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UKGTL => UKGTL Races => Topic started by: Wiltshire Tony on November 28, 2016, 07:21:29 PM +0000



Title: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on November 28, 2016, 07:21:29 PM +0000
Championship standings HERE (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=544&theme=5)

Grid/server capacity: 22

Track: Golden Valley Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg128898#post_goldenvalley)

Cars allowed: AC Cobra (320kw/429hp, 1068kg/2349lbs only), Alpine A110 1800S Gr.4  Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_alpine_a110_76), Ferrari 250 GTO Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_f250gto), Porsche 904 GTS/6, Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_porsche904gts)

Required Skins

AC Cobra Download this (http://www.mediafire.com/file/despot1vczdc43t/AC_Cobra.zip)

Drivers are reminded that they are limited to only two drives per manufacturer. Check your status HERE (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hBXHZB-152ZVESM4gmvm21f9XPBPeeJn_SxQ1be6xfk/edit?usp=sharing)

Practice: ~19:20 (60 mins)
Qualifying: 20:20 (20 mins)
Race: 20:40 (36 laps)

Time of Day Setting: 14:00
Start: STANDING
Tyre wear: 2x
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:
:jumpjoy: :jumpjoy: This race only. Free choice of car. Will not count against your car allocation  :jumpjoy: :jumpjoy:


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on December 23, 2016, 07:50:01 PM +0000
I'm experiencing trouble getting the Alpine to appear online. Consequently I have pushed this event one week back to give me a chance to get the problem fixed before race night.

If I don't find a fix I will change this to a three car event with three drives in each with no free choice for this event.

Watch this space. :-\


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on December 24, 2016, 12:35:04 PM +0000
Ok, so I have now managed to get the Alpine to appear online. It requires a rather unorthodox setting on the server which I hope will not cause problems come race night. We will know for certain once we have the practice server running.

For the time being please assume that we are using the Alpine as per the original race announcement.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Erling G-P on January 17, 2017, 06:13:32 PM +0000
Tony, we're limited to two races per manufacturer, but I count 9 races and only 4 manufacturers.  Do we get a 'free round' or am I missing something ?

Cheers,
Erling


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 17, 2017, 06:38:55 PM +0000
Tony, we're limited to two races per manufacturer, but I count 9 races and only 4 manufacturers.  Do we get a 'free round' or am I missing something ?

Cheers,
Erling
Cough "Race Announcement" Cough  ::)


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Erling G-P on January 17, 2017, 08:04:28 PM +0000
Tony, we're limited to two races per manufacturer, but I count 9 races and only 4 manufacturers.  Do we get a 'free round' or am I missing something ?

Cheers,
Erling
Cough "Race Announcement" Cough  ::)

Now I think I would have noticed THAT, had it been there the whole time  ;D

Cheers,
Erling


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Huggy on January 17, 2017, 09:03:01 PM +0000
OK, a short simple question -  why would I be seeing "Nurburgring" - previously "Monza" instead of Golden Valley when I try and go to the practice server? I have track downloaded and installed with my other SROUK tracks.    Ta .... :)   


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 17, 2017, 10:52:18 PM +0000
Tony, we're limited to two races per manufacturer, but I count 9 races and only 4 manufacturers.  Do we get a 'free round' or am I missing something ?

Cheers,
Erling
Cough "Race Announcement" Cough  ::)

Now I think I would have noticed THAT, had it been there the whole time  ;D

Cheers,
Erling
It was there the whole time, honest. I just emphasised it a little.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 17, 2017, 11:02:01 PM +0000
OK, a short simple question -  why would I be seeing "Nurburgring" - previously "Monza" instead of Golden Valley when I try and go to the practice server? I have track downloaded and installed with my other SROUK tracks.    Ta .... :)   
It was a tough night for the GTL admin crew (me) last night. Looks like I set the server to Green Valley instead of Golden Valley  ::)

Please try again and let me know if it's ok now for you.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Huggy on January 17, 2017, 11:24:25 PM +0000
Thanks T., will do in the morning  :)


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Erling G-P on January 17, 2017, 11:28:29 PM +0000
It was a tough night for the GTL admin crew (me) last night. Looks like I set the server to Green Valley instead of Golden Valley  ::)

Apparently for me too - have just spent two hours testing the four cars on Green Valley (offline)  :dots:

Cheers,
Erling


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Huggy on January 18, 2017, 09:25:57 AM +0000
All good with the Golden Valley server, tried all cars this morning. Fun track!  Erling:  Are you free for a quick test on there today, either before 5.30 or around 8.30?   Just to see if my connection is any better, thanks :)  If not maybe early evening 7.30 - 8 on Friday.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 18, 2017, 09:43:33 AM +0000
It was a tough night for the GTL admin crew (me) last night. Looks like I set the server to Green Valley instead of Golden Valley  ::)

Apparently for me too - have just spent two hours testing the four cars on Green Valley (offline)  :dots:

Cheers,
Erling
Jeez you know how to make a guy feel bad  :-[



Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: EvilClive on January 18, 2017, 10:10:02 AM +0000
You guys scare me with your detailed preparation for these races :o. lol It makes me feel very under prepared for the contest on Monday!!

