- 6,392
- Pennsylvania
- wat3rm370n
EST Event
VCRC Vintage Sprint Tournament - complete...
- Thread starter watermelon punch
- 187 comments
- 8,843 views
- 22
- Eldersburg, MD
- J-Neb
Good pics and a great time last night, even if it was a bit late for me. Sorry to WM for starting the first race too soon and for not changing my tires. Great work keeping everyone moving and organizing the event, as always.
I do have to say without benefit of watching the replay that I was a bit disappointed with some of the contact in the first Stratos/Giulietta race. Everyone here is remarking about the handling of the Lancia, and it is a dang tough car. I was committed to not spinning and racing in control and within my limits, and I felt roughed up on some of the early corners by the Division 1 folks who I suppose thought I wasn't going fast enough.
I didn't get spun or pushed off (until a_garris and I locked up on the 3rd lap, and he graciously conceded his position immediately) and I don't have any hard feelings or whatever. I tend to blame myself in those situations for not going fast enough/not knowing the car well enough/not knowing the track well enough, but I thought the name of the game last night was collision avoidance when dealing with difficult cars at various speeds.
I'm the new guy here and I'm certainly not trying to ruffle any feathers as I'm not upset about anything. I guess what I'm looking for is for a more experienced racer to look at the race and see what I can do to avoid conflict when I'm in an uncomfortable car or track.
Cheers to all and I hope to see you all out on the track again soon!
I do have to say without benefit of watching the replay that I was a bit disappointed with some of the contact in the first Stratos/Giulietta race. Everyone here is remarking about the handling of the Lancia, and it is a dang tough car. I was committed to not spinning and racing in control and within my limits, and I felt roughed up on some of the early corners by the Division 1 folks who I suppose thought I wasn't going fast enough.
I didn't get spun or pushed off (until a_garris and I locked up on the 3rd lap, and he graciously conceded his position immediately) and I don't have any hard feelings or whatever. I tend to blame myself in those situations for not going fast enough/not knowing the car well enough/not knowing the track well enough, but I thought the name of the game last night was collision avoidance when dealing with difficult cars at various speeds.
I'm the new guy here and I'm certainly not trying to ruffle any feathers as I'm not upset about anything. I guess what I'm looking for is for a more experienced racer to look at the race and see what I can do to avoid conflict when I'm in an uncomfortable car or track.
Cheers to all and I hope to see you all out on the track again soon!
chuyler1
Premium
- 4,548
- New Hampshire
- chuyler1
I'm usually a no-contact racer but when it comes to a track that everyone isn't familiar with and people haven't quite figured out brake zones, things can get bottled up. I've done plenty of mixed-class racing where the difference between winning and losing can be decided in the first half lap and which driver gets a good draft off a faster car. The Division 1 cars were all racing hard and competing for the draft of the faster cars. All it takes is for a Division 2 driver to brake too early for things to get ugly. The driver immediately behind has to check up, and the drivers behind him start scurrying for a faster line and before you know it cars are 3 wide and bumping into each other.
- 372
- Plymouth
- mike_5927
Great images Watermelon. Is there a chance you could get an image of the last race where all three Lancia's are real close going into the tight right hander that drops away from you.
Also if you are planning another event similar to this may I suggest trying the RUF BTR '86. I have tried to drive this car several times before and it always ends the same way, me going round and round in circles after a couple of laps, because I have burnt the rear tyres up.
Also if you are planning another event similar to this may I suggest trying the RUF BTR '86. I have tried to drive this car several times before and it always ends the same way, me going round and round in circles after a couple of laps, because I have burnt the rear tyres up.
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- 6,392
- Pennsylvania
- wat3rm370n
Was it me. 
I was smoking all over the place I saw.
But I always make concession when I hit.
(At least if I know it...)
There was quite a bit of sliding in front of people in ALL the Stratos races... and by that I mean the Stratos was generally the ones sliding in front of others.
And then with the Alfas barreling forward.
That was part of the exercise.
It was definitely dicey!!!! Hair raising more like.
I was smoking all over the place I saw.
But I always make concession when I hit.
(At least if I know it...)
There was quite a bit of sliding in front of people in ALL the Stratos races... and by that I mean the Stratos was generally the ones sliding in front of others.
And then with the Alfas barreling forward.
That was part of the exercise.
It was definitely dicey!!!! Hair raising more like.
- 3,204
Thanks for organizing this tournament Watermelon.
Overall, I had fun. Not as much in the Alpine and Lancia: I simply don't have the skill to drive these cars properly and therefore I was lacking confidence behind the wheel, it was not enjoyable. But in London and with the Alfa, the cars were easier to drive and I was able to be competitive. If it wasn't for some avoidable mistakes, winning would have within reach despite two very strong drivers in Division 1.
Overall, I had fun. Not as much in the Alpine and Lancia: I simply don't have the skill to drive these cars properly and therefore I was lacking confidence behind the wheel, it was not enjoyable. But in London and with the Alfa, the cars were easier to drive and I was able to be competitive. If it wasn't for some avoidable mistakes, winning would have within reach despite two very strong drivers in Division 1.
- 6,392
- Pennsylvania
- wat3rm370n
Well, I will say this, can't speak for anyone else, but every car I drive since the Stratos seems like it's on rails!!! haha.
So if nothing else, I found it valuable as an exercise.
I doubt I'll be doing any Stratos endurance races anytime soon though. LOL
The VCRC has races planned now with MUCH nicer handling cars than the Stratos, fyi.
heeheehttps://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=247350
(I say that, knowing that almost all cars handle nicer than the Stratos. ha)
- 2,254
- Burlington, NC, USA
- a_garris/Vol_Jbolaz
Seems the OCD update is an Alfa dealership. It also has the Alpines.
This was a week too late. But every now and then one has to wonder does someone at PD base the dealership off of what people are setting up in the forums.
This was a week too late. But every now and then one has to wonder does someone at PD base the dealership off of what people are setting up in the forums.
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