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Practice: 19:20 (GMT) (65 mins)
Qual 2: 20:25 (20 mins)
Race: 20:45 ~ (26 laps)
Cars allowed: Lotus 7

Track: Monaco '79   Download and install this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3356.msg76901#post_monaco79)
Time of Day Setting: 13:00
Weather: Dry
Start: Standing

Tyre wear: Normal
Fuel consumption: Normal
Pit-stops: None required

Server: simracing.org.uk P8L7
Password: see above (#post_event_password)

Championship Standings (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=381&theme=34)

Notes:
(1) It's best if all drivers can make sure they are connected before the Qualifying session as drivers on track during qualifying will not see
cars that join after they are on track until they go back to the garage.
(2) Please make sure you are fully aware of the SimRacing.org.uk Rules (https://www.simracing.org.uk/index.php?pid=7) especially the
rules about in-game chat messages.
(3) You will need to install Power and Glory v3 from:  http://gtlw-blog.flyingpig.info/
(4) P&G has no 'Pit Speed Limiter' function.You may go as fast as you like in the pits, but please exercise caution. Penalties will be handed out for causing contact in the pit lane. Use your best judgement when making your pitstop during the race.

(5) Please follow the SROUK guidelines for using kerbs etc. Please keep 2 wheels on the track surface (kerbs do not count as track surface)
Excessive cutting of corners will seen as cheating and the results may be altered to reflect

Nice to see a Lotus7 series  8)

They take a bit of fiddling with ffb, driver view and steering angles but once sorted they are a great drive and should offer some excellent racing.

I've not even tried them in pg3, are they any good? Soon find out I guess!

Underpowered, and not like the Caterhams, but I think as Tudor says, with some setup they will be a good compliment to the calendar
These Lotus 7 events will be alternating with the Enduro series, so will be bi-monthly to start with at least

Track link doesnt work  ???

Link changed to the no grip original
Looks like I messed up the upload.
Can't do any more with it for a couple of days now until I get back to my other machine at Southport.

Whilst checking out these cars offline I noticed something unusual about the cars available when different menu's are selected.

If you select Power & Glory from the class category menu you only get a choice of two cars. But if you select Lotus 7 Club from the class category menu you get eleven cars to choose from but not including the two from the other menu.

Just so you know.

Just the two cars available on-line.

Are they all the same spec?

They appear to have the same spec. I'll pop onto the server and see if I can coax out the full set of cars, no promises mind.

EDIT: I've put the Lotus 7 club set online but I am unable to join online myself to check. I keep getting "host may be running an updated game etc etc". Can someone else have a looksee and report back. BTW it doesn't look possible to have every Lotus 7 together at the same time.

Apparently the file name for the full Lotus class is too long. Although all the cars appear offline only the 2 cars can be used online atm.....this will be fixed in a future patch.

Thanks GT. I'll get back on to the server and undo my changes.  ::)

Been on line OK, has the damage been adjusted or is the Lotus 7 just more robust?  ::)

Don't think anything's been adjusted, but you are right Bill they are very hard wearing  :o

They pick up suspension damage, same as all the rest, but it doesn't have much effect.

Corrected track download link

I think that I have exhausted the fun element of this combo!   :(

Four seconds down on John and my elbows tied in a knot.

But at least I have stayed connected to the server for twenty minutes.

I usually do well at Monte Carlo, so it was looking forward to this race. However, I  need to buy a new PC, and I don't think I'll get it ready for this race.


Stig

What times are you guys getting? The Lotus 7 seems to be slow enough for me to get around Monaco several times in a row without crashing and I think 1:58.0 might be possible though at yesterday eveneing's brief test I couldn't get beyond 1:58.8. Still, even with slow cars, an online race at Monaco should be 'interesting'.

I've managed a '52.4 so far, but that was only inches away from disaster several times, so a whole race will be a challenge. There's so little setup adjustment available that you really need to use the lift-off oversteer and get back on the throttle at just the right moment to get the best out of it through the corners.

I exhausted it after 2 laps, how dull are these slow dodgem cars?  :yawn: not my cup of tea sorry, I want stimulating not yawns on wheels  :( I guess at least the cars will be close together....zzzz
Don't see the justification in dedicating a series to these tbh, we get a great new mod full of exciting cars and we choose this.  ???