For me, next Monday is an age away and other than scanning the forum, I would have no clue about what is planned for us in 5 days time.
It was only the fear of having to maybe deal with a Mini for the 71 saloon series that got me on to the computer a few days early last week.

Thinking about things, I guess that I do a lot of simracing already. GPL 2 nights a week, GTL on Mondays and No grip on occasional Wednesdays.  I could conceive of divorce proceedings beginning,  if I was to start practising on one or two extra evenings a week??  ::) ::)


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Ziu Bacubacu on January 18, 2017, 11:00:24 AM +0000
You guys scare me with your detailed preparation for these races :o. lol It makes me feel very under prepared for the contest on Monday!!

Useless details !!! You just push the gas (http://www.vocinelweb.it/faccine/sport/61.gif)


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Erling G-P on January 18, 2017, 03:00:44 PM +0000
It was a tough night for the GTL admin crew (me) last night. Looks like I set the server to Green Valley instead of Golden Valley  ::)

Apparently for me too - have just spent two hours testing the four cars on Green Valley (offline)  :dots:

Cheers,
Erling
Jeez you know how to make a guy feel bad  :-[

No reason to Tony - as I wrote it was offline, so entirely my own fault.  I had written down Golden Valley on my paper note, but still went to Green Valley.  Can't blame you for that !!  ;)

Cheers,
Erling




Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Erling G-P on January 18, 2017, 03:02:31 PM +0000
All good with the Golden Valley server, tried all cars this morning. Fun track!  Erling:  Are you free for a quick test on there today, either before 5.30 or around 8.30?   Just to see if my connection is any better, thanks :)  If not maybe early evening 7.30 - 8 on Friday.

Yes I very much like it too  :)

8.30 today (GMT?) would be ok for me.

Cheers,
Erling


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Erling G-P on January 18, 2017, 03:11:16 PM +0000
You guys scare me with your detailed preparation for these races :o. lol It makes me feel very under prepared for the contest on Monday!!

For me, next Monday is an age away and other than scanning the forum, I would have no clue about what is planned for us in 5 days time.
It was only the fear of having to maybe deal with a Mini for the 71 saloon series that got me on to the computer a few days early last week.

Thinking about things, I guess that I do a lot of simracing already. GPL 2 nights a week, GTL on Mondays and No grip on occasional Wednesdays.  I could conceive of divorce proceedings beginning,  if I was to start practising on one or two extra evenings a week??  ::) ::)

Normally I'm not out this early myself, but with another bunch of new cars to learn, I figured I'd better get cracking - and must admit I've been dying to try that Ferrari  :D

With all the other sim racing you mention doing, I'm impressed you still find time for GTL.  I don't have a family to care about, but still can't seem to find time for anything more than GTL on Mondays, at least not with the amount of practice I need for that  ;)

Cheers,
Erling


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Huggy on January 18, 2017, 03:51:50 PM +0000
You guys scare me with your detailed preparation for these races :o. lol It makes me feel very under prepared for the contest on Monday!!

For me, next Monday is an age away and other than scanning the forum, I would have no clue about what is planned for us in 5 days time.
It was only the fear of having to maybe deal with a Mini for the 71 saloon series that got me on to the computer a few days early last week.

Thinking about things, I guess that I do a lot of simracing already. GPL 2 nights a week, GTL on Mondays and No grip on occasional Wednesdays.  I could conceive of divorce proceedings beginning,  if I was to start practising on one or two extra evenings a week??  ::) ::)

Wouldn't be so bad if all my concentrated hours - sorry, I mean minutes - of practice made me any faster, Clive :)  Eight years of Sim racing, and one win (in a field of five) and a handful of podium finishes, one of which was last Monday!  Seriously, I mostly do things so far in advance as I seem to be having ongoing connection glitches etc, as well as learning cars and tracks I haven't raced before. And just 'cos I can (ain't retirement grand? ;)  Agree about the Minis; I've raced them in Autograss in the real world, but the ones in our mods are a right bloomin' handful by comparison!

Yes Erling, 8.30 GMT this evening, just to see if I get any problems when online like I had on Monday Thanks.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 19, 2017, 06:53:30 PM +0000
IMPORTANT

Tyre wear reduced to 2x for this race and all the other races in this series.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: EvilClive on January 21, 2017, 05:31:16 PM +0000
I would argue that tyre wear was increased, if it is 2x?? but then, what the heck do I know  :-\

Except!!  Just downloaded and took my first ever look at the Golden Valley circuit this afternoon, imagining a smooth track sweeping through golden meadows, maybe alongside a tinkling stream in the bottom of a beautiful valley. :yes: :tt1:

Instead, I find an armco lined roller coaster which is doing its best to destroy both car and driver at every corner, and what is worse, some dammed saboteur has ripped up parts of the tarmac to expose what I presume are cobbles!!!???  :scared: :taz: :taz:

Don't even ask me about the car choice................... :helpsmilie: :surrender:


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 22, 2017, 01:30:17 AM +0000
@ Clive  - Tyre wear was previously set to 3x


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: EvilClive on January 22, 2017, 08:43:50 AM +0000
Ah!  Apologies for my assumptions Tony, perhaps I should have read the original post  :(

But, I had no idea that we could even be subjected to 3x tyre wear in a race!!! 


