SimRacing.org.uk

Grid/server capacity: 22

Track: Grenzlandring '52 Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg109873#post_grenzland)

Cars allowed: Aston Martin DBR1 Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_aston_dbr1), Jaguar D-Type (1955 version only) Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_jag_dtype), Mercedes 300SL (LM55) Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_merc_300sl_lm55), Austin Healey 100 Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_healey100s), AC Ace Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54520#post_ac_ace)

Drivers are reminded that they are limited to only ONE drive with each make. Check your status HERE (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1foGl6RvRKmNhNm6E-nWJtm_dkYfQ9BwegpIBVxaPoYY/edit?usp=sharing)

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

Time of Day Setting: 14:00
Start: STANDING
Tyre wear: Normal
Fuel consumption: Normal

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

Been practicing online (about half an hour) with the D Type and had 3 black screens for a few seconds and then back to the track again.  ::) ??? 2 were on the straights and one on pavers just before the start/finish line. Don't know if it was a dickey connection, my PC or a track related problem.

Anyone had similar problems?  ???

Think the problems at your end Bill. I've been practicing this a lot and never a flicker. Is something else running in the background perhaps?

Thanks Tony, not had problems since I sorted out WinZip 20 problem.

Out of interest Just ran about half an hour offline with the Mini Cooper 970 S at Zandvoort 67 without any problems.

Will do some online and offline running with Jag here before Monday night and see what happens!

Hoping for the best on the night :rockon:.

Bill, the track does have a load of off track stuff. Maybe try reducing shadow by a click or two?

I just now noticed there is a tire option on these cars.  I know I'm a little slow!  Anyway what is the difference between the two.  I noticed the vintage are a lot lower pressure than than default.  Are they harder, softer or even worth considering?

Bill: No problems for me and my old PC, it usually acts up with heavy scenery. 

Thanks
Bob M.

Some don't consider the different tyres make any noticeable difference, some do. I'll be in the Merc which doesn't offer a choice  :P

Depends a little on the specific car Bob, but usually vintage have less grip, but don't wear as quickly as moderns.  My own preference depends on the car in question.

Cheers,
Erling

From my limited experience, I would agree with what Erling said about the tyres. Personally, I find the "modern" option seduces me with its better grip in the early laps and I am prepared to struggle at the end of the race, hoping to have that wonderful thing, "track position".  ;D

The only additional observation I would make is that for me, the vintage take a little longer to get up to working temperature, plus I feel that I need to make adjustments to the setup to compensate for the "harder" Vintage option, but I never quite seem to dial them in...............but that might be my lack of experience with GTL tyres.

Thanks guys.  Will spend a little time and see what happens.  My ride is the Jag D.

Thanks again Bob

Just spent about 45 minutes online without any problems, kept one eye on frame rate maximum 198 fps - minimum 89 fps. Recon when I had problems there was routine maintenance on the server or something, though normally this results in being dumped back to desktop with warning that GTL has stopped working.

The other thing could be Graphics Card overheating but with all the cooling fans Ollie had to cool his SLI combo the PC is running really cool even when we had the mini heat wave. Hope for the best Monday!  ;D

I know we did this circuit last year, and somehow I have ended up with the same car choice. That might not be so surprising, as I do not plan my season to match cars to circuits but simply choose from what is left in my garage.

Anyway, I have a question.

Am I doing something wrong on this track, or am I missing something? Because, even on full race fuel, from lap 1 on cold tyres, I can put a brick on the accelerator pedal and comfortably drive the whole race without lifting or changing gear ( once I have moved up through the gears from the start)??
I have the gear ratios selected so that I do not quite hit the red line in top gear, so I might gain a little time with some slipstream.  But, it seems to me that there is little else for me to do except occasionally input a little steering?
My question is ...."is this correct?" , or should I expect to have more work to do during this race?   ??? How are others finding this track?

Just found out that I practiced in the 57 version of the D-Type  ::) I fear, I'm getting old ...  :-\
Had to lift the accelerator pedal twice per lap.

