SimRacing.org.uk

UKGPL Season 18 - Inter-League Race - UKGPL v LBGPL - Nivelles

This is the only available date for the race that was originally scheduled for the 6th December.  It is a Tuesday rather than the traditional Sunday night but LBGPL have a league race on a Sunday night.

This time our guests are the Belgian League LBGPL (http://www.lbgpl.be/index.php?v=007&champ=Automne%202009&choix=cal).  We haven't raced against them before so they have the advantage of a home track, Nivelles.  Nivelles is a real track that was used for two Formula 1 Grand Prix races in the 1970s.  There are generous run-off areas so we should have plenty of finishers unlike the last round at Goodwood.  Nivelles was built as an alternative to Spa which was considered too dangerous for 1970s Formula 1 machinery.  But Zolder, another famous Belgian track, proved to be more popular and was the preferred venue for the Belgian Grand Prix in the 1970s and early 80s.  Once safety improvements had been made, the Belgian Grand Prix returned to it's ancestral home at Spa.  Nivelles fell into disrepair and was finally abandoned in 1981.

Each league is to field nine cars, and there are no chassis handicaps, drivers will be racing to complete the distance and score points for their team.

Please be in IGOR UKGPL chatroom by 20:55 UK London time (20:55GMT), (You will need to set up a channel called #ukgpl if you haven't already done so)
Chat and Race passwords: see above (#post_event_password)

Server UKGPL_T7_2
IP address  62.149.202.168

Race date = 09-02-2010
Time = 20:00 UK London time (20:00GMT) - (21:00CET)
Track = Nivelles - download from here (http://gpltd.bcsims.com/?limit=10&author=&country=&type=&kind=&state=&sort=&show_results=0&show_gplrank=&intr=&sbtd=Nivelles&menu=Show_Letters&send=Search)
Variant = 66F1
Damage Model = PRO
Qually time = 35 minutes.
Race length = 40 laps (complete 36 laps to score points as a finisher)

Chassis assignments: (Captain to advise)
BT19 - TBD
one of the BT11 versions, driver to choose - TBD
one BRM, driver to choose between P261 and P83 - TBD
Cooper - TBD
one Eagle, driver to choose between T1F and T1G - TBD
one Ferrari, driver to choose between 246 and 312 - TBD
Honda - TBD
one Lotus, driver to choose between 43 and either of the 33 versions - TBD
McLaren - TBD

If you'd like to represent UKGPL in this race please post on the thread and advise what chassis you'd prefer.  Driver lists and points scored can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=226&theme=6)

Please Note: The logistics involved in organizing an Inter League race are more complicated than for a regular league race.  Particularly when different time zones are involved.  Consequently the details above are liable to change.  Please will all drivers check this thread regularly to make sure they don't miss any important updates.

I won't be available for this one, so you guys will have the chance to get a better than normal result ::)

Sorry gents just had an email from Fred at LBGPL.  Like Evil, LBGPL can't make this Sunday so I'll have to reschedule to one of the January slots.

That's lucky, I was about to post a listing. Any preference if you might be available guys? We're (sort of) short on drivers.

Bagsy the BRM. Unless somebody really can't get along with another car. ;)

If you are in danger of having to watch Coronation Street with the Mrs alternative entertainment is at hand
https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=7191.0

Suprise me again  ;D

Although I must admit I'm rather enjoying the red whizzy thing  :)

I'll put my name forward for this one, if required.  As usual any chassis

If its gonna be next year, then I can probably be around to lose some more points for the team ;D

You need to make the races shorter to tempt me into the series , not really into such long distance stuff and dont have the energy for it these days  :(

plus I lose all control of my limbs after about 12 laps on any track with more than 2 consecutave corners in it  :D

That explain how you survived Goodwood then Bernie? Or was it more the neat anaesthetic pumped into your body? ;D

Since it won't be this weekend, I'll put out a provisional listing tomorrow evening.

