Monkey Boy

Nice one Mark

Hope you get as much fun as the car can give....and I've seen them give a lot

More views of my day out..

Met this chap who had 2 weeks off and was just touring about, again him no English and me no Spanish, but you just get by lol.

There's a bit more room on this than the Monster.

More scenery..

Now my folks wanted some more beds at the place so they converted the caravan that they lived in when they where building the house. They've chopped the back off and put a full wet-room with shower/loo/basin with its own boiler and electricity feed. It does look great inside as is all tiled and quite flash fittings used. Fruit-loops the pair of them

Molly

Mary

Local visitor..

My stay was great and I didn't want to leave, you get spoilt rotten when you go 'home' don't you, but needs must and off I went. These are at a service station in 37 deg heat..

On the way back I went a different route to take in the mountain range between Madrid and Segovia. This is very Alpine-like with lots of pines and large streams/lakes around. It's also about 5500 feet up so views are great.

earning his keep...

Back in Segovia the weather was great and people where in a holiday mood. Street entertainment went on until 0030 with minstrels, singers, guitar players etc..totally great night.

Back to Santander the next day. Great weather again and some more amazing views. If only service stations here had these views..

Transport back to Plymouth...Butlins afloat

I met a group of Welsh bikes who had been out for 21 days doing France as well. These guys where absolutely top and had some mental stories, hopefully will see them at an Ace café meet sometime soon

Well sorry to go on but this was my first trip on the bike and first holiday for 8 years so I just wanted to share. It was absolutely fantasic....let the saving for the next one begin!!!!

Hola...long time no speak. I lurk on here now more than post...must be the stalker in me shining through

Just thought I'd share my trip to Spain with you all....bestest trip ever

After getting knocked off my Ducati Monster in March I thought I'd not be able to do the trip to see my folks in Murtas, Southern Spain. The bike was unrideable and I had 2 vertebrae that aren't sitting right so all was looking crap.

I got my positive head on and started doing some heavy physio to get myself sorted and fit for the trip. At the same time ebay became my bestest friend and all parts where found to get the bike fully sorted. I got the bike back and all together by the 2nd week in April and started to do some miles to get ready for the trip...so if you saw a Black Monster with panniers/tailpack and tankbag running about through Berks/Hampshire/Surrey then that was me

My journey went from Reading to Plymouth via the A303 which is a great little stretch of road. Set out at 0800 on Sunday the 10th for the 1600 ferry to Santander. I know it was early but the forecast was for rain later in the day so at least I would get there dry and park up. Arrived at Plymouth at 1145 just behind a group of bikers going on an organised tour of Northern Spain...great chatting to them and seeing the array of bikes from 'Busas to Rockets to a Trumpet Café racer..class.

Boarded the ferry and got sorted in my cabin. I has tried for a reclining chair option as I'm travelling alone but they hadn't any so they offered me a 'share option'. You get a 4 berth cabin and if nobody else is doing this option then you get it to yourself. I had one other bloke doing a delivery of a Transit to Madrid in the cabin with me. I was a bit apprehensive as had a lot of kit, but the rules where observed and nothing went missing and nobody had to be thrown overboard

The crossing was ok if not a bit boring and Spain was in sunny on arrival despite the forecast being for torrential rain and thunderstorms...we'll get to that later.

After leaving Santander I went through the mountains heading for my first stop at Segovia which is 260 miles from Santander. The wind was howling by this stage and my little 600cc bike with all 22 stone of me plus luggage was feeling the strain a little and gears where changed more frequently than expected..but we plodded on. I had to stop every 80 miles or so as my back started to give me grief..but a 5 min stretch and walk about sorted it for another hour or so. This was expected and not a prob as I was so happy to be in Spain.

About 100 miles from Santander I saw 2 Guardia Civil bikes with there blues on rapidly approaching me on the dual carriageway. They slowed to my 75mph and pointed at the huge black clouds ahead and one shouted 'Repsol...REPSOL' at me. I was a bit clueless to this and slowed a little as he rode off. He then slowed again and waved for me to follow him shouting 'REPSOL!!!!' again.

