[Saturday - 25th of June]
Track Map
I got the honour of doing the practise/qualifying/first stint job in the VTR3 #86 car. I spent most of practise just moseying about, checking the gears and trying to be consistant. My qualifying outlap went fine, but for some whacky reason I disconnected entering the corner before the back straight. Connected again, got half an outlap done before another disco. Sprinted upstairs, nicked the network cable from dad's room and plugged it into my PC. Reconnected fine but Happy Hour had started, so we were dead last. No matter, this is a 12 hour race and grid position means nothing for us slower folks.
On the grid I had some graphical glitches, due to my computer not being the most up to date, so I took it nice and easy in the start. Settled into a nice rythm a few laps in, after passing the TPTCC car on the outside into the last corner. There was a small gap up to the WR Racing car, that kept expanding and decreasing. Can't really remember what happened next as the rest of my stint was pretty standard without much action. I handed over to Sim after having a small spin heading onto the backstraight, originally planning on doing an extra lap "just to be safe".
When Graham's gremlins arrived, Gav hopped into the car and reported a smokey and nonresponsive engine. Refusing to belive it I hopped in myself and the car was fine, so I did 6 laps while the rest of the guys tried to figure out what to do. Eventually we all agreed on putting Rich in the car, and he could set off on his extremely ultra-mega-bloody quick stint.
Edited my setup a tiny bit offline, so it was pretty much perfect when I took over after Sim at around the stroke of midnight (here in Norway). We were two laps ahead of the TPTCC car so I just took it really easy (but still doing 1:52s, actually pushed for a few laps near the end and got a 1:49 almost immediately). Unfortunately it got a bit too sloppy near the end after lapping a mono-geared Mazda, when I rode the kerb a bit too much onto the backstraight and I got T-Boned. Minimal damage, I continued, while listening to the soothing and calm words of Rich and Gav. If they would have had their houses to themselves I'm sure they would be yelling "GET THE F***ING CAR TO THE FINISH IN ONE PIECE ALREADY!!!" so thanks for restraining yourselves.
On another, not too important note: I felt a bit like Tiago Monteiro crossing the line: Torn between being happy for the 4th place (wanting to scream "WOOOOOOHOO!" at the top of my lungs) and slightly ashamed for having messed up so much near the end.
29 June, 2005
26 June, 2005
Vader Trophy - Oulton Park
[Wednesday - 15th of June]
Track Map
I knew there was going to be chaos at T1 so I sandbagged my way through qualifying, almost managing to qualify last. After the green flag was dropped, I engaged first and patiently (read: slowly) made my way toward T1. Sure enough a bunch of cars go off and this time I have loads of time to avoid them, but then I get blasted off the track in Cascades just after saving a huge slide. I reset the car and rejoin dead last, but pass 3 of the cars involved in a 5 car wreck in the hairpin. I pass the two remaining cars as they tangle into Knickerbrook and I'm all by myself in 8th.
I get caught by Gav exiting the hairpin on lap 5. Unfortunately I try to hard to make it through Druids quickly and I exit the asfalt. Needless to say Gav got by, as did Ian so I'm now in 10th. I then proceed to spin off at Cascades on lap 7, luckily without losing position. Then on the same lap, I make a meal of getting around the right hander after the hairpin, and I have a little excursion on the grass. The same happes, on the same lap, at Druids (Sim passes). Another spin in T1 on lap 9 while chasing down Sim, plus an off at Cascades... After a few laps without spins I pass Sim exiting the final corner on lap 13, and can let Neil through to lap me. Sim sneaks through down The Avenue, and we both spin out of Cascades. Of course he is allowed the first reset, so I had to wait twice as long before I could reset my car.
A few laps (and a stupid amount of spins) later I crossed the line in a lousy 11th.
Track Map
I knew there was going to be chaos at T1 so I sandbagged my way through qualifying, almost managing to qualify last. After the green flag was dropped, I engaged first and patiently (read: slowly) made my way toward T1. Sure enough a bunch of cars go off and this time I have loads of time to avoid them, but then I get blasted off the track in Cascades just after saving a huge slide. I reset the car and rejoin dead last, but pass 3 of the cars involved in a 5 car wreck in the hairpin. I pass the two remaining cars as they tangle into Knickerbrook and I'm all by myself in 8th.
