Sim Racers 4 Life-Season 6-Eve F2 Season-First Round-Road America-Reports

[1959nikos]

First round of Season and it promises to be a great one, almost 20 cars grid

Place your reports here gents.

[edwin]

Uhm....not a race report this time. A crash report instead (pc crash).
So what happened: while loading the track the loading bar just stopped gaining and got the message rf2 stopped working.
Tried several times with no succes.
Hmmmmm >
Now ~4hrs later, after a clean install of rF2 (no succes), searching the forums and the interweb, i finally found what was wrong.
somehow my gpu driver got corrupted, i needed to uninstall nvidia driver and downloaded and installed again.
All fine now.
Pfffff

Pissed that i missed the race tho.

[Hedlund]

Nice to be back on track with you guys 8)

After a couple of days of getting used to the car (and rf2 again for that matters), the speed and the feel came back to me. I was quite sure I had lost a lot of speed during my 6 months break, but no. Of course I couldn't tell for sure before I had raced others, but at least I had a nice feeling when driving the car.

During the final minutes of practice and quali, the track improved considerably, and I did several new pb's. When I first got under 2:19 I thought it was pretty much the limit, but surprisingly I found myself in the 2:17s when the quali was over. I was not surprised it was enough for pole but I never thought I would have such big gap to the others.

The first race was quite uneventful for me. Gorka had a good pace and it was not easy to pull away from him. My pitcrew apparently had some "first race of the season-nerves" and gave me a 50 sec stop. I think Gorka earned some time on me because of this, and when lapping a car I lost some more time. He was not far behind, just waiting for a little mistake to me made by me, but luckily I could keep it togehter and at last it was a quite comfortable victory.

The second race was more fun, like it often is (if you can avoid damage first lap heh). I made a lot of good decisions during my first lap, always keeping an eye on the cars around me and I could avoid several crashes. I was 3rd already when we began lap 2. Coyne was pulling away in the lead while I was struggling with Dan Bayford for a couple of laps. Several times I was up beside him but it felt like he never saw me. Once he just turned into me even though I was already past him on the inside.. After that I was very careful but could finally overtake him somewhat safely when he made a mistake. The hunt for Coyne began, but he pitted the same lap. I continued several more laps, but after the difficult first laps my tires was not in very good shape. I made many mistakes and when I finally pitted, my pitcrew gave me a 55 second stop! When I exited pits, I could just BARELY hold Coyne behind me in the first corner. But after that I could slowly build up a gap and win the race.

Perfect start of the season for me. And I'm sure I'll need these points because I don't think I will attend to all races. Hopefully my brother will be back with Hedlund Racing next time and score some points for us..

[Ricknau]

First off... bummer Nikos that you didn't make the first race. Man that has to be disappointing!

Race 1, qualified with a PB in the 1:22s. Felt pretty good about that but it was only good enough for P9. Got very lucky getting past the first lap shemozzle. Was the last guy through and gained a couple positions. Raced alone for quite a while. Got a couple more spots through attrition and finished P6. Set a new PB in the 1:21s on the last lap. Quite happy but now had to start the second race with faster guys behind me. Oh my!

Second race was much more interesting. Car in front of me didn't get away. Caused just enough of a hold up to give up quite a few positions. Now I'm back in the pack as we all try to squeeze around T1. Me and Jerry touch and lock wheels. He gets away fairly well and I lose a couple more. Then a big shemozzle (my word of the week!) at T3 and I get a few back but me and Jerry tangle again at T4. Honestly Jerry, I wasn't out gunning for you! Just hard racing. By this time my car is a little bent so I duck into the pits earlier than normal. The stop is 77 seconds... ouch! Then I speed exiting the pits so a stop-and-go is accessed to me. Arrgh! But even with all that I enjoyed the weekend.

See y'all next time.

[JimmyC]

Doh! I didn't check the time until it was too late. Sorry I missed it.

[gorgias1976]

Qualy
-------
Imposible to reach Rickard's super laptimes. at least my personal best was enough for second place and to have a clear road ahead.

