Brands Hatch post race...

[greds04]

All in all a good race, qualified 13th on the grid and when the lights went green all hell broke loose a few positions down the grid, suddenly I'm running in the top 10. It would not last though, slowly the faster cars caught up and passed me again.

I made my pit just about halfway through the race and had to get some repairs done after a collision with a car that spun out just after the esses. I gradually made my way up to 8th after alex spun on the turn after the hairpin, he caught up and passed me when I messed up on one of the last turns before the finish line...I'm quite happy with 9th considering where I started (those two rotor mazda's are too quick).

[blackcat77]

Fourth was probably the best I could have hoped for tonight.

HUGE congratulations to Brenda on finishing her first race. She's been doing a lot of work racing against the AI in an effort to stop being spooked by other cars that come up on her and it's making a big difference. Plus, she's starting to get a more natural feel to driving and she's not just fighting the car all the time like she was at first. It's been a real thrill to watch her grow as a driver the past few months.

[laloha]

For me this was another discouraging experience. First the mismatch thing but was allowable. It might have been the cause of the following.

The setups, all I used for this event in practice, were very different online last night. Car was very loose, speed was considerable slower. Really didn't wind up in 5th gear enough to shift to 6th except at near end of lap.

In practice, times were, now don't laugh, no better than an mid 18 but could get rather consistant 19's. Last night probalby one lap at 21. Not sure that good but was a challange to get anything.

At start of race there were encounters and shortly after I got a bump and found myself facing a wall. Reversed and attempted to re-enter the track and was booted again. Click esc and go home. Enough for the night.

Went to CARS and had better success. This makes me wonder why. If my pedal and steering system was the cause of the poor results I was having at the PORRS event then why was that not evident at CARS. So now my concerns lead me to think there is something between the servers and my connection, Cable.

If the latter, then maybe I should ask, does anyone have knowledge of this occuring, is there anything I can do about it? Hope there might be some helpful thoughts on this. Maybe it was just me but the speed difference was not something I could explain though, go back to setup and attempt making changes, but why. Time for me was running out since qualy was right around the corner for all this.

Results of this experience revealed to me, there is a difference and is exactly as I was experiencing last night. So I expect this book is closed and thanks again Ced for the uploaded file. It ha d made a difference.

Still wonder why I was having offline reasonable success with that old folder though. Well, let that old dog lie. Am ready to move on.

larry

[JABowders]

Red Weasel Racing Reports

Brands Hatch. What can a Weasel say? It took a while but I think I sorted out the best setup possible for a difficult car to drive. Finding that balance between speed and drivability is a fine thing and would probably be easier without the large quantities of Weasel Juice but since that is a contractional agreement I’m do my best to meet these demands on me.

Miss Susan didn’t have an enjoyable Qualifying run, as she started each of her hot laps something went wrong from sliding to being bumped, rubbed, pushed and shoved so she parked it and started mumbling to the pit crew asking for a bag of hammers it was obvious she was not very happy with what had happened on track.

The Weasels started in the way back but got a good jump and quickly made our way up a few spots, I for one was as far forward as 7th, before I was slowly picked off by the faster drivers. I was surprised at the speed that I fell into a rhythm and I was consistently running laps faster than my qualifying time and I fought my way back up to 8th. But as fast as I could be I knew that the pit stop for fuel and new shoes for the Reynard would put me back a bit. Smooth and steady was the ticket, I saw the result of heavy footed drivers as back-ends spun out and around them a few times and several aggressive moves resulting in OTEs (Off Track Excursions) for a few of the faster cars, some were lucky and some were not.

The Weasels finished, not stellar but steady.

Congratulations to Brenda, nice to see you hang in there from flag to flag.

So until next time, see you on the track.


James
Head Weasel

[slyfry]

@james

This track was really hard to qualify on, you really needed the track all to yourself if you wanted to put in a good qual lap, and with the speed differential I'm sure it was a scary situation for Brenda and Susan.

I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea to maybe have something like a gentlemens agreement to give Brenda and Susan the track to themselves for the last 5 minutes of qualifing.

Just a thought,
Don

[BCurtis]

Got pole by a tenth of a second...whew!
Off to a good start and held on to the preferred line for a few laps to keep Don behind but he got by after a few laps and we traded the lead a couple times. Then he pulled out to a 4 second lead after the first 15 minutes.
I think I was checking out the battle for P3 with Paul and Sandy as I headed into the woods...musta lost a little concentration, got loose and slammed a barrier which took off the front.
Pitted and loaded up with fuel for the remaining 40-45 minutes. I knew the fuel load and lengthy run on these tyres would be a hinderance as I tried to chase down the top 3. got really lucky in traffic as I found a good hole after my pit and then everyone seemed to peel off for their pit as I got close to them.I still wasnt running stellar lap times as I think I still had some damage. But I managed to get back to P3 after everyone pitted and I was about 16 seconds behind Sandy in P2. I gained 4-5 seconds during the last stint but it wasnt enough and I settled in for 3rd place.