I get caught by Gav exiting the hairpin on lap 5. Unfortunately I try to hard to make it through Druids quickly and I exit the asfalt. Needless to say Gav got by, as did Ian so I'm now in 10th. I then proceed to spin off at Cascades on lap 7, luckily without losing position. Then on the same lap, I make a meal of getting around the right hander after the hairpin, and I have a little excursion on the grass. The same happes, on the same lap, at Druids (Sim passes). Another spin in T1 on lap 9 while chasing down Sim, plus an off at Cascades... After a few laps without spins I pass Sim exiting the final corner on lap 13, and can let Neil through to lap me. Sim sneaks through down The Avenue, and we both spin out of Cascades. Of course he is allowed the first reset, so I had to wait twice as long before I could reset my car.
A few laps (and a stupid amount of spins) later I crossed the line in a lousy 11th.
06 June, 2005
04 June, 2005
Back with a vengeance
Jumped into a pickup race today with my fellow Monster Masher, Topi, at Rouen a few hours ago. After the race I submitted my player.ini to GPLRank and this is what came up...
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Update time: Rouen-les-Essarts 1967, BRM time 1:58.748 session P improvement -0.761
Update time: Rouen-les-Essarts 1967, BRM time 2:00.210 session R improvement -0.121
GPLRank score = -33.814 (no change)
Monster of GPLRank score = -109.930 (change of -0.761)
-----------------
If you have GPL, you can download the replay of my lap here.
-----------------
Update time: Rouen-les-Essarts 1967, BRM time 1:58.748 session P improvement -0.761
Update time: Rouen-les-Essarts 1967, BRM time 2:00.210 session R improvement -0.121
GPLRank score = -33.814 (no change)
Monster of GPLRank score = -109.930 (change of -0.761)
-----------------
If you have GPL, you can download the replay of my lap here.
02 June, 2005
Vader Trophy - Rouen
[Wednesday - 1st of June]
Track Map
As you already know, I have taken a (some say unhealthy) liking to the BRM. Due to this I decided to swap to the tank for Vader Trophy, as I could see myself having a lot more fun in it as opposed to the Cooper. An hour or two before the race I was consistently doing 2:00s so I was looking forward to the race.
I beat my old PB in qualifying with a 1:59.5 placing me 11th on the grid, a tenth of a second behind Jannis Koopman's Ferrari and over a second ahead of Jamie Mason's Cooper. My start was not exactly good seen as I spun off in the first corner, but I didn't collect anyone and I actually avoided the customary lap 1 wreck. By the end of lap one I was all the way up in 7th place, having passed several crashed/spun out cars. I drove steadily until lap 4 when Gav in his Cooper made a wee mess of his braking for Scierie, and we touched. I got going without getting passed, but I made a real mess of T1 and got passed by two Ferraris.
I didn't trust Gav with the inside for Scierie for the next lap (:P) so I moved over, barely keeping him behind. I run wide in T1 and Gav is alongside me, we go into T2 side by side and I exit just ahead of him but I also run wide. He goes for a run around the outside for the right hander, but unfortunately I squeezed him off the track. On lap 7 I catch Gui's (ridculously slow) Lotus into Gresil, and in my rush to get by I touch him and do a complete corkscrew, thus losing two places. I do a series of pirouettes in T1 on lap 9, but can keep my 11th position. I drive more or less all by myself from lap 7 to lap 15 when I pass my teammate Chris Kirk (Brabham) plus Gui after the last corner, and a flying Mark Egan after T1.
I cross the line just over a second ahead of Kirky, and eleven econds behind Ian Woolham. Finally I managed to finish a VT race and not feel disappointed with the result.
Track Map
As you already know, I have taken a (some say unhealthy) liking to the BRM. Due to this I decided to swap to the tank for Vader Trophy, as I could see myself having a lot more fun in it as opposed to the Cooper. An hour or two before the race I was consistently doing 2:00s so I was looking forward to the race.
