My first attempt will be with a RUF RGT '00 (silver livery).
I take my RGT to the tuning shop and ask them for some comfort tires, all grades. The guys at the tire shop give me a strange look, but are willing to sell me some 2 year old comfort tires that they've been using to display their promotional products. I then have my pit crew do some wrenching on my RUF and end up with the following spec's:
Horsepower: 350
Weight: 1350 (20 kg of ballast)
PPvalue: 486
P.Limiter: 98.6%
Tires: all 3 grades of comfort tires
Sitting on the grid at the Grand Valley track is the mandatory grid # 1 lineup with the Nissan Fairlady Z 300ZX Ver.S TT on pole. I slot my RGT into the 7th place position, just behind the Nissan 300ZX 2seater Z32 '98.
I'm starting the race on comfort medium tires, so when the flag drops its time to learn how to drive on some low-grip rubber. During the first three laps, I do a decent job of driving my RUF, so I make decent progress towards the front of the race.
On lap # 4, I take the lead of the race as I cross the bridge.
On lap # 7, I brake too late for the first hairpin and lose about 4 seconds driving thru the sand.
At the end of lap # 10, I have a 3 second lead over the Mazda RX-7 Type RS.
At the end of lap # 15, I dive into the pits, still with a 3 second lead over the Mazda RX-7, and have my pit crew install a set of comfort hard tires. While I'm in the pits, the 3rd place Impreza WRX STI drives past, shortly followed by the 4th place Nissan Silvia spec-R, so as I get underway again, I've been dropped into 4th place.
As soon as I get released by the pit-speed limiter, I perform a wonderful 360, drive off the tarmac, and smack the wall. Cold comfort hard tires have no grip!!! Lesson learned!!! I get passed by the 5th place Fairlady Z 300ZX Ver.S for my troubles.
At the first checkpoint on lap # 16, I see that I've fallen 40 seconds behind the race leading Mazda RX-7.
At the end of lap # 17, I see that I've fallen 48 seconds behind the race leading Mazda RX-7 after a 2.23.960 lap. I'm certainly losing time to the Mazda RX-7 since I'm having to drive very carefully on the CH tires.
At the end of lap # 20, I get the news that I've fallen 60 seconds behind the race leading Mazda RX-7. The 6th place Skyline Coupe 350GT has caught me and has spent the last two laps filling my mirrors with its front-grill.
At the end of lap # 23, the 4th place Fairlady Z 300ZX Ver.S pits, so I drive past and take over 4th place in the race. I'm now 68 seconds behind the race leader, as I drive up the S/F straight.
Its getting pretty late so I pause the game...ZZZZZZZZZZZ
Its now morning, so I un-pause the game and begin lap # 24. I immediately drive off into the sand going into the first hairpin and lose about 9 seconds. Overnight I've forgotten how tough it is to drive on comfort hard tires!!! Oh well.... At the first checkpoint on lap # 24, I see that I'm now 1 minute and 18 seconds behind the race leading Mazda RX-7. I've also been passed by the Skyline Coupe 350GT, so I'm currently back in 5th place in the race.
At the end of lap # 25, the 4th place Skyline Coupe 350GT pits, so after about 5 seconds, I drive past and re-take 4th place in the race.
After 26 laps, I get the news that I'm still 1 minute and 18 seconds behind the race leader, who is no longer pulling away from me. His tires must be just about shot.
On lap # 27, I notice that I'm being shown in 3rd place. ??? Somehow I passed the Nissan Silvia spec-R when he pitted without me noticing.
At the beginning of lap # 28, the Nissan Silvia spec-R out-brakes me going into the first hairpin, so he drives past me and drops me into 4th place. The Silvia is on nice fresh tires, so he made the pass on me with ease, sadly.
The race leading Mazda RX-7 pits at the end of lap # 29, which allows the Impreza Sedan WRX STI to take over first place in the race. At the end of lap # 29, I'm shown as being 1 minute and 15 seconds behind the Impreza WRX.
After 30 laps, I dive into the pits and have my crew install a set of comfort soft tires. I was 1 minute and 17 seconds behind the race leading Impreza WRX when I pitted. While I'm in the pits, the Skyline Coupe 350GT drives past as well as the Fairlady Z 300ZX Ver.S, so I get dropped into 6th place.
At the first checkpoint on lap # 31, I get the news that I've fallen 1 minute and 45 seconds behind the race leading Impreza Sedan WRX.
