I've done a few laps tonight, using the only SO set on Inferno (SO Town). It's a very twitchy car with that setup, but once you get the left and right feet working as a pair, the little beast can be tamed. I managed a 39.59, which is quite good for me.

It's such a small track. For sure there will be some disappointed drivers after qualifying, with not only finding space for a clean run going to be challenging, but also the very real threat of damage if you run into somebody else's accident.

The racing will be frenetic though, should be good.

@Blackeye, I know what you mean about not wanting to harm other driver's racing. It is different in a league, but contact can happen sometimes and you shouldn't worry about it. As long as you are familiar with the track through practice, and if you get a chance to drive the combo in pick-up races then that would also help, then you shouldn't have any problems. Whenever I have raced with you I have thought you are a very fair driver.

The more you race in a league the easier it becomes. You'll be familiar with the format, and you'll also become familiar with the other drivers, especially those with whom you are normally racing. I do hope that you persevere.

Those movements are needed to provide the simulation of the g-forces. If the simulator only moved slightly, those forces would not be experienced. It's the same for those enclosed simulators of F1 cars, roller coaster rides etc. I think that if you were sitting on the simulator, you'd think very differently Ant.

Hmmm. I've done about 20 laps, but I haven't got below 2:04 in the RAC. I suspect that is largely due to the unstable set I have acquired from Inferno. Can anybody help with a setup that may work better?

I agree with the ballast being for championship position.

I would like the weight to be reviewed. It would be interesting to look at the relative performances of those carrying ballast in the races to date, as well as doing some testing.

Quote from danowat :

... must also apologise to bozo, who I pole-axed whilst completely out of control, sorry mate.

No worries at all. I saw you in difficulties, and tried to position myself to take advantage. I misjudged the situation, hey ho!

Thanks guys for getting the results and stats up so quickly. It's good to reflect on how the racing went, even if it does make you think 'what if ...'

That was a good event tonight. The format with 2 sprint races worked well.

I had a good first race, tracking Dan for a very long time. When at last he made a mistake and was whale boning just before the bridge, I put myself in a position to make a pass if I could get ahead before that right hander onto the bridge. Unfortunately I got side-swiped as Dan was still trying to control the car (at least I assume that was it ), and ended up losing a few positions and having a badly steering car to nurse through the last 4 or 5 laps. Finished about 13th.

Race 2 was better, and I enjoyed some close racing with a few drivers. On about lap 2, Mr E.Pond slowed suddenly on the bend just before the underpass, himself trying to avoid running into the car ahead. I hit him, pushing him onto the grass. I held back though to let him recover in front of me, losing 2 positions as the following cars went through. Sorry for the contact Mr E.Pond; I was just not expecting you to slow down at that time. The rest of the race went well, I overtook a couple of cars, and a couple were passed as they recovered from an off. Finished 9th in the end. Not a bad result for me.

With the Christmas break upon us, is it an opportune time to discuss the weight penalties? If Hannu's achievement tonight is a general reflection, I think an increase in the weight penalty would be beneficial. Might be worth somebody looking at the stats for the races to date.

Oh boy, I'm still doing 1:35.xx times, which seems to be 2 seconds off the pace. Hopefully I'll get some time later to practice some more, but I'm not sure where I'm losing so much time. I've looked at Ghost's WR lap, and it just seems that he's a lot smoother in every corner. Maybe I need to don some shades and slick back my hair!

Quote from SpeedClub :

Our website (seriously under construction): www.speedclub.fi

I can't read a word on the website, but that simulator is something else. The video on the homepage is quite something.

Quote from mkinnov8 :

Race Two, started again near the back, as those who are slowest will do with a top ten reverse grid, it will always reward the faster ten. Kinda glad in a way, as I get the feeling that those who consider themselves faster would have just pushed the slower cars off the track as they did in race one.

I know how you feel, having had races like that myself ... but not yet in this series. I was very impressed by the driving last night, all but one of the faster guys passing me waited until an appropriate time and it was clear how they were passing. The one exception was whoever hit me in the second race in the final corner - it was accidental I think, just a difference in speed as he was probably lining up for a passing manouvre on the straight.

