UKGPL Season 21 (2011) Specs - Spa (1967) - Aug 5

[BadBlood]

Excellent - keeps me a point ahead of you...

Bad luck Fabio. Don't get too many at Hockenheim. I am not around

[BadBlood]

Sorry about the swap around of servers chaps. Clive couldn't join T7 for some reason. As championship leader I felt we needed to do something. Hope the server was OK for everyone.

If we do have an extra series next year, it may be used as a regular race server so some feedback would be appreciated.

[Samb]

Sorry about the swap around of servers chaps. Clive couldn't join T7 for some reason. As championship leader I felt we needed to do something. Hope the server was OK for everyone.

If we do have an extra series next year, it may be used as a regular race server so some feedback would be appreciated.

I too was having difficulties joining the T7 server. I tried resetting my router and so on but to no avail. In frustration, I banged my fist on the desk and the resulting shudder caused my PC to restart  . When it reloaded it became apparent that my GPL installation had become corrupted, I lost my driver data on GEM, and I had constant flickering whenever I loaded GPL. I had another installation with GPL in it's '98 glory, and that worked flawlessly. It meant however, that a new installation was required for me, and there was no way in hell I was going to be able to create a new install in time for the races, despite the new installer.

Serves me right for being so childish really. Hope everyone else had a good couple of races  .

[vosblod]

Race 1 the less said the better suffice to say it taught me a big lesson; don't go using some old setup that you haven't tested and are not sure of. I knew I was rusty but my PB said 16's and I was mustering 27 odd. I knew it felt slow and when I saw Juha closing rapidly while I was on the straight I thought how come.

Mystery solved in race 2 for which I had an old but tested Lotus setup. I was clocking high 180's compared to a max of 173 in the Brab. Hence I was more on the pace but surprised to qually 3rd although it did just pip my PB. Got from 16's to 14's in the race but that was due to some tremendous tow. Anyway race 2 was my best for a long time. A good battle with Juha until he went out. After that head down but appeared to be gifted second when (I think, sorry not seen replay) I passed a stricken Axel. Very pleased to get second whatever the circumstances as feel I personally did a good drive.

PS: for some reason I also got the second fastest race time on R2, there's life in the old dog yet 

[BadBlood]

Other way round for me. Race 1, I profited from the Lap 1 carnage (which I now have to mod - sigh) to find myself in a thoroughly unmerited 5th. Looked to make the most of it and got passed a few times but those drivers then pulled off into the pits (more modding!). Didn't want to fight too hard as I was SO much slower but the Brab had lots of grip and confidence was high. Gearing was not great so I could not hold people off down the straights but through the corners it was good. Had Juha (I think behind and I blocked him off a bit but I was driving on my ragged edge. He span, hope it wasn't my fault, and I had some clear air. I didn't make any mistakes but I could not hold Ronnie off. As he passed I got a bit of a surprise as Geoff passed on the other side. I tried to stay with him and missed the turn in for Masta (where I needed a confidence lift). One spin later and Sky was chasing me for 7th. I knew I had enough in hand though and drove conservatively to finish just 0.3 ahead of him at the line.

Race two, bit nervous about how the server would perform. Lotus setup was really poor and I had high straight line speed (186mph) but no grip in the corners - first time round I span at the first long right hander that leads to the downhill kink. All I did was tighten the line! It was also a real handful through Eau Rouge. Finally hit the grass and span at Bourneville into a wall but managed to continue. Aulden took advantage and that was that except for passing poor Du Fossa at the last corner when he span.

Fun races but starting the server definitely does not help with race prep! Now I need some practice in the Chap lump for Jops.

[Geoff65]

 Race 1
A little surprised to find I had managed to hold on 6th grid spot at the end of Qualifying. Jumped well with the lead pack and all got through L' Eau Rouge without any dramas. All was fine until Malmedy, when the the pack in front seemed to slow substantially and dilly dallied about getting in, through and out of the combination. Forced to stay off the throttle for far too long the car slid wide, mounted the fence with 2
wheels where it continued to slide along until the fence elected to kick me off at a point just short of the
final left hander of the combination. I braked the car to a stop against the fence and hoped nobody was too close behind. Sadly, I think it may have been Axel that had little time to avoid clipping me. Sorry mate, I did try to keep off the track. Anyway he did me a bit of a favour by digging me out of the wall and spinning me to the outside clear of traffic and with full view of on-coming drivers. Got going again with no damage (?) and whilst circulating passed cars off the track, up trees, upside down all over the place. I had no idea til the finish that I'd worked my way back up to 6th place. Odd race that. Congrats to the podium they were much faster than I today.

