- 6,511
- Shropshire
- IfAndOr
Fair enough and understandable.
No pressure then! Maybe if no one else is racing I'll have a chance.
Wednesday Cobras 20:30-21:30 BST Congratulations Champion EranFinished
- Thread starter Sick Cylinder
- 182 comments
- 10,606 views
- 3,277
- Whitehaven Cumbria Englan
- johnwells69
Sorry I was doing the same races, if and tarn
I will use Daytona Coupe and the blue suit.
I will use Daytona Coupe and the blue suit.
- 5,284
- Sick_Cylinder
I am sorry that we have had to stop racing on a Sunday and that you are not free on a Wednesday - hopefully you will be able to race on Friday.
Test Round 0 Impressions - Teretonga (Custom Track)
I expected the Daytona Coupe to have a bigger advantage at this track, because at slower tracks the Daytona has an advantage - at a fast track like Mount Panorama the Cobra has the advantage. In Harsk's expert hands the Cobra was competitive and very close to the Daytona. I swapped between the two cars and found that although the Cobra was initially faster off the start line there was not much difference. The extra power of the Daytona enabled it to catch back up, but the big, sweeping left hand corner at the end of the main straight at Teretonga came up before the Daytona could pass the Cobra.
The turnout was low with just six drivers, but several regular attenders were at another meeting - hopefully the room will be full or nearly full for rounds 1 - 11. My PS3 seemed to run very slowly taking quite a long time to load the track and respond to any changes - presumably this is a characteristic of using custom tracks.
Above Rehdogg overtakes Sick on the inside, while Pimiki chases Harsk and Eran goes up the inside of SimbaLora.
Note - we have spaces so please sign up if you are free on Wednesday's.
- 5,284
- Sick_Cylinder
- 5,284
- Sick_Cylinder
Just a quick reminder that Round 1 is today from Brands Hatch GP 1980's.
Approximate Schedule (Times in BST):
20:25 Room Opens
20:35 10 Minute Qualification Race
20:50 30 Minute Feature Race
21:25 Meeting Ends
Do not worry if you miss the start of the Qualification Race - you can still be in time for the Feature Race, but will start from the back. If you arrive late please refrain from text chat - other people will be concentrating and racing for a good grid position. Note Championship points are only scored in the Feature Race.
Good luck everyone! If you haven't signed up yet - what are you waiting for !!!
Approximate Schedule (Times in BST):
20:25 Room Opens
20:35 10 Minute Qualification Race
20:50 30 Minute Feature Race
21:25 Meeting Ends
Do not worry if you miss the start of the Qualification Race - you can still be in time for the Feature Race, but will start from the back. If you arrive late please refrain from text chat - other people will be concentrating and racing for a good grid position. Note Championship points are only scored in the Feature Race.
Good luck everyone! If you haven't signed up yet - what are you waiting for !!!
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- 6,511
- Shropshire
- IfAndOr
The cars seem well matched*, the midweek network connection was solid and if I hadn't made two disastrous starts all would have been well.
Because the Coupe's is so low geared I'd tried to use the clutch to make a quicker start, but because of all the reving cars around me I couldn't hear my engine properly and so couldn't get the biting point correct. In the second race this also resulted in a false start.
But then I had a good battle trying to get past John 👍 and then spent quite a few laps catching up with Sick, who I had another great battle with. I nearly made it on the line - 0.14 difference! I shall watch the replay again.
*The lap and sector time were quite close between us all.
Because the Coupe's is so low geared I'd tried to use the clutch to make a quicker start, but because of all the reving cars around me I couldn't hear my engine properly and so couldn't get the biting point correct. In the second race this also resulted in a false start.
But then I had a good battle trying to get past John 👍 and then spent quite a few laps catching up with Sick, who I had another great battle with. I nearly made it on the line - 0.14 difference! I shall watch the replay again.
*The lap and sector time were quite close between us all.
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- 11,251
- Sweden
- eran0004
Good race today! For some reason I was super nervous during the first couple of laps, my feet were literally shaking! I bet it shows up on the replay file if you check the brake and accelerator indicators on the HUD 
Once the shaking was gone Pimiki had a lead of a second or two, but from then on I managed to stay on the same pace as him, sometimes gaining a little and sometimes losing a little. About halfway through the race the gap was less than a second, but then I made a mistake at Surtees and lost about one and a half seconds, erasing all the progress I had made for the past ten or so minutes. Nothing to do but to get back up on the horse and keep trying to chip some tenths off the gap here and there.
Near the end of the race we caught up with the last two cars, and that helped me get the gap back down below one second. From then on I did my best to make my car as big as possible in Pimiki's mirrors, hoping that a bit of pressure would open up a spot for me to overtake. At the last lap, in Surtees again, Pimiki lost the rear end, then his car snapped back in the other direction and the next thing I knew I was in the lead with a gap of over four seconds! All I had to do then was to not crash, which can be a pretty tall order when you're in the lead... but I was as calm as a bowl of fermented milk* and made it to the finish line in one piece!
