Cartagena

[slob]

Well Doug(DRC) and I are off to Cartagena on Monday for a week on track, early weather reports don't look so clever but I'm sure it'll settle down since it's basically a desert.
Doug is taking his 600SS racebike and I'm off on my monster, track prepped.
http://ukmonster.co.uk/photopost/data/500/prepped.JPG
with sticky tyres.
We shipped 'em both to Spain last weekend
http://ukmonster.co.uk/photopost/data/500/wrapped.JPG
and we'll let you know how we get on, just in case anyone's interested.

[Stafford]

I'd have thought R&G crash bungs would be better than bubble wrap :o
Q

[Gilps]

Jammy git. Have fun.

[Zimbo]

Let us know how you get on Rob, and take a few piccies! Good luck and don't crash it . . .

[benson]

Looks like you'll have the time of your life slob - have a fab time and yes I'm interested in hearing all about it with pics - watch out for greyhounds and salty crax tho - you know what I mean!!

You also need to remember NOT to fall off - seriously tho have a wonderful time and come home safe!

[craigie]

well I notice there is a new pic, where are the tall tales......

[slob]

well I notice there is a new pic, where are the tall tales......
Will sort some photos and do a write-up this week, in the mean time: tyre report here http://ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=20542

[slob]

Up at 4am Monday morning allowing me to get the 5:30 train from London Bridge to Gatwick for an 8:30 flight to Alicante. At 5:45 the tannoy announces that failed points at Blackfriars mean no Gatwick trains, I'll have to go to East Croydon and get one.
I finally get to Gatwick and meet Doug with 10 minutes to spare before boarding commences, two and a half hours to make a forty minute train journey, excellent start!
On the plane I finish re-reading A twist of the Wrist II by Keith Code, which sets me up nicely for practicing my skills around the track.
We arrive in Spain pick up our hire car and make the 120km journey to La Manga without any problems. Upon arrival it turns out we're not in the 5 star hotel but self-catering appartments, bit of a let down but we get all the amenities for the resort.
Also our four days on track have turned into three and a half, due to a classic car rally at the circuit on Thursday afternoon, but we've had the other days lengthened to ensure we don't lose tracktime.
We meet the guys we're sharing the appartment with and go out for a few drinks and a bite to eat, off to bed for an early start to Cartagena in the morning.
Tuesday we head to the track, about 40km away, getting lost and passing several other hire cars of lost bikers while we're at it, eventually finding the track and the almighty chaos of 80 riders all trying to track down bikes, paddock-stands, tyres, tools and hold-alls of riding gear spread around the paddock and 30 odd pit garages.
At the safety briefing we are told we will have 2 sets of novice/inter/fast groups followed by open pit lane, allowing us more relaxed track time than rigid groups. We pick up fuel and head out onto a slightly damp track for 3 sighting laps behind the safety car. Before our second session the skys open and most of us hide in the garages, apart from a pair of nutcases on KTM supermotos who get in all the tracktime they can.
Later in the day things start to dry out and we get a couple more sessions in nervously picking our way round the damp track, it's obvious I can't keep up with Doug despite the extra power the 620 has over his old 600ss. We head back to La Manga, via the supermarket, relatively happy and pray for better weather in the morning. Just before Dinner Doug disappears, it turns out he has food poisoning of some sort.
http://ukmonster.co.uk/photopost/data/500/circuito.JPG
http://ukmonster.co.uk/photopost/data/500/ready.JPG
http://ukmonster.co.uk/photopost/data/500/stickers.JPG
http://ukmonster.co.uk/photopost/data/500/bothered.JPG

[slob]

