AC Multiclass Abarth500/Mazda MX5@Miami Autodrome, Wed 3rd May 2023

Well, this was a very pleasant surprise for me!

Went into this race with low expectations: was not resonating with the track, practiced a lot less than with previous tracks and did not even set-up the car prior to the official practice (except for tire pressures).

But somehow during official practice was able to get in the rhythm of the track, quickly configure the car and start improving all the way through quali.
Lap times for me, Jose and Dominic were close so I was excited for some nice racing, but the end result surpassed my expectations!

Managed to survive the incidents of T1, and even keept it moving in the right direction after being pinned by Ernie against the wall under the bridge .
With so many people running behind that brought entertainment through most of the race with plenty of overtakes and good clean racing (or at least I tried my best).
Plus, always seeing Jose in my rear view mirror kept me on my toes.
This was very refreshing after the last 2 or 3 races ended up being quite lonely for me.

Taking the hints you guys shared last race paid out: I was braking earlier and (slightly) more controlled. I even managed to start feeling the weight of the car shift around for the first time.
My braking is still crap, but I have hope that the mods we discussed last week will help.
I'm waiting for the Leo Bodnar cable to be delivered - it got held up in customs and had to pay VAT + handling costs to release it. I had already forgotten about Brexit...
After I get that working I will probably go for the TrueBrake mod.

But the biggest surprise was: no major mistakes! No spinning, no loss of focus, somehow managed to keep it clean all the way.
And it shows in the the consistency numbers:

I'm super happy with going above 98% for the first time and hope I can keep it up in the next races.
Well, probably not the very next one, did a quick lap after downloading the track and oh boy! I think that is going to be an interesting race for sure!

Congratulations to the podiums, impressive timings as usual.
Good to see everyone improving and being part of that journey as well.
See you next week guys!

- Ricardo

Boukâh said:

bummer...

Was taken out even way before the first corner... I tried to watch everybody around me, radars, spotter, was passed on the right and cut off, crashed, 'causing mayhem... met a cross-track Ernie under the bridge a few turns later, just couldn't avoid crashing dramaticly into his passenger door. Back at the back together. Tried to follow Ernie a few laps, but he is just too quick, great to see!

Just checked the replay, dunno what I should have done in my situation, maybe go to the left a little more, but I hardly had time to react. Maybe someone else can check the replay from my car and help me learning to judge a situation like that. Am I just not sharp enough? Overly cautious? I dunno, took me the first few laps of the race just to replay the start situation in my head.

Thanks Dominic, for letting me pass, twice I think, really appreciate it. And Jose, good driving man, had to plan my overtakes, keep it up! You guys improve with every race.

Sorry Wayne for not noticing you at the pit exit! Luckily no real harm was done, I think

Douglas, great crossing back, twice . I just didn't dare to make more advantage of the drafting after having more exit speed from under the bridge because of the warping lately, so pulled out from behind too early I think and then out braked myself Twice

Still a bit confused, but I guess this is racing. On to the next!

Congrats Jason, Thomas and Andre with the podium. Thanks guys, see you next week!

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Yes, that was a nice little battle for a few laps after I came out from pitting. I knew you had a couple of seconds on me so had to focus on keeping as tidy as I could.

You probably could have been a little more aggressive in a few places as I knew you still had to pit so I knew it wasn't a race for position so wasn't going to fight too hard. Getting back the place twice after your last turn overtakes was fun as I knew that you would have to slow more than me and I would have more speed out of the corner.

Good racing.

a_murel said:

This is just unlucky man... maybe you could have moved a bit to the left because there was enough room...
But... The longer you will race the more you'll get a feeling of your surroundings.
And even more important, not having to think about this while driving.
Keep it up!!

i had a great fight with Thomas! well done Thomas!

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Yes was great racing and fun, always had to push as you were not far behind. Great pace.
cu

Boukâh said:

bummer...

Was taken out even way before the first corner... I tried to watch everybody around me, radars, spotter, was passed on the right and cut off, crashed, 'causing mayhem... met a cross-track Ernie under the bridge a few turns later, just couldn't avoid crashing dramaticly into his passenger door. Back at the back together. Tried to follow Ernie a few laps, but he is just too quick, great to see!

