UKGPL Season 38 (Spring 2021) - Rouen-les-Essarts - Dec 29

[fpolicardi]

When you can battle for all the race with a couple of well known, trusted, consistent and fair drivers is an immense pleasure. It doesn't matter if you loose for 9/100, the time spent was worth it! 

[b_1_rd]

Good to see Steve Bird racing again and I'm pleased to see Paul Villiers is back. Hope you are feeling better mate.

Cheers Phil.  I was hoping for a few laps with you when I appeared to catch a bunch of you I guess following the incident mentioned.  But assume something happened which lead to your disco.

Had another lap one faff after losing concentration avoiding a few incidents which put me well down.  Got going again and after some laps found myself with a recovering bunch after they’d had some shenanigans.  Had a good couple of laps with Dave C and Dave R.  Shame Dave R had his engine let go and then I think Dave C had a couple of offs which separated us all out again.

Getting back into the rhythm of things again and trying some new things with setups.  Hopefully get consistent enough for some good races.

[Lasse Albrecht]

Brilliant drive, Alessandro! You are really good with every mod and I am happy to have been beaten by the better driver today because you fully deserved it.

I have only really driven the 65s once back in April and had to fix my internet connection in time for the race, meaning 2 laps of offline practice as a warmup before qualifying. Theoretically I had 45 minutes to get into the zone, but weirdly I managed to do a very nice lap right at the beginning and was not able to repeat it and from then on the event was progressively getting worse for me. I guess it was a vicious circle consisting of mistake --> frustration --> more mistakes that I was unable to stop; psychological warfare with myself.

Concerning the part that was fun (a.k.a everything but my driving, at least I hit no one), I had a great time fighting my way through the field after I spun early at Nouveau Monde and couldn't reset the car as everyone went past, taking me back to 17th out of 18th. Everyone I passed was fair and trustable which I really appreciate, but I was driving bad enough to need several Shift-R's and fall back again. I had reached a point where I was looking forward to the race end and to en end in the 65s for now. Maybe I need more time with the mod, but I know for sure that I did not enjoy the behaviour of these cars, and neither did I enjoy my bad driving which could have made up for not feeling it in these cars. In conclusion I do not blame the 65s at all, but I blame myself for driving bad because despite the mod, there was so much more up for grabs today.

I had my doubts before the event about the 65s being suited to me and I got confirmation, still I am very happy to have been part of this event and to be part of UKGPL where every race is fun in at least some way, even a bad day of mine can't change anything about that. Looking forward to the next!

[Clive Loynes]

It was around 2pm when I discovered an email from Bernie, asking if I had any 65mod setups for Rouen.  At the time I didn't think that I did but then found that I must have had a similar problem myself and had downloaded a whacking great repository of setups from somewhere.

I tried send it it to Bernie but his pc objected to the file and wouldn't let him open it.  Sadly there was no time to create a zip file of just Rouen because of ongoing grandad duties.

Having given me a heads-up that there was a race that evening for a mod that I actually had installed I decided that I would give it a go.  The race announcement said that Hristo had the track record in a Lotus, so that's what I went for.  That was my first mistake, as Hristo is an out and out alien and could probably have used a wheelbarrow.

Anyway, my cache of setups contained a lotus that was apparently capable of a 2:03.xx, so I plumped for that and did a few laps and since it didn't seem to have any bad habits I stuck with it.

65mod is my least favourite mod as you have to work so hard with the gutless little prams and I really hate the way that if you make a small error it will take you another lap to get back to speed.  They are easy to drive but a complete pain to drive quickly!

I qualified 8th and finished 6th so I guess that was a reasonable result.  Must of the race was spent desperately trying to get back in the tow of the group with Fulvio in it.  I was hoping that their scrap might slow them down a tad but no such luck.  Eventually there scrap spat Evil out and I gained a place.  But not for long.  He soon caught and passed me in his Wassa machine.  Then, with a lap and a bit to go, he spun again and I was back to 5th. 

I thought that I had done enough to keep my place but I wasn't ready for his kamikaze finish!  I had stayed in front down the main straight but he was still in my slipstream as we exited the final corner.  I then towed him all the way to the finish line but just before there was contact and the GPL crash engine decided to fling him past me so that he crossed the line before me!  First time that I've been beaten by someone who was to all intents and purposes dead!

Can't say that there was much "fun" involved, although the finish gave me a good laugh.  However, I figured that I should be able to get back into 55mod mode by 17th Jan, so no harm done. 

Happy New Year to all!

[EvilClive]

I think my finish ranks as just about the most spectacular in my career  . In my defence it was difficult to see Clive's Lotus or the finishing line because the red mist was so thick at that point in the race.

