Corny 391

My favourite track, yet another disappointing Final! Battered around a good amount in the Heats, I hope the Shootout contenders aren't hoping the cue-ball shots come for free because they certainly don't with me 9th in the Final after having been punted into TomD on turn 3, then 2nd in the Grand National saved the meeting from being a complete disaster for me. TNT races were good - I lasted all of 10secs in the first one but it was just a racing incident, 2nd one a good race and ended up 5th. Thanks to Spike and Kev, Corny

A brief pictorial from our most recent F1 event... The reds go full throttle in Heat 1 - including Daveyboy (380), making his first appearance since 1st July Heat 1 - DanSkin (236), returning after a 7-meeting ban, tangles with an errant backmarker allowing Fasttrack (527) to seize a race-winning lead New World Champion TomD (1) in Heat 1 action - yet another piece of incriminating evidence relating to aerofoil theft(s) from Rochdale... Harmen (262) overcame the challenges of Tosh (8) and Spike (221) to carve out a lead and win Heat 2 All hell broke loose around turns 1/2 on the last lap of the Final - JK (16) was the catalyst pushing from the back of this pack, with spectacular results... Spike (221) had led the majority of the Final, but only moments after relinquishing the lead to LeeK (39), he now found himself in the midst of chaos Dazza (290) shoved LeeK (39) into the last bend but it was not enough to depose him, so the Faversham man crossed the line for his second Final win of 2010 The Grand National was hotly contested up-front - a 3-way tussle onto the last lap resulted in DanSkin spinning out've contention up the back straight, then MoR (137) survived this Spike hit to take the win Thursday Night Thunder Race 1, and under the floodlights it was Dazza who stormed to victory after this hit on Mike (315) gained him the lead The night was rounded off with a win for Tosh (8) in TNT Race 2 - this well-timed attack removed leaders TomD and Fasttrack, and Tosh cunningly wrong-footed Mike on the last bend of the race

Is it really a week already since this WF two-dayer kicked off?! Just like to say - albeit belatedly - that both nights were very well run by Kev, and racing-wise as enjoyable as just about any online meetings I have taken part in. Even though it's just online, Coventry seems to retain some of its 'mecca' status as with the real meetings there, due I am sure in no small part to the quality MoR has put into the rF track - always feels good to race here. Some close racing for myself over the two nights, particularly with Kruiz in a few of the races which was all fair. Well done to Skeet for a fine performance over the two days, and Spike for winning your first rF F1 Final - well deserved. World Final itself, well my chances pretty much evaporated in an instant when a car I had lined up going onto the second lap suddenly shifted to the outside, I was carrying far too much speed, had no time to react and ended up just tagging MoR's back bumper and spinning with the momentum. In hindsight the cars behind me weren't as close as I had thought they were at the time, but anyway I was racing for the win, made a split-second commitment which didn't pay off, so be it. Think I was about last after that so to get back through to 10th with a decent race along the way, it could've been worse and just seeing the way the race developed amongst those up front can only be a good thing for the league in general - well done again Tom, LeeK so near yet so far but a hell of a race none the less and a top drive.

Superb MoR Without a doubt, watching the replays from the 'hand-held' style cameras always gives a much better feeling of realism, and you've captured that here, great sensation of speed and just how chaotic those early laps were! Excellent video well worthy of what is, as others have said, the best UK-Dirt F1 World Final to date, and as good an advert as anyone could wish to see of what a quality product you have all created in terms of the simulation itself

Just watched the replay - amazingly close right to the finish line, well done Tom

Booking in for both Wednesday and Thursday nights please (I have added my booking for tomorrow night on the UK-Dirt website), Thanks, Corny #391