I beat my old PB in qualifying with a 1:59.5 placing me 11th on the grid, a tenth of a second behind Jannis Koopman's Ferrari and over a second ahead of Jamie Mason's Cooper. My start was not exactly good seen as I spun off in the first corner, but I didn't collect anyone and I actually avoided the customary lap 1 wreck. By the end of lap one I was all the way up in 7th place, having passed several crashed/spun out cars. I drove steadily until lap 4 when Gav in his Cooper made a wee mess of his braking for Scierie, and we touched. I got going without getting passed, but I made a real mess of T1 and got passed by two Ferraris.
I didn't trust Gav with the inside for Scierie for the next lap (:P) so I moved over, barely keeping him behind. I run wide in T1 and Gav is alongside me, we go into T2 side by side and I exit just ahead of him but I also run wide. He goes for a run around the outside for the right hander, but unfortunately I squeezed him off the track. On lap 7 I catch Gui's (ridculously slow) Lotus into Gresil, and in my rush to get by I touch him and do a complete corkscrew, thus losing two places. I do a series of pirouettes in T1 on lap 9, but can keep my 11th position. I drive more or less all by myself from lap 7 to lap 15 when I pass my teammate Chris Kirk (Brabham) plus Gui after the last corner, and a flying Mark Egan after T1.
I cross the line just over a second ahead of Kirky, and eleven econds behind Ian Woolham. Finally I managed to finish a VT race and not feel disappointed with the result.
31 May, 2005
"It puts hair on your chest!"
Yesterday I joined a pickup race at Monza, 'cause I was bored and that was the server with the most drivers. I moved the shifter knob to the left side and entered the server in the Beast From Bourne, I was ready to kick ass! And indeed did I kick ass, doing a 1:30.77 in qualifying I beat my old PB by half a second, and this was with a shifter knob as opposed to the paddles I used to use. The race was good fun, with various battles with various cars. Most fun was a pass I made on a Lotus into T1: I slipstreamed all the way from Parabolica, he took the inside for T1, I downshifted and slid around the outside of him :D
After that I had a nice chat with the aliens in VROC, before quitting and going to bed a happy camper.
After that I had a nice chat with the aliens in VROC, before quitting and going to bed a happy camper.
29 May, 2005
WOSEC - Spa (Night)
[Saturday - 28th of May]
Track Map
After the disaster that was Silverstone, I had no intentions to start the race whatsoever. Besides, Spa is a very narrow track when in a Sauber C9 at night and I still haven't gotten the hang of close proximity racing in the Sauber. The start, or should I say starts, were a joke. The race had to be restarted at least 10 times due to The pacecar refusing to go up Eau Rouge, Pileups and cars going missing after the said events.
When the race eventually got going, my car got pushed off the track at Les Combes. No damage done and we continued, eventually settling into a 15th place after the first few laps. Everything went really smooth until not long after refueling/changing tyres, when the car suddenly went off on the exit of Stavelot. The car was too damaged to continue and we were forced to retire our car.
But there was still hope that the primary car could win, as it was leading by well over 40 seconds after the first driver change. But after a mere 3 laps the ignition died on the way to Blanchimont, also being forced to retire... The VTR2 car lasted until a while into the first driver's second stint, when his PC crashed causing him to crash hard into the wall and severely b0rking up the car. There you have it, all cars out of the race.
Track Map
After the disaster that was Silverstone, I had no intentions to start the race whatsoever. Besides, Spa is a very narrow track when in a Sauber C9 at night and I still haven't gotten the hang of close proximity racing in the Sauber. The start, or should I say starts, were a joke. The race had to be restarted at least 10 times due to The pacecar refusing to go up Eau Rouge, Pileups and cars going missing after the said events.
When the race eventually got going, my car got pushed off the track at Les Combes. No damage done and we continued, eventually settling into a 15th place after the first few laps. Everything went really smooth until not long after refueling/changing tyres, when the car suddenly went off on the exit of Stavelot. The car was too damaged to continue and we were forced to retire our car.
