CTC: Osterreichring

Great race! These cars prove again that it doesn't matter where you race it's always fun.

Qualifying went better than I expected because I was at least .5 off my best practice laps even on stickers and less fuel, but fortunately everyone else came up equally short and I started on the front row. Jarrod, I think it was who poled, got dropped in Warmup and so I inherited the first spot. I was a bit distracted thinking about why there wasn't a guy in front of me as we approached T1 and I totally made a mess of it and looped myself a few seconds onto the race. The pack climbed past and then I started out 10 seconds down in last. It made for a really exciting race, though. Witnessed many huge battles before me while I climbed back up front and was engaged in several myself. At some mid-stage, I came up too fast on David exiting the first complex of turns and gave him a bump on the rear right. FOrtunately he held it together and I just gave up position on him for it.

A bit later we were thickly packed going through the sweeping right hander after the longest straight section in sector 2 and I got a bit of a police tap on the side which sent me into the boards. I took a bunch of damage but it only slightly affected the feel whatsoever. It's nice that these cars can take a beating and keep going. I got back in the race and put my nose to it and I had already intended to go 15 laps before pitting so that I could avoid all the other guys in cars which use more fuel and maybe work on a lead while at it. I decided to not change tires and I also told my crew to leave the damage so that I could get out as fast as possible and try to get back up. When the top runners all pitted (together thankfully) after 14 laps, they were all packed together with me just behind. I guess everyone took tires because after I came around and did my pit and came out, I had a 10 second lead or something going.

So, drove it home for the win. Thanks for the great racing.

The best part of winning races is my avatar being on the front page for a while for the masses to enjoy. My gift to you all.

Congrats Justin. Car looks good and scary.

Well, I had the car to win the race, but several errors on my part and bad strategy cost me. My first error was crashing in turn 1 on my first hot lap. I had not crashed like that at all in practice, so i guess i timed if perfectly. So i start 17th of 18.

Turn one went ok for me. it was crowded like expected, and a few cars went off. So i grab a few positions there. Now i'm behind Ryan Ansoon, who i know i'm much faster than. In the turns i have to break early to to avoid a checkup later in the turn, but he has the power on the exit. I'm stuck following him for a few laps. I finally think i have a run at him on the inside of turn 4, but my car pushes and he does the over under and re passes me. This constant battling had let Justin catch us, and down the back straight of my ill fated move, Justin pull in right behind Ryan. I didn't know this and couldn't see him in my back view, so i started to move over and sideswiped Justin without knowing it. I still took my shoot at Ryan in turn 5 and got by on the outside. and held the inside line for the next turn so he couldn't try the re pass. But a few laps later i mess up turn 1 and slid off. Again i have to fight back through the pack, this time making quick work for other drivers and befitting from others incidents. On my in lap i make another outside move in turn 5 and take the lead.

I pitted and took tires which proved costly and got back out in 4th spot. As the others pitted i got back up to second 15 seconds behind Justin with 10 laps left. By the next to last lap i had gotten the lead to around 10 seconds and set the fastest lap of the race, but on the last lap i backed off and finished 13 seconds back.

Next time, no tires :)

Good drive Justin, i wont make it so easy next time.

Good job to everyone, it was a great race.

Qual went ok, i did it with full fuel so 11th was not bad. I was able to gain a few spots on the start without trying too hard. I am not sure who but a mustang had a bad start and slowed down a few and allowed me to gain the spots. I settled into a decent rhythm for a few laps until the leaders got into an incident and I found myself in 2nd. I was following Robbins for a few laps. I did not want to pass him but I was faster and kept getting up on his bumper until I messed up in the first 123 turns. Good job keeping me behind you Ryan. That put me in 10th or so and I stayed there until I needed to pit. I took fuel, tires and fixed damage and ended up in 6th. Had a good battle with Scott Berube for a while until a little mistake let Rob Melchione through. He gave me a little bump and got through. That is what I like about these cars, the little bump is part of racing and did not put me out but got him through. The rest of the race I was playing catch up with Scott and Rob but I was able to catch but not pass. It made the end of the race get my heart going. So good job to all I followed, passed, was passed by and attempted to pass. It was a fun race.

1st, thanks for all that came to my first event.

It was a thrill for me to host. This race had everything. Several lead changes. Come backs from serveral of people. A spectacular crash. Lots, and lots battles for position. 15 cars on the lead lap.

I got really great feedback from everyone on Osterreichring. Everyone enjoyed learning the track. It proved to be exciting and dangerous. The danger part of these tracks is part of why they changed or got shut down. So to have them driven again is great.

On to the next CLASSIC TRACK --- Hockenheim. With speeds up to 170 mph(272 kph) and a long 100mph(161) righthander.

Hope to see you all there. Please tell everyone that it was classic and you should be at the next one. Lets get that field bigger.

Kevin
ps sad note, Jarrod Barclay's disconnect after getting the pole and 30 signed up, only 19 show.

Congrats Justin, and nice to see David racing again (too much school work, eh David! hehe)

And special thanks to Kevin for putting up this great series. Can hardly wait for Hockenheim! : )

Even though I had more than my share of bad luck today, I was able to run a decent pace and have a few fun laps here and there. My start was pretty wild, with the GTO fishtailing past the cars ahead of me at the start. Guess the boys at the back of the pack (where I usually start from) are a little too cautious, which lets me pick off 2 or 3 cars before T1.

I actually found myself running a comfy 3rd for several laps after the leaders took turns flying off the track. And even more unbelievable, I was catching the leaders who were busy getting in each others way! lol

All was cool as I could gain going through the T1,2,3 complex and was right behind the 2nd place car when he lost it exiting T3. I went to the right side trying to avoid his car and lost it, hitting the armco and sending my car into a huge flip which luckily landed on the track side of the armco. Man, my GTO is tough as I was able to continue with all kinds of damage showing but still very drivable.

Since I hadn't changed tires, they were really shot with a few laps to go, so had to slow way down on the right handers. This let Mike Campbell start to make some serious time on me. I had to go for broke and really smoke my tortured tires for the last few turns to keep Mike behind me. At the finish, Mike was .3 seconds behind - you really made this old man work hard for my 10th place Mike! lol

I had a blast and look forward to racing with you boys for the rest of this very fun series.

Thanks again Kevin!

Dan

Wow missed a fun race it seems.. I'll try to be there next Monday. Nice mixture of cars!

Great screenshots! Congrats Justin, good to see the Porsche win :)

I had a blast racing you guys at this wonderful track. Most fun I've had to date. I saw lots of passes, accidents & great competition everywhere.
I surprised myself with a good start off the line in my Volvo. I was neck & neck with Kevin into T1. With several accidents, I made it to 4th until I edged too close to the grass & lost it - Kevin did the same thing right behind me (synchronized drifting). Had to let lots of cars by before getting back on track. Got fresh tires & gas then battled it out with Charles for the rest of the race - oh what fun :)
On the last lap I saw Dan ahead so I tried in vain to make 10th place but ran out of time - so close... I saw that he was struggling with his tires but he managed to hang on. Well done Dan. Well done everyone, lots of fun, clean. Hope its as good next week, see you all there!

This was my first event in this Mod. Gotta say i really enjoyed it! Had a nasty accident involving Garry and Kevin. I still think that was my Fault Garry. Rear got loose and not sure if i stayed in my line completely. I have not seen the replay yet. It was panning out to be a sick race till then too. Swapping the lead with Garry and watching us both make minor errors and the other capitalizing off them. Just looked like it would have been a battle the whole way. Found myself in another great battle with Rob and Edwin for the last half pretty much. Must say thanks to both for great clean racing. It made it much fun!