While I'm certainly thrilled to have you back in action, Andreas, there is some concern over your remark, 'somewhat'.  Not to pry but I hope that you'll be 100% ASAP.

Yea, sorry Greg and to all whom were caught up in that.  I expected to see you quickly gather up the Cooper in recovery but was shocked to see that it was just a wild thing.  I started to veer away too late.

A fine time in the Bahamas! 

Congratulations to Erling on a fine win!  The big Maser was just wicked fast on the straights but it takes a pro to manhandle it in the corners.  Well done.

Grats to Hayman for a great finish in P3 despite a simply ENORMOUS shunt in the pit area.  P2 would have been up for grabs if weren't for that off.  Good run otherwise with pace and accuracy.

Rog ditto and close to a podium finish.  Well done.

Fla$h!  Goodness me!  What an up & down affair for you!  A brilliant start to take the lead off the grid only to fall off an fall way, way back moments later.  Was this all a plan to stage a storming comeback, headlights ablaze, to put in a sterling drive?  Sure looked like it.  Great recovery.

Clive!    How you managed to set a 44s lap time in the race astounds me!  That's a terrific time.  If only you'd managed a little better luck in the race...

Poor misnoimis...  The opening laps were a great duel and it was all I could do to hope that I got to the next corner before your Maser roared by.  Sorry to learn that the car gave up on you.

Sorry to Matt for axing you into the dirt.  Wasn't exactly sure where you were and I didn't see you with a quick 'look right' but I'd already started my turn-in before you barged up the inside.  Except for you the smoking tyres, it kinda reminded me of another recent incident elsewhere.  I think it's time you threw away your Legzy playbook.

Congrats to Tristan on a super win!  Great pace and accuracy throughout.

Close but no cigar for Robert who shadowed Tris for oh so long only to come up a tick short.  Fine drive nonetheless.

Axel a distant and lonely P3 at the flag but a good, consistent run.

I really don't care for the British aerodrome what with it being bone-flat and blessed with those wretched curbs.  Always a trial.

My run was largely a surprise in terms of pace as I did much better than I would have predicted.  Not qualifying particularly well despite setting a new PB in the P261...the old marker dated from 2008 so I guess I should have learned something in the intervening years, right?..but found myself much further along on Lap01 than I would have guessed.  Surprised to find that Dean was behind me as I knew that he put down a lap in Q much faster than I and started two rows ahead of me.

Early laps were quite fun and I was actually enjoying myself at this venue for a change.  Dean was hounding me relentlessly but couldn't seem to muster a pass.  Runners ahead fell to grief and by Lap06, found that my pitguy was flashing me a P5.  Heady stuff!

Lap07 and I found at Stowe that the rear axle was breaking loose.  Moments later at Club, ditto.  This allowed Dean to steam up on my right as we headed towards the notorious Abbey curve which, with its curb at the apex, is always a chance for a classic fail.  I'm not entirely certain why I decided to fight for the position and hold to the low line instead of yielding.  Perhaps a thought that Dean would skate wide on the exit and drop back.  As it was, we ran through Abbey side-by-side.  You don't see that too often.  Down the straight to Woodcote and we were still level-pegging at the turn-in.  I ran in high and left room for the other lane and as it shows, Dean and I ran through there side-by-side.  Again, a rare sight.  Down pit straight to Copse, a quick look right as we neared the bridge revealed that Dean was going to win the corner and I thought it best to ease up a little early and tuck in behind him as we arced into the corner.  This was also a somewhat defensive move planned to deny Bastian, running very well indeed I might add, the chance to slip underneath me as we rounded Copse.  I'd seen BG hovering just off my rear exiting Woodcote.  To my horror, I suddenly found Dean braking much harder than I had anticipated and I couldn't avoid.  Not sure if it was extreme braking on his part, a misjudgement on mine or a warp but for whatever reason, I clipped his tail and started a mean shunt involving several members.  I ended at a dead stop facing the wrong direction and wasn't aware of much of the consequences surrounding me.  Dean suffered a major shunt but miraculously, recovered and stormed off to score a fine P4 at the flag.  Poor Bastian suffered the great misfortune to be inverted ending his day.  Bad luck, bud.

Doing a power-spin to right the BRM, I took off in pursuit of the field now having dropped to P10 and without much hope of a decent finish.  Over the next handful of laps, I was surprised to find that I was reeling in many of those ahead as they seemed to be balled-up in a tight scrum and were possibly delaying each other.  Picked my through most and found myself in a surprising P5 again with Dean just up the road.  I was relieved to see that he'd been able to continue as our earlier duel had been quite exhilarating.  For a brief time, I thought that I might be able to close on him but soon, it became apparent that he was waltzing away at a good pace with each passing lap.  In the later laps, I started to fade somewhat keeping an eye on pitboard for gap back to Dave.  That became Ray in the chase as the finish neared as Dave suffered an engine problem.  Just managed enough not to throw it off the road and placed P5.  That's a good day for me at Silvastone.

