UKGPL Season 26 (2014) Formula Two Trophy - Hockenheim - Jan 19

[BadBlood]

As a point of clarification - there are two separate grids. The scores are not being combined.

If you do not want to compete on this basis then sorry - it is what it is.

There you go boys - hope that is clear, two parallel fights. Lets get on track.

[Boggy]

don't call me a sissy

[Turkey Machine]

I like pie.

Pork pie, apple pie, meat pie, pie for life?

[BadBlood]

don't call me a sissy

He said "last one to the line" not "Last one over the line" 

Just call me a 'sissy' 

[Arf Arf Arf]

Mods - I'm not on to muddy the waters, just to speak to one person...

And doing so after the fact will be easier than just moving three drivers who haven't proven (despite plenty of chances) they belong in the Lights down a division to even out the grids, and letting the 24 others race in the series that they voted on joining?

Dean - you can only mean myself, Natan and Marco by this. I find your own definition of what is 'good enough' for Lights curious. 'Failure to podium' (from a prevous post by you on the matter) means you have to be Heavy? Ignoring the fact I got one P4 and a couple of P5/6s last season that would be that the Lights division 'should' be you, Evil, Samb and Ronnie, and I assume from your definition (and no disrespect intended) Phil and Cookie just cos they lucked out and got 1 podium? 6 drivers....

I know there are some fast new guys out there, but they haven't proved they are committed to the series *yet*, so I don't think they don't deserve to be in Lights any more than me/Natan/Marco. And I certainly don't think we're so slow we shouldn't be there.

I will freely admit that F2 is one series where I have struggled to setup the car, and don't expect to be near the pace of the fastest Light drivers. Equally though, if I were to go down a division (just as I did in 65s last season), I'd be one of the fastest. Don't get me wrong, I'd love it - I have discovered its much more of a buzz competing for the lead than 5/6/7/8th place (not that these are not fun), and in the company you have inferred, I'm sure we'd have a great time...

...I just don't think that we're the waste of space you are repeatedly calling us. So please stop.

Arf

[Iestyn Davies]

May I first add that I have only driven an F2 car on two tracks, so I'll only be competitive the times I drop in where I have/find a decent setup. I then tried to upload to GPLrank and it messed up my 67 rank.. might have to create a new player? Guessing GPLRA wasn't updated for F2 67.

I can see the rationale behind the 2 splits by alphabet to one grid when guys drop out.. it mainly being that the scoring will be easier to re-amalgamate.

The fear Dean has (and I would share) is that gaps will form between the drivers of varying ability on each server, which is less fun than a good battle amongst competitive drivers. The F2 cars aren't that fast however, so I don't know how much that will affect this.

For competition, it would be best to split it on ability lines, and as the grids reduce there would be say 10 on each server competing for the 2 titles. This would be best if it is thought that attendance will be high enough to not return to one server later in the year.

Myself, I am only able to drop in on the occasional race in the next few months most likely, hence I picked Light reserve. If it's only 1 grid from the off, then tough on the reserves (for the sake of the championship, I would drop out), who can't commit to the series anyway. But another problem with that is if there's a wide variation of ability, where a split would be better (Heavy and Light) anyway. The skill in moderating is to make it even in such circumstances/given the evidence available.. so I deduce that with this new solution, the expectation is of 1 server later on in the year, with one champion at the end of it.

So it all comes down to competition vs. titles/championships, and expectations of attendance really.

[BadBlood]

At this point it is what it is and we would expect grids to be fairly solid - if not we will all end up on one grid anyway and then there will be plenty of action!

Let us just have some fun.

[DLogan]

...I just don't think that we're the waste of space you are repeatedly calling us. So please stop...

Never said that (or even meant to imply it), so you stop, please. I offered an option as to the criteria they could use when making the selection. The fact that you failed to podium last season, despite eight attempts, is a clear, undeniable, data point, and that's all it was offered as.

This whole thing started because of too many entrants for the Lights... wait no, we're still not even at 19 including reserves, so it must have been not enough entrants for the Heavies (where our moderators race  ), who were feeling lonely on grids of as few as 3 last season. So the moderators are faced with a choice:

1) Move a couple of drivers down to even out the grids. Unfortunately, some may feel slighted by this (see above).

