SimRacing.org.uk

Season 34 – 1955 Grand Prix – Round 4 – Hockenheim

The fourth race in the 1955 Grand Prix series takes us to Hockenheim in Germany. The track was originally called "Dreieckskurs" (triangle course) and was built in 1932 using roads in the forest as an alternative to the Wildpark-Circuit in Karlsruhe. The track was used for motorcycle racing and was expanded to be used as test track for Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union in 1936. In 1938 the track was drastically shortened to 7.5 kilometres and it was renamed the "Kurpfalzring". This name was used until 1947 when the unchanged layout was renamed again to "Hockenheimring". This version of the circuit, which was used in 1955, consisted of the original two long straights, with the Ostkurve in the forest and the original hairpin inside Hockenheim joining them together. In 1965, when the new Autobahn A 6 separated the village from the main part of the track, an updated version of Hockenheim circuit was built, which incorporated a new "Motodrom" stadium section. Two fast chicanes were added after Jim Clark was killed on 7 April 1968 in a Formula 2 racing accident.  A small memorial was placed at the site of his accident near the first chicane. In order to improve safety even further, the track was lined with crash barriers in 1970. But the track was still dangerous and claimed the life of Patrick Depailler in 1980. So in 1982, the first chicane was made slower and a third chicane was added at the Ostkurve (east curve). In the early 2000s, Formula 1 officials demanded the 6.823 km (4.240 mi) track be shortened and threatened to discontinue racing there.  So the state government of Baden-Württemberg secured the financing for a redesign by Hermann Tilke ready for the 2002 German Grand Prix. The new "Tilke Track" was not universally popular and many drivers preferred the long circuit. Sadly the old circuit was torn up and replanted with trees thereby preventing any chance of reinstating the long circuit for Formula 1 or indeed using it for historic car races.

Tonight we will be using the 1967 version of the long track that doesn't have the three chicanes.
 
Please read the championship specific rules on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=664&theme=6).

Race list	iGOR
Server	UKGPL_4
IP address	See IGOR
Date	03-03-2019
Track	Hockenheim (http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=9311%20%20http://dixierunners.speedgeezers.net/Hockenheim/)
Mod	55GP with 60fpsV2newmod
Damage	PRO long
Race time	~ 21:30 UK time
Qualifying	20:45 UK time - 45 minutes
Race length	21 laps
Replay	here (ftp://ftp.ukgpl9.co.uk:32122/Season34/55GP)

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

Password: see above (#post_event_password)
Driver lists can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=664&theme=6)

Handicapping and chassis allocation.
This season the 1955 Grand Prix cars will again be using a token system which allows drivers to purchase any chassis of their choice for a given number of tokens as published on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=664&theme=6). Drivers classed as Amateurs will be allocated an additional 10 tokens.  The token allocation will not be managed in SRou this season so (unlike the 67F1 Works and 67F1 Privateer divisions) the tokens available to each driver will not appear in the championship table (when the mouse pointer is hovered over the driver's total).  Rather, the available tokens will be published in the race announcement. See table below.

Available Tokens:
Note: These are the tokens available to each driver before the 10 tokens are added for making the race start.

Driver	Tokens	Status
Alessandro Isacchini	13	Pro
bagrupp	15	Pro
Clive Loynes	18	Pro
Cookie	2	Pro
DLogan	10	Pro
EvilClive	25	Pro
fpolicardi	10	Pro
Gareth	10	Pro
Jeep	0	Pro
uli	5	Pro
francesco	20	Am
Phil Thornton	20	Am
Rich Welsh	8	Am
tagomago	40	Am

I have problem with CTD in this track... often when I leave the session and return into the setup screen, tried with Lancia, Mercedes and Maserati
two times happened during a lap, maybe it's happened when the volume change quikly for example during a rapid acceleration in first/second gears and when to leave session and starts the automatic replay
Someone other with this problem?

(cause no time I have no tried in other tracks)

I did a few trial laps today and yup! 3 CDT's. Not a problem that I have had with other mods at this circuit.  :-\

I did try a new d/load of the track, but still got a CDT. Ginetto has a fix for the Sports Car mod and I am wondering if we will need that fix to make the track work with the 55's??

Yes this GinFix is also good for other mods, as it does make right viewing distances on the track.
http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=9311&#entry112979

PS here is my complete race folder with all updates and fixes (https://www.sendspace.com/file/3hd9u1)

I haven't had any issues with this track since I installed it last season for a 67 race.

In my track folder I have a zip file called ctd_fix_extra_mips_3do

I have no idea where this came from or if it has been unpacked!

It isn't in the image of Axel's folder that I used to make my server work.

CTD is more than likely associated with graphics settings on the client and nothing to do with the server. However the race server (UKGPL_4) is up for testing on IGOR please test your connections.

