SimRacing.org.uk

Grid/server capacity: 28

Practice: ~19:20 (60 mins)
Qualifying: 20:20 (20 mins)
Race: 20:40 (20 laps)

Track: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg109873#post_austin)

Cars allowed: BMW 2002tii Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/downloads/s3.php/gtl/cars/SRou_GTL_BMW_2002tii_1.0.0.0.exe)
                     Ford Escort RS1600 Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_escort_rs1600)
                     Nissan Skyline GTR2000 Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_skyline2000gtr)
                     Opel Commodore GS Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_opel_commodore_gs)
                     Porsche 911S Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_porsche911s1972)
                     Mini Cooper S KAD Works Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_mini_cooper_s_kad_works)

Get Geoffers Mini setup HERE (http://www.mediafire.com/download/6h742hka4il6q4u/G%2527s%2520Mini%2520KAD.zip)

Car restrictions: Three drives maximum per make. Check your status here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AuS59xI7-YTLdE81OG1jQUtIb2lGYUZrNUNIY0VRZmc&usp=sharing)

Time of Day Setting: 14:00
Start: STANDING
Tyre wear: Normal
Fuel consumption: Normal
Pit stops: Not required

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

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.
(3) The AI control should be turned off so that you have control of the car at all times, including pitting. Your player file should therefore read
Autopit="0"
Force Autopit Off="1" // Forces autopit always off
No AI Control="1" // AI never has control over car
If you still finding pitting problematic, experience tells us that its less to do with positioning and more to do with approach speed. A slow approach to pit crew chief has proved most reliable.

Special Notes: None.

Still three races to go in this series and just today CY-33 has released V2.0 of his Nissan Skyline
mod for GTL over at NoGrip( http://www.nogripracing.com/details.php?filenr=41569 (http://www.nogripracing.com/details.php?filenr=41569) ).
Do we stick with V1.0 or shall we change to V2.0 (sounds and physics unchanged but car completely new modelled)?  

We stick.

Knackered at moment, trying to make appointment to see doctor to discuss and hopefully get a change to my medication. Don't look like I'll be racing here, unless it's sorted right away.

Good luck folks.

Best not rush your convalescence Bill. We will be here when your fit and able  :wheelchair: :wheelchair: :wheelchair:

Keep going and get well soon, Bill !

yeah - I agree with you. Just to ask.

So November brings us the final three races in this lengthy series and no-one can yet be certain of the final outcome.

It's going to be  :sweatdrop:

geez this is where it gets tough for me.

I still have the choice of any car except the BMW, but I cannot be sure which one is best suited to any particular track?? So it will be a case of suck and see for the last 3 races

Not much different from most of us I guess - I have typically tried all my options at each track, and gone with the one that was the fastest or most stable.  That unfortunately means I'm left with mostly rubbish for the remaining races..  ::)

Cheers,
Erling

First impressions of Austin after a few laps this morning?...

"only the yanks could build a circuit like this!!!  :cowboy: :no: tumbleweed" I might need to send Mabel and Arnold over to have a word.

2:29 in race trim  :fencing:

2:29??!! :(

I thought I was doing well with a 2:33 in a short session yesterday.  I tried 2 cars and got similar times from both. Looks like I need to get some laps in this evening :-\ Maybe I should study Lewis' lines from the TV replays??

My opinion of the cars so far this season.

I really struggle to get the Escort to co-operate, so I might avoid that one where I can until I discover how to "turn it on".
The Mini looks a good option through any twisty bits, but suffers on the long straights.
The Porker is quick when I drive it properly.....but bites me in the a** when I abuse it  ::)
The Opel sounds and feels fast but the lap times don't usually support the feeling.
The Nissan is a beast and I enjoy driving it, but I feel that it needs the right track to get the best from it
The BMW is so far the easiest to drive ( and consequently usually the fastest) and i find the handling very predictable and progressive with ample power.

As I have used all my BMW drives and have 1 of each of the others left. So which one for Austin?????

Well, pretty much in agreement with your assessment of the cars.   My options are limited for the rest of the season, so can't advice on all of them - pressed for time and thus only test those I can actually drive.

Escort: Terminal understeer and slow too
911: Terminal understeer like Escort - until it snaps into terminal oversteer. Have liked it on other tracks, but couldn't make it work here.
Nissan: As understeery as the others, with potential to bite if you're too early on the gas, although not quite as vicious as the 911.  With some setup fiddling, it became more driveable, but can't match Tony's time.  If it's done with anything else than a Beemer, I have to say: Well done Sir  :notworthy:

Cheers,
Erling

 :whistling:

Can't join in tonight's fun as I am banished to Birmingham for two days  :(

What a muppet!!! :hang:

Fannying about with fuel levels when i should have been getting on the grid. Then when I did join the grid I noticed that engine health was at 29%!! Just as I hit the "Esc" key to quit and rejoin I actually saw the "GO" word on my bonnet :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

It might have been fun.

