All-In Sprints @ Nurburgring GP - Thursday 2nd April 09

Stuart Thomson · Mar 19, 2009

Servername: RACEDEPARTMENT.COM
Class: TC65 / GTC65 / GTC76 (3 x sprint race - 1.TC65 -> 2.GTC65 -> 3.GTC76)
Track: Nurburgring GP
Conditions: 17.00 In-Game Race time (all races will be at this in-game time)
Practice: 18.30 GMT / 19.30 UK / 20.30 Europe (10 mins)
Qualification: 18.45 GMT / 19.45 UK / 20.45 Europe (10 mins)
Race: 18.50 GMT / 19.50 UK / 20.50 Europe (11 laps)
Note1: Click here to read the password and golden rules!
Note2: Default Skins only
Note3: These are fun races, not competetive, just race the people around you. Winning is a secondary concern, this event is to have some nice dicing with people around your own pace in various different models.
Note4: With regard to the above Note - No Models Are Banned - but let's try and see a decent spread of models across the grid please.
Note5: There will be prizes - "The Nurbys" - for the best spread of vehicles, the best performance in a slower model, most spectacular crash, longest roof slide, etc.
Note6: People choosing 3 cars from the top of the performance charts in that class will be named and shamed.

Stuart Thomson · Apr 2, 2009

Yeah was working out the timings in the top post as I was replying to you.

One other way of doing it - no Practice and 20 mins Quali - Quali is open in GTL, so people would be able to join, it's the same length as the combined Prac & Quali...

Warren Dawes · Apr 2, 2009

I prefer the 10 min qualy, so I have time to go put race fuel in, before the race starts (we only get 30secs to get to the start line in GTL).

Although, since this one is starting at 4.30AM for me, I'd be better to just qualy with race fuel so I don't forget.

Glenn Morris · Apr 2, 2009

Mini's run on the sniff of an oily rag, so you'll be right Warren!

Stuart Thomson · Apr 2, 2009

OK - we'll go to a 10 min Prac / 10 min quali and move the race down to 11 laps.

Thks for the input, gents :good:

I do appreciate it, the more we can tweak the events, to be just right, the better for all of us.

Stuart Thomson · Apr 2, 2009

Yikes I didn't know it was that early.

We'll go to an 8.00 UK start for all events, so at least you can kip until 5.00

After this one, of course

Stuart Thomson · Apr 2, 2009

Gents - Please - don't forget tonight it's Default Skins Only - the new server doesn't have any add-ons installed, so if you try to join with an add-on skin, it won't end well.

See you all on track soon.

Stuart Thomson · Apr 2, 2009

And to anyone else who fancies a drive tonight, no need to sign up - please just show up with the right attitude and have some classic, slidey, low tech, high fun, non-Motec, hairy arsed, real-man style giggles in the wonderful GTL cars.

Marty Pierce · Apr 2, 2009

Stuart Thomson said:
@ Marty - OK mate, but my caveat for you here - if you go GT40, you will have an extremely lonely 2nd race. You'll drive away from the rest of us, and you will have a win, but no real racing.

Ok Stuart I dont want that or the hazing that will come with it so put me in the shelby Gt350 for gtc 65:shock: Edit Not sure about Gt350 May leave it open till race.

Ben Tusting · Apr 2, 2009

Teamspeak again

I hope the Aussies will be on Teamspeak (Woza

)

Warren Dawes · Apr 2, 2009

Ben Tusting said:
Teamspeak again

I hope the Aussies will be on Teamspeak (Woza )

This event is a lot earlier than last time, so I can't really use TS at that time. I may log in just to listen, or maybe log in for the last race, but doubtful.

Stuart Thomson · Apr 2, 2009

Tusto 2nd race will be starting soon

Ben Tusting · Apr 2, 2009

Bugger i just missed the 2nd race.

I will try and join the third race.

Stuart Thomson · Apr 3, 2009

Brilliant night as always chaps - :good:

Race 1 - Lotus Cortina Quali 4th Race 1st

Had a bit of a stinker a few corners in, stuck a rear on the grass and spun to just avoiding Evanso in the Jag. From there on in it was recovery mode, had some really nice little one-on-ones. First with Croucher in the Stang, that thing is so fast in a line, that you have to set up the pass about 3 corners in advance. Once I got past there, which was no picnic, I had a few laps where I was closing up on Amir (Mini) Warren (Mini) & Marty (Falcon) pretty quickly. Marty & Warren had a coming together and Amir & I got past (in a way a little bit disappointing as I would have got up to them pretty soon anyway and it would have been extremely entertaining for all of us). I closed up on Amir in his Mini, and feinted on the outside at the bottom hairpin, as he covered I switched back in and went through on the inside. Held it together for the win.

Race 2 - Renault Alpine Quali 4th Race 4th

Sam was in a different class in the E-Type, but the following pack were all driving cars from the upcoming GTL League, so it was interesting to see how things went. Had about 4 or 5 brilliant laps racing with Marty, me closing up under braking and in the twisty bits, him pulling away under acceleration in the Ferrari. Cheers Marty really enjoyable stuff :good:. We had a small coming together but no harm done - apart from letting Warren through, of course. I was closing in on Warren at about a second a lap, but decided the quickest way round the final bend was through the barrier. The barrier and I disagreed on the physics of the deal. The delay meant I couldn't cath Warren so I eased it home for a 4th. Tonight's race has pretty much decided me on the Alpine for the league. It was good to see 4 out of the 5 league cars all qualifying within a sec of each other.