Thanks Axel for links and folder!
I have no time to try before race, so sunday evening I will re-install the track with that fix and.. finger crossed

I was expecting this to be like Spa, where you hardly notice that it's the 55mod, but I have found that there is a surprising amount of brake management required.   :thumbup1:

 :) Really difficult enter Motodrom with green brakes  :o

Nice laps all  ;)

Great to do some laps with you. Hot lapping is OK for developing setups but nothing beats practising with other drivers to develop race craft. Getting used to driving in close proximity is essential with the slipstream and brakes in this mod.

The trick is finding someone on the server!

Arrrgggghhh  CTD with 4 laps to go ???.  Never mind, at least I will get some points because I completed 50% race distance. The little Connaught was struggling without a tow. I spun out at Sachs Curve 3 times!! Just trying to get the power down too early in an effort to keep up with the faster cars. Grats to Clive for the pole, looks like Bastian managed to connect and was doing very well with 4 laps to go.

For sure not a boring race for me,i have had 2 battle ,one with Rich and one with Uli.

SORRY evil, i migth have overrated the cornering speed for your car.
With the mercedes it is easy going 120 km/h, i expected you to coast into that corner.
feels really bad to have retired you :(

Thanks Phil.

The first few laps were manic with cars everywhere!  And not all of them were rubber side down!  Hope Lewis has more luck defending his crown than Evil has had in this series.

I shall need to watch the replay before I make any other comment on the race but congratulations to Fulvio on heading the championship table.

LOL  I was very relieved when his silver aircraft carrier was no longer parked in front of me in the corners.  They are a bit of a beast when it comes to corners and not ramming them is a difficult task.


And congratulations to Fran for taking the Amateur honours for SBRC.   :jumpjoy:


And Tago for top Gordini!   :jumpjoy:

Reply server is down so as an interim measure the server replay can be downloaded from here (https://www.dropbox.com/s/pryognjiyji1kvy/UKGPL__4.2019.03.03.22.24_S34_55GP_R4_Hockenheim.zip?dl=0).

Grats to Clive and the podium finishers, it looked like a fun race.
If Lewis has the sort of luck that I have had in this series, then he might as well park his car now and go walk his dogs  :-\ :-\.

I had pondered using the Lancia or even the Mighty Merc for this track. I have more experience with the Lancia and usualy find it more agile than the Merc, but when I tested it on the server (against Clive Loynes and his Lancia) I found that although I could match his laptimes, the downside was that I could not get the car to feel "stable"under braking despite being fast. Spending tokens on the Mighty Merc just felt uneccessary on this track where slipstreaming would be the deciding factor, so I dragged out the Maserati 250f, which I knew was a) cheaper  ;D and b) I had used around Hockenheim before and was comfortable.

Fulvio was brave and opted for the fast, but heavy, Slipstreamer, Clive was in his Lancia ( and I knew how fast he would be ) then Bastian surged onto the grid with his W196. I had geared my car for slipstream, because I knew that it did not possess the raw speed to out pace Mercs and Lancias, I could not hook up a qually lap with a
 decent tow so 4th on the grid was Ok provided that I stayed in the tow zone for the race.
The first lap was a bit hectic, but I was determined to attach myself to the faster cars and was pleasantly surprised to find that I had guessed the ratio for 5th gear just about right when I tucked in behind Fuvio to see almost 170mph and still not at the red line  ;D.
It almost went horribly wrong entering the stadium when Fulvio had to start braking much earlier than I anticipated. I had to throw my car onto the grass to the right to avoid collecting Fulvio, not satisfied with that I tried to get him again on the exit of the corner as I slid back onto the circuit....well done guys for avoiding a bright yellow missile!!
Now that I was aware of Fulvios longer braking requirements, I was more careful and a lap or two later as we came to the stadium again I pulled out of the slip stream earlier and took the inside line, being very aware to be sure I was slow enough to hold an inside line, which in turn caught out the cars behind.....................

"nil points" for a couple of races have scuppered any realistic chance of retaining the silverware, but maybe I will have to go into ultra cautious mode for the remaining races to try and get a finish and a few points??


BTW  Igor chat appeared to be under attack from an IRC Spambot last night, did anyone else witness this?

Yes, and it still is.

Is it possible to create another chat room, say UKGPL2, and reinstate the password?

PDLR has also been hacked but GPLRACER has not.  But I don't think that either have a password.

mhh, no its clear to me why you lifted so early.
I saw you in the dirt the lap before, but was still to far to see how that resulted, by fulvio early breaking.
still feels sorry.