 Race 2
Couldn't seem to make the Brab go very quick at all and although the chassis had reasonable balance, it seemed to want to have it's neck wrung like a chicken, but I couldn't seem to get top gear to work well.
Started third last and let everyone I could see past  expecting some carnage in front and taking my time
a little. I saw what ended up being Aulden almost parked against the outside fence of the right hander.
I watched him til the stone bridge and he appeared to be stopped, so I shifted my view to the apex to continue on my way. Next thing Aulden's car seems to hit the end of the second stone wall which, of course, turns him right and launches him off the fence with immaculate timing directly into my path. Dead centrepunch. I couldn't see that there were cars behind but this not surprisingly caused mayhem. What was really weird was GPL respawned 2 pair of cars on top of each other....causing further mayhem. Anyway set sail without severe damage again and just drove out the laps  to the finish. Not my most fun Spa race ever, except for avoiding other peoples accidents on more than one occasion.

 Server
Hate to say it guys, but compared to my current broadband, you guys seem to have carrier pigeon class.
My connection was rock solid for both races....but some of you chaps were vanishing for 10+ seconds at a time then randomly re-appearing.  Both servers were solid for me, while in qually for R1, people were getting discoed. Think you guys had better start annoying your ISP's with constant WRITTEN complaints, cc'd to whatever body represents the ISP's....cos you seem to be being ripped off in favour of profit.
That won't stop until PEOPLE as a collective call a halt.

End rant,

breathe,


breathe


(Bloody socialist colonials, grumble.....groan......whinge)       

[blito]

Race One

Oh boy, am I in for a raping by the moderator! I was responsible for the start-line mayhem. I got off the line quite well and started to feed into a gap between the lotus in front and the armco but predictably the gap started to close and I was too far in to be able to back out and thus the lotus and I made contact resulting in him spinning across the track in front of all those behind.... Later round lap one I'm alongside another lotus approaching Masta.... yellow flags..... upside down car ahead..... wasnt sure what to do so I sidewsiped the lotus and caused more mayhem..... then later round the lap I spun the car and destroyed it totally against a house! I did a (S+R)+(S+G) and set off but I had no control over the car, even spinning halfway down one of the straights! Thus I quit.

Race Two
Blaming all my race one maladies on the default setup I was running, I slapped on soome typical blitoesque settings and was immediately 3s/lap faster.... and a lot more confident.. I could feel where more speed was to come but somehow I just couldnt get the car onto that speed! I think I got the aero balance wrong and suffered with a widly fish-tailing car.... Weird moment was at Masta.... my concentration had started to wander and so found myself thinking Masta was Stavelot and was thus off the racing line and had one almighty crash, the car cartwheeling through the air before landing smack on the racing line, facing the right way and totally undamaged! Then another racer came through masta and had nowhere to go exept up my exhausts! And STILL my lotus was undamaged!!!
Anyhow, a dozen spins later and I made the finish.......


server
Both servers were fine, my connection was rock solid. I saw no warping and had no unexpected problems except for a disco in Q1

[il_lupo_mannaro]

Excellent - keeps me a point ahead of you...

Bad luck Fabio. Don't get too many at Hockenheim. I am not around

Don't worry Paul: I'll miss Hockenheim as well, as I will be swimming in Rodhes Island

[jhalli]

Race1
No good setup but i find some default one from gpl and used those,not the best racing honestly,racestart was chaos cars warping and crash each other, race1 server was bad and my gpl quality bar was sometimes high and then again low, but it didnt disconnect me out somehow . I think other cars see me disappearing 10 or more seconds.
Not much experience with 69 cars but it feel better along with the race. Accidents with mr S2173 he oddly change his driving line straight after Eau rouge,that was bad move. Few laps later Bernie Darwin tries to pass me on fast left right complex in the last corners of track and we collided due to warp hit and bad connection.

Race2
Connection was ok, quite nice racing few laps until Ray took me out on Masta kink.Brabham was handling better than Lotus.

69 seems to be fun if we get rid of the accidents

Juha

[Cookie]

Before this race I was not willing to install the old 69 mod, but loving this track, I decided to do it anyway.
Got myself two setups by SC for the cars and did some practice...

