Short on time but I do have one question for our series moderator, Dave Rainier...

Has an incident report been submitted as yet for Bot taking down Alain from the lead and marching on to victory?  If not, I'd be happy to file one.

Tom...  I hope that you'll reconsider that decision.  Of all whom I race against, you are one of my chief benchmarks and rivals.  Always a pleasure to cross swords with you.

Greg...  The wife ordered in some Aspirin via Amazon today and I'll try a tab tomorrow.  Thanks for the tip.  Hope it does the job.  Something that I noted earlier today was that in my many trips out onto the back deck to catch a smoke from the house I rent here in Oshawa is that I typically open and close the sliding door with my left hand.  It does, at times, require significant effort.  As of today, I'm starting to let my right arm/hand do the lion's share of the work to spare my left arm.  Fingers X'd that it helps, too.

I must give serious consideration to reducing or even curtailing my GPL online participation for a time til I can lick a physical handicap which is proving not only a restriction but downright painful.  It involves a left shoulder injury which I sustained some six years ago and with physiotherapy, I thought the problem was behind me.  Lately, however, it has reared its ugly head again and long radius, right-handed corners have become quite literally painful to negotiate.  And what do we have here at Spa?  Burnenville and Stavelot.  Groan...  I took two pain pill medications well in advance of today's race and they did nothing to help me.  I will not blame my departure at the Masta Kink on this malady but it does figure into my concentration.

I could not even begin to match the pace of either Axel or Greg in qualifying.  I thought turbos didn't arrive in the CanAm til 1972? 

I see that Greg was a DNF and this is just as well, I suppose.  A DQ was on the cards for him for disregarding the pace lap procedure.

I was surprised that Axel didn't leave me for dead in the opening laps.  Based on qualifying, he certainly should have.  I had my hands full of Evil Clive going great guns in the customer McLaren M1B.  Goodness me but he was flying!  Only the extra ponies under the hood of the works M1B kept me ahead.  On Lap05 and approaching La Carriere, off to my left on a table loaded with electronics gear, I caught out of the corner of my eye a flashing light.  This had me bungle this critical corner and Clive was by in a flash.  I wasn't too worried about this figuring that my power advantage would come into play on the Masta but I never got the chance to counter-attack as I went off badly in the Kink and decided to call it a day.

Axel recovered from his off in Burnenville to come through for the win.  Clive scores a brilliant P2.  Tom full marks for making the podium.

A fine run by Ricky to score the victory but my, didn't we make it easy for you?  LOL!  So much drama in the early laps to leave the leader with a long, long gap to P2.  Sorry to see so many fine runners eliminated early.

I picked up damage on Lap01 when I came off those wretched tram rails badly and smashed the devil out of the Brabham.  I always try to avoid them.  Later, I clipped Alain when he spun for some more minor damage.  Notwithstanding these dramas, I found myself sitting in P2 in short order.  Could hardly believe it.  Got a wave-by from Jonny to achieve that.  Thanks, JJ.  Was miles behind Ricky but well clear of Jonny when I decided to try a different line into T1.  Won't do that again!  Stuck fast in the haybales.  Groan...

Fine job by Jonny to take P2 and have a nice cushion on top of the standings.  Roberto a splendid dash to P3 and the podium.  Well done, chaps.

A splendid punch-up for the lead, chaps.  Well done to all and that there was no aggro.

A good run for me in the BT14.  I noted that top end on the back straight was 153mph when on my own but when the leaders caught me to me a lap down, I got a lovely tow and saw a cool 161mph.  Lordy!  Only one retirement; bad luck, Axel.  Caught sight a few times of Colin who was having some difficulty finding his sea legs around here but ultimately, got it together to pull away.  Entries down somewhat from round #1.  Hope to see a resurgence in those numbers at Killarney.

First things first...  Allow me to apologize to Axel specifically and to the general membership at large for my raging outburst in qualifying.  Understand this: Nothing...and I mean NOTHING...infuriates me more than to be working my ass off to get a good grid spot only to be hounded by a hot-shot competitor who has just blasted out of the pits and sees fit to park on my tail.  Grrr...

