SimRacing.org.uk

Grid/server capacity: 22


Track: 1960's Oulton Park International Circuit Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg81636#post_oultonpark60s)

Cars allowed:

CLASS A (0-1000cc)

Mini Cooper 970S Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_mini_cooper_970_s) Note: Not included '69 Mini.
Hillman/Sunbeam Imp Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_hillman_imp)

CLASS B (1000-1300cc)

Mini Cooper 1275S Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_mini_cooper_1275s_1968)
Ford Escort 1300GT Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_escort_1300gt)

Drivers are limited to a maximum of FOUR drives per Class, with a limited number of drives per car. For more information please click HERE (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I7egPwfJnD3svMwKxFhsK633XLm8BLocdNuofsj2VKg/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: Avoid going off at Knickerbrook. There is a hole in the surface that you may fall into. Also avoid the RH side of the track by the first tree on the RH side after the pit lane exit. There is an invisible obstacle there.

IMPORTANT

Once qualification has started drivers may not leave to change class/make/car. They may leave to change skins.

IMPORTANT

It appears that some drivers are not aware that as well as a restriction in the number of drives per class there is also a restriction on the number of drives per car as well.

Please refer to the car roster HERE (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I7egPwfJnD3svMwKxFhsK633XLm8BLocdNuofsj2VKg/edit?usp=sharing) for full details of cars used and cars available.

Please do not turn up to a race in an illegal car  :no: :nono: :thumbdown:

Looks like a highly scientific effort  ;)  :)

BTW - looks like I'm unaccounted concerning EarlyBrands yet ...

I'm not sure what you mean Kurt  ???

Your in the Car roster, showing as had two drives

Sorry Tony - looks like I misinterpreted the figures  ::) :wheelchair:

No probs. I thought I had done something wrong  :sweatdrop:

Not eligible here I know but... No wonder it was so quick at Brands... (Car roster "Ford Mustang Boss 402") - Seems to have found a few extra cubes. :)

TTFN
John.

I had mine bored and stroked  :D

 :lol: :oops:

Easy fella  :drool:

IMPORTANT

Almost one year ago a modder announced that he would be producing a Hillman Imp mod for GTL. About this time I was pondering with the seed of an idea for this series. I contacted the modder and told him of my idea and how his car would be a good fit for this series. Well time passed and although the mod was progressing it was looking unlikely that it would be finished before Jan 2017.

However the mod has now been released and I have tested it and it's a great little car.

So, albeit slightly later than anticipated, we can now include the Imp in our series. The car roster has now been updated to reflect this.

The download should be available later this week.

ooooooooooo :tt1: :drool:

Although I have just about fathomed the black art of front wheel drive, at least there will now be an option in each class ;D

The Imp is a really nice drive! Testing at Golden Valley atm ::) have to switch to the allowed cars tonight  :P

Excellent! I was wondering when an Imp would turn up; after all, in the small classes it was definitely Mini v Imp in those days. Good call.

Hi Tony,
 Any particular Imp for this series? There seems to be several in the pack with different weights, bhp, top speed etc.

TTFN
John.

Whichever takes your fancy

Hillman/Sunbeam install link now active.

Hi again,

I have not taken part in any events for some time mainly due to the fact that I am heavily involved in Seniors Golf (which I enjoy and it keeps me fitter) three days a week. One of these days being Monday. By the time I get home I don’t have much time before the races start. I’m usually pretty exhausted and just want to get into a hot bath. I often found it such a rush that I wasn’t able to perform as well as I wished in the races and didn’t enjoy it that much. If the races were on Tuesday it would be a different matter.

The other day it was pouring with rain so no Golf. I remembered GTL and set up my wheel etc.

I checked into simracing and saw the Imp. I remembered I had one (a Singer). In fact I have owned every car in the Events Class oddly. I downloaded the Imp and raced it round Oulton. What fun!

I don’t think I can make this Monday but would like to try a race or three if I have the energy after Golf. Sometimes I get home in good time. I thought I would check it out online today but I can’t remember the password. :whistling: It may come to me but if someone could remind me it would be much appreciated.  :helpsmilie:

Good to see the simracing is still going strong.  :thumbup1:

Cheers

Misnoimis  :)

ygm

Yes, hi, Misnoimis, good to hear from you.