I booted it as his request and was doing 110mph with a Police escort...cool as fook! I then got sight of the Repsol service station he was shouting about just as the lightening and rain hit. We where in the rain for about 30 seconds and my summer trousers where soaked through. One of the Guardia had gone into the shop part and shouted out and pointed at a hot drinks list..well 30 seconds later I had a huge hot chocky watching the roads getting washed out.

We didn't speak a word of each others language but at the end of our drinks I'd found out that one rode a 99 Busa and supported Barcelona and Chelsea, the other a 06 GSXR 750 and didn't like bullfighting....bizzare conversation but all adding to the fun of the holiday.

I had to wait for another 40 mins before the roads became ridable again and set off again to get to Segovia. After another hour the storms hit again and I had to take refuge under a motorway bridge as the rain was bouncing a foot off the ground and I later found out that the winds where 45mph. At this point I was not a happy bunny, but it could only get better...couldn't it??

I eventually got to Segovia at 8.30 pm after 8 hours of rain (rtn journey only took 4 hours)and got out the hotel that was in the old town. I had a shower, hung the gear out to dry and chilled. The hotel was busy with groups of blokes and some groups of women/girls but no couples or other singles but all where friendly, especially the blokes to me. I later found out from my Dad, who had booked the hotel that it was a Gay and Lesbian hotel...cheers dad..great sense of humour my old man

Next day was a 370 mile hoon to my folks in Murtas. Weather was fantastic and did the lot in 9 hours. The last part was through the Alpuhara mountains and just had me in awe of the roads I was on. Got to my folks and chilled for the night.

Service station just outside of Granada.

View to the sea (2 hours away) from my folks place at 8am. Altitude 4200feet.

Washed the bike before going for a days jolly to the Sierra Nevada

View of the back yard...needs some tidying

Back road to Granada..

German chaps testing the engine parameters on the new Astra 1.3 TDi. Was quite funny as it's all 'disguised' and I rock up with "new Astra Diesel is it?"

On the way up to the top of the Sierra Nevada

At the top..bit chilly and cloudy, but then it is 6000+ feet up.

If you zoom in you can see a Golden Eagle checking the bike out

Facing the other way..

On the way down..

On the Alpuhara side now..

Obligatory bike shots lol..

Looking over at the road I have to take to get back to my folks..

Oi Oi you slapper

I'm disappointed at the fact you are married...well from my side as this means you will never be mine.....but we still had that night at the Mencap Rally. Thoughts of those times will keep me warm for many a night

Congrats on the wedding matey...made an honest women out of her at last...well you did have a long way to go to get her there

Happy Crimbob to you both

Congrats to you both

Nice one Mark

....when at Spa...you didn't cut the 'bus stop' did you?? Wouldn't want your times to be affected as you have a non red car

Sam...Have you tried Grade A Breakers---> Grade A they have been great in the past for me and have a huge amount of stock.

......and finally....I'd blame Dan

The 'official' Reading Jap meet was at the Madjeski (sp) retail park which is about 1/2 a mile from there. When that was moved it went to the one near Homebase in the centre of Reading.

This was taken at the park off the Basingstoke Road which has no connection to the Jap meet and was always full of d*!ckheads in all marques doing this sort of thing. Due to this activity the park got a large ramp type barrier to stop this from happening which has appeared to work.

It does anger me to see this, especially as the person involved obviously hasn't taken the leap from Playstation to real life very well. Just glad nobody got hurt, and even more of a shame he didn't cause more damage to his car.

Wonder what he put on his insurance claim??

175 mph at 5300rpm.....nice.

Loose conection at the 'box??

I think it looks great!

Nice to see something different on the scene.

Shake n Bake....propper lolls

Yep

They have some of the races near the 'ring. I'm out there August and really want to see some

Danny...you are the CHAVMIESTER...all shall kneel before you..well not me as I'm not into that prison movie type stuff

....and here is some Berg Cup footage. There is some typical german Rock played at the start and a little throughout...but when it goes off, turn the speakers up to hear n/a 8v engines reving to 10k rpm+....Kleenex time

-----> Berg Cup cars

Here you go. Looks a right beast-----> Hill climb car

Sorry mate we dont all have 30grand kicking about to have a nice Spec C on the driveway. Suppose I could have got a loan. Nah ill continue to buy what I can afford and like and people can think what they want.

