UKGPL Season 17 (2009) Novices Trophy - Monza (GP 1955-71) - Jul 7

[BookieW]

I can't believe we are almost done with this season.  Thanks guys for a great time.  I'd like to leave the Honda and move to the Ferrari for the next session. 

As for tracks, I like the idea of 6 or so original tracks, (Nurburgring, Kyalami, Spa, Rouen, Watkins Glen, and Silverstone.  4 others TBD by management.

[vosblod]

I'd like to leave the Honda and move to the Ferrari for the next session. 

SHE won't be pleased 

[Hristo Itchov]

I can't believe we are almost done with this season.  Thanks guys for a great time.  I'd like to leave the Honda and move to the Ferrari for the next session. 

As for tracks, I like the idea of 6 or so original tracks, (Nurburgring, Kyalami, Spa, Rouen, Watkins Glen, and Silverstone.  4 others TBD by management.

Well, SHE will not be pleased indeed, but seriously, thanks for driving for Hiki Waza, Bookie. I don't think there is an all Ferrari team out there, so perhaps you could start one. More teams = more fun. Although I cherish my time back when Soggies ruled the world, I'm glad the days of their domination (by having every 2nd driver on their side) are over. 

[miner2049er]

I don't think there is an all Ferrari team out there, so perhaps you could start one. More teams = more fun.

Perhaps Norbert would join you in such a venture.

[happyal]

Hello,

Just got back from holiday, not done a single lap in GPL for a good few weeks, but looking forward to Monza tonight, I'll be at the back trying to stay out of the way Good luck to Mike and Clutch it's been a good clean season long fight.

I'd like a BRM next season if possible, failing that I'd like a Lotus, of course in the Novice series.

As for the tracks, I'll race on anything, I like some of the tracks, but if people are finding them boring I'll try something else. My vote for the ones that stay are Monza, Spa and Mexico.

[NickyIckx]

 
BEST OF LUCK TO MIKE & CLUTCH !!!! 
 

[Jack O'Ferrall]

Note that this will be a 23 lap race, rather than the 21 it was last year.  With the 65 patch a GP at Monza becomes 76 laps, the proper distance, rather than the less impressive 68 that seems enough for the 67 chaps.

Please be extra careful of the Curva Grande on L1, Monza is so much more fun when all drivers have got past the first lap and the race can settle down.

[il_lupo_mannaro]

no changes for me next season: Ferrari & Novices

As it's storming here in real Monza tonight, I cannot held an after race party in my garden

[bernie]

no changes for me next season: Ferrari & Novices

As it's storming here in real Monza tonight, I cannot held an after race party in my garden

Enjoy the english style weather , hope you dont get too much water in the campari .

 

[JamesRye]

 

Best race.....ever.

Qualified on pole and then got a terrible start, down to P3. Picked off P2 (Hellier?) by the end of the lap and proceeded to hassle RUK65. Ran wide in his slipstream and spun before the lesbos, smashing into the wall and facing the wrong way. Took a terrible chance with a revvy donught to get back in a straight line having let a stream of cars go by.

Didn't take anyone out....phew! Slid off again and collided with the hedge at the end of the main straight...more cars whizz by . But this car was tough and I still had no damage   At this point, I was ready to quit, but carried on and vowed to get a result (after all it was the last race).

From P12, I passed people everywhere (thanks to my strong engine). The slipstream meant that people often had a chance to re-pass me and I had some fun battles. Suddenly found myself in P3! and Maestro was in front of me.

We had a mother of a dice, lap after lap, wheel to wheel action, passing and re-passing just about everywhere. Sadly we had a coming together, which was a real shame because I rear ended Nicky in the last race and I was trying sooo hard to keep it clean. I just couldn't avoid contact and I was gutted for Maestro because it was anyones race that one. Anyway I've watched the replay and I think that it was just a racing incident. Into the last corner Maestro passed me on the inside but ran wide into my path and that was that. Anyway I guess we will see what the moderator thinks. Still cheers mate for the closest racing action that I have had to date.

WD CLUTCH......a worthy champ  

Should I stay for another season in Novices or go to Amateurs next time? I dont mind.

Jim

[Clutch4]

Monza - Great Track and with the 65 Patch & slipstream effect was bound to make for some close racing.

Checked last years lap times and knew before the race that the BT11 would struggle for pace as its more of a mid-field car (so i've been told). This was of particular concern as my Championship rival, Mike James, was in a Lotus and had blasted round another power circuit, Silverstone, with ease to put the Championship on a knife edge.

