- 86,241
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
All the votes are in, the Excel file is locked and the cameras are emitting steam... Here are the results (and evidence) of the May 2007 incarnation of the UKGTP...
Okay, the first task was to find the caretaker who didn't arrive until 10.30...
The industry of the set up.
The Lesser-Spotted Urnburner
TheCracker unwisely attempts to pass the Dutchie on the right hand side
Specialized books his seat early - not realising that the machine is set up
to start 6th each race...
Eventually (like 2 hours later), everyone had arrived and all of the machines were set up and the racing commenced...
Series 1 - Coupe Handicap
A fixture of UKGTPs for some time now, the idea behind the handicap is to have all drivers in a single, fast start vehicle. Successful drivers advance to slower vehicles, making their races progressively harder. The series winner is the driver who manages to win a race in the slowest available vehicle - often translating into a race where all drivers are in the slowest available vehicle and one of them avoids crashing/being crashed into.
As always the list started off with the Ruf RGT - a personal favourite of mine - with the 1st and 2nd placed drivers advancing a car each time, through the Spyker C8, Aston Martin Vanquish, Protoworks Spirra, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Lotus Esprit V8 '02, BMW M3 and finally to the ASL Garaiya.
With 13 drivers present and only 12 machines, I had to rely on the ranking data from previous UKGTPs to determine that the highest ranked - and thus most in need of handicapping - was VEXD and he should sit out the first race... Winners of each race would also sit off the following race and, in order to keep the racer combinations fresh, 1st and 2nd placed drivers in each race would swap LANs for their next race...
Race 1 - Autumn Ring
Left LAN
1st Roo
2nd -Diego-
3rd Touring Mars
4th G.T
5th AMG.
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st Famine
2nd TheCracker
3rd Specialized
4th Sureshot
5th daan
6th EXelero
With an odd number of drivers, I decided that I, as the higher ranked of the two first finisher, should sit off the next race. Roo, -Diego-, TheCracker and I all advanced to the Spyker C8.
Race 2 - Suzuka
Left LAN
1st Touring Mars
2nd G.T
3rd -Diego- - Spyker C8
4th TheCracker - Spyker C8
5th AMG.
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st VEXD
2nd Roo - Spyker C8
3rd daan
4th Sureshot
5th Specialized
6th EXelero
VEXD justifies his #1 ranking by leaping into the Ruf and winning, with Roo placing the Spyker C8 brilliantly in 2nd. Touring Mars and G.T - in his very first UKGTP - stick their Rufs ahead of a pair of Spykers piloted by -Diego- and TheCracker. We now have 7 Spyker drivers and Roo is the first to advance to the Korean debutant Spirra.
At this point GTPlant joined in the driving duties, giving us a neat even number and allowing me to retire the 1st placed driver on each LAN for a race. W00t!
Race 3 - Special Stage Route 5 Reverse
Left LAN
1st Famine - Spyker C8
2nd Roo - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd AMG.
4th TheCracker - Spyker C8
5th -Diego- - Spyker C8
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st Sureshot
2nd daan
3rd Specialized
4th G.T - Spyker C8
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
Famine's love of SSR5R shows as the Spyker belies its ranking and tops the field, with Roo placing the big Aston in second. Sureshot nets his debut win, leading daan home in the Rufs.
Race 4 - El Capitan
Left LAN
1st VEXD - Spyker C8
2nd TheCracker - Spyker C8
3rd daan - Spyker C8
4th AMG.
5th -Diego- - Spyker C8
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st G.T - Spyker C8
2nd Specialized
3rd Touring Mars - Spyker C8
4th Roo - Protoworks Spirra
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
VEXD nets a second win from two in the Spyker, with G.T managing a similar debut win. Specialized finally gets the hang of the Ruf, while TheCracker leaps the Spyker into 2nd.
Race 5 - Deep Forest
Left LAN
1st Specialized - Spyker C8
2nd -Diego- - Spyker C8
3rd daan - Spyker C8
4th AMG.
5th SareBear
6th Sureshot - Spyker C8
Right LAN
1st TheCracker - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd Famine - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd Roo - Protoworks Spirra
4th Touring Mars - Spyker C8
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
Specialized makes short work of the Spyker, doing in one race what he couldn't in 4 in the Ruf, followed home by -Diego- in the same car. TheCracker takes the Vanquish home ahead of Famine's twin Vanquish.
Race 6 - Fuji Speedway 2005F
Left LAN
1st daan - Spyker C8
2nd -Diego- - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd AMG.
4th Sureshot - Spyker C8
5th dustdriver
6th SareBear
RightLAN
1st VEXD - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd Roo - Protoworks Spirra
3rd G.T - Aston Martin Vanquish
4th EXelero
5th Touring Mars - Spyker C8
6th GTPlant
VEXD can't stop winning, but Roo takes the Spirra high enough to remain a car ahead of the field. daan rids himself of the Spyker with a fine victory from -Diego-'s Aston.
At this point in procedings, the group was joined by our Belgian contingent, dustdriver...
Race 7 - Apricot Hill Reverse
Left LAN
1st Sureshot - Spyker C8
2nd dustdriver
3rd AMG.
4th Famine - Protoworks Spirra
5th TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
6th SareBear
RightLAN
1st Specialized - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd G.T - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd Roo - Corvette Z06
4th Touring Mars - Spyker C8
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
Specialized makes it two for two ahead of G.T's Vanquish. dustdriver plonks the Ruf RGT in second behind Sureshot's second victory of the weekend.
Race 8 - Twin Ring Motegi
Left LAN
1st VEXD - Protoworks Spirra
2nd AMG.
