- 3,948
- Sturgis, MI
- GTP_ty00123
The Story Behind The Race: So I really messed up and accidentally corrupted my main GT4 file. 
At the time I was at 49.5%. Luckily I had a backup on my brother's memory card, so I only lost 10% or so. Because I went back to a time before the Black Beauties appeared, I needed some major cash to be able to purchase them. I went looking, and found that I only had 4 A-Spec points on the El Capitan enduro. Figured this could be a good opportunity for some cash+points, so I jumped in an Opera Performance S2000 in my garage and headed out to Yosemite National Park, California. With me are sets of S1 and S3 tires, and a bottle of Nitrous marked "For Emergency Use Only"
. As I begin, I'm told that this race will be worth 200 A-Spec points
; the first time I've tried a 200 point race.
The lineup:
6th Place: Opera Performance S2000
5th Place: Shelby Series 1 Supercharged
4th Place: Lotus Motor Sport Elise
3rd Place: TVR T350C
2nd Place: TVR Cerbera Speed Six
1st Place: Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG
We pick up at lap 4, the time when I decided I'd do this report. By this time, I'm already in 1st, 11.506 seconds ahead of the Lotus.
Lap 5: Nothing happened. Have a feeling this'll be par for the race, unless I screw up. Lead grows to 13.956 seconds on the Elise.
Lap 6: Posted my fastest lap so far, a 1:53.321. Didn't pay attention to the gap.
Lap 8: Minor screw-up on the final turns, but I don't hit a wall or spin out. Elise closes in; the gap is 9.693 seconds at the line.
Lap 9: Almost no change at all; 9.691 seconds back to the Elise.
Lap 10: I notice that I'm faster than the Elise from the Start/Finish line to the T2 mark, but it gains most of its time back from T2 back to the S/F line. Even though, I hold the Elise to 10.590 seconds at the S/F line.
Lap 11: Elise pits; my tires are still greenish-yellow, so I keep going. i estimate a 15-lap stint, though I will go farther if possible. By the time the Elise gets out, it's 35.514 seconds behind. SL 65 makes a stop here, too.
Lap 12: 45.537 seconds back to the Elise; struggling with cold tires much? Cerbera pits this lap, along with the T350C.
Lap 14: I lap the Mercedes here. I quit caring how far behind the Elise is, as it's so far back it won't become a factor unless I have some epic mistakes (which i have been known to do
). 1:53.077 lap time, my fastest to point.
Lap 15: Get sideways on the hilly, bumpy area just after T1 and hit the inside wall. Not very hard, and it doesn't spin me out, though. My tires are closer to yellow by now, but I still don't think I need any stinkin' pit stop. New goal becomes 18 laps. Series 1 makes a pit stop now.
Later in lap: Hit bumpy part of final turns and sends me REALLY sideways. Overcorrect it, and spin out
. SL doesn't unlap itself, though.
Lap 16: Somewhat less eventful, though the T350C becomes the next vehicle in my crosshairs. Don't get a chance to lap it, though.
Lap 17: T350C finds itself lapped in the same place as the Merc, just before the T1 tunnel.
Lap 18: I finally realize why the Elise gained so much time in T3; it's because I suck at that part of the track. I hit the grass and spin out yet again. Tires are yellow by now...I'll try to squeeze 2 more laps out of them to make it an even 20.
Lap 20: Series 1 falls into my clutches, and temporarily goes a lap down. It gets it back when I finally pit on light orange rear and yellow front tires. Fill up with fuel (finishes at the exact same time as the tires), and head out in pursuit of the T350C, who just unlapped itself.
Lap 21: I had forgotten how long a pit stop takes, as the Elise closes in to 13.909 seconds behind. Oh well; it's got to pit before too long anyway.
Lap 22: As my driving is way worse on cold tires, the Elise closes to about 11 seconds. It then has to pit (yay), coming out 32.756 seconds behind. 1/3 race mark and I'm in the lead; I like this race.
Lap 23: Merc makes a pit stop.
Lap 25: Cerbera and T350C pit.