Golf is definitely more energetic but addictive like gtl. If you are able to fit in a few races it would be good to see you again.

+1

I'm probably just being pedantic here, but I thought all Imps were badged Hillmans and the Sunbeam equivelant was the Stiletto.

So does anyone know what the difference was between a Sunbeam Imp and a Sunbeam Stiletto?

There were Hillman & Sunbeam versions of the Imp as well as a Singer version called the Chamois. The Stiletto was a 'coupe' version with a shallower sloping rear window of which the Hillman version was called the Imp Californian. Do a Web search & you will see the difference.

I do know that the creator of the Hillman/Sunbeam Imp mod was planning to do further versions

I also owned a Hillman (L)imp, back in the 1970's and a friend of mine had a Stiletto. There was no doubt that the Stiletto looked the sexier car with it's sloping rear window and slightly more sporty interior.

My Hillman version was a functional cousin by comparison. When it was working correctly it was a fantastic little car and the roadholding was just unbelievable even in standard form. I had the car through one winter and the rear end traction in ice and snow just had to be experienced. It came to a sad sticky end when the head gasket blew and the aluminium engine block split.  For its time it had a very progressive ( or would that be regressive?) engine/gearbox layout with an inline configuration putting the engine behind the rear axle. It was all fitted into a very compact unit in the rear of the car, but it was an absolute sod to work on!!

Yes, there was also the Singer Chamois variant, which AFAIK was the same as the Stiletto just with different badges and grille.

Back in the days of the Rootes Motors Group of car production, they always produced the same cars under the different badges of the constituent companies. So there were Hillmans, Sunbeams and Singers before it all became part of the Chrysler, General Motors conglomerate

My first experience on a race track (though not at race speed) was when my Mum's gentleman friend took me to Oulton Park in his
gold coloured Imp for an event, i can't remember which, I was only around 12 or so at the time, and in those days
after the racing, they opened up the track for people to drive round.
As long as you didn't drive like a nutter they were quite happy, so we went round for a couple of laps.
I loved it !  :w00t: was a real treat to see the track close up rather than from behind the fences

Who needs the Internet when you guys can provide so much first-hand experience. Thank you for clarifying :)

I only see two imps? how do I get tp see the others?
I am slightly slower in the Imp than in the 970 S which is a shame
as I would like to run it.

I think you need to tick all three classes to get the faster Sunbeams.

Matt, does your folder look like this?
(http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w324/wiltshire_tony/IMP_zpsy67px2le.png)

NOTE: You will have two "Extra Cars" folder one with a space between the words and one without. This is correct. One is for the Imp's and the other is for a couple of Mini's.

Yes, it does look like that, but  only get two to choose from in game.

EDIT:
Sorted. I had only ticked the 70s box, when I tick the 65 box I get them all

I just logged in again today. Sorry not to respond to all who sent me the password but many thanks. I remembered it as soon I saw it in writing.
 
I owned a Singer Chamois one year in the sixties and agree with Clive it was a fantastic little fun car. It nearly came to a sticky end in France when a piece of rag got into the cooling fan and stripped half the blades off it. Luckily I noticed it before the engine cried enough.  There was a Railway strike on in France at the time and I couldn't get the part delivered from Paris but luckily I met a French Canadian engineer who adapted a Peugeot part and it worked perfectly. Fun time's
   
I think the Stiletto’s and Chamois were fitted with wider wheels than the Imp’s if my memory is correct.

As Steve said golf is addictive. I still find it so even with declining powers. We are not so competitive when we get older but the socialising is still great.

I hope to make it for Oulton Park.  :) 

I seem to recall that there was also a Hillman Californian? as an Imp derivative, but I cannot remember what was different about it ?

Shouldn't this be pinned at the top by now?

My mate had an Imp back in the 70's, I had a Mini Clubman Estate. - Amazing just how much stuff you could get in the back of those. His Imp met it's demise when he though it would be fun to destroy a snowman someone had built by driving through it. Unfortunately they had built it around a concrete bollard.  :oops:

Still undecided what to take here, I love the Imps but just can't get the lap times here even with the Bevan variants. The have a huge hole in the revband and I just can't seem to keep them on the cam. I'm quicker in the 970 mini than I expected, almost matching the lap times of the 1275.