I think these are really fun to race, but they are probably better suited to short tracks.

Having done some more driving I must say I like these little cars, especially around Monaco. With a few setup tweeks (and on quali fuel only) I managed a 1:55.9 - that's over 2 seconds faster than I thought possible, but still 3 seconds off what I should be doing apparently. I will really have to up my game to race with you folks!

I found that one aspect to going faster was a lower seating position - normally, I want to sit higher up for better visibility, but when I put myself really low down into the seat, I suddenly felt much more involved.

The race may well be more interesting but I have to wait a whole week for that.

And it will probably end at the first corner.  Not the greatest place for overtaking.

The series may well provide some good scraps but probably at somewhere like Mallory.

The GPL races at Monaco, in lower divisions, were usually just carnage.  The issues of who crashed in to whom just got so complicated that the mods just threw their hands in the air and declared an amnesty.   ;D

I sit dead centre on the bonnet!  It's the only chance that I have of not wiping the lefthand wheels along the armco.

You must have the peripheral vision talents of Romain Grosjean  ;D no wonder you said it would end in t1 carnage  ;)

These can be a little tedius off line in practice when you don't have a setup, but once you're tuned in I think they're great fun.
Speaking from experience in other games I think the races could be excellent - myself and friends often have races (even around the Nurburgring Nordschliefe) in totally standard Citroen C1's in Forza 4 for instance. These are often more fun than taking 400Bhp+ tuned cars around thanks to how close the racing is  :)

That said Monaco does seem a bit on the likely side for some utter carnage in the first race  ;D

Quickly knocked up race banner, if you want to use it.  :)  I can stick an add over at NG again for it if you like? Seemed to attract at least 2 new guys last time.

(http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y444/MJ_p911/2010CaterhamRoadsport125Monaco_03_zps9cf7a6bf.jpg)

wanted to convert it to black and white but havent got any fancy photo-edit software. It'll do, its got a Lotus 7 and Monaco  :P
Just need to muster up my own enthusiasm to race it now  :surrender:

Monaco is a car breaker. Ok, Monaco is a car breaker
We 've had some really great events here before, if people remember that.....
oh yeah "Monaco is a car breaker"  ;D

This Lotus 7 series and the Enduro series alternate and are "experimental" if one proves to
be popular and one not then one will meet an unnatural early demise.
If both prove to be unpopular then something else will have to fill the schedule.

I have created multiple series which I hope will provide an entertaining mix.

Only every running obvious cars with track "we all know" is the road to stagnation for me
I "think" L7 events could prove to great fun, if no one bothers to have a go then that
would be a great shame.

@MJ Great stuff I can monochrome it easily with polyview.


@Everyone: "warm lapping" these things is limited fun, experience with other similar events like
Fiat 500s at Monaco proved to be good races.

Suggest some tracks where you think these would be fun? and I will use them.

Oulton Park Fosters, Castle Combe, Mallory Park, Brands Hatch Indy, Silverstone National

Ok, was surprised to see people suggesting Mallory and Combe as they are quite fast tracks.
But I will use them.

Tesco carpark, streatham bus garage, croydon one way system...err that's it off the top of my head  ;D

I expect I will still turn up Thursday but these are so boring to practise with, I won't have done many laps. At least I know Monaco inside out. I demand a vintage Porsche cup race here as recompense ;)

I would tend to agree on Combe, at least if these don't exibit much in the way of drafting.
Short/suitable tracks off the top of my head include:

Crystal palace
Knockhill (?)
Cadwell
Mondello Club/National
Modern Zandvoort

CHortle

@MJ: Check out the next GT event after Portimao..... you may smile  :-*

Ty Croes that Tony used would be a good one for these , though it's a bit bouncy.

I'm working at the Tower of London this week, well not in it, but across the road
hence limited ability (hotel non free wi fi) to do much with admin
I will do the server stuff on Thursday using 3G but I won't be doing much else
so sell sell sell comrades  ;D

Please not Cadwell. I'm sick of Cadwell  ::) Every series I enter these days seems to have Cadwell in it. Leave it for motorbikes and trackdays  :)

There are a few nice twisty Scandanavian tracks where these would be good  ;)

What was the Mickey Mouse Scottish circuit that Tony used for Minis?