People buy Cosworths and early Type Rs because they were the best of their generation.

If I was to put a carbon wing or decals for example on my car then yes I would admit it might look a bit chavvy, but each to their own.

Remember when I was about 17 there wasnt a "chavier" car around than a Mk1/2 Escort how times have changed. In fact they havent really people still dont think for themselves. The Cosworth is now a bonna fide classic and im pretty sure my mint TypeR wont half in value over the next three years.

WE ALL OWN A SUBARU WE ARE ALL CHAVVY TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

I'd bet your Type r will drop considerably over the next 3 years...look at how they have gone from £14k+ cars to £8-10k.....same as the P1. Scoobs have allways been at the top of the 'want' list for many petrol heads and are now getting more accessible due to base models going for £2-3k as opposed to £6-8k a few years ago.

I would agree with Stormy in what he said as the Cossie Sierra used to be an expensive option, but now they go for silly low money and get used in a way that doesn't give the marque a good name....same as the Scoob. Due to the press seeing Scooby drivers in a bad light all get tarred with the same brush...so it doesn't matter if you have a £30k Spec C or a 1.6 sport...you are a car park wrecking hooligan...because the prices are accessible to many people who have an option of a relatively new Saxo/Corsa or an older Scooby/Evo.

They let anyone on here don't they

How's things buddy

"2+2 is.....come on Pete think....everyone's looking....2+2 is.....doh!!"

Sorry Kip-----> Hoax

Cheers for the reply chaps, Simon I touch goats.

It's not a regular thing as there are a lot of factors in getting out, but thanks for the info anyway.

I'm just wondering if any of you nice people will be able to help me out. I support people with learning difficulties and asked a staff member to mail the event hotline to get 3 tickets for the event, 2 for staff and one for a lad who's worked really hard to get to grips with his difficulties. The staff in their wisdom only asked for 2 tickets. .

Due to risk assessing nanny state bollox guidelines we need 2 staff to go (even though one is fine as the lad is great and won't be any bother) so we are in a position where we are present not going.

To say the lad will be dissapointed is an understatement (watches F1, BTCC and has used car top trumps to learn to read) as cars are a big part of his life.

So the begging bit. If anyone has a spare ticket or knows anyone that has one and would be willing to pass it on/donate it to us we would be massively gratefull.

I hope someone can help, and there will be a drink in it for you or a pax session if you can get to a track when I'm next out.

Cheers in advance,

Simon.

Just don't buy a cow though....THE most poluting of all farm animals

This is only a thought at the moment and has been passed around, it is not definite. There is still ill feeling about the retrospective tax added to cars after 2001...there is a case coming up in the European Court to try to overturn this as it appears to be illegal.

The 10 yr car thing was banded around at first to try to keep the green lot (cos we all know it's cars that are the biggest polluters ) happy as well as the people who know about road safety as all cars over 10yrs old are death traps

It's all hitting the fan atm so just watch to see the government squirm as they have seen that the motorist will have a big say in the next election and in the current fuel situation.

btw I run a 96 Golf Mk3 Gti and a 1982 Mk1 GTi track car so this would have affected me badly

I'd love an Exige......if only I could fit in one

so are you trying to say that these people win because i know them?

That's exactly it Kip.......did you get my £50 for the next event

Judging an s/s needs consistency from the judges, this is why I feel if there is a pool of judges is a great idea. Not all can make every show but the consistency needs to be there. It's not just as simple as getting a checklist and ticking the boxes, there are tons of things that will either gain or loose you points. If general members where picked at events without prior training/knowledge of what to look for then I would say that there would be many more arguments and claims of favoritism. These events are completely void of what taste you have in the car...some like V5 spoilers...some V2...but this doesn't come into it.

The s/s takes a lot of organising and money for trophies from the shows I have seen, and winners vary on the day due to little things.

Santa Pod IS a mud bath if the weather has been bad up to 10 days before due to the campsite entry/exit and cleaning dust from the underneath is a hell of a lot easier than mud .

Like it has been mentioned earlier, the s/s dates are set at the beginning of the year from a questionaire, just make sure you read it and put your vote in as next year if members vote for it, it will be in the diary.

Personally I don't care as drive VWs