Finally found the problem with the 'Host may be running an updated version' warning.  The .GDB files in the Gamedata directory need to be in lower case for Windows 7.  What a stupid error.  Guess that comes from this being an old install under Windows XP since then sticking 7 on the system partition.  Probably a fresh install would have been fine.

Maybe I will try to join some races again.....

That was frustrating, it appears something has changed in GTL since I last used my dedicated UKGTL install.  All i got was 'Game not available. Host may be running an updated version' or something like that.  Tried my Altbierbude install which is moderately up to date with all the auto-patching it does, and that would at least join, but of course no point actually loading track as its missing all the UKGTL skins.

So I desperately tried to cobble together a working install but clearly something was wrong, it loaded Imola so I guess wrong Zeltweg version.  Darn, its a track I know well and one of my favourite cars so I thought I'd give it a go - got straight down to low 4s in a few laps refamiliarisation and was hoping for mid to low 3s.  I guess I am destined to remain in retirement.

Only 15 seconds TT, you're a fast learner!  I spent a minute or so trying to find which buttons did what and then managed to select absolutely nothing and left the pits, picked up a speeding stop/go as I'd deactivated the limiter so had to do 2 more pitstops.  Never having pitted in Evo perhaps my assumption that it was the same as GTR2 was not a good one!

Learning experience all round, I've never driven more than 5-6 laps in a powerful rwd car in Evo, so the tyre degredation surprised me, my hastily bodged setup that was just right for cold tyres (pretty much all I'd driven on!) was far too loose for worn tyres and my limited abilities these days were insufficient to control the car after the first few laps.  So about 5 good minutes followed by mess up after mess up. Oh well, better luck next time!

Grats to Pete and the podium.

Usual old story of being too tired to race, and too annoyed by that to post here, I was really looking for getting a pole and maybe a win.  But it appears that would only happen if the races were rescheduled for midmorning on a weekend when I have good concentration, not after work.

Never mind, will keep on trying!

I was going to try this one, like a blast from the past, Crystal Palace in 60s cars, back when I was competitive in GTL races, lol.  See how I am tonight.

Got the e-type just under 58.6, if I could actually put together my best sectors there is another 3 tenths to gain, but it's devilishly difficult to max every corner when you are on the ragged edge.  A simple track but one of the hardest to get a perfect lap.

Healey is a little slower, but I did try it first when re-learning the lines.

There was some good racing to be had, as was mentioned, at least for the first few handful of laps I could keep it together.  So 2 last places.  And an inability to really balance on the limit.  And that was me on a good day.

Hope Race 07 can be a success, I always thought it drove closest to what my car feels like on track, but I think my attendance may remain intermittent at best.

I *hope* I will be though!

Finally finished a VERY slow upgrade to Win 7, ten minutes here, ten minutes there, and am finally up and running. 

Quick practice and the little Cat is a bucking bronco over the bumps.  The kerbs are nasty too, seem to drag the nose in or spit the tail out.  Best avoided.  Oulton looks great with the shimmering trees though.

No laptime, I'm too embarrassed, everyone will be much faster, I seem to be relearning how to drive again!

Fingers crossed I'm not doing my usual falling-asleep-when-I-get-home-from-work trick.

Unfortunately I'm going to give this a miss, tired, sluggish reactions mean 2 out of 3 laps in an offline practice involve off-roading which isn't an ideal way to have fun.  Which is a shame as Zandvoort in all its incarnations has always been one of my strongest tracks and I was hoping to nick into the 7s and fight for a podium.

Really hope its a success with a good turnout and I shall try to turn up for some of the races at least, I enjoy Race 07 when I have some concentration!

Well that was a complete non-race, since the heavy e-type is a fair bit quicker than the Merc I assumed THAT would be the e-type allowed, but it was the lightweight e-type, which is much quicker than the standard heavy one, and so leagues ahead of the Merc.  No point even trying to compete in it.

I ain't slow but there's no way I can make up many seconds a lap car deficit!  Once Hotkeys breezed past there was no-one to race. Shame.

I have to recommend the FFB settings Jeff linked to, they are nice.

Done a 1:08.1 so far, I tried a public race in the CSR320 first and that's a beast, the CSR200 is much more forgiving.

Great idea to have another go with Race 07, I never felt it was too bad, the cars can feel a little bit dead and easy to drive until you push them really hard when they seem fairly good.  I guess it suffered with iRacing incoming a year or two back.

Always had a problem with the FFB though, so I'll be interested to try JR's settings.  2 problems I get - one is the steering oscillating from side to side when driving straight, I just have to grip the wheel hard.  The other is that it doesn't distinguish between grip and sliding wheels at all.  With WTCC cars there is no feeling of the steering lightening when understeer sets in - considering how obvious it is in a powerful fwd car I've never understood this failing of the FFB.  Just feels dead.  I reckon its this dead FFB that makes the cars feel a little lifeless.

The 4-way hat on my G25 gear bit just would not work properly when I pitted - everything flickered and I couldn't even move up to the fuel amount, just jumped around randomly, so had to give up.  Just shows I've never tried to do a pitstop since I've had the thing!

Even if the race was hopeless due to no serious practice and a car that would not turn no matter what I did, was sort of nice to try and race again.  Been more than 3 months since I touched a race sim and last week got the itch and did a few GTR Evo public crashathons.  Even if it was carnage after a while I ceased to be tail-end charlie and re-learnt how to drive and started getting a bit quicker.  So perhaps more!

As Tony said, not a great track to come back to, and the Crapi definitely wasn't a nice car to drive round there, need something with some pointiness to it.  Or a setup that works, lol.

..and I was looking forward to blasting round Rockingham on Monday....kind of puts that to shame. 

Nice one MJ, what an awesome track, shame everyone was driving Beetles.. (even if yours looks rather splendid!)

Was going to try a slow car now it looks like I can make it.  914 is fine but possibly a bit too slow, 59s (guess 55s are fast?), tried the slow CSL and hideous, won't turn and can't beat 2:01, and can't find any useful setups online.  Anyone willing to share a CSL setup that actually turns into corners and doesn't steamroller straight on?  Don't really fancy any of the other cars here at the moment although a 911 might be a possibility.

Hehe, you're so right Tony.  After my most recent PC reinstall I have forgotten to put the XD ini back in, my bad.  Never really used it that much, I'm a fly by the seat of the pants kind of guy, setups and data don't do it for me, but yes, the fuel counter is quite useful......

Having said Mondays are good I realise I can't make the next 2.....boo.