On lap # 32, I set a new lap record of 2.15.343. Comfort soft tires feel pretty good!! At the end of the lap, I'm only 1 minute and 28 seconds behind the race leading Impreza Sedan WRX.
I set a new lap record of 2.14.840 on lap # 34, and end the lap 1 minute and 21 seconds behind the race leading Impreza Sedan WRX.
On lap # 35, I catch and pass both the Toyota Celica GT-FOUR and the Infiniti G35 Coupe. I may be in 6th place, but at least I can pass the back-markers!!
On lap # 36, I pass the 5th place Skyline Coupe 350GT going thru the second hairpin. I also pass the 4th place Fairlady Z 300ZX Ver.S as we cross the bridge. At the end of the lap, I'm 1 minute and 19 seconds behind the Mazda RX-7 who has re-taken 1st place in the race when the Impreza Sedan WRX pitted about a lap ago.
Lap # 37 see's a new lap record of 2.13.918.
I'm getting used to the comfort tires, so on lap # 39, I smash my lap record with a 2.12.252 lap.
At the end of lap # 40, I get the news that I'm 65 seconds behind the race leading Mazda RX-7. Twenty laps to go. Hmmmm, I need to find 3+ seconds a lap. I think that its possible!
On lap # 42, I catch and pass the 3rd place Nissan Silvia spec-R going thru the 2nd hairpin.
After 45 laps, I get the news that the margin to the 1st place Mazda RX-7 is down to 42 seconds after a 2.13.937 lap.
As I cross the bridge on lap # 48, I've reduced the RX-7's lead to 30 seconds. However, my tires are starting to go off. They have lots of life according to the tire bars, but I can feel them losing grip in the corners. I don't see how I would be able to nurse them for another 12 laps, so I dive into the pits for a new set of CS tires at the end of the lap.
At the first checkpoint on lap # 49, I see that I've fallen a full 60 seconds behind the race leading Mazda RX-7.
After 50 laps, I'm only 50 seconds behind the race leading Mazda RX-7 as I start to reel him in again.
At the bridge checkpoint on lap # 53, I get the news that I'm only 30 seconds behind the race leading Mazda RX-7.
I'm right behind the 2nd place Impreza Sedan WRX as we cross the S/F line to begin lap # 56. The Impreza beats me thru the 1st hairpin, but I pass him going into the 2nd hairpin, and take over 2nd place in the race. At the next checkpoint, I get the news that I'm only 9 seconds behind the race leading Mazda RX-7. At the end of lap # 56, the Mazda RX-7 dives into the pits, so I drive past and take over the race lead!!!
At the 1st checkpoint on lap # 57, I get the news that I have a 6 second lead over the Impreza Sedan WRX, who is now in 2nd place.
By the bridge checkpoint on lap # 59, I've opened up a 20 second lead over the Impreza Sedan WRX who is going pretty slowly on worn tires.
After 60 laps, the trophy is mine!
Race time: 2 hours, 19 minutes, 33.545 seconds
Finish order:
------------
1) Gtsail in the RUF RGT
2) Impreza WRX---------30 seconds back
3) Mazda RX-7----------40 seconds back
4) Silvia spec-R----------1min,50 secs back
5) Skyline Coupe---------1 lap down
6) Fairlady Z 300ZX------1 lap down
7) Nissan 300ZX---------1 lap down
8) Supra RZ-------------1 lap down
9) Mits GTO-------------1 lap down
10) Subaru Legacy--------2 laps down
11) Celica GT-FOUR------2 laps down
12) G35 Coupe----------2 laps down
Post race notes:
----------------
Actually, a pretty good race! Driving on comfort mediums and comfort softs aren't really too bad. Driving on the comfort hards though is just crazy! Four banana peels!
2nd Race at Laguna Seca:
I have my pit crew give my RUF RGT '00 some extra horsepower for the Laguna Seca race, so my RUF now has the following specs:
Horsepower: 385
Weight: 1350 (20kg of ballast)
PP value: 499
P. limiter: 97.4%
Tires: all 3 comfort tire grades
Sitting on the starting line are the mandatory grid # 1 lineup of AI cars with the Pontiac GTO 5.7 Coupe on pole, and the two rabbitts, the 2010 Camaro SS and the 2004 Corvette C5 in 8th and 9th place, respectively.
I decide to start the race on comfort hard tires just to have some fun!!
