SimRacing.org.uk

All members welcome.

Practice: 20:15 (10 mins)
Qualifying: 20:25 (25 mins)
Race: 20:50 (25 laps = ~40 mins)

Track: Road Atlanta v1.0 (download here (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54520#msg54520))
Cars allowed: Alfa Romeo GTA, Ford Falcon, Ford Mustang, Shelby GT350.
Time of Day Setting: 13:00
Start: STANDING

Server: UKGTL Classics Cup
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 (https://www.simracing.org.uk/index.php?pid=7).
(3) Driver lists can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=65)
(4) The season will be run using the UKGTL Skin Pack 1.5 which will need to be installed prior to racing; please get it from the downloads page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#msg54518).

Where's the Mustang?

Simon, please can the Mustang be added, as the Falcon is here also?
The Mustang does not feature in any of season 4's events as far as i can see... ???
I know there are a few drivers aswell as myself who like this machine - would it be a problem to add it?

It's not competitive against those two cars. One of the problems I've had with the car choices is that it's clear the aliens don't want to take the slow cars, so I didn't want others starting from a lower step to start with from their car choice alone.

It's not a problem adding the Mustang with the Falcon there, if it's really wanted, but be aware it's not the same pace as the other two.

just a question, why are we limiting car choice so much? I'd prefer to see a better spread of car types on track.
Why for instance isnt the cortina present as an option against the Alfa? Likewise if someone wants a 'stang' let them have it, someone like JR can get the beast around nicely if he wants the challenge.  And i still think we ought to throw the Toyota corolla mod into the mix, it fits perfectly in with the cortina and Alfa to add more variety.

Road atlanta is a great track.  8)

I know its not on the pace of the falcon or Alfa, but some just like to take it out once in a while, and it would be nice to see just even once next season - can you add it? ;D

Too varied a field in GTL equals boring racing.

Does that mean no? i know what you are saying Simon, but it would be nice to make that choice ourselves  :P.

yes if the cars are that much different, but why isnt the cortina in against the alfa? it can give it a run for its money on most tracks. (not to mention the corolla which can race against both).

Because there are other races with Cortina only and not Alfa, so that Aliens who always pick the Alfa are forced into something less good.

Alfa and Falcon are a match on certain circuits, like this.
Cortina and Mustang would be a match on this circuit too.
But together they are not. The Alfa's 5 gears are a bigger advantage here at Road Atlanta with the hills and twists.


Ah, that reminds me...
https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3604.msg59947#msg59947 (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3604.msg59947#msg59947)

So can we add the Mustang or not? ???

Mark, are you going to post the Corolla on the relevant GTL skinpack thread?

You are at a disadvantage with the Mustang, but given that it does not feature in any of the other races, nor can I see where it could feature I will allow it for this race and you seem desperate to race it's fat ugly arse  ;) I will include it cause I'm feeling nice. :o :laugh:

what do i have to do to submit it to the contributions?  That thread will not let me post or add a reply  ???

We should also use the excellent TR4 mod too. There are several variations of it and its well tested online and offline with a proper set of physics and enthusiasts behind it and a set of skins available.  8)

Follow the board's instructions (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3107.msg50459#msg50459). :angel:

Although I would say we don't need it in UKGTL format, as long as it has a unique numbering scheme as it's not a UKGTL skinned car, but it musn't interfere with any of the other original cars. Can you make sure it's clear that it's a new addon car in the topic's title and description so that the skin checkers know that it doesn't need to follow the UKGTL format. Obviously it will still need checking to make sure it actually works and doesn't interfere with the other cars.

eek, have never submitted any skin stuff for any game as i dont know how to  :-[

But surely as these cars are pure add-on, they just get added to our game directories under the relevant section? ie they dont need any UKGTL number referencing until someone skins them. If i am getting this right they are just more base cars to choose from for skinners and or racers to use.
For instance Toyota Corolla uses car numbers 400cy and 401cy, and creates its own dir under TC65.

So if thats the case do i just need to point people to the relevant links to download from? I dont mind writing any instructions to use them should the supplied readme's not be clear enough.

Be nice to include a set of decent skins for each add on car being that they are done already. I am happy to test and collate some if okay to use?

I think we need to download the whole file for the car (Tex, Ultra Tex, Car File, Bink file etc) - the whole thing that allows the Corolla to run in game - do you have any links Mark?
Once we have this, we can add the file - if the skin is copyrighted, we may need to get permission, or just skin a couple of our own...if i'm right?

