UKGPL Season 19 (2010) Graduates Cup (67) - Rouen (1955-70) - Jul 4

[vosblod]

We remain in France for race eight. In the Works Al H leads FMG and Hristo while over in the Privates Vos leads Billy and Mike T. Both championships are still wide open with three races left.

Race List = IGOR
Server = UKGPL_T7_2
IP address = 62.149.202.168
Race date = 04-07-2010
Time = 21:00 UK time
Track = Rouen
Variant = 67F1
Damage Model = PRO
Qualifying time = 35 minutes. Don't start until 30 mins left on clock to allow everyone to join.
Race length = 50 minutes (laps 25)

Password: see above

Driver lists can be found on the championship standings page
The track can be downloaded from : original papy track
Add-on’s available at : http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=3534

Please be in IGOR UKGPL chatroom by 8:50 pm UK Time

Reserve drivers should not join the server until there are only 30 minutes of qualifying left. Please restrict chat to pit messages. Moderating will be by reported incidents only, however the moderators reserve the right to review any incident with a particular emphasis on lap one. The aim is to review the race the following weekend so incident reports should be submitted within five days of the race (ie the following Friday). We're hopeful most incidents can be resolved amicably and recommend a days deep breath with a replay review before posting. A sorry in the forum won't be taken as an automatic admission of guilt by the moderators.

With the token system chassis strategy will be a factor. A driver must have sufficient tokens for the chassis he drives in the race.  Any driver who does not have sufficient tokens will be disqualified from the result and his tokens will be set to zero.

Chassis costs;
Lotus 20 / Eagle 17 / Ferrari 15 / Brabham 10 / Cooper 5 / Honda 3 / BRM 0

To see your current tokens hover your mouse over your total points on the championship standings page. Ten tokens will be added when you cross the start line.

The Championship is split into two sub-divisions, namely Works and Privateers. The driver split will be;

WORKS drivers

Phil T	Evil	John R
Tim FMG	Steve Bird	Göran Jonsson (R)
Al H	Bartosz (Pod)	King Hero
Rick	Baab	Hristo (R)
Sam B (R)	Fulvio P (R)	Ruud Savelkoul (R)
Dwarf Car Driver (R)	Doni Yourth (R)

PRIVATEERS drivers

Bernie	Burtoner	Mike Turner
Vosblod	Bookie W (R)	Billy
Fabio (Il Lupo)	Rafael Mestdag	Graham (R)
Pete Maestro (R)	Nigel Smith (R)	D Rock (R)
Hannah (R)	Ronnie Peterson (R)	Maddog
Gilles27 (R)

67 Patch: The 1.3 Release of the 67mod can be used.

NOTE: In the event of more then 19 entrants a second grid will be run for the Privateers on ukgpl.5. (ping myjamesonline.net) Instructions will be provided in the chatroom – please ensure you join the correct server, due to the way we import if you start the race on the wrong server your result will not count. If you can try to make sure you are in the chatroom by 8.50pm this will enable a decision without any delays to the start time.

From its opening in 1950, Rouen-Les-Essarts was recognized as one of Europe's finest circuits, with modern pits, a wide track, and spectator grandstands. The circuit (which ran on public roads) had a few medium straights, a cobbled hairpin turn (Nouveau Monde) at the southernmost tip, and a few blind corners through a wooded hillside. The appeal was greatly enhanced by the climb from Nouveau Monde at 56 metres to Gresil at 149 metres. Rouen hosted five Formula One French Grand Prix races, the last one in 1968 resulting in the tragic burning death of Jo Schlesser. The circuit continued to host major Formula 2 events until 1978, after which it was used for various French Championships. The circuit was closed down in 1994 due to economic and safety reasons. In 1999, following the circuit's closure, all evidence of area's racing past was demolished, including grandstands, pits, Armco and track signs. The cobbled Nouveau Monde hairpin was also asphalted but it is still possible to drive around on the original circuit configuration.

PS: If anyone has noticed a 'blank' for the race on 25 July (race 9) I can confirm this event will be at Carthage 35 - srou wll be updated in due course

[Ross Neilson]

I'd like a go at this one, if there's room. I've voted on the registration thread.

Ross

[vosblod]

I'd like a go at this one, if there's room. I've voted on the registration thread.
Ross

Slotted you into Privateers...

[Ross Neilson]

Cheers Vos. Looking forward to having a go with the big beasties for the first time since joining UKGPL, so far it's been 65s all the way. Plus Rouen is an awesome track to drive them on.