The flag drops and we're off for 90 laps. During lap # 1, I hold my 7th place position due to the use of some judicious blocking (its actually not too tough to stay ahead of the other cars during this first lap because the other AI are very slow and tentative on cold tires right from the start. This is not true for lap # 2, since the AI will have warmed up their tires, so blocking will not be worth while on subsequent laps if you are on comfort hard tires), so at the end of the lap I'm only 7 seconds behind the race leader.
During lap # 2, the 2004 Corvette C5 gets past me going thru the corkscrew, so I end the lap in 8th place, 10 seconds behind the race leader.
During lap # 3, the 2010 Camaro SS passes me going thru turn # 4, so I end the lap in 9th place, some 11.5 seconds behind the race leader, after an early lap record of 1.48.509.
During lap # 4, the 2000 Corvette C5 drives past me going thru turn # 6 and up the hill towards the corkscrew, so I end the lap in 10th place, some 14 seconds behind the race leader.
On lap # 6, the '69 Camaro SS hits my right-rear-fender going thru turn # 3 and spins me out!! I lose about 8 seconds and end the lap in 11th place, a full 30 seconds behind the race leader. I wasn't trying to block the '69 Camaro SS, I guess he just got impatient. Blocking with comfort hard tires is not recommended!
On lap # 8, I set a new lap record of 1.47.416.
After 10 laps, I'm 43 seconds behind the race leader as I continue to lose time with my comfort hard tires.
On lap # 12, I set a new lap record of 1.47.182.
After 15 laps, I dive into the pits and have my pit crew install some comfort medium tires. The margin to the race leader was 52 seconds when I pitted.
The 12th place Cuda 440 Six Pack is about 5 seconds behind me when I get released from my pits and begin lap # 16. At the first checkpoint on lap # 16, I get the news that I've fallen 1 minute and 18 seconds behind the race leader.
On lap # 18, I set a new lap record of 1.44.583, since I'm now on CM tires, and end the lap 1 minute and 17 seconds behind the race leader.
On lap # 20, I set another lap record of 1.43.432 and end the lap 1 minute and 15 seconds behind the race leader.
By the end of lap # 22, I've almost caught the 10th place '69 Camaro SS, who is following a 3-car pack being lead by the Ford Mustang GT '05. I end lap # 22, 1 minute and 14 seconds behind the race leader after a 1.43.124 lap.
On lap # 23, I pass the 10th place '69 Camaro SS, the 9th place Mustang SVT Cobra, the 8th place Buick GNX and the 7th place Ford Mustang GT '05, who are all nose-to-tail on the track.
After 25 laps, I'm shown in 7th place in the race, 1 minute and 15 seconds behind the race leader.
On lap # 27, I pass the 6th place Pontiac GTO 5.7 Coupe and end the lap still 1 minute and 15 seconds behind the race leading 2004 Corvette C5.
On lap # 28, I pass the 12th place Cuda 440 Six Pack, and put him a lap down. I also set a new lap record of 1.42.894 and end the lap only 1 minute and 12 seconds behind the race leading 2004 Corvette C5.
At the end of lap # 30, I dive into the pits and put on a set of comfort soft tires. At the last checkpoint on lap # 30, I was 1 minute and 10 seconds behind the race leading 2004 Corvette C5. While I'm in the pits, the Pontiac GTO 5.7 Coupe drives past and drops me back down to 7th place in the race.
At the first checkpoint on lap # 31, I see that I've fallen 1 minute and 37 seconds behind the race leading 2004 Corvette C5. During lap # 31, I re-pass the Pontiac GTO 5.7 Coupe and re-claim 6th place in the race.
At the end of lap # 32, I get the news that I'm 1 minute and 30 seconds behind the race leading 2004 Corvette C5 after a new lap record of 1.40.989. Comfort soft tires are just great!!!
On lap # 3x, the Dodge Challenger R/T pits, so I'm able to drive past and take over 5th place in the race.
At the end of lap # 33, the Plymouth Prowler pits. This allows me to pass him just as he starts to move again, so as I begin lap # 34, I claim 4th place in the race.
As I begin lap # 35, I see that the 2004 Corvette C5 has pitted from the race lead and fallen back down the grid order to 3rd place. The new race leader is the 2010 Camaro SS, who is shown as being 61 seconds ahead of me. Second place has been taken over by the 2000 Corvette C5, who has not yet pitted.
At the end of lap # 35, the race leading 2010 Camaro SS pits, which allows the 2000 Corvette C5 to take the lead of the race. I set a new lap record of 1.40.505 on lap # 35 and end the lap only 25 seconds behind the race leading 2000 Corvette C5.
