Motorsport Trucking to Portimao Portugal

So after 5 days of work it's time to pack up the garage and get everything back on the trucks.

It's a pain in the ass these days as due the the Carnets we have to use, we have to make sure the same stuff is loaded back onto the same truck. I brought 543 new slick tyres down so I have to take that many back even they are used and will go straight to the scrap yard.

Just a thought here and I'll leave you to work it out but a set of slicks is around £2000 per car, each car has used a minimum 3 sets. I've loaded the truck and have 418 used on board and will top up with new ones to make the magic 543. It's unlikely that customs will check but you never know.

The other guys have around 500 tyres between them with a mix of wets and road tyres for the customer cars which were trucked down. These customers cars will be trucked back to the UK and then driven home so will need new tyres at £1400 a set!! Not a cheap game if you want to track day your McLaren.........

As always, everything is handball so we roll and stack everything into the trailers. Sweep out the garage to leave it nice and clean and back to the hotel for some cold ones after another 13 hour day.
 

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Because of the ferry times from Bilbao, we are lucky enough to get a clear day off as we might as well stay down here and enjoy the hotel and weather before heading north. We could go up through France but the French really don't like UK trucks and find all sorts of reasons to make life difficult so it's easier to ship from Spain.

What to do? Go for nice walk into the hills behind the hotel and relax by the pool. As I said, it's a tough gig.........!!

Pity I couldn't bring my bike as it would be great fun on these tracks!!
 

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Stumbled across an old farm and farm house which was pretty spooky. I opened the door to have a peek and I reckon someone stays there occasionally. There was also an old Fiat tractor in a shed which looked like it still gets used.

I half expected some Banditos from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly to ride round the corner :eek:
 

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Great to read a different adventure report, I recognise the farm from when the ISDE was based at the circuit in 2019, straight out behind the circuit and ride for miles without any tarmac.
 
Interesting read. Different perspective. Thanks for posting up.
 
Enjoyed that, nice to read something different occasionally. (and with a positive note to it)
 
Great 'ride' report Chris, thanks for sharing :beerjug:

Now, where's those videos you wrote about :nenau
 
Time to leave the circuit and head home just as the World Superbike circus rolls into town. Would love to have stayed for an extra day but not to be.

This cracking motorhome was parked next to my trailer and turns out it was leon Haslems mobile palace. I was having a mooch round and bumped into Rocket Ron himself and we had a quick chat. Forgot to get a selfie but hey ho.

So, we head east and the toll box pings as we go under the gantry. All trucks travelling in Europe have a toll box which covers most of Europe which saves stopping at every toll plaza. It picks up the amount and bills the operator directly and I'm always glad I don't pick up the bill. The toll to the border from Portimao is around 15 euro's each way.
 

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Back into Spain and after a nice coffee stop we head to Seville and turn north. Temp hit 32.5 c so air con on and relax

Just for info, the Spanish services are brilliant and no more expensive that a normal cafe. Three cafe con leche's are around 4 euro and it's a real pleasure to be able to stop, grab a coffee and have a break without feeling you've been shafted.

The motorways are so much more scenic than our miserable roads.
 

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More pics of the lovely scenery as we head to Merida and to the hotel we used on the way down.

A couple of cold ones go down really well:beer:
 

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Enjoyed that report, great job to have, few plus a few etc years back I used to drive the transporter for the Embassy Hill team, nice Fiat tractor to drive when most others were driving Mandators and Guys.
 

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Terrific read, thanx for taking the time to post it Chris. It looks like a lovely way to earn a living and it couldn't happen to a nicer chap but if you ever get bored of it I can give you the heads up on vacancies in the Call Centre.
Take care and stay safe nipper.
 
Earlyish start next morning as we have a big old hit up towards Bilbao.

Pull on to the deserted fuel pumps to top the tanks and no restrictions here. I've got 1400 litres on board so I'm imagining a mad max scene in Portsmouth when we land back in the UK.

For info, the DAF XF530 I'm driving is averaging about 12mpg which is not too shabby. I'm not too heavy, the trailer is slippery and I'm not a heavy footed driver. I've had plenty of training in fuel efficiency so know how to get the truck running efficiently whilst making progress.

For comparison, average in the UK would be around 10.5 mpg due the traffic and crammed roads.

Harry's silver Scania is doing around 9mpg which he's happy with as it's a 730bhp V8 and beast of a thing !!
 

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Lovely scenery rolling by as we head north.
 

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