* A Swedish simile, "lugn som en filbunke": basically "cool as a cucumber", but with dairy products.
Once the shaking was gone Pimiki had a lead of a second or two, but from then on I managed to stay on the same pace as him, sometimes gaining a little and sometimes losing a little. About halfway through the race the gap was less than a second, but then I made a mistake at Surtees and lost about one and a half seconds, erasing all the progress I had made for the past ten or so minutes. Nothing to do but to get back up on the horse and keep trying to chip some tenths off the gap here and there.
Near the end of the race we caught up with the last two cars, and that helped me get the gap back down below one second. From then on I did my best to make my car as big as possible in Pimiki's mirrors, hoping that a bit of pressure would open up a spot for me to overtake. At the last lap, in Surtees again, Pimiki lost the rear end, then his car snapped back in the other direction and the next thing I knew I was in the lead with a gap of over four seconds! All I had to do then was to not crash, which can be a pretty tall order when you're in the lead... but I was as calm as a bowl of fermented milk* and made it to the finish line in one piece!
* A Swedish simile, "lugn som en filbunke": basically "cool as a cucumber", but with dairy products.
- 2,228
- Bielefeld
- tarnheld
Enjoyed the races yesterday, even if i was completamente impreparato (scusi, Team Italia 
). At least i managed to don the Mikko Hirvonen outfit -- going down in style... But i'm glad the net seems stable on Wednesday and we can enjoy racing again! Looking forward to next time! 
). At least i managed to don the Mikko Hirvonen outfit -- going down in style... But i'm glad the net seems stable on Wednesday and we can enjoy racing again! Looking forward to next time! 
- 1,009
- Bo'ness
- buybon355
Enjoyed the races, cars seem well matched, although I did get destroyed down pilgrims drop twice by Simba in the coupe. Caught some of it back under the short brake into Hawthrons. First run I've had on SM tyres, and it behaves itself a whole lot more than the CS. Next challenge is learning the user created tracks, which is always fun.
Looking like a good series!
Looking like a good series!
- 5,284
- Sick_Cylinder
I did everything I could to stay with you in the Qualification Race and the Feature Race, but couldn't quite manage it - you were driving well.
@IfAndOr - best to just start normally with the Daytona Coupe - because of the low gearing the Cobra roadster gets the holeshot, but the Coupe's extra 65bhp enables it to pull back the time lost by the time it reaches second gear.
Sorry John - I can't change the time of the meeting. If you can't join us for this one, hopefully you can join a future series.
Race report, photos and championship points table to follow.
- 5,284
- Sick_Cylinder
Sorry to lose you from Wednesday Cobras John, but glad to hear you can race in Friday Rockets.
Round 1 from Brands Hatch 1980's
Wow that was intense! My goal for the 10 minute qualification race was to stay on the track and secure a reasonable starting position for the 30 minute feature race.
The new meeting structure worked well - we were only a few minutes late starting the qualification race and the feature race was completed within schedule. Harsk was late, but the new structure allowed him to start the Feature Race from the back of the grid. It would be helpful if PD could implement the back of grid start option for people who miss regular qualifying. It would also be helpful if the Endurance Race feature allowed a range of lengths from 5 minutes up to 9 minutes (currently 10 minutes is the shortest option and you cannot switch between lap race and endurance race settings).
I got a reasonable start and being on the outside I stayed wide to avoid the risk of contact at the first corner. The Daytona Coupe seemed to have a slight advantage into the hairpin, but I was unable to gain any places. For a while I was running in 4th behind Buybon - I tried my best, but he was simply too good. Harsk soon made his way through the field, passing the jump starting IfAndOr and John Wells on the line. When Harsk passed me he was followed a few laps later by SimbaLora leaving me in 6th place. I managed to hold on despite very strong pressure from IfAndOr who had recovered from a terrible start passing John Wells, Tarnheld and Sutsagrd.
Above IfAndOr suffered probably one of his worst ever starts: on lap one Pimiki leads into the hairpin while IfAndOr has only just left the start line - his red Team Italy car can be seen just to the left of the tree.
Above, reigning champion Harsk (number 1, Team GB) battles fellow champion SimbaLora (Team Germany). Below a small mistake causes Sutsagrd (number 88, Team Holland) to run wide and lose places. He struggles back onto the track casting traffic cones to left and right, then bottom gets the pedal to the metal and lights up the tyres.
Below, championship points - after 1 round Eran leads with Pimiki second and Harsk third overall (leading the Cobra 427 class).
Featured Car: Cobra 289 Mark 2
We are using the 427 Cobra detuned to an approximate 289 performance level because there is no 289 in the game, despite this being the Cobra with the race history: Le Mans GT class 1963 and USRRC and many victories worldwide. If you haven't already done so please click on the link and like to vote to increase our chances of getting this great car into a future version of Gran Turismo.