As I brake for turn one on lap # 36, I pass the 3rd place 2010 Camaro SS who is just starting to leave the pits. I'm now shown in 3rd place!!
On lap # 37, the 2004 Corvette C5 passes the 2000 Corvette C5 and takes over the race lead.
I set a new lap record of 1.40.504 on lap # 38 (an improvement of 1/1000 of a second!), and end the lap only 13 seconds behind the race leading 2004 Corvette C5.
On lap # 40, I catch and pass the 2nd place 2000 Corvette C5.
I set a new lap record of 1.39.821 on lap # 42, and end the lap 11 seconds behind the race leading 2004 Corvette C5.
I set another lap record of 1.39.453 on lap # 45, and end the lap only 6 seconds behind the race leading 2004 Corvette C5.
more to follow/see post # 12 below......
3rd Race at Tsukuba:
Its time for some Miata action:
After carefully checking Jubby's race restrictions, I search high and low in my garage for a suitable Miata. After some minor testing, I settle for a relatively new silver Mazda Roadster 1600 NR-A NB '04. After some wrenching by my fabled pit crew, my Miata has the following spec's:
Horsepower: 177
Weight: 1020 (stage 1 wgt reduction, then 33kg of ballast)
PP value: 410
Tires: all 3 grades of comfort tires
P. Limiter: 91.8%
No skid
Sitting on the starting line at Tsukuba are the mandatory grid # 1 cars as follows:
1) MX-5 1.8 RS NB '98 (Andre)
2) MX-5 NA '89 (Vinci)
3) Roadster 1800RS NB '00 (Sanger)
4) Eunos Roadster V-Special II NA '93 (Faure)
5) MX-5 1800RS NB '00 (Etienne)
6) MX-5 V-Special II NA '93 (Fenstermacher)
7) GTsail in the Mazda Roadster 1600 NR-A
8) Roadster 1800RS NB '04 (Clark)
9) Roadster 1.8RS NB '98 (Philippe)
10) Roadster 1600 NR-A NB '04 (Giles)
11) Eunos Roadster S-Special I NA '95 (Russell)
12) MX-5 J-Limited NA '91 (Lozano)
I decide to start the race on comfort hard tires, so the beginning of the race won't be pretty!
Off the start-line, I accelerate thru the field and take over 4th place in the race going thru turn # one. I pass the 1st place Andre/MX-5 1.8 RS NB '98 going up the long straight, and end the first lap in 1st place with a 0.4 second lead. (race note: It took me at least 10 attempts before I was able to reach first place during lap # one. Usually I could reach 3rd place by the end of lap # 1, so I would then abandon the race).
Its now time to earn my paycheck........
Driving on comfort hard tires takes quite a bit of concentration, even though my Miata Roadster likes the Tsukuba track. For the next four laps I push my Miata like crazy to stay ahead of the other AI. I'm just slightly faster than the AI going down the straights, but the AI kill me in the three major turns. I almost always beat the AI to the turns and then hug the apex like my life depends upon it (which it does!).
By the end of lap # 5, I have the entire field bunched up behind me, but I have a 1.1 second lead over the Vinci/MX-5 NA '89, after an early lap record of 1.13.879.
More apex hugging...
After 10 laps, I have a 0.5 second lead over the Vinci/MX-5 NA '89.
More apex hugging...
After 15 laps, I have a 0.777 second lead over the Etienne/MX-5 1800RS NB '00.
More apex hugging...
After 20 laps, I have a 0.499 second lead over the Sanger/Roadster 1800RS NB '00.
More apex hugging...
After 25 laps, I have a 0.849 second lead over the Clark/Roadster 1800RS NB '04.
On lap # 26, I set a new lap record of 1.13.786.
More apex hugging...
After 30 laps, I have a 0.600 second lead over the Etienne/MX-5 1800RS NB '00, after a new lap record of 1.13.677.
More apex hugging...
After 35 laps, I have a 0.559 second lead over the Sanger/Roadster 1800RS NB '00.
More apex hugging...
After 40 laps, I have a 0.368 second lead over the Sanger/Roadster 1800RS NB '00.
More apex hugging...
After 45 laps, I have a 0.648 second lead over the Sanger/Roadster 1800RS NB '00
More apex hugging...
On lap # 49, I set a new lap record of 1.13.502.
At the end of lap # 50, I dive into the pits from 1st place for a set of comfort medium tires. The entire field drives past because they were all stacked up behind the 2nd place Etienne/MX-5 1800RS NB '00.
more to follow/see post # 26 below.....
See you on the tracks!
GTsail