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: BillThomas on January 23, 2017, 12:19:29 PM +0000
Tony are the  extra skins supposed be available for this race, only I can't use the one I tried #4?  ???


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 23, 2017, 12:37:11 PM +0000
Tony are the  extra skins supposed be available for this race, only I can't use the one I tried #4?  ???
Maybe I forgot to add them to the server? Do any other skins load/work?
Let me know and if their missing from the server I can add them tonight before the race.

EDIT: Has anyone else not been able to run a skin online?


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Erling G-P on January 23, 2017, 12:59:16 PM +0000
Tony are the  extra skins supposed be available for this race, only I can't use the one I tried #4?  ???
Maybe I forgot to add them to the server? Do any other skins load/work?
Let me know and if their missing from the server I can add them tonight before the race.

EDIT: Has anyone else not been able to run a skin online?

Is it the Cobra ? (The only one of the cars for which skins are mentioned separately)

Haven't tried it online yet.

Cheers,
Erling


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 23, 2017, 01:01:42 PM +0000
Tony are the  extra skins supposed be available for this race, only I can't use the one I tried #4?  ???
Maybe I forgot to add them to the server? Do any other skins load/work?
Let me know and if their missing from the server I can add them tonight before the race.

EDIT: Has anyone else not been able to run a skin online?

Is it the Cobra ? (The only of the cars for which skins are mentioned separately)

Haven't tried it online yet.

Cheers,
Erling
Yes, just the Cobra


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: BillThomas on January 23, 2017, 02:22:43 PM +0000
Tony are the  extra skins supposed be available for this race, only I can't use the one I tried #4?  ???
Maybe I forgot to add them to the server? Do any other skins load/work?
Let me know and if their missing from the server I can add them tonight before the race.

EDIT: Has anyone else not been able to run a skin online?

Tony that was only skin I tried, logged on with GTL standard car but discarded it as too difficult to drive on this track. :o


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 23, 2017, 06:25:11 PM +0000
The AC Cobra skins were and are installed on the server so the problem is at your end Bill.

The skins must be put in the AC Cobra folder.

Please fix this before joining tonight or you will have loading problems if someone else is using a AC Cobra.

(http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w324/wiltshire_tony/SROUK/AC%20Skins_zpsj7rlmnfz.png)


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: BillThomas on January 23, 2017, 09:01:03 PM +0000
Thanks Tony sorted, #4 is OK went on track and drove it with default settings.

New PB in qualifying and OK for first few laps when I screwed up on that fast corner and lost a number places on consecutive laps then braked too late at the end of start/finish straight wrecking the engine. Poodled around until the engine eventually died.  :sleep1: :rockon:


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 23, 2017, 10:16:41 PM +0000
Replay and (almost finished) results now posted.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Erling G-P on January 24, 2017, 12:27:06 AM +0000
First of all commiserations to Ziu; what rotten luck mate  :(

If your wheel suddenly stopped working, it could perhaps be a broken wire inside the USB cable. It will probably have contact some of the time, only to lose it at other times. Happened to me with my first Razer Boomslang 2000 mouse. It would suddenly stop working, but could sometimes be brought back to life by wriggling the cable.  Never found the break inside and eventually had to replace it.

My own preparation for this race didn't start too well, when I spent a couple of hours testing all cars on Green Valley instead of Golden Valley ::)  Quickly forgotten however, once I set wheels on the right track.  Absolutely love it, and likewise, the Alpine was an instant love affair.  Love the noise and the way it handles.

Qual was initially frustrating, as I couldn't match my offline pb of 1:21.4.  Finally succeded, snatching 3rd on the grid from Clive, in the nick of time  :)

Start went ok; with Ziu gone, I was suddenly in 2nd. Clive made advances, but I hung onto it going into the 'big hairpin'.  Then disaster struck, when I lost the rear and spun in the final, tight left-hander. From hero to zero in a few secs!  Entire field had passed when I rejoined.  Nothing to do but try to catch as many as possible; it was a long race after all.

Gained places when first Huggy and then Tony went off.  Next had a battle with Bill, who was fast in the Alpine!  We were both screaming towards the chicane, when I had a look down the inside, contemplating a move.  Bill was late on the brakes however, so I obviously wasn't going to make it and thus backed off in time.  Bill still went wide, slid across the grass & track, possibly touching John, as he went off too.  I slipped between them, but surely hope it wasn't all caused by Bill making room for a possible kamikaze stunt from me  :(

Next up ahead was Roger in a Cobra.  He's never easy to pass, so with all that straight line grunt, he could be a real problem.  I had to find a way past in a corner, where the Alpine had the edge. After a couple of half-assed attempts, where the door was firmly shut, I slipped past on the inside of the 'little hairpin'.  Surprisingly survived the following straight and could slip further away when we reached the curvy sections.

