1976 F1 Season - Round 5 Belgium Zolder REPORTS

[Dan Bayford]

My first "real" race with SR4L (i.e. not counting the T70 fun run at Spa a couple months back) in over a year I think -- maybe two -- as I had/have been working Sundays but happened to have this one off. I was concerned with wide cars and such a narrow track that there'd be carnage at the start but all was well behaved from where I was sitting. Got a good launch out of the first few corners which allowed me to pick up some spots. Had a good time chasing down Bayford a couple times, then was a bit surprised he just let me past. Lonely then until I pitted and came out right behind Cook. Really close fight for several laps there until finally was able to get by right as the leader caught us. Was able to sneak past when Cook overshot one corner a little bit, then I had just enough gap to let the leader past immediately thereafter.

Cook pitted a couple laps later, and at that point I was in fifth with half a minute to Bayford, who had taken tyres on his pitstop. I nursed the left front as much as I could, letting the gap come down, but right when I had to start pushing a bit more to make sure I maintained the position, I was mixed up with the car one position ahead of me who was also a lap ahead. I let him past, but then had to pass him back, then I drove off the track when I got blue flags again and spun the car in the grass. Lost fifth, then forgot where I was on track and took the nose off, losing sixth. With over a minute gap to eighth, I drove the last three laps without the nose, toodling around for a disappointing seventh place, even though that's a pretty good position for me in this crowd.

Overall, though, a very satisfying race -- some good close action for several laps.

Wasn't sure I'd be able to race, as, like DJC, I was having game crashes after every session leading up to it. There'd be a C runtime error after each session -- except Warmup thankfully. Perhaps it was related to downloading skins, which the game hadn't completed even at race time.

I had a great race and i got my fuel right for the first time this season i let you through Ron because i thought we were on different strats and you was alot faster than my pace lm gutted for you man you deserved 5th good luck for the next race