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

[will16v]

Strange race that one - never driven this track before tonight in GTL, and was expecting on hitting escape before the end of the race as a result of some disaster...but didn't do too badly, and started enjoying flying around Monaco in the Renault.
Got a good start i think, but there were definately some issues with cars flashing in and out of view on and after the first turn...
Had a couple of good battles with pops for a couple of laps, and S Drake (sorry for the tap - tried to wait to let you past again though).

Excellent turnout and  and welcome all new drivers - can't wait for next week...

[Mark J]

I thought that was a cracking race tonight, a brilliant track for these old classics, full of nostalgia and excellent racing battles.

Qualied 5th after beeing 4th almost the entire session, but my new nemesis Brian snatched 3rd from me with about 2 mins remaining. Knew a high qually spot was important here so still very pleased with 4th. Was amazed that a new PB for me of 1:51 was only good for 5th!
Got a reasonable start in the race and managed to avoid the spinning Alpine of Assas? at T1 up ahead as i rounded the corner, just squeezing between him and the armco..phew.
I think a rolling start here would have been even more chaotic at T1 as the cars would have carried more momentum into a spun car. Even in the real world T1 at Monaco is notorious.

Set about chasing after Pablo and had an amazingly tough fight with him ahead in 3rd, me 4th and Kerr behind in 5th for about 20 minutes / 10 laps or so, with only a second or two between us. I was sweating like anything with wrestling the F275 around the tight corners. I eventually closed right down on Pablo and he started to make some errors under pressure and then he cracked running wide at Ste Devote.
With 3rd under my belt and setting good lap times i was feeling confident but was keeping a close eye on the hard charging Kerr who wasnt giving me a moments rest for lap after lap. It was strenuous stuff  

With about 3-4 laps remaining i caught a back marker in the swimming pool complex (worst place ) and he got a little indecisive as me and Kerr bore down on him. I unfortunately clipped his rear into the tight corner and he half span blocking the track. So apologies to Madmacc? for that. I thought i would do the gentleman thing and let him turn back around rather than force my way through but Brian, being one of those dastardly Shark blighters, pushed around the outside and nicked my hard earned 3rd place.  :'(
I drove like a man possessed to chase him back down and closed right up but on the final lap i side-swiped the armco on worn tyres, lost momentum and he pulled out the 1second needed to stay nicely ahead.

Pleased with 4th but gutted i lost 3rd to traffic. So   but also  

Congrats to the podium guys...save me a sip of champers, i earnt it 

[Kerr]

It was not you baracas who blocked me. The 2nd place car must have had the the exact problem as you. It did end up too many cars fighting for places come the first corner and he either lost it or was taken not. I was too cautious and let a place or two go only to gain them back.     Great fun and i will be back for more.

[Kerr]

I never pushed round mark. It was the next driver, stevie holmes i think, came round and ran into the back of me sending me clear. Until then i was stuck behind the accident.

[Zacari]

No idea why people are worrying about seeing the lights off the start.  Am I the only one that gets a big '3..2..1..GO!' countdown on the secreen before the start

Result was better than I'd hoped for in the under-powered Healey, was getting eaten alive down the straights and I'm more than happy to get 2nd.  Start was bizarre but great for me, as I duly slotted through the gap left by the front row and scampered off into a nice empty T1 managed to keep the fezza at bay for 2 laps but I didn't get a good enough drive out of T1 on lap 3 and gave best to Baracus, not wanting to risk one or both of us going into the barriers unneccessarily.

After that brief brush with the lead, I settled into a steady rhythm in a clear 2nd- and had a pretty uneventful race after that right up until the flag   My tyres were pretty bad at the end, brake balance was too far back and kept locking my rears into many of the corners which was not the greatest!

Grats to Baracus, and Kerr for keeping TSJ top of the pile

[BACKO]

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.

 >:(Look my friend,never I use vehicle tags/labels and I wont be use them!!!I can't concentrate  for racing with them!!!Simple as that.I sow you from far away ,but I didn't expected you go about 100km/h almost in the middle of track ,where we used to go about 250 km/h straight behind tunel!!!!And I wanted pass you from left side,but you went also left, pls stop  writing words like ''don't drive like PRAT'' pls keep for you next time.Every race I'm trying race fair and I'm not joining in make accident wittingly!!!!THX

[Zacari]

Look, I saw that incident in practice and that explanation is.. not consistent with what was on my screen .  Bah I'll save my breath, nothing'll go in anyway.

