UKPnG Season 2 - Shot Glass Challenge - Rouen (1955-70) - Mar 25

[Mike Miller]

Dissapointed to see Jeff leave during quali. He, Ian and I would have had a cracker. The race didn't go exactly as I expected. I thought Ian would be pressuring me the entire race, but I was right around 1 second per lap quicker early on. I backed off just a touch once I had a 4 second gap. He kept me honest till just after the half way point when he must have had a bit of a moment losing another 2 seconds. I'm thinking he either put his head down to crank out some great laps or he didn't practice for this race and was learning the track. Either way, he started gaining on me. I was dropping off a bit too with the Goodyear bass tires. With 3 laps to go, he was right on me. The last 3 laps were tense as he was much quicker through the twisty stuff in his 275 and my ZO6 had the legs. Fantastic race Ian. It looks like PR and Ade were quite close together as well.

[Mark J]

Yayy i got 5th ...where i should have finished sunday without pitstops  

Couldnt quite match my qually speed and qualied a disapointing 7th as was banging in regular 1:21s last night on the server which should have netted a top 4 place.
Got the jump on Clives? Vette at race start and onto 6th for lap 1. Lap 2 i think someone ahead span and found myself 5th where i stayed for quite a few laps with Matt always ever present a couple of secs behind me. Soon i was upto 4th when Ade had an off and enjoyed a decent battle with Pribeiro for a number of laps whilst again Matt chased me hard. Lost some time later on when Madds disco'd car was stranded right on the fast sector 1 kink and Ade closed right up on me again. He soon got by as i had chosen the wrong final gear ratio for the race and it meant i was very sluggish out of the uphill corners, though fast when i could keep the momentum up, ala qually.
Then as my tyres started to go off later in the race with more and more understeer, added to the blinking sunlight between the trees in sector 1, my laps became 1-2 secs slower and Ade and Prib disapeared off into the sunrise/set ? whilst Matt closed up the 7 second gap to just 2-3 in the final few laps and kept me nervously watching my mirrors.
But i crossed the line for a well earned 5th and was happy with a top 5 result in this fiercely competitive series.
I had plumped for the yellow spot tyres for the race as didnt think the white spots would last and yet my meds were still pretty worn at the front late on. i was hoping the guys up front were on whites and would lose pace late on but it never happened.
Amazing pace by the front two again   ...you two need to stop taking those steroids !  I couldnt believe the lead they had after about 10 laps  

Very nice track, there was no close wheel to wheel racing for me but a challenging fast road event none the less, where you had to be constantly alert for much of the lap. 

[ginsters sponsored]

Great race and car match up, cheers Legzy (you're getting the hang of this now ).

I've enjoyed a bit of pracci this week but I'd not practiced for those times of day. The difference was night and day Couldn't adjust to conditions through quali and glad to get 2nd in the end. Very slow to get going in race and kept making silly mistakes when I occasionally got near to Mike. Then, for no reason I can think of, it all clicked and really sniffed a chance to pip Mike. Great fun for last 6 or 7 laps chasing him. When I eventually got with him, with about 2 laps to go, I threw everything I know at him with no luck. Congrats Mike.

Well done to PR, stopped a kerbie lock out you swine And Manteos for a brilliant effort.  

[Manteos]

I've to apologize with Chris for the tap at the hairpin... even if I was so concentrated, I found you more slower than the other cars in front... but it's surely a mine fault... Sorry, sorry, and sorry again if I set a crash at the bend caused by my tap to Legzy... hope to haven't involved so much people in this crash .
After that I' ve lost my lights, and I ran the whole race without it... The last 6-7 laps were a real fun with Alex. We had a great battle all over the track, and I really enjoyed it!!! Some good overtakes for both drivers, and it was a pity I had to lose a lot of speed during the long right corner, but it's quite impossible to have the sensibility to turn the wheel slightly with the pad, and I wasted every time 6-7 tenth only in that corner ... however it was a great battle and I really appreciated it!
I excuse even with Lazlow that during the first laps will be scared about my brakings approaching the hairpin, but my car reply to my inputs in some strange way during the first laps... I can't wait to return to drive with my loved thrustmaster!!! Driving with pad is dangerous for other drivers, even if apart from the start I had no other crashes, but I risked too much!!!
Cu for the next!!! bye bye guys!!!

[Madd-RIP]

PC crashed, nuff said 

[Clive Loynes]

I was pleased with qually but decided to calibrate my wheel before the race.  That’s when the trouble started.  The wheel felt like it had a brick under one wheel and when I reached full right lock it was all spongy instead of hitting a firm travel stop.

So I nipped onto the grid and off again and then it behaved properly.

Went onto the grid again and realised it was practically dark.  In my book that’s another way of ruining what might have been a perfectly good race!