Second, apologies to Fulvio for getting you tangled up in my mistake on Lap05.  I clipped the horizontal tyre in the last corner and spun and you were so close as to have no option but drill me.  I got away scot-free damage-wise but you suffered damage.  Sorry, again.

Other than the above, it was a swell outing.  Early laps, I had to fend off Fulvio's 289-inch M1B with my similar mount.  Seems were we on par for performance.  Late in the race, I hooked up with Alain for a classic punch-up.  Ultimately, the extra ponies under the bonnet of the Works McLaren told the tale and he vanished up the road.

Not altogether displeased with a P7 placing.  The Lap01 shunt in Esso had much to do with that.  Pleased to have cut a  new personal best for the car.

Fine job by Greg for the win.  Axell a good P2.  Phil cops P3 from Evil Clive late in the going.  Clive going great guns in the 289-inch M1B.

I'm withdrawing from this GP55 series in protest over the rampant corner cutting as witnessed in yesterday's race at Assen.  The stats speak for themselves...

ON TRACK LAPS

Driver                           Laps/Total    Percent
 Doni55                             (12/13)      92.31
Clive Loynes55                       (7/14)      50.00
Fulvio Policardi-55                  (5/14)      35.71
Phil Thornton55                      (5/14)      35.71
Alain Maurice                        (4/14)      28.57
Leo Menegucci                         (4/5)      80.00
Syd Drake55                           (3/7)      42.86
J. Jonny'O                           (2/14)      14.29
enrique farina                       (1/14)       7.14
E vil55                              (1/14)       7.14
Dimitar Dulichki55                    (0/5)       0.00
Hristo Itchov55                      (0/14)       0.00

I endeavour to drive as cleanly and safely as possible in this mod as even a minor shunt in these cars back in the day could have the most dire consequences.  I scored one '64'...off-track lap...when I briefly lost concentration coming off De Vennen.  It neither cost nor gained me time.  What I witnessed from most everyone...and especially several individuals...leaves me cold and filled with disgust.  I reviewed the first five laps of this race noting each and every competitor.  The efforts of some to shave off lap time by putting four wheels in the grass through the serpentine starting at Madijk is simply appalling.  And this isn't the only venue where this kind of thing occurs.  Aintree and Panorama come to mind.

This conduct is an indication of the sense of fair play.  It would appear that few have any notion of it.

Check your sound files, Will.  This is a classic indication of something not quite right with your engine wav files.  Hope this helps.

WOOHOO!  My Blue Moose teammie was not to be denied!  Great job by Evil Clive to roar home to a fine victory.  Seems the Lola/BMW was the car to have. 

I spent more than my usual time in qualifying to dial in the BT14 to have a better run up the hill at Valley.  Stretching 4th gear over several test laps seemed to help keep the Lotus/Ford Twin Cam in the power band and lead to my best lap time.  I could even hold it right to Anson but the revs were getting a bit too high for comfort.

I poorly judged the incident up ahead in Cuckoo on Lap01 drilling poor Bob in the tail which sent us both to the back.  Lucky to have us both survive that.  At the end of Lap02, I tangled with Colin's Dino in Hood as he was having a gruesome day.  Didn't cost me too much time but he got inverted.  Ouch!  Got running well making to hook up with Bob and feared that I took his bit of road going up the hill at Valley but it seems that he just ran a bit wide on his own to cuff that wickedly placed haybale and prune off a corner.  Bad luck there, Bob.  Based on lap times, I expected to see the leaders come up on me around Lap15.  Pretty much on cue, I noted a Lola/BMW in my mirrors and Clive swept by to put me a lap down.  Chasing him down through Engineers Corner, I clipped the curb on the left and picked up a little suspension damage according to GPLRA.  I didn't feel any detriment to my performance but it did annoy me no end to have bungled that.  Soon, I had others come flashing by but I did manage to get to the finish without going another lap down.  Job done.

Blandford a fine track and nice to see builder Pete get a worthy P5 finish.

Off to Rouen next.  Should be fun! 

Jonny certainly had us all covered here in Brazil.  Great job to roar to a home win!  Well done, JJ.

