Degen Simracing Team – Beta

Simracing Team Challenge

Michael Hart-Jones on Donington

May 21st, 2010  |  2010, Donington Park, Simracing Team Challenge

Well what can I say.

Quali:
After 100’s of laps I had my quali setup ready and headed out. I put enough temperature into the tyres and brakes and pushed hard through Goddards to get the flying start I needed. My lap through to McLeans was faster then I had managed before and I felt sure I was going to get myself into a good position. I rounded Coppice and ran a little wide but managed to keep myself on the track facing down to the Esses. As I came down to the bridge before my graphics locked up and my system froze for a few seconds, my 1:32 was now looking like a 1:37 . I got throught the Esses unscathed and made a good run into Adelade. Once again out of Adelade and in to Goddards my graphics locked up again.

My final time 1:42 

Race:
Well with everyone dropping out and rejoining I was left a little confused as to who I was meant to let through and who to keep behind me. David, you only told me of one person in TS then sprange another one during the start phase. I know at least 3 passed me so……

Well I know I was near the rear so had all the work to do. My first lap saw Richard Tranter and someone else coming to blows down in to the Esses and giving me 2 positions. Go me. I held my position closing in on someone ahead but was slightly off line through the Craner Curves and so lost the backend and gave the wall at the Old Hairpin a light tap. This put me dead last again. For the next 3 to 4 laps I pushed har and saw my splits with Eckhart drop from 11 secs to nothing. I finally caught him in to the Esses and made my pass as he slithered across the grass, missed you braking point?, and he gave me a friendly nudge into Adelade, Don’t worry it was not hard or cause any issues, So I pushed on though Eckhart did stay with in 2 secs of me for the next 3 laps. I pushed again for position and as I came around McLaren my frame rate dropped from 30 odd to 1 frame per second. I managed to pull off the track and hoped that I could regain some FPS but it was not to be. I retyred there and then as the leaders began lapping me. 

 

Donington down the drain

May 20th, 2010  |  2010, Circuit, Donington Park

One upon a time, in the early ETC day’s Donington was the home GP of Degen Simracing Team. Practicing this week, seeking for the right car setup for the bumpy swingy circuit hoping to score points like we did last week.
Last week, I did a complete reinstall of my computer and it seems my steering wheel is not set up right. On the straight at some point, my wheel turn right. You don’t want that when you’re in sixth gear racing.

After doing lap after lap, it was hard to find that extra bit. Because the STC version of Donington got big curbs on the chicane, I set the springs, anti roll and bumps to the minimum. That gave me half a second. Still I was not happy with 1:34.4.
In the qualification on the server I was a second slower, pole was five seconds faster then my time: 1:30. Just before the race started I was talking with Michael about out pit stop strategy. I was planning for a one stopper, but since there a big change of rain at Donington, we desired to go for a two stopper.
The race started quite good, I started 17e and could keep up the pace for a while until I got overtaken (I would say pushed) on the right in the first corner. Stayed cool and continued racing. Then a Cor car was overtaking me but I could manage to stay with him and overtake back a few laps later.
After a few laps Michael told me on the radio he had major problems with the frame rate. He told me he could not race like that and had to retire.

Than I got the steering wheel failer again, the wheel turned in by itself and I went of into the wall, first I thought  I did not hit the wall hard, but then there was silence and the engine gave up on me.

Zero points.

Now, let me just concentrate on webdesign and the team. Let some other driver do the racing for us. This was not the result we were hoping for, I was trying to make it to the finish. Two races to go in this Blue Cup. Let’s focus on the next event.