TTFN
John.

Yes it should  :-[

Won't make this one Monday.  My  brother inlaw and old fishing buddy passed on yesterday.  RIP!
Only good thing is the way he went, sitting in his recliner chair watching TV.  His wife was in another room doing craft stuff and went in to see if he wanted a sandwich for lunch.  He went quietly as she never heard a noise of anykind.  Massive heart attack supposed, as he had heart problems and some other issues.  Will be missed that's for sure............

Bob M.

So sorry to read that Bob. But your right about the manner of his passing.

Sorry Bob, I will drive for you  Monday

Very sorry to hear that Bob, please accept my condolances.  If it has to be, at least it sounds like he went in a gentle way.

Kind regards,
Erling

Sorry to hear that Bob, condolences.

My condolences Bob.

Really sorry to hear that Bob, condolences from Joanne and me.

Condolences from me too, Bob

Sorry to hear of your sad loss Bob.

My condolences also Bob.

IMPORTANT

The '69 970 Mini is way too quick to be included in future races. So after Oulton Park (this event) I will be taking it of the server. All the other 970 Mini's are unaffected.

Can't find the server  ??? Any problems?

So is it allowed for this race?  As it was the only car in the class at Brands, it makes no difference for that race, but if it is not going to be allowed in future, then shouldn't it be disallowed for this race.

I 2nd that. IMHO it makes the Imps irrelevant, so might as well kill it.
Just my feeling  :whistling:

Probably turned off due to RRE race

IMPORTANT

Following on from comments received I will remove the '69 Mini 970 from this race. I tried the same setup I had for the '69 Mini on the '68 Mini and it drove the same so it's not a huge upheaval.

Please note though that the '68 Mini has a 4 speed box so you will need to adjust the final drive to suit.

Lol....just when you think that you have your car choice settled for just about the first time ever in GTL!!!!

But, I have to agree that particular mini was unbelievably quick around Brands Hatch vs the 1275 Minis, even in my hands.

This of course means that the normal modus operandi will be called upon for Oulton, later on today I might try an Imp or two. :-\

Well, I guess I'm the only person who disagrees with this decision to pull the 1969 Mini 970S from the series.

I'll probably take some flak but I think it is the wrong decision for a number of reasons.

Dropping a car off the Rosta less than 24h before a race makes no sense. (I found out about this while I'm at work on the day of the race).

I do not agree as suggested earlier it makes the Imps in anyway irrelevent. The only cars the 1969 Mini 970S makes irrelevent are the other 970 Mini's.

The limit on drives for each class/model means the Imps will still need to be selected just like any other car in the series. You can only drive each car in "Class A" twice so it's just like any other series with limited drives per car, you manage your selections to maximise your chances.

I don't agree that transferring the 69 Mini set up to the 68 model results in a car which drives the same. The 69 Mini has 5 gears and different tyres for a start. So while the handling may well still be "Mini" having to learn new braking points, gear ratios, best gear for corner etc is not something anyone who was going to drive it at Oulton will have time to adjust to. If the 2 cars were that close to each other there would be no reason to suggest dropping the 69 model.

Finally, a number of drivers have previously noted the advantage of this little beastie and SpecialKS, Erling (Twice) & Clive have all used it already so they have championship points based on a drive in a car we now propose to exclude from the series.

If it's  that good at Oulton then everyone who has a drive left in it will take it and the field remains level for all.

I think this is a poorly thought out solution to a problem which doesn't really exist.

TTFN
John.

Tend to agree with John, even though I have used up my Mini drives and stand to gain nothing.  Dropping it with such short notice, is a bit harsh on those who's prepared to use it in tonight's race.  Think it should be retained, at least for tonight's race.

Cheers,
Erling

Just by way of clarification my views are not based on any selfish motive. I'm not actually planning on taking the 69 Mini at Oulton. (But I do have it marked for a drive elsewhere).

TTFN
John

Despite my disappointment at not being able to use the car that I had selected (  only because it was the easy option as I feel Oulton Park is very similar to Brands Hatch) I am not too bothered. It just means that I will do the normal thing and try a couple of options before this evenings race, then based upon empirical data and meticulous testing,  take a wild stab at which car to use.