Fulvio a splendid run to P2.  He edged me off the start and never looked back.  I chased hard for the most part and was quite close to threaten at times but was never in a position to challenge.

Bad Bob on fire to rip through the field after early dramas to take the final podium step.  Goodness me but he was on a mission!

Not a bad drive for me.  Unlike JJ, I don't particularly care for Interlagos.  It's very technical(whatever that means)and tiring.  Thank goodness for the longish straights where I can take a breather.  Early laps, I had Bot in the BRM marking me closely but ultimately, I was able to open up a useful gap.  Considering the gruesome history we have together, I was thankful for that.  Took over P3 when Bob & Renato collided and looked set for the podium but when I my pitboard flashed me that Bob was now in P4, I figured I'd be under attack soon.  That, indeed, was the case.  He passed with ease at one point but soon spun in front of me to give the place back.  Lucky to avoid a collision there.  With only a couple of laps to run, Bob resumed his march and made a nice if risky pass on the outside of a sweeper to claim P3.  Nice comeback.

Off to Portugal next.  Should be fun!

Hello, Paul.  Would you be good enough to post a screen shot of what you are seeing, pls?  I use the pit board exclusively...no shabby Pribluda for me...and have experience at resizing and repositioning.

You gys...  You guys have an attic or a garage for comfort to race GPL?  Lucky bastards!  As for me...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue7wM0QC5LE

A fine win for Greg!  Axel scoring a good P2!  Evil Clive making a remarkable recovery to scoop the final podium place.  Well done, chaps!

A pretty reasonable run for me in the GT40.  Somewhat of a stone compared to everyone else's ride but I was hoping for a Porsche or Alfa to make the show.  No such  luck.  Save for clipping a polo a couple of times, the race was largely uneventful.  Only real drama was being collected by Paul's Ferrari in the last corner at the end of the first lap and losing a couple of places and some 20 seconds.  Not entirely sure what Bad Bob was up to in qualifying as my last attempt to score my best time came to grief in the last corner.  Whatever were you thinking there, Baab?  I hope that's not a trend.

Lap times for our race are a good 10 seconds per lap faster than that recorded for the 1967 of this Sebring event.  I mean, I know that we're all superior talents compared to the likes of Andretti and McLaren but...

Congratulations to Dimitar on a fine win!  Kudos to Colin for scoring a good P2 in the Brabham.  Pete a nice recovery to claim the final podium placing.  Well done, chaps!

Goodness me...  Almost too much to mention in a race report.  I could write a book.  It was non-stop action and tension throughout.  Started P18 of 19 starters but got a nice launch off the grid to pick up a few places even before we got to the bridge.  First drama came early as Axel and Fran collided in T1 right in front of me but luckily, I got by without getting involved.  Followed Billie up to T2 where mayhem ruled.  Cars off going every which-way.  Both Billie and I had to take to the grass to avoid the carnage and we both spun out.  Got a break in that I didn't leave the roadway and ended up heading in the right direction.  Smashed it down a couple of gears to resume but got clipped by Dave who also spun thanks the the contact.  Bad luck there, DR.  Interesting to note that on this opening lap, all four of the entered McLarens were line-astern in formation and this would be repeated on some subsequent laps, too.  Who was up on the point varied as the race wore but as luck would have it, I emerged with the brass ring.  Why the McLaren?  Of course it's a stone compared to the other top-flight cars giving away as much as 12mph on top end to the Ferrari 312 but it is a fun ride and with a slipstream tow, can keep up.  On Lap07, I got a simply marvelous slipstream tow on the back straight from Bad Bob and Phil seeing a remarkable 192mph.  Lordy!  Ultimately hooked up with Phil and was able to keep his fleet Honda in sight til he was joined by Will and Andreas.  As soon as I saw these other players in the mix, I knew that I was in trouble in trying to stay in the slipstream.  Gradually, they inched away and I was powerless in fending off Clive Loynes in the heavy but very powerful Lotus 43 as he caught and passed me for P7 on the back straight on the last lap.  Groan...  Brought the McLaren home in a good P8, up fully 10 places from my grid slot.  Can't be bad.  

Thanks for hosting!  Was fun indeed.

Pencil me in for an entry, Pete.