UKGPL Season 23 (2012) Historic Trophy (66) - Ahvenisto - Jul 17

[maddog]

As a part timer in 66, I decided it would be impolite to challenge for pole.  Instead I went for an entertaining setup, which let me steer with the rear, start near the rear, and stay out of harms way.  

It became obvious I'd gone a click too far, as soon as gyrations commenced in the opening laps.  It takes talent to overheat these tyres, and I was rewarded with a panoramic view on countless occasions.  Lucky to survive my one high speed off, I was surprised to see so many alive beyond half way. 

The overworked Lotus, finally parked itself on top of a tyre, without much of a struggle in the end.  But it was an enjoyable track - doubtless a real challenge for all.  And apparently, everyone decided Hristo had won, even though my car did by far, the most circulations around the track.

[EvilClive]

I hate to say "I told you so", but I have to confess that this is one track that I just do not like. Monaco I really enjoy and this circuit ought to be the same sort of challenge, but for me it just does not work, I don't know why.

I was almost tempted to take the Eaglet as it was more stable, but logic dictated that the more nimble Lotus Climax should be better.

I spent most of Quali developing a setup that behaved on full fuel and the last 5 minutes trying to get a good grid slot, amazed that I got anywhere near the front rows  .
A gentle nudge on the first lap pushed me onto the grass and I lost a whole load of time. From then on I was playing "catch-up" and this is not a good track to be doing that as several offs and bumps with straw bales showed.
Eventually, the damage took its toll and the car just became very unstable under braking and I found myself trapped the wrong side of the straw bales with no way out 
I felt almost relieved to be able to retire 
Grats to Hristo who dominated this race and to all the finishers.

[Hristo Itchov]

Awesome track! I really enjoy tracks that flow from one corner to the other and without a stop/go nature. I guess it's most likely because braking isn't one of my strengths, but rally style tracks where you have to position the car all the time and drift it around seems to work for me.

I entered the race without any knowledge of the track, but the lack of handicap gave me the opportunity to take a really good car and I agree with Evil that the BT11 BRM handles great. It took me some time to learn the track though, and then some more to improve the setup (especially the gearing which had to made very short), but by the end of Qualifying I had a fairly good feeling and was already on pole.

The start was good and I kept the lead, then pulled away from Sky and had a comfortable lead by the end of lap 1. From there on I just kept a fast pace because the car-track combo just felt enjoyable, but it wasn't all without problems. I had 2 full spins, the 2nd one costing me some 7-8 seconds, but fortunately I avoided hitting anything too hard or getting stuck, so I managed to continue. The tires maybe overheated a bit in the middle part of the race which made it tricky to apply full throttle on exit of corners, but at the end of the race the car was really quick and so I pushed for a fastest lap. That happened to be the last lap, so I uploaded it on Youtube if anyone wants to take a look:

http://youtu.be/YGXbRgoXvUs

Grats to all finishers, I hope we race this track again in the future or at least something similar in terms of layout.

[G Jonsson]

First, I am sorry for the delay due to serverproblems and hope that the UKGPL_9 was OK for all.

The race could have been good if it had not been for a stupid mistake early on when I was in 3Rd behind Al, just following him, putting some pressure on and hoping he would "let" me by due to some minor off somewhere. Instead I was having the off and also messed up the rejoin because I was more or less out of controll, sorry Sky. So instead of putting pressure on Al I had to do the same to Sky and after some laps he did what I hoped Al would do so after that I was back in 3Rd but now some 15 sec behind Al.

The rest of the race was about chasing down Al and that took me the whole race so when I finally, thanks to some backmarker trouble for Al, again found myself just behind him the race was over, WD Al.

Meanwhile H had lapped us all and put in a FL that by far is a WR for 66 cars round this track in the process. I am not surprised he said in chat afterwards, and in his post above, that he liked the track, WD H.

To those who did not like it as much I guess you just did not get into the flow of the track but hope you will find the next race at Spa more to your liking. Until then I wish you all a pleasant summer.

Göran

[Al Heller]

Well I suppose the handicap chassis weren't really all that handicapped at this track but that won't be the same story for the 3L cars at Spa (damn!). I'd decided on the Lotus-Climax here, but when I saw several of them joining in the practice race, I decided on a last-minute switch to the Lotus-BRM just to be different . This was a little risky because although the Lotus-BRM felt marginally quicker it was also rather skittish on the limit & through T1 especially was a proper handful! Sky seemed to be finding the same issues with his Ferrari as I followed him during the opening laps & a big spin by him on lap 3 allowed me up into 2nd. Hristo was long gone by then, but behind me Goran was going rather more quickly than I liked. Luckily he was going rather more quickly than he liked too & a little excursion by him allowed me a very handy 15 second gap.

I soon reduced that gap for Goran with a worrying out of control moment, slapping the barrier & very nearly ending my race at that accursed T1. This rattled my confidence a little & while I tried to relocate my rhythm, I suddenly found myself being rather-hotly pursued by Martin who I'd lapped whilst he was off-track. Now, I'm not quite sure if Martin was eager to get a tow or if he was just intent on repassing me but the sight of his Lotus a-ducking & a-diving right behind certainly provided the motivation for me to relocate my race rhythm a little quicker. (Post-race, the missus did enquire about some "shouting & swearing", which I think was the moment I surveyed my mirrors to see Martin barrelling towards me with tyres locked up as I braked for the slow T4 left-hander )

After all that excitement, I found myself with a 10 second gap to Goran which was just about enough to allow me to tiptoe around T1 for the rest of the race & make it to the flag with about a second to spare... Well done to H & Goran & honourable mention to Dave for yet another strong finish.     

[maddog]

Sorry to have worried you Al.  I don't carry Prib, so wasn't certain if you were a lap ahead.  If so, I expected you'd keep your advantage, which you did.  You're no layabout.   What you witnessed in your mirror, was just my normal driving style!

[bernie]

Yet another 66 series going nowhere , I dont know what I have to do to get these cars competative but whatever it takes i just dont seem to have it  :'(

Spent half an hour or so of qually trying to move up the order on the grid which was a complete waste of effort as I missed the start but then found an anomoly

Starting from the pits the green GO button lights up 10 secs after te flag drops ,  due to the nature of the pits exit being after the start area this meant I got the GO just as the front row boys were about to pass the pits exit 

So in theory I could have got myself into P3 or P4 but in reality was a little shocked to see all the cars wizzing past and by the time I found a slot t sneak into I was somewhere mid pack I think 

all to no avail as GPL dropped me a lap behind "which I hope to claim back" on the next lap .

A bit of a dice with Paul early on when he got by me at least 3 times before stuffing it somewher more permanantly livened my race up but soon I clouted the strawbales myself and somehow damaged the engine , I decided to carry on in limp home mode and try to get enough laps in for a finishers score but my poor climax cried enough when a lap short of the 18 laps completed target ( sound familiar ? )

Actually I thought I was there, as the pitman was showing 18 to go , but with my missed lap at the start I assume this was duff info 

[AnGex]

Hi there,

looks like I am too blind, but where can I find a Replay of the Race?

So long
Andreas

[BadBlood]

The Replays are on the front page of UKGPL (www.ukgpl.com), Left hand side menu.

Current season is here. Follow the navigation links on the left hand side.

[BadBlood]

Mod (finally) published. My aplogies for not doing so before - I have been away.