Here we go, race fans.
So I got my booster shot today and made a plan to not make any plans for the next two days. My girlfriend is coming over tomorrow night, but other than that, I'll be on the couch. So, I decided to build a layout in case I felt like racing, and this race will take place over the next day or two.
Car Notes
Along with the four cars I reported on in the previous post, I also did some work on the Ferrari and the Gulf GT40. The Ferrari hasn't been running as I've been chasing after a solution to the wing not staying in the magnetic slot anymore. I could run it without, but it's not the same. You know what I mean. I'll probably end up running it that way anyway.
I've been considering putting the Ferrari on the shelf, only to use it if I went to a commercial track. The reason is that it hasn't been competitive since I got it, although I haven't given it much of an opportunity, I must admit. But because I just can't put a car on the shelf [I've been testing it by putting the Ferrari up on the shelf by my desk, but it just serves as a reminder to tune it up], I'll likely continue trying to get it into at least middle of the pack competitive shape. Somewhere up where the Playstation Porsche is running.
So I went back and re-sanded the tires. I don't have to do that very often with cars once they've gotten their initial sanding, but I did it with the Ferrari because there were a couple of spots I missed the first time. Then I opened it up and made sure everything was setup, lubed and oiled.
It's not a do-or-die scenario for the Ferrari. Let's call it a probation. I should be able to get it up to snuff on my own, and will make that a focus. I have two sets of tires for it, a set of rubbers and a set of urethanes, and I'll get it running as fast as it can. Since this is the start of its journey, I'm going to say that team orders will be to not come in last place every race, and try to get in the top half of the field if possible.
The Gulf GT40 is another one of my neglected race cars. It should be swapping paint with the other GT40s, but it's consistently in the back of the field. It runs okay, but just okay. So I re-sanded the tires, did a lube/oil, reset all the screws and set it to medium/medium on pod and body float. It basically just got a fresh reset. So with six cars going through inspections and tuneups, there should be some interesting results.
Today's Layout:
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| A bit more emphasis on bigger curves than the last track. Same end pieces, but I used the 4/15 [blue] track pieces a little differently this time. It should have a pretty good flow to it and be quite fast. |
The track has been assemble and cleaned. The cars will have tape-cleaned tires. Each car will run 100 timed laps on the inside lane. Crashes are included and time will not be stopped in case of a crash. All cars will run on equal power set by the controller.
Here we go:
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| Since I had the Gulf GT40 already on the track, I thought I'd go ahead and start the race with it. |
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
I don't remember the Gulf #11 ever running this well, but maybe I'm just tricking myself. I think it has more left in the tank, and could probably go for a little last tire touchup. Otherwise I think it ran respectably and probably would have put in a good time if not for the crash. I'd say that with every crash you're looking at about a 6 second recovery time. Not bad for a guy who's feeling the affects of a vaccine injection.
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| And since the Ferrari was also on the track, it ran next. |
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
Again, a car that has run better than it ever has. Very impressed with the improvement, even if it's not the fastest car just yet. That felt like a good run, and the heavier Revoslot car really likes the larger radius curves.
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| Since we're doing Fords.... |
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
Ford MKII #5 5:25.65 3.25 0
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
It's weird. When you improve some cars, it makes it look like other cars are taking a step backward. Either the MKII ran just fine and the Gulf Ford just caught up to it, or it's not running so well and met the other one half way. Too early to tell. Technically, if you take away the crash, the #11 likely beats the #5.
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| Wouldn't be a Ford party without Mr. Party Hardy |
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
Shell GT40 #8 5:25.03 3.25 2
Ford MKII #5 5:25.65 3.25 0
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
No, that's not a typo. Two crashes for the #8 this time. The car was just too boisterous and got caught going too fast through the 4/15 curves. Both crashes were nearby, but took time just the same. Probably would have had a much better time if not for them, however. Nice, Shell Team.
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| This should be interesting. So far the 962 has responded well to the bigger curves. |
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
Porsche 962 #11 5:14.01 3.14 0
Shell GT40 #8 5:25.03 3.25 2
Ford MKII #5 5:25.65 3.25 0
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
I'm really impressed with how far this car has gone. If you read my early posts dealing with the car, it wasn't always this way. I'd almost go as far as to say that the urethane tires and weight modifications were a game changer. Even though it's a looong car, longer than any other one I own, it handles the large curves like the Alfa handles the 1/60 curves.
