SimRacing.org.uk

Season 17  Clubman's Cup - Round 9 - Silverstone

The penultimate round sees the Clubmans drivers return to Silverstone, a fast flowing circuit where the quicker cars can really show their pace. 

The race for the championship is over.  Tim Muttram is a worthy champion but the runner-up spot is still up for grabs with seven drivers in with a mathematical chance of winning.

Remember if you want to take a chassis faster than the one your championship position dictates then you MUST make the appropriate pit stop.

The rules have not changed from last season however all drivers are asked to ensure they are familiar with the rules (both general (https://www.ukgpl.com/index.php/rules/intro) and division specific (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=204&theme=6)) and the penalty guidelines (https://www.ukgpl.com/index.php/rules/penalties).  Also the Recommended Driver Behaviour (https://www.ukgpl.com/rec_dvr_beh/rec_driver_beh.htm) page has some great info on how to get the most out of racing on-line with GPL.

Please be in VROC UKGPL chatroom by 8:55 p.m (UK London Time = BST = GMT + 1h).

Race List = VROC
Server = 4.UKGPL
IP address = 84.70.242.152
Race date = 28-06-2009
Time 9:00 pm (UK London Time = BST = GMT + 1h)
Track = Silverstone
Variant = 67F1
Damage Model = Intermediate
Qualifying time = 35 minutes. Don't start until 30 mins left on clock to allow everyone to join.
Race length = Long (24 laps)
Password: see above (#post_event_password)

CHASSIS RESTRICTIONS
These are based on the drivers position in the championship (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R&group=204&theme=6).  Any driver who chooses to take a chassis faster than their position in the championship dictates, must make a mandatory pit stop as defined below.

Group 1
Tim Muttram
Jack O'Ferrall

Group 2
Phil Thornton
Steve Bird

Group 3
Sam Blood
Kevin Clark

Group 4
Bernie Darwin
James Rye

Pit Stop Times

Group 1	Single Stop Time		Double Stop Time
Lotus	28		N/A
Eagle	17		N/A
Ferrari	12		N/A
Brabham	Stop and Go		N/A

Group 2	Single Stop Time		Double Stop Time
Lotus	19		N/A
Eagle	9		N/A
Ferrari	3		N/A

Group 3	Single Stop Time		Double Stop Time
Lotus	6		N/A
Eagle	Stop and Go		N/A

Group 4	Single Stop Time		Double Stop Time
Lotus	1		N/A

 First Pit Window is: 19 (to go on your pit board) to 13 (to go on your pit board)
 Second Pit Window is: 17 (to go on your pit board) to 6 (to go on your pit board)

Just got a new PC so I used the GPLPS Installer (http://gplps.org/wb/pages/projects/gpl-installer.php).  Using Vista so needed to use the installer to configure everything so that GPL will actually run.  Installed all the revised graphics which look great but I've no idea where to brake now because the scenary is totally different LOL. 

Anyway got 4th on the grid which was a few places ahead of Jack, my main opposition for the runner up spot in the championship.  Got a good start and managed to get into third spot but a mistake at Copse let Vos through.  After that I couldn't stay with him.  I took my pit stop which dropped me down a few places but still got back out ahead of Jack.  Then I made a really silly mistake and clipped the grass at Chapel.  I ended up standed on the banking and needed a shift R.  As I set off Jack came sailing by and I lost further ground when I took my stop and go.  I had to get the hammer down and eventually caught up with Jack but he was driving really well and I couldn't get near enough to attempt a pass.  We caught up to a back marker which allowed me to close and really put the pressure on Jack with 2 laps to go.  Then almost disaster for me, as we blasted down the hangar straight my screen went blank.  Playing GPL doesn't appear to register as activity with Vista so after a few panicy stabs on the keyboard which did nothing, I moved the mouse and Stowe appeared large in my screen!  I just managed to avoid going off but Jack had got a few precious yards on me.  As we started the last lap I was too far back for my liking but I pressed on in the hope that Jack would make a mistake, but he didn't.  I was still too far back through Abbey but Jack took a defensive inside line through Woodcote so I had to go for a do-or-die effort round the outside and I just nicked it on the line.

A very tidy drive from Jack, well done you were very hard to pass.  I'll have to look into the screen saver options though I don't want the screen going blank again!!