But there was still hope that the primary car could win, as it was leading by well over 40 seconds after the first driver change. But after a mere 3 laps the ignition died on the way to Blanchimont, also being forced to retire... The VTR2 car lasted until a while into the first driver's second stint, when his PC crashed causing him to crash hard into the wall and severely b0rking up the car. There you have it, all cars out of the race.
28 May, 2005
Now you, my screaming fans, can watch me race :P
Download NRTV and type in 195.20.109.80 in the IP adress field. I'll be in the VTR3 #86 car doing the 2nd stint and 4th & last stint, the race starts 12:30 BST / 13:30 CET.
25 May, 2005
It's here!
My beloved MOMO Racing arrived at the post office yesterday at 15:00, and I picked it up 2.5 hours after that (had to wait for dad to come home+have dinner). As soon as I got home I went straight to the PC, put it all together and fired up GPL. Now I knew that there'd be no Force Feedback, since GPL was made before the days of FF, but it still felt a bit wierd. It also felt rather strange in GTR, but after increasing the sensetivity a few clicks it was perfect (despite the lack of FF). I raced around Donington all the rest of the night, trying to "find my car" until it was almost 23:00 and I had to go to bed, boo-hoo.
Had a few practise laps at Spa to get a feel for the track/wheel, and I now know how it works to put it that way. I still need to work on consistency, so I'll devote most of tomorrow to that. I'll also be re-formatting the PC to try and fix a few problems I've been having (not a virus, but it's messed up my fonts) and see if the FF will also start working.
Had a few practise laps at Spa to get a feel for the track/wheel, and I now know how it works to put it that way. I still need to work on consistency, so I'll devote most of tomorrow to that. I'll also be re-formatting the PC to try and fix a few problems I've been having (not a virus, but it's messed up my fonts) and see if the FF will also start working.
22 May, 2005
Can't wait! :D
Ordered the wheel last night, it should take 2-3 business days to ship so I'm eagerly awaiting Wednesday to come. As soon as I get it I'll have to:
*Test GTR which I bought on Saturday
*Test a new track (Panchine) released for GPL
*Practise for the WOSEC race at Spa on Saturday
The WOSEC race is during the nighttime, so I have also gotten a pair of Nightvision goggles for that little edge.
*Test GTR which I bought on Saturday
*Test a new track (Panchine) released for GPL
*Practise for the WOSEC race at Spa on Saturday
The WOSEC race is during the nighttime, so I have also gotten a pair of Nightvision goggles for that little edge.
21 May, 2005
Still out of stock
I went down to the electronics shop today, and it still doesn't have any MOMO Racing wheels in stock. It's quite a sought after wheel, so I'm not the only one anxious to get one...
I did, however, get my hands on GTR. Something I have been looking into doing for quite some time now. I still have no idea when the wheel will be back in stock, so I might just order it online. The shipping has to be quick, as there is a WOSEC race next weekend...
I did, however, get my hands on GTR. Something I have been looking into doing for quite some time now. I still have no idea when the wheel will be back in stock, so I might just order it online. The shipping has to be quick, as there is a WOSEC race next weekend...
19 May, 2005
OEGL here I come
I have submitted a request to join the Open European GPL League, which is a casual league ideal for the occasional race in the summer. Several other fellow racers from NGPLS will be participating as well, Espen Baklid among others. I think I'll chose the BRM despite it's reputation as "The Tank", because it is one of my favorite cars and it's a casual league so results won't matter.
I'm looking into buying a new wheel, as my old Logitech Wingman FGP has gone senile (see previous posts). I've got my eye on getting a Logitech MOMO Racing, I'm just looking for the best offer. There is a really cheap alternative but doesn't ship outside the UK, so I'll probably be walking out of a shop with it rather than down to the post office...
I'm looking into buying a new wheel, as my old Logitech Wingman FGP has gone senile (see previous posts). I've got my eye on getting a Logitech MOMO Racing, I'm just looking for the best offer. There is a really cheap alternative but doesn't ship outside the UK, so I'll probably be walking out of a shop with it rather than down to the post office...
