SimRacing.org.uk

Grid/server capacity: 22

RACE TWO

Practice/Car change: ~21:00 (5 mins)
Qualifying: 21:05 (10 mins)
Race: 21:15 (14 laps)

Track: Donington Park GP, England (Standard GTL Track)

Cars allowed: BMW 2002tii (not S) Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_bmw2002tii)
                     Ford Escort RS1600 Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_escort_rs1600)
                     Nissan Skyline GTR2000 Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_skyline2000gtr)
                     Opel Commodore GS (Not 3000) Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_opel_commodore_gs)
                     Porsche 911S Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_porsche911s1972)
                    
Car restrictions: Four drives maximum per make. Check your status here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FPooSLD493GghZZzv4KblgCSy_iTljKpYhY5ZI2YEpc/edit?usp=sharing)

Time of Day Setting: 14:00
Start: STANDING
Tyre wear: Normal
Fuel consumption: Normal
Pit stops: Not required

Server: simracing.org WEDNESDAY
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.

I'll  be on holiday for a few weeks so I'll have to skip a few events. Will return to my regular  backmarker's slot in a couple of weeks. Have fun all

Cheers, Dan

I was in hospital last week because my COPD threw a tantrum but all's well now and I'm eager for a bit of racing. Now that summer seems to be properly over, I'm hoping some of the NG oldtimers will finally show up. Fields could/should go up to 16 or so which would be epic.

That hospital stay was a bit of a blessing in disguise too. After 35 years of chain smoking and a year and a half of admittedly half-assed attempts, The One That Will Succeed is finally underway. 185 hours and counting!

You don't smoke, is the only way to do it. I gave up 3 times, and got quite good at it  ::)
Just wake up in the morning and believe you don't smoke.

Well done Dom, keep it up this time.  :thumbup1:

Grats Dom!
I gave up smoking several years ago and stuck with it.  You may not feel better right away and find yourself reaching for your pocket a lot but you can do it.  You will get a "Second wind" and less coughing and such.  My brother  did a hypnosis program and it worked for him also.

Bob M.

Results and replay now posted.

Arghh, did some practice for tommorow's race, and it was err tonight!

... ::)

When I saw you on the practice server earlier in the evening, I thought that your parting comment " see you tomorrow" was a little odd. But you were gone before I could remind you that it was already Wednesday  :-\.


I'm glad that I did not miss the evenings fun, it was just about my best performance in this series by a mile. My visit to the practice server with Matt was my only pre race practice, but it was a chance to try all of the cars I had available.
The BMW just felt right, straight out of the box. A few tweaks to the setup and some adjustments to braking points and lines and I was clocking 1:46 laps!! The best of the other cars was around 2 secs a lap slower, so I had no problems using up 2 of my BMW drives.


Race 1 was a blast!!
I got a blistering start from 3rd on the grid and almost got inside Ziu at T1, but he closed the door just in time and I nudged his rear. Apologies for that, but he kept control and the lead. The rest of the race was about me chasing Ziu and looking for a chance to pass. I felt that I was a few tenths a lap quicker, but not enough to actually get past safely. I made a few attempts, but backed out before things got messy  ;) My BMW was definitely quicker through The Old Hairpin, so when Ziu made a rare mistake and ran wide, I grabbed the chance to power past. Once I had a 2 second lead it was a case of driving to maintain the gap and not do anything dumb, which is something I have been known to do in the past  ::)

Towards the end of the race I had an extra passenger in my car ( well in my computer room! ) A bee was attracted to the desk lamp and monitor and was buzzing around me as the race finished, which was a bit distracting. After the race, the bee vanished and I thought it had gone elsewhere...….but....


Race 2 ( prepare for simracer's excuse #34b  ::))

Geoffers had hooked up his Porker and Ziu was out for revenge after the first race, so the start was going to be crucial. Geoffers got his Porsche off the line well and it looked like I was going to be following him for a while. Then I think Geoffer's interest in botany took over ? He must have spotted a rare Orchid in the grass by the barriers and he turned sharp left right to go and inspect this little gem??
I wish he had signalled his intention to exit stage left!right! because I had nailed the gas pedal in my Beemer and was aiming to be right on his tailpipes into T1...that certainly caused a little ring flutter from where I was sitting!!

So suddenly I was leading Race 2  :scared:, with Ziu now chasing me in 2nd place. I pushed hard in the first laps to try and get a comfortable gap so that Ziu could not make any attacks. Everything was under control until about lap 10? The gap had stretched to around 3 secs and I was just beginning to think that I might make it 2 wins??. Then my passenger made a re-appearance!!  :-\ and was a little angrier than before  :cursing:
 I swatted the little buzzer away once or twice but trying to dodge a bee whilst keeping a BMW, with worn tyres, going in the right direction proved a challenge. The more attention I gave the insect the more it came back to bother me?? Ziu took full advantage of my erratic driving and closed the gap. My lap times were dependent on keeping my lines smooth and accurate, but swatting a bee away whilst powering through the Melbourne Loop is not good and I managed to over work the left rear tyre and put it into the infra red spectrum...….Ziu closed the 3 sec gap and got past!!!
With the hot rear tyre I could not get the power down out of corners and trying to drift through the faster corners was impossible. Ziu got his revenge and I guess that even in real world racing insects play a part sometimes??? lol


Grats to Ziu and all finishers and commiserations to Geoffers...hope the flower was worth it  :D

Dear apiarist, yesterday i found out which among us you are the best drift driver

You?? No way!!!!  ;D

Race 1 was quite intensive.  Held on to 4th at the start and gradually stretched the gap back to Fulvio. Up front, the leaders slowly began to get away, but then Geoffers slipped back a little.  When he ran wide at Redgate, it was all the invitation I needed to nick his place.  What followed was some intense laps. Geoffers seemed as determined to get his place back, as I was to keep it. Later he fell back a little, and then suddenly vanished, so I could only assume he spun off.  Grats to Clive on win and Ziu for 2nd.

