Lemons to Le Mans Tuesday Series

[Vol Jbolaz]

What kind of lap times are you running?

I've done a 1:10.5, but most of my laps are 1:11s. I know there are others that are faster than me.

 

[chuyler1]

The grip physics are different in A-spec practice. I only ever practice online for that very reason.

Correct, they are very different and lap times cannot be compared. However, the ability to race your ghost around the track and find faster lines through turns is crucial to discovering your fastest lap.

Just as info, coming in to this week I'm at exactly 400pp. Honestly, considering my finishes (7th and 3rd) I'm probably about where I should be. I did take a gamble and put 7500 down on an adjustable LSD instead of "moar powr!", so its all on me.

I'll be at 398 in my MR2. My wednesday car is 402 but they both run almost identical laps. I'm worried how the car is going to behave on worn tires but i will probably scope out the competition and figure out whether it is worth pushing the car to the limit every lap or just laying back to hold my qualifying position.

 

[pyxen]

Garris, you mean 2'11s, right? No way you're doing 1'11s at Monza... If you are, we're all screwed!

 

[Dikarika]

I'll be at 398 in my MR2. My wednesday car is 402 but they both run almost identical laps. I'm worried how the car is going to behave on worn tires but i will probably scope out the competition and figure out whether it is worth pushing the car to the limit every lap or just laying back to hold my qualifying position.

Well...

Now you have me wondering if I'm not hitting the chicanes at optimum speed. I'll be sure to hit up testing early and see if I can gain some speed. 👍

 

[sl3ight]

I've done a 2:10.5, but most of my laps are 2:11s. I know there are others that are faster than me.

That seems crazy fast to me. I couldn't imagine getting below a 2:13. How is the car doing on tires?

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

Garris, you mean 2'11s, right? No way you're doing 1'11s at Monza... If you are, we're all screwed!

Frak! That is the third time I've done that. Yes. I'm off a whole minute.

That seems crazy fast to me. I couldn't imagine getting below a 2:13. How is the car doing on tires?

Not well. I've not tested more than ten laps at a time, so I don't know just how many laps I can do, but I suspect I'll be doing two stops instead of one.

Honestly though, I got my kit and was running around and was only doing 2:14s. Then, something just clicked. I started hitting the brake spots just right and bam, 2:11s. I did a 2:10.5, and on the next lap I was 0.7 seconds faster than that on the second split. Then I messed up the esses and wound up with a 2:10.9.

I hope to be on tonight to see for sure how many laps I can do.

 

[diabolicwyvern]

My stock car from last week was running 2:20 with sport hard, but I have $$ to dump into it. Still have not finessed the parts.

 

[Dikarika]

My stock car from last week was running 2:20 with sport hard, but I have $$ to dump into it. Still have not finessed the parts.

And now I'm really worried. Your "last week" car was slower than mine. I should be hitting at least 2:20 then...

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

And now I'm really worried. Your "last week" car was slower than mine. I should be hitting at least 2:20 then...

Well, his fastest lap time at Tsukuba was faster than your fastest. On the whole, he was slower because his car couldn't handle the track as well. Monza has several long straights. His car has more legs and can make up for poor cornering performance on Monza.

I suspect his tires will last longer than mine. He should do well.

 

[chuyler1]

I think everyone's car should be better than 2:21 as a best lap. I can break that with 398pp so if you cant with more power...check yo' line.

 

[Dikarika]

I think everyone's car should be better than 2:21 as a best lap. I can break that with 398pp so if you cant with more power...check yo' line.

I don't know that I have more power, as PP is based on hp and weight. Maybe I'm just much lighter...

Also, I did do a lengthy practice last night, adjusted brake balance and my diff and tightened it down to 2:21. I know my slow point is exiting the first chicane, but I'm having issue fighting understeer out and getting my wheel from right to left quick enough to tighten up my line.

Also, my G27 is acting weird after an hour of play (second occurance, around an hour), the center shifts slightly left. Considering its nearly brand new, I'm a bit peeved about it.

Not overall hopeful, but I should have some fight in me.

 

[sl3ight]

Fastest lap I've done so far in the Primera is a 2:14.2xx. I figure I can get down in the 2:13s with some brake bias adjustments. My real problem is going to be tires, they're about 1/4 gone by lap 5.

 

[diabolicwyvern]

The 2:20 was with 387PP and I've added a few parts. Not sure I want to spend it all though. I'm testing and will have parts list in b4 I head back to work

Nevermind, that was with sports soft

 

[GTPvw_slc]

Hey vol,

I got my car shared. Sorry it wasn't sooner. I've been busy the whole week and hope to join the race tonight. I haven't ran any practice laps yet. So hopefully I can figure the line out quick tonight before the race starts. Ill see u guys later tonight

 

[diabolicwyvern]

Well, his fastest lap time at Tsukuba was faster than your fastest. On the whole, he was slower because his car couldn't handle the track as well. Monza has several long straights. His car has more legs and can make up for poor cornering performance on Monza.