Ah well a harsh lesson learned there. :-\

Results and replay now posted.

Clive, as you were on the start grid and didn't suffer an Internet problem you will have to count that as a car drive used.

no prob Tony. All my own fault  ::)

What a bummer Clive!   :(  For future reference; unless you're in one of those rare cars where engine health actually suffers when you hit the limiter, you can just ignore it.  The car performs just as well at 29% as it does at 99% !!   I tested this earlier this year, with the Daimler V8. Systematically ground the health down to see what would happen. Could feel no difference whatsoever, before it hit 0%, at which point I came to a halt, pouring black smoke.

Btw, posted some pics from my Alpine trip; sneak a peek if you like: https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=12667.0


The race:
Rather enjoyed both track and car, once I got the Nissan tamed a little. Lots of fast curves, which I do love.

After the start went, I wondered where Clive was, but soon had to worry about Tony instead. Unexpectedly found myself in the lead, when Postal spun exiting T1.  Not much I could do about Tony's Beemer power though, so predictably he effortlessly outdragged me down the long straight.  Handed the lead back though, when he went off at the end of L1.  Managed to stay ahead for a few laps, until he passed me again. After a couple of laps more, he went off again, allowing me to pass him one final time.

Tried to make the most of it, and held on to the lead for a number of laps. As expected, Postal eventually made his way through and passed me.  Took him longer than anticipated, considering his fastest laps were much quicker than mine.  After he got in front, he didn't truly pull away.  Maybe Clive has been whispering in his ear about gap management..   ;D

Towards the end, Tony was slowly reeling me in again, but thankfully the race ended before he got too close.  Very chuffed with 2nd, considering the opposition.

Grats to Postal & Tony on the other podium places.

Cheers,
Erling

Driving the BMW at this circuit was great but quite how Erling managed to get such performance and handling from the Nissan was wondrous. Had I not of made two off-track excursions and span once I think I would have had the better of him but I doubt that I could have matched Postals pace. Apologies to Tibs as my spin recovery must have been right in his path and he may not even have seen me until almost too late. I only noticed him once I had started the manoeuvre. It was a tricky track and you had to thread the perfect path through that opening secuence of turns. If you went to deep into one of the corners it stuffed you up for the remaining ones. I also had two cut warnings which tempered my pace in the latter part of the race whilst I was trying to wind in Erling. Two more laps and I think I could have had him  :).

Well maybe you should ask Clive - don't forget that his qual-time was over ½ a sec faster than mine.  Had he not numptied off at the start, he would surely have left me in the dust.  In my case all I can say is, it's all in the tyres..  ;)

Cheers,
Erling

For what it is worth, and it counts for nothing now as I screwed up big time!.

 I had managed a low1:27 on race fuel in practice offline and although I only did 5 or 6 lap runs the tyres were hardly wearing. I don't think I could have matched Postal's pace but in theory a 1:26 lap was possible if I got everything just right. ( possible but not likely!! lol)

I agree with Tony about that first sector. It took me several laps to realise which of those apexes to attack, and where it was better to sacrifice the entry speed in order to get on the power sooner for the next couple of sweeps. When I got it right it was very satisfying...but when you miss the ideal line on the first apex, then the whole sequence was a disaster and seconds just oozed away.

I found that to get the best from the Nissan it was best to keep off the kerbs and keep all the rubber available in contact with the tarmac at all times. Come to think of it, most cars go better that way  ;)

 :lol:

Well, for being a new age F1 style track it does present a nice challenge indeed, with some rewarding fast corners.
Had to find my way around like Clive mentioned, which i really can appreciate in a track layout.

I reckoned it would suit the Beemer well, so opted to use my last Beemer drive here. It was fast but twitchy, especially on transition from power to coast with heavy braking. Got an unexpected pole position and got off the line great. Just as i entered T1 a big rain shower past our house and being right under the roof i could not hear the engine any more, which resulted in spinning as soon i floored it out of T1! ::)
Turned up the volume and restarted the Beemer, which in result woke up my son in the room next door  ::) Decided it was ok to let him watch the race and go to bed quite late (don't tell mam..)
Had a blast working my way to the front, but was uncertain if i could catch Erling in time. When i finally found his rear bumper it was just a case of lining him up onto the long back straight and let the power of the Beemer do the talking. Then decided to try and keep it together with a small gap to P2. Made the mistake too often to try to do lap records towards the end off the race. If Erling was to hassle me again we would just had to duke it out.

Bring on Brasil! Hope to see some good battles there too.