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/ac-cobra-mark-2-1963.316001/
Featured Video
Nothing to do with Shelby or Cobras, but a classic video nonetheless - the story of the "Blue Flame" which driven by Gary Gabelich took the World Land Speed Record and held it for 28 years. It had three power levels and took the record easily on the intermediate setting of 13,000 pounds of thrust (22,000 pounds was available if necessary!). Enjoy the great period feel, music and narration!
Next Round 2 - Maiwald Custom Track - a brilliant track by Eran
- 11,251
- Sweden
- eran0004
For round 2: A little track guide to Maiwald Ring.
- 0:11 - The first corner of the track is a bit sharper than it may seem, don't accelerate too soon.
- 0:16 to 0:27 - This is a fast but twisting section. You can probably go flat out in the Cobra, but you always need to look for the next apex. The kerbs are a good visual aid here.
- 0:28 - The car may jump a little as you go over this crest.
- 0:34 to 0:42 - This is a long corner with a slightly decreasing radius. Personally I like to stay on the outside initially, and then turn in when I see the kerbs on the inside.
- 0:47 - Another crest where the car might jump a little. It's immediately followed by a left turn, which you can't see until you're over the crest. Basically, just know that it's there so you know where to position the car as you approach the crest.
- 0:49 - Brake fairly hard before the right turn down into the forest. This corner has very little grip, as the surface bends away from you.
- 0:56 to 1:00 - This corner can be taken pretty fast, but the apex is hard to see so I usually slow down more than I'd have to, just to be on the safe side.
- 1:06 to 1:18 - This little slalom section requires you to keep lining up the car for the next turn. Pick your apexes wisely.
- 1:26 - After you've passed the bridge, brake hard for the sharp corner that's coming up. The braking here is a little tricky, as the road turns slightly to the right, so beware of going too far towards to outer edge of the road.
- 1:38 - This corner can probably be taken flat out with the Cobra.
- 1:45 - This turn is a little sharper, but pretty basic.
- 1:53 - You might be able to take this turn flat out, but you might want to tap the brakes just a little to be on the safe side.
- 2:00 to 2:06 - For these two turns, aim for a slightly late-ish apex. The second corner is a little tighter than the first.
- 2:09 - Hairpin coming up. Brake hard.
- 2:19 - Another hairpin, but slightly faster this time.
- 2:29 - Brake hard again. This corner is only a hundred or so degrees, but it's tighter than you might think. Treat it like the hairpin at 2:09.
- 2:39 - S-bend with mild corkscrew tendencies. I'm not sure what the fastest way through these corners is, I usually go pretty slow through and then try to accelerate out to get as much speed as possible on the main straight.
- 3,277
- Whitehaven Cumbria Englan
- johnwells69
- 6,511
- Shropshire
- IfAndOr
I think I will. My in race attempts were not very successful and I don't want to cause any start line incidents.
Although when I get it right I can get the rears to spin up a little - but it is a bit hit or miss.
I thought I'd give everyone a head start. Perhaps to much of a head start.
Great photos @John Wells.
Nice track write up @eran0004. I've tried the Cobra around Maiwald and it feels great. It should make for some good racing - if I can get off the line.
- 561
- United Kingdom
- sutsagrd
I'm really impressed you've managed to use my amazing lack of acceleration control as an excellent advert for cobras!👍
I had a brilliant qualifying session and only got 3rd because a couple of people in front of me made unusual unforced errors. But I was no where near the pace of the front runners.
In the main race, I had an ok start but buybon and sick did a pincher movement on me from either side going round paddock hill which dropped me to 5th. Then as I was trying to tell myself to be careful and it's a long race, my silly mistake at Surtees (my nemesis corner) saw me right to the back of the pack 1st lap. I made it worse by completely over cooking it and lost 17s to the leader and about 10 to If who was ahead of me. The only reason I got 8th was because tarn and John had incidents ahead of me which allowed me to sneak through.
However I'm pleased with my performance as for once I didn't get lapped....JUST!
Excellent photos eran and john and thanks for the track info eran.
Thanks for hosting Sick. Really enjoyed racing with everyone again and looking forward to rockets tomorrow.
- 1,009
- Bo'ness
- buybon355
Ah so were we 3 wide round paddock then suts? I remember you giving me room when I was inside - thanks, I was a little over committed, but we got round without any contact. Even more impressive if you had sick on your left, you couldn't have had much room to play with. Great driving.
- 5,284
- Sick_Cylinder
- 10,222
- South
- HarskGaming96
Okay.
So, only the highest scored position by a driver is added in the Teams title? And I am the leader of the Chrome Line Class?
- 5,284
- Sick_Cylinder
- 11,251
- Sweden
- eran0004
The first ten minutes of the race looked promising, but now it's back to the garage for Team USA and their charred Cobra Daytona. Is the season lost? Will they manage to repair the car in time for next race? And who is the mysterious lady with the keys? Tune in next week!