[blackcat77]

In response to Don's note, Brenda told me, and I hope I can speak for Susan, that they don't want the track to themselves, they just want a little consideration from the other drivers. This is an open league, and that's the kind I like. We have drivers of all skill levels and that is a GOOD thing. The important thing to remember is that everybody on the track is a human being who deserves respect, and that all of us are doing this for fun. There's no fame or fortune if we win a race and we won't be tossed out on the streets if we lose. So if you lose a second or so waiting to make a SAFE pass rather than running someone off the track, that's okay. It makes the evening pleasant for everyone, which should be our ultimate goal.

[slyfry]

Paul I agree with you, and I always try to give anyone I am trying to pass as much room as possible, even to the point that I will give up position to be catious around other cars (gave up the lead last night being overly catious around slower traffic).

It's just that I saw both Brenda and Susan either lose it or just drive off the track on my approach or pass, and hate to see that. Our differential is large but I am always aware of them when approaching and will do everything I can to make a clean and considerate pass, all I ask is that they just drive their race as though I'm not even there, hold their line and I will get around when it's safe.

Not sure who it was (not Brenda or Susan) last night but I was following them into the little chicane in the back and was going to pass them on the straight before the last turn, when all of a sudden they just slowed way down and not expecting it I ran into the back of them. If driver would just run their race and not worry about the faster traffic it will make it easier on everyone.

Just more of my thoughts today, got to quit this thinking, it's giving me a headache........

Don

[larry]

There is Private Qualifying where everybody gets 5 or so minutes to get qualy lap recorded with the track all to themselves. 3 or 4 laps should do it.

If we limited laps to 3 or 4 and then get off the track that would also be fine with me.

Let the lmp1 have their time then lmp2 the same alloted time plus a min to get their laps.

Good to go.


Larry, and his $.02 worth. After inflation it boilles down to something in the thousandths of a cent I expect. Maybe it's actually a $1.00 1935 value.

[BCurtis]

I like the mixed qual...more strategy. You have to find your spot to get a lap in. Adds interest to me. I was following one car and another right behind me into turn 1...I realized I wasnt gonna be able to get a clean lap so I pulled to the inside onto the grass to forego the lap and start from the pits again.
I ran laps a little quicker in pre-race practice but didnt match that in qualifying cause I only got a couple of clean laps in.
Of course...I aint drivin a P2 car where you have to have eyes in the back of your head. ;-)

[RobGuru]

Well, I pretty much have to apologize to the field for being unprepared for Brands. I've never really been able to dial in Brands, regardless of the sim. Plus, Sunday night was compounded by very little practice and setup development.

As a result, I had a below par qualifying effort and was very unstable in race conditions. I must specifically apologize to Susan (I know I tapped you during qual), and to James, who I believe watched me spin the car on my own at least twice. After my spin at about the 35 minute mark, I decided that I was more of a hazard to the group than I should be, and retired.

Hope to have a better showing at our next event.

Rob

[Ced Collins]

Yes CONGRATS to Brenda on a good race. I was watching and for a long time you and Susan were on the same lap but I couldn't see if anyone was catching anybody. Was good

Larry, some of your issues could be mod based as well. They are made different and made to handle differently. I have had some where my wheels just don't work or feel right. I would probably try at least one practice on the server to make sure you have the setups straight. May I ask, you did have your race setup assigned....right.

Private Qual: Yes that is an option but this isn't NASCRAP (Sorry to the FANS, I watch it too...lol) Most road racing series qualify together so that is what I was aiming for. When I go out I worry about being in the way...lol. ;D

I second the comment of Rob and that's why I parked mine as well. Plus a smoking car is not a good sign

[larry]

Hi Ced,

Yes I had the proper setup. I checked that and even tried another that was a slight different though the times, in practice were similar. In either case ,the car was totally different handleing and gearing seemed to long that I couldn't get up speed.

I tried the new download you had prepared for me and anyone desireing it. The results were improved with handleing and times. Tested at Brands online, Monday before moving onto the next event.

Writing this now, and memory fades rather quickly these days, I am not sure about the rfm files and their relevance to the issue. I will make all effort to prepare better in the future.

I want to say that I, along with everyone else, appreciate all the effort you put forth here at PORRS, displaying the patience of Jobe. The revised, complete downloads, all seem to work proper as you intended.

Thanks,

Larry