3rd -Diego- - Protoworks Spirra
4th Famine - Protoworks Spirra
5th TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st Roo - Corvette Z06
2nd Touring Mars - Spyker C8
3rd EXelero
4th daan - Aston Martin Vanquish
5th dustdriver - Spyker C8
6th GTPlant
VEXD makes it an astonishing four from four and AMG. finally tires of finishing 3rd and places the Ruf in 2nd. Roo manages an amazing victory in the worst car yet used, advancing yet further ahead of the others, with Mars's Spyker second.
And now we're joined by our final guest of the Saturday, Race Idiot. This means that now 1st and 2nd both advance a car, sit off and switch LANs on each side.
Race 9 - Hong Kong
Left LAN
1st Famine - Protoworks Spirra
2nd -Diego- - Protoworks Spirra
3rd TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
4th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
5th G.T - Protoworks Spirra
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st dustdriver - Spyker C8
2nd Sureshot - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd Race Idiot
4th daan - Aston Martin Vanquish
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
Famine leads home a pack of Spirras, followed by -Diego-, and dustdriver nets win 1 in his second race, from Sureshot's Aston.
Race 10 - Nuerburgring (1 lap)
Left LAN
1st Touring Mars - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd daan - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd Roo - Lotus Esprit
4th G.T - Protoworks Spirra
5th TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
6th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
Right LAN
1st VEXD - Corvette Z06
2nd Race Idiot
3rd EXelero
4th SareBear
5th GTPlant
6th AMG. - Spyker C8
Mars and daan take the big Aston home ahead of the field, with VEXD, in the slowest vehicle and starting from 6th, making it an amazing five straight wins, joining Roo in the Esprit... Oh heck...
Sureshot, dustdriver and -Diego- keep an eye on the action at the 'Ring...
...while VEXD scythes his way through the field, with EXelero in 3rd.
Specialized dumps some Korean metal mid-Aremberg.
Race 11 - Tokyo R246 Reverse
Left LAN
1st Sureshot - Protoworks Spirra
2nd Roo - Lotus Esprit
3rd G.T - Protoworks Spirra
4th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
5th TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
6th dustdriver - Aston Martin Vanquish
Right LAN
1st Famine - Corvette Z06
2nd -Diego- - Corvette Z06
3rd EXelero
4th SareBear
5th GTPlant
6th AMG. - Aston Martin Vanquish
Just as soon as VEXD joins Roo in the lead car, so Roo pulls away again, lead home only by Sureshot. Famine and -Diego- take advantage of the Corvette's power and nail them on the top two spots.
Race 12 - Seoul Reverse
Left LAN
1st G.T - Protoworks Spirra
2nd TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
3rd dustdriver - Aston Martin Vanquish
4th Touring Mars - Protoworks Spirra
5th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
6th daan - Protoworks Spirra
Right LAN
1st Race Idiot - Spyker C8
2nd VEXD - Lotus Esprit
3rd EXelero
4th AMG. - Spyker C8
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
Race Idiot becomes the first driver to take a win away from VEXD, but he advances to join Roo in the BMW anyway thanks to a second place. G.T and TheCracker put Spirras in 1st and 2nd.
Race 13 - Grand Valley East
Left LAN
1st dustdriver - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd Famine - Lotus Esprit
3rd -Diego- - Lotus Esprit
4th Touring Mars - Protoworks Spirra
5th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
6th daan - Protoworks Spirra
Right LAN
1st Sureshot - Corvette Z06
2nd Roo - BMW M3
3rd EXelero
4th SareBear
5th AMG. - Spyker C8
6th GTPlant
And, somewhat predictably, Roo hits right back again, qualifying himself for the final car and putting him back in the lead again. Sureshot does a terrific job putting the big Chevy on top at such a short course, with dustdriver's Vanquish leading Famine's Esprit home on the other LAN.
Race 14 - Circuit de la Sarthe 2 (2 laps)
Left LAN
1st Race Idiot - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd VEXD - BMW M3
3rd daan - Protoworks Spirra
4th -Diego- - Lotus Esprit
5th Touring Mars - Protoworks Spirra
6th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
Right LAN
1st G.T - Corvette Z06
2nd TheCracker - Corvette Z06
3rd AMG. - Spyker C8
4th EXelero
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
And VEXD hits back again. Again. Race Idiot once again takes the win from him, but both are promoted - VEXD into the final car with Roo. G.T and TheCracker take Corvettes to the win/second place.
Race 15 - Seattle
Left LAN
1st Touring Mars - Protoworks Spirra
2nd -Diego- - Lotus Esprit
3rd Sureshot - Lotus Esprit
4th daan - Protoworks Spirra
5th Spec - Protoworks Spirra
6th Roo - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st Famine - BMW M3
2nd dustdriver - Protoworks Spirra
3rd EXelero
4th AMG. - Spyker C8
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
Famine's comment to EXelero prior to the race: "I've never done better than 4th in a race at Seattle at ANY UKGTP, except once."... dustdriver's Spirra comes home second, while on the other LAN Mars's Spirra finishes ahead of -Diego-'s Esprit. The Garaiya proves to be a bridge too far for Roo, coming home last.
Race 16 - Laguna Seca
Left LAN
1st Sureshot - Lotus Esprit
2nd TheCracker - Lotus Esprit
3rd daan - Protoworks Spirra
4th G.T - Lotus Esprit
5th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
6th Roo - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st Race Idiot - Protoworks Spirra
2nd AMG. - Spyker C8
3rd VEXD - ASL Garaiya
4th EXelero
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
VEXD can't make the Garaiya stick any better than Roo could, allowing AMG. to escape the Spyker and Race Idiot to make yet more progress. The Esprits of Sureshot and TheCracker take home the bacon on the left side.