Lap 26: Lap the Cerbera as it pulls out, but it swerves in front of me and I spin on the bridge. The Cerbera, to add insult to injury, decides to hit me again as I recover. (That little 🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬!) I give it a little "love tap" later in the lap to nudge it out of my way so i can lap it, though. (Normally I wouldn't, but I had to return its favor somehow.)
Lap 29: Finally some sort of action as the Series 1 pits. Lap it before it gets out so it won't pull a Cerbera.
Lap 32: Look away for a split second to turn up my computer's volume, and end up sailing over a grassy hill. You can guess where. (Now I think of it, didn't my driver's ed teacher say something about not taking my eyes off the road while I'm driving?
)
Lap 33: Another uneventful lap, but it does mark the halfway point of the race. I celebrate with a 1:53.5xx (didn't catch the whole time).
Lap 35: Elise pits, putting him over a minute back. It's pretty much official now; it's done for. It's had to pit too often. Not to say that I'm not pushing it; but there's a LOT of breathing room now. Merc also pits, and I lap it as it's coming out.
Lap 37: Cerbera pits. I'm nowhere near it, so there's no way it can hit me.
Lap 38: T350C pits.
Lap 39: On somewhat worn tires, this can give you a really fun drifting lesson; I found this out after getting slightly loose going into turn 1 and drifting all the way around turn 2.
Lap 40: It's a good thing I'm pitting this lap, as I've overused my tires slightly. Not horribly badly, but enough to make a drift car out of it. Pit, change tires, and fill up with fuel. By the time I'm back out, the Elise is 1:00.719 seconds behind.
Lap 43: I set the fastest lap of the race so far: a 1:52.493.
Lap 44: The Series 1 pits slightly before I hit the T1 checkpoint. On the hilly area just after this, I push too hard and spin the S2000 out. Ah well, it doesn't affect me too badly.
Lap 47: The Merc and Elise pit. The Elise comes out 1:25.681 behind me.
Lap 49: The Cerbera pits not too long before I pass pit road, so it can't hit me. Of course, I lap it.
Lap 50: the T350C is lapped before it hits pit road, and I pass the Merc. I then realize that the Elise was the car in front of the Merc, and I'm about ready to lap it. I guess there's a bit of moral encouragement going on, as I set my new fastest lap: a 1:52.302.
Lap 51: The Elise is now officially 1 lap down, and will stay that way, as it pits the same lap that I will.
Lap 53: New best lap time: 1:51.362.
Lap 54: For some reason, I end up on both the brake and gas pedals at the same time.
Lap 57: I catch up to the Series 1 approaching the main straight, but of course, I can't pass it. I sit in its draft and pass it on the bridge approaching turn 2.
Lap 58: The Series 1 decides to pit right after I pass it.
Lap 59: The Merc pits, along with the Elise (Damn, hoped it would pit the same lap as me.)
Lap 60: I hit pit road, and decide to put those S3's i brought along to good use. Decide not to fuel up, either. I just hope these will last 6 laps, but why wouldn't they?
Lap 62: The Cerbera makes a pit stop, and I have realized the new power of these S3's. Case in point: 1:49.662 becomes the new best lap time.
Lap 63: The T350C pits.
Lap 64: I get horribly sideways multiple times in a row, but somehow manage to save it. Like I said, I love these S3's.
Lap 65: I encounter the T350C, and engage in a small battle with it. It attempted to spin me a couple times, but I still won.
Lap 66: I see the Cerbera, and decided to leave it alone this time. I'd just lap it. I decide to go across the finish line sideways to celebrate my victory. IT'S OVER!!! THE FAT LADY HAS SUNG!!!
Final results:
1st Place: Opera Performance S2000-2'08:44.160
2nd Place: Lotus Motor Sport Elise-1 lap
3rd Place: Shelby Series 1 Supercharged-3 laps?
4th Place: TVR Cerbera Speed Six-too far to count
5th Place: TVR T350C-ditto
6th Place: Mercedes SL 65 AMG-ditto
Best lap: 1:49.662
I go back to Michigan with 250,000 Cr. more in my bank account and a Minolta Toyota promised to ship to my home. (What, you think I had a trailer hitch on this thing?)