Simon - my Mustang does not have a fat ugly arse - thats not a very nice comment is it! >:( ;)

But thankyou for adding, i'll let you past as a favour on the track when i'm killing you all in the Mustang :D

For the skin checkers sake, in short, I think the best thing you can do is basically post a new thread as per a new skin, but saying (in short) "addon car" and a link to download the complete car. Just like a skinned car, a skin checker would expect the link to the whole car (i.e. they only need to download one thing) they wouldn't expect to have to compile anything together.

If there is more than one skin for the addon car then each will need to be submitted as separate cars, otherwise just do one with the "standard" addon skin.

Thanks.

thanks Simon, will look into it. I know the corolla is one rar file that you unpack to your GTL dir and it does it all for you.
Likewise think the TR4 is a zip doing the same but will test it first on my own pc to a seperate dir.  (i have both mods already installed and have used both without problems).

Will, make sure you get plenty of praccy in that Stang  ;)

Road Atlanta is my new home circuit untill Nov. 29th ;D

Shall we call you "front row" Will for this race? :D

Yes, Hamilton style  :D

Problem with having the Alfa in a race is that it's not only the fastest on most tracks out of the TC65 class, it's also the most fun to drive by far, at least for me. So if it's an option, I will always pick it.

One way to even things out is to replace the Mustang with the GT350, leaving Falcon as the slower car. I did a short test, 10 laps in alfa to learn the track then 5-6 in the others. I got 34's in the GT and Alfa, 35's in the Falcon. 33's for the first two and 34's in the Falcon are definitely there on a good lap, possibly another second with lots of practice for all cars. But as I see it, this would give an edge to the GT350 thanks to higher straightaway speed and similar laptimes. Downside is Falcon is left behind by a little. Or then I just can't drive it.

Oh, I have four Road Atlanta tracks in my menu, this is for the one simply named 'Road Atlanta', I'm guessing that's what we're driving. It's different then I remember it from Sports Car GT back in the days, when I "drove" that game with a joystick  ;D

It's perfectly understandable if you don't want to mix GTC65 with TC65 though. Just a suggestion here, to allow me to drive the Alfa without having to also pick the best car.

Good idea, but we'll have to wait for shark to respond to find out. If we can I'd drive the GT350.

The correct track name in-game is "Road Atlanta".
I believe this is the one named "Road Atlanta Long" in the actual track folder.

Man that game Rocked. I still use the same steering wheel now that I played it with back then. My E36 M3 was dangerous!!!!!

Shark, how about adding the GT350 to the car list for this race? We've had a couple of other people aking to add the GT350 as well as me.

I'll look into it, but no promises.

Thanks Shark. I've liked the GT350 since I drove one in Forza.

After some testing the Shelby GT350 seems like a reasonable match so it's been added.

The muscles versus Alfa should be an interesting match up with the big back straight but all those other twisties, I expect there will be lots of sideways tanks.

Hey, good news!  :)

Now I just have to make sure I've got thursday evening free.

How I like to have seen that.. if you think the Mustang is difficult to drive...  :D

.. but unfortunately I have a 'company drink' (or whatever you call it when you go to the pub with your collegues..) so I guess you guys have to do without the moving chicane this race  ;D

Hmm. I'd say the GT350 is among the easiest to drive. Very stable, slow in it's movements, not much oversteering, at least not sudden or difficult to control oversteer. Nice car, if a little weak for it's class. Make sure you put enough steering lock, so that it is flickable (sort of ;D such a heavy beast) and so you can catch any slides you induce. Depends on your steering wheel of course, but I use between 28 and 32 for all RWD TC65 and GTC65 cars with my trusty old Ms Sidewinder.

Mostly 23-24 for TC76. Though I do have one excellent setup by Pero Grozni for the Capri, with steering lock to 32. It's awesome for tracks like Cadwell, where you can just keep it sideways through all the righthanders before the chicane, mucho fun. I'm clueless about setups, but gearing and steering lock are obvious enough for a <censored> like me, and pretty important too.

This should be a good race, it's going to be very very hard getting ahead of the GT350, given it has the edge on the straights, and it's very narrow from T2 to the back straight, very little room to make a pass. Without ever doing a race here, I'm guessing it would have to be done on the inside to T2, possibly T3. After that there's not enough room, and any positions gained just before the back straigth will just be lost on the straight. I'm speaking from the perspective of the Alfa driver, if that was unclear. Of course, the situation is reversed for the GT350 driver, makin a pass on the Alfa anywhere but on the back straight would be very, very challenging, and you have to be close at the start of the back straight.

