SimRacing.org.uk

Season 26 Professionals Trophy, Round 2, Oulton Park

Welcome to Season 26  round 2 of the Professionals Trophy for the 1965 Grand Prix cars.

The circuit is built in the grounds of Oulton Estate which comrised an old manor house, some lodges, farmland and a lake.  The names of a couple of bends, Lodge Corner and Old Hall Corner, hint back at a more sedate existance.  The first race at Oulton Park was held in 1953 on a makeshift rectangular circuit which was extended in 1955 to the full circuit we will be using tonight.  The track is quite narrow and in places and the run-off is limited (particularly at Knickerbrook where a local B road skirts the boundary of the park) so to make it safer several chicanes have been added in recent years.  Thankfully we don't need to worry too much about that, so we will be able to enjoy driving the 1967 version of the track which flows majestically through tree lined avenues, up steep hills, round double apex corners and banked hairpins.  There has never been a round of the Formula 1 World Championship held at Oulton Park but there were a lot of non-championship Formula 1 races held there between 1954 and 1982.  Most of these race meetings were called the "International Gold Cup".  A name that lives on in the guise of the Gold Cup historic race meeting; a sort of Goodwood of the north.  Same races but less posh totty, and rather ironically less flat caps!
Drivers are asked to select a chassis which they will use for the ENTIRE season.

Division Moderator	=	Badblood
Race List	=	IGOR
Server	=	UKGPL_8
IP Address	=	tba
Race date	=	04-02-2014
Qualification Time	=	~20:45  UK time -> 30-45 min
Race Time	=	race starts at 21:30 UK time
Track	=	Oulton Park - oulton (ftp://ukgpl3.dyndns.org/Tracks/Oulton)
Variant	=	65F1 the 2.02 Release of the 65mod should be used
Damage Model	=	PRO
Race length	=	~50 min -> 30 laps
RED ZONE	=	From the start to the exit of the Esso Bend
Password	=	see above (#post_event_password)
Replay	=	you will get here (ftp://ukgpl3.dyndns.org/Replays/Archive/Season26/Pros/)

Driver lists and series rules can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=430&theme=6).

The full time drivers can start to practice as soon as the server is available.  Reserve drivers can also join as soon as the server becomes available but must leave the server with 35 minutes of qualifying left, for a total of 5 minutes; this will allow any remaining full timers to join.  If there is enough space on the grid, the reserve drivers will be able to rejoin when there are 30 mins of qualifying left.  

Please restrict chat to pit messages including at the end of the race until ALL drivers still racing have crossed the line.

Moderating The red zone will be fully moderated for lap 1 only. For this event the red zone will be the first lap up to the exit of the Esso Bend.

Other moderation will be on reported incidents only.  However any incidents that occur in the red zone that are not reported by the drivers will be reported by the moderator.  This will allow all affected drivers the opportunity to present their case before the incident is moderated.  This should ensure there are no surprises when the moderator's report is published and hence appeals will be less likely.  If you haven't received a PM about an incident before the link below the results table is removed, you can be sure that you will not appear in the moderator's report.

When I try to install the track I get a message telling me that it cannot find the 67season.ini?

I have a folder in tracks called Oulton2. Is this the right version?

Don't think it is Tony. I think the version in the Race Post is Oulton (Spring Cup). The ftp link in the race post should be 'oulton'.

The message about not finding 67season.ini is more about where you are installing to. When I use TrackInstall.exe I point at C:\Sierra\GPL and it can then find the unpatched GPL.exe. Your path should be similar. That error message usually means there is some issue with the gpl.exe that you are pointing at.

Is this the error you are getting?

(http://ukgpl3.dyndns.org/images/installerr.jpg)

If so, it simply means that the path is not pointing to a gpl.exe where you have your 67season.ini pointing to. This file is in the seasons sub-folder, under the main gpl folder.

Let me know if you are still having an issue.

Never drove here, legendary track though, know it from BSBK and BTCC on TV...have a hard time to see where I'm going, also no groove. Need to find the right updates at SRMZ...anyone having some good asphalt textures/groove and maybe textures of the borders of the track?

Fixed it. Found a second GPL.exe further down the path. Thanks for your help.

Great.

I just uploaded the OultonPark_update to UKGPL_3, just use the link in the race post ;)

Edit
+
I made a "racing line" oulton.3DO too, as the regular track has none ;)

Will check it out, thanks mate! :)

Thanks Cookie. I'll check them out as well!

This good groove line is very wide  :o but it helps to learn the track  ;)

I added Remy's aspalt, a must!

is it oulton park 2 ?  ???

no! just Oulton

TBH I am not sure what oulton2 adds - looks pretty much identical

Just back from holiday to find I have a sound problem...can anyone help?