Race 3 - Ford Escort Quali 4th Race 4th (there seems to be a pattern emerging here)

My first time in the Escorts in a race - these are brilliant cars, not as thoroughbred as some of the vehicles in the class (Personally, I think the GTC76 class is a little too disparate performance wise for close racing), but huge fun nonetheless. Was again having some good fun with Marty, but I went wide on the uphill chicane, with Marty close behindin the red Escort, I gave him room , but I think he got on the gas a little early and went off which was a real shame as the 2nd race was a blinder and I was hoping for more. There were incidents and accidents, hints and allegations. Some nice laps wth Croucher in the blue Escort (Escort single make racing, perhaps?) and managed to keep my head to retain 4th.

As always a great nights driving. Some screenshots to follow soon.

Matt Crouch · Apr 3, 2009

arghtastic

Mustang - very fast on the straights but when the corners arrived I just couldn't keep up. Good for a couple of laps and when the gap grew bigger in both directions I decided to just try to go sideways round the corners. Spun near the end and Hans overtook, then a very close finish as I edged closer.

Merc - meh, a bit too hard to drive. Dont think I'm a huge fan of this car now

. another one where Hans got past near the end and I finished behind.

Escort - nicer to drive than the Merc but I still managed to spin it a bunch of times in the race. Was a good race mostly until I ended up fairly lonely. Did have some fun with the + and - keys down the straights though. Two stop n' gos and took my second one just before warren crossed the line, meaning I had to do the whole lap, which ended up taking about 4 mins... vofl

Never really liked the track for anything other than formula cars, but a decent event

Hans Sneep · Apr 3, 2009

Had a Great evening guys (complete worn out) bud some great races.

First race with the Alfa 5t place hit the wall after the start lost some ground bud laptimes get better and better (took me some time to come up steam) nice fight with Matt at the end of the race.

Second with the Healey (to test,you now?) 6 place PB in the race and a little the same as the first race ,Matt

Third race with the Beemer for me my best race no mistakes had a good grip with the car and ended on 5t place.

Stu , not far from the predicted time? 2 and 3 quarters of an hour.

Something else
My problem with racing is my corner speed, but something happened during practice for this event, normally I turn in and keep my wheel there ,bud the car will not turn so I have to go off the throttle and fight my self through the corner at low speed,:turtle:at a moment I led my wheel turn back a little and go early on the throttle and the car came out nicely out of the corner, it is not perfect yet bud it's feeling a lot better now:dance2:

Hans

Marty Pierce · Apr 3, 2009

Fun night

Race 1 the falcon made a rocket start to the lead. Ended up in battle with Warren in the mini. It was a strange match because it was no contest in speed tha falcon could pull away easy on the straights but the mini was so much faster through the turns. I new if I could keep the mini behind me till the exit of the turns he would loose ground on the straights. Warren had better pace overall and did get through on the inside. As we were side by side we banged doors and then I saw the mini flipping through the air. Waited for Warren to get going and we lost 1st to Stuart who was inching his way up to us before the incident. Sorry Warren I think you were looking at the win or at least a good battle with Stuart. As the laps wore on the falcon was hard to keep up with the minis. Fun race.

Race 2

Drove the Ferrari. Had another nice battle with Stuart good clean racing.

Race 3

Switched from 914 to the Escort. Did zero laps before race and then started from back of field. Never felt comfortable was all over the place. Got a little frustrated with my driving so did a few donuts then wrecked the car on purpose. Felt a little better after that. Watched everyone else from the monitor. Very impressed with Warrens driving in the 906 and Amir in the Capri. Amir the Capri looked like a handful at the end great job! Warren looked very clean the whole way WD.

Thanks all on another great event, Marty

Warren Dawes · Apr 3, 2009

Good fun again, but really a bit early for me (up at 3.30AM to make this one). :tongue: :coffee2:
It was good to be able to try different cars, but not easy hopping into a new one after finally getting used to the previous one. Going from the Mini to the Merc was a huge change.

TC65: Woohoo, got the Mini on pole, but knew I would be overun by the others before turn 1. Sure enough, most of the field charged past, but the Mini handling got me back in touch quickly, and soon ended up with a massive dogfight with Marty's Falcon for the lead. It was the classic Mini v Falcon epic for many laps as I harrassed him incessently in the turns, only to watch him clear off every straight. I knew his tyres would give trouble, and finally managed to get through on the inside of a tight turn, but unfortunately Marty veered the big Falcon across into my side as we exited the turn, resulting in the poor little mini being flipped over and rolling. Marty waited, but Amir and Stuart has passed us and the Mini was now damaged. Managed to eventually finish P2 due to Amir getting a stop n go. Grats to Stu for the win.
One day, I'll prove that the Mini can beat a Falcon. :soldier:

GTC65: Difficult race in the Mrecedes, soooo different to the Mini, more like a tank. I was finally getting a feel for it towards the end and getting closer to the times of the others, but it was hard work. Finished P3. Grats to Sam for his win.

GTC76: Finally found a Porsche that I can drive. The 906 was a pleasure through the twisty stuff. Lost a fair bit to Amir's Capri for the early laps as I got used to it, but by mid race I was slowly gaining on him. Amir then spun off, giving me the lead, which I held to the finish. I quite like the 906, and was putting in quicker times with every lap.

Thanks to all who raced, very enjoyable as always, but I was pretty stuffed by the end.