I had barely registered that it was dark when the race started and so I lost a couple of places.  Then, in the gloom I ran wide and belted the Armco at T2 but held onto the place.  I think it was Matt behind and he was able to get alongside onto the main straight and I just about spotted a brake marker and kept it on the island at Scierie.

I then spent the race trying to catch Matt or MJ or Ade, depending on what order they were running in at the time, and desperately trying to get away from Mr Oily and Geoffers.

The brakes on the z06 all but disappeared towards the end and I would dearly like to know what Mike does to these things to be able to fight off Ian.  Geoffers passed me with a couple of laps to go but thankfully he screwed up T2 just after and I was able to regain the place.  It was touch and go at Scierie on the last lap as Geoffers had closed on me again.

I was definitely in the wrong car.  At the end of the race I think that I would have had better brakes by opening the door and dragging my foot on the track!

Enormous congratulations and much respect to Mike for winning in z06.  Standard congratulations to Ian and Paulo for their podium finishes.

[phspok]

I expect Mike would share his setup if asked. Not sure why the brakes were an issue, mine were into the yellow or
orange at every major brake point, but I had set bias to 52 front to try to take some of the load off the fronts.
i can't say the brakes were particularly worse on the last lap than the 1st, but I was too busy driving with the
wheel half turned on the straights to care that much 

[Tim Robey]

Hmmm, worse race for a long time for me  

Qually was OK, except I was over a second up on my PB when the session ended. Just hate it when that happens....  

On lap 1,  I took it easy into the hairpin, almost worked as a few cars tangled, tried to avoid a spinning Legzy but he reversed into my path at the last minute, which bent the steering  

On lap 3, I braked too late into the hairpin decided to go straight on through the bales, tried to take a shortcut over the kerbs but they're pretty nasty and further damaged the suspension.

On lap 4, on the back straight kink the car suddenly decided it wasn't going to turn in and I ended up ploughing straight into the wall.... engine kaput... end of race.  

The track was cool, it reminded me of my GPL days. Hope we will race there again sometime!

[Mike Miller]

The brakes do take a beating in this car... particularly at this track. Mine were in the RED at each heavy brake zone. Fortunately, there is enough straight running to cool them between stops. I found they are worst the 1st few turns till they warm up along with the tires. My setup for this race is here...

//[[gMa1.000f (c)2004    ]] [[            ]]
[GENERAL]
Notes=""
Symmetric=1
CGRightSetting=0
CGRearSetting=0
WedgeSetting=0
FrontTireCompoundSetting=0
RearTireCompoundSetting=0
FuelSetting=75
NumPitstopsSetting=2
Pitstop1Setting=49
Pitstop2Setting=8
Pitstop3Setting=120
Pitstop4Setting=120
Pitstop5Setting=120
Pitstop6Setting=120
Pitstop7Setting=120
Pitstop8Setting=120

[LEFTFENDER]
FenderFlareSetting=0

[RIGHTFENDER]
FenderFlareSetting=0

[FRONTWING]
FWSetting=0

[REARWING]
RWSetting=0

[BODYAERO]
RadiatorSetting=0
BrakeDuctSetting=0

[SUSPENSION]
FrontAntiSwaySetting=0
RearAntiSwaySetting=3
FrontToeInSetting=2
RearToeInSetting=22
LeftCasterSetting=28
RightCasterSetting=28
LeftTrackBarSetting=0
RightTrackBarSetting=0
Front3rdPackerSetting=0
Front3rdSpringSetting=0
Front3rdSlowBumpSetting=0
Front3rdFastBumpSetting=0
Front3rdSlowReboundSetting=0
Front3rdFastReboundSetting=0
Rear3rdPackerSetting=0
Rear3rdSpringSetting=0
Rear3rdSlowBumpSetting=0
Rear3rdFastBumpSetting=0
Rear3rdSlowReboundSetting=0
Rear3rdFastReboundSetting=0

[CONTROLS]
SteerLockSetting=34
RearBrakeSetting=40
BrakePressureSetting=10
HandbrakePressSetting=15

[ENGINE]
RevLimitSetting=0
EngineMapSetting=2
EngineBrakingMapSetting=1

[DRIVELINE]
FinalDriveSetting=2
ReverseSetting=0
Gear1Setting=0
Gear2Setting=1
Gear3Setting=2
Gear4Setting=3
DiffPumpSetting=0
DiffPowerSetting=3
DiffCoastSetting=2
DiffPreloadSetting=0

[FRONTLEFT]
CamberSetting=0
PressureSetting=141
PackerSetting=0
SpringSetting=1
RideHeightSetting=0
SlowBumpSetting=0
FastBumpSetting=0
SlowReboundSetting=4
FastReboundSetting=4
BrakeDiscSetting=0
BrakePadSetting=2

