Red Ring

If you're not following GT Planet then you'll not know the news, here's a clue:

That's right new track goodness.
Read all about it in GT Planet, or read about it from an F1 Driver (just)...
And whilst it might be the Red Bull Ring to some, I always think that it makes it sound like a shopping centre, so I elect to continue to call it the A1-Ring. Which at least puts it first in the phone directory...

New Season

The new league season is upon us. Or in other words, I finally got round to working it all out.
There are a few things to note about this season:

• No full on endurance races with points - I just can't sit for that long at the moment.
• Classes are:
• CR400 (Classic Racers) - Our trusty 400pp cars we've been racing.
• HRC460
• TC500
• GT590
• I've opened up GT590 to be cars from any country.
• Read the charter (on the right) it covers car classes and general racing.
• The full race log is also on the right, and updated. I take shots from that to give results etc, but if you want a copy feel free to download.
• Clubman this season is the Senna F3 car - you'll need to get that to obtain points.
• Points for Clubman remain seperate from the championship.
• As the F3 cars are going to be faster than most classes I'll race them after the championship races.
• We'll use the off nights for thrash and catch up if we have a bad PSN night.
• I will try and remember to announce early the next points race, but we'll endeavour to stick to this list in any case.

So without any more fuss, here's the points nights calendar (Click on the images to make bigger):

Here's the extract from the classes detail in the charter:

To clarify that last point (e.) if you want to race in a car that's not class compatible, you're welcome to but you'll forfeit all but the lowest points possible.

And if you want the full season details, they're here:

And because I like pics of the cars, here are a few:

Top night - briefly

Hi Folks.
Thanks for the top night's racing last night.
Period racing at Brands was excellent, and I certainly think a 'test and tune' night with the Rufs will be fun, we'll arrange that soon.

Those of you who've not got the F3 and F1 Senna cars, go do the races and get silver, you'll get them then for free, and a handy few mil on the way too I think - certainly I've spent up after getting cash from that, including this lovely car:

And once you have those Senna cars you can re-live the legend...

And if you think that's too much for your Friday commute, some light relief that made me laugh. 

"dat stance"...

Lower class cars

Whilst we eagerly anticipate the senna content, and cars like this;

I've been testing what looks to be a very interesting class, that being the 1970 and before road cars with S/H tyres at 400pp. I thought that the tyres would be too hard, and the power too low. Maybe, but the driving fun is excellent, and they don't look too bad either:

I do like this picture.

Testing continues, and expect league news on tracks etc post Senna update.

They said I might need a frame to help me get around.

They were quite correct.

I reckon this has lopped off a solid half second on my general lap times - certainly feels nicer to be driving with this setup...

Anyhoo, I'm back, or rather my back, is better at least it's not as bad as it was and the drugs do work.

This Thursday I'll be back online, possibly only doing a few races, we'll see, but I'll have the room up and running and we can discuss our next season, I'd like to talk about classes of cars.

So far I'm thinking that we have (for points races):

• TC500 - This will be the premier/newest car class we have.
• HRC460 (tyres TBC)- the current classic racers class.
• 400pp & S/H tyres - 1970 or before. Old tat road cars basically.
• 550pp & R/H 1970 or before Racers. Classic racing cars.
• Rocket Racers - the one make class all on it's own, every points night.

The only thing I can think here is that we're not exercising any of the newer stuff. However, as we're going to be running alternate weeks for points (as we used to) I'll run more modern racers on those nights.

The plan here is that we'll have a defined type of car (GT590, 650Open etc) and then vote on tracks throughout the evening.

Also, given there's been the huge update, I reserve the right to introduce some other racing as we progress, but we'll do that on the non-points nights. The only caveat to that is that if we have old school tracks I'll amend the season to include them somewhere.

If we end up having a course maker, they'll not appear in any seasonal/points nights, although we may play with custom tracks on the non-points nights depending on play-ability.

And what have I been doing whilst I can't actually sit on a chair?

I fired up my old PS2 and played this:

Turns out that on a modern tv with component input Tourist Trophy is most playable, and no need for a steering wheel!

Cheers

Andrew

It Runs! Mostly.

So a big thanks to Evan for another day working on the E30. It's funny, this car needs a name (thinking El Loco) but it just hasn't earned one yet, and of course the Top Gear opinion of not naming cars sticks in my head too. Perhaps this car is destined to be a car with no name. Or El Loco.

What did we do today, well we had had all day planned to put the hub in. With my compression doobry tool it took something like about five minutes. Yeay.

What took longer was the "dust cover" which we trashed as we pulled the old bearing out. Getting that working with the drum brakes proved to be a messy, ugly job. But I think we did it.