In qualifying the usual suspects filed into the first few rows. Mike managed to put in a decent lap to be along side my 5th place (If memory serves me?? - ain't seen the replay yet).

The first few laps of the race were a blurr. I saw Ickx coming flying past into the Lesmo's on Lap 1 - he could have them for all i cared.. i was just looking for Mike.
I wasn't sure where Mike was, but just tried to put in consistant laps, but made an error at Lesmo 1 by hitting the barrier which let a few people past. I saw Mike behind me on Priblude so knew i couldn't afford one more slip up.
The only thing i really remember from the race was my best GPL battle ever with Locano. For about 10 laps we battled, changing position once or twice a lap and constantly slip streaming each other. We were very close to each other but drove with respect. It was fantastic and i thank him for that.
At one point we were running 2nd and 3rd and catching Al Heller in the lead due to our lap times being quicker thanks to constant slip streaming. However, it all came to an end at Lesmo 2. Locano's car started warping badly and i couldn't work out where he was. I'm not sure if i hit him from behind or what as i haven't seen the replay, but we collided for which i am sorry (thought unsure who's fault it was). After continuing for another lap, i thought i'd better take a stop and go to be safe, even though i didn't reset. The constant slip streaming also hadn't done my engine any good i'm sure as i was really over revving it and was mindful of an engine blow out, as i'd had one in practice.
I came out in 4th (i think) and ended up battling with Maestro for what turned out to be a 3rd place finish ( i think).

Anyway, from what i'm told Mike had to disconnect or had an accident?? so apparently i've made it (Pending Moderators report (Ppppplease!!)  - Championship winner. 

Its been a great season with different winners, podiums and good close racing for the most part. At some circuits the top 10 have been within a second or less of each other in qualifying which proves that the Novices has been very competative rather than the previous season where one person was obviously quicker than the rest. There has also been Full Grids for the most part which has made for entertaining racing throughout the field.
In the latter part of the season there has been less First Corner incidents too so we must be improving.

Thanks to all those who wished me congratulations. Its appreciated (providing i've actually won). Part of the reason why i like GPL, and UKGPL is the attitude of those involved. Everyone conducts themselves in a fair, honest and Gentlemany (? Is that a word?) fashion. Its great to race amongst people who behave in a fair way on the track. Would you get that on the Playstation or XBox? I doubt it.

Thanks to Jack for his moderating this season - what a job he's had. Spa, Kyalami, Mosport.. i'm surprised the blokes got any sleep wading through that lot. Its much appreciated.

Next season, i'd actually like to stay in the Novices, not because i think i'd win (I don't), but because of the close racing and full grids. The main reason however, is that i would like to race in the same division as my Team Mate NHance so we can have another crack at the Constructors Championship with Mountside Racing. If granted permision, we would both like to Race in Honda's next season, creating a 2 man Honda Team. The Honda isn't regarded as a fast car, and with that tricky '6th' gear, i doubt i'd be dominating or having a strong season. If its deemed by the moderators mid season that i should move up, then i will, but i'm confident next seasons performances in a Honda will not be as strong as this season (not that i've really run away with it this year).

Thanks to all the staff at UKGPL. Keep on with the hard work - i love this club.

Cheers
Clutch.

(PS, next season, we've got to Keep Monza and Spa)

[vosblod]

What a fantastic race for me - not because of my result (although I'm not complaining about 6th against the opposition tonight) - just for the sheer fun of the racing that went on. 23 laps just flew by...

Big congratulations to Clutch for taking the championship, and grats to team-mate Al H for his win, and grats to our team captain John R for his championship in the Am's and, finally, grats to our Clark-Hill team for the team championship. Our Gundy will be dishing out great big palfreys 

Anyway onto the race. Quallied 11th - a tad below my PB but you guys were fast out there so no complaints. Good start and eventually worked up to 6th. Someone span in front and I couldn't avoid a hit (no fault Sh/R  ), race thing in my book. Anyway after that down to 8th (I think), then spent a large chunk of the race just behind an epic battle between Rog and Nicky. Much later, after Nicky had a wobbly, I found myself in 6th on the last lap. Cardiac arrest time when a car rejoined as I was negotiating Para on the last lap - no harm done and I just squeezed into 6th a nano-second in front of Nicky.
Hence a great race for the fun factor.