P.S. If I had planned it, I wouldn't have put the Nitrous on-then I would be eligible for Club 200-even though I never used it. Oh well.
At the time I was at 49.5%. Luckily I had a backup on my brother's memory card, so I only lost 10% or so. Because I went back to a time before the Black Beauties appeared, I needed some major cash to be able to purchase them. I went looking, and found that I only had 4 A-Spec points on the El Capitan enduro. Figured this could be a good opportunity for some cash+points, so I jumped in an Opera Performance S2000 in my garage and headed out to Yosemite National Park, California. With me are sets of S1 and S3 tires, and a bottle of Nitrous marked "For Emergency Use Only". As I begin, I'm told that this race will be worth 200 A-Spec points; the first time I've tried a 200 point race.The lineup:
6th Place: Opera Performance S2000
5th Place: Shelby Series 1 Supercharged
4th Place: Lotus Motor Sport Elise
3rd Place: TVR T350C
2nd Place: TVR Cerbera Speed Six
1st Place: Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG
We pick up at lap 4, the time when I decided I'd do this report. By this time, I'm already in 1st, 11.506 seconds ahead of the Lotus.
Lap 5: Nothing happened. Have a feeling this'll be par for the race, unless I screw up. Lead grows to 13.956 seconds on the Elise.
Lap 6: Posted my fastest lap so far, a 1:53.321. Didn't pay attention to the gap.
Lap 8: Minor screw-up on the final turns, but I don't hit a wall or spin out. Elise closes in; the gap is 9.693 seconds at the line.
Lap 9: Almost no change at all; 9.691 seconds back to the Elise.
Lap 10: I notice that I'm faster than the Elise from the Start/Finish line to the T2 mark, but it gains most of its time back from T2 back to the S/F line. Even though, I hold the Elise to 10.590 seconds at the S/F line.
Lap 11: Elise pits; my tires are still greenish-yellow, so I keep going. i estimate a 15-lap stint, though I will go farther if possible. By the time the Elise gets out, it's 35.514 seconds behind. SL 65 makes a stop here, too.
Lap 12: 45.537 seconds back to the Elise; struggling with cold tires much? Cerbera pits this lap, along with the T350C.
Lap 14: I lap the Mercedes here. I quit caring how far behind the Elise is, as it's so far back it won't become a factor unless I have some epic mistakes (which i have been known to do
). 1:53.077 lap time, my fastest to point.Lap 15: Get sideways on the hilly, bumpy area just after T1 and hit the inside wall. Not very hard, and it doesn't spin me out, though. My tires are closer to yellow by now, but I still don't think I need any stinkin' pit stop. New goal becomes 18 laps. Series 1 makes a pit stop now.
Later in lap: Hit bumpy part of final turns and sends me REALLY sideways. Overcorrect it, and spin out
. SL doesn't unlap itself, though.Lap 16: Somewhat less eventful, though the T350C becomes the next vehicle in my crosshairs. Don't get a chance to lap it, though.
Lap 17: T350C finds itself lapped in the same place as the Merc, just before the T1 tunnel.
Lap 18: I finally realize why the Elise gained so much time in T3; it's because I suck at that part of the track. I hit the grass and spin out yet again. Tires are yellow by now...I'll try to squeeze 2 more laps out of them to make it an even 20.
Lap 20: Series 1 falls into my clutches, and temporarily goes a lap down. It gets it back when I finally pit on light orange rear and yellow front tires. Fill up with fuel (finishes at the exact same time as the tires), and head out in pursuit of the T350C, who just unlapped itself.
Lap 21: I had forgotten how long a pit stop takes, as the Elise closes in to 13.909 seconds behind. Oh well; it's got to pit before too long anyway.
Lap 22: As my driving is way worse on cold tires, the Elise closes to about 11 seconds. It then has to pit (yay), coming out 32.756 seconds behind. 1/3 race mark and I'm in the lead; I like this race.
Lap 23: Merc makes a pit stop.
Lap 25: Cerbera and T350C pit.
Lap 26: Lap the Cerbera as it pulls out, but it swerves in front of me and I spin on the bridge. The Cerbera, to add insult to injury, decides to hit me again as I recover. (That little 🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬!) I give it a little "love tap" later in the lap to nudge it out of my way so i can lap it, though. (Normally I wouldn't, but I had to return its favor somehow.)
