UKGPL Season 23 (2012) Historic Trophy (66) - Monsanto Park - Jul 3

[s2173]

Well, apparently my piston broke... I tought my engine is running on zeros and ones, but I guess someone stuffed the piston there just to ruin my drive...

And I know exactly who did it... the criminal unwisely left alot of clues... like dog footprints on the car paint...and saliva in the engine parts...

On a side note, Hristo and Evil tried every "put the opponent in the haybales" Waza trick on me and I survived... Im quite happy with that atleast.

[EvilClive]

Apologies Hristo, my car was great during qually on full race fuel,and I pulled away at the start feeling very confident, but after 2 laps it just became a different animal!! It took me until half way through the race to learn how to drive it again.
Then I had huge fun chasing down Phil and Al. With just 4 laps to go I had caught Al and could see Phil just ahead, but it was not to be my day when Al ran a little wide and I had commited to following him through the twisty bits. I tried to tighten my line but only suceeded in flicking my rear out and clipping his car which fired me into the shrubbery.   That was the end of my chase , but considering the number of spins and offs I had through that race I am amazed that a) the car survived and b) that I was anywhere near the podium!!!.

Big Birthday grats to Phil..well done mate   and to AL for another controlled drive to pick up good points and guarantee a handicap for the next race  

[Hristo Itchov]

Grats Phil, great present you made for yourself there! Happy Birthday!

[BadBlood]

Well, apparently my piston broke... I tought my engine is running on zeros and ones, but I guess someone stuffed the piston there just to ruin my drive...

And I know exactly who did it... the criminal unwisely left alot of clues... like dog footprints on the car paint...and saliva in the engine parts...

On a side note, Hristo and Evil tried every "put the opponent in the haybales" Waza trick on me and I survived... Im quite happy with that atleast.

Instead of being cryptic report it. Then we can deal with it.

[Phil Thornton]

I thought I wasn't going to make this race but I'm very glad I did.  I was pleased to qualify in 4th place (on race fuel) and the very loose grid meant I was probably the last car to actually see the flag drop!  I was on the apex of the last corner so practically everyone behind me would have had to wait until I moved before they could set off.  The result was a clean start for me and a comfortable defence of my 4th place into T1.  From then on I just tried to hang onto the leaders.  One by one they made mistakes and by lap 7 I found myself in the lead.  From then on it was "simply" a matter of driving carefully for the next 20 laps and waiting for the faster guys to catch up.  I didn't want to throw away the lead with a silly mistake, if anyone was going to beat me I was determined to make them work for it.  With 12 laps to go I had a 12 second lead over Al and the gap steadily reduced until with 2 laps to go I had a slim 2 second advantage.  But Al must have made a mistake on the penultimate lap because with 1 lap to go my lead was back up to 6 seconds.  The last lap was a bit nerve racking hoping that I'd put enough fuel in and that the car would hold together.

My first race win against top quality opposition (my other wins have been in the lower divisions) and on my 52nd birthday too.  Now I'm going to have a beer hot chocolate to celebrate  

[BadBlood]

Many Happy Returns Phil and big congratulations. Not an easy track so this is really something. Well done.

Replays and analysis are available in the usual place.

[s2173]

Instead of being cryptic report it. Then we can deal with it.

I don't have replay for it... but next time I'll put a camera overnight to record any suspicious activities around my car...and I'll get that engine messing bastard...

[bernie]

Congrats Phil and Happy Birthday , hope you enjoyed your birthday as much (if not more ) than the race win 

[BadBlood]

Replay is up and I think you'll find it is the start of Lap 3 you are looking for. Martin (I assume the less than heavily disguised comments refer to him) doesn't actually get anywhere near your car at any point. As for overnight cameras, I am unsure if this is an attempt at humour, but if so, it doesn't work for me.

[JonnyO]

  Congratulations Phil Thornton!!!

   I had no time even to make a one lap in Qualy.
   I went to the race without knowing exactly how the car would be.....is great to make some points.

[Hristo Itchov]

Replay is up and I think you'll find it is the start of Lap 3 you are looking for. Martin (I assume the less than heavily disguised comments refer to him) doesn't actually get anywhere near your car at any point. As for overnight cameras, I am unsure if this is an attempt at humour, but if so, it doesn't work for me.

Paul, can't people just post their race comments and not be picked on about it? It appears as if you have a grudge with Sky and take his words seriously, but what if he's just joking, does he owe an explanation? Just let him have his fun (or lack of). If anyone should be responding it should be the target of his comments, not you, IMO.

[Ross Neilson]

Well done Phil, hope you don't get a hangover today from all those hot chocolates

[BadBlood]

Paul, can't people just post their race comments and not be picked on about it? It appears as if you have a grudge with Sky and take his words seriously, but what if he's just joking, does he owe an explanation? Just let him have his fun (or lack of). If anyone should be responding it should be the target of his comments, not you, IMO.

Generally, yes, but this could be construed as gratuitously offensive. Just making sure that Sky is aware that not everyone will find it hilarious. I certainly do not have a grudge with Sky but I am concerned that a growing grudge between Martin and Sky could end up ruining races for others. That's from my Mod POV.

From a personal point of view, I'm not bothered either way.

[Cookie]

First of all

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y  P H I L
and a big  to our team boss of Antipasti for the win! WD

[Al Heller]

Congrats to Phil for a belting birthday drive - a very well-judged & well-deserved win

This was my 200th UKGPL race so I really fancied marking the occasion with a good result - though seeing as I've crashed out at Monsanto every time we've raced here before, it was going to be a major step forward just to get to the end in one piece... Clive scored a dominant win here last season so I was a bit shocked when he slid off in the opening laps & handed me the lead. Goran was looking threatening behind but then he caught a haybale & I found myself out front with 3 or 4 seconds of breathing space. A quick glance at Prib revealed I was going to need to get a shift on if I wanted to hold that lead as Phil, a recovered-Clive & Hristo were all gaining on me, but yet again I misjudged the Monsanto limit & managed to spin sideways & block the track in the middle of the T1/2 esses I expected the next car to just plough full-pelt into my stricken car but compliments to Phil for having the good sense to brake hard & squeeze carefully through the gap (helped in part that I spun at exactly the same corner to let Phil past at last season's race )

With Hristo's retirement & Clive's second foray into the boondocks, I found myself back in 2nd & chasing down Phil who was now some 12 seconds ahead. With a couple of laps to go, Phil looked to finally be in striking distance, but all the while I'd been chasing down the leader, Clive had sneakily been chasing me down even faster & I got the shock of my life when I suddenly saw that accursed Honda hove into view in my mirrors yet again! Clive looked in no mood to hang about & just after the leap looked to be speeding up my inside so I took an ultra wide line to give him room (which probably didn't help matters) & we tangled - just a racing incident in my view but a real shame as this was shaping up to be a grandstand finish... Still, that rather handy delay for Clive meant I was safe in 2nd And I think Clive's 3rd place means he'll be joining me in the handicapped chassis for the next race