The 10:15 Race

I've been on track to get into Black Adder Motorsport for a while now. There was only one thing remaining. Being in a race/ spotting for a team member, before I could become a full member. This is about how I had an awful race in that pursuit.

I got the FR500S a few days ago and I've just been running laps and trying to get the hang of it. it does not really help, that the track I need to practice on is the tough Mount Panorama Circuit. Great combination for a disaster.

I thought I would get into a public practice session, just to see if I could leach some better lines and braking markers from others on the track. As luck would have it, I see Mark's name popup in that session. I couldn't hear any of the conversations, since my engine volume was very loud compared with the chat volume.

Someone on the chat broadcast said, 10:15 race, I assume that's Australian time and most of the people disappear. Including my teammate. this is when I have a brainwave and decide to jump in. I've been doing 2:38s with and occasional 2:36. So I know my pace is no where close to the bunch, but I also know that this will get the condition of having raced with a team mate out of the way.

Wrong reason to join a race in a car that you have not mastered and at a track that's fresh.

Mistake number 1

Once I jumped in, I see some of the guys are marked in Pink. No clue why, I assume its a different license level or something. I decide to start on pit lane, since I did not want to get involved in an incident. While sitting in the pits I realise its a rolling start. Duh.

Mistake number 2

Once I get going, I seem to be catching the pink guys pretty quick. I realise they are in Pontiacs. Yikes, this is a multi-class race. Want to keep out of their way, but the power of the Mustang makes it difficult to pass all 3 cars at the same time. I do not want to ruin their fight for the podium. I pull out and let them go. Not before I made some dumb move. Double duh.

Mistake number 3

The race went on and I was wondering how many laps were remaining. I think I also spun the car, needing a pit stop. That's when I realised that this was a time based race. Triple duh.

Ok, I pit and get most of the repairs done and head out with a fresh car. 5-6 minutes in the pits waiting for this. Once I am out, I treat this as a practice session. In all of 25 minutes, I had done under 5 laps till then. 2 laps more, I put in a 2:38 and with it my best lap of the race.

Disastrous Race

Part 1

Part 2

 

 Part 3

More practice needed. But, for now, I have finished that last condition that was pending.

To add insult to injury, I was running the BAM v6.0 version, that I had not run even 5 laps previously. I'll stop now.