Day 298 (24 JAN, YEAR 2): Prize Car Delivery

Prize car Lotus Elise Type 72 '01 has been delivered.
Paint Color: Starlight Black Metallic

This car was awarded for winning the Elise Trophy. It's the best to use for netting A-spec points in this event, but having already swept it for 200 points each, I don't have to worry about that.

I'll be putting the Elise away for a good while, and I'll probably keep the cover on it for good. There are a couple of Endurance Events that I might enter with it, but I'd prefer to put miles on something else, for reasons similar to the Elise and its use in the OMR.

Here's what my Game Status screen looks like after this car was delivered:
http://gt4.mygt4diary.com/gamestatus.asp?d=299

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 297 (23 JAN, YEAR 2): UK / Lotus / Elise Trophy / Race 5

Participated in Elise Trophy Battle 5 (Apricot Hill Raceway). Champion.
Time: 1'38.677 Overall Champion

UK: Lotus: Elise Trophy: Apricot Hill Raceway: 2 Laps
Settings: N3/N3; (122 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 75; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 0.5/1.0; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 150 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $7500, $30000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Lotus Elise '00	3'24.719	1'38.677
2	3	Lotus Elise 111R '04	+0'04.309
3	4	Lotus Elise Sport 190 '98	+0'04.795
4	2	Lotus Motor Sport Elise '99	+0'05.901
5	6	Lotus Elise 111S '03	+0'13.173
6	5	Lotus Elise '00	+0'15.810

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I upped the Nitrous to 100 for the practice session, and took it back down to 75 for the race. I qualified P1 with a 1'37.717, 3.045" quicker than P2.

Wearing the car down enough to allow for N3 tires on the front is a huge difference maker. Using N2s on the front forces earlier and heavier braking to make the turns, and it becomes a real challenge to try to keep the others behind.

I was able to handle the field with much fewer worries, and the competition never really challenged for the lead. I cruised to a comfortable victory, finishing with 1 bar of Nitrous left.

I ended the practice session with 711 miles, and ended the race with just under 717.1 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2678686325189068971

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 296 (22 JAN, YEAR 2): UK / Lotus / Elise Trophy / Race 4

Participated in Elise Trophy Battle 4 (Hong Kong). Champion.
Time: 1'38.918

UK: Lotus: Elise Trophy: Hong Kong: 2 Laps
Settings: N3/N3; (122 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 65; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 0.5/1.0; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 150 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $7500

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Lotus Elise '00	3'18.594	1'38.918
2	2	Lotus Elise 111R '04	+0'06.818
3	3	Lotus Motor Sport Elise '99	+0'09.262
4	4	Lotus Elise Sport 190 '98	+0'09.568
5	5	Lotus Elise '00	+0'20.827
6	6	Lotus Elise 111S '03	+0'21.297

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I qualified P1 with a 1'39.585, 4.918" quicker than P2.

This was probably the easiest race of the series, as the MSE never got close enough to challenge for the lead. Spraying the whole way helped keep things comfortable.

I ended the practice session with 702 miles, and ended the race with just under 707 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1150896098579739438

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 295 (21 JAN, YEAR 2): UK / Lotus / Elise Trophy / Race 3

Participated in Elise Trophy Battle 3 (Special Stage Route 5). Champion.
Time: 1'42.152

UK: Lotus: Elise Trophy: Special Stage Route 5 Reverse: 2 Laps
Settings: N3/N3; (122 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 70; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 0.5/1.0; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 150 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $7500

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Lotus Elise '00	3'27.997	1'42.152
2	2	Lotus Motor Sport Elise '99	+0'00.444
3	4	Lotus Elise Sport 190 '98	+0'01.910
4	3	Lotus Elise 111R '04	+0'02.476
5	6	Lotus Elise 111S '03	+0'12.653
6	5	Lotus Elise '00	+0'14.361

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I qualified P1 with a 1'43.163, 1.692" quicker than P2.