Race 17 - Suzuka West
Left LAN
1st daan - Protoworks Spirra
2nd Roo - ASL Garaiya
3rd dustdriver - Corvette Z06
4th Famine - ASL Garaiya
5th G.T - Lotus Esprit
6th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
Right LAN
1st Touring Mars - Corvette Z06
2nd -Diego- - BMW M3
3rd VEXD - ASL Garaiya
4th EXelero
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
daan holes out in the Spirra, followed in a close-but-no-cigar second for Roo (losing him the chance to try again next race - he has to sit out). Mars takes the Corvette home for the win, trailed by -Diego- who also advances now to the ASL...
Race 18 - Monaco
Left LAN
1st Race Idiot - Corvette Z06
2nd Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
3rd Famine - ASL Garaiya
4th G.T - Protoworks Spirra
5th dustdriver - Corvette Z06
6th AMG. - Aston Martin Vanquish
Right LAN
1st TheCracker - BMW M3
2nd VEXD - ASL Garaiya
3rd Sureshot - BMW M3
4th EXelero
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
On the right-side, VEXD pilots the ASL to a creditable 2nd, putting him off for the next race. Famine loses 2nd right at the line to Specialized's charging Spirra, with TheCracker and Race Idiot taking the wins.
Race 19 - Tsukuba
Left LAN
1st dustdriver - Corvette Z06
2nd Touring Mars - Lotus Esprit
3rd G.T - Lotus Esprit
4th Famine - ASL Garaiya
5th AMG. - Aston Martin Vanquish
6th -Diego- - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st daan - Corvette Z06
2nd Roo - ASL Garaiya
3rd EXelero
4th Sureshot - BMW M3
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
The Corvette rule Tsukuba, taking daan and dustdriver to victory from Mars's Esprit and Roo's Garaiya respectively... The numbers of Garaiyas are steadily growing, with five drivers in them now...
Race 20 - Trial Mountain
Left LAN
1st G.T - Lotus Esprit
2nd AMG. - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd VEXD - ASL Garaiya
4th Famine - ASL Garaiya
5th TheCracker - ASL Garaiya
6th -Diego- - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st Race Idiot - Lotus Esprit
2nd Sureshot - BMW M3
3rd Specialized - Corvette Z06
4th SareBear
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
Any of four drivers could have taken the series with a win. But G.T had to be selfish and nail his Esprit to the top step, ahead of AMG.'s Aston. Race Idiot had similar success in the Esprit and Sureshot's 2nd in the M3 puts another driver into a Garaiya...
Race 21 - Midfield
Left LAN
1st daan - Lotus Esprit
2nd VEXD - ASL Garaiya
3rd Famine - ASL Garaiya
4th -Diego- - ASL Garaiya
5th TheCracker - ASL Garaiya
6th Roo - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st Touring Mars - BMW M3
2nd EXelero
3rd dustdriver - Lotus Esprit
4th SareBear
5th GTPlant
6th Specialized - Lotus Esprit
All that was required was daan to not be selfish. But oooooh noooo, he has to win from a pack of trailing Garaiyas. Mars puts the M3 top from EXelero's Ruf, finally ridding herself of the RR nightmare.
Race 22 - New York Reverse
Left LAN
1st Race Idiot - BMW M3
2nd Famine - ASL Garaiya
3rd Roo - ASL Garaiya
4th -Diego- - ASL Garaiya
5th Sureshot - ASL Garaiya
6th TheCracker - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st dustdriver - Lotus Esprit
2nd AMG. - Protoworks Spirra
3rd Specialized - Lotus Esprit
4th G.T - BMW M3
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
All that was required was Race Idiot to not be selfish. But oooooh noooo, he has to win from a pack of trailing Garaiyas. dustdriver's Esprit leads AMG.'s Spirra home on the other LAN
Race 23 - Infineon Sports Car Course
Left LAN
1st Roo - ASL Garaiya
2nd Touring Mars - ASL Garaiya
3rd -Diego- - ASL Garaiya
4th TheCracker - ASL Garaiya
5th Sureshot - ASL Garaiya
6th EXelero - Spyker C8
Right LAN
1st G.T - Lotus Esprit
2nd daan - Lotus Esprit
3rd Specialized - Lotus Esprit
4th VEXD - ASL Garaiya
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
In what finally proved to be the final race, Roo leads the chasing pack of Garaiyas home on the Left LAN, leaving VEXD, the only potential party-pooper, to trail a trio of Esprits...
Series over and... Roo wins?
Roo wins? Mars can't believe his eyes!
The Medal of Honour - and no tongues...
Chocolate or metal? Oh nuts, plastic!
To paraphrase Captain Slow, "I won something at a UKGTP!"
Final Order
Ruf RGT: Everyone
Spyker C8: Famine; Roo; TheCracker; -Diego-; VEXD; Touring Mars; G.T; Sureshot; daan; Specialized; dustdriver; AMG.; Race Idiot; EXelero
Aston Martin Vanquish: Roo; Famine; VEXD; TheCracker; G.T; Specialized; -Diego-; daan; Sureshot; Touring Mars; dustdriver; Race Idiot; AMG.
Protoworks Spirra: Roo; TheCracker; Famine; VEXD; -Diego-; Specialized; G.T; Sureshot; Touring Mars; daan; dustdriver; Race Idiot; AMG.
Corvette Z06: Roo; VEXD; Famine; -Diego-; Sureshot; G.T; TheCracker; Touring Mars; dustdriver; Race Idiot; daan; Specialized; AMG.