Pics of the day:

Gubbins (and an exhaust to replace)

It moved!

Didn't realise it was that low at the back.

Dat stance.

And the finished product, a day well done...

Sadly not.

And, proof of movement...

So, other than some questionable gear selection from Evan, the hooligan moment of his driving over my garden (just) and my discovering that I laugh like Muttley, a very productive day indeed.

What's left? Well we decided not to do the rear sub frame bushes, big job that and we're shy of breaking the car again - the hub was a big job for us.

And for me? Bodywork, that's about it. Then it's off to the mechanic, and most likely a large bill:

Mechanic Jobs:
0. Check engine is suitable for working on - i.e. no catastophic failures (has compression tested OK).
1. Replace Clutch - standard is fine.
2. Replace rear main seal.
3. Check and replace any other appropriate seals whilst gearbox removed.
4. Check and replace seals around engine - i.e. stop any leaks.
5. Fabricate new exhaust, post extractors with stainless steel - will source back box etc from eBay.
6. Supply and fit rear battery mounting point.
7. Machine/lighen flywheel. Basically a mild tune job.
8. Rear sub-frame bushes - replace with parts supplied.

Still, a major milestone has been reached. An excellent weekend!

Senna

Turn it up loud...

 

Season Standings

So the tally is in, and Pops you're it.

Race results:

What an excellent night's racing. The 650's can always be a bit fickle, the cars spreading out across the field, but not tonight, well, not too much. As often happens with a larger field there ends up being two races, front runners and back markers - I'm cool with that, the boost helps close the gap a bit, and of course it's all about the racing.

For me, the Bentley ran well, and no issues with tyres, only with foolish mistakes, but to be fair I don't think I/We would have caught Hoggy and his Toyota racer.  Top driving there chap, a demonstration if you will.

And two new starters, SFoamy (we shall call you Foamy) and Yould951(Yould). Not the best cars for the job, but excellent racing and certainly in the mix with the racing so great stuff.

Special mention to Evan this week for staying with us for the entire night's racing, a rare treat!

Season results:

As mentioned, Pops, you've dominated this season, and well deserved, between you and Hoggy we've all had to raise our games somewhat, good stuff. I think next season may be a bit more of a mix up, we'll see...

So the points:

Pops, you broke my points listing on the righth hand side, I've had to introduce another multiple of 10, you've gone over the hundred mark. Great stuff.
My high place is testament to racing in all the races - as I host them I'm always in there somewhere and the points add up. My second place at Spa did lift me up too though, Chris you'd have had third otherwise.

And that's it. Season over.

Pops, here's your trophy:

Next season:

And to business, discussion points feedback:

• Rocket racing - a complete class for this - every race night. i.e. single make.
• GT590 will be retired for a season.
• More HRC460 races.
• Maybe one make specials.
• More "slower" class cars - with slipper tyres.
• Epic enduro races are out - mindful we need our beauty sleep.
• Probably not going to change the night folks, unless to a weekend.

Learning curve

Hopefully I've seen a back of unproductive weekend work on the E30 for a while.
Last weekend was this:

Which doesn't look too bad, well, it does. It looks like the finest 70's Italian designed electrics. Sadly it was about as functional as that too.

But I've learned about relays, feedback loops and poor earth connections. And as a result of this I now have a three way switch instead of the BMW standard window circuit breaker.
What did that do (the breaker?) well, it allowed you to override the entire circuit for the power windows. Which seems like a good idea. Except, on my car it meant illuminated switches the entire time, or windows off. And with no air-con/heater (more on that later) they're going to be turned on a fair bit. And that means a flat battery more often than not.

So, now I have a three way switch - Off / On / Ignition - which literally means I can forget about the switch now. Handy, as I want to.

The heater? Yes, the heater. It's disconnected on my car. So I reconnected it. And then I flooded my garage. And then I disconnected it again.

No heater for me, or rather, quote from a mobile mechanic time: "Please remove from car B and place in car A" - I'm not doing it, it's one of the all time worst jobs out there. Anyone fancy earning a couple of hundred give me a shout.

Finally, this weekend is get car running weekend, finally.

Wish us luck!

GT5 - Taxi!

PSA

GT5 goes off line soon.
sniff.

But, if you do the last seasonal you'll accrue some cars in GT6 - link to details here

Also, if you want access to your DLC post GT5 server closing - read this

Personally, I doubt I'll go back, but I'll do the download thing, and of course I'd like the cars, so I'll be online on GT5 tonight.

Here are some memories of GT5 league racing for nostalgia...

Which one were you?

(B)rat pack

The birth of clubman racing

Distant memories

Suzuka in the wet - so much fun!

/PSA