I can understand John and Erling's comments regarding the removal of a car that some have had the benefit of using in a previous round, and perhaps that needs some consideration. Not having had the opportunity to try any of the Imps yet, I cannot say whether they introduce an advantage to those who still have all of their group 1 drives remaining?

The Imps are very nice, so you probably won't be disappointed.  Can't say if they can match the '69 Mini, as I haven't tried the latter at Oulton - no point since I can't use it anyway.

Cheers,
Erling

Obviously it depends on the driver/track but from my experience the '68 Mini and the Sunbeam Imp are a very good match

However on Oulton 970 1969 not have big advantage because here is important speed on the straights. 970 is good because have less underwhell than others Mini. Brands Hatch was different, in facts input corners was very important and 970 was good. Oulton is fast track and 1275 is better. I can understand Tony because it was like Class was just with one car, in facts 970 1969 is Class B.

I also tend to agree with John, I only thought it unfair to have it available for this race & banning it thereafter. As I said it mattered little at Brands as it was the only car in the class. Personally I don't mind either way, after all we have to race the Imp at some stage so it balances itself out.

Thank you all for your condolences guys.  Have a great race.  Will look at the replay for sure.

Bob M.

The '69 970 is at least 4 secs quicker here than any Imp, so that is why it makes the Imps irrelevant.
Sure it also makes the other 970 irrelevant as well, but the other 970s don't drive that much different than
the 69 one, so a trivial change if you were intending to take it.

IMHO if we are to introduce the Imps then we should be more selective about which other cars run in the same class
to make it more of a level playing track, or we should delay intriducing a 2nd car into the class.
For me limiting the minis to ones that are "similar" to the newly added Imps makes sense.
The '68 970 S could still be faster than the Imps in the right hands.

I think Tony has done the right thing here, even though it is short notice.

enjoyed that even though I made a complete cod of it. fell off a couple of times, had fun chasing Huggy and Bill
managed to find an invisible hay bale once which lost me nearly 30 secs having to press "N" to get to neutral
to get reverse  :o

(https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/phspok1/impwheelie1.jpg)

(https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/phspok1/impwheelie2.jpg)

Replay and results now posted

Looks like you've got a 427ci in the boot, Matt.

That was an enjoyable race.  I'm often at odds with Escorts in GTL, so when it seemed to work well for me here, I picked it for the race, even though I quite liked the Imps.

New pb in qual, dipping into the 48s for the first time, so well chuffed with that.  Start was a worry as always, but thankfully the car behind me was a Mini, and as they're notoriously difficult to get off the line quickly, I might have a chance of retaining 2nd. Any nearby Imps might pose a problem however, as the little buggars were certain to get fast off the line with that rear mounted engine. Sure enough, Sneaky Clive almost succeeded, but got mugged by the Mini gang at T1  :)

Thought I was battling John over the early laps, but discovered after several laps that it was in fact Geoffers. Couldn't shake his Mini. Whatever gap I might have opened in other parts of the track, he would surely claw back at the hairpin. I approached it as fast as I could, and braked as late as I damn near could, but still he would be much quicker.  Only retained 2nd by keeping my lines very tight. Lasted for 6-7 laps, until I was finally able to open a small gap.  Real revelation came after the race, when I realized he was driving a Class A Mini !!  I've never been quick in Escorts, but yikes  :scared:  Probably a good call to remove the '69 Mini after all - he would have wiped the floor with all of us, including Ziu, had it been available  :blink:

Up front, Ziu was long gone, so remainder of the race became a question of maintaining focus and avoid mistakes, to hang on to 2nd. Grats to Ziu on the win, John for 3rd, but most of all Geoffers for completely frightening pace in that Mini !  :o

Cheers,
Erling

Finally a countable result in an Escort thanks to a good setup for Early brands which only had to be modified marginally  8). Thanks again!
One perfect lap in quali - new pb slightly under 1:51. After my usual bad start and some minor faults I dropped to ninth and stayed there for the remainder of the race (so no points
in the overall championship  :-[ :P ::) ;D). Maybe there would have been a chance to catch Steve during the last lap and regain eigth place again, as he made a mistake in turn 5 but
I had an off on my own at the same time in turn 4  :P

Nice one. Thanks for organizing.

Results to be posted tonight.