Lotus Esprit: Roo; VEXD; Famine; -Diego-; Sureshot; G.T; TheCracker; Touring Mars; Race Idiot; dustdriver; daan
BMW M3: Roo; VEXD; Famine; -Diego-; Sureshot; TheCracker; Touring Mars; G.T; Race Idiot; daan; dustdriver
ASL Garaiya: Roo; VEXD; Famine; -Diego-; TheCracker; Sureshot; Touring Mars; Race Idiot
WINNAR: Roo!
Rankings
1st - Roo!
2nd - VEXD
3rd - Famine
4th - -Diego-
5th - TheCracker
6th - Sureshot
7th - Touring Mars
8th - Race Idiot
9th - G.T
10th - daan
11th - dustdriver
12th - Specialized
13th - AMG.
14th - EXelero
15th= SareBear
15th= GTPlant
Amazingly, this series took the best part of a day (unless you were in a Spyker, in which case it was probably the worst part of the day) - though we fitted in over 300 drives in 9 hours.
We had a bit of a shakedown by starting the LMP series, but it soon became readily apparent that we wouldn't finish in time for the bowling or be able to continue when Smallhorses arrived in the morning...
Not Series 2 - The Bowling
And so to celebrate the birthday of long-standing UKGTPer Specialized (I never found out how old he was... I presume 14/15) we moved on to Newark's finest bowling palace.
*receives text*
We moved on to Newark's only bowling palace...
The gang's all here...
But it looks like RoboDan has a trick up his sleeve...
1. Serve the public trust; 2. Protect the innocent; 3. Get a strike
Roo's unique languorous style...
Mars's style is slightly more intent...
Round 1
Right LANE:
Specialized - 7-9-7-0-3-0-0-6-4-6 - 42
-Diego- - 7-7-/-/-4-9-X-8-7-8 - 93
TheCracker - X-8-4-8-9-9-9-8-X-8 - 99
dustdriver - 6-3-/-8-3-9-4-9-/-/-3 - 88
Sureshot - 4-0-4-1-6-9-6-4-7-/-6 - 57
EXelero - 6-5-9-6-7-9-/-3-8-/-4 - 80
daan - 6-/-9-/-8-9-8-X-/-8 - 122
G.T - 8-9-0-1-9-9-X-8-7-0 - 69
Left LANE
AMG. - X-/-8-6-X-9-7-5-/-3 - 101
Famine - 9-X-8-X-8-/-/-8-7-/-X - 127
SareBear - /-6-X-/-/-/-8-6-9-9 - 121
GTPlant - X-0-3-5-0-1-4-4-1-0 - 27
Roo - 7-9-X-9-7-9-1-9-X-/-3 - 103
Race Idiot - 0-9-3-9-6-8-9-8-9-7 - 68
VEXD - 9-8-8-8-5-4-4-9-3-/-9 - 77
Touring Mars - 6-X-9-6-8-6-6-9-8-9 - 86
Steeeeeeee-rike daan!
VEXD, cool as a cucumber in a fridge. In Alaska.
G.T fires one down...
Mars makes an attempt to fly after his ball...
Group shot! Is it just me, or is TheCracker still evil? I shall call him... EvilDan...
Roo plans his next move...
EXelero takes her turn.
Race Idiot spins his thang, as EXelero looks on in awe.
SareBear FTW!
GTPlant/Milford Cubicle takes a shot.
Round 2
Right LANE:
Specialized - 2-9-3-9-0-0-3-9-6-X-7 - 58
-Diego- - X-7-X-7-9-/-/-X-8-9 - 131
TheCracker - X-9-X-9-/-7-9-X-8-9 - 124
dustdriver - 7-X-9-/-7-9-X-8-9 - 96
Sureshot - X-3-7-6-9-1-X-8-7-/-6 - 88
EXelero - 6-/-X-7-7-9-8-5-8-5 - 92
daan - 7-9-X-7-7-9-/-/-9-X-9 - 121
G.T - X-8-9-0-4-/-9-9-9-0 - 85
Left LANE:
AMG. - /-X-X-/-8-X-7-X-3-9 - 144
Famine - /-/-1-9-9-9-X-/-X-8 - 124
SareBear - /-/-8-X-9-9-8-7-9-9 - 105
GTPlant - 1-9-7-0-8-1-8-9-4-0 - 47
Roo - X-9-7-6-9-7-/-X-9-8 - 113
Race Idiot - 0-0-8-9-0-7-X-0-8-0 - 42
VEXD - 9-6-X-/-3-7-1-/-8-8 - 83
Touring Mars - 4-X-1-/-9-/-9-8-8-/-3 - 101
Totals:
Famine - 251
AMG. - 245
daan - 243
SareBear - 226
-Diego- - 224
TheCracker - 223
Roo - 216
Touring Mars - 187
dustdriver - 184
EXelero - 172
VEXD - 160
G.T - 154
Sureshot - 145
Race Idiot - 110
Specialized - 100
GTPlant - 74
Right LANE: 1445
Left LANE: 1469
AMG. takes stock, -Diego- looks stunned, daan goes for amused and Specialized is hunting for beer...
Oh my!
Roo and Race Idiot in an in-depth discussion about technique.
Guess what Specialized just sat on!
SareBear passes silent comment on daan and Specialized's marksmanship...
YOU SHOT A COW!
(Ranking data to be used in the event of a tie break... Maybe)
And so the night closed out, with too many beers consumed. Only an early start for Sunday to look forward to. Joy!
Saturday
Having recovered from the exertions of the previous night - witnessing Specialized's sheer pleasure at beating an 11 year old boy in a game he'd been practising for 5 months - the first task was to get 12 sets of equipment into the hall, set up and running.Okay, the first task was to find the caretaker who didn't arrive until 10.30...