Interesting to see how the racing turns out.

How so  ??? Elaborate please

I think he means it prevents close racing.  ???

If you just ran "open" classes then there would be many different cars selected and as a result people would have far less "racing" because with the very large differences in car performance it's nigh on impossible to make up the gaps in performance from driver ability alone.

You think so? Personally I - as a rookie - find the Alfa much easier to drive (I would recommend that to The Tib..), but maybe I should give the GT350 a chance again (offline  ;) )

Yes, I agree. But your analysis seems to be based on varying vehicle speeds/power/handling but with a constant skill base. I you throw into the mix a random factor called "ability" then surely it all changes. A skilled driver in a slower car will race the novice driver in the faster car? And further to this the race would break down into groups of like for like cars/drivers having theiw own little "battles".
All that being said, I thoroughly enjoy being restricted (tested) by car choice so I am not voicing an opinion to change. Just interested in what your comment actualy meant.

Only to a certain extent. As I said, in GTL, a lot of car performance differences are far too much to overcome even accounting for differences in driver ability. In addition faster drivers don't actually pick the slower cars.

In addition we can't add driver ballasts in GTL, like in GTR :( So Simon has to do a good job week after week picking our car selection.

I'll second that

Yes, I'm impressed by the way you seem to always get the cars to match each other quite evenly.

If you haven't driven all of the cars in each class you wouldn't be aware of just how much difference in laptimes there is.  For a GP track you're looking at 4 seconds difference at least between slowest/fastest cars in TC65 and GTC76, more like 15 seconds in GTC65.  That dwarfs the difference in driver speed. 

Also, in open races, everyone will be in an Alfa, GT40, Pantera/906 unless choices are restricted.  With restrictions, we get far closer races and much more varied cars in the races - it also takes some of our resident aliens, that are expert in a particular car, out of their comfort zone - of course, they're still far too quick for the rest of us!   ;)

Quite right, except that it's Panty/Capri for speed. Only place I've seen the 906 be really fast is Spa, everywhere else it falls a bit behind, to 911 level and below on power tracks.

The GT40 is a bit of an oddball as well, far too fast for GTC65, but too slow for TC76. 427 Cobra is overpowered for it's class as well, even if it can't hang with the GT40.

It takes research, practice and a bit of hocus pocus :sorcerer:, but I've had enough experience with GTL to roughly know what cars go well at what types of circuits and what the performance differences between all the cars in all the classes are.

I probably spent a couple of weeks trying out various combos of cars and tracks, researching speeds on GTL Rank or previous races we've had to come up with the Season 4 schedule. Especially with 3rd party addon tracks it can be tricky to assemble meaningful data and in those cases I also resort to setting comparitive times for myself.

If the competitive nature of the car choices and interesting track choices helps to make for more fun for our GTL drivers then that can only be good. :)

Simon,

Good dicussion but for the record, I think you do a brilliant job!
Makes for good close racing!

Keep up the good work!

Thanks

Martin

Because I love asking the really stupid questions...........

This is the longer variant of this circuit isn't it?

Thanks for clearing that up for the criminally stupid :laugh:

Can't wait for this one. The Shelby GT350 is a real joy to drive here, lot's of sideways opportunities ;D. Very good track as well. Although I can remember it having a dodgy c/t warning in the big chicane after going downhill and before going uohill again for the last corner ( I guess this is why they name corners :P).

Does anyone have a time trial file for the Alfa around here that they wouldn't mind uploading? Or setup tips...i don't ask for much i know  ;D

I'm doing 35's but i understand that's a bit pants looking at GTL Rank!

Cheers,

J

If the drivers on there are anything like Ruskus aim for about 3 seconds slower than them. I'll sort a time trial file out for you, I've driven the track before in Forza.

If you are able to provide a Time Trial lap for GTL, I'll kiss your feet  :-*.

I'll probaly do high 33's in the GT350.

Just thought of something: can you actually have time-trial replays in GTL or is it GTR2 only? Anyway I'll have a lap time for Road Atlanta by tomorrow.

It's GTR2 only, that's why I said it  ;D

Thought so. Well I'll be able to sort a lap time out at least.