I have been trying to practice against the AI. I find that I can qualify without any problems (i.e. I hear everything, and it comes out the monitor's built in speakers). When the race countdown starts I can other cars revving, but when I enter the grid I either
- get no sound at all
- the sound switches from the built in speakers to the laptop's built in speakers

...and so far, I usually get the first one, making racing impossible...

Oh well, at least i made it round the first corner this time..but not much further.

Totally my own fault. just caught the edge of the grass after T1 and under no real pressure, slid into a tree.

The softest DNF i've ever had. Poor.

Put myself in much the same position and made it worse with a couple of bad mistakes at unforgiving places, Island bend caught me out and ripped a wheel off on the hoardings. Figures that at a track I like and can push I can't actually a) get a clean lap (both with traffic and error-free) in qualifying, and b) can't finish a long race.

Makes it 1 race finish in 65s in 9 championship starts.

My car stopped going BRRRRMMMM so I did the washing up.

Quali was exciting for P3, Ronnie got me after my first run. In my second run I'm able to do a PR 36.50, and back in P3. Tristan and Uli were scorching the track and too fast. Same in the race, Tris and Uli slowly drive away from me, and Ronnie and Clive close behind me. Ronnie makes a mistake I think after some laps, and then I have to run alone to the finish, keeping an eye on the gap with Clive behind me. Very solid race and consistant, and max result! Very happy with that, but not with Tristan's and Uli's pace  ;D

Very fast pace Tristan and Uli, congrats both, well deserved, too bad of the spin Uli, but nevertheless a splendid drive in the Fezza! :) Also well done finishers and lapped cars thanks for the room! :)

LOL

When I clicked on the green button for the grid, my race was ended...

Nice drive, Tristan!  Grats!

Additional kudos to Uli and Robert for scoring P2 & P3, respectively.  Good job, fellas.

I had a decent race excepting the fact that I was shunted off on L1 getting innocently involved in the Dean/Norm melee.  Oh, and tangling with Tony as he spun in Druids a couple of laps later.  Plus, oh yeah, spinning in Druids a couple of times on my lonesome.  :)

Profuse apologies to Gareth.  He voluntarily fell on his sword to avoid me in one of my spins in Druids.  I'm pretty sure that his car was trashed after that as he had subsequent offs and retired shortly thereafter.  Bad luck there.

Pretty pleased to cut into the low 38's in the Honda.

Just scanned our GCR's and didn't find any notations re qualifying etiquette.  Do we have any?  If  not, let me write some.  We need 'em and the sooner, the better.

Doni

PS: I was just scanning my 'preview to post' when I noted Axel's post.  Very bad luck there, amigo.

Wow....weirdest DNQ ever. Fell asleep just before the race, due to jet lag!

Just woken up at 0330......can't see me getting back to sleep, so maybe i'll prcatice for Sunday's Works race........

Grats again to Tristan , Uli and Robert.

I was happy with my qualifying pace but a little concerned with my upcoming race pace.  A few races on the practice server earlier had shown me that my tyres would last about six laps before melting if I tried to run too fast. Sure enough in the race I could stick to Roberts gearbox but at a cost. A few spins later and I had fallen back into the clutches of Clive and Natan. Fortunately they survived my balletic manoeuvres, just, and things settled down into a chase after Clive for 4th spot. I had a few more spins here and there again but regardless Clive had me under control and so I had to settle for 5th with a constantly pressing Dean not far behind me.

Slowly getting used to the BRM but it is a tail happy/tyre hungry beast in my hands at the moment. See you all at the next one.

Better luck next time Axl.

I was starting a lukewarm lap when I passed the pit exit and someone entered the track. They then sat on my rear trying to pass me at every opportunity. Why? It's not like their going to get a time is it? All they managed to do was put me off my lap. If that was the object, well done, it worked.  :P

Hi :)

Very good fun in qual and race ......I was Happy whith my pôle 3mn before the end of qual....1.35.719....go in the garage to full up the tank and do some laps whith race configurations..... :o !!  well done Uli  ;) ....1.35.632 !! nice lap !....this shurely will make a exiting race.....and it's append !....thx  for the fight Uli, the Ferrrari is fast as you and I know it will be a big problem to over pass you whith out risks.....the only way for me is to put the maximum pressure  again and again and hope for your mistake.....was realy hot sometime and fun all the time ;D........after your spinn I was a little more relax but still watching Prib. to see where you are.....

thx all , c u at Monza

I cannot recall if there are any guidelines about qualifying,
 but in my mind it is VERY simple.

1) When you exit the pits, do so carefully and be absolutely sure that you are not going to block someone who is already on track. DO NOT BLAST OUT OF THE PITLANE AT FULL SPEED DIRECTLY ONTO THE RACING LINE!!