Cripes!  Andreas!  I'm shocked to learn this of you.  Yes, I did know that you've undergone some recent medical issues but had not been aware of their nature.  Here's hoping that you'll be fit again soon and be back to us in fighting form.

Congrats to Tristan who was just in another league altogether.  Positively swept the board for all honours.  I understand that his lap time sets a new WR for the car.  Not surprised at that!

Some hotshots fell afoul with bad luck.  Clive, Axel, Deaner and Ray all had grief.  Iestyn hardly got the engine warmed up before his exit.  Better days ahead, chaps.

Now to Dave...  Splendid drive, DR!  Hearty congrats on the P2 finish with a rock-solid drive.  From about Lap08 onwards, I was pasted onto Dave's gearbox but just couldn't muster enough speed to make a pass.  It was developing into a case of just waiting for a mistake for me to pounce and move up.  Just never happened.  A couple of times, I got really close but it was not a solid bid.  I should say, too, that in the opening laps, I was down on my knees praying for grip in Knickerbrook as my Eagle got really loose.  I adjusted my driving slightly...code for slowing down...and for the balance of the race, that devilish corner posed no more trouble.  Pleased to see that according to GPLRA, I scored no '64' laps.  Easy to drop wheels off here, isn't it?  Once again, super drive, Dave!  That was fun.  

Recovering from earlier offs, I had Clive and Axel hot on my tail in the middle frames but first Clive disappeared and then Cookie took a long, slow spin in Island Bend.  I could see his Brabham sliding sideways in my mirrors and thought that I may have contributed to that by getting a bit sideways there myself just in front of him.  If so, sorry, Axel.

Edit: Just thought I'd pop back in to say great job being done by Bastian who is riding high with a P2 in the overall standings.  Well done!

My eyeballs were junk even before the start of this trial.  Not in the least bit annoyed or disappointed to have crashed out early.

Some good discussion going on here and let's hope that we are all the better for it.  I notice over on SRMZ that Axel has started a thread re this topic and already there are members chiming in.  It's too early to gauge an overall pattern but it will interesting to see the progress.

As for sounds, I cheat.    I'll be giving away a trade secret here...

Years ago, I took pole in an Eagle for an ADC race at the Salzburgring.  In dropping onto the grid for the start, I was shocked to find that all the other cars around me were next to completely drowning out the sound of my Weslake V-12.  It was most disconcerting.  I got a reasonable start but was utterly flummoxed by the other members' engine notes and I promptly shunted the car at the first hairpin.  No doubt whatsoever in my mind that it was due to the overwhelming bombardment of noise from the other engine notes.

Since that day, I've tuned my sound files for all the mods.  In the root GPL/Sounds folder, I have a sub-folder, 'half tones'.  There, I have sub-folders for each of the mods.  Contained, sub-folders named, 50%, 75%, 85% and 100%.  With some time, effort and diligence, I have, over the years, taken each chassis wav file and altered its volume by the values noted just above.  I rarely use the 50% files as that's just a bit too mild but typically use the 75% editions.  Here's how it works.  For any given race, for the chassis that I intend to use, I load the 100% file.  For all others, they will get the down-graded volume wav file.  And that holds even in mods like 69X where we have multiple Cosworth DFV powered cars BUT each chassis has its own dedicated wav file ident so I can happily pound away with MY Cossie screaming at revs and not be too bothered with others similar power units in my immediate vicinity.  I can still hear them but it's easy to pick out my own engine's note.  The only down-side of this is if other members chose exactly the same chassis that I run.  Then, each has the same volume.  Sadly, since up-grading my computer about 1-1/2 years ago, I haven't been able to get the very handy GPL Sounds programme to work so am stuck with older wav files.  It's a disappointment but livable.

Later today, I expect to enter the UKGPL PRO Division event at Clermont.  I'm pegged to be in the BRM P281.  It's wav file we be 100% volume.  All others will be 75%.  Anyone else using the BRM will come through to me at 100% but as I expect them to be miles behind me, it will not be of any consequence.  

Edit: Corrected splellimg mistooks.

Drifted off to sleep watching the tellie.  Woke 10 minutes to late to make the start. 

Ever since I signed on with the UKGPL and the pro damage restriction of the GP67 cars, I've found it essential to warm the engine.  In other leagues where pro damage isn't dialed up, I can get away without the warming phase and not worry about the engine.  It's a sad fact that Papyrus set the cars to go to the grid with stone cold engines.  Surely it would have been dead easy to nominate some value around, say, 100°F or even 120°F when first dropped onto the grid.  Even a vigorous revving routine with that start value for 30 seconds would not overheat an engine before the off.