[baracus250gt]

No idea why people are worrying about seeing the lights off the start.  Am I the only one that gets a big '3..2..1..GO!' countdown on the secreen before the start

Nah!! I switched that off in the PLR file - felt so arcadey with those numbers coming up on screen! I much prefer going when you see green, WHEN being the key word in this case :/

Feels more like karting that way (and 'real' racing I guess but I haven't done any of that)

[Zacari]

You're right, it is very arcadey but it's only for a few seconds and getting the start I did from it makes it a worthy compromise imo

[Mr.BMW]

Told you guys Bara would hit the 1:48ish mark lawl

You're a freak of nature!

[psuedo]

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.


 >:(Look my friend,never I use vehicle tags/labels and I wont be use them!!!I can't concentrate  for racing with them!!!Simple as that.I sow you from far away ,but I didn't expected you go about 100km/h almost in the middle of track ,where we used to go about 250 km/h straight behind tunel!!!!And I wanted pass you from left side,but you went also left, pls stop  writing words like ''don't drive like PRAT''    pls keep for you next time.Every race I'm trying race fair and I'm not joining in make accident wittingly!!!!THX

Well...just watched the replay..from lots of different perspectives...and I have got to support my teamie Backo....and not coz he's my teamie.

At the end of the day we all have different driving styles, (and there are no rules about having to have tabs/labels on)...some styles are aggressive, some passive and some everywhere else in between. Backo has done nothing more 'wrong' in this race than anybody else. Yet it seems he has been sinlged out for some critisism because of his 'reputation'.

Racing online as we do needs ALL the different styles/types of driver....if we were all of the same mentallity then nobody would even consider overtaking ..we all just sit there and say " no, after you"
If you watch the replay in detail, some of the 'experienced but maybe not quite as quick' drivers make worse errors and manouvers than Backo does.....they are not being slated!...IMHO Backo is being 'picked on' because he is fast and at times over aggressive due to having a competetive nature. Backo knows he has to kerb this...(he's had enough penalties) and is trying his best to change his normal driving style to fit in with the required 'norm'......what about the rest?  Should they not get as much pressure?
I only ask that before folk are 'condemed' to the reputation as a 'bad' or ' over aggressive' driver/member of the community that ALL people are treated equally.

[Kerr]

I Think dave was talking about qualifying and not the race. The quote that backo used from dave was during qualification. I have no idea what happened so cant comment.     There is no doubt that backo is very fast but has to cool down a bit. Most of the mistakes disappeared towards the end of last season and people highlighted this.     Like myself people know he is essentially a good driver with much to learn.  I really dont believe that anyone is out to get him or playing on his reputation.      For instance I choose not to make issue after being taken out on sunday night.  I could have but I did not because I have seen an improvement and for once recieved an apology.      Once backo develops better race craft and an understanding he will be a far better compeditor. The line between aggression and unfair is too easy to cross.

[psuedo]

Yes...totally agreed Brian...my main point is though that backo is not the only one doing what is considered 'wrong'....If you have the time to watch replays, and study the driving of all drivers, then backo is no better/worse than some others......why are they not being mentioned on the forums in public view like Backo is ?.... not through 'normal' complaint channels as we are supposed to do.

[Kerr]

I'm sure if you study every race there is loads of incidents that go unreported. That's generally because people are happy with an apology and know it was a rare incident, the person does not try to gain from incident, or at times you have to concede it was an accident.    I would say common sense can stop most accidents but the nature of racing there will always be a few.  Like you say though it should not be discussed on public boards but likewise it has to be highlighted that there are numerous drivers unhappy.

[psuedo]

Aye...I couldn't agree more. Lots of incidents do go unreported thats a fact. I myself should have been reported on numerous occasions but there again there has been numerous occasions I should have made a report and didn't....mainly because it was neither here nor there.....unfortunately though at the moment...it seems that if Backo turns up in the wrong colour socks he would get a mention and probably a report too. He has gained a reputation...and unfortunately he has to live with that....but I think we should all back off him a little and let him adjust his style as best he can.....giving him (or anybody else) a public 'flogging' wont do any good.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is....Give the lad a break He will probably become one of the best and most respected drivers in the league....given the chance