The industry of the set up.
The Lesser-Spotted Urnburner
TheCracker unwisely attempts to pass the Dutchie on the right hand side
Specialized books his seat early - not realising that the machine is set up
to start 6th each race...
Eventually (like 2 hours later), everyone had arrived and all of the machines were set up and the racing commenced...
Series 1 - Coupe Handicap
A fixture of UKGTPs for some time now, the idea behind the handicap is to have all drivers in a single, fast start vehicle. Successful drivers advance to slower vehicles, making their races progressively harder. The series winner is the driver who manages to win a race in the slowest available vehicle - often translating into a race where all drivers are in the slowest available vehicle and one of them avoids crashing/being crashed into.
As always the list started off with the Ruf RGT - a personal favourite of mine - with the 1st and 2nd placed drivers advancing a car each time, through the Spyker C8, Aston Martin Vanquish, Protoworks Spirra, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Lotus Esprit V8 '02, BMW M3 and finally to the ASL Garaiya.
With 13 drivers present and only 12 machines, I had to rely on the ranking data from previous UKGTPs to determine that the highest ranked - and thus most in need of handicapping - was VEXD and he should sit out the first race... Winners of each race would also sit off the following race and, in order to keep the racer combinations fresh, 1st and 2nd placed drivers in each race would swap LANs for their next race...
Race 1 - Autumn Ring
Left LAN
1st Roo
2nd -Diego-
3rd Touring Mars
4th G.T
5th AMG.
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st Famine
2nd TheCracker
3rd Specialized
4th Sureshot
5th daan
6th EXelero
With an odd number of drivers, I decided that I, as the higher ranked of the two first finisher, should sit off the next race. Roo, -Diego-, TheCracker and I all advanced to the Spyker C8.
Race 2 - Suzuka
Left LAN
1st Touring Mars
2nd G.T
3rd -Diego- - Spyker C8
4th TheCracker - Spyker C8
5th AMG.
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st VEXD
2nd Roo - Spyker C8
3rd daan
4th Sureshot
5th Specialized
6th EXelero
VEXD justifies his #1 ranking by leaping into the Ruf and winning, with Roo placing the Spyker C8 brilliantly in 2nd. Touring Mars and G.T - in his very first UKGTP - stick their Rufs ahead of a pair of Spykers piloted by -Diego- and TheCracker. We now have 7 Spyker drivers and Roo is the first to advance to the Korean debutant Spirra.
At this point GTPlant joined in the driving duties, giving us a neat even number and allowing me to retire the 1st placed driver on each LAN for a race. W00t!
Race 3 - Special Stage Route 5 Reverse
Left LAN
1st Famine - Spyker C8
2nd Roo - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd AMG.
4th TheCracker - Spyker C8
5th -Diego- - Spyker C8
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st Sureshot
2nd daan
3rd Specialized
4th G.T - Spyker C8
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
Famine's love of SSR5R shows as the Spyker belies its ranking and tops the field, with Roo placing the big Aston in second. Sureshot nets his debut win, leading daan home in the Rufs.
Race 4 - El Capitan
Left LAN
1st VEXD - Spyker C8
2nd TheCracker - Spyker C8
3rd daan - Spyker C8
4th AMG.
5th -Diego- - Spyker C8
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st G.T - Spyker C8
2nd Specialized
3rd Touring Mars - Spyker C8
4th Roo - Protoworks Spirra
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
VEXD nets a second win from two in the Spyker, with G.T managing a similar debut win. Specialized finally gets the hang of the Ruf, while TheCracker leaps the Spyker into 2nd.
Race 5 - Deep Forest
Left LAN
1st Specialized - Spyker C8
2nd -Diego- - Spyker C8
3rd daan - Spyker C8
4th AMG.
5th SareBear
6th Sureshot - Spyker C8
Right LAN
1st TheCracker - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd Famine - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd Roo - Protoworks Spirra
4th Touring Mars - Spyker C8
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
Specialized makes short work of the Spyker, doing in one race what he couldn't in 4 in the Ruf, followed home by -Diego- in the same car. TheCracker takes the Vanquish home ahead of Famine's twin Vanquish.
Race 6 - Fuji Speedway 2005F
Left LAN
1st daan - Spyker C8
2nd -Diego- - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd AMG.
4th Sureshot - Spyker C8
5th dustdriver
6th SareBear
RightLAN
1st VEXD - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd Roo - Protoworks Spirra
3rd G.T - Aston Martin Vanquish
4th EXelero
5th Touring Mars - Spyker C8
6th GTPlant
VEXD can't stop winning, but Roo takes the Spirra high enough to remain a car ahead of the field. daan rids himself of the Spyker with a fine victory from -Diego-'s Aston.
At this point in procedings, the group was joined by our Belgian contingent, dustdriver...
Race 7 - Apricot Hill Reverse
Left LAN
1st Sureshot - Spyker C8
2nd dustdriver
3rd AMG.
4th Famine - Protoworks Spirra
5th TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
6th SareBear
RightLAN
1st Specialized - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd G.T - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd Roo - Corvette Z06
4th Touring Mars - Spyker C8
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
Specialized makes it two for two ahead of G.T's Vanquish. dustdriver plonks the Ruf RGT in second behind Sureshot's second victory of the weekend.
Race 8 - Twin Ring Motegi
Left LAN
1st VEXD - Protoworks Spirra
2nd AMG.
