UKGPL Season 20 (2010-2011) Novices Trophy (65) - Spa (1967) - Dec 7

[Ross Neilson]

First time in the BT7 so my aim was just bag some good points and move on to the next round. In qually I might have gone a little bit quicker but certainly not enough to move up the grid - the gap to 5th was 2.5 seconds!! 

So 6th in the race was the best I could hope for unless others fell off, which they rather helpfully did! I think Rog, Norm, Ronnie and Fabio all had some troubles or other so at one point I might even have been second. Fabio's flying Fezza recovered quickly though and just blew past me, I didn't see much point in fighting him and risking an incident. Third is more than I could have expected so very pleased with my result.

I agree with Blito, the start was clean, shows that we are all learning how to race closely - and give the moderator an easier time of it

Well done to AA for working miracles in the Coop, and to Fabio for recovering to 2nd place. Looks like I prevented the Italians taking a clean sweep of the podium 

[adamg67]

Does anyone know where the server replay is for last night? I was so annoyed with myself I forgot to save mine, and I need to make my confession to the moderator.

[Ross Neilson]

Replays are here

http://www.jamesonline.net/ukgpl/

[BadBlood]

Can't believe these qually times. I'm going to have to have a division to myself (learners perhaps?)

Well done all. Sorry to miss it.

[Ronniepeterson]

Congratulations to Attilio, Fabio and Ross. I thought I might have made the podium but it was not to be. No matter what I tried I could not close Attilio down, boy that Cooper was flying. I was also aware of a fast charging Fabio in his Ferrari. Inevitably he caught me and made a clean pass. At the same time I spun off but suffered no more than hurt pride. It seemed a strange one at the time as the pass was clean and we both left each other enough room. Looks the same on the server replay (GPL collision detection maybe??). Anyway I just about heard Ross coming so let him through before salvaging 4th after a scrap with Mike.  Well done everybody for getting away at the start safely for what turned out to be a good race.

[NHance]

Thanks Blito for the how to log on info. Still had my own problems so only 20 mins left when I started qually. Can't grumble at result. Slow off the line as usual but I was happy as AA & I started to get a gap to 3rd. AA was faster in the corners but I had the power to get back on the long straights. Determined I would stay 2nd & try & make a certain passing position if possible before the end but if not 2nd would do nicely. Lap 3 engine blew. Then on lap 6 I was involved in an incident with Rog & Norbert for which I will possibly get a penalty. Think appologies are due to those two so take it as read. Well done podium finishers. Expected Fabio to do well but ................ thank goodness we're not going to Monza

Another engine gone. Using Clutch's gearing from an old set up of his. His current is even lower. Gave 10400rmp at 170+mph at end of Masta with no tow. "Bit revvy that, what if I get a tow" I said. "Just get to the front" he replied  .

Post race inquest shows Mountside are having a poor season compared to the last one  .  But we are undaunted. A bit early but seasons greetings & see you in the new year .

Norm H

[Geoff65]

Then on lap 6 I was involved in an incident with Rog & Norbert for which I will possibly get a penalty. Think appologies are due to those two so take it as read.

I doubt you should be penalised for that Norm, Norbert should have known he was gonna run out of road there and run down the outside on the straight for an inside pass at Masta. After watching the server replay, I felt you were theinjured party there. Time will tell, but it looked more like Norbert bouncing off the dirt verge caused the contact more than you closing him down.
Geoff.

[NHance]

Long time since you made a posting on here Geoff unless I missed it. A few more like the above would be popular on my pit wall anyday. Hope Mike makes a mental note. Anyway thanks for that

Norm H

[miner2049er]

I love Spa but never go that well there. Something to do with carrying speed through corners and my lack of ability to do it. Still, I can make speed up on the straights ................. oh.

Anyway, just aimed to get as many points as I could and 5th was about right. Enjoyed my tussle with Blito who passed cleanly despite me clinging to the racing line and making him go off it, then he politely threw it away at Les Combes and let me by.