Race 1
--------
Started fine. While approaching turn 1 I saw David coming really fast behind Rik's draft and also another car was braking pretty late and took my position too. Fortunately my car felt pretty fast at turn exit compared to other and that helped me getting at the slipstreams of both cars at the straights.
That put me back into second place and driving consistently at around 4 seconds behind Rik. This tires are hard and forgiving (compared to the Lolas') and help you lap constant laptimes.
By the end of lap 5 pitstop was to be done. 48 seconds and get back to track. A lap later Rik came after his pitstop but still far enough to not have a chance. Lap 12 reached and finished 6 seconds behind Rik. Second place, which tasted really good and mainly I felt pretty good for making no mistakes.

Race 2
--------
In the classic mayhem of lap 1 my tires got hooked to other car at a high speed section of the track. We both went into the grass and my left front wheel was ripped against a wall.
Had to go back to the pits and it took 306 seconds to repair the car. Just got back to track in final place and didn't get in traffic until the final part of the race where I met Juraj and John Cook. Finally ended last to cross the finish line, at least I can get some points.

[deecee52]

Qually

Went out early and set a time that I knew would get me on the 2nd row , I was happy with that but had to keep my eye on Dan who was threatening to push me back , fortunately didnt need to go out again .

Race 1

Got a good start and got Gorka at turn 1 , tried to stay with Rik in the hope he would tow me away from Gorka , this was working well until I made a mess of the last corner and got into a tail slide which scrubbed my speed off , this allowed Gorka to close and get my draft and get passed .
Chased after him but I was overdriving and dropping away , went for pitstop on lap 6 but just went over speed limit for about 1 sec which got me a drive through , I thought that would drop me way back , did the drive through on the next lap and then just pushed hard , luckily it panned out for me and I ended back in 3rd place .

Race 2

Got a good start again , made a place and was alongside someone on the approach to turn 1 , he didnt see me and started to pull out , we touched but neither of us went off , exiting turn 1 the car in front shot over to the right and I thought he was backing off to let the pack through , I thought I had cleared him but he came back at me under braking for the 2nd corner and we touched , this pushed me wide and someone else tapped me , fortunately no damage was done and I chased after Dan and Tim , we stayed like this until Tim slide wide at turn 10 when Dan and I slipped passed .
This allowed me to get close to Dan and draft pass on the main striaght , I could then see Rik harrying Dan so I pushed to try and gain as much time as I could before my planned early pitstop , did my pitstop very carefully this time and came out in clear air , pushed hard for a few laps then I could see Rik just coming out of the pits , unfortunately I was just too far back to pass him before turn 1 . We stayed this way for the rest of the race .
I could see Dan was in the lead and was waiting for him to do his stop this would have put me in 2nd place , as we neared the end I thought Dan was going to do his stop on the last lap as his pitbox must be before the startline , its what I would have done if mine was , unfortunately he miscalculated and must be kicking himself after a good drive .

This was a great start to the season and a lot of fun , I hope the new guys enjoyed it and was pleased to see Connor and Rik back .

Well done and thanks Admin you did SR4L proud .

[jerry 33]

it was a bad day at black rock :-[

or a tale of different views in different races in different cars....

if you take a camera view from behind my car (for this is what I seen in the race) you can see why I am wondering: "what the Hell are all these guys doing?"

if you look at it from behind their cars - you can hear them say: What the Hell is Jerry doing?"

to those that it applies: SORRY
to those that it applies: No Problem

thanks to all that made it happen and Congrats to all that finished and got points!

on to the next race......

[sdancourt]

Another not so good debut.

Race 1: mesh up at turn 1, I was in the middle, so crash front and rear supensions, impossible to drive, end of race.

Race 2: start almost at the end of the row, braking early at turn 1 to see what is happens, somebody hit my rear, car overturn and a lot of seconds to return to its wheel again, slighty damaged rear suspension but driveable, enjoy my ride and finished 12.

I hope will be more lucky at Oulton Park.

Many thanks to the Org

[bullwinkle]

Qual went as expected ended 10th.
Race 1
Tangled with Jer turn 2 sorry did not know you were inside sent us to back then had speeding in pits ended P9.
Race 2
Started 2nd good start saw the boys coming and went off at 10 I think fell to 4th then got passed by one more ended 5th good result for me.