3rd -Diego- - Protoworks Spirra
4th Famine - Protoworks Spirra
5th TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st Roo - Corvette Z06
2nd Touring Mars - Spyker C8
3rd EXelero
4th daan - Aston Martin Vanquish
5th dustdriver - Spyker C8
6th GTPlant
VEXD makes it an astonishing four from four and AMG. finally tires of finishing 3rd and places the Ruf in 2nd. Roo manages an amazing victory in the worst car yet used, advancing yet further ahead of the others, with Mars's Spyker second.
And now we're joined by our final guest of the Saturday, Race Idiot. This means that now 1st and 2nd both advance a car, sit off and switch LANs on each side.
Race 9 - Hong Kong
Left LAN
1st Famine - Protoworks Spirra
2nd -Diego- - Protoworks Spirra
3rd TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
4th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
5th G.T - Protoworks Spirra
6th SareBear
Right LAN
1st dustdriver - Spyker C8
2nd Sureshot - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd Race Idiot
4th daan - Aston Martin Vanquish
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
Famine leads home a pack of Spirras, followed by -Diego-, and dustdriver nets win 1 in his second race, from Sureshot's Aston.
Race 10 - Nuerburgring (1 lap)
Left LAN
1st Touring Mars - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd daan - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd Roo - Lotus Esprit
4th G.T - Protoworks Spirra
5th TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
6th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
Right LAN
1st VEXD - Corvette Z06
2nd Race Idiot
3rd EXelero
4th SareBear
5th GTPlant
6th AMG. - Spyker C8
Mars and daan take the big Aston home ahead of the field, with VEXD, in the slowest vehicle and starting from 6th, making it an amazing five straight wins, joining Roo in the Esprit... Oh heck...
Sureshot, dustdriver and -Diego- keep an eye on the action at the 'Ring...
...while VEXD scythes his way through the field, with EXelero in 3rd.
Specialized dumps some Korean metal mid-Aremberg.
Race 11 - Tokyo R246 Reverse
Left LAN
1st Sureshot - Protoworks Spirra
2nd Roo - Lotus Esprit
3rd G.T - Protoworks Spirra
4th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
5th TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
6th dustdriver - Aston Martin Vanquish
Right LAN
1st Famine - Corvette Z06
2nd -Diego- - Corvette Z06
3rd EXelero
4th SareBear
5th GTPlant
6th AMG. - Aston Martin Vanquish
Just as soon as VEXD joins Roo in the lead car, so Roo pulls away again, lead home only by Sureshot. Famine and -Diego- take advantage of the Corvette's power and nail them on the top two spots.
Race 12 - Seoul Reverse
Left LAN
1st G.T - Protoworks Spirra
2nd TheCracker - Protoworks Spirra
3rd dustdriver - Aston Martin Vanquish
4th Touring Mars - Protoworks Spirra
5th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
6th daan - Protoworks Spirra
Right LAN
1st Race Idiot - Spyker C8
2nd VEXD - Lotus Esprit
3rd EXelero
4th AMG. - Spyker C8
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
Race Idiot becomes the first driver to take a win away from VEXD, but he advances to join Roo in the BMW anyway thanks to a second place. G.T and TheCracker put Spirras in 1st and 2nd.
Race 13 - Grand Valley East
Left LAN
1st dustdriver - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd Famine - Lotus Esprit
3rd -Diego- - Lotus Esprit
4th Touring Mars - Protoworks Spirra
5th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
6th daan - Protoworks Spirra
Right LAN
1st Sureshot - Corvette Z06
2nd Roo - BMW M3
3rd EXelero
4th SareBear
5th AMG. - Spyker C8
6th GTPlant
And, somewhat predictably, Roo hits right back again, qualifying himself for the final car and putting him back in the lead again. Sureshot does a terrific job putting the big Chevy on top at such a short course, with dustdriver's Vanquish leading Famine's Esprit home on the other LAN.
Race 14 - Circuit de la Sarthe 2 (2 laps)
Left LAN
1st Race Idiot - Aston Martin Vanquish
2nd VEXD - BMW M3
3rd daan - Protoworks Spirra
4th -Diego- - Lotus Esprit
5th Touring Mars - Protoworks Spirra
6th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
Right LAN
1st G.T - Corvette Z06
2nd TheCracker - Corvette Z06
3rd AMG. - Spyker C8
4th EXelero
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
And VEXD hits back again. Again. Race Idiot once again takes the win from him, but both are promoted - VEXD into the final car with Roo. G.T and TheCracker take Corvettes to the win/second place.
Race 15 - Seattle
Left LAN
1st Touring Mars - Protoworks Spirra
2nd -Diego- - Lotus Esprit
3rd Sureshot - Lotus Esprit
4th daan - Protoworks Spirra
5th Spec - Protoworks Spirra
6th Roo - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st Famine - BMW M3
2nd dustdriver - Protoworks Spirra
3rd EXelero
4th AMG. - Spyker C8
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
Famine's comment to EXelero prior to the race: "I've never done better than 4th in a race at Seattle at ANY UKGTP, except once."... dustdriver's Spirra comes home second, while on the other LAN Mars's Spirra finishes ahead of -Diego-'s Esprit. The Garaiya proves to be a bridge too far for Roo, coming home last.
Race 16 - Laguna Seca
Left LAN
1st Sureshot - Lotus Esprit
2nd TheCracker - Lotus Esprit
3rd daan - Protoworks Spirra
4th G.T - Lotus Esprit
5th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
6th Roo - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st Race Idiot - Protoworks Spirra
2nd AMG. - Spyker C8
3rd VEXD - ASL Garaiya
4th EXelero
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
VEXD can't make the Garaiya stick any better than Roo could, allowing AMG. to escape the Spyker and Race Idiot to make yet more progress. The Esprits of Sureshot and TheCracker take home the bacon on the left side.