Bob was the next up the road.  Pulled on him what I couldn't do with Bill, when he braked a little earlier before the chicane, and I slipped past at the entry.  Following lap, I got past Kurt's Cobra, when going into the 'big hairpin'.

With all this, I was now 3rd, chasing after Clive, some 6 secs ahead. Soon had a frown on my forehead however.  I was improving my 'fastest lap', but still the gap grew. Not quite the plan..   After a few laps, when going through the 'big hairpin', I suddenly spot a thick plume of dust.  Could it possibly be... ?  Yup, at the bottom of it was Clive's car, and he thus generously handed me 2nd.  He was soon chasing me, some 3 secs behind.  I was under the illusion his car was getting smaller in my mirrors. However, the pit board showed that it was most certainly getting bigger! :blink:   When the gap had dropped to 1.2 secs, he suddenly vanished.  Mixed emotions - relieved my 2nd place seemed a little safer, but disappointed over missing what shaped up to be a great fight.  Clive is one of those drivers I will happily enter a battle with, as I'm supremely confident he won't run me off track, if I'm ahead  :yes:

Gap continued to grow from this point, so 2nd half of the race was quite lonely.  Geoffers was 18-20 secs ahead, probably just cruising, maintaining the gap. On a couple of laps, the gap would tantalizingly drop 4-5 secs, but no matter how much I strained to follow up with a fast lap, it would always stabilize or grow a lap later.  Clearly Mr. Geoffers was just trying (succesfully) to bait me.. ;)

Grats to Geoffers on the win, and John for the final podium.  Thanks to all I lapped for making it very easy.

Question for the (brave) Cobra guys:  Did you stop for tyres, or could you make on 1 set ?

Cheers,
Erling


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Huggy on January 24, 2017, 08:59:39 AM +0000
Wasn't surprised by the widespread choice of the Alpine on this switchback track; the others were handful enough on any surface!  Enjoyed running on Golden Valley though, hope it pops up again one day - then I might master that damned left/right fast "chicane" where I went off so many times in practice. And qualifying. Sadly, a resolution to keep it on a sensible speed through there for the race (better not to go off and run more slowly, to avoid getting as many laps down as I did in the end!) went awry, and a total of three big "offs", one of which forced a pit stop for damage, meant I parked it after the last one and called it a night. Had fun for a while though, the Alpine definitely had the measure of the Cobras on the twisty bits, but  no contest on the long straights. Well done top three, commiserations to Ziu;  on this occasion, things at my end ran perfectly, no stuttering, no inability to enter, boom, just like that.  :D


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: EvilClive on January 24, 2017, 11:27:32 AM +0000
That was really tough Ziu, and so very frustrating  >:(

My usual detailed planning and practice for GTL races, and the long hours spent discussing the car choice with Arnold and Mabel around the kitchen table, brought the expected informed decisions.

Ok, so I spent 20 minutes checking the track/server over the weekend and in that time tried all 4 cars. Of the only laps I actually completed the best was around 1:26 in the Porsche, which felt the easiest to drive. Logging on for the race on Monday evening I decided at the last minute that I was not confident about the track ( and the cobbles!!) and maybe this was a chance to use that 'orrible Alpine and its front wheel drive.
Imagine my surprise when I joined 4 other cars already in practice and all Alpines??!! Either a lot of other drivers wanted to use up a drive in this car, or they knew something that I did not?? An impression that was confirmed as more and more ALpines joined the server. Better get my racing socks on and look into this!!

Ziu had already posted a 1:20 lap, so there was a way of making this French tractor with no exhaust pipe move quickly??!
Practice and qually were spent applying various adjustments to the setup with Arnolds scaffold pole and stillson wrenches and trying to understand how to drive the bl**dy thing.
Slowly I chipped away at the lap times and almost pipped Erling for 3rd place on the grid.  A stationary Ziu caused a moments hesitation and I almost got past Erling before T1, but survival was more important the heroics that early in the race and I fell in behind him.
I could see Geoffers pushing hard and felt confident that I might be able to go a little faster than Erling was prepared to risk, but could not see a place to make a safe pass. Until he did the decent thing and lost the rear end into the tight left hander at the beginning of the lap.
Woohoo! second place for free!!....I should have kept my mouth shut and my concentration on the driving of this crazy French car!!
I was still learning the finer points of Alpine driving as the race progressed and found that I was only losing a little time to Geoffers each lap. Then after several more laps and gaining more confidence I got T1 wrong, and the extra grip of those cobbles pulled the nose in and I hit the Armco. TBH I found that the directional control of the Alpine was more like trying to blow a feather in a straight line than steering a high performance race car. Even on new tyres, fully warmed up, it wandered from side to side on the straights, further compounded by the strips of cobble that would pull the car one way and then release it to spring back in the opposite direction. Just how is a guy meant to take a sip of drink on the straights??
Braking became a lottery, maybe as a result of that contact with the Armco, maybe as the tyres wore down, maybe a combination of both?? As long as I could keep the car on the tarmac at the crucial braking point into T1 it was OK and I could provoke extra oversteer to get the nose in if I needed to. But far too often the car would drift to the right and hook a wheel onto the rumble strip resulting in a total loss off steering response, and the car would just plough straight on into the kitty litter with no braking or steering  :-\
I lost count of how many times I passed Rog and then watched him pass me as I scrabbled out of the gravel to chase and pass him again.
 I lost places to Erling and John, that I had hoped I might keep. I was never going to challenge Geoffers in this car and I'm sure had Ziu started he would have been at the front too.

