I've done a lot more HH practice laps than Z06 laps. Got the DC5 setup just the way I want it. Too late to monkey with the Vette, so it is basically the same as it has been all season other than gear ratios.
I think Apex is right, good quali and the hole shot are key. Then just don't make any mistakes or have to pit more than whomever is behind you. Easier said than done I know, especially for me with my habit of not completing the 1st lap without damage.
room is up 14726118 3701 4256 1016
Well my connection just died... did the race continue?
hahaha oh joys of the GT5 server!
yeah I kinda forgot, I love Monaco too
Yes, it did: aircooled, apex., T.J., Graefin, and BW. I think I can safely say 5 exhausted individuals.
For me, his was more of a night to forget. Earlier in the week, I got a tune setting recommendation from someone in the GTPlanet forums for the Z06 RM. I picked a rather bad time to debut it at though. 
After like the 4th or 5th time where I crashed the car hard enough to damage the engine and transmission. I decided to retire from the race and get the car fixed for the next round.
Getting back in for the FF HH race was another problem as I was unable to re-enter the room until like probably 5 minutes before the race when I was able to take the EK out onto the track. After damaging the car on the track, I exited back to the pits but that's when things froze up for me as I could only get the pit menu, but no image of the car in the pit stall. I then had to exit out of the game and tried to re-enter a few minuts later. By the time I got back, the HH race was well underway and I became pretty much a spectator.
I wondered what happened to you CAM.
Those were a couple of long, intense races. I managed to make it to lap 23 of the vette race without any damage. I'm happy about that. I don't know how you guys manage to drive so well with damaged cars. Anyway, I had a comfortable enough lead over Brad so I thought until I damaged one front corner and my engine. I limped the car around and Brad swept by into 3rd. Rats, that was frustrating, but good job to Brad for being in the right place to capitalize on my mistake. I did a zero pit strategy and if not for my crash/damage it would've worked for a 3rd place finish. Oh well.
HH race was fun. My plan for the race was to qualify as fast as I could then during the race stick to tire conservation mode and plan on a single mid-race stop. That went out the window when I had Apex breathing down my neck for the the first 4 laps or so. I kept making dumb errors and was eating up my tires. Somehow I kept him at bay for a while, but he was frequently knocking on my back door. Eventually, I went wide on the last turn and Apex had room to duck inside me. There was contact and I not only lost P2, but got a ramming penalty to boot. The contact didn't seem to be too hard (no damage to me), but if it had to be a penalty it should've gone to me. I followed Apex around until the middle of the race when I decided to pit one lap early for tires since mine were a bit more worn than planned. I figured Apex would pit the following lap and there was a chance I could regain P2. He pitted when I did, so it was a moot point.
Aircooled really walked away with the HH race this week as Apex did with the Z06 race. I think both races had a clean T1 so that is good.
In reply to NickF40:
Watched the car show over 48 laps at Monaco? Get a DVR.
I think TJ and I were very evenly matched in the Z06s this week. I was amazed at how cleanly everyone made it through T1, I feel like giving everyone a pat on the back! 
I set my car up in 3 laps, which is to say I didn't do much. So I wasn't very fast and I probably would have started dead last except Grizz made some last second change and I'm not sure if he completed his hotlap (I tried to give you enough time, I waited an extra 2 minutes which with the countdown should have been enough).
I started 7th. At the start Ben immediately jumped out of the way, and I moved up to 5th directly behind TJ coming out of T1. I took a narrower line coming out of casino hoping to sneak by TJ, but he was having none of it. Whether he knew it or not, he chopped my nose off and sent me a message that I would have to make a better pass if I wanted that position.
Then on the approach to the hairpin, Grizz gets the braking wrong and slides way wide. I brake early and keep it tight and take the position. Then I get Lewis Hamilton'd. Here is the picture of the contact with Grizz as he tried to rejoin the racing line:
This causes damage on the front of my car, but it was minor enough that I lived with it. The next couple laps, I chased TJ with a gap of about 2-3 seconds. He was faster in the first half of the track, I was faster in the second. I don't know that either of us would have been able to pass the other without a mistake... we were pretty even.
Lap 4-5 range, Apex went into the pits with damage. I honked as I went by 
that moved me up to 3rd and graefin up to 4th. I think another 6ish laps went by with everyone holding their position until I noticed a very large image of Apex in my mirror. I knew I didn't have anything for him, being that he caught me up through traffic from about 40 seconds back, so I out of casino I pulled to the left and slowed to let him by. Not really what I wanted to do, but I figured better to do it on my terms than to wreck by blocking. Besides, at this point I knew my race was with TJ. As I cruised the rest of that lap, I was thinking about how fast Apex was and trying to figure where he found the extra speed... and I missed my brake point into T1. Double front end and engine damage. Damnit! I wasn't planning on pitting. I figured that I could outlast TJ. The only good news is that Monaco is a much slower/shorter track than LeMans, so I was able to limp back to the pits with minimal time loss. By pit-in I could just see graefin coming up from behind. The other bit of good news was we were at lap 12, which meant I could run the new set of tires as hard as I liked without worrying about them not making it to the end of the race.
