Not racing for a while.  Just had cataract operation on my left eye so vision not good enough.  If this is ok, right eye to be done in a few weeks.  Will be back when I can.

Norm H  (thanks to Mrs H for typing this)!!

Race report - lap 1 bad start, got Lesmo 1 wrong & scraped all round the barrier set off again 12th & last. Lap 3 lost the tow, towards the end caught & passed Dave R.

Although there are a couple of disagreements in the race postings I thought how gentlemanly qually was conducted. Everyone was well spaced out as far as I could see. In the not too distant past drivers used to cruise round waiting for a fast car to pass then try & latch on to get a slipstream quicker lap than they could alone. Maybe the end of handicapping ended all that.

There are a few Valentino Rossi "race-a-likes" in this group now. It doesn't matter where they are on the grid at the end they are always near the front just like our hero. Still, makes it interesting.

Finally well done the podium. I haven't watched my replay yet but it sounds a thriller. So well done Rob who is champion & like all champions is already planning next season. Two championships is brilliant but if you want to become a LEGEND then its got to be done in a Honda as far as i'm concerned . Plenty of power but using it is another matter & the aero's not to good either. Mike Hailwood had the same trouble with his bikes in the 1960's.  The Honda is the season 29 contender's realistic alternative.

Norm H 

You may not believe it looking at the lap times but I as actually trying in this race & these were the best times I could produce. My own set up for the Honda with which I did my PB lap off line was awful bad handling & I kept crashing so for maybe the third time in over 100 UKGPL 65 races I used a downloaded one. Did a couple of laps with it last week & it felt safer so I used it for the race. Usually if you make contact with the scenery at this place a damaged car results & you are out but I did this a couple of times & got away with it. Also had 2 spins & hit absolutely nothing. So I'm a lucky boy. After 3 laps I was 8th so thought well I may as well try & finish which is an achievement.

Well Done Rob, Clive, & Dave R. Thanks to Cookie  he must have been sat watching thinking how much longer is he going to be because they are one hour ahead in Europe so I guess I was keeping him up when he wanted to shut the server down.

Norm H

Your right my screen name is a play on words. Norm is my real name though.

Norm H

Really pleased with my qually time but it was only good enough for 8th in this company. As a race it effectively ended when I couldn't avoid Greg T's Ferrari as it rolled back onto the track on lap one I went so far off into the soft sand that everyone was well gone by the time I was back on track. Two races running I have hit cars that have had accidents & are across the track. Its not good is it . Just as I caught Bastion he went off at turn 1 & I passed but he obviously had car problems. After that it was just a matter of keeping going & watching so as not to impede the leaders. Well done the first three but that was an impressive 1st place clear of everyone.

Norm H

Well it was eventful. Held them off as long as I could . Towards the end I was catching FMG but slowed to let the leaders pass & that was the end of that. One unavoidable accident running into others who had crashed & a couple of nudges but the car held together so at least I finished. Not my favourite track but I got a good view of some really close racing.

Norm H

Oh dear it doesn't sound as if this was a popular race for a good number of people. Well here's the antidote. I loved it. Got passed off the line but gradually those in front started to pull away. I had a small gap back to Doni but a scrappy early lap meant he caught me & passed when I made a mess of the last cornet. Had a few errors but I think I only went off the track 0nce & the Ferrari passed me. Tyres were getting a bit hot by then & in fact at times I did slow slightly to let them cool. Gradually built a gap to those behind & improved my position as others fell by the wayside. By the last 2 or 3 laps I could take it steady as I wasn't going to catch those ahead neither was I to be caught I thought. 4th place - can't be bad my best result for ages. Tough track though. Well done the podium & anyone who finished.

Norm H

Went off track 4 times in total but amazingly the car kept going. Enjoyed the race with Arf it was always fair. Then I had my 3rd off. Think I was catching Arf again but after the final off with 2 laps to go my car was down on power. Pity we couldn't have raced it out to the end. I could have packed up then as I was 6th & last runner but I had enjoyed it so much I thought no I'll bring this one home. Just as well as I gained a place on the last lap. Well done the podium. Spa never disappoints.

Norm H

Out dragged Dave Rainier off the line but he got through the turn one trouble better than me so settled down chasing the field. Can't remember how I got to 9th out of 10 runners but I maintained it until I clipped the harbour chicane & buried it in the harbour wall straw bales. When it came out a wheel was missing & a small fire in the car followed. I briefly thought about leaving it to see if the whole harbour wall straw could be set on fire . Only joking - GPL is realistic but not THAT realistic.

Obviously FMG's Honda is the latest full works spec job whereas mine behaves like the spare(in my hands anyway) - 3 seconds faster in a 90 second lap - unbelievable. Anyway well done FMG & the podium & anyone who finished here where there is no room for the smallest lapse of concentration.

Norm H

As my F2 experience is zero wanted to start at the back of the grid so did no qually run. For some reason I ended up starting from the pit lane 16 seconds behind everyone!. Pribluda then shows me one lap down which I wasn't(that's normal). Apologies for the accident on the last lap I lost concentration because I expected the flag which didn't appear & was convinced the race was over & was about to pull off when it happened. When I was following I think Dave C his car kept disappearing don't know if that is 60fps or just the normal thing which sometimes happens with GPL.

Norm H

Only my second race with 60fps & can't say it made much difference so in view of what is said above is it worth changing if it's affecting some competitors. The race itself was ok. Kept catching Jethro when he had one of his "moments" but then had one or two of my own so never really made a race of it. Most satisfying was that 2 of my last 3 laps were the fastest 2 I did all night. Haven't  played GPL much since last season ended so was not aware of these races until I happened to look at the web site on Monday. Glad I did.

Norm H     

As I only race in one class (65's) I only have a couple of comments. Race night is ok. The 50% rule should remain for scoring points to put it up would be a bit harsh I think.

Norm H 

Had to miss this one. Well done to Robert as champion, Uli, & Clive. Its a bit late I know.

Norm H

Its bad enough being in an accident but taking out the local hero when he was leading would have meant I wouldn't leave Holland alive . Sorry Rob. Yes I did slow to let you past & was relieved you won. After my performance at Dundrod I decided to give myself a self imposed back of the grid start & see if I could hang on. I couldn't. The one race where hardly anyone dropped out, just my luck . Did not drive defensively at all so Andy, FMG, Ronnie passed me into turn one after offs I assume  & Jethro, I think, 3 times!! (he kept crashing at T1) which made the incident with Rob so disappointing. First time this season I had no offs, no drama at all, just not fast enough. Well done the podium finishers.

Norm H

Moderators - no need to send me an e-mail I'll put my hand up for the crash before the first corner. Tried to move to the right side of the track as I thought there was no one there but obviously there was.

Norm H