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| And since we're starting with the cars I started with, here's the Alfa. |
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
Alfa Romeo #2 5:12.64 3.12 0
Porsche 962 #11 5:14.01 3.14 0
Shell GT40 #8 5:25.03 3.25 2
Ford MKII #5 5:25.65 3.25 0
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
Two things: first, good job Alfa. Solid race, even though the track was a little big for it. It seemed to get a little fishy, especially at the ends. Also, how about the Ferrari? So far, nobody has gone faster than it. Sure, the big guns are yet to come, but I wouldn't expect the Ferrari to be ahead of half the group it's ahead of currently.
End of day 1.
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| Good handling race car. Not the fastest, but not the slowest, either. |
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
Alfa Romeo #2 5:12.64 3.12 0
Porsche 962 #11 5:14.01 3.14 0
Chaparral #65 5:21.63 3.21 0
Shell GT40 #8 5:25.03 3.25 2
Ford MKII #5 5:25.65 3.25 0
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
I think the idea that a short or longbody car would have an advantage on this track is moot. There's no advantage that I can see. But I am starting to see some interesting behavior with the 4/15 curves. It's not only more challenging for the car, but it is for me as well. I felt this a little bit with the 3/30 curves, but it's much more pronounced with the 4/15 curves. The Chappy did an admirable job running the track.
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| Okay, let's just see how much the Ferrari has improved. |
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
911 GT2 #60 5:10.78 3.10 0
Alfa Romeo #2 5:12.64 3.12 0
Porsche 962 #11 5:14.01 3.14 0
Chaparral #65 5:21.63 3.21 0
Shell GT40 #8 5:25.03 3.25 2
Ford MKII #5 5:25.65 3.25 0
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
Well that is certainly interesting. After struggling for so long on tighter layouts, the Revoslot cars have really opened up here. They're definitely competitive, although I'd say with the larger radius track pieces. The Playstation Porsche has always been in the middle of things, but the Ferrari is a nice surprise. I didn't think it would hold first place for this long. There are easily a half dozen cars that could have beaten it.
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| Okay, here we go. Let's see if there will be a significant speed difference from this point on. |
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Tergal 908 #83 4:59.91 2.99 0
Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
911 GT2 #60 5:10.78 3.10 0
Alfa Romeo #2 5:12.64 3.12 0
Porsche 962 #11 5:14.01 3.14 0
Chaparral #65 5:21.63 3.21 0
Shell GT40 #8 5:25.03 3.25 2
Ford MKII #5 5:25.65 3.25 0
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
Although a little jittery, the Tergal 908 ran a good race. Only .1 difference between it and the Ferrari, though. I suspect this isn't the fastest car today. I really enjoy the 908, though. Such a fun, responsive car.
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Tergal 908 #83 4:59.91 2.99 0
Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
911 GT2 #60 5:10.78 3.10 0
Alfa Romeo #2 5:12.64 3.12 0
Porsche 962 #11 5:14.01 3.14 0
Sunoco 908 #6 5:19.95 3.19 2
Chaparral #65 5:21.63 3.21 0
Shell GT40 #8 5:25.03 3.25 2
Ford MKII #5 5:25.65 3.25 0
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
This is the kind of result when a fast car crashes multiple times. It was incredibly fast, but drove off at the same point both times; right after the front stretch. It's not possible to hit those 4/15 curves at full speed with every car. Most of them seem to like hitting it at about 80% power. If I don't let off at the end of the straight a little bit, the car will definitely come off the track. I'll bet the Sunoco 908 would have done very well without the crashes. Nothing wrong with the car; all my fault.
