UKGTR Season 5 Endurance Clubmen - Imola - Jul 22

[Paul968]

A fairly quiet race for me, with Ruskus far too fast in the Viper and the other cup cars dropping back, leaving me on my own. The early laps were eventful after Will lost it in front of me at T2 and span in to me, letting Mo and TT in front. Then had a quick joust with TT (sorry for the mini-tap at the top of the hill at Piratella) before getting past into Variante Alta. Chased Mo for quite a few laps without gaining much, but he then went wide at Piratella and I that was the last I saw of him. Towards the end Adam was catching me up after a late pitstop I think, but I just managed to hold him off.

Congrats to Kerr, Pedro, Pops and Ruskus, and to Backo and Adam for the championships. Also well done to Ginsters, who had a storming race only to just miss out.

Lapping cars were generally good for me last night, but one thing I found difficult was that a few assumed that I would move off line and came up close behind until I did. The guidelines say the exact opposite should happen, so this is likely to lead to confusion - it would be quite easy for the slower car to start off staying on the racing line, find the lapper waiting behind and then the lapper losing patience just as the slower car moves out of the way, with inevitable results. Better IMO for the lapper to move offline quite early to signal his intentions.

[Adam Parle]

Towards the end Adam was catching me up after a late pitstop I think, but I just managed to hold him off.

Yep - got a stop and go after one slide into the muck too many.  Think one more lap would have made things interesting - don't know if the Vertigo had the legs to get by though.

[Truetom]

... had a quick joust with TT (sorry for the mini-tap at the top of the hill at Piratella) before getting past into Variante Alta ...

Np, Paul. Always like to toussle with ya, even with a touch I know it stays within limits we set waaay back in Season1. 

Too bad I got a disco, was motivated and prepaired for the event. 
I started to like Cup porker, feels much better than in GTR1. 

TT

[mo]

Sorry to see you disco TT, I was slowly closing on your bumper and just when it looked like we were going to have a nice scrap you vanished.
In fact on the lap before you vanished momentarily as well but reappeared right in front of me so I knew things weren't looking good for one of us.
I'm really enjoying the cup cars too so hopefully we'll get a chance to continue it in S6.

Grats to the winners, hope I did a good job getting out of the way of the GT cars who were very patient especially when catching me coming into Minerale (a very difficult place to get out of the way safely).

[Rob Bywater "Kerb Crawlers"]

Was really great to be back last night (my first race this season). The rustiness was evident though, and I made a number of errors, including forgetting where my pit box was (it was the very first, hiding behind the corner!!), and driving straight past it when I had my Stop/Go (corner cutting). Hugely enjoyable though and I will be back next season, fully fit hopefully!

One area that was quite disappointing was the behaviour of 1 or 2 of the faster cars. After I spun out of the race I settled into watching the scrap between Pops and SBG, which was excellent, with good driving from them both. However there must have been 2 or 3 occassions when the faster cars attempted to outbreak the 2 Vertigos into corners, left it way to late and ended up flying off the track! Both Pops and SBG were fighting for important points at the time, and just for the sake of a bit of patience (the GT`s could have waited until the straight, and manouvered a lot more safely and easily) their race could have been ruined by what is reckless driving. Definitely by luck more than judgement, there was no contact, so reports may not be filed, but these incidents should be looked at, and an appropriate punishment handed out for persistent offenders.

On a final note I would like to congratulate the various winners on their success, and once again thank Dave et al for all their hard work.

Cheers

Rob

[popabawa]

One area that was quite disappointing was the behaviour of 1 or 2 of the faster cars. After I spun out of the race I settled into watching the scrap between Pops and SBG, which was excellent, with good driving from them both. However there must have been 2 or 3 occassions when the faster cars attempted to outbreak the 2 Vertigos into corners, left it way to late and ended up flying off the track! Both Pops and SBG were fighting for important points at the time, and just for the sake of a bit of patience (the GT`s could have waited until the straight, and manouvered a lot more safely and easily) their race could have been ruined by what is reckless driving. Definitely by luck more than judgement, there was no contact, so reports may not be filed, but these incidents should be looked at, and an appropriate punishment handed out for persistent offenders.