Most of my race was then a solo effort apart from the last couple of laps with Ronnie in his wayward Lotus, and while I could get into his tow and move alongside, as soon as I did I lost speed and had to fall in behind him. We had a mighty close one through Masta that was fun, even with my eyes closed, but we made it home safely.

The last 5 circuits should be very interesting as they have a nice infield with at least one fast straight.

[il_lupo_mannaro]

Spa is one of the tracks I love most but, with the 65s, it takes an eternity to complete a lap!! Anyway I improved my race lap more than 2" from last season's race...

Qualify: I started from 4th place, as Ronnie set a 0,02" faster laptime than mine on the very last lap. The top 2 were really too fast!!

Race: it was quite good (again, 2nd place + 2nd FL, as last Sunday with Graduates: maybe it's such a curse?!?). Only one issue: I was hit on my back (from Adam I guess) on the braking zone before La Source but, good luck, my reliable Italian red car didn't need a Stop'n'Go.

Grats to everybody raced, to the winner and to the race organization.

Long Live GPL! Long Live UKGPL!!

See you next year in Imola

[Ronniepeterson]

Sorry Mike. Your right about that run through Masta together it looks scary but cool on the replay. Apologies for the wayward Lotus but my handling/tyres were shot after trying to chase Attilio down and I only had top speed to keep you at bay. Congrats again to the podium trio.

[BadBlood]

The last 5 circuits should be very interesting as they have a nice infield with at least one fast straight.

Always glad to hear there is somewhere to let people past

[Artiglietti]

Obviously very happy to grab a win on my first outing with the reasonably priced car.

I did practice a lot for this one, since I love SPA end really wanted to have a competitive race around here. But I have to say, in the 65 cars it is not the same thing..Anyway, I even used the 'slicer' to cut off those endless straights, feeling rather silly at times, but hey, it did pay off in the end!

I pulled off a pretty good lap in qually, which gave me second on the grid. Less than hoped, but better than expected. Didnt think the menace would come from NH this time around though, since his previous seasons' laptimes werent great. I think the guy sliced a few seconds off them though! Well done to you, you are happily lining up for that much coveted six geared green thing...

When I saw I was on the inside for turn 1 on the grid, I thought: 'mmm handy, but you  better be either well ahead or well behind when you get there, if you really want to increase your points in the right box of the board this time'. As it turned out I had a brill start, which coupled with NH not so good one gave me a very welcome lead early on.

From then on, it was all about keeping the pressure and not making anything too silly. Which isnt that easy around this circuit, since high speeds mean if you touch anything you usually find yourself with a modified machine...

Commiserations to the unlucky NH, it seems following me doesnt really bring you any good, especially when the game does give me my pink helmet of choice ...but you were quicker all in all, it would have been difficult to keep you behind the whole race. Grats to Il Lupo Fabio, for his brilliant recovery, and to Ross, who managed an outstanding third in the mosquito. Must say, I wasnt very pleased to see you in third at the end  , with that consistency and that point lead, you will be really difficult to catch!

Now (well, in a while..) off to Imola, which, looking at the best laptimes,  I suspect will be as hard a mountain to climb as Spa.
While I was learning to know my new car, I realised to spend the entire season having either to be substantially quicker than the opposition, or just plodding around waiting for them to make a mistake can become rather dull and frustrating. I wonder if the league has ever experimented with the discarding system to smoothen up the handycapping problem. Something along the lines of having a token for 2 or 3 races in proper cars during the season, but being forced to discard 1 or 2 results more than the others at the end. This would allow for some more rewarding outings to look forward to for the quicker/more experienced guys in the slow cars. Just a thought that popped in my mind, probably it has been  already discussed and dismissed years ago though..see you all soon, ciao!

[BadBlood]

I was hoping for a handicapping system where they gave you a car with three wheels Atillio. Might stand a chance then

[Artiglietti]

Paul, it DOES have 3 wheels, theres a fake forth one just for an aesthetic purpose !

Ross's mosquito has got 2 though, theres a hole in the bottom for the feet, and he has to run as quick as he can, I heard he was trying to improve his fittness level around Kylami last night...