SimRacing.org.uk

Season 19 Novices Trophy - Round 4 - Silverstone

The fourth round of the championship sees the Novices at a different venue to the Amateurs who simply cannot tame this high speed and high thrill circuit. As the Amateurs meander through the rolling hills of Germany, the Novices will get to grips with the former World War 2 Bomber Base.

Half the circuit is in Northamptonshire and half is in Buckinghamshire, and it was first used for motorsport in September 1947 when 12 friends held an impromptu race on the deserted airfield. One of them, Maurice Geoghegan, from Silverstone village ran into a sheep writing off his car. The sheep didn't fare too well either and the race became known as the Mutton Grand Prix.

Drivers should be especially careful on lap 1 as usual but hopefully this fast circuit will not compress the field once safely through Becketts.

Reserve drivers should not join until there are only 30 mins of qualifying left.  However, all drivers should not go on track until there is 30 minutes of qualifying left.  This helps all drivers join the server successfully.  Please restrict chat to pit messages only, including at the end of the race until ALL drivers still racing have crossed the line.

Don't forget to use the updated 65 mod for this race.

Please be in the IGOR UKGPL chatroom by 8:55 p.m.
(You will need to set up a channel called #ukgpl if you haven't already done so)
IGOR and Race passwords: see above (#post_event_password)

Server = 5.UKGPL
IP Address = ping myjamesonline.net
Race Date = 18-05-2010
Time = 21:00
Track = Silverstone
Variant = 65F1
Damage Model = Intermediate
Qually Time = 30 minutes.
Race Length = Long
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=250&theme=6)

We have split the cars into groups based on average performance and split the drivers into groups based on average ability. The chassis numbers for Novices are as follows:

NOVICE CHASSIS GROUPS
1 - Lotus, Ferrari, BRM, Honda
2 - BT11
3 - Cooper
4 - BT7

Each driver has been given a seeding number and must pick a chassis with either an equal number or higher number but not a lower number. For example, if a driver is given a seeding of 2, he must pick one of the cars in group 2 (BT11) but if he would prefer to drive either the Cooper or BT7 he may do so. This means that a driver given a seeding of 1 can pick any chassis he prefers.

**NOTE**
Whichever chassis a driver begins his first race with is the chassis he must use for the remainder of the season unless a change has been agreed with the moderator.

The following drivers have made their chassis choice:

FULL TIME

Driver	Chassis
D-Rock	Lotus 33
NHance	Brabham BT11
roguk	Cooper T77
maddog	Cooper T77
maestro	Brabham BT11
il_lupo	Ferrari 512
happyal	BRM P261
Billy	Brabham BT11
gilles27	Lotus 33
G Poole	Brabham BT11
BookieW	BRM P261
Sharkfin	BRM P261
norbert	Ferrari 512
Vosblod	Lotus 33

RESERVES

Driver	Chassis
Nigel Smith	Honda RA272
karlisss	Honda RA272

The following drivers are still to make their chassis choice:

FULL TIME

Driver	Seeding
Burtoner	2

RESERVES

Driver	Seeding
miner2049er	1

Please use the updated 65 mod for this race which is available here:
Jamesonline.net/UKGPL (http://www.jamesonline.net/ukgpl/1965mod_PATCH_v2.0.2_Setup.zip)

Just as a piece of useless information which is probably of no interest to anyone.....

Two of my late uncles ( on my father's side) lived in a village just a short distance from Silverstone, in a village called Stoke Bruerne.

One was a Major in the army and the other a Bomber pilot through the 2nd WW, both returned to the family farm afterwards and told several stories of the early Silverstone days to an impressionable young lad from Bristol ::). The old family farmhouse is right in the centre of the village and is now a large pub alongside the canal..and No! I don't get any discount :-\

In particular were tales of the H16 BRM ( at least that is what they claimed) which was tested around the early circuit. Despite the village being a couple of miles away, and down in a hollow, the noise from the BRM was said to be ear splitting when it hit max revs down hangar straight and most Northampton knew when it was being tested because it panicked the animals.
 
Various stories of Livestock vs Cars and Farmers vs Drivers ( not always settled in a non-violent grown-up manner!).  Such altercations were not really surprising when there were no fences or barriers to prevent animals wandering across what was effectively a huge open meadow with a bit of tarmac here and there, that was not really used much any more. It also offered those farmers bordering the airfield with a huge area for "free" grazing, which being true farmers they were loathe to surrender.
Of course, as young men just returned from the war and on the look out for some "fun" in a rural setting, there were several "unofficial" early morning race meetings, usually as a result of a challenge in the pub the night before ( or even that very evening!!).

Just think..the home of Grand Prix F1 racing, might have ended up as a field full of sheep if some local landowners had had their way. So whilst taking Stowe in a full blooded 4 wheel drift , contemplate on how a sheep might take that corner.......

Nice tale though I think you might mean the supercharged V16 BRM of 1950's vintage .