[FRONTRIGHT]
CamberSetting=0
PressureSetting=141
PackerSetting=0
SpringSetting=1
RideHeightSetting=0
SlowBumpSetting=0
FastBumpSetting=0
SlowReboundSetting=4
FastReboundSetting=4
BrakeDiscSetting=0
BrakePadSetting=2

[REARLEFT]
CamberSetting=0
PressureSetting=121
PackerSetting=0
SpringSetting=4
RideHeightSetting=2
SlowBumpSetting=0
FastBumpSetting=0
SlowReboundSetting=4
FastReboundSetting=4
BrakeDiscSetting=0
BrakePadSetting=2

[REARRIGHT]
CamberSetting=0
PressureSetting=121
PackerSetting=0
SpringSetting=4
RideHeightSetting=2
SlowBumpSetting=0
FastBumpSetting=0
SlowReboundSetting=4
FastReboundSetting=4
BrakeDiscSetting=0
BrakePadSetting=2

[BASIC]
Downforce=0.500000
Balance=0.500000
Ride=0.500000
Gearing=0.500000
Custom=1

[Mike Miller]

I forgot to mention how beautiful the track and scenery looked in the wee hours of the morning. I'll be sure to check the start time next round so I am better prepared with graphics settings. My fault for not checking.

[goldtop]

Not a race to remember for me. Lack of practice meant that I was always going to be struggling here. Lost count of how many times I clattered the barriers on the outside of curves or spun it after clipping the grass on the inside.

Nice track/car selection. These VLM tracks are fantastic.

[LigelC]

I enjoyed last nights race even though I spent most of my time on my own at the back as the last one on the road.  Disappointed to see so many drop out (particularly those who usually keep me company at the rear of the grid)

Congratulations to Mike, Ian and PR and thanks to everyone else who turned out for the race.

Senior Dan terribly sorry had a right "Senior Moment" there.  I hate these 2 min to go starts,  I get bored sitting watching how many cars we're waiting for, going up and down.    Forgot to select 1st gear and then when the lights turned to green, I had all revs/no go selected reverse.
Bill

You sure confused me at the start with this move Bill - I thought for a moment that I must have jumped the lights

Laurie

[pribeiro]

Well done to PR, stopped a kerbie lock out you swine  

  I'm trying hard, I really am...


Each time I race at Rouen (since GPL days) I get a mixed feeling of danger yet easy to drive around.
May sounds odd, but that is what I feel. Undoubtedly one of my favourite tracks.

This time my strategy was (different from last races) full attack from the begining.
Ade and Madd were unlucky and I had my share of it also when I lost the places for them at the final of the long straight, later, Ade reciprocated my generosity at the very same place.
Mark was with me almost all race, I was aware that a slighty mistake from me and the place was tooked by him. Last 5 laps the gap for the top 2 was about 2 days   and to Ade was 7 seconds.
I decided then to take it easy untill the end driving 1 second slower.

Fun and scary moment on lap 1 or 2? When after the hairpin I met a 275 facing towards the rest of the field.  

Congrats for the astonishing pace Mike and Ian (I'm trying.... )

Well done to all finishers, speccialy to Manteos.

Cheers

[Geoffers]

Great race on a great track, but those fast turns are tricky to get right.

I'd managed low 2.22s in practicing, but couldn't repeat them in qually. It seems the same at each race, can't go as fast as in pre-race practice, must be doing something wrong.    Start of the race I was a bit too cautious, easing off to let others who had got in a mess sort themselves out & so lost a few spots on the first lap.

Once I got settled into the race I started to catch the guys ahead. Had a good battle with Mr Oily for a few laps until he spun out at the tight LHer. Then started to real in Clive's Corvette at around a second a lap & got past when he ran wide at the hairpin. Matt was next & I started to catch him but then got a bit too excited & spun at T2  , which let Clive back past. Fortunately, despite hitting the barriers the car still drove OK & I set to catch Clive again. Got very close but nearly lost it braking for the last tight RHer (Scierie according to Clive) on the last lap so came in 8th. Great fun 

Congrats to the Mike & Ian show & also to PR 

[Alex vV]

A bit late but... good show!

Qualified at the back (as usual) and saw quite some handsome Ferrari's turned into scrap in the first lap.. ouch!
After the carnage at the chicane I ended up 15th.
Had lots of battles amongst one with teamie Tim until he parked his car in the barriers in the long righthander. Quite a impressive sight.. 

The met up with Manteos and had some very good laps with side-to-side racing although your pad-input seemed quite awkward; the frontwheel bearing looked like an on/off switch ans I gained some unfair advantage in the long curve. Hope your leg heals quickly so you can mix with the fast racers again.