11 May, 2005
NGPLS - Watkins Glen
[Tuesday - 10th of May]
Track Map
I spent most of qualifying in vein trying to help someone get into the server, he was on his brother's PC with orders not to d/l anything. So he couldn't d/l the necissary programs to get into the server (long story short). My poor old veteran of a wheel (Logitech Wingman Formula GP) has gone senile, as you might already know after my dLeague race at Magny Cours. Both the wheel and throttle were spiking, plus pushing the brakes not even half way down would lock up the wheels. Because of this I filled up the car for 10 laps worth of fuel as I knew I wouldn't last 33 laps with the state of my wheel...
Needless to say I was way off pace. I started last, and the only reason it didn't stay that way was because of other people crashing. I miraculously avoided a massive crash at T1 on the next lap (or so) and stumbled on. Pitted brutally by smashing myself into a wall of hay (no time to lose, who needs those silly "brakes" thingies?) after a while and carried on, this is when the crappiness takes over. I get passed time and time again, and when I spin off in the loop after starting lap 16 I realised that this wasn't fun anymore. So I retired, sad but true.
Track Map
I spent most of qualifying in vein trying to help someone get into the server, he was on his brother's PC with orders not to d/l anything. So he couldn't d/l the necissary programs to get into the server (long story short). My poor old veteran of a wheel (Logitech Wingman Formula GP) has gone senile, as you might already know after my dLeague race at Magny Cours. Both the wheel and throttle were spiking, plus pushing the brakes not even half way down would lock up the wheels. Because of this I filled up the car for 10 laps worth of fuel as I knew I wouldn't last 33 laps with the state of my wheel...
Needless to say I was way off pace. I started last, and the only reason it didn't stay that way was because of other people crashing. I miraculously avoided a massive crash at T1 on the next lap (or so) and stumbled on. Pitted brutally by smashing myself into a wall of hay (no time to lose, who needs those silly "brakes" thingies?) after a while and carried on, this is when the crappiness takes over. I get passed time and time again, and when I spin off in the loop after starting lap 16 I realised that this wasn't fun anymore. So I retired, sad but true.
08 May, 2005
Quote of the week
"We have all the bloody problems..." - Peter Gethin
I dropped out of the WOSEC race due to my brake pedal failing, for then the camshaft to go bust on lap 81 out of 298. Then the pedals stopped bloody working, after clening out the pedals for a ridiculous amount of crap (thanks dad, btw) they worked again. I got smashed and bashed and crashed in the VT Nurburgring race, my favorite track of them all, working my arse off for a non-point 8th position.
Then in dLeague I arrive late for the start, despite practising on the same server for several hours before the race. Problems start brewing near the end (read report for more detail) and now my accelerator pedal is spiking and my brakes are so good I only have to push them halfway down before my wheels lock up.
I'm hoping to be able to reformat my computer tomorrow, since I've also been having a ridiculous problem with fonts not showing up. If not I might miss the last race of the NGPLS season at Watkins Glen on Tuesday, and that might just make me blow up due to severe stress and frustration.
Rant over.
I dropped out of the WOSEC race due to my brake pedal failing, for then the camshaft to go bust on lap 81 out of 298. Then the pedals stopped bloody working, after clening out the pedals for a ridiculous amount of crap (thanks dad, btw) they worked again. I got smashed and bashed and crashed in the VT Nurburgring race, my favorite track of them all, working my arse off for a non-point 8th position.
Then in dLeague I arrive late for the start, despite practising on the same server for several hours before the race. Problems start brewing near the end (read report for more detail) and now my accelerator pedal is spiking and my brakes are so good I only have to push them halfway down before my wheels lock up.
I'm hoping to be able to reformat my computer tomorrow, since I've also been having a ridiculous problem with fonts not showing up. If not I might miss the last race of the NGPLS season at Watkins Glen on Tuesday, and that might just make me blow up due to severe stress and frustration.
Rant over.