After yet another "off" I had Bob for company as the end of the race approached. Just when I thought I had fought him off ( twice!! ) I managed to lose control and let him through again. We were into the last lap and I was chasing Bob in the folorn hope that I might just get a chance of snatching back some dignity, when he had a moment into the fast Esses on the back straight and ploughed straight on. You might have thought that I would have been very cautious for the last half a lap and made sure of holding the position. Well I thought that I was being careful, but even on the exit of that final hairpin the car tried to rob me of my points and almost put me into the scenery yet again.

Grats to Geoffers, Erling and John who were far more consistent than I was and deserved the podium.
Commiserations to Ziu and his problems and to Bob who lost an almost certain 4th spot at the last moment.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Erling G-P on January 24, 2017, 12:35:27 PM +0000
Err Clive, the Alpine is rear engined rwd..  ;)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_A110

Cheers,
Erling


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: EvilClive on January 24, 2017, 02:55:04 PM +0000
LMAO!!!  well that explains why a front wheel drive setup did not work all that well!!! :wacko: :death: :death: :stupid:

That moron Arnold has some explaining to do!!!


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: BillThomas on January 24, 2017, 02:57:05 PM +0000
Err Clive, the Alpine is rear engined rwd..  ;)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_A110

Cheers,
Erling

Just so but that questions why my front end knock, braking too late at left hander, resulted in severely damaging an engine sitting behind me. ??? ::)

After avoiding you and others on the first lap I drove too hard to try and maintain my place and ended up in "qualifying mode" - hence my speed. Having noticed you were catching me through that high speed chicane I over cooked it and made my fastest drive though kitty litter and over grass gaining the track just in time to brake for the sharp left hander.

Note to self speed is no good if you can't complete the race! ;)


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: SpecialKS on January 24, 2017, 07:43:33 PM +0000
Results (https://www.avonrise.co.uk/srou/kurts/GoldenValley 23012017)

8)

Decided to drive the Cobra here because I neither like the car nor the track.

Surprisingly I suddenly found myself in 2nd place for two or three laps before I started to drop in more familiar regions.  ::)
I needed the whole width of the tarmac to keep the snake on the road - sorry Bob if I caused some difficulties  :P
Unavoidable mistakes and a considerable fading of the tyres led to some offs and a damaged suspension and eventually
to my early retirement.

However - great fun as long as it lasted.

Thanks for organizing to all involved. See you next week


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Bob M. on January 24, 2017, 07:55:26 PM +0000
First off grats to the podium and big sorry to Ziu for his continueing  bad luck.  Don't buy any lottery tickets team mate, totally waste of money I'm sure.  When I first tried this track I took the Cobra and fought the wheel with all the patches and different surfaces and thought to myself, first Blue Mountain with all it's humps and bumps and now this!!!  Were your ears burning Tony?  (sarcasm)   Any way next up the Porky, wow it's not my kind of car, all cornering and top speed and no acceleration for me.  Next up the Alpine, hey this isn't bad once you learn to avoid the rear snapping around on braking hard and turning at the same time.  Didn't even open the door of the GTO
The race was combination of giggles, smoke coming from my ears from too many off track's and being satisfied at the end.  The first few laps I was behind Kurt in his Cobra and we had one he** of a battle for what seemed like many laps.  I would catch him in the corners and he would blow my doors off on the straights.  I couldn't pass him in the corners because he was so far sideways that their was no room on the track.  We did quite a lot of tapping and scrapeing of paint during this time, great driving my friend in what looked like a  very ill handling car.  Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.....After that I had several good laps and then had a off with about 10 or so to go and hurt the suspension.  Seems under braking it would just take off left or right at random and into the weeds or sand I would go.  Also had several exchange of positions with Clive toward the end, we just played leapfrog as we were both continually going off track.  Finished a lot better than I had hope for at the start so all is well with me.  All in all "Good Fun"
Edit::::look at the position info on Kurt's results info and you will see what I mean about Clive's and mine last laps.  That is just unreal!!!
Bob M.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Geoffers on January 24, 2017, 10:07:30 PM +0000
First, very bad luck once again Ziu, not been too good a start to 2017!