I know exactly which turn you're talking about. I got a cut track warning on it and it was a total WTF moment. It's going to be a HUGE annoyance come race time, I can see some stop/go's aplenty due to it.

1:41.575 in the Alfa. This track does not suit me. And why is the UKGTL server still running Interlagos?

Because people were still on it when I had to give up waiting to restart so it never got changed again. It will be correct after tonights GTR2 race.

Ok Shark.

Does anyone have a setup for the Alfa?
Just found one!

Can anyone (Jeff?) post a Shelby setup? There are none in the online folder for Road Atlanta.
 I really like going through those turns sideways :). Can't imagine why anyone would want to drive Alfa after experiencing Shelby GT350. :P

The biggest concern I have is that the Alfa is going to get knocked for six by the yank tanks so all the tanks should try and watch where their arses are hanging out and the Alfas should watch out for swinging american bottoms. :o Other than that I'm taking the Alfa cause the yank tanks are great fun for 10 minutes but too much like hard work for 40. :P

Here is a setup and hotlap. If you like going sideways, you'll love this setup ;D

http://files.filefront.com/Road+Atlanta+Shelbyrar/;9229560;/fileinfo.html


I need one of those signs big trucks have...something like: carefull, sweeps out.
If you try to drive a yanktank like an Alfa it's gonna be hard work after 10 minutes, as front will be shot and understeer will even be worst. You need to steer with the rear, and that's make hard work look like a hobby ;D.
Two races in a row I took a yanktank, and both times they were awesome, also because it was alot of hard work and not a boring proper handling car  ;)

Thanks Jeff.
And, yes all Alfa drivers should be extra careful when going into turns driving behind Shelby. I was in the vette at Dijon, and got spun out twice by the late braking Elans.

What! Nothing boring about the Alfa   >:( ;D

Sure you can drive it like a Renault if you want, and it's probably the fastest way around, at least for long races. But you don't have to  ;D

The reason I said the GT350 is one of the easiest cars is because it moves and shifts so sowly,  I guess due to it's mass. The Alfa reacts much faster yet is still very controllable when sliding. It (Alfa) is so great because it's a good beginner car, but also, when hunting for those last tenths it takes *at least* as much fine tuned throttle control as any V8 (save for TC76). Good power, best handling from any TC65, or GTC65 as far as I'm concerned. Let's crappy drivers like me do wonderful things on track (wonderful=fun for me). (I guess that last sentence is what detractors will latch on to  :D)

Best car in the game, as much as any car can be in a game where the main strenght is versatility.

It says in the initial race data post, that we can use the Mustang, but we can't choose the Mustang on the practice server, instead we can choose the Cortina. What's that all about?

Also, arewe using this track as is? I got a cut penalty for being with all wheels on the tarmac, or maybe in the air, but not off track.

that's what me and ruskus were talking about earlier. It's a really odd cut track warning.

As long as you don't take the inside or left side of that turn you should be ok, I find. But again I worry there will be a few Stop/Go penalties issued over that corner.

It's been corrected now thanks for letting us know.


Yes there are no plans to use any different track. Bad cut warnings are something we don't like but we have to put up with sometimes with the 3rd party tracks. If there's an area of the track we should all try and avoid then could you let us know where so we can test that bit specifically too and issue any warnings about being careful at a certain corner?

I seem to remember I was in the middle of the road entering turn one in the first chicane after start/finish. But it went fine later offline.

I didn't mean we should change the track, but I didn't know if it would be possible to change the cut track warnings or remove them, but I have no idea if that's even possible.

I think you can remove the cut track warnings, but it removes them for the whole track. So a lot more work for the moderators.

I had a cut track warning at t3 or t4, don't remember exact spot. I do know I had all 4 wheels on the tarmac. It only happened once.

I mean I was in the middle of the road, and I was entering the first turn in the first chicane.

If there aren't any places where you can cut without being totally outrageous and make up significant time, then the server starter can turn off black flags which will solve the problem. We had to do that at some other tracks, like Brands GP.

Now you've let the cat out of the bag! ::) Yes sometimes black flags have been turned off, but I've not told anyone so that they don't know unless they've checked so that they don't abuse it! :o

I've found out that:
At the first turn of the last s-bend before the start/finish line, if you drive with two wheels on the rumble strip, you get a cut track warning.

Yeah, treat that kerb with respect. it don't like tyres

Just had a quick practise of the track to familiarise myself with it and come across a bug with the start line.  I did a lap and crossed the start finish line and the lap timer kept counting as if it did not recognise I had just done a lap.  Any one else had this problem?

