UKGPL Season 33 (2018) 1965 F1 - Solitude - May 29

[miner2049er]

Thanks Phil, I was a bit surprised to start as high as 5th but was happy with a PB in Qually.

The race started well and I was racing with some of the Ams but then got hit and launched skyward at about a thrid distance. I didn't need to reset but the car felt a bit squiffy after that. I was able to push but I couldn't get any heat in the tyres and lacked some grip so I couldn't really push the lap times too much. Luckily my good early laps had built a gap behind and I was able to try and keep it going as the other Ams had their own battles.

It was a lonely race after that and I had a couple of moments, once when I mounted the bales at T3 but was able to reverse off them and I did a perfect priouette at one point without hitting anything. Luckily for me because I ripped the wheels off on the very last lap and had to reset. (I will need 15 seconds adding in lieu of my missed SnG).


I do have a question: I was racing with the Ams early on and fought for position but is there a rule or implied etiquette that I should let them go and not race them as they are in a different race effectively?

[Phil Thornton]

I do have a question: I was racing with the Ams early on and fought for position but is there a rule or implied etiquette that I should let them go and not race them as they are in a different race effectively?

I think you mean the Div 1 Pro drivers. They are in their own race but there is no reason why you shouldn't try to race with them provided you do it fairly. I'm sure most of the Pro drivers would appreciate a dice with a competitive but honourable driver. I doubt they would appreciate being punted off by an Intermediate or Amateur over-driving beyond their abilities.

[miner2049er]

I think you mean the Div 1 Pro drivers.

I do, yes.

I'm sure most of the Pro drivers would appreciate a dice with a competitive but honourable driver. I doubt they would appreciate being punted off by an Intermediate or Amateur over-driving beyond their abilities.

That's what I thought. I tend to do most of my punting in 55s

[Billy Nobrakes]

Mike, I am not moderating this series but the guidance for the 67s is that slower Privateers should be courteous being lapped but are free to race if it is for track position. With the token system there are probably going to be cases where the better Amateurs will be on par with some of the Pros.

[miner2049er]

Mike, I am not moderating this series but the guidance for the 67s is that slower Privateers should be courteous being lapped but are free to race if it is for track position. With the token system there are probably going to be cases where the better Amateurs will be on par with some of the Pros.

Thanks Billy.

[Cookie]

As there are 2 separate championships for Pro/Ams
an Ams driver should not defend his position hard versus a fast upcomming pro driver as he is not racing him for position!

I am not happy with this solution, but we will not tolerate blocking slow driver in fast cars...

[Billy Nobrakes]

Happy to have a debate about this.

I was thinking of situations where the the speeds are evenly matched. There may be other circumstances where a faster driver has spun off.

We need to have a rules which are easily understood by everyone.

There are rules against blocking & weaving.

[miner2049er]

The incident I was referring to in particular was a battle I had with DLogan who was in the BT7 (I was in the BT11).

I felt I had the pace to take the racing line through the early part of the lap and I didn't slow to let him past as that could affect my race but once he had passed me at Schatten I let him go and he pulled away.

I don't believe I affected his race but he can comment on that if he likes.

Had I caught him I would have only attempted a pass on the straight (which my faster car would have done in the slipstream all along that loooooong section) and would have followed him through the twisty bits.

Mosport tomorrow will be a different prospect, and while I don't expect to be at the same level over a race length, there may be laps where I am being chased by Ams and if I am held up by a BT7 I feel I should be allowed to make a pass and compete in my own race. If I am forced to follow a Pro in a BT7 and not pass I could be passed myself by a chasing Amateur.


P.S.
I'm not assuming for one minute that I will be able to pass a Pro at Mosport but that is a hypothetical situation which merits some discussion, perhaps in its own thread.

[maddog]

A general comment about competing on a combined grid :

GPL flagmen don't have an Elitist flag to wave, if a higher rated driver needs some overtaking assistance. 

There are no unskilled drivers at Ukgpl  - only racers who want to race. 

[DLogan]

I don't use Prib, so I only have the pitboards and my poor memory to keep track of who's around me, and I am NOT adding keeping track of "is he an am or a pro" while trying to avoid using the chrome horn  , and I do NOT expect anyone else to do so while trying not to spin in front of me. If we're of a pace (whatever the circumstances leading to), and you can defend/attack cleanly, please race me. Lapped traffic is a totally different matter.

Mike: your driving at Solitude was pro-standard, and your defense was perfectly clean. No complaints at all. (Kudos to Andreas, as well). I was kind of surprised when I didn't get immediately swamped on the straight after passing you, was settling in to spend another lap hounding you, saw you leave the door open going down to the hotel so I took advantage thinking you'd slot in behind, and heart fell when watching in mirrors.  Glad you finished.

[miner2049er]

An Ams driver should not defend his position hard versus a fast upcomming pro driver as he is not racing him for position!

I am not happy with this solution, but we will not tolerate blocking slow driver in fast cars...

I think that is a fair point but it ultimately comes down to common sense.

The fast approaching Pros will make mincemeat of me in any car, but as mentioned, there is a crossover with Pros in slow cars and Ams in fast cars, and that is where the discussion might be needed.

Taking the line and not spoiling your own race is very different to blocking (which we have rules for) and of course lapping cars is very different and is also covered in the rules.

Mike: your driving at Solitude was pro-standard, and your defense was perfectly clean. No complaints at all.

I'm going to print that out and keep it. Haha!

Thank you.