SimRacing.org.uk

Season 26 Privateers Trophy - Round 5 - Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen International ("The Glen") is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. It was long known around the world as the home of the United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for 20 consecutive years (1961–1980). In the early years races passed through the heart of the town with spectators lining the sidewalks, but after a car left the road in a 1952 race, killing one spectator and injuring several others, the race was moved to a new location on a wooded hilltop southwest of town. Later a permanent race course was constructed on 550 acres, overlapping part of the previous course. Despite improvements, the circuit became unable to safely handle the increasingly faster and stiffer ground effect cars of the late 70s and a few horrendous, sometimes fatal accidents and increasingly rowdy segments of the crowd began to tarnish its image. Finally, in May, 1981, several months after Alan Jones had won the 1980 race for Williams, the International Auto Sports Federation removed the race from its schedule because the track had failed to pay its debts to the teams.

We will run Intermediate Damage with the allowance of ONE shift-R reset. No Shift-Rs are allowed in practice unless authorized by the moderator. A Shift-R (fault or not) MUST be followed by a Stop & Go. A Shift-R for tyres/fuel is not allowed. Any driver taking more then ONE Shift-R OR failing to take a Stop & Go will be disqualified from the race result.

For Season 26, all drivers must complete at least 50% of race distance to be classified.

Race List = IGOR
Server = UKGPL_T7_2
IP address = 62.149.202.168
Race date = 09-03-2014
Race Time = race starts at 21:30 UK time
Qualifying Time = Between 30 and 60 minutes, starting no later than 21:00 UK time
Track = Papyrus original
Variant = 67F1
Damage Model = INT
Race length = 50 minutes (laps 45)
Password: see above (#post_event_password)

Replays Available here (http://ukgpl3.dyndns.org/inc_replaysS26_js.aspx)

Driver lists and token rules can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=426&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. 

Moderating The red zone will be fully moderated for lap 1 only. For this event the red zone will be from the start to the Back Straight. 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.

The chassis token system is explained on the Privateers (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=426&theme=6) standings page. Please ensure you choose a chassis that is within your budget, which can be seen by hovering the mouse over your points total in the standings.

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

Further to my retirement last time out, I have been offered a replacement Lotus and chappers assures me this one is not a duff one :)

Are you sure it's not a straightened up, ex-Rob Walker chassis? :)

I am going to a birthday party about the time the race starts. If I am able, I will do a few laps, but I doubt that I can complete 50% today.

EDIT: Looks like I was too optimistic to think that I could join the race. Should be ready to go for the next race though.

could of been, but, parcel force didn't deliver so I wont make it tonight.

I got back from my weekend away with 10 mins of praccy left.  I was pretty tired so I thought I'd save some tokens and take the BRM.  Loaded in my Kyalami setup.  Gearing was OK but fuel looked a bit low so I chucked in some more fuel and got a couple of qually laps in.

Had a decent battle with Michael and Paul and settled in to chase Philippe.  I got close then made a mistake and dropped back.  It was going to be very tough to get past but then Philippe spoiled the fun by crashing out at the Loop :(.  I was never going to catch the "Furious Five" so I tried to maintain my concentration and keep consistent laps in.  It was going well until Michael started to catch me.  He was right on my gearbox until he made a mistake at Big Bend and dropped back.  Then it was Paul's turn to have a go at me.  He passed be at the "90" but I got him back at the Loop.  After that we had a bit of a fight until Paul spun at the Big Bend and I was on my own again. 

This was when the real fun started!  I started to lap back markers just as the leaders were trying to lap me.  I managed to let Andy and George past by staying wide at Big Bend but when I tried to do the same when Cookie closed up on me I went too wide at Big Bend, put a wheel on the grass and spun out!  I got going just in time to see Paul sail past :o.  I was chasing Paul, trying to lap back markers and also trying to let Hendy lap me.  It got a bit hectic but we all sorted ourselves out OK and Paul and I had a very close fight to the finish.  I just couldn't get enough speed out of the old BRM to get past Paul.  Great driving Paul!

I had a bad feeling about this race beforehand, but in the end it couldn't have gone better for me.
In qualy I broke my longstanding pb by 2 tenths. I set it pumped full of adrenaline in a scary fast field in UKGPL season 11 Division1 in 2005. I've done a very large number of laps since then online with Ferrari/Glen, but today was the best one. I really nailed the last sector - 19.39!

At the start George bogged down and I was away and able to make a cushion back to 2nd by the time I start to lap cars. Then it was just trying to maintain concentration - no mistakes and try not to tangle with backmarkers. George came through to 2nd and closed me down over the last few laps, but I had enough in hand. I sure you will be winning these races very soon.

I think that is the closest finish I have ever been involved in. The race started well and we all seemed to get away cleanly. Wasn't sure whether to chase Michael or hold off Phil. Lost concentration through the esses and had to bail out a bit to avoid the armco on the inside. That put me against the fence on the outside and Phil sailed past. Had what seemed like hundreds of laps following Phil and Michael with Phil having got ahead. They were not helpfully taking each other off so I wasn't sure if I could get past.

Then Michael had a small off which let me through with Phil in sight but handily ahead. Michael was soon buzzing all over my gearbox and I couldn't hold him off. As you were. Phil and Mike gradually pulled out a lead and I was more concerned with the gap to Bill and Bernie behind. Suddenly saw a puff of smoke and I assumed that Mikes engine had popped - I remember passing a green car parked sideways across the track through the esses but that might have been later - it was hectic.