Cheers Rob. Good job I didn't know anyone was watching, I'm sure I'd have lost it otherwise!

Not sure if you've followed any of the other Clubmen post-race discussion, we've been bitching about exactly what you describe on a number of other occasions.

The GT1's CANNOT outbrake the Vertigo (even with SimBin's physics ) it just isn't going to work. All that happens is that we're used to it now so whenever the inevitable happens we just run wide to avoid the contact which I think is what you saw us doing at the end of the race. What is really disappointing is that it nearly decided the result between SBG & I.

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

Definitely by luck more than judgement, there was no contact, so reports may not be filed, but these incidents should be looked at, and an appropriate punishment handed out for persistent offenders.

How can we look at the incidents if you don't file reports! We're not psychic!

[Adam Parle]

How can we look at the incidents if you don't file reports! We're not psychic!

Psychic Sharks ?

[popabawa]

I understand what you are saying Dave but it's because there generally isn't any contact. As far as I can remember, there has never been a penalty given out for an on-track incident where there hasn't been contact.

If I see a GT1 closing and I know they are likely to try something reckless I might decide to run wide on a corner instead of risking contact (and possibly the race).

If I do that, the GT1 passes cleanly so there's nothing to penalise, for it to be clear cut I need to get hit and I'm not prepared to do that and potentially ruin the effort I've put into the race and practicing for it.

Even if there are penalties, there are some that blatantly ignore them and carry on regardless...

[Rob Bywater "Kerb Crawlers"]

Definitely by luck more than judgement, there was no contact, so reports may not be filed, but these incidents should be looked at, and an appropriate punishment handed out for persistent offenders.

How can we look at the incidents if you don't file reports! We're not psychic!

Agreed, you`re not - then a provision should be made for filing reports for bad driving, rather than when contact is made. I havent read other race reports as enquired by Pops, but if this has been a theme throughout the season then maybe it needs looking at.

Cheers

Rob

[Truetom]

We could introduce a yellow card, followed by red. 

TT

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

Agreed, you`re not - then a provision should be made for filing reports for bad driving, rather than when contact is made. I havent read other race reports as enquired by Pops, but if this has been a theme throughout the season then maybe it needs looking at.

You can already do that - and don't assume that because a report doesn't appear in the mod rulings that we aren't keeping score of inconsiderate driving and having quiet words with people behind the scenes. Because we are.

[mo]

My view is that if a driver has to take avoiding action to avoid contact while being passed then it should be reported, even if there is no contact.
My thinking is that the passing driver has made the exact same error of judgement either way, and it is only by the actions of the defending driver that contact was avoided.

Once a driver reachs the turn-in point, and no one is alongside, then they have a right to turn in. It is not reasonable to expect drivers to check their mirrors after turn-in, to check for someone making a late move. If a driver has to abort their turn-in at this point in order to avoid contact then the attacking driver is in the wrong whether there is contact or not, and the incident can and should be reported imo.

[Munkez]

The GT1's CANNOT outbrake the Vertigo (even with SimBin's physics ) it just isn't going to work.

You must have wet yourself with laughter as i tried to out break you on the outside coming into Tamburello on lap 12? and taking in a long trip in the sand!!

[Rob Bywater "Kerb Crawlers"]

Agreed, you`re not - then a provision should be made for filing reports for bad driving, rather than when contact is made. I havent read other race reports as enquired by Pops, but if this has been a theme throughout the season then maybe it needs looking at.

You can already do that - and don't assume that because a report doesn't appear in the mod rulings that we aren't keeping score of inconsiderate driving and having quiet words with people behind the scenes. Because we are.

Ok Dave thanks.

Cheers

Rob