I suspect his tires will last longer than mine. He should do well.

We do have the same car + I sandbagged if you remember, last week.

Heres what I'm pondering: If I put 30K into turbo 3, clutch and racing muffler I'm 5 seconds faster a lap than if I spend it on the transmission, clutch, weight reduction, exhaust and filter.

(laps are 2:13.xxx vs 2:18.xxx)

The problem is that with that I max the car at 135 on the straight really early so drafting would be out. I may end up helping those behind me draft pass than pulling on them. Then again, the car with the tranny work only hits 126, but I bet I could easily draft to 135 to make up a couple seconds.

I'm torn

 

[sl3ight]

Try going with the S3 Turbo and the close ratio 6 speed to see if the standard ratios are good.

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

My lounge is up. I'll be AFK off an on until 9:30ish (might go for 9:20). I'll reset the room and we can qualify. I'll set the timer to start the race at 10:00.

 

[chuyler1]

Diabolic, i was in the same predicamint last season for Daytona. I'd barely hit the rev limiter with a stage 3 turbo. Ended up just going with the turbo so i could run fast laps by myself figuring id catch up to any drafters.

 

[pyxen]

guys, sorry I didn't show for the race tonight.

I binned a bike at the track today, and have been cruising the couch all evening.. I'll be back next week tho! I was looking forward to drafting Garris, too!

 

[BTK]

Excellent race tonight, sucks to all who missed out. Diabolic and I cruised the entire race, and last 10 laps began drag racing each other from a roll on the front stretch. At one point, we didn't brake though, and someone how we both stopped inches from the wall with no damage. Great race diabolic.

 

[Vol Jbolaz]

I admit, I wanted races to get tighter as the season goes along, but this was our first high-speed course, and it is showing how the cars are different.

But, taking the drivers that missed a race out of the points race for a moment, the spread is 39, 36, 32, 29, 28, 27, 26, 19. Dabney's Volvo isn't showing as well as I expected, and thus the 19, but I think the rest of the field is still relatively close. I guess it helps that in three races we've had three winners.

As to the race last night. I didn't win, my car did. It would pass 145 on the back straight and 153 on the front straight. I was able to keep myself on the track and only do two pit stops. Though I did have a run in with a wall about lap 34.

In the practice before the race, I was able to put down a 2:10.02. For qualifying, I only managed a 2:11.05. During the race, I was a bit slower than that. I really didn't want to wreck.

I started on pole, but turbo lag and more torques than the little front-wheels can handle means I am very slow off the line. Geezer bolted, and the rest of the field crowded around me. I was so scared, I was braking very early and running every corner very wide. I so didn't want to be in an accident.

Geezer got further and further away until I was finally able to free myself from traffic and really start running my line. I caught Geezer and the rest of the race was just trying to run clean and let the car do its thing.

Long about lap 34, I was coming up on Miata and Dikarika, I think. I was going to move around them on the left. I started to I realized that I didn't have the room ahead of them to get by them and brake safely for the corner into the esses. I didn't want to be rear-ended. So, I started on the brakes early, intending to fall in behind them through the esses and try to pass them again on the next straight.

Left tires caught the grass, and the car lost control. I slide across the course and tapped the wall on the right side. That made the rest of the race a little tense. Geezer was closing on me quickly until he hit traffic.

I know it isn't much, but I can't help but smile. I'm excited about my first visit to the podium in an online race. I'm sure it won't happen again, but maybe I'll have a shot at La Sarthe.

 

[bender2011]

Congratulations Vol Jbolanz! Awesome performance from man and machine.
And thank you dikarika for the mostly slow motion battle at the back. Trying to catch you kept me focused.
Just the thought of having to limp around that track with damage was a big factor for me.
At one point Vol Jbolaz's Volvo (the Miata's natural enemy in the wild) vanished from my mirror going into the esses . I freaked and put my self safely into the sand, whew!
Looking forward to good ole Trail Mountain.

 

[chuyler1]

Good recap Garris, i'm sure your car will still be quick next week too...Maybe not for a 1st place finish but you'll still have the speed to easily overtake me.

My brief recap from mid-pack.

Turn 1 was surprisingly smooth. I couldnt launch as quick as the people in front of me but no one was beside me so i quickly made my way to the left of the track. I caught up as people slowed for the chicane but fell behind again immediately after. This happened for every turn on lap 1 until we got to the front straight and i lost everyone. I also was able to pull away from everyone behind me so it looked like a lonely race.

Twitchie, however, couldnt hang in the draft of the cars ahead and after screwing up a few brake zones i was on his bumper. For 10 laps or so i would catch him with a fast exit out of each chicane only to have him pull away on the straight. Eventually he made a big enough mistake that i could pull ahead 3-4 seconds. He made several other mistakes in an attempt to catch back up and by lap 20 he was no where in sight.