As evening turns to night, there's a rumble in the air...... For any of you online racers who thought this time of the season was just for winding down and going through the motions, think again! Commencing at Bradford Tarmac in two nights' time, is Thursday Night Thunder - a brand new series which will ensure everyone taking part in regular 2010 UK-Dirt F1 meetings an extra two races each, per meeting. Upon conclusion of each included meeting's Grand National(s), focus will turn to this uniquely-gridded series, which will run over 11 of the remaining 2010 season dates. Grids will be drawn totally at random and announced live, with drivers' positions then being reversed for their second series race each night - so a driver who bags pole position for his first TNT race will be going from the very back of the grid, only a handful of minutes later. Drivers will take to the grid starting in blocks of 6 from the front, with only a few car lengths' breathing space in between each block, in order to make sure those starting at the back are by no means out've touch through distance alone. Races in this series will run over 16 laps, in floodlit darkness, all apart from the Buxton fixture where apparently animal rights activists have put a block on us being so close to the plentiful stock of sheep in such covert conditions. No word on who or what exactly has fuelled these concerns, so feel free to draw your own conclusions! For the Buxton date, therefore, we may have to settle for 'dusk'! At each given fixture, if the turnout of drivers is less than or equal to the track capacity limit, there will be two TNT series races - any more than the track limit and a 2/3rds system will be employed meaning three races. Thursday Night Thunder, after its inaugural rounds at Bradford Tarmac 2nd September, will move to a one-off Wednesday billing, as part of the first day of the Coventry World Final event - and will then feature every Thursday up to and including Coventry 18th November, with the exception of the World Final and British Championship meetings. Any race wins gained in this series will count towards a driver's official UK-Dirt F1 win statistics. Points scored for the series will not count towards F1 National Points or Career Points, but will be accumulated week-on-week for the series until its end, in the format: 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Prizes will be awarded to 4 online racers in total at the conclusion of the Thursday Night Thunder series. There will be two series points charts running throughout - the first of which being a simple cumulative overall points total open to all drivers competing. The second will be for the Top Trier Award - this will be run on a points multiplication basis for white, yellow and blue graded drivers as per the regular F1 gradings - whites will receive 2x points per race with yellows and blues receiving 1.5x and 1x respectively, and the prize is open to any drivers holding these grades upon series completion. The prize structure will be as follows: Overall Series Winner - voucher for StockCar/Banger racing DVD/Blu-ray(s) up to the value of £26 total Overall Series Runner-Up - voucher for StockCar/Banger racing DVD up to the value of £15 Top Trier Award Winner - voucher for StockCar/Banger racing DVD/Blu-ray(s) up to the value of £26 total Top Trier Award Runner-Up - voucher for StockCar/Banger racing DVD up to the value of £15 In the event of white, yellow or blue graded driver(s) being 1st and/or 2nd in the overall series points chart, the Top Trier prize(s) will be given to those who are next in line according to the Top Trier multiplication points table, in other words each competitor can only receive one of the four prizes on offer. On behalf of the UK-Dirt F1 Admin team (with a big thumbs up going to Jarry for the poster), I welcome all racers to this series and look forward to seeing you take part in what should be an unpredictable and exciting addition to our meetings up to season's end, Thanks, Corny

Yes got that one installed

Hello, Having installed rFactor, F1 StockCars v1, 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 (plus all of this year's F1 skinpacks) on a new machine, as well as the 1255 F Patch files, the game is crashing when I go to join the server. I get as far as the track loading screen and it brings me out to the desktop. I suspect I might be getting a mismatch of some kind if I have missed something out that I should have installed? I'm trying to fathom what it might be in time for tonight's meeting but not very hopeful at present! Any clues would be appreciated, Thanks, Corny

I definitely can't let this one go without comment, as I'm struggling to remember a time when I've felt so frustrated with racing this mod - and it's all down to one person. Harmen - I really do not know how you expect others to race against you when you almost always show them no respect, and this even includes the practice sessions before meetings where you hit people whenever you get the chance. I could have hit you/tried to take you out of races so many times this year but I haven't because I like to race people fairly, unfortunately though with you, my patience ran out tonight. You would think having only 3 blue tops on the grid, we might be able to get a good run towards the front of the field and at least be challenging for top 3 places come the end of the race - that was my aim as I knew Trav would be practically uncatchable from white. No such fortune though when you have someone in your grade who seems only to register the car in front at any one time. Really hate having to be downbeat about it as I really look forward to Thursday nights and have no beef with anyone else racing at the moment, but there comes a point where I can't bite my tongue any longer. I then proceeded to turn right into Harmen in the GN just to try and get him out've my way and this got me nowhere, ending up out've the points a lap down. Not something I enjoyed at all. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way from what I have seen in chat at various points this year - I can't tell anyone (Harmen) how to race but all I can say is, it's crystal clear that you are not improving by continuing to race the way you do, as though the car in front is your only competition even though there may be 20+ others to think about! Overall a very disappointing points return considering my hopes for the meeting, fingers crossed next week might go a little better - thanks Spike and Kev for the running of the meeting and well done Trav on the clean sweep, Thx, Corny

Have I just gone through a time-warp or are we talking about the 'Long Track' World Final?!

Thanks for restarting the GN after I had been disconnected from the server. I thought I'd better not waste the opportunity so was pleased to be able to get 2nd in that, to at least get the points tally into double figures after having had a frustrating Final. Really enjoy the track and prefer it now with the marker tyres moved out towards the apex - top class racing as long as people give each other respect, and stick to either inside/outside line without chopping across the track (as goes for any track really but obviously with this fence and tyres, dodgy moves tend to stick out a great deal more). Cheers Spike and Kev

After a four week break from any racing I decided pretty last minute to get things set up for tonight (i.e seat/wheel) and glad I did, have to say probably one of the meetings I've most enjoyed out've any on rFactor F1. The V1.0 NIR is certainly an improvement - with my lowly AGP graphics the inner curb was pretty difficult to spot on the old version but no such trouble now, once again thanks to MoR. Thanks Kev for running the meeting, well done to JK on defending your Euro title and Walker for the Final, hopefully be around next week, Corny

Corny 391 please, seeing as I've got the place I'll give it a go!