I could not hold the pace of the two leaders and hope that my Honda engine would remain functional, so after the first 10 laps I had settled into a comfortable pace. Well it was comfortable until Fulvio started closing in at an alarming rate and he was dragging Andreas with him 
I was still very careful with peak revs and this gave the two chasing cars just enough pace to close up. I did help them a little, with some minor mistakes and missed gears, so that eventually it was a 3 car battle. Mr Loynes' loitering tactics had not gone unnoticed and I knew that he only required the slightest invitation to join our battle.

So I gave it to him!!  I clipped the inside kerb at Scierie and it unsettled the car just enough to spin me into the inside fence. That was "goodbye" to Fulvio and Andreas and "hello" to Clive. Making a total Horlicks of selecting reverse and regaining the tarmac did not improve my mood!! There was a slight pink tinge to the atmosphere.

Set off after Clive's car and closed him down with relentless Waza cunning and skill........or as some might say wild and risky driving  .  made the pass and slowly eased away. It was the penultimate lap and as I relaxed up the long main straight I thought to myself " just a couple of corners to go, 3 sec lead over Clive, what can possibly go wrong".
Well it appears there was quite a lot to go wrong!! I was too careful into Scierie and did not get the car set up for the corner, so I spun the ruddy thing again with only 1 lap left. 
Well the crimson fog was almost impenetrable for the last lap and Clive was not using rear fog lamps. I threw the poor Honda through the downhill section to Six Freres and only just slowed enough to make the hairpin. The rev counter needle was now considered superfluous, and unwanted weight, so I ripped it off and tossed it out of the cockpit!!. The car was definitely faster without it  .
He was just too far ahead up the long straight to make a pass attempt but I was on his tail through Scierie and tasting Loyne's blood in the air, or maybe it was that red mist?? 
I have no idea what revs I was pulling through Paradis, but I know that it was absolutely 110% flat out. The slipstream kicked in and I used the slingshot to pull over into the start of the pitlane and make an heroic dive for the line. Clive's car vanished into my blind spot ( and the fog ) and I was acutely aware that the flag man was in mortal danger if I did not alter my trajectory...
The slight adjustment to my line made contact with Clive and my car flipped instantly. They say I might never have raced again  , but my extra thick skull absorbed most of the impact and they cannot find any significant difference in my brain activity. It is still slow and minimal.

On an upbeat note my fastest lap was the final lap and I crossed the finish line upside down and clinically dead 

C U all for the CanAms at Le Mans 

[fpolicardi]

I think my finish ranks as just about the most spectacular in my career  . In my defence it was difficult to see Clive's Lotus or the finishing line because the red mist was so thick at that point in the race.

I could not hold the pace of the two leaders and hope that my Honda engine would remain functional, so after the first 10 laps I had settled into a comfortable pace. Well it was comfortable until Fulvio started closing in at an alarming rate and he was dragging Andreas with him 
I was still very careful with peak revs and this gave the two chasing cars just enough pace to close up. I did help them a little, with some minor mistakes and missed gears, so that eventually it was a 3 car battle. Mr Loynes' loitering tactics had not gone unnoticed and I knew that he only required the slightest invitation to join our battle.

So I gave it to him!!  I clipped the inside kerb at Scierie and it unsettled the car just enough to spin me into the inside fence. That was "goodbye" to Fulvio and Andreas and "hello" to Clive. Making a total Horlicks of selecting reverse and regaining the tarmac did not improve my mood!! There was a slight pink tinge to the atmosphere.

Set off after Clive's car and closed him down with relentless Waza cunning and skill........or as some might say wild and risky driving  .  made the pass and slowly eased away. It was the penultimate lap and as I relaxed up the long main straight I thought to myself " just a couple of corners to go, 3 sec lead over Clive, what can possibly go wrong".
Well it appears there was quite a lot to go wrong!! I was too careful into Scierie and did not get the car set up for the corner, so I spun the ruddy thing again with only 1 lap left. 
Well the crimson fog was almost impenetrable for the last lap and Clive was not using rear fog lamps. I threw the poor Honda through the downhill section to Six Freres and only just slowed enough to make the hairpin. The rev counter needle was now considered superfluous, and unwanted weight, so I ripped it off and tossed it out of the cockpit!!. The car was definitely faster without it  .
He was just too far ahead up the long straight to make a pass attempt but I was on his tail through Scierie and tasting Loyne's blood in the air, or maybe it was that red mist?? 
I have no idea what revs I was pulling through Paradis, but I know that it was absolutely 110% flat out. The slipstream kicked in and I used the slingshot to pull over into the start of the pitlane and make an heroic dive for the line. Clive's car vanished into my blind spot ( and the fog ) and I was acutely aware that the flag man was in mortal danger if I did not alter my trajectory...
The slight adjustment to my line made contact with Clive and my car flipped instantly. They say I might never have raced again  , but my extra thick skull absorbed most of the impact and they cannot find any significant difference in my brain activity. It is still slow and minimal.