Just checked the replay, dunno what I should have done in my situation, maybe go to the left a little more, but I hardly had time to react. Maybe someone else can check the replay from my car and help me learning to judge a situation like that. Am I just not sharp enough? Overly cautious? I dunno, took me the first few laps of the race just to replay the start situation in my head.

Thanks Dominic, for letting me pass, twice I think, really appreciate it. And Jose, good driving man, had to plan my overtakes, keep it up! You guys improve with every race.

Sorry Wayne for not noticing you at the pit exit! Luckily no real harm was done, I think

Douglas, great crossing back, twice . I just didn't dare to make more advantage of the drafting after having more exit speed from under the bridge because of the warping lately, so pulled out from behind too early I think and then out braked myself Twice

Still a bit confused, but I guess this is racing. On to the next!

Congrats Jason, Thomas and Andre with the podium. Thanks guys, see you next week!

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Sorry to hear about the tough luck out there today Bouke. Yeah, you were getting knocked around quite a bit.

As for letting you pass, I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't make sense to try to battle it out with drivers who are clearly faster, since you just end up holding them back. Just seems like common courtesy to get out of the way at the first safe opportunity.

Yes, everyone is getting to be so damn fast! I was hanging back at T1 thinking I'd just wait for people to start making mistakes, crashing out, rage quitting etc. That strategy has worked pretty well for me in the public lobby races but it just didn't happen here...!

And yes, kudos to my amigo Jose who was on a tear, and I was struggling just to keep up. You've really improved I must say.

Looks like I'm going to have to step up my game! See you guys on the next one.

Hi all.

I really enjoy these races, to be honest this is the only game I have, I bought it to practice drift as a suggestion of one of the monitors in Spain. Then I just visit your web and start taking interest in these races. Now I made more grip than drift.

I really appreciate the good mod of everybody, people like Bouke or Douglas, always helping and giving support.

I agree with Domenic, Bouke you are too fast for us, it make no sense to fight with you, and yes you pass me very clean.

I miss you today Domenic, I did many mistakes, believe me, and to be honest was a little bit boring, I tryed to catch Ricardo but he was very fast, and he did not make any mistake... Well done Ricardo.

Later I was alone there, not seen Ricardo and neither fighting with you.. At the very end Jason appeared in the mirror and he allowed me to finish not passing me with the blue flag... Another one that is so fast.

Anyhow, I really think we all enjoyed, let's keep racing.

Congrats for the podium and thank you Han for keep the level.

See you next week

Douglas Aird said:

Yes, that was a nice little battle for a few laps after I came out from pitting. I knew you had a couple of seconds on me so had to focus on keeping as tidy as I could.

You probably could have been a little more aggressive in a few places as I knew you still had to pit so I knew it wasn't a race for position so wasn't going to fight too hard. Getting back the place twice after your last turn overtakes was fun as I knew that you would have to slow more than me and I would have more speed out of the corner.

Good racing.

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Thanks Douglas! I’ll try to step up on racing confidence a little. Was nice to do the laps with you, learning some race kraft there! I should have pitted later, so that I could actually do more laps with racing you, I would have learned more from that than doing that pitstop and dropping back again.

Enjoy your travels next weeks!

Boukâh said:

Thanks Douglas! I’ll try to step up on racing confidence a little. Was nice to do the laps with you, learning some race kraft there! I should have pitted later, so that I could actually do more laps with racing you, I would have learned more from that than doing that pitstop and dropping back again.

Enjoy your travels next weeks!

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Thanks Bouke, next race I will be raring to go and hopefully on the pace.

Kek700 said:

Bummer 2,
just one of those things, got hit by a car that had been hit, no ones fault, but I could still see the whole field, so there was a positive. 2nd to last corner got hit, now I could not see anyone, Dominic must have had some sympathy and let me pass , by then all were long gone.
Kimi, it does not bother me at all, but you cannot do that and just drive off, it was a 100% not “on” overtake, a Kamikaze. Not every one is like me. You are going to upset someone who is not as “shrug shoulders” as me. And if you did that and they got angry I would not blame them at all. There is a difference between an overtake and I am coming through regardless.
At least if you had waited I could have given you a heat of the moment “nod”.
Other wise had a great race, very enjoyable, the bloke with the Blue paint and cones needs a stern talking too. Runined a great circuit, that last chicane, why.
Well done podiums and thankyou to Han who will not read this.

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I just watched replay and that one was totally my fault. I´m so sorry for that, I didn´t noticed what happend there.