Did not do any racing today. I felt defeated.
I did five B races last night and the results were disappointing to say the least. Perhaps it was the crowd I was in but I think I have a bit of GrumpyOldMan syndrome. I may QT well and I enjoyed the challenge to push myself up the leaderboard but when it comes to race time that performance does not carry over to dealing with other cars on track.
The night started somewhat okay.
I QT in third behind one of the fastest drivers in the world and another faster racer who's name defies his speed.
First race of the night nerves got to me and on lap 1 I drift into the sand turn 3 dropping a couple spots and again at turn 6 dropping me to 7th at the Corkscrew when I got used as a brake in a side swipe. That starts to put me in the pack and then I get punted in turn 2 but manage to hold it. However that would start a trend of the night.. Lap 3, turn 2 again the car behind me gets is nose on my side where there was not room and pushing me wide. I drop to 8th and that is where I ended. Not good but not the worse. That was the next race..
Race 2 had me on Q2. Lap 1 I hit the sausage at turn 6 bouncing me into the sand. I lose P2 and a ton of speed in the run up to corkscrew which allowed a pack to catch up. I was however all over the back of P2 at turn 10 and they go into the sand and I follow. Idiot I am. Then at the last turn P5 lunges down the inside and torpedos me in the side. I'm knocked to the outside of the track but because I did not go off, unbelievably they got no penalty. That p***es me off. I'm still in 4th at this point but it's only lap 2. Then entering turn 2 I swear P2 (the one who torpedoed me) brake checks me. He hit his brakes so early into the turn that I hit him, which slows me down and accelerates him. Then because I got slowed I get hit by P5 twice pushing me wide, then get hit again pushing me further wide and then once more for good luck punting me off into the gravel. That drops me all the way to 14th. I climb back to 10th at one spot but get punted again, this time down to DFL. I ended it finishing 14th only because P14 went wide last turn and I out dragged them to the line but a few thousandths.
I was seriously beginning to question my ability to race so I thought I would jump over to my GB account and test the waters there. I didn't have a very impressive QT so I start Q6. First race was much like the last US account race. A horrible amount of punting and side swiping going on. I ended up 14th on that one as well.
The next two races went better. Q4 to P5 for race 2 and for race 3 I improved my QT so was Q2 but that also finished P5.
I like the technical challenge of Leguna Seca and can do well there for time trial like events but I am remembering that I don't like to race there. Too many people are happy to punt and side swipe. It is the same old complaint. I try my utmost to stay clean and that is hindering me on a circuit like this. If I lose a spot due to a mistake on my part (which I make quite a few at LS) or in many cases because of a side swipe in a turn, I can often catch up but I am seemingly unable to pass. At this level I can't rely on cars crashing out for passing opportunities. Yes it happens but not like in the lower B/C lobbies. So I can start at a high QT but unless I pull out a stellar drive and remain ahead of the cars behind, I invariably go backwards in spots as others are less cautious in the passing moves.
Sorry for the long post. Had to get it off my chest.
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