But 4 laps down = no prizes  :-[ :-[ :-[

Gents, pick your ideal chassis and post it here. This race is in 2 (?) weeks.

Phil, did you get the date right for this? 5th January is on the Tuesday.

If the date is 5th January, it is a Tuesday.

Provisional chassis allocation is as follows:

Brabham BT19 Repco: John Roberts(?)
Honda RA273: Tim Muttram
Eagle (Climax / Weslake): Phil Thornton(?)
Ferrari (246 / 312): Fulvio Policardi
Cooper T81 Maserati: Mike Beattie(?)
Brabham BT11 (Climax engines / BRM): evilclive
McLaren M2B: Hristo Itchov
BRM (P261 / P83): Jethro Walters
Lotus (43, 33 BRM / Climax): Al Heller


I'll be PM'ing those with question marks to confirm whether they're interested.

Track is available to download from the link in the first post. :)

I think I have tried this circuit a long long time ago, but never in anything other than a 67. So if we are running 66's I will stake a claim for my favourite jet powered roller skate .. the 2 litre Brab/BRM  mainly because I have a setup that sort of works everywhere ( thus far).

If that causes too many probs with others selecting chassis, I could go for the Honda or the baby Eagle as long as i get plenty of warning. ;)

I'm happy to continue in my reserve role if you're short of volunteers. Any chassis will do me for 66's - but a slow one would probably be most suitable.

evil, consider it yours. Al, at this stage, would the Lotus suit you?

Lotus would be good Jethro. I can always switch chassis if any of the regulars want it. 

Cool beans, consider it yours for now. ;)

Can everybody check the chassis allocations on the first page please? If you're unhappy with it or want to change, please tell me.

Jethro I'm available for this race, I'm happy with the Fezza, I'll let you know what type after have tried some laps at Nivelles, long time since I raced there last time  :)
Ciao

Since this race is scheduled for the 5th Jan rather than the 6th December, I can step in should anyone else falter  :)

I think I'll go with the 312.
Ciao

Been doing a few laps over the joliday, anyone got any idea of what a "decent lap time" looks like around here???? :-\

Not a sausage Clive, still to hook up a decent lap in either BRM.

Maybe my 1.25 in the 312 could be a WR   :D
http://gplrank.schuerkamp.de/php-pub/user.php?showWR

So a 1:22 in the Brab BRM sounds acceptable ? ::)

This one's not likely happening tomorrow guys. The next available time LBGPL can turn up is in February.

Sorry about the late notice. Just a messenger. :(

If you're at a loss as to what to do there's always the fun race at Snowglen https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=7271.0 (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=7271.0)

Just as well, as my G25 pedals need a service :-\  it appears that the "max beans" contact is malfunctioning and delivers a somewhat erratic acceleration curve...which is why ( of course!) I have not won many races lately. ::)

Hi Jethro,

Is that "not likely" as in it might still be on so we should still turn up in Igor just in case or has it definitely been called off?

That's "not likely" as in "I'm still waiting for complete confirmation, so yes turn up just in case".

Otherwise, I guess I'd better find SnowGlen! :D


Disclaimer: it's not been "called off", it's been "postponed". The race will likely be happening after S18 in February.

Will be about, haven't been around due to an arm injury, so I'll turn up in case this thing actually happens !!

Confirmation this event is definitely postponed until February (probably 16th).  Very sorry gents, my fault not Jethro's.   Being away on hols meant I wasn't able to confirm details in time.  However we are struggling for a good server (we'd have to use mine) so we can't run the race without risking a very warpy connection. 

On the server issue we are trying to organize a rented server but we are having a few teething troubles.  Hopefully we'll get it sorted soon and if the trial period works out we should have a decent server for the rest of the season (and for Season 19 ;))

Phil we can use T7 server in the meantime, and if you need help in setting the server just ask ;)
Ciao

This race is now rescheduled for 9th Feb at 20:00 UK Time

Main announcement updated.

Don't forget Gents - that's this Tuesday :o

Ok for me.