Well, good result for me but not a particular fan of the track, don't really like these bumpy circuits. Also not over keen on the Alpine, seems to have slightly odd handling, encourages you to go faster & then suddenly bites you. However it was the quickest car here.

After Ziu's exit & Erling's early spin I soon had a big lead which continued to grow until I lost the rear at T3, losing 7-8s. Got back in a good rhythm, took it easy lapping one or two cars & apart from getting the back straight Esses wrong a couple of times late in the race, brought the car home carefully!

Congrats to Erling & John.  :clap: :clap: Cya all next week for the Turbo Capris!


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Jeep on January 24, 2017, 11:45:42 PM +0000
A race of 2 halves for me., Found the Alpine the most tricky to drive but there was no denying I was nearly a second faster in it than the other cars so decided to spend my time developing a set up which would tame the snap oversteer I was finding when pushing hard. Just about sorted it come race day but had to sacrifice a bit of corner speed to get it into a position where I felt I could resonably expect to complete the race with the minimum of dramas.

Qualified in 6th but even matching my PB would only have gained me 1 place on the grid.

So on to race start and the 1st weird event of the night. For some reason I got no 3-2-1-GO. The timer ticked down as normal but I never got any actual start signal. So I was a bit slow off the mark and lost at least 2 places on the run down to T1. 2nd was a screen freeze just as I reached the braking area, only for a fraction of a second but by the time it all came back to me I was sliding with my nose pointing at the barrier. Tried to correct and felt a tap I think from Tony as he squeezed through the diminishing gap. %*^£& I can usually get round at least half of the 1st lap before chucking it at the scenery. So quietly muttering to myself I rejoined in last place. A few corners later though found Erling exploring the rallying capabilities of his Alpine and I was back up to 10th and we set off in pursuit of the rest of the field. By half way around Lap 2 we were with the pack and gained a place when Huggy lost it in the Esses at the end of the back straight so up to 9th. Lap 3 and I was right with Bill as we entered the back straight and he then ran wide on the exit of the esses and I was through to 8th. Onto lap 4 and I was on the tail of the Clive, Roguk, Tony battle until Tony ran wide at the end of the combination of lefts and I was right behind Roguk as we entered the back straight but any hope of actually mounting an attack disappeared when he simply drove away from me. Hopefully I could get a better exit onto the SF straight. Unfortunately a very optimistic line through the Esses by Bill clipped me from behind and punted me into the armco putting me back to 9th behind Tony. Next lap and Bill spun at the end of the back straight so I was back up to 8th. Got a better exit than Tony down the SF straight so was up to 7th. Caught Roguk by the end of the combination of lefts after T1 and was right with him onto the back straight. Same story again as he slowly pulled out a short gap down the back straight but I was back on his tail into the tight left and got a better exit onto the SF straight and had the position by T1 so up to 6th. Next up was Bob and Kurt and they gifted me 4th place when they had their own coming together. I'm still not sure how I missed Bob's car as he spun but somehow I squeezed through and was up to 4th but a long way adrift of Clive, Erling and Geoffers. Slowly the race settled down, I seemed to be able to extend the gap back to Roguk but likewise the gap to the front 3 was also slowly increasing. Then on Lap 14 I saw a car in the gravel, no it couldn't be, yes it was Clive and I was up to 3rd. I knew he was faster than me and waited in trepidation for him to begin to make his presence felt but then saw the gap increasing quite quickly and realised he had taken another excursion into the kitty litter.

The remainder of the race was largely uneventful until tyre wear began to rear it's head. I began to lose a lot of time at the Esses, handling was predictable everywhere else but I was losing around a second a lap at the end just navigating those. I also had my 2nd freeze of the night at the end of the back straight putting me way off line and in the wrong gear for the sharp left but held it together to bring it home in the final podium spot.

Well pleased with my final position. Especially considering I had been off twice and was last but 1 at the end of Lap 4. Ziu would obviously have put me off the Podium and Clive was also definitely faster than me had he been able to keep it on the black stuff but I'll take it any way I can.

Really bad luck Ziu, I don't really know what the problem can be. I had a similar season in GPL with oAo last year. Seven races in before I even finished a race. Screen Freezes, Disco's plus exactly what happened to you yesterday. I was sitting on the grid at Brands waiting for the flag. A quick wiggle of the wheel (As you do).. Nothing, Throttle, nothing.. Buttons all still worked but no response from any axis. I still have no idea what happened, it's never done it before or since but all the practice time for virtually no return come race day did make me very frustrated and I did consider walking away several times during the early part of the season.

Congrats to Geoffers and Erling on the 2 top spots. and everyone who took part.

I may not make next week. It's our wedding anniversary and we are going away for a long weekend and may not be back until late Monday evening.