I came out probably 20-25 seconds behind graefin and just began going as hard as I could. I finally caught graefin around lap 19. He seemed to be struggling with some damage himself. That made trying to pass interesting as his car jerked side to side across the track. He slowed a bit going by the swimming pool (not sure if it was to let me by), and I swung wide and hammered it to get by. It worked, except now I was going too fast for the next corner. I locked up my brakes slide sideways and came within inches of the barrier. Luckily I didn't throw away my whole race, and I collected the car and began chasing graefin, who had retaken the position, again. It didn't take long for me to pass graefin again, I think he locked up going into T1 (?) and I was able to get by and start chasing TJ.
Problem with chasing TJ... I was about 45 seconds back and there was only 4 laps to go. I needed him to have an issue, tire wear wasn't going to get me on the podium. On lap 22, I could see him exiting the hairpin as I turned down towards it. So call it 6ish seconds? Lap 23, same thing going through the hairpin. But... after the chicane, I was right on him and he was noticeably damaged. I actually did feel bad for him, but it didn't stop me from passing him (same thing happened to me last week, cost me the win).
P3 and all I had to do was run the final lap conservatively knowing that both TJ and graefin where fighting damage behind me.
Hot hatch.... different story. I made a strategic error and thankfully PSN bailed me out (sarcasm). With everyone complaining about tire wear, at the last second I decided to remove the turbo off my car and give up 65 hp. My thinking was that I could think control tire spin better and not need a pit stop. Problem was, now my car was slow as a dog. It took 6 laps and a mistake by Grizz for me to pass anyone. I'm sure Grizz could have fought back, but I didn't get to find out. On lap 7, coming out of casino... "BLIP"... "Disconnected from Lobby server". It actually startled me when it happened. I tried to rejoin, same error. So I gave up and went up stairs and helped my wife clean the house.
Pics
Wow! The reflections on car 85 are
BradLTL wrote: I set my car up in 3 laps, which is to say I didn't do much. So I wasn't very fast and I probably would have started dead last except Grizz made some last second change and I'm not sure if he completed his hotlap (I tried to give you enough time, I waited an extra 2 minutes which with the countdown should have been enough).
Bumped the trans down for better acceleration, didn't really help.
.
BradLTL wrote: Then on the approach to the hairpin, Grizz gets the braking wrong and slides way wide. I brake early and keep it tight and take the position. Then I get Lewis Hamilton'd. Here is the picture of the contact with Grizz as he tried to rejoin the racing line:
Sorry bout that. Actually, I was drafting off Apex & Aircooled a couple of corners earlier, didn't realize I was going too fast and didn't brake right unt damaged the vette. The slide had little to do with braking and a lot to do with my messed up front end.
My biggest problem last night seems to be that the handling of a car is different in free run and a race. The LeMans setup seemed to be working alright til the race started and the car was sliding all over the place. Second biggest seemed to be damage, anyone watching me on the replay should have noticed me whanging the opposite side of the car into the wall to even out the damage to my front. Meant I could limp along and only have to pit every 6 laps or so.
I'd say tire wear was an issue, except once I knew I wasn't getting any higher than last place I was basically drifting the course. Had to cross the finish line in reverse on lap 21, it was the only way I could make it any kind of distance without spinning out.
BradLTL wrote: Hot hatch.... different story. I made a strategic error and thankfully PSN bailed me out (sarcasm). With everyone complaining about tire wear, at the last second I decided to remove the turbo off my car and give up 65 hp. My thinking was that I could think control tire spin better and not need a pit stop.
Same here, went to a midrange turbo and pulled the trans way short. Turns out, I may lose a bunch of HP doing that, but I gain about 60 ft lbs of torque and the powerband gets moved much further down. So tons of tire wear, torque steer, short shifting and 4th gear burnouts all night.
BradLTL wrote: Problem was, now my car was slow as a dog. It took 6 laps and a mistake by Grizz for me to pass anyone. I'm sure Grizz could have fought back, but I didn't get to find out.
Nope, because Grizz kept hitting stuff and had to pit a bit before you got disconnected.
You'd have been fine.