Ciao

I'd rather give this a race a miss if you don't mind , have you got a reserve driver for the Brabham BT19 Repco ?

john

Er


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ask me in the morning.....



;)

I want something else than the Honda if possible.

Ah, nevermind , just saw it's 66s. :P

You happy with the Macca Hristo? :)

Just checked the listings, there is no reserve driver for the BT19, however I'm more than happy to fill that slot and give some other lucky git the BRM. :)

Are those laptimes posted under "Nivelles" on the GPL Rank site for real???

1:25's and a couple of 1:24's??

What sort of times are the UKGPL teammates  getting ATM?

Yes, McLaren is fine, I have most of my 66 3 liters experience with it as well as a bunch of setups.

I need a roll call for this event guys. A courtesy post with a "yes" or "no" as to whether you're in or not will suffice.

Current allocation is as follows:

Brabham BT19 Repco: VACANT
Honda RA273: Tim Muttram
Eagle (Climax / Weslake): Phil Thornton(?)
Ferrari (246 / 312): Fulvio Policardi
Cooper T81 Maserati: Mike Beattie(?)
Brabham BT11 (Climax engines / BRM): evilclive
McLaren M2B: Hristo Itchov
BRM (P261 / P83): Jethro Walters
Lotus (43, 33 BRM / Climax): Al Heller

yes I'm ok for this one, and I know its an

8:00pm start

OK in 312 I think.

I'm there if you need me Jethro.

OK for the Eagle T1G.  My PB is 1:26.95.  Probably well off the pace but hopefully quick enough not to get lapped too many times so I can finish in the points ::)

Phil I have installed Nivelles on T7 server. I have set the GP lenght to 40 laps and modified the grid to loose and so that the poleman could see the flagman that is at his right over the pitrail. So beware to check were is the flagman at your right at the start.
Ciao

Thanks Fulvio

Had some Massive lag issues at the start -  all the cars kept appearing and dissapeering around me  :o
Also was having FPS issues for some strange reason?

Anyway, crashed out at the half way point after putting a rear wheel in the dirt approaching a braking point. Ended up 3 wheeled and upside down  :(

Lag problems all the way through and the connection bit just around the time my mother shouted up the stairs wanting to know where the phantom TV remote was. Needless to say, I ended up a lap or 2 down and was just getting into the swing of finishing when the car fell off track and the connection fell off the radar.

I'm getting so frustrated with this thing I may actually get my own line installed regardless of what my parents say. It's ridiculous.

At last, we got more cars to the finish than our opposition, which was satisfying. Grats to all those who finished.
I was reasonably confident of being "on the pace" for this one having done a few laps of practice and having sorted out the setup to my liking.
I was hoping towards the end of practice that Hristo might stick his Mclaren on the front row and give me some moral support, but I found myself on the grid behind Fred and Alain, who were both very quick. My only consolation, was that I had set my qually time on race fuel, so I knew that I should be able to stay with the leaders with any luck.
Alain bogged down a little off the line and I was able to get my Brab up the inside and onto the tail of Fred's big Fezza at T1. I'm not sure what happened to Alain after that but he appears to have retired on Lap 1?? I tucked in behind Fred and followed him around Lap 1 as we opened a small gap back to Hristo in 3rd.
At the start of Lap 2 Fred went in a bit too hot at T1 and spun his Ferrari right in front of me forcing me wide onto the grass and towards the posts and catch fencing.... after a short section of rallycross I regained the circuit, intact and in the lead. I tried to push as hard as I dared to break away, hoping that Hristo would give Fred something else to think about whilst I made my escape. But within 2 laps Fred was back on my tail. The speed of his big beast on the straight dragging him back onto my tail pipes. I defended for about a lap and a half but it was only a matter of time before he blew past on the straight.
So I tucked into the slipstream and found that although Fred could ease a gap up the straight I could comfortably close up again around the twisty bits. Thats how it stayed for several laps, I was hoping that Hristo would catch us and make a 3 way battle, but we seemed to be easing away just slightly.
Things were fine until Fred ran wide and I was so far up his exhaust pipes that I followed him onto the grass and in order to avoid rear ending him I had to swerve and just missed my braking point for the hairpin. A half spin put my rear end on the grass on the outside of the bend as Fred escaped. I had to wait before rejoining as Hristo was coming and so lost about 15 secs on Fred by the end of the lap!!!
Hristo seemd to be closing slowly on Freds Ferrari and I was holding the gap even without a tow up the straight. Just as it seemed Hristo would be giving Fred some trouble and maybe slow him down his engine gave up and I was soon to catch and pass him after which he retired.
I pushed as hard as I dared, aware that 2nd place was mine to throw away ( something that is not unknown!!) but keen to keep the pressure on Fred who was not that far in front...one mistake and I would be back in the fight.
Fred kept his cool and finished the race a comfortable winner and the last remaining runner for his team.
Big grats to our team and those who volunteered at short notice and completed the race.