That would be OK.

EDIT:  Found it!  It was Ingliston.

But I don't discount the Tesco car park or Croyden One-Way System either!   ;D

 :whistling: https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=11284#event3337  :oops:

Tesco's is too tight, Croydon I like, has anyone done it for GTR2?  ::)

There was a funny tight Scandinavian track that Tony or Legzy used which was a figure of 8 (sort of)
That would be good for these.

Ahvenisto Race Circuit?

I thought it sucked but that might have been down to some more of Legzy's weather!
 

Yes Ahvenisto in FInland. Crystal palace would work too.

 :yawn: if you could time this champ series to run on first thursday of every month that would be great as im always out that night  ;)  I'd hate to miss a proper race  :laugh:

1st Thursday for a while is Sports Car, L7 and Enduro alternate on the 2nd Thursday
 
 :P

The order of events is loosely based on not clashing tracks/cars with Tony's many GTL series

Mantorp was also one which sprang to mind.

Edit: Just had a look at Mantorp and it wasn't the one I was thinking of  :wheelchair: I seem to remember racing our GTC cars at Knutstorp a couple of years ago, but I can't find the event anywhere (was maybe a fun event?)

I also found a newly made track Gotland Ring which looks promising for these...

http://www.nogripracing.com/details.php?filenr=36944

Annoying thing is neither of these was the track I remember  ???

There is always the Three Sisters kart circuit near Wigan!   ;D

Matt, a load of the original GTL tracks had short variations. I bet a lot of them were converted to GTR2. You can find the GTL ones by starting GTL then choosing Cup Challenge. You can then browse through the various short track options. When there were few add on tracks these were the tracks we raced on every week. Hmmm maybe you can resurrect them.

I never liked the short versions of the GTL tracks, the short cuts were always awkward to me.
Cadwell came to mind but someone shot it down with AA fire  :o

If enough people turn up to make it work, I think these races will make a fun change to the norm they are as Bill pointed out pretty robust, they do take damage but you have to wack 'em very hard
to hurt them badly.

Here's a thought. Assuming that spec races are a popular choice, why not have something like (for example) 2 Lotus races, 2 IROC, 2 xxxx etc making up a series of a dozen races or so. The cars choices could be varied enough to keep most of us happy for most of the time  :-\

Maybe put forward some car choices for a vote and see what ideas come up.

I like the mixed spec race idea. I don't know how to create a vote though, and it's too much admin for
me to cope with anyway. I need to keep these things simple enough to fit in my available time.

Anyone really really object to this becoming a spec series with a rota of a few cars that will
cycle over a few months? Is an easy thing for me to do, I just pick asuitable track for the car
and it sounds like a plan.  8)

I would suggest Lotus7, IROC, One of the more drivable Yank tanks, 906, CObra, One of the Escort years? Though idealy cars that would not normally get much of an outing.

I don't have an objection as such (I like spec races), but there's not an option to take a slower car so it may end up being a procession of 'usual suspects' at the front. If this happens, will there be any chance of arranging some ballast on the server?

Possibly some handicapping. I am not being lazy, I just can't guarantee being able to manage
spreadsheets and stuff as well as all the other admin required.

I will look into arranging some ballast or a slower car choice perhaps.

Understood. I must admit, I made the suggestion without any knowledge of what is involved ;D

No biggie to do "Drivers in the Championship top 3 can only use (Slower car)"
This means that late coming aliens to the champ will get an unfair advantage
but it will level out eventually. It's too cumbersome to try to work out whether
a new driver gets a good or slow car based on reputation.

That is a bit awkward for Lotus 7 for e.g as there is only one type.

Yes. And, if they enjoy feeling good about themselves by driving away from the rest of the field in the fastest car, then fair enough...
If they enjoy racing, hopefully they'll take something slower :)

Stick everybody in the slow car until they have shown their true colours.

Maybe we should actually have a race first.................................. ;)

Then continue this discusssion  ::)

I totally agree with that. Really dont see the point in allowing one off Johnnies to turn up and pick the best car whilst the rest of us championship sloggers scrabble for the left over points in our slower cars.