In respect to the top 10 reverse grid, I don't think that it changes much for those finishing outside the top 10. Only those in perhaps positions 11 to 15 might normally be in with a chance of overtaking some top 10 drivers, and with this system they still have a chance as the slower top 10 drivers will be slowed whenever they are fending off or being passed by one of the quicker drivers.

I wouldn't consider myself a top 10 driver in this field, I was fortunate with my 9th and 5th placed finishes last night. I am spurred on to achieve a top 10 finish in future races though, and the prospect of starting at the front of the grid for the second race.

Hopefully your experience was just a one off, and a nature of the track rather than the drivers. The next race is at South City (sprint 2) on 8th Jan, so another tight circuit, but fingers crossed that you'll have a better experience.

A good evening of racing for me. After a very bad first lap in race 1 that left me in about 22nd place, I drove hard for the next 19 laps, moving up to 9th place at the end. I think there were a few mistakes ahead of me, which did greatly help.

Race 2 saw me in front after about 3 laps, but I was just the hare in front of some useful greyhounds behind. I held out until about lap 12. I got hit in the final corners on about lap 13 by the then 2nd place racer - our pace was a little mismatched. Thankfully I held on to the car, but I was now in reach of more racers. I slipped down to 4th with a couple of laps to go, and tried to hold on in the final lap, but was passed quite conclusively. 5th placed finish was a good result for me though.

I would definitely be interested if it were about 100 miles further south. As it stands, I'll need to wait and see nearer the time.

It's an exciting combination for this evening. I think the laptimes will be very closely spread, and some of those kerbs require such a precise line that I'm hoping some of the quicker racers will make an error or two.

I've not been able to practice when others have been online, so I'm hoping that there'll be a few racers online during the hour before the race starts so that we can run some practice races. I should be online from around 18:30 GMT.

Quote from Tobsen00 :

I may not participate in this race, due to a direct hit by a hockey ball at my right foot.
Currently i'm moving like a :gandalf:

You sure need to change your signature then .

Hope things aren't so bad and that we'll see you on that grid on Thursday.

Last edited by bozo, Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:27. Reason : wrong day!

I've completed the entry form, but didn't receive any confirmation that the form was sent successfully.

Just to confirm, I would like to enter GFC Season 2. I'll be driving the FOX.

Many thanks.

Is there anything to be said about the amount of 'cutting' allowed? When hotlapping, a valid line for the 2nd part of the chicane, and the 3rd from last corner, is for barely 2 wheels to be on the track. Is this the criteria for the race also?

I'll be in Sweden for the next couple of days, so will be missing tomorrow's race .

Good luck all ... I'll be waiting for you at Fern Bay.

I have a complaint. Lap 3 of qualifying. N.Djakavic incessantly used his horn from T1 and for much of the rest of that lap. First behind myself, and then behind J.Cooper.

In getting past myself and J.Cooper, he used very forceful driving, pushing both cars aside rather than waiting for an opportune moment to pass.

Although there is no rule against using the horn, I do not consider it appropriate conduct in a league such as this.

As for the way he overtook both myself and J.Cooper, in normal circumstances I would not have raised a complaint. However in view of N.Djakavic's state of mind (he was obviously of the opinion that other drivers should get out of his way, even though they were themselves trying to achieve a good qualifying time), I find these actions completely against the good nature that has previously been the norm for this league.

Will there be any weather tomorrow, or just 'bland'

Chances are nobody will pit during the race. If they do, they'll probably come out onto a clear track as they'll lose a lot of time in the pitlane anyway. If there is a car approaching at the end of the straight, just let them past before committing yourself onto the track.

No pitting allowed in qualifying, so that'll be ok.

Fantastic song! Well done, that put a huge smile on my face. Let's hope this is the start of something big!

Quote from Krammeh :

If thats the case, then if you crash while driving in the game, then you should die in real life.

I disagree. You should only die for the more serious crashes. Mild shunts could be broken ankles.

Presumably the leeway will be greater on exit of the pits for the start of qualifying, but less so if anybody pits during the race - with the returning driver expected to keep as far the to right as possible, albeit allowing for some crossing of the yellow line due to the aforementioned issues.

Quote from danowat :

Ohhh, well I did some practice, but my pb isn't showing on the site..........

Are you sure you're registered for this series?

I think that your details have been omitted from the LFS driver name file. lococost?