UKPnG Season 1 - End of Season - Spa (2003) - Dec 1

[Clive Loynes]

Grats to the podium, both versions.

I was mugged at the start again.  You blokes don't mess about do you?!

Quietly chuffed at bringing the first Mk2 home, but I was having to fight to keep clear of Paulo in his shopping car, especially in the wet!

In the end I think he ran out of body parts to be flung in the sand.  Great fun.  

Don't bother with the rain dance for Le Mans Legzy.  I didn't think the rain was so sudden as I had spotted the dark clouds gathering on the lap before.

[Mark J]

painful reading what a good race everyone had  :'(

are there any Gulf GT40's allowed at Le Mans? i think it should be veto'd for balance reasons, as clearly several seconds a lap faster than anything else on track. I can slaughter my own laptimes compared to the normal Mk2.
Upto the powers that be naturally 

[Clive Loynes]

LOL  fat chance MJ.

I think one of the said powers has his bum in one of them. 

Anyway.  Spa doesn't have the Mulsane Straight where the MkII is kinda good!   

I'm no expert on GT40s but doesnt the MkI have a smaller engine?

[Mike Miller]

I had a cracker of a battle with Ian. What a great race. The wet conditions were a real treat and are much appreciated.

I wrung every ounce out of the vette in quali. The track was clearly faster in quali than practice. It appeared like the lines started to rubber in. Still, Ian was quite a bit quicker in his 427 Cobra.

At the start of the race, I was a bit nervous because the skies were blue. I had a setup that favored wet conditions so I thought I would have a tough time at the beginning. My expectations were correct. I lept off the line from 4th to 2nd by time we hit Eau Rouge, but had cold tires and brakes at the end of Camel so I went a bit wide. I went wide again at Le Comb and ended up around 6th or 8th. It took 2 laps for everything to warm up. I put my head down and set off after Ian. Fortunately, the L88 has a demon motor and was able to gobble up the 906's down the straights. 57GoldTop and I traded places a few times while Ian ran away.

When the rains came (surpised at the suddenness) my car came alive. 57GoldTop and I quickly caught up Ian who was obviously struggling with the wet. His car was setup for the dry where mine was set for wet. 57GoldTop had a moment and went off leaving me to battle Ian. As Ian said earlier, I easily went past, but didn't pull much of a gap. I backed off fearing to throw it away foolishly. Turns out, I needed to build a gap because the sun came out again. He and I both gave up a bit of time to traffic. He caught a Jag at an inoportune time and I stared face to face with a blue cobra pointing the wrong way at the start finish. In the end, the adversity didn't make a difference. He was clearly faster at the end of the race and pulled a 2 second gap giving him the Group3 win. I'll have more for you at Lemans with my aero advantage.

I am easily 3 seconds a lap faster in the GT40 Gulf vs the GT40 MkII at Lemans. The 5 speed gearbox, handling and brakes make up for the blistering pace of the MkII down the straights. Still, with the wet, everything changes.

[Mike Miller]

Oh.. Ian's pass at the Bus Stop was brilliant. I wasn't expecting it.

[pribeiro]

Superb fun and race.

Nice battle with Clive and Tim.
I was faster at all corners but lose time on the straights.
When began to rain, I was happy as I was doing almost the very same times as in the dry track.  
During the rain I was gaining time to all the V8s, but when I was fighting for Clive's position,
Bill (i believe) lost it and spun into the midle of the track, after an evasive move to avoid
the E-type, I spun also and hit the wall, even with a steering damage I've been able to finish.

The rain adds a more challenge driving, if GTR2 has this feature, why not use it more?
In real life it rains aswell. 

Congrats to podium and to all finishers.

Cheers

[mr_oily]

Brilliant fun...while it lasted. To be honest I felt like a liability from the moment I set wheel on the track but after shoving the brake bias back on the setup Manteos kindly shared, the Mk2 started to feel driveable for me. Got it down to a 42 in practice so was hopeful for qually but to cut a long story short, I did bad.  

Started 9th and had to chuckle as I blasted right through the middle of two Cobras or 906's (white ones!) with barely an inch to spare on either side, I was already preparing my excuse for the moderator's report when it became apparent I hadnt caused a pile-up, I'd made it through to Eau Rouge ahead! With silly amounts of grunt and no handling, I managed to go from 9th to 3rd by Les Combes, playing wingman briefly to the returning McWilliam - much to the frustration I imagine of the people behind  .

Pippo got past me pretty quickly and then it was a case of getting in Ian's way for a few laps while trying to keep it on the black stuff. He pulled a couple of lovely moves, one in particularity into La Source was nice and decisive while I did a crap job on the brakes.

