Park Algar review
 

Put this in here as I thought a few people might be interested and miss it if it's in track days ;)

So I just got back from a 3-day trip to Park Algar near Portimao. There's a few firsts - my first european track day, my first on the GSX-R.

First of all - it was brilliant (as you'd expect). It's a very technical track though - where by 'technical' I mean you can't see sh*t round corners and have to spend time learning it. After the first session, I thought I had wasted my money on this trip - you have to pootle round for fear of not knowing what's round the next bend, it's all up-and-down so you can't see anything.

However during the first day it got a LOT better and I can definitely say it's a great track now. You can't master it in 3 days by any stretch but you can learn it enough to have a great time.

A few other points...
1) Tyre warmers, brilliant brilliant brilliant - not a poser thing, it means you get to enjoy the session right from the off. Over 3 days it amounts to a fair bit of time!
2) Pilot Power 2CTs - worked excellently the whole time, minimal wear given the track (supposed to be very abrasive and eats tyres) - rear is about half worn, front is only a little bit worn. They gave me no trouble at all, no movement, nothing - I'm no tyre expert but I loved these.
3) Suspension set up!! I was doing OK but at the start of the third day decided to get my suspension looked at as I was getting a lot of dive when braking, which ultimately meant less braking force. Yes I could probably have done it all myself, but was good to get a pro on the job. I needed a hell of a lot of compression damping added! Prior to setup, braking *hard* resulted in a lot of rear wheel movement, and even some bouncing (I could hear a tyre chirp every time the rear wheel hit the ground). After it was firmed up, I could brake harder, it was way more settled on the rear, and as a consequence the bike was actually more settled going into the corner.

So if you made it through all that you get rewarded with some photos ;)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...3&id=500013699

Re: Park Algar review
 

you lucky sod, i hate you more than ever! ;) what's with only the one picture though after all that reading? :rolleyes::p

Re: Park Algar review
 

Lol - you can click 'next' right? Or have I screwed up my link...it works for me but then it's my facebook account!

Re: Park Algar review
 

you have to be singed in for the link to work

cool pics :D

Re: Park Algar review
 

Ah - 'tis a public album I think (well, Facebook told me I could give the link to people outside of Facebook! :lol:). Cheers :D

Re: Park Algar review
 

you can but i have to be singed in to my face book to view it

Re: Park Algar review
 

Sounds like a good 3 days :thumbsup:

Re: Park Algar review
 

Bike looks awesome in the white track fairing!

Re: Park Algar review
 

Cheers - I seem to recall you had a 'ring weekend planned around the same time with 'free lapping' or something? How was it?

It's the eyes that do it, isn't it :lol:

Re: Park Algar review
 

Ring TD didn't come off as parents came over to visit on one of the few weekends they could make it, but did a normal trip there the weekend before.

The blind corners sound fun after a day or two on track, and elevation changes must have been good. It sounds like a good venue for a multi day TD, enough to keep you interested.