A brief Season synopsis;
Well two seasons are behind me now. The first season was a case of Mr Backmarker and a steep learning curve (not sure it was the greatest idea to race online after two weeks of GPL but it did put hairs on my chest  ).
This season I'm really pleased with my progress. Some decent results and slowly getting there. I would like to thank a few people who have really helped me progress (is this an Oscar speech??) ; John R, Geoff H, Al Heller (my nemesis for next season  ), all my team-mates and my friend Bill (Billy Nobrakes) who keeps me on my toes. Glad he got the GPL bug too.

I'm not going to say thanks to the moderators as I'm one of them but I would say Dave and Mike have done a sterling job in making the 65's so good, a lot of work and time goes on behind the scenes I can tell you...

See you all next season - I hope I see you at the summer fun races too 

[Mark65]

I have to say that was a blast... while it lasted. Had some great action in qualifying/practice mixing it up with Vos.. In only my 2nd official UKGPL start I managed to put the car 12th on the grid and was determined to do a clean 1st lap. Came off the start fine, even managed to gain a couple positions and on lap 3 was rear-ended into oblivion going into parabolica. Hit shift-r and my screen started the flicker of death. My connection seemed sketchy on and off through practice, with the lap times sometimes showing up as little black boxes?? but I thought I'd make it through the race. Hopefully I'll get my connection issues resolved in time for next season, as I really have enjoyed the short time I've spent here. I'd like to say thanks to everyone here for making me feel welcome in my first few weeks - especially Geoff, Mike, Al, Jack, and last but certainly not least Billy Nobrakes.. After the debacle at Silverstone and now Monza, there's no where to go but up... right??  

Mark

[JamesRye]

I'd also like to thank the moderators whom I think got the descision right in all cases this year. It must be a tough call for them in many cases.

Part of the enjoyment of motorsport is the 50/50 overtakes and the crashes, so we expect some contact but I like how everyone tries to keep it fair at UKGPL. I think everyone feels bad when they have a whoopsie 

Jim

[miner2049er]

Well, I took the title down to the wire which at the start of the season is more than I could have hoped for in my first full season, and by my own admission I am generally not the fastest guy out there.

I have enjoyed the season long points battle with Clutch (and a few others) even though we haven't been wheel to wheel all that much, briefly at Imola where I got warped off and a chase at Silverstone but along the way I have had some great battles with others. Chasing Nicky at Albi, catching Ryeman at Kyalami, catching Maestro at Mexico, holding off Nicky at Rouen all spring to mind.

It has been a fun season and one I have enjoyed clean battles in personally.

Last night I finally qualified 7th with 37.8, my PB being a 37.65 so I wasn't too disappointed despite seeing Ryeman's 36.9 (it's off to Amaterus for you my lad) and off the line I got a better start than Nicky in front of me but had nowhere to go really so I lifted all the way to CG and kept it clean, thanks to whoever was behind me for not having a punt at me through there. Through the Lesmos I got a screen freeze just as I exited lesmo 2 and that was a sign of things to come. I arrived at Para with 3 cars in front all battling and my frame rate dropped right down and froze again so I just hit the brakes and hoped for the best but I went off. I followed somebody through Lesmos and again it went choppy though a couple of times I did pull off overtakes into Lesmo 1 but it was risky stuff.

Down around 8th I was caught by a flying Ryeman and lifted slightly as he passed me on the run to Lesmo 1 and intended to use him to drag me back towards the front which worked for a couple of laps but when we caught Nicky and a struggling RogUK the approach to Parabolica again froze and I went off, almost taking Nicky with me I think. In all I went off 4 or 5 times at Parabolica, twice while battling for position and I was risking taking somebody off with me every time I did it so with the title gone and second in the table secured I just retired.

What's annoying is that I have never had an issue like that with GPL before and I was connected to the server sat right next to me so it must have been an issue with my PC. Usually on my first lap at Monza I get a stutter through Lesmo 2 and occasionally a small one on some laps but last night it was ridiculous. Having said that, I was never going to get the result I needed as there were much faster drivers out there than me, Clutch included and he is worthy of his championship.

Next season I have not decided where to race yet but I will probably switch chassis to the BRM, perhaps moving up into Amateurs as I have never raced Pro rules before and there is often a shortage of numbers up there and I hope between now and then we recruit some more new novices and keep 2 full grids though my preference would be 3 grids if we have sufficient regular drivers.

Now begins the job of chassis allocation for Season 18, and like giving your aunt with the moustache a christmas kiss, it's not something you look forward to and you're glad when it's over for another year.