UKGTR Season 7 Lower Endurance - Silverstone (GP) - Jan 20

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

It would be nice if the System Administrator  could implement an extra table somewhere or extra column so people can see the voluntary ballasts that others are taking. Not so important this week with everyone working out where they are and what ballast they should take in general, but in future it might be a good idea to be able to see what ballasts people are taking to make better calls on what to take yourself.

Once the ballast file is generated you'll be able to see, but that won't happen until just before the race.

What we don't want is any brinkmanship with the ballasts. In fact, given the whinging we've already had the last thing I want is a "you changed your ballast just before the race" argument after every event!

[Jimmie]

Found a sign to use next to the Legends pit garage...
Stop image

 

[Mark J]

just a quick confirmation please, is the track (The rF track conversion)the same as we used last season? or do i need to re-download it?

Hope i can make tonight but not sure yet.

[Truetom]

I'm taking 20 kg. Just to rub the salt in... 

TT

[Jeffrey]

Those Legends probably take the weight so they can blame that for finishing at the back. So they can complain after the race that Team Shark should have taken weight and bladiebladieblaaaaa....

Wine, official sponsor of Legends Racing...

[Zacari]

I can guarantee now I wont be taking voluntary ballast, at least for the first couple of races.  After that I might but only if I'm not getting any good battles on the track, and assuming more weight wont kill the tyre or fuel usage.

There does come a point where more weight kills the fun factor more than not being able to directly race people; it was getting like that with the Lister in S6, and I think JR and other aliens have been beyond that point for a while, so I don't blame them at all for not instantly chucking on tons of ballast.

[Jeffrey]

I might join a bit later (5-10 min.), could that mean the server will be full?

[popabawa]

My understanding was that it was intended to be a personal ballast, i.e. independent of car choice, that's why I think we've been surprised by some of the unwillingness to take ballast.

Looks like most have taken a different interpretation so we'll have to take that into consideration.

[Jeffrey]

How many of you whiners have driven with ballast last season? Well....? Especially 40 or more kg....none! So those people have NOTHING to complain that others now don't take ballast.

[popabawa]

I've re-read my post and really can't see how you can be accuse me of whining Jeff, it was a simple attempt to try to explain a point of view and what had prompted some of the previous posts.

I'm quite disappointed you can't discuss this issue without resorting to making comments like that.

[DynoDaz]

Personally Jeff I don't care if you take ballast or not, you would win anyway.  I also find your comments insulting.  

Ability based ballast (personal ballast) was discussed at length before season 7.  At the time the majority agreed it would be beneficial for the league.  At no point was there strong opposition against it.

This is why myself and others have been surprised by the sudden lack of support for it now that the season is officially here.

I'm sticking to 20KG of personal ballast, and no you WON'T find me using it as an excuse no matter how badly I do.

At least I can say I've done my bit for the league by helping the 2 drivers that are slower than me.  

P.S. don't forget to wave when you lap me.  

[Jeffrey]

This is why myself and others have been surprised by the sudden lack of support for it now that the season is officially here.

Because I've experienced how it is to drive with a very heavy car, you haven't. Why don't you try 50kg or more, then we can talk about how great weight is.

And to give it short, I don't want to race with you by giving me ballast. I want to fight with the guys of the same pace. That have been the best races for me, battling with a group of about 5 who can all do same laptimes, without having to add ballast.

[Madd-RIP]

I think you may find that both myself and SBG had the full 60kgs at the tail end of the GT3 season due to both of our successes, and no, we didn't whine.
and further to the discussion I have added 20kgs for my car for appraisal purposes and due to the fact that both SBG and myself still were competitive (just) with the weights, so I've decided to throw my cards on the table and see how I fare.

[Zacari]

Looks like most have taken a different interpretation so we'll have to take that into consideration.

This reads as a slightly sarcastic statement in my eyes, designed to guilt people who are fast into taking ballast when it's entirely voluntary to do so, and in doing so sounds like a whine.

Voluntary ballast is exactly that, voluntary.  Nobody has any scope for demanding someone have lots of ballast with this system.  Christ we never had this issue in the seasons before we had any ballast, maybe just eliminating the entire ballasting system would be the way to go?  That way people will just have to get used to competing with people of a similar ability to themselvs.

I also don't really understand why you care if JR runs with lots or zero ballast, anyway.  As long as you're having close racing that's all that matters, isn't it?

[Paul968]

OK, as someone who carried a lot of ballast last season, I'll stick up for Pops and the others. I'd like to see all the fast drivers taking some ballast, although allowing for car choice. If they don't then the whole system effectively breaks down, or at least, it will be nothing like last season.

It all depends how you see the new system. If you expect it to be a refined version of last season's system then it sort of assumes everyone will take ballast roughly in line with Darren's table (although it is up to the individual to choose the exact amount). At the moment I don't see things working out like this. The new system is more likely to see a few generous individuals take extra ballast to slow them down and let them race mid-pack, but there won't be many doing this IMO.