Hope this doesn't happen in the race as this might cause a few problems with positions.

:yes: Forgot to mention it. Is there any way to fix this if it goes wrong during the race?

HEY MODERATORS, OVER HERE!

No there isn't and do you mind? We're not on call 24-7 to answer queries on every single thread in this forum!!!!

Looks like I won't make this race :(
Going to do some late night shopping seeing as xmas is creeping up so darn fast.

I will try and get back so I can at least start at the back (in my boring Alfa :D) but might not make it in time.

Have a great race if I miss u !!

Looks like i won't be able to join either - my HDD is just about packed up, and i've been trying all week to remove all my files from the drive (GTR, GTL, Steam, all my tunes) - it's a right mess.
Hope to be online for next week, but uncertain.
Have fun - i really wanted to drive here  :'(

sorry you cant make it Bara :'(...but on the plus side thats one place further up the grid i can hopefully finish in your absence ;) ;D

I am intending to take the sexy legends GT350 so i will need all the help i can get !  :-[ Not too familiar with these yankee gas guzzlers, but when in Rome.... :P

GT350 for me too, it's a total blast round here.   ;D

We're all going to have to be extremely circumspect on the first couple of laps, the first 1/3rd of the lap is *very* tight, plenty of opportunity of mishaps, hopefully everyone will take it easy and we can really get racing once we've all settled into it.  Don't want a repeat of the midfield carnage we had last time!

Be really interesting to see how the V8s and Alfa match up!

Another GTL race - another complete waste of time.
Spun around twice by contact in the first 4 or 5 laps then quit out of disgust. Standard of driving seems to have dropped rapidly comapred to last season.
Don't think I will bother with the remainder of the season.

Yep, think I'll ditch it as well.  I can't be arsed to have my race ruined by constantly having to dodge people making dangerous lunges up the inside.  If I want to go on the dodgems I'll go to a fairground thanks.

It was a really good race on the whole, but then I got nudged, compleletly cocked up the line out onto the final bend, hit the grass, hit the wall, and the car was shafted.

Just to say thanks to all that hit me and ruined my race.

Quallied 5th and got taken out numerous times!

Sorry to hear that.

Hope to see the reports for the incidents Bernie.

Sorry to hear that.

Hope to see the reports Ossie.

Sorry to hear that Adam.

I look forward to seeing the reports.

 ;D

Have calmed down somewhat now ... but still miffed at having what had been an awesome race with 4th to 9th in a massive train for a number of laps.

Fair point but don't let the buggers get you down :'(. I was the victim of two rear end punts by someone who must have been surprised that an Alfa corners better than a Falcon ???. Cum on, thats just rubbish. You can dish out penalties all day long but some have to use some common sense. And where have good manners gone? No wiating after a feck up, nothing.

That said when it works its brilliant. Thanks to Shark, Jonzo and Tony for some great stuff tonight. No idea how you beat me to line Tony but you deserved thats for that ace move in T1. Congrats ;D

Some really have to look at their standards because we can't afford to lose people like Adam and Bernie :(. Hope to see you guys next week when things simply have to improve.

Had fun the whole race, despite undergoing ALOT of stress and cussing moments.

Race started fine, didn't seem to be to much carnage at the start. Kept my own in the 12-9th area untill T3 and I rolled it like a fool! Dropped back to 18th or 19th, and started the climb.

Weaved in and out of the next 4 positions, then started to have to fight for the 14th-12th positions. Got in the mix of it when I do beleive MJ spun, and got in behind 11th and 12th. Was fighting for those positions for a good 7-8 laps, and had to fend off some VERY SHADY passing attempts by a repeat offender. One of the attempts pushed me off track, and I had to rejoin a spot down. Wasn't to pleased about that at all.

Those passing incidents fueled my fire already burning from having to deal with all these Yank Tanks on the road. It's to tough to be stuck in the middle of a pack of them and expect have a chance to make it out. All to often I found myself catching up, then having to slow RIGHT down in the corners, then watching them dissapear completley on the straights.

It's very hard to drive behind the American cars, they slide, slow and brake in odd places, and generally make it a frustrating affair to deal with. I unfortunately gave Ginsters a tap on the last turn as he slowed gradually right on the Apex, and I had no where to go. I apologize for that Gin, I didn't want to end the battle that way :( Also, in light of your comments, I was a far ways behind you entering that turn, and you had slowed right down - there was nothing I could do at that point, I didn't even have a foot on my pedals. It was totally an accident, as you may have noticed in alot of previous - and much tighter turns - I kept a safe distance.