2) Emasculate this entire championship by throwing out the rules that they made and announced and everyone agreed to by signing up for this series, split the grids in a completely arbitrary manner, and give us FOUR champions instead of two (and we all know that the more people win, the more each win means. I used to love watching everyone at sports day get a trophy, it made mine so much more special).

[Iestyn Davies]

You can do it by statistics, e.g. podiums/previous championship points, or a feel of the pace and consistency of each driver (so that you end up with two 'bulks' of drivers or competitive areas). You can even do it by who wants to challenge the faster grid from the rear, or get a chance to front run in the second one (both depend on the motivation of the driver and can be great learning processes), or take it into account when deciding. The 50% and scoring rule puts more emphasis on consistency than pace and can make a one grid situation more competitive (I assume that's why it was voted on) for a championship run-in.

I would fall into the original conclusion (move a few back from Light to Heavy, creating two healthy championship fights), even if it meant grids of 10 or so on both at season end (as both would be competitive, with space for extras). If I am wrong and numbers will fall below 19 mid-season, then one grid it'll end up being and one champion at the end.

[Boggy]

Can't be a Sissy, didn't even get to the line   

[il_lupo_mannaro]

Great fight with Evil and Marco and then... disco!!

[Cookie]

Seems not my series, even on my home track
had a good start but was kicked out entering the Ostkurve as 3rd, the mayhem after the Ostkurve finished my race behind the fence...

As suspected a "catch as catch can" format!

[Samb]

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Until my internet conked out with 12 laps still to go. I'm getting seriously fed up with my connection. Fine throughout most of S25, but ever since Estoril, I've never had a stable connection.

Not sure it's worth carrying on at this rate. Not until I relocate anyway........

[Arf Arf Arf]

had a good start but was kicked out entering the Ostkurve as 3rd, the mayhem after the Ostkurve finished my race behind the fence...

...and both incidents caused by me I'm afraid....although for me it was just one horribly long incident. I got away cleanly, unlike poleman Marco, but I knew that I wouldn't hold the position, as this was always going to be a drafting contest. Dean was the person who drafted me as we went up the first straight, but not as quickly as I thought he would, leaving me with a tricky decision as we came up to Ostkurve. However, the car flicked a little as I broke and downshifted and flicked me to the left a little, which was enough to send me towards you. I do feel quite guilty for that, but I shall let the mods decide if it was reasonable for you to expect to get past me so near the corner - I had to take the line for the corner....

The bump we had meant I lost the line I was expecting for the corner, and as my left wheels went on the grass. I didn't see Natan come up beside me as I regained control, and straightened up and tried to get back up to speed. I feel really bad for everyone who was affected by the big incident, and Natan in particular, who wasn't doing anything wrong.

Later in the race my engine blew up, and I couldn't remember if I had used a reset on L1, so I retired. Probably should have driven on and risked the DQ...

Apols to all affected

Arf

[Robert Fleurke]

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Until my internet conked out with 12 laps still to go. I'm getting seriously fed up with my connection. Fine throughout most of S25, but ever since Estoril, I've never had a stable connection.

Not sure it's worth carrying on at this rate. Not until I relocate anyway........

Sorry to see you disappear once again in my mirrrors. You just were mixing in with the fights at the front. Tough luck, Sam I'll add my race report later. Need some fresh air.

edit:

Just tried to survive and lost positions, but everyone made mistakes and then suddenly Piero and me were at the front. We lost time changing positions, Raoni caught up really fast, but then touched with Piero I think...on Lap 13 Piero and me touch at the end of the backstraight. I'm holding my wheel straight but move ever so slightly to the right, when Piero moves to the left (too soon), and we crash. Really sorry that that had to happen, I think we both should have given more room to eachother...Piero on the roof, I could continue even though the car felt strange, like a bent suspension. Again trying to survive/finish profiting from other's bad luck or mistakes, I find myself in the lead in the final lap. With the ill handling and Roberto's pressure I run wide in the last corner, but just can hold him of...lucky win...

Shame for the incident I had and others' misfortune, but thanks for racing all and mods for organizing Great comeback Roberto, and very consistent Ronnie who ran mostly without a tow I think, and still stayed close! Also congrats to Marco, Dean and Joe in the other race!