UKGPL Season 22 (2011-2012) Novices (65) - Mosport - Apr 24

[NHance]

Never known a track generate such pre race interest. I too remember Artiglietti's debut, unforgettable!. The Mods report was one of the longest ever.
I don't mind the place as its the track I used most when I got GPL to try & learn to drive these things because its such a test. Lets face it its got everything, gradient, a corner in every gear,a jump, touch the grass or the kerb & your "off", plus if you get away you'll have to lap others & it's obviously created memorable races . I'd love a win here more than any other track because of that, in my dreams
Norm H

[BadBlood]

Due to a family emergency I have to start the servers VERY early. Sorry.

[maddog]

Never known a track generate such pre race interest. . . .

Agreed, though I remember one time, some crazy guy wrote a poem, about the place, before a race!

[BadBlood]

Due to a family emergency I have to start the servers VERY early. Sorry.

Phew - emergency over

[HendyNichols]

Setting a PB fairly early in qualy gave me enough time to relax and then try out a few laps with race fuel. I figured with two in front, I would just have to stay on the track in order to keep my position since the cooper was handling so well here. Wrong! Seemed like I was battling someone almost the entire race. Didn't have to reset, but got in a few wrecks. Luckily no damage that I could tell. Definitely going to watch the replay on this one. I think I went from 3rd to 12th to 4th.

There were a few places on the track I was able to close gaps with those in front of me, mostly on turn 4 into 5A and moss. I watched the record replay for the COO and learned to shift up to 5th on the downhill side of 4, 121+mph before quickly shifting down into 2nd, with a half inch higher ride height + some stiff springs, the uphill into 5A was great at killing my momentum enough to swing into moss.

I think actually the hardest turn for me to execute was turn 1. It never quite feels right, usually the car ends up off balance and wobbly. Fortunately on this track there are a few good left-hand turns to really even out the tyre heat.

Grats to the podium! Hope to see you all for the next race.

[BadBlood]

Had some great battles and I have FINALLY beaten Nigel after two years of trying (sorry Mr Smith - had to say it). I am sure normal service will be resumed at Zandvoort.

Couple of mistakes threw away the 4th place I had inherited after the T2 shambles. Then I relaxed and the Honda power started to tell. Reeled in a few people and then suddenly Hendy was on my tail. I had been concentrating on Fabio ahead and I felt I could catch him if I was accurate so it was a bit of a shock to see the rapidly approaching Cooper. I held him off for a few laps but a mistake at T2 (I think) let him through - he was super quick there. I then followed for a lap or two but another small mistake at T3 put me back into Il Lupo's clutches. Luckily for me, he overdid it and then I had to fend Dave off for only a couple of laps. I put in two REALLY scruffy ones and ended up .4 secs ahead. Relief.

My best ever even if it did not match my best places ever.

WD Al - you sand bagger and grats to Johnny and Rog. If I hadn't held Hendy up, I am sure he would have podiumed though.

Cracking race.

[Pierre D]

Didn't have to reset, but got in a few wrecks

I picked up my own replay to watch the mess at turn 8 (2nd lap).  It is always a good spot for sadistic fans ! Since a bunch of disgraced elite drivers was catching up on me , I sheepishly went to the left to let them pass and I got really pissed off when your Cooper hit me on the side and sent me to orbite. At the time, I thought "sh... how much room this guy needs to pass ! " Well, the replay tells a different story . It is a very good example of the reason why an apparent victim must restrain from flaming just after a race: it first start with Paul hitting you from the back and then, as you have managed to brilliantly keep control of your car, you got hit from the side by another Samurai (R. Venn) who  sent your car into mine. I didn't have your luck and I needed a shif-R to restart.

I watched a bit more of the replay  and I can tell you something: the Hondas in that race looked like lawn mowers !  Back to the roots of the company. Soichiro would have been delighted !

As far as I'm concerned, I started practicing this morning. I tested five cars and I never managed to get below 1:30. I got the race I deserved .At least, for once, it didn't end in the armco before the Moss .  I'm starting to be kind of skeptical about my chances to win this championship though. 

See you in Zandvoort.

[blito]

I'm not quite sure what to make of last nights race. As always I was restricted to the BT7 but thought it would be less of a handicap here than elsewhere and that it was capable of a podium finish. Well it was but not in my hands! My car was evil... pure evil to drive. It hated me, it rebelled against my control at every corner and ignored my every command. The car did what it wanted to do and not what I wanted it to do.
The start - well that almost went well! I shot off the line like a scalded cat and was past two Hondas before T1 and alongside another into T1, moving up into 3rd place on the exit... T2 I tried to be cheeky and follow Al up the inside of Norm but there really wasn't enough room - Norm and I touched wheels and he was off
I briefly managed to lead after Al made a mistake and did a 360 at 5a but my lead was brief - after just a couple of laps my car bottomed out on the entry and I had my first spin.
First of 10
Or maybe more
the biggest problem though was tyre over heating - just a few laps at full chat saw the front left go into meltdown and every time I tried to compensate by going slow and smooth I would just loose the groove and crash.
All in all just about the worst 1965 race I have ever driven
Nice to see Al on the top step though - well done fella

[BadBlood]

Didn't have to reset, but got in a few wrecks

it first start with Paul hitting you from the back and then, as you have managed to brilliantly keep control of your car, you got hit from the side by another Samurai (R. Venn) who  sent your car into mine.