Somehow got right up to Phil after he had a wobble passing Diego, and hassled him for several laps. Was very pleased to pull off a pass but then lost it immediately at the loop. Was good to be battling somebody you could trust and who is better than me so I didn't have to worry about being rear ended and could just concentrate on being smooth. Phil's car was jumping about a bit so I was reasonably cautious but when it settled down I got a bit close and overbraked and had a half spin.

Tried to use the leaders to get up to Phil but wouldn't have had a chance except for Phils off. Had a reasonable lead after that but then found a stricken car at the exit of the loop just as Hendy was approaching. Mr Nichols was a bit agricultural in his pass and that knocked me into the armco.

Phil was then following me down to the loop 20 yards behind but he was super fair. He was closing up and I don't think I could have held him off much longer. I thought that if I could just be clean out of the last corner it would be ok but in the event I overbraked and nearly lost it. I wasn't quite sure on the line and it was VERY close.

Great racing though and the first race for ages where I didn't make any major maistakes. The 45 laps went quite quickly.

WD to the podium (and indeed the top 5), different class.

WD to all finishers. Great fun race and underlines why I love this great game and UKGPL!

I had a communication problem and connected to the server  2 minutes before the start of the race. I started last, a tiny little bit pissed off about the damn thing. I was aware that I had to calm down before attacking anybody to improve my position. I followed Diego for some time and when, finally, I passed him, I was more than 15 seconds behind the group. Obviously, being pissed off doesn't make me faster !  Overall, even if I was lapped twice, I am quite satisfied with the fact that I managed to remain focused . I kept my car on the track lap after lap  and didn't use my shift-R. I won't get my picture in the Hall of Fame for this race (or any other race for that matter) so what ? It's a wonderful world .

Take a look at the race report Pierre - top of the climbers list. Way more interesting than these pole to flag leaders who do the last sector in 19.39...  ;D

Think I just invented a new game 

GPL Snakes & Ladders

Spend the day chasing people , getting past them,  then spinning off .

Started 9th finished 9th so you could also say I also spent the day going nowhere very quickly  :)

I think that sums up my experience as well - apart from the  'getting past them' bit.

I thought I was doing pretty well finding myself in 7th but pushed a bit too hard trying to line up for a pass on Phil and clipped the hay bales, spinning round and dropping to 11th
though I was lucky not to lose a wheel. A few more offs and a blown engine put paid to any thoughts of serious points but a very eventful and enjoyable race nonetheless.

I was playing the same Snakes & Ladders game as Bernie – started 8th finished … 8th. A silly mistake early on at the Big Bend lost a pile of places. After that I had several off on battles with Bernie – he was a bit quicker but a bit more prone to trips into the scenery.
Partial apology to Diego for the contact about lap 40. I was waiting for the chance to lap him which rather suddenly presented itself on the exit of the ‘90’. I had to cut to the inside to get past – as per my replay there was a gap between the cars but not a big enough gap for the GPL crashbox.
This season seems to be developing into something of a two tier championship – Andy, Cookie, Hendy, George & a couple of others fighting for the podiums with the rest of us in a mid-table scrap. No complaints about that – we’re getting some good racing in the middle order.

So the midfielders need to aim for fifth or sixth... the top four are that bit quicker...

3-4 heavy glitches with T7 when I thought it's over...

One of them cost me 2nd when I lifted in the Esses and George kept the pedal floored...
Nice battle so far as he was faster in the curves and I had a better acceleration ;D

I had the greatest fight with my front left tyre not becoming red in prib wich wasn't easy ::)

Grats to Andy and George, a well deserved 1 - 2  :thumbup1:

Maybe next race with UKGPL_8?

Might be worth giving 8 a go Cookie if you are happy to host.

I have no problem hosting a race when I am participating ;)

Paul, your solicitude  is equaled only by your sense of humour. It's true that we both gained 5 positions but my French cartisianism tells me that moving from 16 to 11 is not quite the same as moving from 11 to 6.

Anyway, it gives me chance to express my admiration and reinforces my determination to kick your butt in Zolder  soon  someday ....

Well at least were consistant  ;D


Who has time to look at Prib when racing ,except for the mearest glance , never seen so much information , all that lappery stuff at the top and tyre stuff at the bottom , never had all that before my new install and find it all a bit bewildering to be honest

Oh, it can help pretty well in close racing to know where the opponents are  ;)
If someone is on my side I can see how far he is in meters.

My prib is customized, I have the essentials in the center top and bottom and not much loss of concentration.

So far as I know, Pribluda's plugging in as 'All in One' installer, standard equipment, was not a Mod team decision.  The choice was made solely by the man who created the installer.  Apparently, some entertainment has been gained, and many races have been lost, from this 21st century addiction.  

Those not wanting the program forced on them, should use an early All in One version - I use 0.97.  :P

 

Pribluda can be easyly switched on or off by running the pribpatcher (http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=4412)  :P

No need to use an antique installer...

LOL

Cookie is right about Prib. I only have the distances switched on and usually it tells me who is ahead and behind and that is just about all I use it for. I usually check the distances at the S/F line which helps me know how I am doing relative to those other drivers.

Sounds sensible Paul.  So you're mostly using it instead of the pitboard, during races.  I dare you to switch it off sometime.  I do go on a bit, don't I? :cursing: