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The Novices Trophy resumes its battle at the classic track of Spa-Francorchamps using the modified layout used between 1947 and 1970. Not for us the wimpy 4 mile track that passes for F1 these days and no stopping at bus stops. Pah! No we have a mighty 14km that will take more than 3 and a half minutes to get round (in my case probably more than four minutes :()

This track was the fastest circuit in the world. The original triangle-shaped course used public roads between the Belgian towns of Spa, Malmedy, and Stavelot. The combination of massively fast speeds, poor safety equipment and the unpredictable weather made this track deadly in the 1960's. So much so that the Grand Prix drivers boycotted the race in 1969.

Jackie Stewart's crusade to improve safety in racing was set in motion by his crash there in 1966, when his BRM ended upside-down in the cellar of the farmhouse on the outside of the corner, with fuel gushing out of the tank onto the Scot, who had broken ribs to add to his misery.

Luckily for us GPL isn't quite so dangerous. We can enjoy the challenge of taking Eau Rouge and the Masta kink flat out without killing ourselves.

The Novices will race for 11 laps on this loooong circuit!

In line with the new handicapping system, only the series leader is chassis restricted. None of us are close enough to the invincible Rob Venn to require it! Since Spa is such a power track the restriction to a BT7 is loosened (just a bit).

Handicapped Driver(s)	Allowed Chassis
Rotaxmax125	BT7 or Cooper

Please check the Season 23 pages for details (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=359&theme=6) regarding rules and the Novices Trophy (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=364&theme=6) pages in particular.

Qualifying may start before 9pm, if so, Reserve drivers should leave the server when 35 minutes of qualifying remains and only rejoin when 30 minutes of qualifying is left. This is to ensure that Full Time drivers get priority in joining.

Please restrict chat to pit messages if necessary, and this includes the end of the race, until all running drivers have completed the necessary laps.

The Novice Trophy races are run under Int Long rules and all incidents in the Lap 1 red zone will be moderated and reported incidents for the rest of the race, however the moderators reserve the right to review any incident. Drivers can take UNLIMITED Shift-R but MUST take a Stop n Go for each one. The Red Zone will extend to the exit of Malmedy.

Please ensure you are aware of the new in-series penalties for this season. Details are here (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=10879.0). Drivers incurring a penalty will receive a PM informing them of this."

Please submit incident reports within a week after the race so that the moderators report may be out before the next race.

Race List = iGOR
Server = UKGPL3
IP address = tbc
Race date = 11/09/2012
Time = no later then 9:00pm UK Time (30-60 mins practice, race starts at 9:30pm)
Track = Spa (Papy)
Variant = 65F1
Damage Model = Int
Qualifying time = 30 minutes
Race length = 11 laps
RED ZONE = Lap 1 to the exit of Malmedy
Password: see above (#post_event_password)


65 Patch: The 2.02 Release of the 65mod can and should be used. You need a working installation of the 65 mod to install the 2.02 Update. All the 65 Mod files can be found here (ftp://ukgpl3.dyndns.org/Mods/1965)

Driver lists can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R;group=363;theme=6)

Password: see above (#post_event_password)

Hi
This will be my first event and posted in new drivers but had no replies:-

How do I access the chat room and is there anything else I need to know about the chat room.

Cheers

Boggy

Welcome B.  IGOR chatroom channel is #ukgpl, and someone is often there mid-evening to discuss 4 wheeled matters.  We also have a practice server or 2 for test races.  With your unexpected nickname, I'd suggest you practice your starts, before starting an official race with us. :)

This one sneaked up on me, I thought it was next week :( I better gets some practice in. I’m looking forward to racing again, first one with my new steering wheel and I’m still getting use to it so I won’t be as fast as I should be.

Good luck everyone.

I moved it so you sould do it Al ;)

What sort of times you getting. I can't beat 3:41 solo (although with tow I would be faster) which is not fast enough I suspect.

@Boggy, drop me a PM if you are having problems.

I'm at mid 3:40's solo, I'm a little faster with a tow but I'm still inconstant.

Hmmm. I should be quicker in the mighty Honda - topping out at about 168 down to Stavelot but I always end up slow coming out of there. What splits you getting Al? I am 57/51/52/61 ish.

Not sure on my spilts, I will check it out tonight.

168 sounds about the same as me, with a tow I'm in the low 170's but that was just against the computer.

I can get the BT11 up to 170 on the entry to Stavelot. Similar split times Paul, but might do 51/60 in sectors 3 & 4. Theoretically I should get better top speeds in other cars - but I can't.

splits are same-ish a paul's, mabe like billy a shade quicker in 3&4. lotus will only get to 168mph as well. my min speed is 127mph on way out of stav.

how do you find your split times out? think this might be a long race in the cooper

You get the split times with F5 on prib I think Rob.