Lap 20 i took my only pit stop. I was only down to 1/4 on tires but my rears were wearing faster and my lap 19 was 3 seconds off pace because i was getting a little tail happy exiting some turns. When i came out, i was behind twitchie and dabney. A few laps of good exit speeds from the chicanes and i was on the Volvo's bumper with twitchie right along side. I couldnt draft pass though. The volvo should have been running faster lap times than me. I tried a few passes exiting the chicanes but each time the volvo would catch up before the next turn. Then twitchie gave me a bump down the front straight and i out braked into the first turn. It was just enough gap to stay ahead until the next turn and with a series of right handers ahead i was able to open the gap and keep the volvo from drafting.

The remainder of the race was spent alone except for about half a lap racing with geezer. I couldnt keep up with him drafting so it was short lived. I put my fastest lap in around lap 30, a 1:19.8, while chatting with bowtie and diabolic. I found a little time by braking early for the esses, but i couldnt duplicate it again.

 

[GeezerG123]

Fun race. My car worked well. Race got boring about lap 12. I could only muster up a 2:13 best lap time. I was loosing 1.5 seconds a lap and couldn't catch Vol's 155mph. Most I could squeeze outa the MR2 was 134mph. I thought there would be closer competition. I liked all of the joking during the 'race', very funny bunch of guys.

One suggestion for racing......reverse the starting positions.....fastest qualifier starts last. It would sure slow down those fast guys at the start and be a little more fun for the fast guys as they 'race' thru the slow guys. Hind sight is 20/20.

BTW.....how do I view a 'shared' car?

GeezerG

 

[sl3ight]

I wouldn't want reverse grid, all it does is increase the chances of accidents for no reason. It makes sense from an entertainment point of view if you have an audience, but as someone racing I hate it.

I pit three times this race. I intended on pitting once at lap 20, but once I saw the gap I had pulled out from Bowtie and Diabolic I decided to pit again on lap 30 for peace of mind.

Then a few laps later my brain stopped working and I understeered into the wall at the second chicane. The damage was minor but I didn't want to risk putting the car in the gravel so I looked at the gap and figured I could pit and come out still in third. It worked but was a lot closer than I had hoped. I was faster anyway so it turned out fine.

It was hilarious following Garris around late in the race. I would catch up at every turn and pull him through 2nd gear, and then his warp-drive turbo would kick in.

 

[Dikarika]

Congratulations Vol Jbolanz! Awesome performance from man and machine.
And thank you dikarika for the mostly slow motion battle at the back. Trying to catch you kept me focused.
Just the thought of having to limp around that track with damage was a big factor for me.
At one point Vol Jbolaz's Volvo (the Miata's natural enemy in the wild) vanished from my mirror going into the esses . I freaked and put my self safely into the sand, whew!
Looking forward to good ole Trail Mountain.

Yeah, was a good race between us for a while. Late in the race you passed and I was drafting back up when garris came through. I checked up behind him through the esses (that car was super slow in the the curves), and had lost a bunch of time. I had gained it back though, only to be cut off by garris again (this time, it was on auto-cruise) as his already finished car cut me off entering a curve.

Can't complain though, I have 25k for next week and I'm only 12 points back from first place.

 

[diabolicwyvern]

Besides a_garris, I'd like to extend a personal congrats to BTK for somehow not wrecking into the first chicanes at the straights end during one of our races. If was able to ditch it wide, then roll through the barriers and back on the track.
Running together we had "holy $%@^#" moments almost every lap but it sure beat driving alone for 40 laps.

I'm very much looking forward to next week. I think the brightest days for the 206 are just around the next corner

 

[BTK]

Same to you sir, our drag racing was exciting, and I'm still
Not sure how we got slowed from 135 to zero in 200 yards.

Your 206 is going too be fast, but I think my little MG has something for you.

Chuyler. It's Cujo, not Twich. lol.

 

[dabneyd]

Dabney's Volvo isn't showing as well as I expected, and thus the 19, but I think the rest of the field is still relatively close.

It's not the Volvo, it's the driver.

At one point dabneyd's Volvo (the Miata's natural enemy in the wild) vanished from my mirror going into the esses . I freaked and put my self safely into the sand, whew!

FTFY.

The volvo should have been running faster lap times than me. I tried a few passes exiting the chicanes but each time the volvo would catch up before the next turn.

If I was running faster lap times, it was because you were out of tires.

I had a great time last night, despite my off at the Parabolica on the first lap. Had another nice off running with Chuyler1 later in the race. I really think that I could have kept with Chuyler1, were I a better driver.

 

[Myself9]

Hello Gentlemen
This may be the coolest race series EVER!

Have room for another driver since Lumberjack bailed?

I'll start with the original vehicle restrictions and work my way up if I'm lucky.
Promise to show up every week, too.

Yah? 👍