With a couple of wall nudges, I finish the first lap ahead just over a half a second. As I brake into the first corner of Lap 2, the MSE bashes into my rear bumper, but I manage to hold the lead after hitting the right side wall. I wallride Turn C, and manage to stretch the gap beyond a second, but the MSE manages to close the gap after I bump a wall here and there.

It's directly on my bumper as we head through the tunnel, but with 2 bars of Nitrous left, I juice it to the line and cross ahead by 0.444" for the win.

I ended the practice session with 693 miles, and ended the race with 698 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1803993103692445138

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 294 (20 JAN, YEAR 2): UK / Lotus / Elise Trophy / Race 2

Participated in Elise Trophy Battle 2 (Autumn Ring). Champion.
Time: 1'35.137

UK: Lotus: Elise Trophy: Autumn Ring Reverse: 2 Laps
Settings: N3/N3; (122 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 70; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 0.5/1.0; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 150 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $7500

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Lotus Elise '00	3'10.507	1'35.137
2	2	Lotus Motor Sport Elise '99	+0'03.666
3	3	Lotus Elise 111R '04	+0'04.548
4	4	Lotus Elise Sport 190 '98	+0'04.961
5	6	Lotus Elise 111S '03	+0'12.126
6	5	Lotus Elise '00	+0'13.687

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I readjusted the rear camber to let the back swing out a little easier. I qualified P1 with a 1'34.435, 4.279" quicker than P2.

This race wasn't much trouble, building an early lead after qualifying in front. I didn't take the best lines through the corners, but this race can be won handily without using any dirty tactics.

I ended the practice session with just under 684 miles, and ended the race with 688 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5119850383842208674

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 293 (19 JAN, YEAR 2): UK / Lotus / Elise Trophy / Race 1

Participated in Elise Trophy Battle 1 (Tokyo Route 246). Champion.
Time: 2'10.087

UK: Lotus: Elise Trophy: Tokyo R246: 1 Lap
Settings: N3/N3; (122 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 80; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 0.5/1.5; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 150 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $7500

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Lotus Elise '00	2'10.087	2'10.087
2	2	Lotus Motor Sport Elise '99	+0'00.494
3	4	Lotus Elise Sport 190 '98	+0'01.766
4	3	Lotus Elise 111R '04	+0'03.092
5	6	Lotus Elise 111S '03	+0'08.103
6	5	Lotus Elise '00	+0'09.597

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I kept the NA1 equipped for the practice session, and switched the tires to N3s. I left the suspension settings the same, but had to make some changes to help prevent the oversteer that resulted from using tires with less grip. I had to run 2 hot laps to get to P1, having posted a P3 time for my first lap. I ended up qualifying with a 2'03.553, just 0.024" quicker than P2.

For the race, I took off the NA1, bringing my SettingsHP back down to 122. I also set the rear camber to 1.5, and the front to 0.5.

The launch starts well enough, but I brake way too early for the first corner. To make matters worse, I kept trying to take that turn in 3rd gear, which always sends me wide and I nudge the left wall. I crash-turn Turn 4, but the MSE starts to come up from behind after the exit to close the gap to 0.347" at T2.

Entering Turn 7, it pulls up to my left and edges ahead, but I scrub it into the wall and it falls back a bit. I try to take Turn 10 normally, and I go a lot deeper and wider than I prefer, allowing the MSE to pass on the inside for the lead.

I'm right on its tail as we head down the final straight, and I lay into the juice to take the lead, finishing just 0.494" ahead of it at the line.

I ended the practice session with 676 miles, and ended the race with 680 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1130454915924884149

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 292 (18 JAN, YEAR 2): Prize Car Delivery

Prize car Nissan CALSONIC SKYLINE GT-R '93 has been delivered.
[blank]

This car was awarded for winning the Tsukuba 9h Endurance event. It has the #12 blue livery, and is a nice looking ride. It won't be driven for this gamesave.

Up next for the Elise will be its OMR. With more than 600 miles on it, the SettingsHP still shows as 122 (no power mods), however, it's been worn down enough to allow for the use of N3 tires front and rear.