Also like GT's idea of a mixed spec race line up (cos it means i dont have to bore myself with the L7 each time  ;) )
IROCs is a good shout. What about the Healeys and/or TR4's?

I am happy to chat about futures here, just don't look Tony  :D
I think I will will go for the varied cars, just need to work out an easy to do
handicap method. 1st time drivers and top 3 in champ get the slower car
or I figure how to easily dole out ballast.

I may manage some online practice tonight from about 8ish if anyone wants to join in.

Could do with finding out how easy/hard it is to run in close company in these things.

There's a big collection of open top Elans in the game aswell

Oh lordy no. You can not imagine the howling there would be if I ran an Elan spec race  ::)

Might do anyways though  ;)

1:57 for me so far, not sure where I'll gain any more time currently :-\
Feels like a nice little combo to me, car handles just how you need it too at Monaco.

missed this earlier. What do you recommend GT? And any particular setup tweaks to make them more interesting & competitive?

ps...Matt, i see you monochromed the pic for the headline post but think you need to re-colour the text ! ...oh and its a bit big  ;)

............and what exactly is that lady doing in the flowerbeds

 Sigh.......    :death:

I am really looking forward to this race, but I won't be there  >:(
In fact looking at my Schedule for the next 11 weeks I will only be at home for 3 of them  :o
All this effort and I don't get to play! I am confident I will get to heaven  :angel:

Bad luck Matt. Your efforts are appreciated  8)


The Lotus' driving position just looked horrible and the whole thing felt very strange at first. I lowered the fov to more realistic level, raised the ffb strength and used a smaller steering angle and it resulted in a much more in the car feel. Haven't done much at all with the setup except tyre pressures and gears.

Mid 55s with race fuel.

Shall I do tonight's results Matt?

If you are there at the end Tony, that would be helpful. I have limited conn to do stuff if required.

No probs

i take it all back and eat some humble pie  :-[, Matt your a genius  ;) The Lotus' were great fun under race conditions and with other cars around you. They came alive the harder you pushed and really suited this track, i was really enjoying myself.

Think i qualied 5th with a 1:57  :)
Race was great from start and was chasing Rob V hard, but then had a spin when i clipped an armco in fast complex and had to wait for field to steam past. Dropped all the way to 11th but then had a great chase with Legzy and the pair of us carving our way upto 7th. Alas i gave it too much beans over an apex, clipped the barrier and it spun me onto my roof  :'(  Race over. I was quite gutted as really enjoying the close racing. Typical, it hadnt happened once all through practise and qually.  ::) Just pushing too hard i guess.
Good fun.  8)

Good to hear, Thanks Mark. I try to arrange events more for the race than hot lapping.  8)

Does it not self right if you wait? or is that just off line? also at Monaco you would be
in the way sat upside down I suppose

Couldn't qually as had visitors >:( so started dead last, but made for some good racing to get through the pack (sorry to one driver I nudged a little :-[, I pulled back & let another car in front before trying to get you again). Was great to see MJ having spun so I could get past him ;), only because I knew he'd chase me down & he did but then disappeared before we locked horns (I think he was frightened :P).
Ended up having a good long battle with Jules, plenty of side by side action, which of course you can do in these cars (unlike the boring glory muscle cars Clive seems to drule over ::) ;)).

Well done all, see you next time.

Results and replay now posted.

I hate Monaco :thumbdown:

Great Race...
                   I have grown to like Monaco, and in these cars it was fantastic. It was great for close racing and good for overtaking.  :)
Got a fairly good start, and managed to keep up with the main field. Towards the end of the race I had a great battle with Legzy.
 
Thanks to Matt for putting the race on  ;) and well done to John_W.

not sure they do auto self right when on their roof? Anyone else know? If thats true i would have waited and carried on as i was off the racing line.

In my defence i am manually shifting so i was often one handed steering! Its certainly more of a challenge but really adds to the immersion/reality. I know what those drivers go through now when they say they have to shift a thousand times or whatever during a race at Monaco  :P

The cars looked great at Monaco, suiting the period look. They actually sounded alright with the volume turned up too  :)

An IROC Porsche 'Cup race' around here (ala the real world supercup races) would be fun and challenging, though not sure much overtaking could be done  :-\

Quite enjoyed that, even though most of the race I was on my own.

