UKPnG S1 - Fun Race - Donington Park (National) - Dec 15

[Paul968]

Really good fun tonight chasing Mike in his supertanker Jag. Never quite got a good lap in qual (had a 26.7 on race fuel in the practice session) but luckily pipped Ade by a thousandth   to get pole. This was all rather academic though when Mike blasted past into T1. He then proceeded to frustrate me for the following 26 laps, putting his car exactly where I needed it not to be to get a decent run for a pass - great driving  . I was quicker right from the start but could not make it count as every passing place had a long straight just after, where he just cruised back in front. As we got near the end I had a good chance out of mcleans, but I got it sideways and had to take to the grass, letting Ade through (who had been stalking us from a distance for the whole race). By then the rear tyres were making the handling 'interesting', but once I settled down I got back to Ade and managed a pass on the inside into Mcleans. I even had a chance on the last lap to get past Mike as a backmarker forced him offline a bit, but he had a big slide mid corner at the old hairpin and I had to back off completely to avoid a spin, so I finished 2nd. Grats to Mike for controlling the evil Jag so well, and to Ade for a good 3rd.  

I enjoyed the race a lot for the intensity, but the novelty would soon wear off I think. For the odd race it is OK, but I don't think it works that well when the cars are so mismatched on power (the jag has nearly 3 times the power of the abarth and significantly more than 2 times the power off all the others but is less than twice the weight). Over a lap there is not much in it, but in a race the power difference is so great that any straight nullifies the slower cars advantage, and the jag can then 'park' in the middle of the corner to prevent the lighter car from using its extra grip.  

The only cars I would want to drive from this bunch are the abarths and the cortina. Personally I feel that PnG is at its best with the more powerful cars, although PnG 3 when it arrives may change that. Most of the cars understeer too much - I've watched Minis racing and they seem a lot more tail happy than the ones we use. Hats off to Ade btw for getting the Mini into the 26s - no idea how you do it!

[Eddie Meyer]

I was able to avoid the pileups in the first couple of turns and was around 12th in lap 2 when I had to give up due to suspension problems. Reason for this was that the anti-virus software decided to update and PnG went to the task bar in the middle of Coppice Corner. 
I went straight into the tire wall. When I had killed the update and came back to the race the car was a smoking pile. I decide to watch the race but hat a ctd and that was it.
But I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 or 3 minutes I had in this race 

[Legzy]

I can't tell you how pleased I am to see three different cars in the Top 3 & then positions 4 to 6 are all rotated too! I'm gutted though, because I should have been 6th with my Alpine, which could have demonstrated even more the balance of these cars. I somehow stupidly span myself to the inside of McLeans & lost about 14 seconds recovering, which let the fighting Dan & Jose through.
I was able to catch them fairly quickly & even got past one of them a couple of times... but hadn't managed to stay in-front. Was a shame that I got a bit tangled going through the hairpin before the S/F straight to start the last lap, as the three of us could have traded a lot more paint on that lap
Had a good 1st half to the race also, as I tried hanging onto Tibs & the front runners.

That little Alpine has very good brakes & needs to can carry some serious speed through corners! I would be more then happy to drive that 'bad boy' again against the cars in this line up.


I would be interested in one of the faster drivers, trying out the "Healey MK1" here for me please? I reckon that it should also fit into this group quite well, should certainly compete with Abarth?

p.s. Well done to Mike for managing to join us at the last minute & Eddie for making his return. Finally a big thanks to PR for taking the Ford Cortina out & a big well done to GoldTop for finding good pace in the lesser Mini.

[BillThomas]

I was able to avoid the pileups in the first couple of turns and was around 12th in lap 2 when I had to give up due to suspension problems. Reason for this was that the anti-virus software decided to update and PnG went to the task bar in the middle of Coppice Corner. 
I went straight into the tire wall. When I had killed the update and came back to the race the car was a smoking pile. I decide to watch the race but hat a ctd and that was it.
But I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 or 3 minutes I had in this race 

I know what you mean - I use to have that problem.  Found I'd curred it when I upgraded to a multi cpu processor.

Bill

[Tim Robey]

I was planning on taking the Alpine last night, but I got a CTD everytime I tried to join, so went back to the Abarf.

I got a great start & made up a few places, but PR gave me a little tap at the old hairpin just as I was turning in, thanks for waiting mate! 

At the chicane Bill gave me a real scare he appeared from nowhere and I turned into him sending him into a Mini. Sorry Bill wasn't expecting that! 

After that I had a few laps racing PR, eventually passed after he had a little wobble coming out of the old hairpin, and then tried to reel in Goldtop, without any success. I got within a couple of secs after I got into 1:29's mid race but I got sloppy and soon fell back.

I enjoyed the race, and thought the cars were well matched. I've not driven these cars for ages, they definately reward consistent & smooth driving. Lets keep these cars for the odd race or two, on short twisty tracks.