Here's what my Game Status screen looks like after this car was delivered:
http://gt4.mygt4diary.com/gamestatus.asp?d=293

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 291 (17 JAN, YEAR 2): Endurance Events / Tsukuba 9h Endurance

I headed over to the Tune Shop and bought a NA1 Tuning. The Elise can run in the Tsukuba 9h Endurance with this power upgrade and no ballast for 200 points. Running in this event will wear the car down enough so that I can use N3 Tires, front and rear, for 200 point offers in the Elise Trophy event. I'll be entering that event after finishing this one.
...

Participated in Tsukuba 9h Endurance (Tsukuba Circuit). Champion.
Time: 1'01.641

Endurance Events: Tsukuba 9h Endurance: Tsukuba Circuit: 0 Lap (9 Hours)
Settings: S1/S1; NA1 (148 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 50; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 0.7/0.2; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 0 Ballast
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $150000
My Pits (13): End of Laps 39, 73, 108 (Fuel to 50), 144, 180 (Fuel to 45), 216, 252 (Fuel to 36), 288 (Fuel to 45), 324 (Fuel to 42), 360, 396 (Fuel to 33), 432 (Fuel to 37), 468 (Fuel to 31)

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	6	Lotus Elise '00	9:00'00.852	1'01.641
2	5	Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD) '02	+8 Laps
3	3	Mazda RX-8 Type S (J) '03	?
4	1	Nissan SKYLINE GT-R V-spec II '00	?
5	4	Subaru LEGACY B4 2.0GT '03	?
6	2	BMW 330i '05	+24 Laps

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

Unfortunately, the replay file only contains the first 70 laps or so. Because of this, I don't have accurate lap counts for the RX-8, the SKYLINE, and the LEGACY...

On the first lap, I move into P3 at Turn 3, bashing my way past the LEGACY and RX-8. I overtake the 330i on the inside of Turn 4, and at T2 I'm down 1.534" to the SKYLINE. I'm on its tail as we exit the final right hander, and I manage to squeeze by for the lead at the end of Lap 1, ahead by a scant 0.007".

The main competitor of the field is actually the RX-7, but starting in P5, it struggles for a while before it gets through traffic. The SKYLINE is a quick runner as well, but its tires force it to pit too often to remain near the front. I use the Nitrous sparingly throughout the race, usually only after taking a turn poorly and/or going off track. Toward the end of the race, around Lap 490 or so, I finally work towards emptying the bottle.

By the end of Lap 2, I'm in the lead by 2.880" to the SKYLINE, and I begin to break away from the field with laps in the mid 1'04s. It's not until around Lap 17 when the RX-7 finally breaks through traffic, and it slowly starts to reel in the SKYLINE. However, by that point, I'm more than 20 seconds in front of the SKYLINE, and when it pits at the end of its 24th lap, the RX-7 moves into P2.

As the race continues, I improve my braking into the key turns: 1, 3, 7, and 8. I try to maintain the low 40s for 1 and 7, the mid to high 30s for 3, and the mid to high 70s for 8. With more and more laps run, the fuel load gets lighter, and my fast laps gradually work their way into the low 1'04s and high 1'03s, without using the bottle. When the end of the race nears, I still have nearly half of the bottle left, and I use it to set laps in the mid to high 1'01s.

I tried to pit at the end of Lap 37, but I enter the pit lane too fast, and it sends me back on my way. I slow down to less than 25mph after hitting the wall, and creep my way back onto the track. I eventually pull into the pits at the next opportunity, and after my next stints after Lap 73, I start to pit every 36 laps.

Eventually, I put the RX-7 down by more than 8 laps. I tried to get to 500 laps, and perhaps with better use of the bottle (exiting Turn 7 onto the long straight and/or during in/out laps), I might've been able to reach it. As it was, I cross the line at the end of Lap 496, less than a second past the 9 hour mark.

I ended the race with 667.1 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
(Laps 1-41)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1166927935092928143
(Laps 466-496)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5043157363322331625

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 290 (16 JAN, YEAR 2): Used Car Purchase

You have purchased a used Subaru IMPREZA Coupe 22B-STi Ver. '98.
Paint Color: Sonic Blue Mica

This is the lowest mileage 22B that appears in the lots. It is found in the Used Car II lot, has 19443.5 miles, and costs $32499. I'll be using it for the Boxer Spirit and Race of Turbo Sport, as well as for the Subaru OMR. I'll also be buying and collecting an identical one during Week 142.