CU on track

For your knowledge if life has not yet wiped out Ziu, the Mini 970S 1969 not has any chance to wipe out Ziu.

Second point the Mini 970S 1969 is a Class B car :

CLASS A (0-1000cc)


CLASS B (1000-1300cc)

Let's do some calculations now: 970 cc it mean (1000-30)  if now we close one eye we can see 1000 cc, then all package 970S 1969 is inside Class B. That is math so if someone among us say that 970S 1969 is a Class A car, he also believes that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs exist.

At most someone could ask to Tony if was possible  replace 1275S with 970S 1969 on Class B.......but Tony that is a true Boss  i sure he never replace.


About Race i can say that i tryed immediately to open gap with Erling after i controlled. It was the first time here with Ford Escort 1300 GT and i liked it. Honestly if Geoffers choice Mini 1275 we could see a different Race for sure. However has been nice to see the great battle between John and Geoffers, when i saw it I thought that i do not wanted be in those mess.

I won but i sure on ending season i will have the  weight  of DNF on first Race.

Grats Erling, Grats John for podium.
Thanks to John and Geoffers for battle show.

A so-so race for me; basically, I probably should have run in class A as there was less competition.  :laugh: Still I'd practiced the Escort (and the '69 Mini 970.... ::) ) and felt comfortable with it, so....   Pretty good start as it happens, 1300 crossflows always were screamers!  Had some good races with Matt in the Imp,  Steve until he got away from me, and with Bill, which unfortunately ended up with me going off - pure racing incident - and lose touch with the main "pack". Not being super-quick, there was no way to catch up, the tyres were going squiffy anyway, and a solitary class point was my score for the night. This definitely a good series though, looking forward to the next one at Snetterton; might be a good place for one of my remaining big banger drives.....

As usual, I had done no off line practice for this event although I had followed the exchanges regarding the Imps ( and the 970 Mini ) on the forum. In fact I only downloaded the track and the Imp pack at around 7p.m. last night before jumping on the server to make sure all was OK.

I had thought mid week that I might use that quick 69 Mini, but that plan was cruelly ( but probably correctly ) stomped on. I had to try an Imp so simply picked one from the available list with no idea what to expect and got onto the track.

Initially it seemed to have terminal understeer and I just could not carry any speed into, or through, the corners. So Arnold got out his special scaffold tube and large hammer, and things were carefully adjusted. It took me from about 7:15 until the start of qualifying to get the car to hook up the corners. I still felt that there was at least another second, or more, to be found if I could tweak the turn in to suit my style, but I had to stick with what I had and get serious ( ish!).
I had expected to see more Imps on the grid as it was a new toy, but most people opted for the 1300 Escort which would have been my choice too if I had not played with the Imp.

I had practised the start in quali and discovered that the engine just bogged down terribly unless I thrashed it and slipped the clutch quite aggressively.
I actually got an absolute flyer of a start and arrived at T1 having jumped two places, but stuck on the inside where I just could not risk carrying any pace that would cause me to run wide and cause an incident. I had to back off and the Minis swept past. I was hoping to hang on to the slipstream of the bigger Escorts as I could see Geoffers doing ( he appeared to have attached a very short tow rope to the rear of Erlings car!!) John was tantalisingly just far enough ahead of me to stop me tucking in behind him. I had geared the car in the hope of getting a tow on the fast sections and that now played against me as I was cast adrift.
Rog and Tony were slowly reeling me in from behind and in my efforts to stay ahead I was trying too hard and losing time with untidy lines. The extra horsepower of those Escorts inevitably carried them past on the straights, but for several laps I was able to stay in touch until I had strange braking moment at the hairpin and the car just snatched left and right before spinning???
The rest of the race was quite lonely, although Steve was threatening in the later laps and I had to up the pace to keep him at bay until he made an error and dropped back. In the last few laps I was closing On Rog's Escort but I suspect that he was well in control and just pacing himself to the flag.
I think that the Imp promises to be great fun on circuits with shorter straights against the smaller Minis, provided of course, that Geoffers has to drive a shopping trolley with a lawnmower engine!! His pace was impressive in the 970cc car against those bigger Escorts  :notworthy: :notworthy:

Grats again to Ziu and Erling, who once again led the field with fast consistent driving.

