Opening picture - Ryan Racer pours on the style in his Plymouth at the Corkscrew in the Trans Am 2 race.
Picture 1 Smiley and GK Gamer lead the field in their Mercury's. 2 John Wells Alfa Romeo chases Maximusmonster yellow Alfa. 3 Platinum License holders Flaco, Rehdogg and Lex Lathor were guest drivers for Nissan at this round and brought their Bluebird 510's home in 8th, 9th and 10th places respectively. 4 Ryan Racer red Alfa chases the leaders and tries to escape the attentions of Makovics Pontiac. 5 there were battles throughout the field - in this shot GK Gamer and Smiley race close! 6 John Wells Mercury chases the pack.
Race impressions - I made a reasonable start in my Mercury Cougar XR7 and had a grandstand seat for the battle in the early laps between Pimiki (Alfa) and Ning (Pontiac). They swapped paint a few times as it was very close. Eventually they pulled away and GK Gamer dropped back to 5th with me taking 6th.
Trans Am 1 Results
1st - SmileyWRX - Mercury - will be guest driver for Nissan at Round 2
2nd - Makovics - Pontiac - will be guest driver for Nissan at Round 2
3rd - Ning Dynasty - Pontiac - A superb debut for new driver Ning
4th - Pimiki - Alfa Romeo
Picture 1 Flaco leads the pack into turn one. 2 Flaco in blue Ford and Smiley green Ford battle. 3 Lex Lathor Dodge on the brakes. 4 Ryan Racer white and black Plymouth outbrakes Pimiki Alfa - note this is an example of PD's mysterious "previous car bug" Pimiki had loaded his 700bhp Plymouth, but in game it appeared as an Alfa! 5 Tony Lomas Mach 1 Ford Mustang looked gorgeous on road "Rostyle" wheels (but please swap to PDI PD525N steel wheels or American Racing Vintage Torq Thrust next week. Smiley please change rear wing on Ford. Rehdogg, Makovics, GK Gamer and Pimiki please add driver numbers to Trans Am 2 cars).
Picture 1 Ning Dynasty Trans Cammer looks superb. 2 Maximusmonster Chevrolet chases the second group into the corkscrew. 3 Ryan Racer was having to push his Plymouth very hard. 4 Sick Ford Mustang. 5 John Wells Chevrolet. 6 Ryan Racer Plymouth had a great paint scheme and his spirited driving produced great photos! (Maximusmonster and Ning Dynasty please change driver number font).
Note to drivers - the race number background (circle shape) can either have a black surround - this looks best on light coloured cars such as Ryan Racer or Lex Lathor or no surround - this looks best on dark painted cars such as Sick Cylinder Ford.
Trans Am 2 Results
1st - Smiley WRX - Ford Mustang Mach 1 (Race Number 47)
2nd - Flaco - Ford Mustand Mach 1 (Race Number 13)
3rd - Lex Lathor - Dodge Challenger (Race Number 78)
4th - Makovics - Dodge Challenger (Race Number 95 - NOT DISPLAYED)
5th - Ning Dynasty - Trans Cammer (Race Number 2)
6th - Pimiki - Alfa Romeo / Plymouth Cuda (Race Number - NOT DISPLAYED)
7th - Maximusmonster - Chevrolet Camaro (race Number 41)
8th - Rehdogg - Plymouth Cuda (Race Number 86 - NOT DISPLAYED)
9th - Sick Cylinder - Ford Mustang Mach 1 (Race Number 58)
10th - GK Gamer - Ford Mustang Mach 1 (Race Number - NOT DISPLAYED)
11th - Tony Lomas - Ford Mustang Mach 1 (Race Number 22)
12th - John Wells - Chevrolet Camaro (Race Number 25)
13th - Ryan Racer - Plymouth Cuda (Race Number 7) Retirement / Disconnection
Race impressions - During the test day my Ford Mustang Mach 1 had been terrible to drive - it was on my own settings and I'm not good at GT6 tuning. Since the test day I had tried 6 different tunes for the car and found what suited me best - the Xande tune kindly recommended by Ace Lensman and Racer IfAndOr. I got a reasonable start making up one place and until the midway pit stop was holding 5th place and gaining on Platinum driver Lex Lathor. As the tyres wore I was getting closer by a fraction each lap - his car was obviously slower and more difficult to drive, but he kept ahead of me due to his greater driving skills. Following the pit stop I couldn't find the new limits of the car and Lex romped away from me while I struggled - the car seemed to have got much worse with poor braking and no grip on turn in. I struggled to get the car stopped and turned losing 5 places within a couple of laps. Maybe the "rotten second set of tyres bug" is back, but as no one else seemed to struggle I think it's more likely that having found a good rhythm on the old tyres I just couldn't adapt as quickly as the other, more skilled drivers after the pit stop and made a few mistakes. Towards the end of the race I was catching Rehdogg quite quickly in his Plymouth Cuda - I think that his tyres had worn more as he was having to push his slower car very hard - I was very close and maybe could have gained a place if only there was another lap! I wonder how many team managers have heard that comment / excuse!
A very enjoyable race and I'm happy that Race Hard tyres were the right ones for these cars.
PD need to urgently address the "Previous Car Bug" - at least 10 minutes was lost between race 1 and 2 because of this problem and eventually we had to race with one car still wearing the previous body.
Can Am by Toyota 7 Results
1st - Rehdogg
2nd - Flaco
3rd - SmileyWRX
4th - Lex Lathor
Race Impressions - The Toyota 7 was entertaining to drive, with a tendancy to swap ends under braking or on the throttle demanding using of high gears to cut wheelspin and quick reactions on the wheel. I tried for a heroic start, but lost control going from hero to zero (last place) by the end of the first corner. Eventually I made my way back to finish 6th in a field sadly depleted by disconnections.
Drivers Championships, Manufacturers Championships and Team Championships Points Tables to follow.
Can all drivers please ensure that they fit their race numbers to their cars before next week and use the suggested font.
Next Round Zahara - note the main event alternates between trans Am 2 and Can Am by Toyota 7 and next week the main event is Can Am which will complete 2 laps while Trans Am 1 and 2 complete 1 lap.
To join this exciting set of championships, initially as a reserve driver, contact Sick Cylinder.
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