[Mike Miller]

A group of guys have begun testing at Race 2 Play for the next season. The MkI Healy and others are being tested at Crystal Palace along with the big beasts at Riverside. I haven't done much testing yet, but many others have. You can review the Healy results there. The slower car results start appearing on page 4. http://www.nasasimracing.com/homepage/show_posts/15098

[Mike Miller]

It was a bit of a hectic night for me. I snuck in at the last minute to put in 1 good quali lap out of 3 flying attempts to get me 3rd on the grid. I appologize for the chat during quali when I came. I didn't realize how late it was. Like Paul said earlier, this grid spot was good enough for me to use the RWD launch get off the line in front of Ade and I had enough juice to pip Paul into T1. He fought pretty hard the first few turns knowing it would be a struggle if I got in front. Once I got past the first few turns, all I had to do was hit my marks and victory would be likely. Paul described the race perfectly. The Jag had just enough pace and more than enough power to keep the ankle biter cars at bay. He is right using the term 'parking' it in the turns and then shooting away on the straights.

Originally, I was planning to use the Mini, but looking at the track layout and power differences, I went out in the Jag first to set a baseline and to see what my competition might be driving. I think Paul was out there with me that 1st practice session. He in the Abarth and me in the Jag. When I saw the difference in straight line speed I knew the Jag was the car to beat here. I proceeded to work on a setup that allowed me to carry more corner speed and get my laptimes within striking distance of his. From there, the power of the Jag would help me get past on the long straight if the opportunity presents itself or prevent a smaller car from getting past. It was tougher to pass the smaller cars than I originally expected, but nontheless, it was possible. It wasn't really possible for the small cars to get past the Jag unless a big mistake was made. This is why I chose the Jag for this course. On a short twisty course without a long straight (say Crystal Palace), the Jag would be eaten alive.

Thanks for the race guys. I enjoyed it. Congrats to Paul and Ade for their podium finishes and quick pace.

[BillThomas]

At the chicane Bill gave me a real scare he appeared from nowhere and I turned into him sending him into a Mini. Sorry Bill wasn't expecting that! 

That's OK, a pity but that's life.   It was one of the few places I felt confident about braking late for and I slipped down the inside.  i know what it's like with blind spots, that's why I decided to go for a wide screen monitor to get better all around vision.  

After that I had a battle with Tony for a couple of laps before he took too much kerb/accelerated too early at Mcleans and shot across my bows.   Then I caught up with jpv and had a battle with him for a while.   His front tyres started to wear and I was able to pass him down the  inside at Redgate, I think he re-passed me a couple of times particularly into Redgate but then scrabbled for grip whilst I drove past on the inside.  I gradually drew away and saw in my mirror he was having trouble also at the old chicane.  I drew away slowly and eventually saw him in the pits.  I had a steady drive through to the finish setting my fastest lap on lap 19.   Had a scary moment with Legzy I move to the left in the chicane which was the side he'd decided to overtake me on   but we got sorted out in the end.  

Bill

[Bully]

HI all,
        Overall I was very happy with my performance. I Quallied in 9th, which I was not expecting. All that practice must be paying off I was well chuffed at getting 1.29 in qually.

The race start was a bit hectic, coming to turn 1 everyone was bunched right up. I managed to keep mostly out of the way but had some side contact with at least 1 other. By turn 4, I had been well and truly "mugged" and was last all but 1.

From there I had a great drive. I felt really at home in the abarth. I slowly worked my way through the field as they fell off one by one. Eventually I was up into 11th just behind 57Goldtop. I trailed him for a few laps and eventually was able to pass. I had'nt realised you were in the slower of the mini's, even so I was well chuffed that I caught someone and passed them, without them falling off!

Really enjoyable to race, lovely to drive the abarth, I could have done another 26 laps and still be grinning
 
Cheers all,
          Bully

[Legzy]

Well I've had a go in the Healey MK1 & could do a 1:30... after not too much time, so about the right pace for that group. I'm sure there would be plenty more in her.
I found it a bit of a tricky customer, so maybe one for the more skilled then me .

[Mark J]

looks like you all had fun as expected, shame i missed it  :'(

where do the alfas fit into this group? doesnt the slowest of the bunch fit okay-ish? Also seems a real shame to not have the tinas in the mix, though perhaps they would fare better at a twistier track 
Be good to see the Healey in there too as it seems a forgotten car in its current guise.

But dont make it 'too much' of a habit using these cars  GT is where its at 

I seem to remember Mondello Park was another good one for the slower car groups ?

[Legzy]

After finishing 2009 in the beasts at Le Mans... I'm looking at the 'next group up' (speed wise), as the 1st PnG race of 2010.
That group includes cars like: Alpha Junior / Alpine 1300 / Healey MK2 / Lotus Cortina's / TR4 / Lotus Elite.

They seem very evenly paced so far on the kind of tracks I'm looking at.

Don't worry MJ, GT's wont be forgotten