First race I had a rare Disco in quali, midst my fastest lap, but could rejoin and do just another one.
Starting from 4th, all went well, but entering the straight after Malmedy, my engine blew.
My s+r caused some carnage as it positioned me on the left side just in front of upcoming cars...
My recovering went well, as this Braby has excellent handling, and the slipstream helped a lot to finish in 4th.
Geoff, I can't remember having had this close encounter with you...

Second race was nearly perfect for me.
Qualified again in 4th, keeping in contact with the leaders with the help of this great tow.
But in the last lap, being 2nd and shure, I got a little distracted by a ringing doorbell and span in Malmedy.
Vos and Göran could pass me there and I had only half a lap to get on the podium again.
I managed to pass Göran after la Carriere, but in my tow he could follow me close through Blanchimont and just kissed my back into la Source.
But fair gentleman Göran waited for me to let me take the flag first. 

Servers
- first was less warping but Mr Fett just disappeared for some seconds in front of me, in rpy I saw it was me disappearing from server...
- some warp showing zigzag lines on the asphalt but no disappearing cars.

Greetings

[BadBlood]

Race One
Oh boy, am I in for a raping by the moderator!

LOL - yes you are...

[EvilClive]

Thanks for the change of server for race 2 guys. I still have no idea why T7 would not allow me to join. I susupect a sneaky conspiracy by those jealous of my success!! 

So race 1 did not happen for me :'( Although I knew my lap times would be competitive, I also knew that there would be at least 1 or 2 other drivers capable of the same pace. I know form experience that Natan is always quick in 69's. I was hopeful of picking up a few good points..never count poultry before the incubation period is complete!!!

Race 2
I was frustrated on my first few flying laps  either by small mistakes on my part or because I came upon other drivers at the wronng place and had to back off. Eventually I hooked up a good one and even benefitted from a slight tow to squeeze on to pole position. The only way I was going to get clear in 1 st spot was if I could build a huge lead before the straight down to Masta, so I nailed the throttle for the first section down to Malmedy and pulled maybe 100 metres plus on natan in 2nd spot. But it was not enough and he simply draughted up behind me for Masta and used the tow again to get alongside into Stavelot.
I ruined my chances of a good result right there by trying to maintain my speed around the outside instead of yeilding 1st place and simply tucking in behind Natan. There was no way he would have been able to pull away if I had the benefit of the slipstream, but I just clipped the grass on the outside and sent myself into the greenery. By the time I could reset and get going all hope of a podium was almost, but maybe not quite out of reach.
A snG at the end of lap 1 put me almost dead last but I knew I had a fast setup under me and I should be able to use the tow from all the cars I needed to pass.
So there I was 185mph running into Masta, no lift, flat in 5th. Just kiss the first left apex as I caress the car into the corner. Just a minor adjustment of the steering as the natural bounce of the suspension flicks the car across the road towards the second apex, scrubbing off only 5-8mph. Throttle still nailed to the floor exit speed should be around 178mph and blast down to Stavelot.
Ah!!  so it was Jason who parked on the exit of Masta, although to be honest I hardly had time to register anything other than a vague car shaped obstruction before I saw a lot of sky and grass and tarmac!!! 2nd reset!!! another SnG and now I was definitely NOT going to get good points.

With a longer race I might have made the botom step of the podium, but with only 3 laps to get from almost dead last that was not happening. I was fortunate on the very last lap that a couple of cars had tangled almost at the end of the lap and I managed to pick up 2 cheap places by passing them as they picked up speed.

Grats to Natan for both wins, which makes the table much closer, and to all those who finished.

[Hristo Itchov]

I don't seem to be going well in recent Spec races and that's odd, considering they should be relatively easier compared to the divisions where I'm handicapped.

In the first race I was trying to help Evil with his wrong PW issue, but then it turned out it was something completely different, so I joined with just over 10 minutes to go, without any setup. Quickly made one from scratch, but as expected, it was far from perfect - bad gearing, unstable rear end and some other minor issues. The gearing was particularly difficult to set right, so that's what I focused my efforts on until the reminder of the session. I was in fact on a decent lap to secure a top spot, but made a mistake and spun around, so had to start from the back of the grid with no lap time set.

The start was terrible and I don't mean mine - people were running into each other all the way through the grid, so it was next to impossible to find a way through. I got involved into a few contacts when the road was blocked right in front, but somehow continued without flipping over or exploding in flames. The time loss was not that great actually and I had moved up to 6th or something, with the leaders in sight about 400 meters away already entering Les Combes.