Ross

[bernie]

What a cracking race 

Front row start with Vos on pole , I was all set to fall in behind the pole man but when the flag dropped Vos bogged down and I found myself drawing ahead , my car snaking a little off the line , didnt want to back off because of the following pack , seems we touched and that was race over for me vos and most of the field by the look of it .

Will let the mods decide who was wrong who was right , but have a bad feeling about this 

Maybe I could have avoided the kiss if only I could  have stayed more to the left hand side .

sorry to all those whos'e race was rouened   

[Phil Thornton]

I was outclassed in qually, couldn't get anywhere near my PB and ended up last on the grid.  Started steady and tried to stay in touch with the pack.  Had a slide at Scierie and got in Steve's way we touched and Steve went out in a ball of flames.  Sorry mate, there must have been some warp there for you to explode like that.  After that struggled on for a few laps but suspension must have been damaged.  After a couple of offs decided to retire before I got lapped.  Didn't want to get in the leaders way; Rik and H were approaching, looks like they were having a good battle.

[b_1_rd]

Shame! I qualified about 4th from back for a change! Messed up slightly on L1 and ended up running along the bank after Sanson and waited to rejoin at the back.  Followed Phil when he half span at Scierie exit and I couldn't avoid, car flipped and I got fried!

Phil - No worries matey, racing incident Yes a warp flip I think! 8/10 for artistic impression I think! 

[Podkrecony_Ziutek]

In qual I've beat my PB and I was 3rd.

Race started ok. I was behind Rick and I could keep his pace. Afther few laps Tim(FMG) catch us. On main straight Tim decided to attack me and we were 2w in T1. I was on the outside, but on straight I was in front. At that time I was sure that Tim is behind me, so I decided to get back on racing line. That was big mistake, because Tim's Lotus was a lot fasther than mine he catch me exactly in a moment when I was returning into racing line. we collided and we both were out of the race.

I'm really sorry about that Tim. I feel very bad about what happened.

[vosblod]

Got my first pole 
Unfortunately there was no race for me...

[Rick Nauman]

Well another DNF but I feel better about this one than most others.  I got P2 on the grid with a lap only 1/10 off my Eagle PB.  Just squeaked by Bartosz by 0.02 sec.  As I recall Hristo was about a second faster.  Got a decent start and fell in behind H.  Trailed him closely on L1 as we let the heat get into the tires.  I figured he'd gradually pull away and it would be a race between me and Bartosz for P2.  But after a few of laps I was keeping up with H.  I was hesitant to pass him because I didn't want the pressure from an obviously faster driver.  I think he was playing with me.  And in the process I wasn't able to gap Bartosz, which in hindsight didn't matter because he fell completely off my radar a few laps later.  Well after about 6 or 8 of trailing and H dangling it in front of me I just had to go for it.  The Honda was no match for the Eagle on that loooong back straight (especially with a draft) and so I was able to pull it off.  Had the lead for about 8 or 10.  Any gap I made on H he easily erased.  I must say H kept it fun for me and I appreciate that.  We had a few dicing moments and we both kept it clean.  I was able to do the ol' over-under once when he braked late and over shot the corner just a little.  But after a while he tired of watching my tail pipes and put good passing move on me.  So now I was trailing as I expected and was just driving along with a solid P2 in sight... right up until the ol' engine when ka-blam.  Dang!  I thought I was nursing it well.  I did have one accidental speed shift early on and maybe that set it up to fail.  But as I said, it was a fun race despite my sad ending.  I'm in contention for nothing.  Fun is all I have to race for.

Congrats H!  And also to the rest of the podium.

[Michael Turner]

I qualified a good deal slower than the front runners and was not expecting a great deal from the race. But equally I was not expecting half the field to succumb before T1. Fortunately I was on the right of the track and was able to squeeze past the carnage behind RP who then had an off at the end of the long straight leaving me in P1. I had a bit of a wobble at the last turn and FL made a neat pass to claim P1 but had an off shortly after putting me back in P1. Cars seemed to be falling off behind me at a steady rate and  and I found myself with a surprisingly comfortable lead and only 23 laps to go! I had to fight off the lapses of concentration that inevitably occur when you do lap after lap without seeing another car but found myself starting to think 'Maybe, just maybe'. Unfortunately it was not to be when on L22 the screen started to stutter and slow down for some reason (IPS bandwidth throttling maybe?)) and I went off leaving RP as the sole survivor.

Note to Hannah: Please quit if your engine  blows. Coasting along on the racing line with a dead engine isn't a good idea.