Sorry to all that got caught up in turn 2 race 1 wreck I just went for apex did not know Jerry was coming inside I hurt us all. Hope to do better need three screens like Ed I guess.
once out of mirrors I can see no one to right or left.

[deecee52]

Tim are you using the virtual mirrors as well as those mounted on the car ?

[bullwinkle]

just the center mirror would it help to use all 3?

[Hedlund]

I don't use the virtual mirrors at all. But I use the look right and left buttons a lot. I can understand it's difficult and possibly confusing while in a turn, but it's very helpful

[1959nikos]

just the center mirror would it help to use all 3?

It helps very much to use all 3 Tim, try it.

[gorgias1976]

I like using the three virtual mirrors. Thanks to them I saw David coming really quick behind Rik at race1 start and also Dan braking hard (If not I wouldn't have seen him and wouldn't have opened the line to let him through the inside of turn 1)

[bullwinkle]

I will try all 3 Rik I have look left and right set up but if I try it there I will crass all over

[cookie]

Here is my report-: it was fun.

aside from that - i got a nice time in Q with NO time left - everybody was fast and close-

Race 1- it was fun - i did ok, avoided any collisions

Race 2 - it was fun too- i did ok again despite being flattened twice on the first lap and having to pit for repairs

I hope Mr Rimes keeps showing up - i beat him by one place in race 1 and he beat me by 1 place in race 2 - we are tied and i expect it will be a season long battle - our times seem close

I missed a couple people - thought marcel may make it - missed DJ and Mel too.

[lamer of fortune]

Hi all
Q: | Was entering the server briefly before Q as we had visitors all afternoon. Due to the rubber on the track I dared to change to a setup Close to The One Marcel Shared with lots of oversteer Very happy to end Q with a PB in final Lap.

R1 : Someone hit me in t1 then 6 Laps with damaged steering and 82 sec repair stop. A few cleaner laps after that .
R2: Survived T1 and find myself im 5th position. Could hold it for a few laps until I made a small mistake and 3 Guys Overtook me in One turn. Clean driving after that and finish in 9th position, which is my best result so far. Rather happy with this outcome and avoidance of big mistakes.

Sorry for typos trying the handwriting On my tablet.
looking forward to the next Race, Tobias

[argl]

Thrilling start to the season!

Qualified 8th or so, everyone seemed to unpack a spare second in qualy, but hey. Had a good start in race 1, made up a few places but on lap 4 exiting turn 1, there was a car facing the wrong way pretty much on the racing line. I tried to sverve but hit it anyway. suspension gone, race done.

In race 2 I started in P14, had a very good start and ended up 5th-ish at the end of lap 2. Had a fun fight with Tim, and managed to squeeze by in the last turn. After that I lost connection to the cars in front of me, but also behind me. Did an early pit stop to avoid traffic jams. After most drivers made their stop, I ended up cruising to 4th place, knowing that one those in front of me still had to pit. In the end that did not happen (Dan's piststop), but even just missing the podium was very satisfiying. And who knows, maybe I even gain another place after the stewards decide on that pitstop thing..

See you all in Oulton Park soon!

[dwbradley]

First race with SR4L and I must say it was a very enjoyable experience. I am looking forward to lots more fun!

Race 1: Started at the back after barely sorting out some config file issues that looked to keep me out of the race. I just sort of tried to make my way around and get a sense of how the racing would go. I was surprised to finish 10th.

Race 2: That 10th place finish in the first race put me on the pole (Yikes!), where I promptly blew it by bogging down off the line. Guys were streaming past left and right. I apologize for any problems my slow start caused. I did have some contact several times during the first lap or two. In at least one case I know I could have done a better job of avoiding. I apologize for that also. So, after that rugged start I managed to settle down and finish 11th. Hmm, another surprise, but a welcome one.

Thanks to Nikos for helping me with my pre-race problems.

I hope to see you this weekend as I try to handle the big scary beast of the AC 427.

Dave