Race 17 - Suzuka West
Left LAN
1st daan - Protoworks Spirra
2nd Roo - ASL Garaiya
3rd dustdriver - Corvette Z06
4th Famine - ASL Garaiya
5th G.T - Lotus Esprit
6th Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
Right LAN
1st Touring Mars - Corvette Z06
2nd -Diego- - BMW M3
3rd VEXD - ASL Garaiya
4th EXelero
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
daan holes out in the Spirra, followed in a close-but-no-cigar second for Roo (losing him the chance to try again next race - he has to sit out). Mars takes the Corvette home for the win, trailed by -Diego- who also advances now to the ASL...
Race 18 - Monaco
Left LAN
1st Race Idiot - Corvette Z06
2nd Specialized - Protoworks Spirra
3rd Famine - ASL Garaiya
4th G.T - Protoworks Spirra
5th dustdriver - Corvette Z06
6th AMG. - Aston Martin Vanquish
Right LAN
1st TheCracker - BMW M3
2nd VEXD - ASL Garaiya
3rd Sureshot - BMW M3
4th EXelero
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
On the right-side, VEXD pilots the ASL to a creditable 2nd, putting him off for the next race. Famine loses 2nd right at the line to Specialized's charging Spirra, with TheCracker and Race Idiot taking the wins.
Race 19 - Tsukuba
Left LAN
1st dustdriver - Corvette Z06
2nd Touring Mars - Lotus Esprit
3rd G.T - Lotus Esprit
4th Famine - ASL Garaiya
5th AMG. - Aston Martin Vanquish
6th -Diego- - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st daan - Corvette Z06
2nd Roo - ASL Garaiya
3rd EXelero
4th Sureshot - BMW M3
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
The Corvette rule Tsukuba, taking daan and dustdriver to victory from Mars's Esprit and Roo's Garaiya respectively... The numbers of Garaiyas are steadily growing, with five drivers in them now...
Race 20 - Trial Mountain
Left LAN
1st G.T - Lotus Esprit
2nd AMG. - Aston Martin Vanquish
3rd VEXD - ASL Garaiya
4th Famine - ASL Garaiya
5th TheCracker - ASL Garaiya
6th -Diego- - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st Race Idiot - Lotus Esprit
2nd Sureshot - BMW M3
3rd Specialized - Corvette Z06
4th SareBear
5th EXelero
6th GTPlant
Any of four drivers could have taken the series with a win. But G.T had to be selfish and nail his Esprit to the top step, ahead of AMG.'s Aston. Race Idiot had similar success in the Esprit and Sureshot's 2nd in the M3 puts another driver into a Garaiya...
Race 21 - Midfield
Left LAN
1st daan - Lotus Esprit
2nd VEXD - ASL Garaiya
3rd Famine - ASL Garaiya
4th -Diego- - ASL Garaiya
5th TheCracker - ASL Garaiya
6th Roo - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st Touring Mars - BMW M3
2nd EXelero
3rd dustdriver - Lotus Esprit
4th SareBear
5th GTPlant
6th Specialized - Lotus Esprit
All that was required was daan to not be selfish. But oooooh noooo, he has to win from a pack of trailing Garaiyas. Mars puts the M3 top from EXelero's Ruf, finally ridding herself of the RR nightmare.
Race 22 - New York Reverse
Left LAN
1st Race Idiot - BMW M3
2nd Famine - ASL Garaiya
3rd Roo - ASL Garaiya
4th -Diego- - ASL Garaiya
5th Sureshot - ASL Garaiya
6th TheCracker - ASL Garaiya
Right LAN
1st dustdriver - Lotus Esprit
2nd AMG. - Protoworks Spirra
3rd Specialized - Lotus Esprit
4th G.T - BMW M3
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
All that was required was Race Idiot to not be selfish. But oooooh noooo, he has to win from a pack of trailing Garaiyas. dustdriver's Esprit leads AMG.'s Spirra home on the other LAN
Race 23 - Infineon Sports Car Course
Left LAN
1st Roo - ASL Garaiya
2nd Touring Mars - ASL Garaiya
3rd -Diego- - ASL Garaiya
4th TheCracker - ASL Garaiya
5th Sureshot - ASL Garaiya
6th EXelero - Spyker C8
Right LAN
1st G.T - Lotus Esprit
2nd daan - Lotus Esprit
3rd Specialized - Lotus Esprit
4th VEXD - ASL Garaiya
5th SareBear
6th GTPlant
In what finally proved to be the final race, Roo leads the chasing pack of Garaiyas home on the Left LAN, leaving VEXD, the only potential party-pooper, to trail a trio of Esprits...
Series over and... Roo wins?
Roo wins? Mars can't believe his eyes!
The Medal of Honour - and no tongues...
Chocolate or metal? Oh nuts, plastic!
To paraphrase Captain Slow, "I won something at a UKGTP!"
Final Order
Ruf RGT: Everyone
Spyker C8: Famine; Roo; TheCracker; -Diego-; VEXD; Touring Mars; G.T; Sureshot; daan; Specialized; dustdriver; AMG.; Race Idiot; EXelero
Aston Martin Vanquish: Roo; Famine; VEXD; TheCracker; G.T; Specialized; -Diego-; daan; Sureshot; Touring Mars; dustdriver; Race Idiot; AMG.
Protoworks Spirra: Roo; TheCracker; Famine; VEXD; -Diego-; Specialized; G.T; Sureshot; Touring Mars; daan; dustdriver; Race Idiot; AMG.
