VROC race starts question

I've been racing GPL online for about a year now in pick up races and it occurred to me that I cannot recall a single race start, when starting behind say 12 cars or more, where there hasn't been a coming together of some sort of 2 or more cars in front causing the usual mayhem of course. Often this occurs even before the first corner has been reached. I was just curious if there was anyone here who has been privileged enough to have experienced such a rare occurrence when starting from near the back of the field where all cars in front have been able to make it through the first few corners without incident? BTW I'm not saying that I have never been the cause of such accidents because I most definitely have. So what say you guys? This is frowned upon by so many people, yet to me it seems almost inevitable and practically unavoidable based on my own experiences and still people can often get quite worked up by it all as if this kind of thing just shouldn't be happening whereas the reality of it is quite the opposite. -- Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) Remove ALL_STRESS before replying No person's opinions can be said to be more correct than another's, because each is the sole judge of his or her own experience.

Hi Its almost laughable when the call goes out for steady on the first lap or something similar when sitting on the grid. My main aim is just to try to clear the carnage , but this is a rarity. before a race started someone who professed to be new said he would try to keep out of the way of everyone else at the start and not get in the way. My reply was dont bother just head for turn one like a maniac and land in the big heap like everyone else. But despite the starts messing up the majority of racers (lower down on the grid) it really is great when you get clear and can mix it in a proper race. Cheers Martin

Hi Matt Yes it was me.. Good fun I will have to look at these leagues Cheers Martin

In article <8q5tc0$qi9$[email hidden]>, Martin Chapman <[email hidden]> writes

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>Hi >Its almost laughable when the call goes out for steady on the first lap or >something similar when sitting on the grid. > >My main aim is just to try to clear the carnage , but this is a rarity. >before a race started someone who professed to be new said he would try >to >keep out of the way of everyone else at the start and not get in the way. >My reply was dont bother just head for turn one like a maniac and land in >the big heap like everyone else. >

Lol, some very sage advice indeed. I have given up letting it bother me at all and yet there are still those who can become very irate by the whole thing and immediately give up. Result? An instant drop in the number of racers left to compete against. It is quite a challenge to see if I can start from the back and make it through - even when going very carefully indeed - with cars jumping around from where they first appeared to be, to arrive somewhere else completely different. I think I've won a higher percentage of races than I have succeeded in tip- toeing through the flying wreckage. >But despite the starts messing up the majority of racers (lower down on the >grid) it really is great when you get clear and can mix it in a proper race. >Cheers >Martin > > Indeed, what's wrong with coming 3rd, 4th or 5th, as long as the racing has been exciting whilst doing so. -- Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) Remove ALL_STRESS before replying No person's opinions can be said to be more correct than another's, because each is the sole judge of his or her own experience.

I don't race in pickup races all that much to be honest, I just don't enjoy them as much - the best thing to do is too join a league and you'll find that people are more careful. Having said all that, by a strange coincidence, I jumped on a few races last night and had some fun racing with Martin Chapman (it WAS you wasn't it Martin!??) who I have never raced before. Martin won after I threw the car off the track at the Parabolica! But it was a good laugh. :) On Mon, 18 Sep 2000 21:16:35 +0100, "Martin Chapman" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>Hi >Its almost laughable when the call goes out for steady on the first lap or >something similar when sitting on the grid. > >My main aim is just to try to clear the carnage , but this is a rarity. >before a race started someone who professed to be new said he would try to >keep out of the way of everyone else at the start and not get in the way. >My reply was dont bother just head for turn one like a maniac and land in >the big heap like everyone else. > >But despite the starts messing up the majority of racers (lower down on the >grid) it really is great when you get clear and can mix it in a proper race. >Cheers >Martin > >

On Mon 18 Sep 2000 05:39:30pm, Peter Ives wrote: <snip> >I was just curious if there was anyone >here who has been privileged enough to have experienced such a rare >occurrence when starting from near the back of the field where all >cars in front have been able to make it through the first few >corners without incident? I've seen it (IIRC) twice in my (three-day) VROC career... >BTW I'm not saying that I have never been the cause of such >accidents because I most definitely have. So what say you guys? <snip> As something of a newcomer to VROC (though not to GPL) I'd say that the best thing is just to go in a straight line from the grid and not try to overtake till after T1. Even in a Pro race, you can usually get away with being nudged from exactly behind, but not from the side. The main problem I've found, though, is that everyone relaxes after T1, so there are often big smashes a bit further round the first lap. Places like Malmedy at Spa or the Lesmos at Monza. -- David. (GPLRank handicap: -5.17) "After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll, really." (Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh) The GPL Scrapyard - mangled wrecks from http://www.hillclimbfan.f2s.com

Maybe avoid Monza races? It's no coincidence that there's generally 20 starters at Monza (the easiest track) and about 5 at Zandy, Rouen or the Ring. "Peter Ives" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > I've been racing GPL online for about a year now in pick up races and it<snip> > shouldn't be happening whereas the reality of it is quite the opposite. > -- > Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington)

> Indeed, what's wrong with coming 3rd, 4th or 5th, as long as the racing > has been exciting whilst doing so. > -- > Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) :) Well said. I also can't understand people dropping out as soon as they have their first crash. I always finish the race, even if I'm last. It's always useful practice. There's no such thing as a wasted lap on GPL.

In article <f8Lx5.654$[email hidden]>, Simon Brown <[email hidden]> writes >Maybe avoid Monza races? It's no coincidence that there's generally 20 >starters at Monza (the easiest track) and about 5 at Zandy, Rouen or the >Ring. > No way!! Like I said, this doesn't bother me in the slightest - I like racing in big fields (crashes and all:)). I would prefer some of those larger races to happen more often at the other tracks, but if the only large field is at Monza - being say 5 or more - then that's the track I'll go to.

