UKGTL Season 3 GT Classics Cup - Monaco (1979) - Aug 23

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

My current best time is... er... haven't even installed the track yet.

[Flash]

Bill, I think it depends also on what you're driving - there's quite a power difference between the A110 and the others and that's a flippin big hill at the start of the lap!!

My initial times in the A110 were 2:07 and I'm now 10 secs under that 

[Flash]

I think this had potential to be a good race.

I wasn't too displeased with the fact that I didn't get a clean quali lap in, cos even though I was 3 secs slower than my PB, the next place up was below my PB, so I was prob in the right place 

After the start instead of giving the guys in front some space, like I was trying to do as it was so packed, people were trying to force their way through all the way to the tunnel - no patience spotted!

I thought I'd just give the guys in front some space and things would slowly spread out and then we could get in some good racing. But it seemed everyone wanted to get to the front on lap 1.

Admittedly, there were some problems with cars after the start, seemingly appearing out of thin air - lag, maybe? I dunno but I did hit 2 cars at the start who appeared like out of a magicians hat directly before T1.

Anyway - out on lap 1 again. And rather disappointed.

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

After the start instead of giving the guys in front some space, like I was trying to do as it was so packed, people were trying to force their way through all the way to the tunnel - no patience spotted!

I thought I'd just give the guys in front some space and things would slowly spread out and then we could get in some good racing. But it seemed everyone wanted to get to the front on lap 1.

Yep. I'm sure it's not coincidence that Shark scheduled this popular but utterly devoid of any good features for actually racing venue for when he was on holiday.

Nearly didn't bother as I traditionally hate Monaco. In practice the car felt terrible, but during qualifying it started to come to me and I was really starting to enjoy it. Got way higher up the grid than I expected (probably some old GPL knowledge returning) and started very conservatively, as did about 50% of the field. Unfortunately the other 50% bumped and barged their way through the first couple of laps and it was distracting enough that I started clipping walls. The cat got worse and worse and after a big hit into the armco I looked at the time, and decided I would enjoy watching Blood Ties a lot more than driving Monarmco so I quit.

Good to see a big field.

Respect to PRibeiro for taking the 300SL, and for letting me back past during the race - I really didn't think you'd done anything to justify that.

Thanks to newcomer Alex for changing out of the Team Shark Junior car immediately on request. I don't think you actually got a full qualifying lap in but I hope you had a better race than me.

Backo - please make sure you turn vehicle tags/labels on during practice and qually. You drove into me and another car and probably couldn't see us but you already have a bad reputation and there's no need to make it worse like that.

[John Kingham]

D'oh!  Crashed out again about 3 laps from the end   .  To be honest I was just praying for the flag as the Ferrari's tyres seemed to have gone AWOL and I was running on the rims at the end.  The last 10 laps or so I was a sitting target for the guys behind  and it's so depressing seeing a glorious 7th place slip down to 9th or 10 or whatever it when I splattered into the armco  .

Goodwood next, both virtually and in reality too 

[ASSASSINO]

i was puted away on t1, went right back to the end, then the nightmare started since no one made it easy to pass glad i dindn´t touch anyone seriously, after spinned 3 times managed to grab a 7th place, some nice atempts to pass some drivers, hope to see it on replay and on vid

In the end, bad race i planned a podium.

Once more the qualy times get slower than the practicing times.

[pribeiro]

Respect to PRibeiro for taking the 300SL, and for letting me back past during the race - I really didn't think you'd done anything to justify that.

Thank you Dave  
Well, honestly when i passed you at the pool (you run a bit wide there), i got the feel that
under my full throtle, i could forced you to lift throtle to avoid hitting the wall and therefore
you not be able to discuss the place, so, after half a lap thinking about that, i had let you pass me  

Start was a bit odd with some cars disapearing and returning to track.....so it was strange some ppl
trying hard to take a position at first lap (i even was pushed in a midlle of a corner like GT4 way, driver
used my car to turn better)   and after that i tried to be more careful wich cost me a couple of places,
to avoid some over exciting lads.  
But in a general way i liked the race and my final 9th place.
Good win Baracus.  