Corvette Z06: Roo; VEXD; Famine; -Diego-; Sureshot; G.T; TheCracker; Touring Mars; dustdriver; Race Idiot; daan; Specialized; AMG.
Lotus Esprit: Roo; VEXD; Famine; -Diego-; Sureshot; G.T; TheCracker; Touring Mars; Race Idiot; dustdriver; daan
BMW M3: Roo; VEXD; Famine; -Diego-; Sureshot; TheCracker; Touring Mars; G.T; Race Idiot; daan; dustdriver
ASL Garaiya: Roo; VEXD; Famine; -Diego-; TheCracker; Sureshot; Touring Mars; Race Idiot
WINNAR: Roo!
Rankings
1st - Roo!
2nd - VEXD
3rd - Famine
4th - -Diego-
5th - TheCracker
6th - Sureshot
7th - Touring Mars
8th - Race Idiot
9th - G.T
10th - daan
11th - dustdriver
12th - Specialized
13th - AMG.
14th - EXelero
15th= SareBear
15th= GTPlant
Amazingly, this series took the best part of a day (unless you were in a Spyker, in which case it was probably the worst part of the day) - though we fitted in over 300 drives in 9 hours.
We had a bit of a shakedown by starting the LMP series, but it soon became readily apparent that we wouldn't finish in time for the bowling or be able to continue when Smallhorses arrived in the morning...
Not Series 2 - The Bowling
And so to celebrate the birthday of long-standing UKGTPer Specialized (I never found out how old he was... I presume 14/15) we moved on to Newark's finest bowling palace.
*receives text*
We moved on to Newark's only bowling palace...
The gang's all here...
But it looks like RoboDan has a trick up his sleeve...
1. Serve the public trust; 2. Protect the innocent; 3. Get a strike
Roo's unique languorous style...
Mars's style is slightly more intent...
Round 1
Right LANE:
Specialized - 7-9-7-0-3-0-0-6-4-6 - 42
-Diego- - 7-7-/-/-4-9-X-8-7-8 - 93
TheCracker - X-8-4-8-9-9-9-8-X-8 - 99
dustdriver - 6-3-/-8-3-9-4-9-/-/-3 - 88
Sureshot - 4-0-4-1-6-9-6-4-7-/-6 - 57
EXelero - 6-5-9-6-7-9-/-3-8-/-4 - 80
daan - 6-/-9-/-8-9-8-X-/-8 - 122
G.T - 8-9-0-1-9-9-X-8-7-0 - 69
Left LANE
AMG. - X-/-8-6-X-9-7-5-/-3 - 101
Famine - 9-X-8-X-8-/-/-8-7-/-X - 127
SareBear - /-6-X-/-/-/-8-6-9-9 - 121
GTPlant - X-0-3-5-0-1-4-4-1-0 - 27
Roo - 7-9-X-9-7-9-1-9-X-/-3 - 103
Race Idiot - 0-9-3-9-6-8-9-8-9-7 - 68
VEXD - 9-8-8-8-5-4-4-9-3-/-9 - 77
Touring Mars - 6-X-9-6-8-6-6-9-8-9 - 86
Steeeeeeee-rike daan!
VEXD, cool as a cucumber in a fridge. In Alaska.
G.T fires one down...
Mars makes an attempt to fly after his ball...
Group shot! Is it just me, or is TheCracker still evil? I shall call him... EvilDan...
Roo plans his next move...
EXelero takes her turn.
Race Idiot spins his thang, as EXelero looks on in awe.
SareBear FTW!
GTPlant/Milford Cubicle takes a shot.
Round 2
Right LANE:
Specialized - 2-9-3-9-0-0-3-9-6-X-7 - 58
-Diego- - X-7-X-7-9-/-/-X-8-9 - 131
TheCracker - X-9-X-9-/-7-9-X-8-9 - 124
dustdriver - 7-X-9-/-7-9-X-8-9 - 96
Sureshot - X-3-7-6-9-1-X-8-7-/-6 - 88
EXelero - 6-/-X-7-7-9-8-5-8-5 - 92
daan - 7-9-X-7-7-9-/-/-9-X-9 - 121
G.T - X-8-9-0-4-/-9-9-9-0 - 85
Left LANE:
AMG. - /-X-X-/-8-X-7-X-3-9 - 144
Famine - /-/-1-9-9-9-X-/-X-8 - 124
SareBear - /-/-8-X-9-9-8-7-9-9 - 105
GTPlant - 1-9-7-0-8-1-8-9-4-0 - 47
Roo - X-9-7-6-9-7-/-X-9-8 - 113
Race Idiot - 0-0-8-9-0-7-X-0-8-0 - 42
VEXD - 9-6-X-/-3-7-1-/-8-8 - 83
Touring Mars - 4-X-1-/-9-/-9-8-8-/-3 - 101
Totals:
Famine - 251
AMG. - 245
daan - 243
SareBear - 226
-Diego- - 224
TheCracker - 223
Roo - 216
Touring Mars - 187
dustdriver - 184
EXelero - 172
VEXD - 160
G.T - 154
Sureshot - 145
Race Idiot - 110
Specialized - 100
GTPlant - 74
Right LANE: 1445
Left LANE: 1469
AMG. takes stock, -Diego- looks stunned, daan goes for amused and Specialized is hunting for beer...
Oh my!
Roo and Race Idiot in an in-depth discussion about technique.
Guess what Specialized just sat on!
SareBear passes silent comment on daan and Specialized's marksmanship...
YOU SHOT A COW!
(Ranking data to be used in the event of a tie break... Maybe)
And so the night closed out, with too many beers consumed. Only an early start for Sunday to look forward to. Joy!