I'm reading where some of you take it easy in the opening for a good 1km or more but I have to ask why?  You want the engine warmed up for fear of blowing it, correct?  Well, then, why not use the 30 second window provided before the start by a timely grid drop and start warming up the old mill straight away?  I usually pussy-foot for the first bit, too, as even with 80°+F on the gauge, it's still far from operational temperature.

I occasionally lose an engine but I think that's more due to poor shifting technique with GPLShift a possible root cause.  I'm going to remove that software in the next day or three and see how things shake out.  I never speed shift...holding the throttle pedal to the floor while changing-up...but still register some in GPLRA.

Just had another peek at the server replay cap to try and determine the root cause of the mega-shunt.  Found it.

RAY!!!  YOU CRAZY BUGGER!  YOU DIDN'T WARM UP YOUR ENGINE ON THE GRID?!?!?!



Just kiddin', Ray, but that's 99 times out of 100 a sure recipe for a blown mill.  With pro damage, it is absolutely imperative to get some heat into the motor before the green flag falls.  You were first onto the grid...I was 2nd...and from your cockpit view, it was apparent that you were just letting the engine tick over at idle.  From your cockpit, you can actually hear my BRM H-16 revving in the background, in fact.  I've found that I need to see at least 80°F on the gauge...I check via the F10 view...to have some hope of having the engine live.  Prior to any start, I have my mouse cursor hovering over the green button and the instant it comes lives, I'm on it to join as rapidly as possible and start a routine of running 1/2 to 2/3 the allowable revs.  In our Albi start, you were pegging the tacho needle to 10500 before the first corner and several more times through the twisties before...

The Weslake V-12 is a sweet unit but known to be a bit fragile in the first case.  Failing to warm that sucker is a virtual guarantee of an early blow up.

Hope this tip helps you...and others...in the future.

Congrats to Iestyn, Peter and Deaner for the podium finishes.  Well done.

From GPLRA's Mechanical Report...

"Leader of the race starts lap 1

1m08.040s
Ronnie Peterson - spotters reporting:
medium problems with right front tire.
medium problems with right front suspension.
the engine has exploded.

1m16.040s
Ronnie Peterson - spotters reporting:
severe problems with right front suspension.
Arf Arf-Arf - spotters reporting:
minor problems with right front tire.
severe problems with left rear tire.
severe problems with left rear suspension.
the car has an engine problem.
Pelle Buchner - spotters reporting:
severe problems with right front tire.
severe problems with right front suspension.
minor problems with right rear suspension.
Robert Fleurke - spotters reporting:
medium problems with left front tire.
medium problems with right front tire.
medium problems with left front suspension.
severe problems with right front suspension.
minor problems with left rear suspension.
the car has an engine problem.
Bob Whitwell - spotters reporting:
severe problems with left front tire.
severe problems with right front tire.
severe problems with left rear tire.
severe problems with right rear tire.
severe problems with left front suspension.
severe problems with right front suspension.
severe problems with left rear suspension.
severe problems with right rear suspension.
the car has an engine problem.

1m24.040s
Arf Arf-Arf - spotters reporting:
severe problems with right front tire.
severe problems with right front suspension.
the engine problem is getting worse.
 Doni67 - spotters reporting:
minor problems with right front tire.
minor problems with right front suspension.
Andreas Gebhardt - spotters reporting:
severe problems with left front tire.
severe problems with left rear tire.
severe problems with left front suspension.
severe problems with left rear suspension.
the car has an engine problem.
Jethro Walters - spotters reporting:
medium problems with left front tire.
minor problems with right front tire.
medium problems with left rear tire.
medium problems with right rear tire.
severe problems with left front suspension.
minor problems with right front suspension.
severe problems with left rear suspension.
medium problems with right rear suspension.
the car has an engine problem.

1m32.040s
Gregory Taber - spotters reporting:
minor problems with left front tire.
severe problems with left front suspension.
minor problems with left rear suspension.
the car has an engine problem."

This beats the hell out of the recent 69X romp at Montjuic. 

After being kamikazed by Jethro, my BRM was a little wobbly but I soon adapted.  I chased Sinister Clive for the longest time but couldn't make inroads.  Robert was next down and closing but once on my tail, couldn't seem to administer the coup de grace.  As RF notes above, his engine was a bit off-song.  As the finish neared, I had hopes of a P6 placing but the H-16 gave it up on the pit straight with but a handful of laps to run.  At least it was a short walk back to the pits.

WORKS server repay cap...

http://ftp://ukgpl3.dyndns.org/Replays/Archive/Season28/Grads_Works/

Pre-race trials for Albi in a Lotus and Brabham were manifestly disappointing.  I couldn't get the BT24 any closer than 5/10 to my BRM PB and the Lotus was only 6/10 quicker.  Hardly worth spending 20 tokens on the Lotus so...  It's the Beast from Bourne yet again.  Sigh...

You, me and one H of a lot of others got no further, Billy. 

BTW, sorry for the qualifying shunt in Eau Rouge.  My bad...

 

Good one, Bernie.