All in all I had fun as usual, but I do have to agree with some of the Legends, that some of the passing attempts need to be toned down a bit. All to often I was watching the car behind me speed up into the inside as we already passed the brake point, which resulted in me being hit twice, and pushed off the track.

Overall I was happy with my finish (11th I think) but I do know I could have stuck up with Gymer and Andy if I didn't F myself by flipping.

Had a cracking qualifingsession. Was very pleased with 3rd place.

With the power of the Shelby I overtook both Alfa's infront of me before T1. I had to defend in the first half of the track, and then power away at the 2nd part.
That was doable for the forst 10 laps, at which tyres started to drop. Mike was gaining every lap and I had to keep close to the apex' at the first half.
Very close and very good driving by Mike, as he didn't try anything kamikazestyle, and in the end in paided off for him.

With 2 laps to go he went off and I said over TS: "That might give me enough breatingspace till the finish." A lap later I lapped Simon and he said don't do anything stupid in the last 2 laps. At which I replied, I'll try not to do a Gymer ;).
The corner after that I had a Benny Hill moment. Again the pin that should prevent my chair from tilting backwards came lose with a loud bang. So I shot backwards and in my effort to not fall face down I grapped my wheel, which then came off.... :lol: Which sent me to the gravel :P . The irony of my words I spoke few seconds before that defies anything ;D
With a half attached wheel I continued and the straight afterwards I could clamp 1 thing again. But I had Mike right up me bum again.
In the last corner he got a better exit and could go by before T1. No reason for me to defend there as there was no way I would stop him and he deserved it.
I lost so much at the twisties that I could come close on the backstraight.

Grats Mike, very well driven and a deserved win.

If people want to improve standards of driving you need to sent reports!

Sorry I missed this one. As race start was closing, I realised I had to food in the house, so had to go to the store instead :-[

Well, I had a great race. Ruskus was setting a terrible pace the first half of the race, and it was all I could do to maintain the gap. Slowly I started to improve my laptimes a little, and Jeffrey made a mistake between T5 and 6 so I caught up.

But then it started to go a little as I had predicted, I catch him between T5 and T6(sharp left) but I'm unable to get past him. Down the straight he disappears and I catch up by T5 or 6 again. Like a rubber band it was.

As his tires started to go, I got a few more opportunities, since I caought up sooner. but instead his Mustang grew wider and wider  :D

I caught him by T2-3, but to no avail, just couldn't find any spot to squeeze through. Showed myself before the entrance to the back straight, in the vain hope it would slow him down more then it did me, but no go. Tried on the left and right after T5, the S bend downhill before the tight left (that I call T6), but no way I was getting through there. Got beside him out of T6 going towards the two 90 degree righthanders before the backstraight, but he just powered away, I couldn't get in his way for T7 and 8. He'd have passed me back on the straight anyway, but at least I'd be closer at T1 the next time.

Then I was going to get the best ever exit onto the back straight, timing it perfect to get optimal draft from Ruskus without touching him, but instead I put two wheels in the sand and pretty much stopped dead. Dang.

I continued on thinking to just cruise the two laps that were left...but what's this! Jeffrey had also went offtrack, and I'm closing in fast going downhill towards the last bend. Yess, I'll get him on the inside before T1, but...nooo.. he's not leaving any room, he's pretty far in, cruuud. Coasting trying really hard to miss him, I nevertheless gently put my drivers door against his rear panel, after which he powers off down the front straight.  :'(

Just a lap or two left, and I would have had no chance of getting by, but thanks to the evidently much higher tire wear on those beasts, he's unable to keep up speed through the last bend, and we go side by side towards T1. I'm on the inside though, and in a lighter car, so I finally get past him, on the final lap no less.

Good racing with you Ruskus. I might not have pressed so hard, except it was high time to end your winning streak  ;D

Thanks all, very nice driving from lappers letting us through clean and fast. And sorry about slowing you down on the last bit mr Alfa, but having witnessed firsthand the GT350's power, I just had to make sure Ruskus wouldn't charge through at the last moment. Didn't catch your name either, was too busy looking in my mirror  :D

Provisional results, replay and provisionally updated standings available.