2) If you are on an out lap......allow anyone to pass even if you have to stop or go on the grass. Just get out of their way as soon as possible.

3) If you have made a mistake and your current lap is compromised , allow anyone to pass even if you have to stop or go on the grass.

But probably the hardest thing to accept is...

4) If you are on a fast lap and you catch a car in front who is going slower, remember that if he is on a qualifying lap he is entitled to complete that lap, even if it means that your lap is spoiled. It is tough to accept when you have done 3 blistering sectors and look set for pole position and a WR, but because you are faster it does NOT give you precedence over someone who is doing his best to post a good laptime.

Well stated, Clive.  And sympathies to Tony for being hounded remorselessly by someone on their outlap.  Sheeesh!

Actually, a very simple method of joining the track free from causing distress to others and placing one's self in a nice, comfy hole in traffic is readily available.  Let me compose a few lines re the procedure and I'll be back later today with the skinny.

Doni

Hm, now I play the :devil: advocate:

What if I am doing a last stint to get a better time with 2 mins left, have obeyed all etiquette rules leaving the pits,
but find a lukewarm cruising car in front after 2 corners?

I would try to pass as soon as possible...  (and the passed driver could be clever to use the slipstream to improve his time!)

With ref to qually procedure. Apologies to Robert Fleurke. I stayed wide & slowed at Lodge thinking you would go inside but it didn't work out that way. My time was ok but had a few offs & 2 Ferraries went off in sympathy when they saw me :o. It didn't go well an omen for the race.

I am always amazed at others speed on cold tyres mine were only warm after almost 2 laps. Had a lap 1 wheel to wheel impact with Dean which I am not reporting ('cos I think it was 50/50) but Dean can if he feels hard done by ( or Doni). Doni got the worst of it as he could not avoid my spinning car. They both got away before me so I was 12th & last of the runners. Doni had another excursion with I think Tony so I was in front of him again but I spun a 3 sec advantage away at Island bend & after that the field just drove away from me. I lost all rythem & only finished 8th as others dropped out. I had some really poor laps.

With Clutch out on turn 2 not Mountside Racing's finest hour. Well done the podium. The qually lap times are unbelievable. Not to worry, having a bad one & still finishing 8th is an achievement. On we go.
Norm H

You would still get a poor time cos you LEFT THE PITS

No, Tony I can do another fast lap with seconds left crossing the line  ;)

That was my bad. You stayed wide, but I braked too late and wrecked you and myself :'( Your car had a strong Fezza magnet ;D I did say "s" in chat meaning sorry ;) Maybe you could have let me by earlier but nobody's perfect, in general it's easier to let ppl by on straights rather than in turns. Then discoed and reconnected to put conn meters off as I got freezes with ppl (re)connecting/chatting, had nothing to do with you or so.

PS: sorry to hear Axel :( Thanks to Tony for the max room lapping! :)

:lol:

Qualifying Etiquette

Some basic guidelines to a smooth practice and qualifying session...

Far too often, aggravation is the order of the day when competitors fail to observe some simple procedures and policies during qualifying.  Some regard themselves as 'King of the Road' and insist on making life difficult for others when all that is required is a little mutual courtesy.  Remember the old phrase(in life as well as sim racing), 'Courtesy costs nothing.'

1 > As you are about to strike the green button in GPL to place you in the cockpit of your speedster, first, observe the port/window showing 'Pit Lane'.

2 > Using the tab arrow, select 'Chase View' and maintain it til you're ready to join.

3 > Ensure that your time frame is 'live' and not in delayed replay mode.  This is key.

4 > Using the driver select arrow, punch through the competitors on track to see where they are taking special note of those late in a lap and approaching the pit area.  It should not be difficult to identify a competitor's location as you are viewing from the Chase View.

5 > Wait til a hole appears in the traffic of nominally 15 seconds before punching the green button to enter the cockpit of your car.  (You want that amount of time between the passing of the last car and the arrival of the next in order to get up to speed without dramas.)  When the last competitor is approaching the pit area, you may join via the green button and be placed in your car.  Take note of the marque of the last car.  If a gaggle of Loti are approaching the pits but the last in line is a Ferrari or Honda, it should be very easy to determine when it roars by and you now know that you have a substantial amount of time to join the track surface proper before another competitor arrives in the vicinity of the pits.

6 > Proceed quickly out of the pits and qualify safe in the knowledge that you haven't screwed someone over.  (When pulling away from your pit stall, it is important to quickly move to the outer lane.  If you chug straight down pit lane in line with your initial position, odds are that at some point or other, someone will join and place themselves in their pit stall, directly in your path.  I think that we've all experienced this at sometime from both standpoints.  Not fun.  OK...so maybe it is.  :))

I use this procedure for all events and never have an issue with balking another competitor on a hot lap.