That is really interesting as from my POV I didn't hit Hendy but his car 'jumped' in front of mine... I'll check my own replay and compare to the server one.

*** I was alongside Hendy when we touched and I don't think I did too much wrong but if you don't report it I will, but I can't mod it, obviously

[happyal]

Whoo, first win!!!

Really pleased with my race, and I can honest say that I did not expect that result. I have done a whole lot of practice for this race, but seem to peak about 3 weeks ago, and stay flat in terms of my pace. Looking at the times we last run here, I was expecting to be midfield.

I set a PB in qualify, it took me a few attempts as I was having problems getting a good lap. Once I set a fast time, I change the car to full fuel and started thinking about race starts.

At the start of the race I got a OK start which kept me in second place. I was nice and easy for the first few corners as I knew the car was a little tricky on cold tyres and full tanks. I didn’t see what happened but all of a sudden I was in the lead, with Jason very close behind. I tried to think about tyre warm up, but I was too aggressive coming out of the chicane, and got very sideways, letting Jason past me for the lead. Jason made a mistake a few laps latter which gave me back the lead and a little bit of a gap to the car behind.

I had about 5 seconds now, and it settled me right down. I managed to get some nice consistence laps and the gap was pretty stable. I don’t know what was happening behind because the gap was nearly 30 seconds. At this point I slowed right down and cruised to the finish. That was pretty much my race, I was watching prib, and it look a pretty exciting race, with lots of place changes.

Jason, in practice I too was having a tyre overheating problem, mainly left rear for me. I was lucky in the race that I didn’t need to push it too much, and in fact I had the opposite problem with not generating enough heat in my tyres.

Very glad to get my first win, I didn’t expect it to happen at this track, and I suppose I have got to hate this place a little less from now on. Do I hold the record for longest serving member before a race win?

Well done to Johnny, a hard fought second place and to Rog too, a great third that helps your championship charge.

Looking forward to the championship decider at Zandy, if my maths are correct, it’s a 3 horse race going into the last race. Good luck to everyone.

[BadBlood]

Big congrats Al.

[bernie]

Well done Al and grats on the maiden win   

[NHance]

Well done the podium & particularly Al on his 1st Novs win. Al has always had the speed if he can find the time to practice. This time he supprised us all, and himself apparantly, by keeping it going throughout the race. Don't like the track indeed!!!!......ummmmm.... you gotta like it now Al

After the Lap 1 turn 2 shiftR and S&G I managed to get back into it aided by a not too bad race pace, unusual for me, & a lot of offs by those in front. Followed the most amazing battle between two old Honda rivals B/Blood & Nigel for a few laps. It was so good it seemed intrusive to intervene which I couldn't as they were quick but eventually Nigel made a mistake & I was through. Not easy but through. Missed gears resulted in 2 offs at turn 2 & a spin & off at the hairpin also lost me places during the race.

Ok the lap 1 thingy did dent my title chances a bit but so what say I because this was the most enjoyable race of the season on one of my all time favourite tracks. It was brilliant, loved it . By the way was that a debut by Dave Curtis ( I may be mixed up about this) who is shown as FT but not listed 'cos if it was it was a good one in the race. He even challenged the "vastly experienced"( he'll like that ) B/Blood all the last lap. Hope he's not that quick at Zandy .

So one to go. Team mate Clutch is putting the entire resources of Mountside Racing at my disposal for the final race which should scare the opposition . This means he'll forsake his beloved BT11 for a Honda to try & find a set up I can drive faster than my own. He'll also lend me his H shifter if mine packs up before the last race. Right now my Honda & Cooper best times at Zandy are the same but well off my BT11 PB. Thanks everyone it was great & hope you're all at the next one.
Norm H

[Cookie]

Yeah! WD Al! Gratulations!

It seems to fear a track makes us better driving!

[BadBlood]

Followed the most amazing battle between two old Honda rivals B/Blood & Nigel for a few laps.

It was good

By the way was that a debut by Dave Curtis ( I may be mixed up about this) who is shown as FT but not listed 'cos if it was it was a good one in the race.

Yes it was.

He even challenged the "vastly experienced"( he'll like that ) B/Blood all the last lap.

I do