Interlude...ude

More...

Needs sound up loud too...

What's cool about this is that he's changing gears too - that is he's letting go of the steering wheel.

Interlude...

A couple of things for your amusement in the off season

Ken Block - Gymkhana 5. Just in case you've missed the latest instalment of Mr The Block's Gymkhana series here it is. Shot in sunny San Francisco & packed with his usual finesse plus some camera work that's pure sorcery(or CGI, I get them mixed up sometimes) along with some pretty tasty helmet-cam footage. Filed under #Responsible Hoonigan.

X Games - Hot Wheels Double Loop. Filed under #7g's@50mph

More X Games - Filed under #Ow that's gotta hurt and #That'll buff out

F1 and Throttlegate. If you've been following F1 you'll have heard a bit of controversy around Red Bull and engine maps/exhaust blowing. Here's a top article which manages to explain quite succinctly what all the fuss is, or rather was about - as of the Hungary round this weekend the loophole has been closed. It will be interesting to see how that changes effects all teams in what's so far been the most competitive F1 season in years.

Spa & Season Results

The stats are in, but not the video (it takes time OK!).

Actually the season results have been set on the RHS since the morning after, so here are the final standings for the season:

1. 67 Points - Chris
2. 65 Points - Andrew
3. 62 Points - Evan
4. 45 Points - Paul
5. 43 Points - George
6. 10 Points - Roderick
7. 10 Points - Luke

Well done Chris. A fantastic result, and shows that consistency really pays off. That and some most excellent driving to boot!

And not bad really for eight races to have the top three places separated by five points.

But what this doesn't show is just how close the racing has been this season, we've all come on so well this season that we're starting to get pretty damn good at pro racing! Good stuff.

A recap...

Race 1 - Mercs at Nurburgring GP/F

No one new the score, new racers, some new rules for the season and generally a bit of a shake down for the main event. We didn't have all the racers there for this one, but we had enough to make for some fun racing. We also did a 650Open test race (resulting in TCS on rule) - that's where those cars started folks!

Race2 - Grand Valley Speedway (Exotique and TC500)

TC500, awesome. We'd raced them before but what an excellent class. Evan has said it, they all have flaws, but also make for some seriously close and fun racing. Though overshadowed by what might have been the Exotique's swan song. Those cars are just too hyper to be much fun to race these days, time for a break!

Race3 - Toscana (Exotique)

Perhaps this is the final resting place for the Exotique class. As the Toscana track made for some close racing without too much drama. Again just four racers, but actually plenty on the tight twisty road course. Marvellous!

Race4 - Suzuka GP (650Open)

The first proper race in these cars. And my how fast are they. There's no doubt about it you need to know the track and your car. And even with some boost on you need to have your car dialled in. This race was memorable also as it was the one with Rod's pit crew and groupies on mic' whilst we race, very amusing!

Race5 - High Speed Ring - Wet (TC500)

A new phrase entered our racing glossary in this race. And that was "Tactical error". Note to self, FWD is shite mmmmkay. Anyway, aside from that, it was a race of two halves I think, Paul and I struggling at the back whilst there was an epic race on at the front with Chris and Evan - it's worth watching the replay if only to watch some serious unintentional drifting going on!

Race6 - NASCAR Leguna Seca and some Oval or other

Luke's magic car. That is really all that needs to be said. In fact it's all that I want to say about the NAStyCAR races. Though in fairness whichever oval we raced (it was the Indy one I think) which did involve some letting off I would be tempted to do again, especially if I have a stroke and can't do anything 'to the right'.

Race7 - Monza Enduro (650Open)

Late in the season we've just discovered the marvel of tyre wear. Oh my this was a good race. The racing was epic, the replay was epic and the controversy was mild. Perfect. What's more we had a proper clean race there, across 15 laps. More than any other race we've done I think tactics came into play - the lap count was just right to make it a hard choice around tyres and pitting in, and of course car set-up. As it turned out the power cars had it in the end I think but those with other tactics made it a very close call!

Race8 - Finale - Spa Enduro (650Open)

By popular demand I think. Despite being a longer race it felt more sprint race than Monza. Maybe the track layout, maybe the sense of foreboding around it being such a points important race. Dunno. I do know that it was a very intense race indeed. Expect a video upload just as soon as I can sit in front of my PS3 without wanting to race!