There is more than one possibility to suddenly crash out of the race so tactics should be to lift the accelerator pedal more often  :)

Can't comment on the Aston, as I haven't tried it here, but in the D-Type, you have to lift/brake 3 times around the track.

Cheers,
Erling

So, what you are trying to tell me in the nicest possible way is "You chose the wrong car Clive!"   :-\

Possibly, but I thought you remembered that from last year  ;)

Personally, I've ever tried anything else than the Jag here.  To me a track where you never change gear once you're up to speed, seemed ideal for a car which is handicapped by its 4-speed gearbox everywhere else.  Can only speak for myself of course, so maybe the other Jag drivers are able to lap without braking or lifting.

Cheers,
Erling

No, I can't get around without lifting at least twice, but then the best I can manage is 2.08.  :-\

Well, I think with a little slipstream help I could match Geoffer's 2:08's, in the Aston.

 But, if those D types are going to lift in front of me ( and I am pretty sure that they WILL be in front of me  :-\ ) before the corners, then things might get tricky when I need to stay firmly on the gas to maintain my momentum. So, maybe I will have more work to do in the race????

It could get interesting................................. ;)

IMPORTANT

Would all Mercedes drivers please make sure that they have this collision bug fix installed. http://www.nogripracing.com/details.php?filenr=4181

Note carefully where this file is installed to and do not deviate (Clive)

What moi???? ::)

New PB about 6 secs faster but at end of lap 2 suddenly found Roger stationary in mid track in avoiding him lost it big time and saw two wheels bouncing down the track.   ::) ??? Early bath then.  :'(

I did have it installed but also it does say in the readme.....

"In online games, the version installed on the server is crucial, if the server has the fix installed, the collision bug is fixed, even with unpatched clients connected. "

TTFN
John.

Don't you believe it!

Grats Jeep !!!

Results and replay now posted

All going beautifully to plan............get a tow behind a D type for Qually ( thanks Erling :thumbup1: )  

Make sure that I get hooked up behind the inevitable D types when the racing starts......worked a treat!!

Slight hitch , a Mercedes got into the fray and prevented me attaching my tow rope to a Jag!!  :-\ and the 3 leaders creep away.

OK so John is quick in the Merc , we'll follow him....that long 5th gear is coming in very handy  ;)

Then Eifel gets the clockwork in his D type working and catches us ......great now John and I have a Jag to tow us doen the straights and we can easily match him through the bends.

Then we pass Erling and another D type stuffed in the barriers........our group of 3 is now in a battle for 3rd spot.........I smell chapagne  :shifty:

I can sit behind Eifel and John and wait for the final lap before making any risky moves....another 10 laps of being towed around seems OK, just backing off a little when the slipstream drags me too close.

Then Eifel takes a strong dislike to a telegraph pole but fails to actually remove it, instead he performs a triple salko with 2.5 twists and harpoons my poor Aston.............NP Eifelblitz it was an accident, but this was not in my copy of the script! :-\

John escapes and by the time I have realised that a) my car is the right way up.....b) the engine is still working....c) I am facing the wrong way.......d) I am in 2nd gear and that is why I cannot get going.......  54 cars have passed me!!!

My car is now not driving quite as the makers intended and I cannot catch TonyW up ahead no matter how hard I try. Eventually the now not so solid handling catches me out and I clip the barriers with 1 lap to go and decide that the cramp in my right ankle is too much to continue.

Grats to Ziu and the podium guys. the race was certainly more entertaining than I was expecting, even if my first lap expectations were to go up in smoke later.

Must make a note to save the D type if we race here again............

Well that was more than a little unexpected. I had planned to take the Jaguar for this 1 but had a senior moment earlier in the season and used it at Monza so looking through my garage it was either the Merc or the Healy A few recon laps indicated the Healy was a none starter but if I pumped up the tyres and threw out anything heavy the Merc could return lap times in the low 2:06's which should put me at the tail end of the mid pack in qualifying. As it was I started my 1st hot lap and was passed by a D-Type. Not sure who it was but I threw a rope around his rear bumper and hung on for dear life and was rewarded with a 2:05.8 good enough for a 6th place start.

