|
|
Post by Joe Miller on Jan 29, 2020 3:55:07 GMT
|
|
gui
Junior Member
Posts: 10
|
Post by gui on Jan 29, 2020 21:15:53 GMT
First of all, I want to say thank you guys for hosting the race. I absolutely adore these cars even if they're all Reynard Hondas, which I hadn't raced until the test race!
Immediately after the practice race, I loaded Jacarepaguá to have an idea of what was to come and I turned maybe 10 laps or just under that, and settled as I was able to not crash. I was surprised with qualifying and getting pole! It was a new experience but the start was OK, I got a warning to not accelerate too early so I think we all went on a mad dash within 100m of the S/F line.
After taking it easy the first five laps to understand how the car settled, I started to focus on the gap to P2 and see if I could run safe enough to not be constantly being drafted, passed, and vice versa. Learning the car was great and it wasn't until the final third of a race that I found the best flow for T1 and T4, always afraid of the engine going KABOOM as I often saw faint smoke on the straight from a few other cars. Anyway, the race turned into an attrition race as T4 claimed a few people and I almost retired myself with a parked, unannounced car (when I reached T1 someone mentioned they crashed) on T4. Had a couple of very, very close calls that would have been devastating, but managed to avoid accidents through the end.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jerry Hamilton on Jan 30, 2020 0:55:37 GMT
A fun track, fun cars, and I had a decent setup. Started in P7. Unfortunately, even though I finished, my race really only lasted a few laps. The best racing I had was during the last hour of practice. I had a blast chasing and being chased; figuring out how the car handled in traffic, working on passing moves and optional lines through each corner. Thanks to all the drivers who played the game.  I was concerned about the first two corners with the cars bunched together. Got through unscathed and latched onto the cars ahead. After two laps I was still in P-7, the last spot in the front group which seemed to be pulling away from the cars behind. Going into the last corner on lap 3 I noted a car having problems running a high line. I took a tight line to get by on the inside. Coming off the corner the other car flashed in front of me.  I had to make an avoidance move and lost the rearend, slid off track, and banged alongside a wall. Was able to keep going but the car's left side suspension was damaged and it wanted to crab down the track. After I fought it back to the pits the crew did the best they could but it was damaged merchandise at that point.  The rest the race I was just hanging on, trying not to run off track. Finished P-9. Congrats to all intrepid drivers taking the green flag. |
|
|
|
Post by Aaron Page on Jan 30, 2020 1:35:53 GMT
Congrats on the win, Gui! And Matthew, that was one heck of a run starting so far back and finishing second -- and first in seniors by quite a margin. I'm going to have to watch the replay from your cockpit, and learn something :-)
My race can be summed up with "wrong gearing" and "losing the draft." Heck, I hardly got the chance to draft anyone, but folks sure did get to draft me! Bob, excellent opening laps with you, my friend. Thanks for the patience. Once Bob got by, it was time for Tony and me to race, which is always a good time. Our race lasted quite a long time, with only one minor contact (I either cut in for the turn too sharply or he was carrying too much speed, and we had wheel contact resulting in minor damage, to me at least -- hope that contact wasn't worse for you, Tony. I think Tony hit the gas too hard out of a turn later on, because he was suddenly spinning, and now my task was to not be a problem to those lapping me. Late in the race, I saw Joe was coming out of the pits beside me, and I thought he was at least one lap ahead, but no! I lost a spot there, and spent the rest of the race trying to stay in from of the steadily gaining Jason. Finished the race absolutely worn out.
I see from the schedule I'll get another crack at oval racing, and hope to be able to do better as concerns the draft. I'm sure that those of us who rarely race ovals anymore are all hoping the same...interspersing ovals here and there does make life interesting.
|
|
|
|
Post by Joe Miller on Feb 2, 2020 0:47:59 GMT
Congrats to Gui and Matthew, brilliant racing from the both of you.
My race didn't go so well. I completely miscalculated fuel, and pit way too early. When I realized that I wasn't going to have enough fuel, I tapped the wall trying to pull up and adjust the fuel in my pit options. The damage added to my time on pit road. When I came out of the pits the second time I was surprised to see that I was still in 5th place. Even so, Aaron was right behind me so I had to get up and go or risk loosing the position. I managed to gap Aaron and hold 5th until the end of the race.
I had alot of fun despite my troubles. see you all at the next one.
|
|
|
|
Post by Matthew Overton on Feb 3, 2020 3:47:23 GMT
Hi everyone, thanks for the congratulations. Everything just seemed to fall into place for me and apart from an initial scare from being squeezed into the wall on the front straight, from which I escaped with no apparent damage (no idea how), it was just a great deal of fun. Kudos to Joe for the setup he shared, it just suited me down to the ground. I'm not expecting such happy results in the races to come, but I'll rest on my laurels for this one!
|
|
I had to make an avoidance move and lost the rearend, slid off track, and banged alongside a wall. 
The rest the race I was just hanging on, trying not to run off track. Finished P-9.
