Forget the Algarve Rally, forget the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve… what’s happening now is (… drum roll…) the Mexilhoeira Grande urban track!!!
I went there and, like any self-respecting car race, there was traffic chaos, parking problems, food and drinks, music, entertainment and lots of people. But everything is well organized, with GNR, firefighters, tow vehicles, official entities, track marshals, referee judge, drones monitoring the cars and classifications and results of the different categories in real time.
Yes, because there were several categories: kids, traditional, allegorical and F1. If you want to know the differences, consult the regulations, as there are also regulations for these races.
I took a break for dinner and now I notice that essential data is missing here. So: I'm sharing my vision of the VI Great Bearing Car Race, held this past Sunday 17th, in Mexilhoeira Grande, Portimão.
To put it simply, I'm a fan of this type of racing, perfectly adapted to the current times. In fact, it cannot be more environmentally friendly: there is no air pollution, no type of fuel is used (beer is not fuel!) and the vast majority of cars are made from the recycling and reuse of the most diverse materials.
Just to give you an idea, there was everything, from the simplest cart, with a board resting on two sticks with the bearings serving as wheels, to an airplane (it's true!!!), including a mini fire engine, a plow , a cork board (this was so ecological that even the pilot's helmet was made of this material) and, surprisingly, there was also a coffin (here I was worried, I don't know how they are going to recycle that one). And they all walked, some faster than others, led by children, old people, men and women. Everything very inclusive.
The way the race ran was very simple: there was a ramp next to the church and from there you had to take advantage of the slope to gain speed until you reached the finish line, next to the EN125. When everyone had passed, the trailers would take everyone up there to start another race.
To enjoy the race, I stood at an emblematic curve of the route, the Semeador curve, which has this name due to the statue there, remembering one of the parish's activities.
At the curve, they had put on some protective tires to prevent competitors from having any more serious accidents, but everything went well. There was everything, overtaking, skidding, spinning, tire hits, time for the runners to greet their friends, there were even those who did wheelies with the cart. And while the majority were single-seaters, there were also vehicles with two crew members and even a family member with three.
We were halfway through the race when a crash fell and wet the track. I don't know if there was a lot of commotion in the pits, nor do I know if there was rain, but the runners were not impressed and happily continued their races. The rain only disturbed the musical entertainment (water + electrical material are a bit incompatible) but there was still time for a “happy birthday” to be sung to a spectator.
And speaking of spectators, I found the existing human biodiversity curious, with a large representation of foreigners of various nationalities.
During one of the breaks I took the opportunity to take a look at the pits, appreciating the level of mechanics in the cars, because, while there were those who used the soles of their shoes to brake, there were others who used very sophisticated gadgets that I won't disclose because I don't want to be accused of espionage. industrial by one of the sponsors of the cars.
Finally, they ask you who won. Whoever won was whoever went there…
And one of those who went there was “The Accidental Chronicler”.
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