BradLTL wrote: Pics
Other issue of the night, I kept getting stuck on that damn curb.
Hopefully I will do better next week.
Grizz wrote: Sorry bout that. Actually, I was drafting off Apex & Aircooled a couple of corners earlier, didn't realize I was going too fast and didn't brake right
It's cool. I was just picking at you, it didn't really affect my race.
Grizz wrote: Nope, because Grizz kept hitting stuff and had to pit a bit before you got disconnected
You are assuming that I wouldn't have hit anything. I was not feeling HH last night... really at any point this series.
BradLTL wrote:Grizz wrote: Nope, because Grizz kept hitting stuff and had to pit a bit before you got disconnectedYou are assuming that I wouldn't have hit anything. I was not feeling HH last night... really at any point this series.
I know the feeling, HH was not enjoyable last night.
I just noticed where we're running next, it is going to take tons of practice and a concious effort to not shortcut the hell out of that last chicane.
My head wasn't in it last night... i don't blame the car, i actually figured out the setup for once.
I just kept getting distracted by things going on outside of the race. (feet were uncomfortable, shifted around while putting the controller DOWN like an idiot, which is when i just gave up)
I had 1st and second geared CRAZY long for an attempt for traction. (Was topping 2nd at almost 85mph i think) Then i had the remaining gears real short. It was monstrously fast through the tunnels, and when i was paying attention, i was making up a lot of time through the last 5-6 turns (those weird 3rd gear turns before the 180 to the pits).
I just couldn't stay focused. (Nothing like trying to race after 13 hour day at work)
Either way, even if i had focused, i screwed myself by getting out of the way off the bat. Passing on that track sucked. I spent a good lap or two right on Graefin and Cam's respective asses, driving at about 7/10s so i didn't run over them. Graefin got past Cam clean, then i didn't.
That was the story of the race from there. I think Cam and i pitted almost every lap.
I had the setup, i just let the car and myself down.
Obviously, i didn't even bother with HH.
My races were a bit duller they yours:
Z06: Got the jump on Apex at the start through the first turn, then I could see he was rocketing up from behind (must have have made a good 1st turn approach) so I basically let him by. He messed up a bit near the hairpin and I almost got by. I did get a bit of front damage trying to catch him, and managed to match the damage on the other side (not a bad tactic actually) After that he just ran away. A few laps latter, it was clear he plowed into the chicane and had to pit.
That gave me first, but I knew he was running faster laps (I definitely could have done more practice in the vette), and now he had fresh tires. I saw that he was trapped behind brad and 10, but they did not seem to hold him for long. So, what to do. I had front damage and 7 or so laps less fresh tires. Trying to strategize while lapping Monaco is not easy. I figured I would just settle in and try and save the tires
Apex caught up to me after a few laps (he was running a LOT faster then the rest of us) eating up something like 30 seconds of lead. After he got by, I could only hope he burned up his tires doing it. But, if run right, Monaco can be very easy on tires. I waited and waited, seeing when he would pit, but that never happened so I ended up running the whole race on the same tires. I got a bit slick towards the end, but not too bad.
HH was less interesting. I got a hole shot, got pressed a bit by 10 (he was running very well in a quick practice we did), but I could stay ahead. Once I got an 8 second or so lead, I went into tire conserve mode. I could see 10 and Apex fighting it out big time for second so I knew there had to be some tire shredding going on. Sure enough, lap 11, they both pit. I wait another lap and pit, then run very conservatively, finishing with something like 80% left on the tires. Fastest lap was a 1:45 something.
Both races were brain busters though. Lose any concentration, attempt to look at any message or even checking where anyone else was (especially in Z06) was VERY dangerous. My Z06 damage was the result of looking at something else. Add that to the rather busy visual environment and LOTS and LOTS of laps, makes for a severe mental exercise (gives you some respect for endurance race drivers).
I am wrong in thinking that the HH race took something like 40 minutes?
The track was actually pretty fun for the Z06, required a LOT of left foot braking to be fast and careful corner entry was of course very critical. HH was not as fun, not a great track for them. Since there is NO correcting once you get into a corner, wall hits are very understandable.
One specific setup I did do was to set the braking on both cars so that full brakes would give me a controlled slow down to the chicane. With that I could just stand on the brakes down the hill and not worry about locking them up. Staying a bit left and doing a quick zig zag through the chicane also seemed to help. That chicane was actually very good braking practice. You needed to let off a bit as you got to the chicane to steer through it, doing that you can brake a bit later (or, more advisably, use that when you miss the brake point a bit).
Fun, but LONG.
T.J. wrote: In reply to NickF40: Watched the car show over 48 laps at Monaco? Get a DVR.