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 289 (15 JAN, YEAR 2): Used Car Purchase

You have purchased a used Nissan SKYLINE GT-R '89.
Paint Color: Gun Gray Metallic

This is the 2nd lowest mileage GT-R '89 that appears in the lots. It is found in the Used Car II lot, has 37845.6 miles, and costs $15574. The lowest mileage one has 6.2 miles and appears during Week 88, and I'll be buying and collecting that one as well.

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 288 (14 JAN, YEAR 2): Prize Car Delivery

Prize car Lotus Esprit Turbo HC '87 has been delivered.
Paint Color: Red

This car was awarded for winning the MR Challenge event. It's a great ride, but won't be used for this gamesave.

After winning the MR Challenge races, I've now got 104 wins, all for 200 points! Next up for the Elise will be the Tsukuba 9h Endurance, my first of the enduros. This will help wear down the Elise so that I can use N3 tires in the Elise Trophy for 200 pointers!

But before I do that, there are a few used cars I'll be buying, one of which I'll be using.

Here's what my Game Status screen looks like after this car was delivered:
http://gt4.mygt4diary.com/gamestatus.asp?d=289

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 287 (13 JAN, YEAR 2): Beginner Events / MR Challenge / El Capitan

Participated in MR Challenge (El Capitan). Champion.
Time: 2'00.399

Beginner Events: MR Challenge: El Capitan: 2 Laps
Settings: S1/S1; (122 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 50; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 1.1/0.5; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 160 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $2000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	6	Lotus Elise '00	4'12.975	2'00.399
2	2	Honda NSX Type S Zero '97	+0'14.081
3	5	Honda NSX Type R '02	DNF
4	3	Clio Renault Sport V6 24V '00	DNF
5	4	Lotus Esprit Turbo HC '87	DNF
6	1	Lotus Elise '00	DNF

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

Using one bar of Nitrous, I move into P2 by the time we exit the first turn. I finally pass the S Zero at Turn 3, and I'm up 1.128" at T1. From there, the lead was never threatened, and I cruise to an easy victory.

I ended the race with 24.7 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1423211805570553607

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 286 (12 JAN, YEAR 2): Beginner Events / MR Challenge / Fuji Speedway 90's

Participated in MR Challenge (Fuji Speedway 90's). Champion.
Time: 1'42.390

Beginner Events: MR Challenge: Fuji Speedway 90's: 2 Laps
Settings: S1/S1; (122 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 50; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 1.1/0.5; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 87 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $2000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	6	Lotus Elise '00	3'30.287	1'42.390
2	2	Honda NSX Type R '02	+0'09.339
3	1	ASL Garaiya '02	DNF
4	3	Lotus Esprit Turbo HC '87	DNF
5	5	Toyota MR2 GT-S '97	DNF
6	4	Clio Renault Sport V6 24V '00	DNF

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I'm just behind the NSX as we exit the first corner, and at Turn 3, I bump the NSX wide and out of the way. I cut through the chicane, and from there I had no worries. I finished the first lap up more than 10 seconds, and take the turns normally from there.

I ended the race with 18.4 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7181393826850762096

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 285 (11 JAN, YEAR 2): Prize Car Delivery

Prize Car Audi Nuvolari quattro '03 has been delivered.
Paint Color: Luna Silver

This car was awarded for attaining 25% complete. The Endurance Events are now open, which will offer a great opportunity to wear down some vehicles. I'll need to decide which vehicles will benefit the most from being worn down, as well as how competitive they'll be in these races.

The Elise will be the first I use for these events, running in the Tsukuba 9h Endurance. But for now, I'll run the last 2 races of the MR Challenge.