Somehow managed to hold 4th until I made a completely stupid and unforced error dropping the front wheel of my boat onto the grass and losing shedloads of time. Met up with Mr. Robey at La Source, showed him my lovely line through Eau Rouge, sideways as promised and then whacked the barrier towards the end of the lap. As the rain came I was headed for repairs. Unfortunately my pit crew had other ideas and just refused to service me, anyone got any ideas there? Do I have to call them or something?

Anyway a brilliant finish for Ross and grats to the other podium people. Pretty gutted to finish early but loved the laps I did get and can't wait for the next PnG event to put it right.

I'm with GT on the practice for Le Mans thing - think I may have bitten off more than I can chew there...Tony, I'd like to swap to the Mini so i can at least maximise beer time on the Mulsanne  

[Legzy]

Thanks Legz. Sorry for any hassle caused.

Yup, no question you finished 2nd & result now corrected.
 

[ross.mcw]

Thanks Legzy - much appreciated and apologies again for having caused my own post race DQ - I really didn't know that would happen, but have learnt my lesson!

Anyhow, hurrah, look at me I'm great!    Although, to be fair the Gulf GT was insanely over competitive really, even in the wet.  Great first race back after my extended absence though.

How about a single make Gulf GT race at P&G Spa race in the dark in a full on rain storm?  Riders in the Storm playing in the background throughout would have to be a requirement for entry...

[pribeiro]

  Unfortunately my pit crew had other ideas and just refused to service me, anyone got any ideas there? Do I have to call them or something?

Indeed mate. In GTR2, we have to assign a key to let the pit crew know we are going to pits.
When we hit it, we hear the pit crew boss receiving our request and a bit later we hear his voice
telling that the pit crew is ready. 
I believe the key in menu is: 'pit request'. That add a bit more realistic feeling. 

[BillThomas]

Superb fun and race.

Bill (i believe) lost it and spun into the midle of the track, after an evasive move to avoid
the E-type, I spun also and hit the wall, even with a steering damage I've been able to finish.


Cheers

Sorry about that PR, I had difficulty in trying to gauge where to try and let you both through.  As I know I'm slow through Eau Rouge (?) I lifted and tried to move off line but the effect was to lose control and hit the wall and bounce back into your path.  Sorry again for that.

Had a bit of a battle with Laurie and Bully and was slowly drawing away when it started to rain.  Thanks Tibs for trying to keep out of my way and not interfer with my race but I found it distracting with you in my mirror. (Please don't take this as a criticism - I'd have done exactly the same in your position.)  The result was with the rain and loss of momentum my lead over the next car back was halved and I just couldn't get back into the "grove" and Bully passed me (he was always faster than me anyway) then I lost it as above and from there it just got worse - luckily I was the last on the track by then anyway.

Bill

[pribeiro]

Superb fun and race.

Bill (i believe) lost it and spun into the midle of the track, after an evasive move to avoid
the E-type, I spun also and hit the wall, even with a steering damage I've been able to finish.


Cheers

Sorry about that PR, I had difficulty in trying to gauge where to try and let you both through.  As I know I'm slow through Eau Rouge (?) I lifted and tried to move off line but the effect was to lose control and hit the wall and bounce back into your path.  Sorry again for that.
 

No problem Bill, was a race incident. 

[Wiltshire Tony]

  Unfortunately my pit crew had other ideas and just refused to service me, anyone got any ideas there? Do I have to call them or something?

Indeed mate. In GTR2, we have to assign a key to let the pit crew know we are going to pits.
When we hit it, we hear the pit crew boss receiving our request and a bit later we hear his voice
telling that the pit crew is ready. 
I believe the key in menu is: 'pit request'. That add a bit more realistic feeling. 

I don't know what exotic cigs you smoke Pribsy but I don't hear voices

I do get a ping noise when I press my Pit wakey wakey button and a little later a blue pit light appears on the dashboard. Best to iron this out before LM Oily. You may need the occasional pit stop to refresh your Banana Daiquiri.

[pribeiro]

  Unfortunately my pit crew had other ideas and just refused to service me, anyone got any ideas there? Do I have to call them or something?

Indeed mate. In GTR2, we have to assign a key to let the pit crew know we are going to pits.
When we hit it, we hear the pit crew boss receiving our request and a bit later we hear his voice
telling that the pit crew is ready. 
I believe the key in menu is: 'pit request'. That add a bit more realistic feeling. 

I don't know what exotic cigs you smoke Pribsy but I don't hear voices

I do get a ping noise when I press my Pit wakey wakey button and a little later a blue pit light appears on the dashboard. Best to iron this out before LM Oily. You may need the occasional pit stop to refresh your Banana Daiquiri.

  LOL ... I hear that pit boss voices at GTR2, not at P&G ... 
Damn William Lawson's ........... 

[Manteos]

I forgot to say something about the race, but it only takes 3 words to describe it: Shame on me!

P.S I hope not to have damaged Clive's race when my car was thrown into the middle of the track by the barriers

Cu at the next one