On an upbeat note my fastest lap was the final lap and I crossed the finish line upside down and clinically dead 

C U all for the CanAms at Le Mans 

  lovely report 

[Cookie]

Long time not driven the 65s - me too.

But in opposition to Clive L - I like the 65s and hate the 55s  
(I testet the 55s beta when they still had brakes - they were fun!)

I made no big thoughts about a setup and downloaded a Masaki Asano setup from the track database.
Cost me half an hour to get this setup to my driving and better should have done one by myself...

So in the final Quali stint I did a 3rd position with race fuel, but still far away from these youngsters
In the race it took not long time and the teen was gone in the hairpin...
I had a lonely race without any mistakes to the finish line. Argh should have taken the BRM...

[Clive Loynes]

(I testet the 55s beta when they still had brakes - they were fun!)

Too easy.   

[Cookie]

(I testet the 55s beta when they still had brakes - they were fun!)

Too easy.   

No,
the report of a german Mercedes mecanic who had worked with the real cars and who said ~ "the brakes never had a fade problem" , just came too late to change the whole mod.

[bernie]

Its been a long time since I last raced 65's , all my efforts to find a decent set up came to nought when after a decent start from my lowly grid position saw me taken out on lap 1 "AGAIN"
This time it was the turn of T Bot who had gone off at the hairpin recovered then chased me all the way up the hill and decided the best place to pass was in the right hander leading to the top straight . the BRM had the legs to pass me anytime anywhere so god knows why he found it neccesary to rear end me mid corner  I am begining to think someone has put a bullseye sticker on the back of my car !

After that I recovered and was begining to enjoy a short race ( lasted at least 2/3 lap ) with Rainier )  I ran wide on the uphill bit , got a wheel on the grass and spun , after re joining the track I had a very lonely drive to the finish .

Another boring outing with the only thing to watch was the leaders as they came up to lap me .

So not much fun here and am begining to think "is it worth it "  

[AnGex]

When you can battle for all the race with a couple of well known, trusted, consistent and fair drivers is an immense pleasure. It doesn't matter if you loose for 9/100, the time spent was worth it! 

Yeah, it was really fun and very enjoyable the whole time.
Congratulations to all!   

[Cookie]

Yes Andreas,
I envy you, you seem to have had a close fight, i could always see you jumping back and forth in pribluda.
At least you had a slipstream, mine was gone after I had to avoid the spinning Lasse in the Hairpin...

Re - about the braking of the 55s, a picture from the 24h of Le Mans - these cars had the same brakes as the F1! and drove without any problems...

[Alessandro Isacchini]

...Argh should have taken the BRM...

My choice was random but I guess BRM has a little advantage vs Lotus, good handling and top speed, the only one worst thing is the little use of rpm engine, often I was under torque in the middle of the turns, but 6 gears sure help
Unfortunately lalb2001 has decided to kiss the neu monden's rail immediately    and this was a great help for me because he was very quickly and my pole lap I'm still thinking about how I did it 
I saw replay of the finish race of Evilclive and Loynes, LOL  immediately I guessed to Martini and Fittipaldi on Minardi at the GP Monza '93


For 55 mod I agree with Axel, that is a great mod and is a pleasure to drive but breaking for me is really difficult and too easy to be in red. Ok in the 50's fading was a problem but maybe here is too much.
I saw some video but I can't understand how is possible to drive in that mode, if I touch the brake pedal I am in fade always, if I don't touch it I am like a bomb into the mountain (cit Allen  )

[Rainier]

So not much fun here and am begining to think "is it worth it "  

Don't give up, Bernie !
It was just a non championship race (I will not write a fun race for you !) and I'm sure it will be better for season38 races.

By the way, I was astonished to see no Cooper on this race and only one BT7 (plus mine).
It seems the fastest drivers are not the bravest   

[maddog]

A long time since I have raced 65's, so happy with several  laptimes, but with many mistakes and broken parts inbetween.

Some better '65 corrections needed, and a '55 correction while I'm here.  The brake fade data used by the 55 F1's physics team, was hard to find.  It came from a GT similar to the photo above.  On a closed wheel car, air flow is less, brake fade is worse ( Merc brakes were water cooled).  Much persuation was needed to get better brake performance for our open wheeled 55's.  Also to kill the idea brakes would fail with prolonged abuse.  Some time and technique is needed to drive them fast.