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 284 (10 JAN, YEAR 2): Beginner Events / MR Challenge / Autumn Ring

Participated in MR Challenge (Autumn Ring). Champion.
Time: 1'32.743

Beginner Events: MR Challenge: Autumn Ring: 2 Laps
Settings: S1/S1; (122 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 50; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 1.1/0.5; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 175 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $2000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	6	Lotus Elise '00	3'11.462	1'32.743
2	1	Honda NSX Type R '02	+0'00.735
3	2	ASL Garaiya '02	+0'07.949
4	3	Lotus Esprit Turbo HC '87	+0'10.076
5	4	Toyota MR2 GT-S '97	+0'11.629
6	5	Lotus Elise '00	+0'14.211

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I pass the other Elise on the inside of the first turn, and overtake the MR2 while entering the looping right hander just past T1. I pass the Esprit on the exit, and pass the ASL through Turn J.

I'm down 1.871" at T2, but I'm too hot entering Turn L. I catch myself at the paved extension, and recover to come within 0.985" at the end of Lap 1. I sloppily make my way through the first few turns of Lap 2, but I'm still 0.734" down at T1. I finally pass for the lead while entering Turn K, and finish the race with 3 bars of Nitrous.

I ended the race with 12.6 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1691620857962828958

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 283 (9 JAN, YEAR 2): Beginner Events / MR Challenge / Beginner Course

Participated in MR Challenge (Beginner Course). Champion.
Time: 0'25.345

Beginner Events: MR Challenge: Beginner Course: 5 Laps
Settings: S1/S1; (122 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 50; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 1.1/0.5; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 125 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $2000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	6	Lotus Elise '00	2'19.338	0'25.345
2	1	Lotus Esprit Turbo HC '87	+0'03.717
3	2	Honda NSX Type S Zero '97	+0'04.143
4	3	Honda NSX Type R '02	+0'04.944
5	4	Lotus Elise Type 72 '01	+0'11.622
6	5	Toyota MR2 GT-S '97	+0'11.989

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I'm into P3 as we exit the big right hander, but I start to understeer wide. This nearly sends me into the pit lane, and I smack into the barrier to come to a dead stop. I crawl back onto the track to finish the Lap 1 in P6, down 7.295" to the Esprit.

I cut through the lump for Lap 2, and move into P4 past the Type 72 while entering the final turn of Lap 2. I'm down 5.584" to begin Lap 3, and I finally catch up to the Type R and move past it with some dirty driving at the first turn of Lap 4. I cut through the chicane again to move into P2, and now I'm right on the tail of the Esprit.

Leaning on it through the final turn, I finally move into P1 midway through. I bust a lawnmower through the chicane again, and cross the line with a healthy lead... thanks to dirty driving!

I ended the race with 8.5 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1444358404713557507

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 282 (8 JAN, YEAR 2): Beginner Events / MR Challenge / New York

I headed over to the Tune Shop to get some mods for the Elise. I'll be using this car for the Tsukuba 9h Endurance, in which I'll have the S1 tires equipped. It's possible to use S2 tires for some of these races, but instead of using them for this event, I chose to run with less ballast while riding on S1s. I bought Nitrous ($5000), a Sports Suspension ($3200), Triple-plate Clutch ($4700), Racing Flywheel ($1050), and the S1 Tires ($5100).

I'll also be using this car for the Elise Trophy. Out of the box, the Elise can't quite get 200 point offers while using N3 tires. While that event can be swept while using N2 tires on the front, I felt it'd be much more sensible to run the MR Challenge and Tsukuba 9h Endurance races before doing so, allowing for the use of N3s.
...

Participated in MR Challenge (New York). Champion.
Time: 1'56.828

Beginner Events: MR Challenge: New York Reverse: 2 Laps
Settings: S1/S1; (122 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 50; RideHt 115/115, Shocks 6/5, Camber 1.1/0.5; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 17 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $2000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	6	Lotus Elise '00	3'59.461	1'56.828
2	1	Honda NSX Type S Zero '97	+0'02.338
3	3	Honda NSX Type R '02	+0'04.341
4	2	Lotus Esprit Turbo HC '87	+0'09.495
5	5	Toyota MR2 GT-S '97	+0'12.910
6	4	ASL Garaiya '02	+0'15.309

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I juiced it from the get-go, and manage to overtake the MR2 on the inside for the entry into Turn A. The back end gets a little too loose, and I smack into the inside railing. I recover well enough, and manage to overtake the ASL by the time we exit.