I woulda been disconnected anyway
sounds like a good race! missed out on ANOTHER good race, I wish I could find out if i'm any good in at least the ZO6 class, HH is a little too gone for me in my Alfa also forgot a little about what day it was, my sister is having her baby
aircooled said: "Fun, but LONG."
I'm glad someone can say that.
NickF40 said: "forgot a little about what day it was, my sister is having her baby"
Congratulations to you and your sister, uncle Nick.
Regarding the races, I didn't hit anything or get hit hard enough to force a pit stop. I felt like E36 M3 last night and it was all I could do to get to the end of the second race. My left hand went to sleep with 4 laps to go in Z06. That's my steering/braking/shifting hand. I couldn't tell what was going on with the steering with that problem. For the most part, I think everyone did a good job of it last night. Congratulations to the winners!
T.J. I think you especially did a great job last night. Considering that you use a hand held controller and ran up front in both classes, even held off a VERY aggressive Apex. for several laps in HH, then stayed with him for a long time is incredible from my perspective. I kept the two of you in sight for several laps until I realized that I was going to force a 2 stopper if I didn't back off and run my pace. I realized after that my race was over and just settled for what I could get.
I planned one pit stop in Z06 but when I saw that I couldn't run the pace of the first 5 cars I just slowed it down and ran to the end on one set of tires. Yes, Brad and Apex, I did pull over and let you by. Apex, how in the world did you keep on going after hitting the wall so hard that sparks flew off you car for a long way? It didn't appear that you had any damage at all.
Not a fun evening for me at all this time but I hung in there.
In HH I had been using the big turbo for best lap times and the mid turbo for race practice because the mid one was a little easier on the tires. However, after the weekly oil change the mid turbo had 440hp and the big one had 439 I don't understand that one. I ended up useing the big one for the race because I knew If I really got to race someone that my advantage was on the top end, i.e. at the top of the hill, the torque of the Volvo was pulling pretty strong. I think I might rather have had the Mini Marcos on RS tires for this race.
I ran 2 laps in ea. car @ Nurb.GP/F this morning and even though I've never liked that track much, after last night I loved it. I see that there are several places where a lot of time can be gained or lost. No rain and a much more open track should make this one much more enjoyable for everyone. Cam, and Celica, I hope both of you come back for that one.
Oh, i like that course, i'll definitely be there.
Errr... well.... if i'm not on a plane to California to pick up my new car.
I watched the Z06 replay a few minutes ago. After riding along with Apex I still have no idea how he is so fast. He clearly brakes later than I did and accelerates faster, and I guess with all the twists and turns of the course it adds up to a handful of seconds per lap faster. As part of my tire conservation strategy I tried to stay with 3rd gear and up. 2nd and 1st are essentially unusable for me unless I want to do a burnout or drift.
Brad, you were gaining on me fast for the last 4 or 5 laps. You had way better tires than me and were gaining 4-5 seconds a lap. Might've caught me even if I didn't break my car. After I got my engine damage I was topping out about 100 mph, but it looks like everyone else with damage wasn't even slowed down by it. My last 2 laps were in the 1:51 range. I was glad to hang on the 4th at that point.
I like next week's track. Did a few laps on it last night after the races with Apex. I switched to the high range turbo and adjusted the gear ratios. With my hi range turbo I need to try to keep the revs between 8k and 9k otherwise I have no torque and not much hp. The mid range turbo I used for Monaco gave me a nice low powerband where I had some torque way down at 7k rpm.
Graefin10 wrote: Considering that you use a hand held controller and ran up front in both classes, even held off a VERY aggressive Apex. for several laps in HH, then stayed with him for a long time is incredible from my perspective. I kept the two of you in sight for several laps until I realized that I was going to force a 2 stopper if I didn't back off and run my pace. I realized after that my race was over and just settled for what I could get.
Watch the replay - I was lucky those first 4 laps not to destroy my car. I was in a panic mode with Apex all over me and each lap I would do something crazy, like lock up all 4 wheels and do a 90 degree slide through the chicane braking point, or drift around T1, I think I must've either been very irritating or very entertaining for Apex while it lasted. I hung with him for a good while after he went by - I figured when I got my ramming penalty for getting passed by him that he would be gone off in the distance, but I kept him in sight for a while.
Can someone ride along with me and tell me just how bad i was? I think my only clean lap was a 1:38, but that was also coming out of the pits and taking the first corner real slow.
I'll be on for a bit tonite if anyone wants to practice for next week?
Ben, i'll maybe be on so you're not lonely
Thanks Graefin!
It'll probably be 9 or later, going out to dinner at 7 tonite. Just watch for me!
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