Well, it turned out I knew the track, but have only raced it once in 67s, so it took a while to come up with a setup for the McLaren that would work relatively well. It wasn't perfect, but there was no time left as I already had joined late.

I could've probably moved up to 2nd in Qualifying but on my two best possible laps I had an arsehole... I mean Arsoulle, totally ignore me and turn into my car while I was side by side with him. The second time he did he was not even on a flying lap, but his warm up lap! So I told him to use his mirrors more which I thought was the problem, but we were soon to discover it wasn't that...

I didn't have the best of reactions on the start and Arsoulle passed me, just to start losing it in almost every corner after that and eventually going out in the dirt. He returned quite aggressively and missed the apex of the next corner so I went on the inside, narrowly avoiding contact. He attacked me again on the s/f straight of lap 2 and squeezed me to the left as we went into the braking zone - what a nutter.

He kept making mistakes which were dropping us back from the top 3 and at the end of the lap I had a better speed coming into the last corner, so I went for the inside and lined up alongside. What do you know, he turned into me as if I wasn't there (again), but this time he took himself off the track and I just lost a bit of time but continued almost immediately. Then, as seen after the race, he demanded an apology in chat! Such people should be kept out of online racing... Apparently Arsehole continued but I suspect he took Fulvio out because the latter was behind me and a lap later he wasn't anymore, and at the same time Arsehole finally retired (what a relief for everyone).

So now I was some 2-3 seconds behind the top 3 and they were very fast. I was still adjusting to my car's handling and trying to figure out how to maximize the line and speed in each corner. After Alain retired I thought I could close up on Evil and Fred, but they were like a very fast train, locked together and slightly edging away.

When Evil dropped back I was left chasing Fred who was now 4 seconds ahead. It was the time when I had to really dig deep down and find even more speed, no matter what, because I had no idea how many of the opposition were still running behind us.

Lap after lap the gap began to get smaller and smaller, 3 seconds, 2 seconds, then a slight mistake by me increased to 3 again, but then I managed to drop it to 2 again and even 1 second. Then it stabilized for a while because my tires were in a bad shape from all the pushing. There were some backmarkers along the way, but apart from losing half a second behind one of them, I didn't have real problems.

Because I was driving on the ragged edge it didn't feel comfortable at all and I was a bit of negative, thinking it might go wrong any moment. Just when I was close enough to benefit properly from Fred's car, I touched the dirt on the exit of that very long fast right hander, T3, and it suddenly sent the car to the right, and I couldn't avoid spinning off and into the barrier.

There was suspension damage or something because after that the car just wouldn't turn left unless I slowed down a lot, and it would oversteer into right handers. I kept going for a while to try and make it to the end, and it looked OK because the gaps back were big, after Evil passed me. But after all the pushing earlier and because of the oversteering from the damage the engine kept overreving, it finally blew up with just 10 laps to go.

Good to see UKGPL win though, grats!

-=Hristo=-