UKGPL Season 20 (2010-2011) Novices Trophy (65) - Adelaide (GP) - Mar 8

[karlisss]

Big THANKS for that personal message from admins who let me race this challanging race in Adelaide!
so two weeks of practice , nearly some300 laps, and i went down from 1-43xx to 1-34.3 in Qual!! (actualy in qual i first time ever did laps under 35! )
so some thoughts for me:
1. first time ever, in my simracing carrier i started a race in front row, from P2!!! (i count all leagues where i raced)
2. i had figured out a right tactic to do a race with less errors as possible (be fast -let race errors stay behind)
3. was to cearful at start, and cant understand since what point in race overtaking is allowed..
    also hit wall and during 25 laps raced with uncomfortable car (but practised for that offline also)
4. easy arythmetic ... 3 errors = 3 place loss ( lost my podium at HOTEL 2 times and T1 one time...cos chasing leader cars was easy, but being fast in my own was impossible)
5. cant handle high position and pushing from behind... start nervous... when i must catch someone its more simple (must wait for more expieriance)
had great fights for P3 with M.H and with R.P. for P4
and most important
i tried hard to do a one race without collisions and errors, with sportmanship in overtaking and tried to not block, and tried to fight for position with calm head.

that was great ending of this hard and full of learning process season
thanks all!!

karlis

[BadBlood]

BIG WELL DONE mate. Thought I might hold you off in the 'Who is last?' stakes but you spanked me good. Disco from ninth didn't help but you were fantastic tonight.

[Hristo Itchov]

3. was to cearful at start, and cant understand since what point in race overtaking is allowed..
    also hit wall and during 25 laps raced with uncomfortable car (but practised for that offline also)

You can pass immediately, but remember that you don't win the race on lap one (or lap 2 for that matter), so only go for a pass which you're certain won't put yourself and others at risk. Otherwise, just go fast, but stick to your lines and be aware of where the cars around you are, and ease off the throttle slightly earlier before braking for corners if you have cars in front of you, to avoid rearending any early brakers. Once the field spreads out, you can drive as fast as you want.

[miner2049er]

Qually didnt go great but luckily started 4th, but an error on to the straight meant Martin and Ronnie were right behind me. Knowing Martin's penchant for unusual lines I let him have the inside but didn't get the power on smoothly and Ronnie went through as well.

Was following them and watching their unusual lines and went wide at Stag Hotel where I got hit by a sympathy spinner, think it was Norm and I had to wait over 30 seconds before I could reset, then I reset almost on top of Norm and got spun again, so I reset again and finally got going.

Was having fun climbing back through the field but following Norbert into T1 I misjudged how much quicker I was through there and had to tap the brakes which spun me. Got going again but I wasn't able to concentrate after that and was making silly mistakes so i couldn't make an impression on those in front, and with no pressure from behind I just drove it to the end.

Big well done to Karliss who found some amazing speed from somewhere.

Now I have to write a list of Cooper drivers for next season.

[BadBlood]

That's easy Mike. Everyone but me and Nigel!

[vosblod]

Firstly my race; Shows the perils of only spending 20 minutes practicing. Got a 36.05 in prib but 39 odd in reality. If I'd spent more time I'm sure I could have eeked a bit more out but, at a track like this, Prib was probably unattainable. That said had some great racing with Billy and Norm.

Secondly congrats on the winners, to the victors the glory.

Thirdly my season - CRUDDY;
TBH this season has been a real downer for me;
- Works, I knew would be nothing to write home about but those races I've made have just been a disaster. Strongly regret moving but felt obliged.
- Nov's, not been much fun in the Coop. Would be great in a field of Coop's but watching people I could be racing pull away on the straights has not inspired me.
- Specs, I do it as feel obliged to Bill although actually some of those races have given me the best fun.

TBH I can't blame the band thing as it's not really interefered bar a couple of Nov's events I've had to miss. I think my problem is I became an in-betweener which meant no chance of much above and docked if I stay below. That said I really haven't put much praccy time in so could probably have made more of the Coop. It's a vicious circle, you see the faster chassis pulling away, lose heart and then don't have the interest to put in the pre-race time needed. From there my praccy time has fallen away as, if you have nothing to gain, it's easy to lose interest. I have drifted off to Total War and have spent much more time on that recently.

This isn't a swan song just my personal take on my season. I'll be thinking of ways during the break of how to spice my interest up as I still enjoy GPL and am happy doing the admin thing. I really don't know whether I'll move up down left right or centre. Yes all the Coop's could move to Am's and have battles at the back for last or almost last but I'm not sure that's inspirational.

Anyway I'll have a breather and take stock. Grads I will definately not carry on as is but 65's I'm in a quandry, last if you move, docked if you don't...

[Hristo Itchov]

It's a vicious circle, you see the faster chassis pulling away, lose heart and then don't have the interest to put in the pre-race time needed.

Knowing this was what would have happened if I had lost the slipstream for even a moment, is what motivated me in the AMs Monza race (although I have to thank those ahead for not helping each other   ). If anyone wants to watch an awesome 5-6 cars battle at the front for the first half of the race, and an exciting finish at the end, get the AMs race replay.

[Phil Thornton]

first time ever, in my simracing carrier i started a race in front row, from P2!!! (i count all leagues where i raced)

Grats Karlisss.  Hope you can turn that into a podium next season

[Ross Neilson]

Many congratulations to Attilio on taking the win and the title. Winning four in a row, and six in total, proves you are a worthy champion. I hope we can continue our rivalry in Amateurs next season, perhaps not at the front of the pack though

I am gutted to have lost the points lead at the last race but overall I've had a great season. I would rather have lost a close title battle than ran away with it as the challenge from Attilio, and being forced into the BT7, has helped me improve no end.