Ive seen and heard both at Oulton and was there for the 66 Gold Cup when the H16 's were rolled out for there first race , driven by Stewart and Graham Hill .

Stewart demo'd the V16 which was indeed the loudest most raucus engine noise I ever witnessed , smoking the tyres the full lenghtof the pits straight and again on the straight bits around clay hill . when the mechanics first fired it up in the paddock the crowds scattered in all directions . unforgetable .

There is a recording on CD of the V16 car being driven round goodwood by owner chris mason , took it in work when I was with Comet , loaded it onto the biggest Hi Fi in store , whacked the noise up full , pressed "play" and walked away.

You can guess the reception it got  ;D

Russel Gradwell,  a friends dad from Llandudno flew Lancies with 617 sqadron (dam busters to you) said the quickest way to learn french was if you ever get shot down in the place when occupied by the krauts . he could tell some great tales  :)

   

Quallied 2nd and was pretty pleased, DR just pipped me.
Race started and 55 seconds in I got hit and pulled over then a Sh/R and re-started at the rump (see note below).
After that I was not too chuffed but pushed on. The highlight was getting from last to 4th with 5 laps to go.

With 5 laps left and up to 4th I found myself at the rear end of a squadron doing battle - closing on Norm I messed up and had to take evasive action to avoid rear-ending him. This took me into a concrete wall and the prospect of a Sh/R + SnG sealed my retirement.

Anyway note; Funny how things look in the race v what happened on the replay. I came out thinking 'who the hell hit me at the start', watched the replay and now have to eat humble pie and apologise to D-Rock. Ross got through and I thought I'd cleared you as I saw a car in my mirrors and assumed it was you. It wasn't, big apology for pulling across in front of you. I'll take my penalty as, at the time, I didn't SnG.

Apology out of the way enjoyed the in-between bit of the race. Congrats to Pete and finishers.

Another eventful race for me. After a good battle with Vos and D-Rock for pole, I settled for 3rd on the grid, which turned into 1st after a cracking start. After ten laps I'd built up a comfortable gap and was looking for a steady run to the finish - at which point my engine blew. I need to look at the replay but I'm not sure if it was my fault or not.

Not sure what the rules with a shift-R for engine failure are, but I reset anyway and pressed on - perhaps someone can clarify if I was right to do so? Anyway after a couple of laps getting up to speed again on full tanks and cold tyres, I had a cracking battle near the front with D-Rock, Norm and someone else, not sure who. Really pleased that I managed to race cleanly so at least I'm making progress on that front.

After getting up to second with a few laps left, I was gaining on D-Rock, but not enough to win. I should have backed off for the finish but kept pushing and spun at Chapel. Out of frustration I just quit - possibly a mistake as it looks like DR didn't win in the end. But it would have felt hollow after the engine blow anyway.

Looks tight at the top of the points, I'm still hopeful of moving up the table but I need to get some good finishes in and stop making silly mistakes.

I was lapping in the 1:38’s no matter if I had full fuel, no fuel, really pushed or just took it easy. In the race I just plodded around at the back.

I messed up in the first few laps, I put my tyres on the grass and spun. After that the only thing that happened was my screen saver kicked in, and it had to do it just as the leaders were going to lap me, I spun, stopped the car and was lucky that no one hit me. Very sorry guys, it’s a new computer and I forgot to turn it off, first thing I did after the race was to switch it off, won’t happen again.

After that I just kept in on the track for the finish, car felt funny, or I just felt weird and my lap times dropped off quite a bit. I was expecting Graham to catch and pass me any minute, but luckily for me he didn’t. Because of other people dropping out I finished 7th, which I didn’t really deserve and is my highest finish this year.

Hi Al,

I think I was in the chasing pack when you went off, it was a hairy moment for sure! It's handy when people move over to be lapped but that's taking it a bit far :-)

Well done on getting to the finish intact and getting some points. You shouldn't say you didn't deserve it, at the end of the day getting to the end in one piece is the most important thing, something I seem incapable of doing right now.

If you're lap times were a bit slow perhaps it's your setup? I have a good one for the Lotus that renowned engineer, Billy NoBrakes gave me a while back. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I passed it on to you. Let me know if you want it.

Cheers,

Ross

I would of raced, but had serious problems with Q and S bar very high, cars dissappearing, havent clue what it is yet, not pc, or inet connection, must be gpl, will try a backup of it.

Sorry I missed the action last night - There was an emergency call out for Dad's taxi.
Well done to Peter for the win (starting to become a habit) and also a good result for the team with FMG winning at Nurburg.