Highlight of my meeting I have to say was Heat 3, where myself and Lee (531) got into a bit of a tussle which carried on until the end but without going over the top, managed to have a pop at him last bend but he held it well and we scrambled for the line with Lee still ahead. Other races I would rather forget, I realise Trav seemed aggrieved at me having been spun in front of him when he was amongst the leaders in the Final and I was being lapped, I know it's hard to swallow when traffic halts your progress like that but as I said in the game there was nothing I could've done - especially as we'd just had to bulldoze our way through a jam on the back straight. As soon as I realise I haven't a hope in hell of clawing my way back up to the points positions in a race I tend to retire so as not to get in people's way, as I did in the Final and GN. Thanks to Johno for the race management and well done to Tom on your Final win and Mike for the Heat/Final double and topping the WCQR points. Cheers, Corny

Corny 391 please (blue)

Corny 391 please (red)

Late booking Corny 391 please

Think I should have 4 points for 10th in Final? I treated tonight as a bit of a test really, just got a steering wheel/pedals delivered yesterday so decided to get some race practice with them as soon as possible. Abysmal results for myself compared to what I would usually hope for though, no doubt if I'd stuck with the trusty old joystick the picture would've been different, but got to get up and running with the new equipment so hopefully it won't be long before I get comfortable. Well done to Davey and Munis, and Tosh for being top points scorer from red. Swiftly run Spike cheers and thanks to Kev

Corny 391 please

I shall add more general comments later on but just for the time being, regarding the points system for Heats it is in fact exactly aligned with 'real life', any meeting where the drivers race two Heats each (as we also do online every week obviously) carries those Heat points. Bearing in mind that we usually have 14-16 people in a Heat, having to aim for a 10th place finish in order to get a point is not exactly putting points scoring beyond anyone's wildest dreams, to be fair, though of course it can feel that way I know if you are unlucky enough to be spun/crashed right out've contention and end up battling for maybe a 12th place. I think it would be generally accepted however that any battle going on for those lower places is solely for 'pride', as well as valuable race practice on the track for the next race(s) meetings there? With our current system, if you compare the numbers racing to 'real life' turnouts in Heats, in most cases the points structure for online works out more generously, as in a 2/3rds format real meeting the Heat grids can be into the 20's.

It seems you're doing yourself down a bit there Johno, just had a quick look on kev149.com and you got 4th place in the Sexbierum final, so add 16 points to the 4 you quoted! Enjoyed the King's Lynn meeting, managed to get a good run in the Final for a 3rd place finish, my highest Final finish for a while - one of the best tracks I feel, partly due to the fact that you cannot take liberties in the bends, with those big tyres not standing for any nonsense...well done Mike for the Final/GN wins and once again taking a load of points, and thanks to yourself and Kev for running the meeting, Corny

I was pleasantly surprised with how the racing was on this track having not been on it before, unlike some of the other tar tracks (i.e. Brum, Hednesford) it doesn't seem to offer the same opportinity for people to go for crazy OTT hits up the inside, unless of course they want to either hit the beams or end up in the fence or spun. Meeting had a good feel about it, best turnout since the 3rd meeting of the season and it's always better and more challenging to have a fuller format with a consolation, keeps people on their toes. Hope that is sustained at least if not bettered for King's Lynn next week. Mike 315 seems to be on a real charge at the minute, racking up the points, well done for top scoring and to Leech 126 for the Final win. Had some very enjoyable races with the likes of Fasttrack (Heat & Consi - you were lucky not to rip the front end of your car apart on that beam!), Skeet towards the end of the first Heat, DanSkin in the Final early on, Lee and Johno in the GN which topped the night off for me, one of the best races I've had so far in these. Only one moment which left a bit of a bad taste was being squeezed up the wall at the start of the Final, perhaps it's one of the incidents Lee is on about as he was squeezed into me by the same person, wrecked any momentum for me but beyond my control. The rolling starts and the 20mph speed, I think a lot depends on exactly how quickly the front of each grade jumps from being stood still, to that 20mph - it'd be idealistic to think that everyone can simply find 20mph and everything can be perfect every time. A lot of the starts recently, especially since starting from red, I've found that if I was to keep to 20mph the grades ahead would be sailing off into the distance before the green even dropped...but then there's other starts where the grid tends to get bunched up like the Final last night. It's inevitable that each one is going to be slightly different, obviously the goal is to have the grade gaps sorted by the time the 'GO' is given, so I think we have to accept there may be small variations sometimes, and that if it looks totally out've shape it should be restarted by the steward. I do think the pole man in each grade should dicate matters and that the man outside him should not be edging ahead of him on the roller if at all possible - if you have more than one person trying to dictate the pace of each grade then that is never going to help. Thanks again to Kev and Johno, looking forward to KL and being back on the shale, Corny

Corny 391 booking in please