The flag dropped and I got a great start. Clive went all sideways in front of me so I dived for the gap. The Jags seemed a lot harder to get off the line than the Merc and I passed Erling and Navin and suddenly much to my amazement found myself in 2nd behind Zui. Had a small moment in T1 when I was surprised at just how much Ziu had to get off the throttle and had to run a little wide to avoid and this let Erling through so was back to 3rd with Clive showing indications of wanting the position but by the end of lap 1 Navin had replaced Clive and the Jag showed it's advantage and he simply drove past me in the run down to T1 so I was 4th Geoffers then appeared (Damm Jags) and he also drove past me like I wasn't there and I again found Clive large in my mirrors and running 5th. Coming off 1 of the turns Geoffers suddenly slows and both Clive and me thunder past and this was the start of some of the most enjoyable online racing I've had in GTL so far. Over then next few laps Clive and me were never more than a few car lengths apart. I had the outright speed once the Merc was wound up but with slipstreaming and his better acceleration Clive could draw level before the game of "Chicken commenced prior to the next turn. Suddenly 2 stationary cars flash by and I'm in 2nd as Navin and Erling have a coming together. Meanwhile Kurt has been chipping away at us and joined the fray in his D-Type. (Oh great another bloody D-Type).  He eventually passed Clive and then me right on the approach to T1 which of course meant I was searching for the brake pedal as these Jags don't go around corners and Clive was back up my a$$ and pushed past but I managed to hold the inside and bit straight back again. managed to re take Kurt only for him to force his way past but again I retook the position. Eventually he made a pass which stuck and I was having to be almost in his passenger seat to hold onto the tow down the straights. Then into 1 of the turns he started to slide wide and I hauled the Merc to the inside line and caught a glimpse of him hitting something and then everything went quiet and I realised Clive had been caught up in Kurt's accident. I can honestly say I didn't want our tussle to end and would happily have seen all 3 of us finish with me behind both of them I was having so much fun. :(

So suddenly I find myself in a very safe 2nd about 15s ahead of Bob in 3rd and 15s behind Ziu in 1st and the rest of my race should have been largely uneventful but no. Around Lap 3 or 4 Polly (one of our Cats) had jumped in front of the screen and started making her "I'm hungry" noises I made the usual reassuring "yes, yes in a minute, I'm a bit busy at the moment." noises and she went away presumably safe in the knowledge that I would provide the required food shortly. Well she obviously got fed up of waiting because around lap 13 she re appeared and dropped a 9" Rat between me and the screen as if to say "Look I'm bloody hungry". (I hasten to add I don't live is a rat infested Hovel but during harvest time we do get the odd 1 come in off the field. Hence the 2 cats which do act as a good deterrent). So after regaining my composure I spent the last 7 or so laps with a (Fortunately) very dead Rat staring at me while Polly sat there demanding to be fed sooner rather than later.

Back to the race and I noticed the time between Ziu and myself tumbling very quickly and passed him in the run down to the final turn presumably recovering from a major off. I fully expected him to come steaming up behind me in the next few laps but no, he must have suffered some damage as I was even extending my lead. So in the end despite posting only the 6th fasted lap I actually managed to finish over 43s ahead of Ziu in 2nd.

A very unexpected result indeed,largely due to the JAG drivers hitting the self destruct button but I'll take any win thrown in my direction. :)

TTFN
John.