I too am mid 3.40 in the BT11 and a couple of seconds slower in the honda but the honda is much more forgiving when you touch the grass..... so it's a bit of a gamble..
This is my first race on my new pc (which I've had about 3 days) so I hope it is ok, my old pc was on its final warning when it froze at the norisring.

You chaps should concentrate on being neat and tidy in , to get the best possible corner exit speeds , the better exit the faster you get down the next straight .

particuarly Eua rouge , malmedy , "the kink"  and  La source , IMO of course  ;)

I cant get the patch exe to run, I'm using windows 7 64 bit home ed

Don't know about patch..sorry..I am running windows 7 64 home pre and I installed Gpl with the gplps installer and then copy and pasted my original gpl file, prib just worked I haven't had to mess with it.

I have Prib working with Windows 7 64 bit but I had to use the latest version of Pribluda - I'll check Rob but you are fast enough anyway ;)

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Last night on the test server I was doing: 57/52/51/61 without a tow

168 is my top speed too without a tow.

How do you find your speed on prib? Do you use the other view with F10 or another way?

It at the bottom of the screen, right in the middle. Well it is on mine anyway.

Latest version of Prib is 1.1.2.0 and can be found here (http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=5835)

The Pribluda website only hosts version 1.1.1.0 and is here (http://www.amirkamal.com/gpl/pribluda/pribluda_readme.html).

Some good stuff on both sites! I couldn't get version 1.1.1.0 to work but 1.1.2.0 works well.

Hi
Do you guys lift through eau rouge? I cant get below 58.5 and have to lift suppose it must be my setup!
Cheers
Boggy

Yes, I do lift. I've tried to do it flat and can never do it.

With this Lotus 33 (http://www.sendspace.com/file/klxfmv) Eau Rouge is flat in 4th!
Not with my BRM...

The masta kink seems flat out in the 65's but can it be done in the original 67's I wonder?

NO!  ;D

Eau Rouge is hard but it is all about the line in. If you go wide, entry is easy but it compromises the exit, if you stay left, entry is hard and it is easy to hit the wall - which REALLY compromises your exit!

MASSIVELY frustrating race. A spinning Rog took me out at the start and then  the car was damaged. Lost 30 secs + 2-3 per lap. Couldn't live with Phillipe but he kept me interested but he took an odd line at Stavelot and I went wide to avoid him and touched the grass. Span at La Source twice because something was damaged and then had a mighty battle with Nige. Managed to turn into him so penalties coming. I have had a word with the Moderator and he is very strict ;)

Shout outs to:
1. Al. First pole followed up with a win. WD mate.
2. Boggy - first race - hope you enjoyed it. There are more even tracks to come...
3. Billy - excellent podium my friend.
4. Nige. Sorry for taking you out. Enjoyed our battle - 2 place pen for me :(
5. Rog - sorry about hitting you on L1 but I was on the edge at the time...

Decent qualifying but poor start (must work on those) and had a good few laps dicing with al- really good fun, but a glitch in the system gave me about 20 seconds of really low frame rate and lag.. Suddenly I was back in the race again but 28 seconds behind al in 5th. Sorry if I spoilt anyones race with my warping. A good run towards the end but couldn't catch billy. Well done al for pole and the win.

Thank you Paul for the kind words, also thank you again for moving this race and letting me take part. I love the Spa track and I was gutted to see that I would most likely miss the race, so I am very grateful to Paul for moving this race.

I have done so much practice for this race, I’m glad it worked out for me. After my old wheel started acting up I replaced it with a couple of different options. I finally decided on the Thrustmaster T500 F1 version (because it’s Ferrari branded), I got this wheel a few weeks ago, and basically had to relearn the track, car etc with this new wheel. My times where awful, but they slowly got better until I finally went negative in offline practice, it’s my first negative in a 65 car.

I started qualifying hopeful of a fast time. I did my first few laps on my own to set myself a base line, and then went looking for a tow. I never got a good tow so my previous time had to be good enough, I was pleasantly surprise with pole, as I really though that pole would be in the 38’s.

As for the race, it was brilliant, I thoroughly enjoyed the 3 way battle I had with Johnny and Giovanni. I got away OK, and led but Giovanni was right on my tail. I was still getting everything up to temperature when he flew past me. I settled in behind him, hoping to tow us both away from the chasing pack, but Johnny was too fast and quickly caught us both. Best overtake of the race happened on Lap 2, where I overtook Giovanni and Johnny overtook both of us, we were 3 abreast at one point.