TTFN
John.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: BillThomas on January 25, 2017, 06:04:08 AM +0000
Sorry John I didn't realise I'd clipped you at the Esses. As I wrote in my post I was driving too fast in the race tying to keep my race position and was driving beyond my capabilities!  :hammer: :hammer: :nono:


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 25, 2017, 09:04:00 AM +0000
Great write up guys, and thanks for the results Kurt  :thumbup1:


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Geoffers on January 25, 2017, 09:52:39 AM +0000
I notice from some of the posts how drivers were having problems with the Alpine under braking & also snap oversteer, which I am taking to mean losing the rear when turning into a corner, not oversteer on the power, which didn't appear to me to be much of a problem. Now I may be saying something that you guys have already deduced, but lowering the braking pressure (I think I used 86%), & moving the brake bias more to the rear (I used 48.5/52.5 in qually & 50/50 in the race) should help both situations.

I used to think that a car wandering under braking was caused by the rears locking, but usually it is the fronts locking causing the steering to be ineffective. However be careful not to go too far towards the rear as this will obviously also cause loss of control if the rears lock up.

Maybe less obviously moving the brakes more to the rear can also reduce the tendency to snap oversteer on turn in, which may sound odd. If you have the brakes too far to the front, causing the fronts to start to lock, the car will start to understeer, you then put on more steering lock to get the car to turn. Then when you let the brakes off, the front regains grip & the car turns in more sharply as you have too much steering lock on which causes the rear to come around. Again be careful not to put the brakes too far to the rear as this will give snap oversteer when you put the brakes on.

Hope this helps any of you who were having problems.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: BillThomas on January 25, 2017, 11:58:13 AM +0000
Thanks Geoff appreciated.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: EvilClive on January 25, 2017, 12:24:47 PM +0000
Thanks for that insight Geoff. It certainly made me laugh out loud. :lol: :lol:

Being a long time GPL addict, what you propose would be considered heresy over there and probably result in a public thrashing with a wet fish.
I tend to subconsciously apply the GPL rules for setups and moving the brake bias to the rear is what one does to promote a loose rear end ( if you will pardon the phrase!) and encourage turn in and correct understeer.
 
So, I have been religiously moving the brake bias towards the front wheels AND increasing the brake pressure in vain attempts to reduce that snap oversteer problem!!    :oops:
Then, to compound my problems, I resort to drastic adjustments to diff and roll bars to compensate for the weird and unpredictable behaviour of the car. My diff setting are often in the 20/10-40/20 range just to get some response!!
Plus of course, I was under some insane illusion that the Alpine was front wheel drive and was trying to apply the recently acquired Mini driving technique, powering the car through the corners.
Given all the above it is quite amazing that I even got around the first corner!!!!!

This might go some way to explaining why I struggle to get these cars to perform??  ::)

However, I doubt that this little nugget off advice will transform me into an all conquering alien who consistently breaks world record times in any car that I am asked to drive............................just thought that I should get that excuse in right away  ;)


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Geoffers on January 25, 2017, 12:44:33 PM +0000
Thanks for that insight Geoff. It certainly made me laugh out loud. :lol: :lol:

Being a long time GPL addict, what you propose would be considered heresy over there and probably result in a public thrashing with a wet fish.
I tend to subconsciously apply the GPL rules for setups and moving the brake bias to the rear is what one does to promote a loose rear end ( if you will pardon the phrase!) and encourage turn in and correct understeer.
 
So, I have been religiously moving the brake bias towards the front wheels AND increasing the brake pressure in vain attempts to reduce that snap oversteer problem!!    :oops:
Then, to compound my problems, I resort to drastic adjustments to diff and roll bars to compensate for the weird and unpredictable behaviour of the car. My diff setting are often in the 20/10-40/20 range just to get some response!!
Plus of course, I was under some insane illusion that the Alpine was front wheel drive and was trying to apply the recently acquired Mini driving technique, powering the car through the corners.
Given all the above it is quite amazing that I even got around the first corner!!!!!

This might go some way to explaining why I struggle to get these cars to perform??  ::)

However, I doubt that this little nugget off advice will transform me into an all conquering alien who consistently breaks world record times in any car that I am asked to drive............................just thought that I should get that excuse in right away  ;)

Lol Clive, looking forward to the wet fish thrashing!  :wetfish:

Thing is Clive, these are games & what works in one may not be correct in another or IRL. Just trying to say what works for me & why. I have certainly got faster by moving the brake bias more to the rear in most cars, but then the amount of rear brake you need is probably determined by how you drive. I have a tendency to keep a little throttle on while braking (only 2 pedals, so brake with left foot), whereas someone who right foot brakes or comes completely off the throttle will probably need the brakes more to the front than I do to prevent the rears locking up.

Did try GPL (briefly) but could not keep the car on the track so never persevered with it.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 25, 2017, 12:53:40 PM +0000
Thanks for the advice Geoffers.