The highlights for me were the win and pole at Castle Combe, and Kyalami where I drove right on the limit for the whole race without making any mistakes, pressuring Attilio right to the end.

Back to Adelaide, I had a terrible time getting a clear lap in qually, it was carnage out there! But even if I had I don't think I would have got ahead of Karliss who secured his first front row slot, very well done sir!

I followed Attilio closely for the first part of the race but a spin cost me 10s or so and ended my challenge. I'm disappointed not to have pressed him until the end but it was good fun while it lasted. Thank you to those being lapped though who were all very helpful and well done to Martin on picking up third place.

The field has been very competitive this season, I think most people have shown flashes of speed at some point or another but just lack in consistency. Fabio, Ronnie, Norm and now Karliss have all got potential to take the fight to the Cooper brigade next season.

Finally a big thank you to the mod team, particularly Mike, for organising a great season, much appreciated chaps.

[BadBlood]

OK - now that I have calmed down I feel a lot better. I practiced hard for this one and was running 1:38's for ten laps in a row in practice. Come the race and I just couldn't get it smooth. Still I was running ninth when I discoed and I had Rog, Mike, Billy and Vos behind me and that is DEFINITELY progress. Although I could only run at 1:40 in the race I was holding my own but pressure from behind is a strange thing and something I am unused to. What is really pleasing is that I have now had wheel to wheel racing at three in a row - Kya, Albi and Adelaide.

I want to say a BIG thank you to all the Novices for making me welcome and for all the support. I look forward to maybe getting some top tens next year! Not sure I'll bother with Grads as I was totally useless but I might try the Spec races instead. GTs are fun too.

Look out for a Brit Series race series - I'm expecting big support from the Novices (and hoping most of the Ams don't turn up ).

[miner2049er]

As always, use the link at the top to submit your race reports.

[NHance]

Considered starting from back of grid as I am not fast here & I thought there may be a lot of crashes. Did a slow couple of laps & waited 10 minutes to see others times. Knew I could get in 1.36's so gave it a go but others had speeded up so I was 8th. Had collision with Mike who was trying to resume. Might just have managed to avoid him but he came back off the dreaded kerbs. Not sure if this is an on or off track incident as we were both the "wrong" side of the kerb. What constitutes the track at this dump anyway. Before I had chance to resume suffered a major impact but did not know from who or how. I now know it was Fabio. The screen started flashing & freezing alternately with a lot of noise as well which lasted 20 seconds which is a lot when you are sat there in disbelief!. Thought I would have to press escape but it eventually responded to shift R. Drove a lap whilst I thought about it as I didn't know what had happened & decided to take a S&G as I was last now anyway. Carried on till engine spluttered so shift R & S&G again. Spent the whole of the race in the company of Billy who I think may have been spinning a lot as that is how I passed him.
Well done to the podium finishers. Double whammy. Clutch blew his engine at Monza.
Norm H

[Billy Nobrakes]

Adelaide will go down on the list of “Billy’s NON-favourite tracks “, along with Castle Coombe for Season 20.
Did just enough practice to work out the track & learn to stay off the kerbs which invariably would cause a  spin. Was expecting a Novices qualification time of 1.35 or so. When I saw the 1.33 I definitely knew it wasn’t my day having only managed a 1.38.5 myself.
Race fell into three stages.  Early battles with Vos & Badblood were good fun. (But wasn’t I racing the slowest man in UKGPL & why was that Honda so much quicker today?). About lap 10 I missed my brake point at the hairpin & came to a halt the wrong side of the haybales in a tent. I decided this was the beer tent & topped up with a nice cold can of Fosters which I had thoughtfully put to one side. Next few laps were spins & wobbles until I settled down for the final stages, last of the running cars but able to keep Norm in sight until the chequered flag.

Bad day for Black Night Racing with my new team mate Fabio disappearing on lap 1 & pretty bad day for the BT11’s as Norm had similar strife. On the positive side FMG picked up the title in the Ams so the Black Night trophy cabinet won’t be empty.

Congratulations to Attilio & Ross who were really a class apart this season. Not sure that next season will be any easier now Karliss is doing 3,000 lap practice sessions.

[BadBlood]

But wasn’t I racing the slowest man in UKGPL & why was that Honda so much quicker today

lol

[NHance]

The season. Well done to Attilio a worthy champion & Ross for pushing him all the way. Also a fine debut by Ronnie taking 3rd at the last race.
For me its been a step back its 5th now with a lot less points than last time. I have pactised a lot this time except for Adelaide but I won't put that sort of effort in next season. It was too much. On chat pre Adelaide FMG  reckons 20 minutes to make a set up  - in my dreams. Or was he kidding.
Must admit I feel a bit like Vosblod slightly cheesed off but absolutely not packing up. Since Christmas I have been involved in 4 major accidents in 5 races. Some of it my own making but still its a lot. I'm also a bit bored with the BT11 but the alternatives are a big drop in power. This power difference was brought home to me when Badblood's Honda at Albi just left me for dead on the straights.
Season 21 - I'll be there alright

Final thought - favourite driver to go on board with on the replay - Nigel.- Just watch that Honda rev counter & listen to the engine! . and HIS engine always lasts!
Norm H