UKGPL Season 18 (2009) - Targa Florio - Fun Race - Oct 15

[Hristo Itchov]

Amazing 35 from Mike! I did just my first lap and stopped, but it was my 3rd ever lap on the track and a pb - 38 something. Had one off, two spins and numerous wall contacts, but nothing major. It's tiring driving so cautiously though. 

[EvilClive]

I agree that this is better as an occasional "fun" event, although I might have issues with the "fun" description.

I was masochistic enough ( or read stupid!) to continue on for a second lap despite promising myself that i was only going around once.

The 1st lap was reasonable with a couple of excursions onto the greenery and just a single shift R and a respectable ( for me) time. The second lap started well with green sectors coming up in prib showing I was faster, but after about half way I began to lose concentration ( and the will to live). It was about then that I noticed Ken Murray was closing from behind...but I thought he had started in front of me a lap earlier and I had passed no-one??!! . Fatigue, and the distraction of Ken, conspired to produce a nightmare second half of the lap with about 4 shift R's and countless contacts with the hard bits of the Italian countryside.

The view in my mirrors was created by Picasso I think, as it was indecipherable, and I only knew from prib that Ken was getting closer. I hope I did not hold him up and after I crossed the line Ken appeared a second or so later.

Grats to Mike on a stunning time and to all those who completed this trial.

[Al Heller]

Disastrous start - had only gone a few hundred yards before I chucked it off & needed a reset Took it a bit easier after that so lap 1 ended up being more steady than speedy. Took the gamble of fuelling it for 2 laps so started my second lap with warm tyres & perfect fuel load - was going much better this time but about a third of the way in went ever-so slightly wide across the grass & got stuck fast on an invisible part of scenery Reset took me back to cold tyres & 2 laps of fuel - nooo.

Took a lot of chances trying to make up for lost time after that. For some bizarre reason right in the middle of lap 2 my missus decided that I needed a nice cup of tea & despite me pointing out that there was no way I could possibly drink it, she plonked a steaming hot mug down next to my wheel! Spent the next 20 minutes watching that tea sloshing around as I wrestled with the wheel but did actually manage to guzzle it as I headed down the long straight which was rather nice - might take a thermos & a Kitkat along next time . After all that, was astonished to get into the 37's & beat my PB.

Congratulations to Mike for a superb run & to everyone who took on the challenge. Shame about Phil's problems - that was a very quick sector 1 time.

[Clutch4]

I actually quite enjoyed this.

Like some of the others i decided one lap would be enough. Things were going Ok but after the odd 3 point turn i had Ken breathing down my neck. I tried to stick with him after letting him through, but couln't and finally spun it.

I then made the classic Rally Drivers mistake of then pushing even harder to try and get my sector times down which led to more resets.

It was only my 3rd full lap of Targa, but for something different, i quite enjoyed it and think we should do it again sometime. I really like the fact that anyone, even the faster guys, can make an error and lose significant time so in theory it can be anyone's race. Limiting it to 1 lap next time would be best though. 2 Laps is too much.

Incidently, like Al having a cup of tea on the long straight, i managed to take a phone call, have a brief converstation and hang up whilst flooring it sown the straight. Next time i'm gonna put a brick on the throttle and get the washing up done. 

[MikeBeattie]

I suppose I've now done about 10 full laps of the Targa, I love long tracks and enjoy the challenge of learning them.

I had 3 silly up the bank excursions of Lap 1, and was about halfway round Lap 2 by the time Tim's first laps time came up and I realised he was only 30 odd secs in arrears, which put the pressure on.

Mind you I had already had a big mishap on the entry into Cerda on Lap 2. I had caught Fulvio, who , very graciously pulled aside so that I didn't have to even lift. Entering the town, I made a mistake at the 1st gear right amd ended up through the spectators and up a bank. I heard Fulvio pass, (he possibly didn't even know I was there) and reversed back onto the road and set up, now well fired up. Once again, as we approached the 1st hairpin about a mile or so out of town he let me by. I made another couple of spins later on, as I was really pressing on, and then as I got onto the straight for the run along the coast I realised I had less than a gallon of fuel left !! As I entered the final set of seaside esses, the car started to splutter and I made it over the line on fumes.  All in all I reckon there was another 20 + secs in that lap, but with the Targa, I reckon there is ALWAYS going to be a potentially faster lap

It's a great format to run and I hope we repeat it again. THE only UKGPL race with no chance of a J1 pile-up   (Sorry Jethro)

[bernie]

The view in my mirrors was created by Picasso I think

Is this gonna be a feature or did you have them fitted specially just for this one race 

[Burtoner]

Was out having a birthday meal

[MikeBeattie]

OK, don't keep us in suspense !!!


You are ??


21 + VAT + Import Duty + ?

[Turkey Machine]

THE only UKGPL race with no chance of a J1 pile-up   (Sorry Jethro)

Bastard.

[FullMetalGasket]

Now I've finally recovered from this I must say I really enjoyed it! 

Lap 1 was a bit hit and miss (mainly misses, but enough hits for a spin and 1 or 2 Shift R's) but wasn't a terrible time.
Not having had enough punishment, and having made a couple of silly mistakes I knew I could get right second time around I set off harder for lap 2, determined to catch Mike as I wasn't too far back.
I don't *think* I had to Shift R on the 2nd lap, but can't be sure. I know it wasn't clean as I bounced (lightly as luck would have it) off a few walls and fences throughout the lap.
As Mike says, I could have knocked probably another 10-20 seconds off my time had I not made so many mistakes aswell - but Targa is such a huge course that's nigh-on impossible 
Cheers to everyone I caught - you all let me by in plenty of time. I couldn't have asked for more given the nature of the road. Phil needn't have thrown himself into the ravine as he heard me approaching though 

Amazed I was only 15 seconds off Mike come the end of lap 2 - any idea how I can import my lap time into GPLRank? I think I'm good for about 6th/7th from when I looked but havn't managed to upload it yet 

[Al Heller]

any idea how I can import my lap time into GPLRank? I think I'm good for about 6th/7th from when I looked but havn't managed to upload it yet 

Not sure how everyone else does it Tim but I just open GPLRA, press the PB viewer button, select (in this case) my 65 driver name & 65 mod, hit refresh & then hit the "upload laptimes to GPLRANK button".

[FullMetalGasket]

Think I tried that and it didn't work Al 

[Al Heller]

Hmm. I had something similar after installing an updated GPLShift.. there were a few replays that were fine when viewed in GPLRA or GPL but just would not register after refreshing the PB button. Perhaps try adding someone else's replay of your lap & see if that gets recognised? I have a copy of it from my client replay that I can send to you.

[FullMetalGasket]

Thanks for that replay file Al - didn't work either, I think there's a bug with my GPLRA...

Luckily I found where the 65 mod hides your PB's and uploaded that - I'm actually 4th! 

Wonder how long I'll stay there 

[vosblod]

any idea how I can import my lap time into GPLRank? I think I'm good for about 6th/7th from when I looked but havn't managed to upload it yet 

Not sure how everyone else does it Tim but I just open GPLRA, press the PB viewer button, select (in this case) my 65 driver name & 65 mod, hit refresh & then hit the "upload laptimes to GPLRANK button".

Never used GPLRA to upload. I go into GPL Rank and just upload the player.ini for the particular mod, always worked for me. I always save a replay if I get a PB online as I heard it won't register otherwise, although somebody did say that's an old wives tale.

WD on being 4th...