The fourth edition of the Dusty Track took place last Saturday in the municipality of Ermesinde, just a few kilometers from the city of Oporto.
An event organized twice a year by the Oporto garage and shop Tone-up, well-known for the meticulous and fine modifications they make to both retro-modern and classic motorcycles. With their BMW RECALL, they managed to be one of the 10 best customized motorcycles of 2014 according to the popular magazine Bike Exif.
Machete Company and La Urbana Bike were present at the event, representing from the neighboring country.
It all started around 10:00 AM, and gradually the place and the riders heated up as the hours passed and the beer barrels emptied. By 4:00 PM, everything was in full swing, the track overflowing, and the crowd enjoying the spectacle.
There were several categories in the heats: Street Tracker, scooters & 50cc, Vespas, chopper, pit bikes, and modified enduro. Each one crazier than the last, with a highlight in the 50cc motorcycle category, an individual who participated with his classic Portuguese Macal Vanguard motorcycle (with the original logo suspiciously similar to that of BSA… hahaha) dragging a cargo trailer, but fully approved and legal, as it had a large sticker on the back that said "Vehiculo longo" (long vehicle), which made you feel more at ease, apart from the two rusty iron bars sticking up like spears. It was clear that this rider from hell itself didn't last more than two turns with that burden, to the surprise and terror of the public near the derailment curve… hahaha…
We were also very surprised by the chopper category, where one of the riders competed with a Honda Shadow 750, with ape hanger handlebars (highly recommended for cornering on dirt roads), riding it throughout the race without the two wheels ever being aligned on the same axis.
We highlight the magnificent atmosphere, the fun, and the cordiality of both the organizers and the participants and the general public. They have won us over to continue as many editions as necessary!
Thanks to Pedro Gomes, Tiago Alves, Nicolas Leonardo, Nuno Feliz, and Diego Cardoso for the photography and for allowing us to use them on our blog.