Second - whoopee  ;D ;D ;D
Quallied in the gaggle behind Al and Andrew H. Good race start and managed to get past Phil having a wobbly and put a small cushion in for third spot.
No spins (bar one 360 late on) and the idiosyncracies of pitstops buffered my space to a gaping chasm - to play my own trumpet I was in a reasonable spot without that comfort but it helped.
Anyway there was no chance of catching the fast AH's (I did get the odd glimpse on the horizon though) so I went into finish with a podium mode.
This led to my 'what if's' and I was then sure I could hear a 'pop' every time I shifted. I have more engine blow-outs then Jordan has boob jobs so I dropped the revs and time by 5 secs but that comfy cushion allowed me to do it.
Crossed the line in what I thought was third then saw Andrew had problems gifting me second - gutted for him to get so far and that happens.
Anyway great race, grats to Al on his win - why couldn't you have spun, my champagne will go out of date  ;)

Yay! Qualified P3 with a mighty PB.

Boo...went to fill up with petrol for the race, only to find it had started without me. Was not aware that you can start from the pitlane if you miss the start.

Shame as I was on for a strong result. Never mind....

Jim

Well that was a turn up for the books :). Before the race Tim FMG gave up his season ticket for the podium in favour of some inter-league battles, so I hoped there might be a chance of a decent result. In quallie Andrew Hodgson announced his return from retirement with a fine pole position & though I managed to hold 2nd at the start, Andrew went off like a red rocket for the first few laps. Tried to keep the pressure up, but wasn't able to get close until I saw him recovering from a spin in the wall on Farm Straight. Thought (ok hoped - sorry :angel:) he might have damaged his Ferrari so pushed a bit harder to see if I might get a sniff - think something must've been up because he went off again at Club & I was able to sneak through into the lead. I was expecting an almighty battle to the flag but after a few laps I saw a red blob spearing off track in my mirrors & realised Andrew had gone off in a big way. After that it was just a matter of resisting the hexes & voodoo curses that were emanating from teammate Vos running behind to get my first win ;D Bit concerned that I might pick up a penalty for my over-indulgent victory lap though.

Anyway big commiserations to Andrew, congratulations to Tim & Phil for the podium - with apologies to Tim for depriving him of opening his champers - at least you can be sure it'll be cold after that long in the fridge ;). I had to make do with a ruddy cup of tea if that's any consolation.

I started the 67's about 3 weeks ago & this is was my debut race. Avoided total embarrassment & picked up a few points by staying to the end - that & the fact there were only 10 cars on the grid. Hopefully there is scope for improvement.

Had a couple of muppet spins & [confession time] 2 x shift R's, one for a tangle with the armco in T1 & one for an engine blow out. Since I was trailing at the back, 1 lap down, I skipped the S&G. Took the view that pitting & rejoining was more likely to cause a hindrance to the real racers.

Congrats to Clark-Hill for an impressive 1 -2 finish. Lotus was quite awesome around Silverstone. Should also be great at Monza too - maybe you guys would consider a voluntary pit stop to give the rest of us a look in?

Phil - re. your screen blackout - had the same thing at my first '65 race at Spa. From memory you need to adjust the power saver settings.

One question for the Mods. I chose the Cooper as indications were it was the easiest chassis to learn on. For me it has a lot of power in the lower gears & I have to nurse it in and out of corners. Have tried the BRM & Honda but can't  get anywhere near my time in the Coop. Tried the Brabham tonight & that seems to give a good balance of speed & handling & my best lap time at Silverstone. Point is - can I switch chassis for Monza?
Billy.

That concurs with Vos, thanks I'll check it out.

Totally free choice in Clubmans unless you are in one of the top 8 positions in the championship.  You're not so you can pick whatever you want.  The Lotus is worth a try, it's very quick and if you use a drivable setup it is quite nice to handle.  Diff setting is crucial, I find 85/30 easiest.  Alison's setups (http://eaglewoman.rscsites.org/gpl/setups-gen2.htm) are less radical than some and great for newbies.  Giv'em a go.

If I may, try and get used to more lock on power, less lock on coast, if you can. You will be glad you did later. 85/30 might be easy, but you develop quite a different driving style and is more difficult to switch later. Besides, they used the likes of 45/60 and 45/85 and even 30/85 in reality as well.

That might be why I'm not getting any quicker ;D LOL.  Hristo is the benchmark here at UKGPL, so you'd be well advised to take his advice Billy.  Whatever you do I hope you get a decent set up for Monza. 