Because of two slipstreams I get a lucky practice time but a very bad start followed.
Braking mistake  ::) into the Sachs first lap - BIG SRY. When I saw that no one was out, I felt a bit better …
A lot of fun with catch ups and fine duels with tagomago, Phil, Rich and finally Francesco :)
Really difficult enter Motodrom with green brakes!??
That is why my last try to catch Francesco ends into the barriers but I managed to finish the race on three wheels ;)
Surprisingly top speed this Vanwall – but the breaks … :(

Didn't really get a good slipstream during qually although sixth was what I expected ish!
I got a good start and found my self in the company of the fast lads until Uli unfortunately ran out of brakes at Sachs curve and nudged me off (no worries Uli these things happen)
After that I had a good few laps changing places with Francesco and then my wife walked in and I lost my concentration and the the slipstream which is so important here
I then spent the rest of the race managing my brakes and the gap to Phil behind me.I had a bit of a moment and Phil got in my slipstream and I thought damn but a couple of laps later he appeared to lose it on the brakes going into Ostkurve "what happened Phil?". After that I just cruised to the finish,great race thanks all

I've loaded the chassis the drivers used into the token calculator spreadsheet.  For the next race the available tokens will be as declared in the table below (the table will also appear in the next race announcement).  The calculated values are automated but selecting the cars is a manual process so please check your tokens to make sure I haven't made a silly error.  There was no token overspend for this round so no one is disqualified.

Driver	Tokens	Status
Alessandro Isacchini	13	Pro
bagrupp	7	Pro
Clive Loynes	13	Pro
Cookie	12	Pro
DLogan	10	Pro
EvilClive	23	Pro
fpolicardi	0	Pro
Gareth	10	Pro
Jeep	0	Pro
uli	5	Pro
francesco	15	Am
Phil Thornton	25	Am
Rich Welsh	8	Am
tagomago	50	Am

I got such a good draft I was catching you at a very quick rate and I had to apply the brakes quite hard whilst turning. I hadn't practiced that before and that wasn't the time to find out the setup wasn't very stable under heavy trail braking. I got into a tank slapper and spun  :o

Very good battle with you and i was surprised by the speed of the Vanwall.I think to be not able to have the same times with this car.
At the entrance of Motodrom i have seen a rocket on my right :D,you was lucky to finish with only 3 wheels.

I would just like to thank Evil for the delightful Lancia setup that I used for this race.  Once I had removed his daft 6:1 steering ratio it came into its own!

I had no idea that Fulvio was in the SL until the very last minutes of qually.  I knew that I was going to have a problem getting to the end of the first long straight in first spot.  But it was a long race so no need to panic.  I thought that his brakes must surely give out at some point!   ::)

I didn't know what car Bastian was in as he seemed to spend all of qually stuck in the revolving door on the way into the circuit!

Sure enough, after the start we set off down the long curved "straight" to Ostkurve and Fulvio motored past.  I couldn't duck into his slipstream because there was a yellow thing stuck to his rear end.

I had done the MercSL v Lancia thing before so I knew what to expect.  When I watched the replay I thought what a wonderful sight was presented by the tightly bunched field heading towards the stadium.  They were so tightly bunched that I realised that they don't all have the same miserable looking bloke driving them and they don't all look quite so miserable as Fulvio's virtual self either.  The Ferrari and Lancia teams seemed to have cloned a rough looking individual too.

Anyway, we all took turns to have a go at getting past Fulvio.  Evil's first attempt almost ended in disaster when he suddenly found himself closing on the back of the SL at a faster rate than his brakes could do anything about!  He did the decent thing and threw himself on the grass, just managing not to clout Fulvio on the exit of the right-hander.

I think that it may have been the following lap,  when I could now see that Bastian was in the open wheeled Merc, and that he had managed to claw his way from the back of the grid to be part of the leading foursome.  At Ostkurve I had slip streamed Fulvio, who had claimed the inside line, and again could not pull in behind him because he was being followed by Bastian.  This resulted in my motoring around the outside of Fulvio and emerging onto the straight in the lead!  Bastian made the mistake of tucking in behind me but when his Merc was ready to pull out and pass me, hecouldn't because Fulvio was there and what's more, he still had that yellow appendage glued to his rear.

Fulvio passed me and pulled across in front of me but I knew that I had to give him plenty or room to turn his aircraft carrier and had backed off early.  Evil and Bastian shot past me on the inside with about a fag-packet between them.  (No cigarette advertising intended)

It looked like an accident to me and I was spot-on there as Bastian motored into the back of Evil, putting him on his lid!

I took a wide trip across the grass to avoid the spinning yellow thing and nearly had an accident of my own as I tried to rejoin.  The shallow angle that I needed to see what was coming from behind took me back on the grass and I almost lost it trying to regain the tarmac.

It took me a few laps to catch Fulvio and Bastian and I can't for the life of me remember where I passed Fulvio to climb back to second place.  Then Bastian made a mistake in the Stadium section and I was able to get past.  I didn't realise at the time but Bastian had spun and then reversed onto the track, just catching Fulvio as he tried to slip past.

That gave me the gap that I needed to get away from the Mercs and whilst Bastian obviously had the pace to catch me he also managed to chuck in the occasional slow lap that kept him at bay.  

It was a relief to see the chequered flag.