[Hristo Itchov]

I had a great race with Rick and no, I wasn't playing with you, Rick. I guess you're not aware, but driving the Honda takes a bit of a different approach, especially at the start of races. You have to look after the engine quite a lot and also the tires. If you overheat them too soon, it's nearly impossible to cool them down unless you slow down a lot.

Anyway, after making a so-so start I kept my lead, but Rick, Tim and someone else were very clear in my mirrors. I was mostly focusing on getting my exits right, especially those leading onto the longer straights. Rick's Eagle seemed flat out through that fast long right hander on the backstraight even on full tanks while I had to lift up to make it through.

He slipstreamed me a couple of times but I could fend him off by braking late and going around the outside of the hairpin. This didn't last for long and eventually he had a much better run and braked for the hairpin a car length ahead of me, so I lost the lead.

I was worried at the time because he started to open a gap despite my best efforts, but after 2 laps I managed to adjust to a quicker pace and reel him in. It was one thing closing up to his Eagle but quite another making any successful attacks.

One of those almost succeeded but I braked too late for the hairpin, went wide and he regained the lead by going on the inside. It was quite fun battle while it lasted, for nearly half the race. Eventually I found a way past and pushed as hard as I dared, going half car width onto curbs and runoff areas, but it worked and Rick dropped 2-3 seconds back.

Suddenly he disappeared and now I just had to bring it home which I did. There was a small trouble with Tom near the end as he lost it in front of me going into the hairpin and perhaps I should've eased off and not pressure him, but the lap felt good up to then and so I wanted to complete it. It turned out to be my fastest lap.

Grats to Evil for a great pass right at the finishing line to take 3rd and also to Al for 2nd! Sam did great in the BRM too, running 3rd for half of the distance and keeping in contention if anything would happen to those in front of him.

Cheers,

-=Hristo=-

[Ronniepeterson]

Re: the start of the Privateers destruction derby at Rouen

Has everyone read this???

Racing Etiquette
All drivers are expected to familiarise themselves with the GPLAC Recommended Driver Behaviour.

When starting, each driver must make sure they keep their car straight and fully in control.

Only joking, tough break for you two considering the championship standings and MT picking up good points. Special mention for Hurricane Hannah, it was a pleasure just to see and hear someone else on the way round. Really sorry you and so many did not make it to the end but hey thats racing.

Roll on the next one!

[bernie]

Ronnie , problem is how to know the car isn't under control until its out of control , iyswim .

Looking again at the replay , not sure if my wobble was the real cause. What I forgot in the excitment of being on front row start was that the track gets narrower after the start line , but In my position on the left side I couldnt see that , whera's Vos would not be able to use the full width of track . The problem was with his slow start , I didnt want to ease off and cause those behind me to have to slow to avoid a collision and thus a concertina accident . Even so we shouldnt have touched and if I did the same start again i would have kept 2 wheels in the gutter  .

Cant blame Vos he was driving straight ahead , feel very sorry for wrecking his and your race and my own chances as well , unfortunately words wont mend what happened , time will .

If its any consolation my first ever UKGPL pole ended in almost the same way, so I think I know how gutted the lad feels .
   

[maddog]

T'was a lovely day for racing at Rouen, the birds were twittering . . . the cars were flying.  Only, "Excuse me, just a sec. . . . why didn't someone tell me, I'd need a pilots licence to do this stuff!!?"

Arrived in la belle France, to be greeted by a healthy field of young hopefuls, all blissfully unaware of the tragedy to unfold.  Decided to join them in spins around small sections of the track.  Then somehow, made an inadvertent inspection of the black stuff, which landed me 4th on the grid.  And off we went.

Holding station towards the 1st right hander, I was well positioned to witness the horrors to come.  Ths 2 front running Loti, gleefully started a mating dance, and blocked the track.  I threw out the anchors, and the inevitable swarm came buzzing from behind.

I confess to being unaware, of the lovely views to be had of the Rouen countryside, once above treetop level.  A double dose of Brabhams, unable to stop, enlightened me as to its wonders!!  My stay was all to brief, but a race had still to be run.  Bernie kindly offered his helmet as a landing pad, and off I went again, trying not to look at the ghastly carnage, I had somehow escaped.

Sorry Bernie, you might still have been roadworthy if I'd landed more softly, but haven't had much practice with these 67s.  And no blame to those following from me, as I was in a better spot to try to de-conflagrate.

After my scenic flight, I dueled briefly with Maestro, and reached as high as 2nd towards half distance.  With gauges looking good, I put in a fast lap, to shake Ronnies horizontally flying Ferrari, but t'was not to be.  A bad shift and I was out of propellant.

An eventful event, but sad to see so many leave, so young - GPL nature can be cruel!