I'd still recommend the Lotus though, at Monza it takes some special driving in a Coop to overcome the power disadvantage ;).

It'll be interesting to see what the WazaWagon manages if I'm not poached again  ;D
Success at Monza favours the Lotus, Fezza and Eagle really - Although the Brab makes a good underdog as usual  ;)

REED RACING WIN CLUBMANS!

Despite their number one driver being tempted from the grid by a man with a faintly East European accent with a promise of ‘beeg raceeng’, and their distinctly second-string driver Jack O’Ferrall being cut up then rammed off the track at the first corner, and passed for third on the last, Reed Racing have triumphed in the Clubmans Cup. Lord Loot was on hand to celebrate the first Clubmans team victory by a single-chassis outfit since season 12.  These were the less exuberant of his tired and emotional remarks after the race:

“Oh I say- good show!  Well this is more like it, dear boys, my great investment of time and money in the future of British engineering has borne fruit and laurels for myself and Burley.  Thanks in no small part to my employment of that master of engine design Mr Gerald Bull, whose sterling efforts I present to you, also our talented and victorious drivers Sam, Jim and Ian- whose absence has been unfortunately enforced this season- who have all contributed their individual triumphs to my trophy cabinet.  We who continue to pay our taxes in the oft-derided belief that British is Best have sometimes been made sport of, but that’s what sport is about and in this our finest hour we bear them no grudges, except that it is bloody odd that our so-called dreadful car can win so many races har har!  Safety first may be for some, but we seek a greater ideal, the ideal of the celebration of society, of freedom from authority expressed at the outer limits of speed, rather than conformism to the new values- of Pinky and Perky's Pop Parade.  Here’s to oil, sweat and gears!  We may have retreated from Suez and Empire, but if it’s the light of the technological revolution that’s wanted in this new era then at Reed Racing at least, we’re all lit up!”

[At this point Loot’s sentences became too long to be properly lucid, and shortly afterwards he stumbled for the first time.]                

Well done Dave & Jim! Another prestigious trophy for the cabinet  ;D.

Hrrrm, bit of a mixed bag on my return really.

I spent the prior week practising at Silverstone, failing utterly to break the 1:30 barrier reliably in the Fez. Finally, I remembered I was missing the GPL Racing Line program. Installing that to change the painted groove really helped me find my old lines, and I managed to post 1:28s reliably.

The day of the race Phil put the server up early for practice and I had a short race with Iestyn Davies. He was driving a BRM and blew me away with sustained 1:27s! I wasn't confident for the evening after such a beating! Coming into the actual practice session in the evening, I would have been happy just to make it anywhere but last on the grid, having no real idea of where performance levels were at. I was immensely surprised to find myself on pole at the end of the session!

For the race proper, I was expecting to do a lame start and end up at the back of the pack, but by some fluke I got away quite well, and was able to settle down into a reasonable rhythm for the first half of the race (minus a "small" glitch on Farm straight that I mostly got away with). Then things began to unravel at a quick pace!

At the end of lap 12, I lost all sound in my headphones. This proved to be a major distraction, as I now had to drive with one eye on the rev counter and back off to ensure control. As a result, I slid off again in Club and allowed Al into the lead. Oddly enough, this turned out to be a help as I could match my pace to his for a few laps to ensure some kind of reliable driving. At this point I was praying nothing else would go wrong and I could come in second.

However, fortune wasn't going to smile down on me. As we came up to lap a Cooper (who it was I cannot remember), I got into slipstream and was about to make a pass. Then, all of a sudden, my screen went blank! I knew the game was still running, as the force feedback was still going through the wheel. After about 10 seconds of wondering what was going on, I pressed a mouse button. All of a sudden I got the picture back and the sound. It then dawned on me what had gone wrong. Vista had kicked in the power saving, having assumed I hadn't touched the keyboard/mouse for a while. This had taken out my sound at first and then the picture.

What also dawned on me was that I must have punted the poor Cooper driver clean off the track during my spot of blind driving. I apologise if I spoiled his race!

All in all, I'm glad to be back and I learned some important lessons on system setup for future races. Well done to Al, who was consistently quick and deserved his win.

EDIT: Just realised Phil had the same problem as me with the Vista shenanigans! Stupid OS!  >:(