Russell proved only average at flying a Formula Ford

A child of the 60's Russell has a reputation for being a creative thinker, ideas come easily and frequently to him, most of which are both original and worthwhile with the occasional 'swerve ball' idea that his friends and colleagues now expect and indeed look forward to.

His love of motorcycles started in his early teens riding motocross bikes on the nearby Southport beach and attempting to conquer the biggest dunes at Formby Point, little did he know this mis-spent youth would come in useful later in life riding the real dunes of the Sahara.

Russell trained as a car mechanic in Liverpool and quickly found a weekend job with a race car team which developed into a full time job as race car mechanic and engineer in Formula Ford 2000 and Formula 3 at the time when Damon Hill was contesting the championship with Martin Donnelly.

The bug had bit and bit hard so it was not long before Russell was in the seat of a Formula Ford 2000 enjoying several seasons of FF2000 racing.

Formula Ford 2000 taking off at Cadwell Park

After a large crash at Brands Hatch that virtually destroyed the car he decided to run the very competitive Formula Ford 1600 national championship with some Formula Ford festivals thrown in for good measure. Luckily his girlfriend at the time (now wife) had an understanding nature and got very good at estimating repair costs and reminding Russell that Formula Ford racing is not supposed to be a contact sport !

Formula Ford 1600 at Oulton Park

Rarely without a motorcycle, almost anything with wheels interested Russell as well as wings as he became a reasonable glider pilot but a very poor model, luckily it was his photographer sister just practicing !

Don't give up the day job

But what paid for all this fun Russell was once asked " I had to learn how to make money to feed my habit ! So I ran a successful sign making business in Preston and then a design and marketing consultancy and latterly I developed an art and design centre, also in Preston, with my business partner who is a famous sculptor"

So why Spain and why BMW GS's ? "Maybe it was a mid life crisis I suffered in 2005 I am not sure but if it was I am glad it happened, I just felt there was more to be done and I woke up one morning and asked myself -- If I could do anything today what would it be ? The answer was riding a superb motorcycle through a dramatic landscape. The chosen motorcycle had to be the 1200 GS Adventure kitted out with Touratech kit and the place ? I had always liked Spain and from previous visits there I knew that the inland scenery was dramatic and not all topless beaches. The climate, of course, was the decider"

Any regrets ? " Actually no, the temptation is always to say I wish I had done it sooner but the timing has been perfect. We have 2 young children who love the school, beaches and  climate here and with the internet now being so widely used that is my main chanel of communication, I'm just glad we had the guts to give it a go and that my ever understanding wife Sarah went along with this idea !"

"GS heaven is building solidly now with lots planned such as Morocco tours and wilderness camping expeditions but I always intended it to be flexible, if people just want to come and ride a superb bike in a dramatic landscape as I did, they can come and do just that without a guide dictating when and where they should be but if they want an organised tour we will be arranging that as well"