Results:

1. George (a fantastic comeback race!).

2. Evan

3. Paul

4. Andrew

5. Chris

6. Rod (dude, the DLC has a Jag race car!)

Next?

So that was it. Can it get better than that? I think so, expect details on this lot to be published soon:

• A full race calendar - including non-points nights.
• Use of Montegi circuits.
• Use of a snow circuit in off nights - oh yes!
• A move to longer races everywhere - expect 5+ laps minimum now.
• More tyre wear races.
• GT590 to replace Exotique for at least this season (no 587 points races).
• More enduro races (unless anyone would rather not).
• Classics racing - 70's, 80's, 90's we've done, expect more of the same.
• Something along the lines of the Targa Florio. (What?).
• Some single make races. TBC.

I have grand plans...

From your perspectives, to win the championship you'll need three cars:

1. TC500 - same spec (we're not doing TC500Pro which was 2 door).
2. GT590 - Japanese 2wd race car at 590pp with Race/Med tyres.
3. 650Open - Same spec. 650pp, 2wd, TCS and open tyres.

To enjoy the season entirely, think about owning...

• Something <70's race car(ish) - details to follow.
• Something from the 80's and something from the 90's.
• A rally car. pp points to be decided - this is for snow racing.
• All the DLC you can get.

Final word

Probably just "Thanks". It would be a lonely place to race without you lot in it, and whilst I might have watched more CS I or whatever the other half does... I am more than happy to be out scratching about in a race car!

And, whilst I'm happy running the blog - do feedback on anything you want to improve/change as it really is a team event.

Monza Replay...

To help get the blood flowing for our final race of the season, I've uploaded the Monza race replay for review.

I have to say, it's some of the best motorsport I've seen in a long time. There's everything, strategy (who can forget George's almost brilliant 3 stop strategy), carnage (at one point nearly the whole field has an incident - dust and smoke everywhere), excuses (.. but but Luke was across the track) and of course some serious racing.

I'll probably watch this race a few times to be honest, the top four in the race had some epic racing going on, and with such a long race everyone got in the mix at some point.

Don't forget to up the quality, I upload at 480p to get the best mix of size and quality I can (I only record at 520p, and this doesn't lose much from that).

Enjoy...

League Race #8 - Season Final

Wait what? Already....!

That's right it's the season finale. A week early.

I'll say again - this is a week early - the 12th of July.

The reason for this is that Evan's about to become a Dad again, and bub is due on the 15th, so we're hedging our bets and bringing the race in a week early.

The race:

This is it. 15 laps of Spa Francorchamps (day) with tyre wear in 650Open racers.

Expect this to be one epic race, if only the adventure that we're going to have trying to find the pit lane (it's long). The general agreement is that the enduro racing is fun, and as this is the last race of the season we'll be doubling the points (as we did last year).

The track:

You know it.

Here's some old data that I've pulled form here...

• Fastest race lap: 1:51.095 (A.Prost, Williams, 1993)
• Fastest Qualifying Lap: 1:47.571 (A.Prost, Williams, 1993)

As the field crosses the start/finish line, the drivers brake hard before changing down to first for the tight La Source hairpin. The track is doubly wide on the exit, so expect to see a wide variety of lines in an attempt to gain extra speed on an opponent before the run in to the fearsome Eau Rouge.

Driving steeply down hill, past the old pit lane that is currently used for support races, the track twists left, hard right and uphill, then left again. Eau Rouge is the key for the entire lap. If taken fast enough, the opportunity exists to out-drag an opponent along the Kemmel straight into the Les Combes chicane.

A tight hairpin, Malmedy and nearly flat left hander, Rivage, lead the drivers into the fast Pouhon double apex left hander. A brief straight, and the drivers follow the road right into the fast Les Fagnes chicane. No time to relax, as there is only another short straight before the next corner, the tough right hand Stavelot. The third gear corner leads onto the main straight, so drivers slide their car wide in a desperate attempt to get their speed up.