I was looking forward to this event as it had been a while since we raced at this version of Oulton Park, which although having some invisible Imp destroyers, is a cracking good motor racing circuit.

I must of been dreaming as I studied all those lovely classic motors lined up on the grid for the start. I'm sure I whiffed the great smell of BRUT. Anyway what ever it was it made me forget to select 1st gear  ::) and so my usual bolt like sprint off the line was somewhat handicapped. Loads of revs but no forward motion and ever man and his dog passing either side of me. Several expletives later and I was on my way and chasing the Mini's, Escort's and Imp's in the distance.

Think I caught and passed Kurt first then had to chase down Roger who IIRC was chasing the evil one. Any way we both passed his evilness and had a good many laps with some excellent racing until I eventually passed Roger and managed to pull away and build a good distance between him and myself. Then it was just a case of keeping it neat and tidy until the finish as at that point I had no hope of catching the leaders.

Next one at Oulton features all the classes so won't be the same race again. Already looking forward to that and to our upcoming visit to wonderful Snetters with it's car killing bridge and cute bunnies.

Quite surprised how quick the 68 Mini 970 was around here. I never tried the 69 car, but that was around 2s a lap faster at Brands.

Looked set for 3rd on the grid early in qually, but then Clive got his Imp round in a very impressive time & then John went quicker in a 1275 Mini. Eventually got a faster lap in near the end & pipped Clive for 4th on the grid.

Start went much as expected, spun the wheels too much & got overtaken by Clive, but had a good run around the outside of Old Hall to move into 3rd place. Hassled Erling's Escort for a few laps until he upped the pace a little & pulled away. John now started to catch up as the 970's tyres seemed to lose a little grip. Eventually John caught me & when I made a small mistake at Druids he went past before Lodge. The remaining 7 or 8 laps were epic, we swapped positions several times & spent a lot of time side by side, how we never touched I don't know, but it really was great fun.  :thumbup2: John finally made his slight top speed advantage stick & try as I might I had to settle for 4th.

Congrats to Ziu, Erling & John.  :clap: :clap: :clap:

Looking forward to the rest of this series, unfortunately I am going to miss the May Silverstone race & possibly the July one too!  :(

Unfortunately I was not able to make this race. Looking at the times I think I could have kept someone company at the back of the field. I will try to make it for another race. I have downloaded the replay to see how things went.  ;)

Results (https://www.avonrise.co.uk/srou/kurts/60Oulton_20022017)

8)

Thanks Tony for the Series and congrats to podium.  Set new PB in qualifying but the race was mixed bag with some good laps and some terrible laps after I received two cut track warning which upset my line resulting in lots of visits into the scenery. Spent the first couple of laps battling with Huggy until we had our coming together, I pulled over to let Matt through but concentrated too much on the rear view mirror. When I saw Huggy approaching I tried to pull away to get up to speed and let Huggy through but my left side wheels were in the loose stuff and I just spun the wheels and finished up a few seconds behind Huggy. It was when I was chasing him I received my two cut track warnings which slowed me down.

Then much to my surprise I found I had passed Matt and I had a few laps racing him, my 1275 Mini enabled me to keep ahead of him by sheer power. Then I made a bad exit out of the left hander after the start/finish straight which enable Matt to pass me down the left hand side and maintain the racing line into the almost right hand hairpin leaving me the choice of braking early and take the racing line after Matt or trying to take a tighter line - I made the wrong choice and went off the track, ending my battle with Matt. Rest of race was a disaster with lots of time spent mowing the grass and picking wild flowers.  :dots: :rockon:
 

Another enjoyable race for me, despite taking the last point in the All Classes Championship.

I chose the 1275s because I found it suited my driving style more than the others on offer, despite having a little too much oversteer for my liking.

I had a mediocre start,  but was very surprised to find myself within seconds overtaking Huggy, Eifel and Tony on the inside, who all appeared to have  stagnated on the startline. Roguk overtook the same three at the same time but on the outside, and we both converged at the first righthander, with Roguk coming away the braver. A few more seconds and I had also taken Matt, who appeared to have got too close to the track edge. Up to 7th without even trying, I thought. Overconfidence took over and I took the next righthander forgetting to change down, and off I went like my Honda Izzy lawnmower, and handed back those 4 places plus letting Bill through, too.