I would love to add my race report but I seem to have erased most of it from my memory. Maybe it was the shock of not taking the Alpine. I know I had some good racing but for the life of me I cannot remember with whom. I also remember being knocked across the track on the start/finish straight before the bridge by an invisible object (twice  ::) ). And I also remember having lapses in concentration and going off track quite often.

Well done to the guys who took the Cobra. I think Roger did pit for tyres about half way through the race tho.

Thank you for the feedback about the track. I do take note of your comments.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Erling G-P on January 25, 2017, 02:20:33 PM +0000
Replay is your friend Tony  ;D

With regards to setup: I didn't have snap oversteer at all in the Renault (those who saw me spin on L1 may beg to differ, but that was on cold tyres, with altered balance due to race fuel). All I changed was lowering the brake pressure, to prevent lockup, but it may have had a positive effect on snap oversteer too - I just never discovered the problem in the first place.

My setup skills are rudimentary at best.  If a car tends to spin when I brake, what mostly works for me is moving brake bias forward and/or increasing coast diff. Increasing brake pressure like Clive suggests, strikes me as something that would most likely make things worse, but as Geoffers says, much probably depends on personal driving style and the game itself.

That Geoffers gains speed by moving brake balance rearwards gives food for thought - normally I only move it forward if I have problems with spinning, but maybe should make a habit of moving it backwards until problems arise, to get the maximum out of the brakes.

Cheers,
Erling


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 25, 2017, 02:42:45 PM +0000
I know, I know. But I'm currently re-fitting my main GTL PC so my time between races is precious.

Re: brake balance. GTL has the ability to assign keys to moving brake balance in race. Never tried it so cannot say if it works or not.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: EvilClive on January 25, 2017, 04:36:53 PM +0000

Re: brake balance. GTL has the ability to assign keys to moving brake balance in race. Never tried it so cannot say if it works or not.


Oh!!  Now you are really beginning to scare me Tony!   :scared: :scared:


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Bob M. on January 25, 2017, 06:54:32 PM +0000
I guess this is what you mean.  This key ] adds front bias,, this key adds rear[..  When you adjust them the numbers are posted at the top of the screen as you go.  Very useful in muscle cars as the fuel burns off. 

Bob M.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: roguk on January 25, 2017, 08:25:15 PM +0000
Thanks for the tips Geoffers/Tony and Bob.

Took the Cobra only car for me that i could get a reasonable lap time. Pitted about lap 18, for some reason i had got into my tiny brain that 2x tires was the same as 2x fuel so had to pit LOL, tires were quite worn but probably should have not stopped, tire change took 30 seconds.

Grats to Geoffers on win

Grats to Podium


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Jeep on January 25, 2017, 08:47:28 PM +0000
When I 1st messed around with GTL some years ago I usually moved the brake bias rearwards on most of the default set up's but since returning I tend to run very close to the garage settings but with significantly reduced pressure. In my case I think this is because when I renewed my interest in GTL I also went for the shifter instead of paddles for gears and also using the clutch (My old wheel only had 2 pedals) I also right foot brake with a very poor imitation of heel & toe thrown in so it's probably my less than smooth down changes which have forced me to leave the brake bias close to the default. I tend to tune using roll bars and diff along with adjustment of front and rear ride height. For the Alpine I had 53/47 brake bias and 30/90 diff settings which would feel very odd to most I'm sure.

Although I'm sure you know this already Clive, the diff settings between GTL & GPL are reversed GTL uses locking %age whereas GPL uses ramp angles. Just thought I would mention it as I didn't realise early on and couldn't work out why I ended up with a cow on Rollerskates.

No worries about the tap Bill, Been there, Done that. :D

TTFN
John.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: EvilClive on January 25, 2017, 08:53:12 PM +0000
@Jeep
Daisy says can she come over and play with your cow!!!   Talk about a day of shattered reality........not only does the brake bias appear to affect the handling in reverse to GPL, but now I discover that the diff works in reverse too!!!!!!!!!!!

I am putting myself into a darkened room and nurse has promised me extra sedatives tonight. It may be sometime before I emerge into daylight again................................................


I guess this is what you mean.  This key ] adds front bias,, this key adds rear[..  When you adjust them the numbers are posted at the top of the screen as you go.  Very useful in muscle cars as the fuel burns off. 

Bob M.

Are you serious????!!!!  we can adjust the brake bias on the run??????


NURSE  more medication needed urgently!!!  :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Bob M. on January 25, 2017, 09:17:40 PM +0000
JJC/jim had a guide called ABC's of GTL, which had a list of obscure adjustments that you could trigger by keys.  It was up on Gamers Crib and I thought Nogrip but I can't find it and search brought up nothing for me.  I used to have a copy of it several years ago but computer crashes have taken it away.  Anybody else have it or a link?  Was really a great piece.  Just a thought.......

Bob M.


Title: Re: UKGTL Season 17 European GTC Cup - Golden Valley - Jan 23
Post by: Wiltshire Tony on January 25, 2017, 10:58:10 PM +0000
Never knew that existed Bob. Would love to get my hands on it.