Wednesday morning Doug still isn't well, so I head off to Cartagena alone, leaving him to sleep it off. The track isn't quite dry and there are a few scary moments and downed bikes. I have a late braking panic and visit a gravel trap but keep it upright. At the end of the day I've managed to to up Tuesday's 50 miles to around 185, including one session with an instructor who shows me the error of a few of my lines.
Thursday morning Doug still doesn't feel 100%, so I head off early, after booking an afternoon massage at the hotel spa because two trackdays in a row are starting to make me feel my age, get hopelessly lost on the outskirts of Cartagena and just make it to the track in time to wash my bike before the safety briefing. An excellent morning, the previous days's lesson pays off and the track seems twice as wide.
I'm busy working on moving my reference points further ahead in an attempt to increase my corner speeds when three laps from the end of the day's sessions my left knee touches tarmac for the first time, you could probably hear me cheering above the noise of Remus cans at 8000 revs and on the last lap I do it again... well chuffed! Classic sports cars start arriving, sadly I can't hang around to look at the e-types, '50s Porches, Ferarris and Aston-Martins. I head back to the hotel for my massage and a few beers.
Friday dawns a beautiful sunny day, Doug feels better and we head back to the track for the last time. Sadly a GT40 has gone out the previous day and spilt oil around half the track. Steve Plater, guest instructor, proves a true hero and walks the track with a bucket of cement ensuring all is well and we get out a couple of hours late but the ambulance crew agrees to skip lunch so we can get most of the time back and gradually confidence the track is safe builds and I'm able to put my knee down in most corners.
This is great, it's going to save me a fortune in exhaust pipes, which I've been scraping all over the place up 'til now. At the end of it all I've managed 507 miles on track in three and a half days. My confidence is way up and coming out of the esses my tacho is reading 7500RPM instead of Monday's 5000RPM, that's up from just below 40mph to nearly 55mph.
Then it's a mad rush to pack our kit away ready for the transporters and back to the hotel for a serious drink before heading back to blighty on Saturday. The consecutive days on track really allow you to learn and then apply what you've learnt, to good effect without forgetting it all in the following months. It's a little ironic that the track I now know best is 2000 miles from home. I'm completely knackered! What a way to spend a weeks holiday! although Doug probably feels a little less rosy about it all(sorry mate).
Sadly all the photos I've got were taken on the first three days, so none with my knee on the deck but I can't wait to go round Gerrard's again.
http://ukmonster.co.uk/photopost/data/500/carta1.JPG
http://ukmonster.co.uk/photopost/data/500/carta2.JPG
http://ukmonster.co.uk/photopost/data/500/carta3.JPG
http://ukmonster.co.uk/photopost/data/500/carta4.JPG

[NattyBoy]

Nice pics/report rob - foreign trackdays rule dont they mate ?! :mand:

[Gilps]

Nice write-up. That sounds like a lot of fun. Glad you enjoyed it.

[slob]

Oh yeah, nearly forgot, the track is very tight and twisty, ideally suited to the little monster which is capable of staying with all sorts of much bigger bikes everywhere except the main straight. So investment in sticky rubber really pays off.
http://www.etracksonline.co.uk/Europe/Spain/cartagena.html
here's Jeremy McWilliams, on-board with Leon Haslam
http://www.racedays.net/video/LEONJEREMYCART05.wmv
although it doesn't really do justice to the elevation changes.

[benson]

Fantastic Slob - looks fab and sounds great - well done mate!!!

[Zimbo]

Nice write up Rob and sounds like you had a great time. Congrats on the knee down, you'll find you can do that everywhere now. Bring extra knee sliders to Mallory, I wore through one completely in half a day on my last visit!

[Spanner]

Nice write up Slobby. It's a shame I didn't get to experience as good a time as you, but thems the breaks. Could have been worse. I could have paid for the trip!!! Roll on next years track fun.

[craigie]

sounds grand.......jealous as ****.

[Zimbo]

I reckon you could have a go at DD this year Rob, perhaps give it some thought? You certainly won't be embarrassed out there!

[slob]

I reckon you could have a go at DD this year Rob, perhaps give it some thought? You certainly won't be embarrassed out there!

Could but won't, seriously considering '08 if all the ****ing politics dies down first and I have other commitments for '07.
Although as I said before, Assen and any endurance racing trips to France are a definite yes!
I'm aready eyeing up 17/03/07 Brands Hatch Indy with No Limits at £129(what d'ya reckon Craigie?)Also there's Domski's trip to Guadix to consider!

[craigie]

I'm aready eyeing up 17/03/07 Brands Hatch Indy with No Limits at £129(what d'ya reckon Craigie?)

Sounds good, if a little chilly. It'll no be my tyres needin warmers. Be good to start the year off though.