Last place, I can't get further back than that!

Due to others misfortunes, I eventually found myself back in 8th place, with Huggy in my mirrors matching my pace, waiting for a mistake on my part.

The last 3rd of the race found me looking at the back of Evils Imp, but despite my power advantage, I couldn't close the gap.

So, 8th place guaranteed then, until a late downshift on the penultimate lap sent me head-on into the barriers. Cursing/reversing out I heard a car pass, but fortunately it was only Bill unlapping himself. Eifel had fortunately left the track the same time as me, so 8th was thankfully retained.

Well done Ziu, Erling and John for the podium :thumbup2:

Ziu has raised some thought-provoking facts about the 970s. They were produced with 970cc and 1071cc engines, which might explain why the 69 model ran a lot quicker than the other 970's. Tony was right to withdraw it whilst there was some concern about its pace. Perhaps it's worth contacting the person who released this model for simracing to see whether the setup is based on a 970 or a 1071cc engine. It might be a case of the right car but, as Ziu points out, in the wrong class.

There should be a Word document in your Mini folder which contains some info  :whistling:

I want to stay as true as possible to the RL series so I will not be changing anything as we have as close as we can get to a complete recreation of an entire Motor sport series from over 45 years ago.

Well, that was exciting..

Finally saw a 1:48 in the Mini during qualifying which put me 3rd on the grid behind the 2 escorts. I had seen a few faster 1:48 laps in practice in the Escort myself but couldn't keep it on track for 20 laps so decided to take the 1275 Mini.

Got the worst possible start, without forgetting to actually put it in gear.  ;D I knew Clive's Imp would be off like a rocket and I simply gave it too many revs and was passed 1st by Geoffers and then Clive before T1. Managed to get on the outside of Clive through T1  and take the place back and he then had another go exiting Cascades along Lakeside. Geoffers meanwhile was glued to Erling's rear bumper ahead.

Spent the 1st 5 laps or so over driving the car and despite being able to pull out a gap from Clive I was also losing ground on the front 3. Apexes and braking points were missed several times each lap and I was generally driving like an idiot. Finally settled down and began to make up ground slowly on Erling and Geoffers. Erling eventually managed to break free from Geoffers and I continued to close in only to make some small mistake and have to start all over again. Finally around lap 12 I was within spitting distance but it was hard work even to stay in touch never mind considering making a move. Geoffers was wringing every last BHP out of his Mini and it wasn't until nearing the top speed that I could actually sense I had any advantage despite my extra 300cc. Finally he ran a little wide at Druids and put 2 wheels on the grass and I got the run I had been looking for down to Lodge corner and I was through.

That should have been an end to it but in fact it was only the start. I have no idea how many times we were either level and playing chicken hurtling towards the next corner or we were separated by only a few feet following each other through a turn. I was either staring  through his rear window or had my mirrors full of his Mini. If I couldn't see him he was obviously alongside. I was suffering somewhat with under steer towards the end and another 5 laps or so would have seen me in real trouble with the tyres, but I really didn't want it to end.

Thanks Geoffers, That ranks as one of my most enjoyable races on-line in any sim so far. I still have no idea how you managed to drive around the outside of me at Shell Oils Corner not just once but several times I went into that corner in front, held a tight line only to have you take the long way around and come out with your nose in front. Awesome driving.

Congrats to Ziu for the win who in comparison it seems had a quiet race  and Erling who was about 9 seconds up the road in 2nd. and Congrats all finishers, I'm sure the "All Classes" race won't be as close.

Thanks all.

TTFN
John.

The 69 Mini actually has less power than the 68 car, it is probably quicker because it has a 5-speed gearbox & better tyres. Not sure if it is lighter too. Back in the day the 71 Bevan Imp was capable of lapping 4-5s a lap quicker than a 69 970 Mini!

One of my best starts went past 4 cars and was up behind Matt into turn 2, coming out of turn 4 Matt did a wobbly which let me pass, closed up on Clive but was unable to pass, then Tony caught and overtook, watched Clive and Tony swap places a few times, then the power of the Escorts took us ahead of Clive, tried to keep up with Tony but he gradualy increased his lead so concentrated on finishing and staying ahead of Clive who was closing on me.

Grats to Ziu on win

Grats to Podium