Do you understand Portuguese Linda ? Just curious about it. Nice that you actually met the man, i have a cousin that also met him several times at the Estoril circuit, he has some nice pics with Ayrton.......sadly i never had the chance to go with him at the time, still i`m happy that i saw him racing at Estoril. I remember my 1st time like if it was yesterday: Qualy 1989, i am with my brother in the 2nd corner and Senna drives by very slowly on his outlap, even his engine was like bumping, you know ? My brother didn`t like him too much, but he knew i was a great fan, so to annoy me kinda joking said to me, "Senna`s ****ed, his car is a wreck...", i answered with my 13 years old wisdom: "hang on a minute, you`ll see..." couple of minutes later Ayrton appears again: this time on his flying pole lap, i would have liked to cheer and scream but my mouth was open with no sounds, just enjoying the moment i guess, the bright Marlboro red, the yellow helmet, V10`s screaming, the car was shaking all over, his hands dancing on the wheel, all so different from what i was used to see on TV. Anyway, as he drives by again, slowly, the voice at the circuit speakers announced. " Pole- position: Ayrton Senna "; it looked like a football match and someone just scored a goal, everyone celebrating that lap.

I have great memories from several races, but live this is the best memory i have. He really was spectacular.

PS: After seeing that video i can`t avoid to feel proud of my nick name ;)

Yes MP4/4#12 you should be proud of your nickname its great. Yes I do understand Portuguese started learning it really because of Ayrton (it was handy when I used to write him good luck messages and give them to my friend who worked for the team. Ayrton used to joke and say they were really rude and "just between the lady and myself" my friend to this day believes he passed on rude notes to him.
He really was a special guy and could be really funny when he knew you well, he once spotted me at Silverstone and bought his mum over to say hi told her that I was the one who told him naughty jokes but it was ok because he didnt really understand them!!!!! You should have seen the look she gave me he thought it was hilarious!

I saw him race at Estoril in 93 which was the first time I had been there. That was quite an intense
weekend as he had signed for Williams and of course Macca wasnt happy. Ayrton had engine trouble that weekend blew an engine and for the first time Mika out qualified him. We got to talk to him on his way to the circuit on friday and saturday and saw him that evening at a hotel in Estoril. Got pictures of me sitting in the NSX that he used when in Portugal I saw him drive many many times for which I know I was extremely lucky but I saw him drive two of his most memorable races Monaco 92 and Donnington 93. I was at the Malborne hairpin at Donnington, we were standing on bricks as it was so cold and the rain was falling non stop. That first lap was just sheer majic he drove around everyone like he was on a sunday afternoon drive
. I remember turning back to look at the crowd behind me and shouted "did you see that"? they all had everyone was standing like you had been at Estoril mouths wide open in disbelief. That was what Ayrton did to us all left us in awe of him because he did things in those cars that you just didnt think possible.

Just a little memory for you when I first met Ayrton. My friend who worked fpr the team worked at the factory in Woking and was like a Janitor but he often used to do other jobs for Ron Dennis when he asked him. We had passes for tyre test at Silverstone there was my friend his son and myself we were at the back of the garage when Ayrton came towards us and my friends son pushed me forward to go up to him and get a picture taken and my book signed which i did and Ayrton was really kind and posed for a picture with me. After he spotted my friends dad went over to him gave him a hug and said to him"Philip my friend finially you have come to see me in the car" turning to his son he said and you must be David"> We were so surprised that he had remebered Phil had a son called David and this was down to a chat they had one day in the canteen. He was a very kind man to everyone he came across with in everyday life. He would remember people.

De nada amigo.

Estoril `93.