoon and we were fairly evemlly paced so we had a great time doing some videoing. By the end of the day though Bim was forging ahead and put slicks on which saw his advantage grow. I was tattering my left toslider on the long left so decided on 1 session to really tuck my foot right in, so got part way around and felt my toe touch, I was just thinking this was better whem there was a loud skewsh noise and the bike was going from under me, I automatically pushed with my knee and wreched on the bars which sat the bike up and I headed to the edge of the track! I knew I had been scrapping the bellypan and thought no more about it. I was telling Rich Dilks and he reminded me about Dizzys crash last year, sure enough we checked the crash bung and there was a big chamfer ground on it!! Out with Emmas Junior hacksaw saw an 1" off both bungs.

 

Gems finished the day in the garage for us by singing, it made us scream as she sounded like a manic version of Pam Aires(sic) for those who remember her.

 

Another fine meal, I must say that Len saved us with his Spanish but the waiters were probably more indebted to him! Cheers Len it was great catching up with you again.

 

Friday bought clear skys and a cool clear start, got out and felt good, dropped my time in the first session and hit a mid 2.52 in the second, Bim was flying on slicks. Unfortunately I had a bit of Deli belly and had to fly back to the loo after 2 laps of one session, there was no bitches in the garage and I was frantically pulling my kit off to get in the loo!

 

Never felt right for the rest of the day which put paid to getting any faster I couldnt do more than 3 laps without felling ill.

 

What a trip though some great memories, Bloke out braking me on the Harley and clearing off in chase of an R1 that had passed him up the straight. Moto GP bike, Moto2 bike coming past me, save on the knee and some great company.

 

I must say Bongo was absolutely flying, he was so late on the brakes on the wet into the first corner, I see some great results for him this year.

 

So sad for Martin to suffer the damage to his bike on the first day we were all gutted for you. The Trev having his off on the last day, GWS Trev. I must also say how well Emma rode, she was flying on the big SV even though it suffered down the big straight, well done Em and good luck for the year.

 

Big thanks to evryone whos company we shared it was great spending time with you all. Absolutely gutted not to have Ryan and Johns company, we missed you boys out there.

 

Roll on the next one.

 

Oh BTW Alcarras is my favorite track.

 

I've put pic's up here;

 

 

And will add to them, Carol has plenty to sort out of everyone on track.

 

 

 

Think I've just spotted you on Mike Edwards Youtube vid of Jenny Tinmouth.

Is that you about 1:42?