I overtake the next two opponents at Turns B and C to move into P2, and after nudging the walls of Turns F and G, I find myself in the draft of the S Zero coming out of Turn H. I'm down just under half a second at T2, but my braking for the hairpin sucks, and I slam into the far wall to come to a dead stop.

I manage to pull back into the draft of the leader, and I'm down 0.588" at the end of Lap 1. I send the S Zero into the wall by bashing into it while braking for Turn A, but this messes up my angle, and I have to block for the lead as we make our way through.

I'm in the lead as we exit along Central Park, but I brake too early into Turn B. The S Zero passes on my left, and as I try to take the inside away from it at Turn 6, it nudges me into the barrier on the left. I try to pass again along 57th Street, but I can't pull past it, and dive back on the inside for Turn F.

I move into P1 there, and from that point I manage to keep it at bay for the remainder of the race, having 2 bars of Nitrous left as I cross the Finish Line.

I ended the race with 5.7 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3835791496858932468

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 281 (7 JAN, YEAR 2): NEW Car Purchase

Lotus Elise '00 purchased.
Paint Color: Black

I purchased the Elise to run in the MR Challenge, as I need to finish the Beginner and Professional Events to get to the Extreme Events. It's important that I do this before Week 75, after which I'll be using many of the days to acquire Used vehicles. There aren't many opportunities to run a 16-day event (the Formula GT series, 15 races and 1 prize car), and I prefer to do the "harder" races as soon as possible.

So after Week 48, when I finally acquire the last of the used cars that I'll be driving, I'll have about 19 weeks to complete most of the Championship events. From there, I'll be free to pick and choose whatever single races remain, without as many worries about calendar scheduling.

I've completed 11 of the 33 championships, and after I'm done with the Elise, I'll have 32 remaining. 4 of these aren't accessible until I open up the Extreme Events.

On to the MR Challenge!

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 280 (6 JAN, YEAR 1): Used Car Purchase

You have purchased a used Toyota CARINA ED 2.0 X 4WS '89.
Paint Color: Light Khaki Graphite Mica Metallic.

This is the lowest mileage CARINA that appears in the lots. It's available in the Historic lot, has 38134.0 miles, and costs $6072. It also has the longest paint color name I've seen so far!!!
...

So, after finishing my Week 40 purchases (picking up the remaining ones during Week 140), it's time I start working on the Extreme Events. To do this, I need to complete the Beginner & Professional Events, finishing with the GTWC. I'd still like to defer the use of the Dodge Ram for as long as possible, but using it is inevitable.

Next up will be the MR Challenge event, for this I've decided to use the Lotus Elise. The Elise can sweep that event, as well as its OMR for 200 pointers, keeping my 200 point streak alive.

However, the best way I've found to sweep its OMR is to run it in an Endurance Event, as this will allow for the use of N3 tires in the front. A 0-mile Elise with N3's and 200 ballast only yields 198 point offers, so I'll be entering the Tsukuba 9h Endurance race with it after the MR Challenge (I'm at 24.6% after this day).

The next used cars I'll be buying appear during Week 42, one of which I'll be using...

Here's what my Game Status screen looks like after the CARINA has been delivered:
http://gt4.mygt4diary.com/gamestatus.asp?d=281

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 279 (5 JAN, YEAR 2): Used Car Purchase

You have purchased a used Toyota COROLLA LEVIN GT-APEX '83.
Paint Color: High-Tech Two-Tone

This is the lowest mileage LEVIN GT-APEX that appears in the lots. It's available in the Historic lot, has 6.2 miles, and costs $13055. I'll be buying this one, as well as the one appears during Week 167 (another 6.2 mile vehicle, in High-Flash Two-Tone), and also the lowest mileage non-6.2 mile car that appears during Week 97.