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
Gulf 908 #1 4:53.16 2.93 0
Tergal 908 #83 4:59.91 2.99 0
Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
911 GT2 #60 5:10.78 3.10 0
Alfa Romeo #2 5:12.64 3.12 0
Porsche 962 #11 5:14.01 3.14 0
Sunoco 908 #6 5:19.95 3.19 2
Chaparral #65 5:21.63 3.21 0
Shell GT40 #8 5:25.03 3.25 2
Ford MKII #5 5:25.65 3.25 0
Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
All three 908s ran differently. The Tergal was fidgety. The Sunoco ran with urgency, but was prone to driving off. The Gulf was solid and grippy. That a car can beat another car by 6 seconds and it doesn't even amount to a tenth of a lap advantage is pretty crazy. To me, lap time is more important. I can squeeze 2/10ths out of a car to make it faster. That's an easier metric to follow than to say I can make up 30 seconds on a 5 minute race. So when I look at the Sunoco 908, for example....it took me about 6 seconds to fix the car on the track and get going again. Put two crashes together and that's 12 seconds. That's a tenth right there, so shaving another tenth will be pretty easy. There's only 3/10ths or so separating the field right now, so that puts many cars in competitive shape. That's why a car like the Shell GT40 can surprise everyone and win it one day. Or the Alfa, or any of the NSR cars. But that's why we race; to see which car is the fastest on the given day. That can change at any time.
I really should have gotten the lap counter sooner. I've had it on my list for at least three years, and considering what I went through to clock races, I really should have done myself a favor and picked it up earlier. There's a lot that goes on in racing, and if you're focusing on counting laps, you're missing the chance to focus on your car's ability to get around the track as quickly as possible. I was pushing the Gulf 908 to go faster into the 4/15 curves on the front straight, and I wouldn't have been able to do it were it not for me no longer needing to count laps. You need that freedom to work on squeezing that last bit out of the straight, and that's really hard to do when you're focused on something else.
Get a timing system.
End of day 2
Today is the last day off before work begins. I have to work early, so I've been preparing for it by waking up early a few days before. That means that I have a few hours before I can do any racing, as it would be too loud to start at 4 a.m..
I'm going to lube/oil the 917 Porsches, since they're up next. My daughter is coming over today and I have to do a few things away from the apartment, so I don't know how much actual racing I'll be able to get in. Either way I'll do the three up next and see if I want to do more tuning. That'll hold me over for awhile.
OOPS!
So I was getting started on the 917s, and I took the Lucky Strike car around for a few laps, and it got really sluggish. Then it stopped. I checked the car and the rear wheels were barely movable. I took off the rear wheels and axle and cleaned them up, then reset everything. I also reset the pod and body float to avoid tire rub that I was getting before.
I put the car back on the track and it ran great for about 20 laps, then it started happening again. I tried other cars, nothing. So I decided to park the Lucky Strike Porsche and run one of the other ones. I put the Gulf 917 on the track, ran a few laps, and it started happening again. Another car, same thing. So I think either my power pack or my controller are giving out. I don't have time to check it today, so it's going to have to wait until I have the time to look into it a little deeper. Bummer. I wanted to finish up today.
I like the 100 lap format, but it takes a long time to get all these cars done.
Okay, I'm going to call this race. I really don't think I'm going to get to continue it in a reasonable amount of time. So here are the results:
Race Results
Car Time Lap Offs
1. Gulf 908 #1 4:53.16 2.93 0
2. Tergal 908 #83 4:59.91 2.99 0
3. Shell Ferrari 5:09.04 3.09 0
4. 911 GT2 #60 5:10.78 3.10 0
5. Alfa Romeo #2 5:12.64 3.12 0
6. Porsche 962 #11 5:14.01 3.14 0
7. Sunoco 908 #6 5:19.95 3.19 2
8. Chaparral #65 5:21.63 3.21 0
9. Shell GT40 #8 5:25.03 3.25 2
10.Ford MKII #5 5:25.65 3.25 0
11. Gulf GT40 #11 5:30.13 3.3 1
Lucky 917 #4 DNF
Gulf 917 #19 DNF
Lots of cars missing from this race, but it gave the Gulf 908 a chance to shine. Props to the Ferrari for the huge improvement and podium finish. In fact, both Revoslot cars did very well.
I'm going to get moving on the power supply issue. I have one. I just haven't installed it yet. Need to do some wiring. Until then I'll do some other updates.
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