Improved my laptime for race 2 qual, but so had others. Geoffers pole time was otherworldly - I was suddenly ashamed over holding him back in race 1, if he was capable of such speeds. Geoffers then careened off at the start, but I remained 4th when Fulvio made a better start and got ahead.  Anxious to get back in front, as the leaders were slipping away, and I had images of Geoffers on the Mother of all Recovery Drives behind me.  Swapped places with Fulvio a couple of times, and we were sideways through Craner Curves, where he spun off before Old Hairpin.  I didn't feel any contact at all, so didn't wait.  Replay however shows it was contact that made him go off.  Very sorry about that Fulvio  :oops:   At this point, Ziu & Clive were gone with no trace - not even any smoke puffs in the corners, so remainder of the race was lonely, after I slipped away from Dominick.  Grats to Ziu & Clive again, in opposite order  :)   Commiserations to Geoffers, for a lost opportunity.

Donington_29082018_R2 - I think there's something wrong concerning result of R2 generated with Autosimanalyzer: Ziu in last place DQ?
Did I miss something?

8)

Result_Race2 (https://www.avonrise.co.uk/srou/kurts/Donington_29082018_R2)

8)

Wanted to save my remaining BMW & Nissan drives & wasn't keen on the Opel here, so that left the Escort & the 911. Escort I knew from last years BTCC series but it is the slowest of this group so decided to give the 911 a go. As I have said before I have never been able to go quick in any 911 in GTL so was not expecting to set any record laps with it. Initial laps were not at all promising, could not complete one without losing the rear at one corner or another, the dreaded lift-off oversteer! >:( Tried several setup changes, all to no avail, still kept losing the rear into corners. Was on the point of adjourning to the Escort (or the bar) when I hit upon a setup which was far more driveable, only problem now being the car had lots of power understeer, still at least I could get around Donny without spinning off every second corner.

1st race qually was a surprise when I got a front row start but didn't make too good a getaway & Clive shot past. Followed him & Ziu for a few laps but they were slowly pulling away & as the fuel load lightened the power understeer got worse & Erling caught up. Eventually understeered wide at Redgate & Erling went past, harried him for a few more laps but then got a wheel on the grass braking for the chicane & ran on. Rejoined still 4th & had a lonely last few laps to the flag.

2nd race I made a couple of adjustments to try & gain some front grip, must have worked as I got pole! :o  Got a great start this time & was so pleased with myself I forgot to lift off changing to 2nd & the car promptly turned sharp right, fortunately I was far enough ahead that no one else got involved. Got the car back pointing the right way & set off after the pack, caught & past a few then spun at McLeans & had to do it all again. Just caught up with Dom & lost it at McLeans again, this time terminally.  ::)

Congrats to the podiums  :clap: :clap: :clap:  cya all at Le Mans.

I had to manually change the results to get rid off the Ziu DQ. He says he did nothing wrong and I believe him.

ok - thanks. The position chart looks correct, so I leave it as it is ( and btw - that particular chart is the one I'm mostly interested in. I would like to see if somebody would be able to make an improvement of the coding in order to record every change of positions or at least at the point of the intermediate timing)

I cut just one time the chicane before hairpin. Clive ran all race closed to me and if someone has doubt there is replay. I take DQ after race not immediately I cut finish line , take when I was with all you on chat sheet. When I race finished I abandon my car and it start to go on reverse, maybe the reason could be this

Pretty good night for me all things considered. Judging by the numbers I could have qualified in the first half of the field in Race 1 but I felt too rusty and tired to jump into the fray like that straight away. Good thing too I did start at the back because I did manage to eff up the very first corner :laugh:. After that it was going to be a chase after the slower cars but plenty of those decided it was a nice day for a picnic in the field and I ended up 6th with no effort. Then I noticed I was actually gaining on Mr. Policardi and that turned into a nice challenge. I got real close but overshooting the entry to the Esses just once was enough to make the gap unbridgeable.

Originally I wasn't going to do a 2nd race as I was already tired but when I noticed there was only a 15 minute gap to race 2 I decided to go for it and even to qualify. 6th spot in that was just where I wanted to be and when Geoff and Mr. Policardi went off I found myself in 4th with a 15 second gap to fifth.  :blink: It should have been a walk in the park from then on even with much better drivers behind but the fatigue caught up and I too went for a stroll in the park. Both the Beemer and the driver were rather messy after that and if the race had been a single lap longer Mr. Policardi would have taken that precious 4th spot.

Edit: Oh, forgot to mention: 255 hours and counting...

I can confirm that's a GTL quirk. When I organized the F1VC over at NG back in the day, we had a case or two like that. Invariably it was caused by a car, abandoned or not, rolling backwards after the finish.

R2 and I chose the Nissan which I love as it's so great to drive hard. Awfull first lap left be last but I soon caught and passed Kurt who was having Porsche drama's. Set of after Bob and managed to pass him after four or five laps and kept him behind me for the rest of the race. Didn't expect to catch Roger so he must of had some issues and I pulled of a cheeky pass at the end of lap 10 at the final turn. Definately enjoyed the 2nd race better than the first.