Was a bit disappointed in qually, could only manage a 1.55 when I had comfortably been doing 1.54s in testing. Stayed with GT for a few laps after the start while John disappeared up the road, but eventually lost touch & just concentrated on keeping away from the barriers.

Then around 8 laps from the end I came across Tony sideways at Rascasse  :o. He was just reversing away from the barriers as came around the corner & I hit him amidships & stalled my car. Got going just as Clive came around the corner & we had a slight bump, sorry Clive! Clive got ahead & it looked like I was going to struggle to regain 3rd, but a lap later we came across Tony again spun at Rascasse & this time it was Clive's turn to take avoiding action & I managed to nip back in front. Eeked out a small gap over the remaining laps to finish 3rd.

Congrats to John (amazing speed!) & GT  :clap: :clap:

I'm happy if we have a short series for these cars, maybe 4-5 races & then change to another car for another 4-5 races.

Sorry for the incidents Geoffers. I was having a truly dreadful race.

I'd give these cars another go just to try them on a "proper" motor racing circuit.

I'm not sure many laps would be done either!

No problem Tony, would have been difficult to see anything coming from the position you ended up in.

IROC would be a reasonable option. (but not at Monaco!) Bearing in mind that these events will only be every two months
(at the moment) If I do more than 2 car types it would be months before you ever saw the
same choice come round again. Might try IROC for the next one then Lotus7 again after that.
Still need to figure how to slow John (and any Italian or American ALiens ) down.  :alien:

Thanks Alex very interesting.  For any bored drivers the Gaps Graph demonstrates the battle Senior Dan and I had for over half the race.  :thumbup1: :rockon:

Thanks Matt for excellent track/car combo best race consistency for months.  Thanks also to Senior Dan, for as always, a  good clean battle.  :fencing: I suddenly caught you up and thought you were in trouble,  subsequently I thought I'd inadvertently slipped by with the leaders. Sorry if that was the case.  ::)

Qualifying was a write off, my  poor old eyes had too much shinning Armco and shade.  :wheelchair: I couldn't see the chicane onto the sea front but decided too give it a go in the race - which turned out OK.   ;D Avoided the first lap  probs and settled down to reasonable pace just off my offline PB.  When I caught Dan we had a fantastic scrap - just like we use to in GTL (biggest Accolade Clive).  :P  :lol: Although Dan was much faster than me I managed to keep him behind by keeping on the racing line.  He drew level a few times but backed off to drop back on racing line - no suicidal dives down the inside like BTCC drivers.  It was hard work but very satisfying.  :yes:  :rockon:

Much better than feared - could improve a lot during quali and set another
new pb in my short race before crashing out  ::)

Good fun anyway.

CU next time.

 :)

Glad you all had fun but I thought that that was dreadful.  ::)  Thrashing these gutless wonders does nothing for me but then I gather that you may already know this.

John was in a world of his own, someone must have fed Tudor after mid-night and Geoffers was too quick for me as well!

Looks like to have some fun I would have to drive as slowly as Legzy and I just can't face that!

I was in danger of nodding off when Tony kindly dropped Geoffers in my lap but sadly he went and pulled the same trick a lap later and this time Geoffers was the winner.

Do we get proper cars next week?

Thanks for a great battle Bill. As Chapman once said: You don't need an exotic car to have fun on the track! and I would like to add: No, just two drivers going fast towards the finish line! :thumbup2:

Cheers, (Senior) dan

Forgot to mention, did anyone else have a problem with the barriers on the right in the tunnel, turning from white to black during the race? The change seemed to gradually move further & further towards the corner eventually making it very difficult to see where the corner was until you were right on it.  :o

Really enjoyed that. Was a good test of concentration for me as I didn't really have anyone to race with as such. John drove off after a couple of laps and I managed to gap Geoffers. Kept it consistent and don't think I made a mistake all race which is always my aim.

Congrats to John on another win and nice to bag some good team points with Geoffers on the pody  8)

Didn't notice any graphical glitches btw.

:lol:

Me neither