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 278 (4 JAN, YEAR 2): Used Car Purchase

You have purchased a used Mercedes SLK 230 Kompressor '98
Paint Color: Obsidianschwarz

This is the lowest mileage SLK 230 that appears in the lots. It's available in the Used Car II lot, has 19659.8 miles, and costs $27384.

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 277 (3 JAN, YEAR 2): Prize Car Delivery

Prize car Benz Patent Motor Wagen 1886 has been delivered.
[blank]

After winning a tough event like the ECCL using a 2CV, they give me this???!!!??? A car that can't even be used in any race events??? A car that can't even make it up any of the hills at The Ring (ok, maybe with some mods and a heck of a lot of patience)??? Meh... whatever.

It's a light olive green color, and won't be driven for this gamesave. In fact, I don't know if I'll ever sit in this one... A cool historic ride, though.
...

So, after my 99th 200 point win, here's what my Game Status screen looks like after this useless vehicle was delivered:
http://gt4.mygt4diary.com/gamestatus.asp?d=278

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 276 (2 JAN, YEAR 2): European Events / Europe Classic Car League / Race 5

Participated in Europe Classic Car League Battle 5 (Deep Forest Raceway). Champion.
Time: 1'45.795 Overall Champion

European Events: Europe Classic Car League: Deep Forest Raceway Reverse: 2 Laps
Settings: N3/N3; Racing Muffler, Stage 1 Turbo (51 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 100; RideHt 141/141, Shocks 5/5, Camber 0.5/0.0; Auto 12; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 98 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $10000, $30000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Citroen 2CV Type A '54	3'33.282	1'45.795
2	5	Ginetta G4 '64	+0'04.369
3	4	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA 1600 '65	+0'05.998
4	3	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale '63	+0'12.721
5	2	Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Duetto '66	+0'14.692
6	6	VW Karmann Ghia Coupe (Type-1) '68	+0'42.322

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I kept the Car in race trim for the practice session, and still managed to qualify P1 with a 1'46.336, 2.618" quicker than P2.

This was probably the easiest race of them all, despite not having the largest gap. I suppose the corners here allow for higher speeds through them as opposed to a course like Opera Paris.

In any case, the rolling start makes things much easier to deal with, and the opponents never really had a chance. It's quite a relief to finish with a race like this, especially knowing how much work I put in to beat the field at The Ring.

I ended the practice session with 88 miles, and ended the race with 93.7 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2602510487659314318

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 275 (1 JAN, YEAR 2): European Events / Europe Classic Car League / Race 4

Participated in Europe Classic Car League Battle 4 (Suzuka Circuit). Champion.
Time: 2'56.278

European Events: Europe Classic Car League: Suzuka Circuit: 1 Lap
Settings: N3/N3; Racing Muffler, Stage 1 Turbo (51 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 100; RideHt 141/141, Shocks 5/5, Camber 0.5/0.0; Auto 12; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 98 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $10000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Citroen 2CV Type A '54	2'56.278	2'56.278
2	5	Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Duetto '66	+0'08.821
3	4	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale '63	+0'13.537
4	3	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA 1600 '65	+0'19.090
5	2	Ginetta G4 '64	+0'29.116
6	6	VW Karmann Ghia Coupe (Type-1) '68	+0'30.876

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I kept the Car in race trim for the practice session, and still managed to qualify P1 with a 2'54.148, 1.496" quicker than P2.

After the launch, the G4 pulls ahead while we're still on the straight, and I manage to retake the lead as we enter 1st Curve. Not wanting to risk another failed run (this was my 2nd attempt), I decided to lawnmow the grass between 2nd Curve and the Esses.

But even after doing so, the G4 comes up close behind as we enter the Degner kink. I bust a John Deere again, and manage a 2.651" gap as we cross T1. The G4 goes into the junk 3 times, and for some reason, makes a bunch of stop-starts in an attempt to recover near Spoon, falling back to P4 in the process...

The gap widens from there, as the opponents don't take Spoon nor Casio very well, and I cruise to an easy victory as my 6th bar of Nitrous goes away (leaving me with 4).