I caught up Paul through the long right hander and passed him on the inside, but he must've not seen me because he turned right into me and the contact sent him off to the left. Just as I was going over the crest in the next corner and accelerated down the hill, I came upon Geoff's stationary car. It was impossible to avoid it and the heavy impact flipped me over into the grass area behind the bushes, so I had to do a shift-r. It took a while before I could do that, as the cars I passed at the start were now coming through, so I was again back down outside the top 10 when I continued.

There were cars left and right on the straight before Masta, some spinning, some going very slowly, so there must've been another big accident there, but luckily I made it between those without a problem, though I had to slow down for a second and swerve to avoid hitting one of the cars. Stop/go at the end of the lap, and continued quickly in persuit of those ahead

The setup was still not perfect, but the car was quick enough to allow me to catch some people and make up a few more positions. Things happened so fast that I only later realized that I had moved up to 2nd place after another lap, but Natan was out of reach by then. I didn't have that info at the time though, so I kept pushing hard and eventually lost the car through the left-right combination on top of the hill. That got me stuck into the bushes and required another Shift-r plus a stop/go at the end of the lap. Still pleased to have finished so high up, considering all the carnage, but 2nd place would've been better.

The second race began better as now I had more time to create and work on my Brabham setup, but unfortunately the lap that might have put me in the top 3 was ruined when I caught up Paul before La Source and I think he bounced off the armco on the right and then directly into my car. That meant I had to start in the middle of the field as my previous best lap was only good for that high up.

I wanted to avoid any trouble this time, so my start was a bit more aggressive and it felt good to pass so many cars by going to the right. It almost felt like I had made a jump start, lol, but I was up to 4th and then 3rd before we even reached the middle of the lap! The Lotuses of Evil and Nat were very quick down the straights and so I settled behind them to wait for better opportunity for a pass, but then Evil went wide in Stavelot and disappeared behind when he it the bushes on the outside.

I passed Nat soon after that, while behind the two of us things seemed to be changing all the time - first it was Goran I think, then Axel took his place, but in any case, I had to focus on the battle for 1st. It was really impossible to pull away from Nat's Lotus, so no matter how quick I was going through some turns, it was for nothing once we hit the straights and he could use the slipstream and regain 1st place. We had a couple of intense wheel to wheel moments into Blanchimont and some other corners, but there was enough room to make it through without contact. This continued for 2 more laps, but then as I was going side by side with Natan again on the run to Blanchimont, I didn't slow down enough and ran wide onto the grass banking. Despite my efforts to catch the car and prevent it from spinning, I couldn't and it spun around. I tried twice to extract it from the sticky zone, going from 1st to reverse and back again, but eventually did a shift-r and a stop/go at the end of the lap.

There was still a chance to make up some positions on the final lap, with Sky and Ronnie not too far away in front, so I reeled them in and passed Ronnie on the exit of Masta, then slipstreamed Sky to prepare for an attack before the straight that leads to Blanchimont. Ronnie was right behind though and glued himself to my back with the aid of slipstream and because I had to lift up to stay behind Sky through the single-line combination of fast corners. I was sensing a bad outcome with Ronnie going so close behind, but there was nothing else to do if I wanted to avoid hitting Sky ahead, so I lifted up before the medium-speed right corner and was instantly hit by Ronnie's car. That sent me into Sky and all 3 of us spun to the offside. I could continue relatively quick which can't be said for Sky, so I still managed to retain a good finishing position, but it was disappointing race altogether.

I must congratulate Nat on his double victories as he drove very well and above all, was fair in our fights. I'm a bit puzzled why he doesn't repeat this kind of driving in 65s though, as they are definitely much easier than 69s.

Grats also to Tim for his 2nd place in race 2!

[BadBlood]

I caught up Paul through the long right hander and passed him on the inside, but he must've not seen me because he turned right into me and the contact sent him off to the left.

I saw you but misjudged the amount of room - I was trying to tuck in behind you and follow a decent line but although the server and my replay shows no contact we were close enough for GPL to spin me off

[maddog]

There's a new Spa track under development, and some members may not be aware of this.  The original GPL version, was apparently incorrect in  places.  And of coarse, much authentic detail is being added.  There are some amazing pictures here  :  http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=5152&st=144

As with all things GPL, there is an incredible amount of work involved, so we shouldn't expect to start bouncing off the buildings, for some time to come.