Not much to report on this race other than having a "as of late" Hamilton type start getting mugged because of a bog down this time. Not sure why tires didn't spin right away as I did was on full throttle and dumped the clutch. Worked perfect in practice. After getting passed by many I was able to fight back to second place in the first lap. At that point I started a great battle with Coyote which seemed to realize right away swapping the lead/draft position without battling to hard in the corners help us both to slowly but surly catch up to Ziu which we did. Then it was a three way fight for a short time before Ziu and myself pulled away by about a second or two from 3rd place. At first it was a similar fight like with Coyote. Exiting the last corner I got a good draft run on Ziu and passed on the outside front straight I had him cleared by a car length going into turn one and saw he was coming up the inside for a pass so I held my outside line on the left hand turn one. I was well over in the right lane but I could see Ziu get a bit sideways and was coming into my lane with the rear end out so I tried to pull wide but it was too late and got a ever so light bump which sent me into the hay bales grinded along them a bit until I hit that wall or whatever is the emoveable thing is halfway into the corner sending me flying into the air. Now here's where it really sucks. Coyote through no fault of his own got smashed by me when I came back down to the ground killing his day and race. I should of hit esc as soon as I was in the air Coyote and I apologize for ruining your race. Also to anyone else that was caught up in that mess. When back on the ground I was pointing the wrong way on the far outside of the track and saw Clive coming right for me and then realized hit the esc button FAST!! I did so but I think Clive did and awesome little jig to avoid the hit anyways. Good job Jeep for the Win. Great speed in that Merc.

That "jig" was one of my scariest moments thus far in GTL!!  I was foot to the floor for the whole lap, absolutely wringing every KPH out of the Aston to stay with the faster cars.
On that lap I had got my line slightly wrong into T1, and was running the outside line...still at 100% gas when suddenly there was a D type facing me. I did not see it until the very last moment because my view was obscured by Jeep's hulking great Merc. I was sooo glad that I had set up the car to oversteer slightly if I lifted off the gas...and believe me I definitely lifted!!!! It was just enough to tighten the line and I would not be surprised to see that there had been an exchange of paint samples!!
Grats to Jeep on the win. Even if I had avoided the unfortunate Eifel, I doubt that the Aston had the sheer grunt to get past the Merc and hold the lead. So 2nd might have been a possibility as I was able to hang onto that tow rope dangling out of the back of your car.  ;)

Disaster race for me, lap 2 was following Tony to close when accident happened ahead, braked but to late clipped Tony which sent car into hedge then bounced back on track just in time to collect Bill (sorry Bill for cutting your race short).

Grats to Jeep on win

Grats to Podium

Bit of a disasterous night on the Geoffers front.  ::)

Totally bemused in qually why I was over 3s off the other D-types. Car seemed to handle well & was hitting the limiter in top on the straights, so where was I losing 3s. Then Eifel suggested I may be using the wrong tyres  ::), never occurred to me that the tyres would make such a difference. So changed them & did one outlap but pressures were far too high, lowered them but by then it was too late to get a time in, so just did a lap & a bit to check the pressures, still a little too high but was over a second quicker at the first split so must be going in the right direction.

Race start was a bit iffy, sorry to Tony for swerving into your path, but passed a couple of cars by T1. Got another on the back straight & by the back straight on the 2nd lap I was right with the leaders in 4th place. Then it all started to go wrong. Close behind Navin through the kink onto the S/F straight I turned in a bit early & went across the grass a little on the inside, not only losing some time but getting an S/G for speeding in the pitlane! WHAT!  :o Anyway slowed at the end of the next lap to pit but had a car closing very fast through the kink so pulled off onto the grass out of the way & hit a signpost!  ::) Managed to get going again & did my S/G.

Car had damage now which slowed it down, could only do laps in the 2.09s, so just kept going to get some points & with all the carnage I finished an undeserved 6th.

Congrats to John, Ziu & Bob. Well done guys.  :clap: :clap: :clap:

No worries Navin - it all happened very quickly, so don't blame you for it.

Disaster race for me too.  Started rather well, with new pb in qualy.  Navin made a slow start, so I was able to pass him.  My own wasn't anything to write home about though, so John got past us both.  Reclaimed the position through T1, when he stayed wide.  Thought I was battling John, so surprised when Navin crept past on the inside at the start of L2. As he said, we then took turns slipstreaming past each other the following laps, eventually reeling in Ziu.  Thus 3 cars towing each other.  I'm uncomfortable running so close to cars in front, as I tend to get my lines wrong when I focus too much attention on the car ahead.  On this circuit, it can be fatal, so dropped back a little (too much, as I lost the tow).  Up ahead, Ziu & Navin still duked it out, and when they touched in T1, everything went tits up.  Tried and tried and tried to predict where Navin's car would go, as he was crashing. Aimed for the gap on the right, as he was against the left barrier, but no. Just as I was about to pass him, he hit something hard and was catapulted across the track, right into my path.  No way to avoid a violent collision.