Unofficial Lapchart (http://www.lapcharts.teamshark.org.uk/Lapcharts/GTL Road Atlanta 13-12-2007/index.html)

thats bad luck so many people had a bad race. when that happens to me u just try and dig in and keep going. u never know what might happen later in a race.

i had loads of fun tonight, as always. highlight was a sneaky move past wiltshire tony and ossie on the last corner early in the race . then i was after ginsters and marc jonzo. i was passing them then they would retake me going up the back straight.the battle with marc was epic :fencing:. i managed to pass clean and fair in the end when he spun off. then i was on my own till i think andy poodle spun infront of me. then i was after another shelby, simon gymer. he spun off, probably lack of tires. i had to make a rapid move round him on the grass to avoid a crash. then it was head down and try get to the end without going off the track. i think i was 8th, im happy with that.  :punk:

great racing tonight from the guys ive mentioned, very fair players, i just wish they hadnt spun off so much, but thats racing.   :thumbup1: 

i wouldnt say i span off a lot  ???  i had one up at the bastich T3 which was a nightmare in the tank and one late on when i got a helping hand off someone whilst broadsiding the 350, that sent me spinning of onto grass :(

I had a great first half of race getting from 17th upto 10th in 9 laps  8), but then distracted by watching my teamie Adam close behind me, after his re-join, i left my braking just a tad late and had a spin at aforementioned T3. Poor old ginsters must have seen me sideways there and his car flipped over that silly high kerb there :o
I dropped 5 blinking cars down to 15th and had to do all the hard work all over again. :(

Shame as i had enjoyed a good old battle with SBG for several laps in his Falcon. Amazingly the GT350 didnt seem to have the legs to get past it on the straight, so i was surprised when Ginsters flashed me through ??? Thanks anyway matey but i was enjoying the scrap with you in the corners  :-*
Eventually i got by a pack of cars back upto 11th several laps later only to get a little too sideways at the bottom of the hill...i caught the car ready to steam on up the straight but got a sideswipe by an alfa that span me onto grass. I again dropped several places...grrrr....start again. ::) I felt a pattern emerging!
Finally finished 12th after nailing a couple of cars late on but without the two incidents would have been battling top 10 places.

Great track, really enjoyed chucking the GT350 around, feels great when you get it right and sounds superb as well as looking rather cool in our Legends colours  8)

Contrary to a few posts here, i thought the driving was a big improvement from the last couple of races but i did see a couple of regular suspects driving way too bullishly and trying to force their way up the field from my midfield vantage point. Its just not necessary to do that on the opening few laps of a 25 lap race. It will just end in tears and p*ss people off.

Ossie, give me your address and I'll post you all the paint you left on the back of my car.  ;D
Seriously tho I gotta admire your driving, I had to block you time and time again and you kept coming back. I know we exchanged knocks (more like rubs really) but neither of us, i don't think, came to any grief because of it. Really enjoyed it. Hope you feel the same.
On the whole I thought the driving standard was fine. At least this time I wasn't taken out on the first lap. Now that does fiss you off.
Very hard race tho. First time I've driven the 350 and it may be the last. Really took a lot of concentration and the tyres were **agged by lap 15. Well done the aliens. By the way, sorry I held up 3rd place person during race but I had no idea you were lapping me. I usually get a blue light in the cockpit but none showed up for you. Overall, a great race.

Is there a secret to how to load a replay? I can't load my own replay, or the server replay. I just get a CTD during loading. And this isn't the first time. I can load normally my offline replays.

Might be a missmatch with one of the skins

It was a good race for me, second from last! :thumbup2:

No accidents, apart from one between me and AVV, he took the inside line when my car was infront, and I forgot to leave enough room, I only remembered he was there when I hit him. :-[

Well, I've still finished every race I've been in. Now I just need to be able to drive a bit faster!

I've followed the cars of the people that were complaining and all I can say, some have no right to complain at al!!! >:(
I shall pm those people about their driving standards.

Amazing race... Great times by Mike and Jeff who was doing his best impression of E.T once again.   Got a bit too much wheel spin at the start and got passed by Keith, Reberio and Steve Holmes.  Had a great battle with Steve for quite a few laps with me passing him a few times before the back straight then having to pull over and see him blast past, felt like ground hog day for a few laps.
Had a moment which let Andy Pearl and Syd past. was down to 8th by this point and was starting to think that i was never gonna be able to get past and break all the yank tanks.  Was getting held up but didnt mind as the racing was quality , managed to get past the 4 in front of me after they made few mistakes and pulled clear.

