UKGPL Season 28 (2015) Works Trophy (67) - Stardust - Mar 22

[Baab]

Good race that, even though this was a great chance for a win (due my better car I have to admit), was please with 2nd.  Tough luck Iestyn, but I still doff my cap to you, as Jethro remarked unbelievable pace in the BRM.  Greg and Robert weren't too shabby either.

I was quite surprised by the car choices and was pleased to see I was somewhere near competitive.  I actually blew the engine on my qual lap and coasted over the line, so I knew I had a fair amount more pace, but given I was over a second clear in second and unlikely to challenge Robert's lap, I tested my race setup.

The race was going pretty good until about lap 24 when, right on Iestyn's gearbox I seemed to brake too late for the corner leading into the back straight (curve).  As soon as it went I knew it wouldn't be a quick spin, but it didn't help that I spun off again when rejoining  , losing 11 secs.  My response was to drive faster, setting my FL but also bringing several spins.  Don't think I would've caught Robert anyway.

Cheers,

Bob.

[Doni Yourth]

Grats on a good win, Robert!  The end of your misfortunes?  Could be...  

Good run by Bob who, for once, wasn't pounded off the road by yours truly.

And Izzy scores a podium thanks to Greg checking up at the line.

My, my, Iestyn...  That was so unfortunate.  But for a couple of litres of petrol, eh?  After blowing up my P115, I watched the race with great interest from assorted viewpoints and for the last two laps, rode along with you.  I was noting that you were changing-up very early and sparing the revolutions.  It then dawned me, 'Good Lord!  He's running out of fuel!'  Soon, the tacho needle started to flutter and the engine began to splutter.  That was an agonizing last two laps to ride onboard with you.  Hard luck hardly describes it.

Great run by Greg in the Honda.  I ran this car here at Stardust late last year and couldn't bust into the 35's.  Here you go and score mid-33's.  I doff my hat, sir.

I like Stardust but in the limited events I've run here, didn't do very well.  Definitely lacking speed.  With that prospect in mind, it wasn't a hard choice to opt for the BRM again.  I was surprised at how well it ran and handled in qualifying so was buoyed for the start.  That went well and I ultimately hooked up in a nifty train of cars comprising Arf, Evil, Rocket and Sam.  That was really keen and the pleasure with running well in such good company helped assuage my bruised ego when the BRM engine failed.  I was pleased, too, to net a new PB in the low 36's and at least score some minor points.

Zandvoort next and I really suck there.  Looks like the BRM again...

Edit: BTW, I found the Works server replay cap at...

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

[maddog]

With reference to Donnie, all drivers are reminded to breathe out, at Zandvoort.

[Doni Yourth]

Hehe...  Good one, Martin.

My troubles with Zandvoort are many.  It seems that I can go out for a qualifying run with, say, 4-5 laps worth of fuel and start to get the hammer down straight away.  The first couple of flyers are out there in Nowheresville.  Then, on the last or 2nd last lap, I'll carve all manner of time out of the previous markers...and I mean by a full second or more...but with not the slightest idea why.  They all felt the same to me.

Additionally, I find it really tiring what with all the switchbacks and near-constant sawing away on the steering wheel.  For me, this is just a points run.

[Ronniepeterson]

Great racing in the company of Clive and Doni and the hard charging Bob. Grats again to the podium.

[Billy Nobrakes]

Mod report published.

[GregT]

I appreciate you not punishing me for my transgression. The report makes it clear to me, that using the pit lane in an unusual situation is not condoned. I thought GPL might DQ me for it, and that kind of move would likely have me banned from real racing.

It wasn't as dangerous as it appeared though. I had a few laps practicing where I'd get sideways coming out of the final turn and I could keep the throttle down but it would force the car so far left that I'd have to take the pit lane to avoid hitting the pit wall. So I had actually taken that line a few times before. As soon as I was in the lane, I used prib to check that I could come back onto the track without colliding.

There's no real advantage to gain by doing what I did but it did allow me to easily take 2 positions when I was unsure of where to go. I was a little greedy. That was the only thing I knew I could do that would keep me from losing momentum. In the end, it probably hurt my overall race. I could have kept the car undamaged without the pressure from behind, resulting in a much better car late in the race.

I apologize. I never intended to or do intend to make such practices anything other than rare.

Take care guys.