When my car stopped somersaulting, it was upside down and facing the wrong way. Miraculously, none of the following cars hit me, and with difficulty I got the car turned around in this narrow section of track.  Due to damage, it would no longer run as fast as before, and instead of 2:05 laps, the best I could do was 2:12s.  Felt so much like quitting, but soldiered on to scrape as many Championship points as possible, in case any others lucked out.  Did make up a couple of places that way, so not wasted, although any hopes regarding the Championship is thoroughly gone now.   Didn't stop for repairs, as experience from last year showed me that it doesn't help with the lowered speed.

Grats to the podium and commiserations to the others who met with misfortune.

Cheers,
Erling

Well, that was a suprise. Started well, with a car setup that I had spent ages preparing, with particular regard to tyre pressures, as I felt with a left, left, left track they would need some attention. Settle down on lap one at the rear of the pack as I didn't want to get caught up in someone else's accident. Had a good chase with Roguk which ended way to soon. We were slipstreaming each other and as we started to enter the final turn he was up my chuff with a vengeance. I had seen a collection of cars way up the road but I lost sight of them through the turn. As we entered the straight'ish part before the S/F line there was a puff of dust cloud up ahead. I started braking as I didn't want to arrive at the scene of possible carnage at full speed. Sadly Roguk didn't brake as quickly as I had and he nudged my rear sending me off track but only to slide along a fence, from where I was able to get back on to the track in a controlled manner. Noticed Roger quit shortly after which I felt bad about. Later on had a many lap duel with Phil (welcome back Phil) where we exchanged places time and time again although my car was in better nick and just a tad faster. Anyway, this battle lasted for many laps until he tapped my rear end and skidded on to the grass near the pit entrance. He hit a "Keep of the Grass" sign and totaled his car. Remainder of the race consisted in taking places of those whose luck/skill ran out and I was left trying to catch Bob. He and Ziu were losing time but sadly the race finished before I could catch them.

So now we have the final at Goodwood with all the podium places up for grabs. A quick study of the car roster shows who will be driving what for this race. Could be epic.

For what it is worth Geoffers.....

I was running the Aston on vintage tyres with absolute max pressure and zero toe in/out front and rear, just trying to squeeze every possible KPH out of the car in a straight line.
 The central tyre temps were about 20 degrees above the outer and inner temps, so I guess I was running on something like a bicycle tyre. Strangely enough I the wear was minimal right up to the penultimate lap where I totalled the car.

Results (https://googledrive.com/host/0BzUpS2smyYQ_MW56VFM0MHhCSUU?ltmpl/index.html)

 8)

Great circumscription  ;D - sorry for all inconveniences caused  8)

BTW - great race - look at all the intense and emotional comments. For one time I was competitive (as I was last year on this track).
Not exactly that fast but not bad - still using a setup Matt gave me last year (thanks again!)
After my usual bad start I could climb up some places and had a great and clean battle with Clive and Jeep when I came a little bit too far outside and  crashed into the pole. I thought "that's it" but I still had 1% of my engine and was able to reach the pits for repair.
After that I could still go on for about 5 laps with 0% and 130 mph maximum speed and some obvious smoke signals before my engine finally quitted only some seconds before Jeep won the race.
One sad thing: I lost my one and only best race lap ever scored  :( ;) :D

This race - on the other hand - also manifested my weakness: without a suitable setup and with the usual lack of practice on a track with lots of corners and heavy braking I'm only a contender for latecomer. But fun is what counts.

Thanks to all involved for organizing!

CU next week.

Much apprecaiated Kurt  :thumbup1:

Cheers Clive

Yeh, I generally made a mess of preparing for this one, never paid much attention to the tyre pressures, let alone trying the other tyres.  ::)