Dear oh dear Billy you should get your priorities right!! ;-)

I suppose at least I am not at that stage yet with my family, I've got it all to come :-)

Qually 5th & if I'd done a PB I wouldn't have been any higher. For 21 of the 24 laps I had someone not too far in front of me that I was trying to catch & make a challenge to, & all the time various drivers very close behind. The secret of my 2nd place was I made few errors, one or two dodgy slides & on the grass a bit that was it.
Never lead a race before, so that was good experience, but my downfall was racecraft, as I knew we were going to lap Graham, it was just a matter of where. Fair dues to Graham he got out of the way,(went on the grass) but my slight hesitation at Abbey, the corner I had the most trouble with, & where Pete was always faster than me meant Pete got better drive than me & was past by the time we reached Woodcote. Dropped to 3rd after that but RN made an error so I was back to 2nd.
Then the balistic missile that is Maddog's Cooper started to get very close till he too overcooked it, by this time the faster Pete had gone. Last 3 laps I just cut the revs & strolled it home. 
Well done Pete, a worthy winner & to Maddog working wonders with the Cooper.
Norm H

Alright, who's responsible?!  Which one of my competitors gave me a virus?!!  What do the rule books say about unsportsmanlike behavior?  I've heard about this stuff - these computer techies, who'll stop at nothing in their bid for fame and glory.  I was faced with sitting on the grid, in a lowly 6th position, knowing that, with just one sneeze, it could all be over!  It's all highly fiendish!!  Grumble . . . grumble! >:(

In Fact, it turned out to be quite a race!  Off the start line, I found my ailing self quickly promoted to 2nd, behind a rapid Ross, following an altercation amongst the front row.  For ten laps thereafter, I was constantly stalked by Maestro, and just couldn't shake him off.  And then it happened - my nose had been distracting me all along, and my dubious one handed driving went and met with near disaster!

I've never much been one for Ballet, but my Pirouette at the exit of Stowe, would've been one for the Bolshoi to be proud of.  Four complete 360s, without hesitation, stopping right at the spot where I watched my first GP in 1965 . . . Strange, I don't remember seeing that bit?  I was now back in 5th place.

The race was highly competitive throughout.  After 20 laps, the top 5 occupied only half the length of Hangar straight.  Maestro was finally becoming dominant, while Vosblod was having a major surge, and closing in on the squabble for 2nd.  Myself as a mobile spectator, as the casualties fell in the final push.

By the time the chequers fell, the field had thinned and to my surprise, I had finished third! And that result for me, was nothing to sneeze at, so I didn't.  In the final analysis, I had only lost by a nose!  ;D

check out your anti virus burt , gave me loadsa probs till I deleted the stupid thing (AVG)

nope that isnt problem, never has been, its defaintly the game, have a backup copy ready and seems ok offline, but I dont have any decent servers to test it out on :(

Double check that you are not using the 60 FPS patch Burt, as that will definitely screw up your connection.

Good thought Clive - you'd have to un-tick 60fps boxes, and delete the gplc65.exe, if that's your trouble.
 
I had a similar sort of prob. when I went on-line with the '67s.  Had to manually switch to 2D, and low res. graphics to cure it.  Its easier to switch the '65s, as there's an option in Gem+ to use either the full, or lite carset.   

Yeah I already checked that, thanks again though, just need to test it out..

Really enjoyed that one

qually'd 4th on a PB congrats to DR on Pole

Good run to T1, although quicker off the line than Vos, stayed behind him after slapped wrists for charging line on earlier race (i am learning  ;))

Ross got a cracking start and went off between DRock and Vos

Lucky for me, and not for them, Vos and DRock has a coming together in T1 which promoted me to 2nd behind Ross

I stayed tight on the inside of T1 and on the right up to T2. I could hear but not see martin on my left, so stayed wide for T2 and let him through  as he had faster line, down to 3rd

This left Ross going off on his own in P1 with martin, me, NHance and DRock in pursuit for the next 8 laps

On Lap 10, martin goes off and promotes me to 2nd  ;D and still with NHance and DRock in close pursuit

On Lap 11 we go by Ross going slow on the track, now 1st  :o

Make a mistake onto the grass and both Nhance and DRock are passed,P1 didn;t last long and now down to 3rd

On Lap 12, DRock outbrakes himself into T1 and back up to 2nd in hot pursuit of NHance with Ross close by

NHance seems to be a bit shaky in the lead, so I pushed close  up to put the pressure on

Lap14 and NHance slows a bit for a back maker and I get my chance and get past, back to 1st.

back in the lead and I can see in Prib there is NHance, Ross, Martinn, and now Vos in close pursuit

I can;t lose them and they seem to be changing places behind me

With the chance of a second win, i don;t feel as nervous as the first time, so manage to keep it steady to the end pulling out a 10 second lead by the end

Great race, really enjoyed it.

See you all at next one

A good race for RogUK in the Statmeister challenge who moves to the top of both the consistency & high climber tables.

A perfect consistency score here would have been 120 & top scorer was NHance with 104.11 (average deviation of 0.662) though Vosblod claimed the best average laptime with 1:34.880 though only completed 19 laps.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AwMtMND4F-o/S_e_mkoPkVI/AAAAAAAAAHo/-e3LJUozCmw/s1600/Novs04.png)

* (P) in the Climber-Meister table denotes adjustment due to Moderator Penalty
** 0.00 in Consistency table denotes average laptime deviation > 5 secs cutoff
*** 2 worst scores to be dropped