The straight is, in fact, a series of left hand, flat-out kinks - the toughest being the particularly tight Blanchimont. A pair of fast chicanes - the Bus stop sequence - slow the cars down slightly before they return to the pit straight and start another lap of this most challenging of circuits.

And a tidy lap in a Murcielago R-GT:

The cars.

Well you know by now what a 650Open is. If only it was one of these as well:

But anyway. So what setup? Not sure. Whilst a fast low drag car will be quick on the top straight, I reckon that a good handling car is going to have some success here. Not least as we'll have boost on low again, and of course with tyre wear on a car slipping all over the track is going to really pay for it in the tyres. Your call!

Official race details:

Host: Andrew

Date: 12-July-2012

Start time: 9:00 PM

Race starts: 9:15 PM

Lounge: FCT GT5 Andrew

Track: Spa Francorchamps

Laps: 15 (One race)

Cars: 650Open

Tyres: Open - Tyre wear on

Boost: Low (like Monza was).

Note: Double points on a double points race!

Points:

It's a single race night, which means there are double points for a single race (as we do). It's the last race of the season, so we're doubling the points (as we did last season).

What does this mean? Well, you have to be there or be dropping places is the main issue...

But here's an example:

4 racers - so total points for a win is 4 points x 2 for double header race, x2 for season finale - giving the points spread: 16, 12, 8, 4 respectively.

If we have all 7 racers: 28, 24, 20 will be top three places. Nice.

Better is that this isn't match fixing - Chris's batting average has him in second place consistently, which would mean a well deserved season win even if I were to pull out a win here.

League Race #7 Results

And here they are.

The log is updated on the right, as is the points table. Chris remains in the lead with a solid six point lead.

Official Results:

Race1 - Exotique

1. Evan

2. Chris

3. Andrew

4. Paul

Race2 - 650Open

1. Andrew

2. Chris

3. Evan

4. Paul

Commentary:

This track proved to best suited to good handling cars. My tactical error in race 1 was to a have a rocket sled - I thought that start finish straight would benefit a fast car, but in reality boost and gaps so big I was in a separate race meant I never saw the lead duo. Paul and I had a fw dicey moments but it was a war of attrition in the most part.

Race two cemented the handling debate. My Bentley wasn't the fastest out there by any stretch but just short of being an easy win, certainly the car I was driving seemed easy compared to my first race choice...

Video?

Yeah yeah, bunged up with the previous race folks, it's a 1/2 hour race I have to re-record...

League Race #7 Night Racing

It's that time of the league racing again when we all have to turn off the lights in the living room...

The track:

It's Special Stage Route 5 - which is a permanently night track. Think racing of exotic over tuned ricers and you're probably in the ball park of what to expect. Here's a recent race shot:

Exciting doesn't even come close. More on the track here.

Cars:

It's a mix again. First race of the night is Exotique (587pp) cars. Is this the last outing for these bad boy cars? Maybe...

Second race of the night is our premier league cars - the 650Open class. Don't forget to add wing to your cars after Monza, and of course come off those hard compound tyres as this is no tyre wear event....

Official details:

Host: Andrew

Date: 05-July-2012

Start time: 9:00 PM

Race starts: 9:15 PM

Lounge: FCT GT5 Andrew

Track: Special Stage Route 5

Laps: 5

Cars: Exotique & 650Open

Tyres: Open

Boost: Low

Note that this will be a five lap race (if I remember) as it's a short course and we've all got better at longer races.

Apologies for the lateness of posting. I blame chronic laziness.

DR - BCP

After Rod's PS3 GT5 game data implosion the other night I thought I should check out how to back this up.  To be fair, this could of happened to any of us(me for sure as I've never even looked into backing the PS3 up)... which would 'blow chunks' to phrase what Rod was probably thinking in a slightly more festive manner. 

Just in case you're not familiar with backing up on PS3 the good news it's a quick and painless process, you just need a USB stick or an external harddrive(PC formated-mac formatted won't do it).

In the Main Menu

• Go to Game
• Saved Data Uility
• Go to GT5
• Triangle
• Copy
• Down till your USD/HD appears
• X button & Voila, you're all backed up.

This won't save Video's or pics but your game pogress, throphies and the valueable garage you've worked so hard to accumulate is all there.

Car advert....

The first one ever in fact.

Allegedly.