Cheers

[psuedo]

The start from where I was (11th I think) was a total shambles.  Barging and trying to win a race on the first lap just doesn't work....a little more awareness is required to enable us to keep the excellent standing start scenario....but new folks will not be very impressed if they keep getting barged out of the race in the first couple of corners IMO.

Other than that....the race went......TERRIBLE  :'( for me.

Settled into about 10th after the start and held place reasonably well...under pressure from pRibrero I think it was made me look in the mirror at the wrong time and BUMP....busted suspension.
Pitted and got repaired then got a speeding in pit lane  . That was two laps down on the top 5 or 6 by then. I stayed with it though...enough may have crashed to warrant a decent spot.  

I'm looking forward to a WIDE track next week.

Congrats to winner and podium

[Alex vV]

Thanks to newcomer Alex for changing out of the Team Shark Junior car immediately on request. I don't think you actually got a full qualifying lap in but I hope you had a better race than me.

Thanks for letting me participate. Finished 17th I believe, and reached my goals as a newbie: finished (yeeaahh!) and did not barge into other cars  . If I got in someone's way, feel free to let me know...

A big thanks for the guys in the back which did not quit. It made my 'race' at the back worthwhile.. Oh and big cheer for the guy with the Ferrari at the back (sorry, don't remember your name).. he had a really hard time !!! ( I was too chicken to pick the Ferrari at Monaco).

[pribeiro]

BTW, excellent behavior from the guys who were loosing a lap,
everyone i caught, simply made easy overtook manouvre,
in a track like Monaco, it helped a lot, cheers guys

And to the new lads: when we pass you and flash the headlights, we are just thanking you
as we cant type during race, thats the way to say THANKS

[pribeiro]

Settled into about 10th after the start and held place reasonably well...under pressure from pRibrero I think it was made me look in the mirror at the wrong time and BUMP....busted suspension.

And you were doing great Psuedo, nice driving while i followed you 

[Kerr]

Had a right good race! Made a great start only for the car ahead to forget to go by the looks of things causing me to loose a few places.  spent the whole race chasing mark jonzo and it was very close lap times, just he was quicker with the ferrari on the straights and made it impossible for me to get past. Eventually there was a small coming together and iwas stuck behind the accident. The next driver came round the bend and accidently ran into the back of me and it set me free. Mark was soon back on my tail returning the pressure and it was fun. Well pleased with 3rd

[Madd-RIP]

  Managed to sneak  a spot at the start but the got squeezed into the inside barrier with assassino in front, neither of us could really move so I just had to wait and rejoined in 20th, eventually got back up to 8th but tyres were totally gone and assassino gave me a hard time and passed me, also had a fight with John Kingham, Gizmo and Backo so at least I was kept busy !
I'll have to check the replay to make sure I didn't cause any probs though...its all a bit of a blur atm!  

[picnic]

Results imported, get your replays here

[baracus250gt]

Had a right good race! Made a great start only for the car ahead to forget to go by the looks of things causing me to loose a few places. 

Sorry if that was me Brian!! Starting on pole is a distinct DISadvantage on this track because I couldnt see the start lights!! I had to wait until I saw cars move in my mirror before I dropped the clutch!!

Zacari got past and we had a great dice for 3 laps - tucked right up over his bumper. Going into T1 on the 3rd (or 4th?) lap he must have left his braking a fraction too late and went wide into the barrier, so then I used my V12 power to out-drag him up the hill

Had a messy few laps after this looking in the mirror too much, but sorted myself out and started driving more relaxed and flowing, which felt really good in this car. Still had many barrier scraps through the race bit nothing that didnt keep me going forward - except on penultimate lap into Rascase I braked wrong and went straight on into the barrier! Lucky my engine was OK and I did a clean last lap with max concentration so as to not throw the win away!

I love Monaco - I think you can overtake fine, but you gotta pressure the guy infront into a mistake and take it with both hands.

Thanks to all lapped traffic - as PR said, all made nice gaps so passing was not a worry at all.