06 May, 2005
dLeague - Magny Cours
[Thursday - 5th of May]
Track Map
I had to reboot, due to me not being able to get into the server, and once I made it in the race had already started. Luckily I got to start from the pits (1 lap down) so I set off into 62 laps of pure mental and physical fatigue. Had a spin once every 10 laps or so, and got a black flag for spinning while cutting a corner, there is no tjustice in this world... A few cars fell out of the race and I eventally found myself all the way up in 7th place from 12th. But those bloody brakes started fading (despite my recent cleaning of them), so I pitted and recalibrated the wheel. Re-entered and everything was fine until around 5 laps left, when the wheel would spike to the left into the quick right-handers. The throttle also hung wide open into the last corner, causing some damage to the nose. Spun while cutting a chicaine with 1.5 laps to go, and just went for the finish. Punishing me for that would be like rewarding Tony Blair for accidentally killing Derek Bell.
The Finish
Track Map
I had to reboot, due to me not being able to get into the server, and once I made it in the race had already started. Luckily I got to start from the pits (1 lap down) so I set off into 62 laps of pure mental and physical fatigue. Had a spin once every 10 laps or so, and got a black flag for spinning while cutting a corner, there is no tjustice in this world... A few cars fell out of the race and I eventally found myself all the way up in 7th place from 12th. But those bloody brakes started fading (despite my recent cleaning of them), so I pitted and recalibrated the wheel. Re-entered and everything was fine until around 5 laps left, when the wheel would spike to the left into the quick right-handers. The throttle also hung wide open into the last corner, causing some damage to the nose. Spun while cutting a chicaine with 1.5 laps to go, and just went for the finish. Punishing me for that would be like rewarding Tony Blair for accidentally killing Derek Bell.
The Finish
Vader Trophy - Nürburgring
[Wednesday - 4th of May]
Track Map
I took Turn 1 niiiiiice and sloooooow. A bit too nice and definately a bit too slow for the dude who sent me flying in T3 (cheers, m8 :)). After waiting for everyone to pass I could embark on an übercrappy first lap, including the out-taking of a ridiculousy slow Lotus just before Kesselchen.
I saw a loose wheel passing "The Tree" on the nest lap, so I knew I was catching someone. I almost avoided a Ferrari/Eagle crash in the hedges (The wheel probably belonged to one of them), I only grazed the hedge so I continueed unharmed. No lift at Tiergarten, and a new lap. Unfortunately I El Crappified the triple left after Breischeid and smashed my poor Cooper against the wall, luckily I managed to stop the car and reset before anyone came and stole my position. No lift at Tiergarten this time either.
Around 30 seconds up to Stuart Knibbs so I pushed. But I had a lazy little spin just after the Karussell and the gap was up to around 50. Blitzed the next lap and the gap was down to 27, blitzed again but never got Stu within eyesight (although I heard him into T1 and Karussell on the last two laps).
All in all, a pretty lonely race with not too much going on after Lap 2.
The Finish
Track Map
I took Turn 1 niiiiiice and sloooooow. A bit too nice and definately a bit too slow for the dude who sent me flying in T3 (cheers, m8 :)). After waiting for everyone to pass I could embark on an übercrappy first lap, including the out-taking of a ridiculousy slow Lotus just before Kesselchen.
I saw a loose wheel passing "The Tree" on the nest lap, so I knew I was catching someone. I almost avoided a Ferrari/Eagle crash in the hedges (The wheel probably belonged to one of them), I only grazed the hedge so I continueed unharmed. No lift at Tiergarten, and a new lap. Unfortunately I El Crappified the triple left after Breischeid and smashed my poor Cooper against the wall, luckily I managed to stop the car and reset before anyone came and stole my position. No lift at Tiergarten this time either.
Around 30 seconds up to Stuart Knibbs so I pushed. But I had a lazy little spin just after the Karussell and the gap was up to around 50. Blitzed the next lap and the gap was down to 27, blitzed again but never got Stu within eyesight (although I heard him into T1 and Karussell on the last two laps).
All in all, a pretty lonely race with not too much going on after Lap 2.
The Finish
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