Quite a boring race for me, as I was completely lonely except for the first few laps.
Apparently 3rd on the grid is the highest you need to aim for here, as the first three cars are placed on a line abreast. Thus found myself between Ziu & Clive, and surprisingly got the best start, to take the lead on L1. Ziu slipstreamed past in the beginning of L2, leading to a hairy moment in the double righthander. His car obscured my brake marker on the track, and I got on the brakes too late. Watched in horror as I got closer and closer to his car, but only just avoided taking him out. Instead slid wide, grazing the armco. Feared it damaged the car, as they seem very fragile, but luckily wasn't the case - not even the bodywork, as the pitstop would reveal.
Ziu quickly opened up a gap, and behind, Clive gradually slipped back, until his much too early demise. Utterly lonely from then on, apart from catching Tony & Bob late in the race. Pit window was "end of lap 19" for the 917s. Bob had difficulty manoeuvring into his stall in front of me, and consequently blocked my way to the left around him. Thus had to go right, earning a cut track warning in the pits for doing so!
Not a problem, as it was the only one I got. Grats to Ziu - no donkey business this time, so his win was never in danger. Grats to Bob for completing the podium and Tony for bringing it home (and the class win). Commiserations to the victims of the track.
Clive: I too find the brakes not very good. My left foot was aching after the race yesterday, from stomping very hard on the brake pedal, yet the only time I locked a wheel was when I was about to torpedo Ziu. Initially I practiced with the 917K, but found it infuriatingly prone to losing the rear when braking into Parabolica. Hoped the 917LH might be more stable, but found it nearly undriveable - and slower too, no matter what I tried with the setup. Thus went back to the 917K, which suddenly seemed a lot easier to drive
Kurt: With three photographers in the family, you should have access to excellent advice regarding equipment and techniques
Action photos of cars, where the car is sharp and everything else blurred, to show the speed, are just sooo difficult to get right. Never mastered it myself; just not enough opportunities to pratice. Made more difficult also by all the safety fencing these days, making it very difficult to get a clear, unobstructed view of cars on tracks. Your stills are very fine though