Now Johnny was leading, and I was second. My plan was the same, I hoped that we could tow each other away from the pack, as both Giovanni and Billy where both within striking distance if anything went wrong. The plan was working quite well, I only overtook if I thought it wouldn’t cost us time, and Johnny was doing the same. We opened up a small gap to Giovanni, so I started to look where Johnny was slightly slower than me to plan my last lap attack. Got to say that he wasn’t really slow anywhere, there were a few places where I was slightly quicker, but with the tow he would have caught me back up in no time. I was thinking about what to do when I checked Prib and found he was nowhere to be found. No idea what happened, I checked my reply too and still don’t know, he just seem to have a flip out.

After Johnny disappeared from my rear I settled in and managed the gap. Apart from a couple of lapses, I cruised home to the finish. I’m very happy to win here, as I love this track. Also so happy to have my first pole position, I’ve been so close a couple of times so I’m happy to finally have one.

Congrats to all who took part, well done to the podium, and bad luck to Johnny, as his pace deserved better. Also well done to Rob Venn, 5th place in a Cooper around Spa is not a bad result. I won’t be able to make the next race, so I’ll see you all in Charade.

Hi all
Yes thoroughly enjoyed first online race, had total disaster as I thought I had my setup but obviously not, so struggled to control car but managed to get away with one shift R with a car that spent all race trying to get away from me. I don't think I would have improved so the disco made no difference. Cant wait for next race and must sort out importing setup and checking before next one, well done to everyone
Cheers

Boggy

Grats to Al on a great win, and  Grats to podium.

Should not have raced, did little praccy and just used Imola set up with changed gears, Result of which i ruined others racing

 1 Paul big sorry ruining your race at start
 2 Boggy sorry hitting you when you was parked across track, braked hard but no way to stop.
 3 P Girard lap 10 i think sorry passing you there should have waited.
 4 in qually  sorry AL took you out.

Will have to re think GPL on line racing, the standard of other drivers is going up and mine is going down

Im hoping that my trouble was a firewall issue or a Windows update that I forgot to change, I need some online track time before our next race to try and iron out the niggles. I saw the hard drive light come on and then things started to go slow and only corrected after I hit the bails at the hairpin....strange

Fortunately all my offs were during qualifying, the race was consistent 3.43/42’s. Congratulations to Al – convincing win. Commiserations to Johnny who always seems to have a computer issue. I inherited 3rd place about lap 5, managed to keep Giovanni in sight but was gradually slipping back rather than closing. The last few laps were a bit nervy as Johnny progressively took lumps out of my lead, but he needed one more lap.
Welcome to Boggy – our latest recruit. You will get faster by doing three things; practice, more practice & … extra practice.

Hi all
Think I need to practice :o.
Rog no problem I dont think I should have been parked there
Badblood think we had a coming together at the start, hope it was a racing incident. Right off to practice

Boggy
PS which version of Riverside??

Riverside 71 (http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=8279)

I'm sorry paul. I thought I was on the right path. At the start of the race, I thought we had to go cautiously, without overtaking, and I do not understand why all drivers have overtaken me?   ??? ???

No it was fine Phillipe - you just went quite wide and I wanted to leave you room. I couldn't match your speed anyway. I should have done a stop n go and then driven my own race...

Don't think we touched Boggy. I mashed Rog though!

Just one of those things Rog - I wasn't quite sure where your car was going (you had a warp side by side I think but I haven't checked yet) and indecision  meant I din't go left or right but took you straight down the exhaust pipes.

I have had a go at Riverside and it is hard. Best of 1:54 but a 2:02 average for 12 laps so get practising boys.

What cars will I be allowed to used for Riverside? as I need to start learning the track

Cooper Rob. Giovani will also be limited but actually I don't think it will be too much of a handicap here - tell me when you are doing 1:45 and I will add a three wheels only handicap to slow you down!

My mistake - it's a BT7 and Gio is 17 points back so unhandicapped.

I had a run out at riverside last night and discovered the dreaded hoops are back! I also consistently landed in the same fence 4 times in a row..... My first lap was a 2.18 which I hope to improve on.

Mine was a 2:30  ;D

A couple of questions....how many laps will the race be at Riverside? and probably not the best place to ask but what is the preferred graphics option Direct 3d or OpenGl? I use the old Direct 3d not v2.

21 laps I think Johnny. As for the rasteriser, this is a 'fixed' track so it is a case of suck it and see. The V2 rasterisers are WAY better behaved and you will need the V2 for the CanAm mod, so if you can run it, you should.

Mod published