Thanks for an exciting and clean race gents. ;) ;D

 ???

 ;)

 ;D

Sorry so many have had a bad race, it seems to be the luck of the draw where you are.  I had a great one, battling with Pribeiro, Keith, Dan and then Syd. 

Glad you enjoyed that Dan, I was a little concerned you might be getting annoyed by being held up, and I certainly saw you lose ground when you had to lift in a corner due to my slow lumbering apex speed.  It was good fun, I almost felt guilty at breezing past on the straight, you were so much quicker round the rest of the track!  That 3-abreast into T1 was hairy (lap 7 or 8 maybe?) , Dan Keith and I were side by side down the start-line, I was on the inside but it was going to end in tears if I claimed the corner so I slammed on the anchors and tucked in behind, seemed the safest thing to do!   :o

I was lucky not to roll later when the T3 kerb lifted me up onto 2 wheels, Dan got through and stayed through after that.  I was very easy on the tires in the middle part of the race, so the latter part of the race I had far more traction than the GT350s around me, did lead to me nudging Keith (very sorry) a few times entering corners, but fortunately not unsettling his car much and not taking advantage.  Respect to Keith for never making a mistake, great consistent driving, I had a couple of small overlaps but nothing I could really take advantage of due to your good driving.   :)

Finally lost concentration following Keith into T3 and braked too late, had a horrible moment when I thought I was going to collect him, but he zoomed across my front, thankfully, but I  ran wide and lost a place to Syd.  Pretty soon after, with more grip, I was able to drive round the outside of him on the main straight over the hump and get the place back. Little bump as we turned in but no major problem there.   ;)

Love the 350, a massive lump of V8 goodness.   ;D

Can I fix it somehow? I obviously don't get any mismatches when joining the races.

I could blame it on the tyres, but I'm afraid it was more a lack of skill. :o

I really had a diabolical qualifying session. I think I only managed 2 laps in the whole of practice and qualifying without spinning as I was trying to find some sort of driveable setup for the yank tank.

Started 15th and with my usual fast start (clutch control) and always good on the lights anyway (when I'm concentrating) I gained 5 places on lap 1! After that it was a case of working out how to drive with my last minute major setup tweaks to try and make the car remotely drivable. They seem to have worked mostly (big increase in castor, steering lock and moving the brake balance further back) as the car felt more nimble than it was (relatively speaking of course. not sure you can call a tank nimble).

After about 75% of the race I was really starting to struggle to control the thing again for some reason. When the leaders came round I threw it onto the grass so as not to hold them up through the twisties. I was thankful I was going to do one less lap, but then Jeff, who was leading at the time, went into self-destruct as his desk exploded, knocked him off his chair and ripped his wheel off his desk.  :laugh: That made me unlap myself and despite my useless efforts to get lapped again by Mike just before the line on the last lap, I misjudged where the line was and I already started another lap before he could lap me. This meant I had to trundle round another lap on my own in a hideous car.

I dunno why I put myself through the pain of the yank tanks. I always end up hating them. They're great if all I want to do is drive sideways, but this is a race and you can't do that and so they become not fun and horrible to drive.

Well done to Mike on the win and unlucky Jeff on your exploding desk.

Looks like I've got my ISP sorted now - unless anyone has any complaints about me lagging.  ::) Had my usual race from the back of the grid, had battles with Tibernius and Alex early in the race.  Thanks Alex for not taking advantage of me going off line to let leaders through, it's a pleasure to race you as you always drive cleanly and give a guy room.  ;D

Somewhere early on the guy in front had a moment and I saw him, this extra incentive gave me a new PB but he eventually pulled ahead out of sight again.  After that it was a lonely drive to the finish, except for one eye in the mirror and move off line to allow lappers through. :notworthy:

An enjoyable race.  ;D

Bill

Sorry .lol

Hi Tib,

that was not your fault. I tried to outbreak you, decided that it wouldn't work and tried to steer and lift the clutch... and that't a good combination to spin your car. I tried to steer away but I couldn't help hitting you.. sorry!
I thought that was a pit beacuae Bill and us had a good fight!

see you next year!

Bill, the pleasure was all mine! Unfortunately I ran out of talent whilst outbreaking The Tib  :-\
Enjoyed our battle very much and hopefully we can have some more next year (between letting the leaders go through  ;) )

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