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>"Peter Ives" <[email hidden]> wrote in >message >news:[email hidden]... >> I've been racing GPL online for about a year now in pick up races and it ><snip> >> shouldn't be happening whereas the reality of it is quite the opposite. >> -- >> Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) > > >

-- Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) Remove ALL_STRESS before replying No person's opinions can be said to be more correct than another's, because each is the sole judge of his or her own experience.

In article <[email hidden]>, Peter Ives <[email hidden]> writes: >Indeed, what's wrong with coming 3rd, 4th or 5th, as long as the racing >has been exciting whilst doing so. *If*... Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL hcp. +49.67 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, EldredP <[email hidden]> writes

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>In article <[email hidden]>, >Peter Ives ><[email hidden]> writes: > >>Indeed, what's wrong with coming 3rd, 4th or 5th, as long as the racing >>has been exciting whilst doing so. > >*If*... > >Eldred

Er... 6th? :) -- Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) Remove ALL_STRESS before replying No person's opinions can be said to be more correct than another's, because each is the sole judge of his or her own experience.

In article <xbLx5.672$[email hidden]>, "Simon Brown" <[email hidden]> writes:

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>> Indeed, what's wrong with coming 3rd, 4th or 5th, as long as the racing >> has been exciting whilst doing so. >> -- >> Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) > >:) Well said. I also can't understand people dropping out as soon as they >have their first crash. I always finish the race, even if I'm last. It's >always useful practice. There's no such thing as a wasted lap on GPL.

I've stayed in races where I don't see another car after the 2nd corner. The only OTHER time I see cars is when I get lapped. However, I don't pay for connect time by the minute. If you do, and you're just driving around by yourself for the whole race, wouldn't it be better to find another race? Hell, I can drive around the track by myself *offline*...<g> Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL hcp. +49.67 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, EldredP <[email hidden]> writes

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>In article <xbLx5.672$[email hidden]>, "Simon Brown" ><[email hidden]> writes: > >>> Indeed, what's wrong with coming 3rd, 4th or 5th, as long as the racing >>> has been exciting whilst doing so. >>> -- >>> Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) >> >>:) Well said. I also can't understand people dropping out as soon as they >>have their first crash. I always finish the race, even if I'm last. It's >>always useful practice. There's no such thing as a wasted lap on GPL. > >I've stayed in races where I don't see another car after the 2nd corner. The >only OTHER time I see cars is when I get lapped. However, I don't pay for >connect time by the minute. If you do, and you're just driving around by >yourself for the whole race, wouldn't it be better to find another race? Hell, >I can drive around the track by myself *offline*...<g> >

But you talk like you're the worst driver on Vroc, which from your handicap you are definitely not. I cannot believe that all the other drivers are still leaving you in their dust. -- Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) Remove ALL_STRESS before replying No person's opinions can be said to be more correct than another's, because each is the sole judge of his or her own experience.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Brett C. Cammack) writes: >Another thing about the VROC F2 club, I've had occasion where a very >skilled driver has remained in the pit menu and watch me via live >feed, coaching me lap after lap to try different things at various >points where he perceives I'm having trouble. Very generous and very >helpful. Hey Malcolm(Maxx)! There's an idea...<g> Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL hcp. +49.67 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <WO9RKKANony5Ew$[email hidden]>, Peter Ives <[email hidden]> writes:

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>>I've stayed in races where I don't see another car after the 2nd corner. >The >>only OTHER time I see cars is when I get lapped. However, I don't pay for >>connect time by the minute. If you do, and you're just driving around by >>yourself for the whole race, wouldn't it be better to find another race? >Hell, >>I can drive around the track by myself *offline*...<g> >> > >But you talk like you're the worst driver on Vroc, which from your >handicap you are definitely not. I cannot believe that all the other >drivers are still leaving you in their dust.

That's what puzzles me. I seem to be faster than many on GPLRank, but I'm usually the worst driver in a VROC race. Maybe only the faster drivers even *race* Vroc? Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL hcp. +49.67 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, Peter Ives <[email hidden]> writes:

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>In article <[email hidden]>, EldredP ><[email hidden]> writes >>In article <[email hidden]>, >>Peter Ives >><[email hidden]> writes: >> >>>Indeed, what's wrong with coming 3rd, 4th or 5th, as long as the racing >>>has been exciting whilst doing so. >> >>*If*... >> >>Eldred > >Er... 6th? :) >--

Add a '1' to the front of that...<g> Like I've said before, I'm usually the last of the cars that are running at the finish. Most of the spots I make up are from people who disco... If it weren't for that, I don't think I'd ever be in the top 10. Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL hcp. +49.67 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

On 24 Sep 2000 01:00:17 GMT, [email hidden] (EldredP) wrote: >That's what puzzles me. I seem to be faster than many on GPLRank, but I'm >usually the worst driver in a VROC race. Maybe only the faster drivers even >*race* Vroc? You only feel like you're the worst because I don't race F1s anymore. If you'll pop in on an F2 race sometime, you'll have no problem at all kicking my ass. <g> I might be better, but simply haven't had the confluence of free time and decent equipment to improve myself. I also wonder if I can. I seem to have difficulty concentrating for a full race. Seems to vary with the day in no particularly discernable pattern. Unfortunately, I am just beginning preparation to relocate my entire household from S. Florida to Houston, Texas over a two week period while also starting a new position. This means I won't be available for a good on-line drubbing until probably the end of October. <g> Another thing about the VROC F2 club, I've had occasion where a very skilled driver has remained in the pit menu and watch me via live feed, coaching me lap after lap to try different things at various points where he perceives I'm having trouble. Very generous and very helpful. Regards, Brett C. Cammack That's Racing! Motorsports