Croft Clubmans #1

An action packed race 1 to say the least!!!!! taking and loosing positions for the first half of the race then got into a good fight with Bell but we came together in the fast right hander at the top of the circuit. I'd damaged suspension after that so just tried to make it home, happy with a top ten in class though!!

Frustrating night for both races. I have a mod conflict problem as in both races rF had a runtime error and I had to escape out. Didn't get past 5 laps in either race, I don't think, neither one going particularly well in any event.

Congrats to the podiums, will have to see if I can get this sorted before the next race at Mosport.

Apologies to my teamies -sigh-

I still can't believe it.
Race 2, I started last, was up to 14th, had pretty much caught 13th, 12th and 11th place cars and on lap 11 my internet craps out! AARRRRGGGHHHHH !
oh man what a disappointment. Trouble on the lines somewhere. It just came back on.
I will have my usual race detailed data up in the morning.
Congrats to the winners.

Clubmans Croft Race 1 Detailed Race Data

Clubmans Croft Race 2 Detailed Race Data

Seniors combined Championship website

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DETAILED RACE 1 DATA:

Fastest lap: Paul Nadeau, 1:26.164

Hard Chargers:
Cory Linton, 16 (23rd to 7th); Rich Dozier, 9 (19th to 10th); Bill Kaiser 9 (20th to 11th)

On lead lap at finish, 14 cars. One lap down, 5 cars.

Eight Seniors competed, top Senior finished in 9th place.

Top ten drivers represented 5 different countries and 6 different Teams.

DNFs: 3 DNFs
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DETAILED RACE 2 DATA:

Fastest lap: Paul Nadeau, 1:26.825

Hard Chargers:
Marc Farre, up 14 (21st to 7th); Van Bonham, up 11 (19th to 8th)

On lead lap at finish, 9 cars. One lap down, 7 cars.

Eight Seniors competed, top Senior finished in 8th place.

Top ten drivers represented 6 different countries and 8 different Teams.

DNFs: 6 DNFs

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POINTS:

OVERALL STANDINGS, CLASS A:
Although he had a bad night at Croft, Jose Casanovas (Spain, 2 wins) continues to lead while Paul Nadeau (USA, 2 wins)moved to 2nd, with Mark Urban (USA) slipping into third. Cory Linton and Sergio Casanovas occupy 4th and 5th places in the standings.

OVERALL STANDINGS, CLASS B:
Brette Brooks (USA, 1 win) continues to lead with Jan Sproule (Canada, 1 win) holding 2nd. Mark Carty (Jamaica, 1 win) maintains 3rd while Senior Dave Bradley (USA) stays in 4th. Aaron Page (USA) moves around Conor McCarrell (USA, 3 wins) and into 5th in the standings.

TEAMS

CLASS A:
MNRL Motorsports is at the top of the Class A Team standings with 25 Motorsports in second. Squadra Cani da Corsa moves around Blanco Motorsports into third place.

CLASS B:
Squadra Cani da Corsa is now in the lead with FnC Racing in second and MNRL Motorsports climbing up into the third spot.

SENIORS: Aaron Page maintains his Seniors lead but only by a razor thin 2 points over Dave Bradley, in second place. Only six points behind Dave is Rich Dozier in third while Van Bonham climbs to fourth and Nick Picciotto holds fifth in the standings.

Congrats to winners and all finishers, our internet connection failed in last moment in first race and in the beggining of 2nd race.

Well, I did my level best to finish last, but some folks' internet connections and rfactor glitches denied me that reality. Lap one was my nemesis. In race one,I was behind Len when he got squirrelly out of turn two, and although I hit the brakes when it seemed he wasn't going to save it (knowing I couldn't dodge him in that traffic) I still added that little bit that helped put him in the grass. The rest of the race was 'just try to finish'except for that last lap pass Nick put on me with only two corners to go---nice pass, sir! Race two, lap one...somebody up a few rows got a bad start, and I went middle to miss him. Problem was, I didn't count on there being almost half the field behind me, and soon we were 4-wide, then 3-wide into t1. No way I was going to try to make that work, so I backed out thinking I'd get myself some room. But coming up on t3, my spotter (Helen Keller) told me someone was inside just as I was making the approach. I went as far left as I dared, but it was not far enough, and Kurt and I got together, spinning us both. I spun back onto the track, and held it there so the few stragglers could make it by. Kurt wound up a few farms over. Sorry about that, bud, I really was trying to give room! Spent some laps just half-heartedly touring, staying out of trouble, waving at those who took sight-seeing tours. My teamie DB passed me (how and when did I pass him?) and I spent a few laps trying to keep up with him, when he had his (rare) wreck when somebody's rfactor went blank. Too bad, because the finish he would have had, had nothing else gone wrong, would have made him the seniors leader--he'll have to wait for next week. Not a good night for me, either, but I survived, and finished at least 10 positions ahead of what I had anticipated.

Thanks to MNRL, I had the pleasure of running the Lotus 23's earlier in the year here @ Croft, so having experienced a few laps around here helped. Armed with a potent set up from Jo Casanovas, I felt quite prepared for this round.

Joined up and saw the usual suspects, with a few new names (welcome Tristin Seip and Axel Powel) and felt pumped up as the new guys and Van Bonham, Mark Carty,Paul Nadeau and the Casanovas Bro's were as quick as usual in their respective classes.

The start of the race was crazy and as we approached turn 1 it felt like it was at least 4 cars wide. It was amazing it all worked, and I was able to get a run behind fast guys Van Bonham and Marc Farre, as we ziged, and then went to zag, I followed Marc threw the stack of tires and was shocked we both didn't rip our cars apart! That, and a bit of stack braking after making it onto the straight made for quite a pack of snarling clubmans behind me including, Mark Carty, Norm Borczon, Matt McMahon,Brette Brooks, Luis Lynce, Dave Bradley, Bill Kaiser,Louie Bell and our resident gardening expert Rich Dozier to name a few.

After things got settled I was able to catch new driver Axel who made a great get away and was putting in some impressive laps.On lap 7 after following Axel without risking disaster for a number of exciting close laps of great racing, I made a clean attempt of a pass and was side by side with Axel,next thing I know I'm spinning on the grass, I guess I took away his apex for the turn and he didn't see me. Gathered it up and had Mark Carty slip past as I got some speed up. Put my foot to the floor and made a bit of a forced pass on the always consistent and fair Mr. Carty heading into turn 1 ( thanks again Mark )and was soon catching Axel. As the clock ran down, I had made it back onto Axel's bumper. If an inside move proved futile earlier, I figured I would carry my speed into the right hand sweeper, and pull off an OUTSIDE pass! As I pulled along side and turned in, I was well aware of Axel and did all I could to make it work and not cause harm. I can say this, if i pinched you off your line I am truly sorry Axel.
As far as my replay show's, it was all good , and unfortunately Axel gave it some throttle and spun around. Sorry to see that, as it was a real barn burner of a race! Congrats to all the finishers, and the not so lucky folks with crappy internet providers!