Archive for the ‘Laguna Seca’ Category

Scary Moment in the Skip Barber

Monday, September 6th, 2010

A close call in the Skip Barber at Laguna. I didn’t really expect to be facing the right direction in the middle of this slide.

“You Shall Not Pass!”

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Just had a pretty entertaining battle with a driver in the Star Mazda at Laguna Seca (during the Intel GP series that is running during week 13).

I caught up to him swiftly during a practice session and set about trying to pressure a pass, or to try and force a mistake. Taking advantage of it being a practice session, I drove more aggressively than I would during a race. It was a lot of fun setting up runs (faking moves right then diving to the left) but I was quite surprised by some of the dubious defending I saw. His repertoire included :

  • Weaving to break the tow
  • Blocking/multiple lane changes (I go inside, he blocks the inside, I move outside, he blocks outside)
  • Chopping me off when I have pulled level on the inside (spotter had called out)
  • Finally colliding with me when I had the inside line

Now with it being an open practice session I didn’t mind the manner of the driving as I had fun attempting the moves but after the collision he actually started insulting me! Now I realise I was driving somewhat aggressively but the only reason I was driving in that manner was purely down to the extent of the blocking – I was having a fun battle (also, I would not try a pass at turn 6 in a race!).

Had it been an official race I would almost certainly have protested any one of a number on his moves, (e.g. the clear blocking, to name but one).

Am I wrong? Was the defending acceptable? Feel free to post your thoughts in the YouTube clip.

Triumphant Return To Laguna Seca

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Pro Series Race Results (iRacing members only!)

(well, triumphant for me!)

It didn’t take long for the Pro series to return to a track already visited, so week 13 of the inaugural Pro series took place at Laguna Seca.

I had a very good result this week, having found a few tenths since we last raced here during week 4, and was able to qualify 22nd out of 31 for Sunday evenings race.

The race was very entertaining and I had some good battles throughout – a good early fight with James Andrew (who was much faster and eventually got past) and many other tussles with other, faster cars. I was able to capitalise on a few drivers’ mistakes to gain places, and spend the rest of the race managing the intervals to the finish line.

In the end I was able to finish in 15th place (incident free!) for a record points haul (for Pro series) of 142 points. The result sees me move from 79th to 74th in the standings as we cross the halfway point of the season.