Happy Motoring!

Comments?

Tony,
when I have 2 min left in quali and I know a lap will be ~ 1:38, my outlap has to be pretty fast to be able to do a fast lap just in last seconds.
I don't know why, but in my short racing career this was often that I succeeded to make my fastest lap like this   :-*

My procedure out of the pitlane is watching pribluda wich shows me the actual distance in meters to other cars   ;)

I would have to say no to that Axl. Its just my opinion but unless the driver your approaching makes the decision for you to let you through, you just have to back off and curse your bad luck. Like Clive says, its tough to accept but if the guy in front is on a lap themselves, flying by is not guaranteed to help them.

Not wishing to broaden this debate too much but I'm not a fan of slipstreaming in qualifying. Don't misunderstand I will never refuse a free tow I chance upon but I don't go looking for them when I join the track or while on the track. I don't object to drivers peeling off or having an off so to speak to avoid towing someone behind, but drivers dawdling round deliberately looking for a tow is not something I like to see. I suspect others might disagree but again its just my opinion.

One last point. Incident reports can and have been submitted in the past for incidents during qualifying, but I'm sure the moderators are busy enough already.

Seems to be my bad english why you don't understand my point ::)

"I would try to pass as soon as possible..." does not mean I try to ruin anyones lap!

In your point of slipstreaming I agree 100%!

Another, unrelated point, if I may. My car died last night, way short of the race finish. I don't believe it was engine related as temps were not showing red. Are there other causes for engine failures in GPL? So I'm assuming I ran out of fuel. My setup was set to 31 laps. When qualy ends does GPL deselect your current setup? (yes I did the last of qualy on a full tank, I like to have the feel of the car before the race proper).

GRATS again Tristan and Robert,
was an exciting quali – I was happy to manage a real last minute pole  :)
The fight with Tristan was big fun!!! Don't know why but about lap 13 I lost some grip on the front wheels, got more and more understeering and some time later I couldn't prevent to spin in front of the hairpin …
great pity - was fantastic racing until that, THX to you Tristan again. :thumbup1:
And THX to all backmarkers great job, very well done in race and quali too, you all showed clearly that you saw me, with driving early enough beside the racing line!
SRY for your bad luck Axel, hard to believe!
I‘m looking forward to Monza to a great slipstream battle…
uli

Axl you should know me better by now I never get anyone else's point...I don't even get my own sometimes   :laugh:


We have all been there at some time Tony.

I hope this helps. Race setup is separate to practice setup and they both need to be selected independently.  Even when using your race setup in practice it is so easy to enter the race with the few laps worth you have just been trying to set that pole time with. If the setup you are using in practice is the one you want for the race then make sure you have it selected as your race setup as well and with the correct amount of fuel. If that's not clear ask away and someone will explain it better.

Tony, at setup screen put your race setup at "race" (left top screen), that way you will always have the right setup for the race (unless you change it under "current" during countdown race)...

Welcome to GPL's setup guide for fuel consumption. The laps it sates is merely a guide, for proper accurate fill to a round number that's proportionate (e.g 10 gallons = 10 laps, do 3 laps, see if you have 7 gallons left, adjust tank accordingly, adjust maths accordingly cos that may not be right).

With regards engine kaboom, oil pressure makes it go, no pressure no go, dropping pressure less go. Keep an eye on the needle (or Pribluda if you have the addon installed). Fuel pressure follows the same principle but drops steadily from about 2 gallons down, when you reach below 1 gallon it starts to splutter.

If the engine started smoking this isn't good, but you could still go on for a bit longer with reduced power and engine life. If it went bang and you had no juice and it was terminal then it'll be something else.

Speedshifting, where you buzz the limiter on down and upshifts, is not good for engines. Lift off when shifting gears, and try and stay near your car's peak power rev limit if possible (10500rpm for the Climax in the BT11).

Lastly, there are separate setup options for race and practice. I make it a point in qualifying to separate qualy and race setups into different files and set it accordingly in the setup menu.

Unfortunately all this can only really be learned with practice. :)

Normally when your car fails it has to do with you not treating the engine or curbs right, but sometimes your car will just fail randomly without you having anything to do with it. I've lost a wheel once (funny enough also at Oulton) while driving on the start/finish straight. It just let go  ::) . I've had some random engine failures in the past as well. It's a mechanical sport  ;D

I just had a look at Tony's last lap via GPLRA.  I was scoping it for fuel pressure.  Unfortunately, the readout seems not be had.  Ditto for oil and water temps and oil pressure, too.  Is this typical of trying to read those values in RA with GP65's?  Other mods?

I believe those stats are only shown for the local driver.

Mod published