Lap 29: Finally some sort of action as the Series 1 pits. Lap it before it gets out so it won't pull a Cerbera.
Lap 32: Look away for a split second to turn up my computer's volume, and end up sailing over a grassy hill. You can guess where. (Now I think of it, didn't my driver's ed teacher say something about not taking my eyes off the road while I'm driving?
)Lap 33: Another uneventful lap, but it does mark the halfway point of the race. I celebrate with a 1:53.5xx (didn't catch the whole time).
Lap 35: Elise pits, putting him over a minute back. It's pretty much official now; it's done for. It's had to pit too often. Not to say that I'm not pushing it; but there's a LOT of breathing room now. Merc also pits, and I lap it as it's coming out.
Lap 37: Cerbera pits. I'm nowhere near it, so there's no way it can hit me.
Lap 38: T350C pits.
Lap 39: On somewhat worn tires, this can give you a really fun drifting lesson; I found this out after getting slightly loose going into turn 1 and drifting all the way around turn 2.
Lap 40: It's a good thing I'm pitting this lap, as I've overused my tires slightly. Not horribly badly, but enough to make a drift car out of it. Pit, change tires, and fill up with fuel. By the time I'm back out, the Elise is 1:00.719 seconds behind.
Lap 43: I set the fastest lap of the race so far: a 1:52.493.
Lap 44: The Series 1 pits slightly before I hit the T1 checkpoint. On the hilly area just after this, I push too hard and spin the S2000 out. Ah well, it doesn't affect me too badly.
Lap 47: The Merc and Elise pit. The Elise comes out 1:25.681 behind me.
Lap 49: The Cerbera pits not too long before I pass pit road, so it can't hit me. Of course, I lap it.
Lap 50: the T350C is lapped before it hits pit road, and I pass the Merc. I then realize that the Elise was the car in front of the Merc, and I'm about ready to lap it. I guess there's a bit of moral encouragement going on, as I set my new fastest lap: a 1:52.302.
Lap 51: The Elise is now officially 1 lap down, and will stay that way, as it pits the same lap that I will.
Lap 53: New best lap time: 1:51.362.
Lap 54: For some reason, I end up on both the brake and gas pedals at the same time.
Lap 57: I catch up to the Series 1 approaching the main straight, but of course, I can't pass it. I sit in its draft and pass it on the bridge approaching turn 2.
Lap 58: The Series 1 decides to pit right after I pass it.
Lap 59: The Merc pits, along with the Elise (Damn, hoped it would pit the same lap as me.)
Lap 60: I hit pit road, and decide to put those S3's i brought along to good use. Decide not to fuel up, either. I just hope these will last 6 laps, but why wouldn't they?
Lap 62: The Cerbera makes a pit stop, and I have realized the new power of these S3's. Case in point: 1:49.662 becomes the new best lap time.
Lap 63: The T350C pits.
Lap 64: I get horribly sideways multiple times in a row, but somehow manage to save it. Like I said, I love these S3's.
Lap 65: I encounter the T350C, and engage in a small battle with it. It attempted to spin me a couple times, but I still won.
Lap 66: I see the Cerbera, and decided to leave it alone this time. I'd just lap it. I decide to go across the finish line sideways to celebrate my victory. IT'S OVER!!! THE FAT LADY HAS SUNG!!!
Final results:
1st Place: Opera Performance S2000-2'08:44.160
2nd Place: Lotus Motor Sport Elise-1 lap
3rd Place: Shelby Series 1 Supercharged-3 laps?
4th Place: TVR Cerbera Speed Six-too far to count
5th Place: TVR T350C-ditto
6th Place: Mercedes SL 65 AMG-ditto
Best lap: 1:49.662
I go back to Michigan with 250,000 Cr. more in my bank account and a Minolta Toyota promised to ship to my home. (What, you think I had a trailer hitch on this thing?)
P.S. If I had planned it, I wouldn't have put the Nitrous on-then I would be eligible for Club 200-even though I never used it. Oh well.