I ended the practice session with 79 miles, and ended the race with 84 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8312327413075189974

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 274 (31 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / Europe Classic Car League / Race 3

Participated in Europe Classic Car League Battle 3 (Opera Paris). Champion.
Time: 1'53.087

European Events: Europe Classic Car League: Opera Paris Reverse: 2 Laps
Settings: N3/N3; Racing Muffler, Stage 1 Turbo (51 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 100; RideHt 141/141, Shocks 5/5, Camber 0.5/0.0; Auto 12; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 98 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $10000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Citroen 2CV Type A '54	3'47.906	1'53.087
2	2	Ginetta G4 '64	+0'05.756
3	3	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale '63	+0'07.462
4	4	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA 1600 '65	+0'08.277
5	5	Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Duetto '66	+0'11.247
6	6	VW Karmann Ghia Coupe (Type-1) '68	+0'36.236

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I kept the N3 tires and Ballast @ 98, but shortened the gearing to Auto 11 for the practice session. I ran 2 hot laps, finishing with a bottle-assisted 1'53.183, 3.400" quicker than P2.

I reset the gearing to Auto 12, keeping everything else the same, and began the race.

With this narrow street course, the opponents have a hard time passing. Other than an initial bump from the G4, they never get close enough to threaten the lead. This and the final race are the easiest ones of the series, and starting P1 has a lot to do with that. Other than staying out of the Armco, there's nothing special in terms of winning tactics, and I finished with 5 bars of Nitrous.

I ended the practice sessions with 68 miles, and ended the race with 72 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4143788621596282037

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 273 (30 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / Europe Classic Car League / Race 2

Participated in Europe Classic Car League Battle 2 (Fuji Speedway 80's). Champion.
Time: 1'52.205

European Events: Europe Classic Car League: Fuji Speedway 80's: 2 Laps
Settings: N3/N3; Racing Muffler, Stage 1 Turbo (51 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 90; RideHt 141/141, Shocks 5/5, Camber 0.5/0.0; Auto 13, 4-0.847; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 98 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $10000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Citroen 2CV Type A '54	3'50.145	1'52.205
2	2	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale '63	+0'01.871
3	4	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA 1600 '65	+0'02.469
4	3	Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Duetto '66	+0'06.980
5	5	Ginetta G4 '64	+0'09.852
6	6	VW Karmann Ghia Coupe (Type-1) '68	+0'45.904

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

For the practice session, I equipped S2 tires, dropped the ballast back down to 0, and set the Nitrous at 100. After exiting the pit lane, I immediately cut over to the left to block the GTA and hinder its hot lap. I qualified P1 with a 1'48.381, 7.665" quicker than P2. But, instead of going straight into the race, I figured it'd be a good idea to run a practice lap or two with the 200 point settings.

So, I cut over to the left again to block the GTA, but it manages to get by as we approach the final turn of my out lap. After rear-ending it at the first corner, I go deep into the first corner and into the firm dirt, and it gets by for good. I continue to press onward, and exit the session before it can post a quicker lap than my original one...

I start one more practice session, to put some more miles on the car and to get better at blocking on this widely paved course. Just as my hot lap begins, the GTA gets by again, and I bash it into the junk at the first corner. I finished that session after posting a 1'54.309, nearly 6 seconds slower than my original hot lap (on S2s).

I started the race, and everything's good from the launch, but the GSS pulls side-by-side as we go through the first corner. It briefly takes the lead, but I pull back in front as we exit.

I'm up by 1.558" to the G4 at T3, and despite spraying, it manages to close the gap completely as we head down the front straight. I manage to block it, and lead by 0.115" to begin Lap 2.

As we make our way through the first corner, it goes way wide into the junk, and I never see it again. The G4 actually collides with one of the two cars that are following, slowing them down a bit, and from there the race is a breeze, finishing with 2 bars of Nitrous left.

I ended the practice sessions with 57 miles, and ended the race with 63 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4536642090622131350

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 272 (29 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / Europe Classic Car League / Race 1

This event was one of the tougher ones to beat despite the short race distances, especially for 200 pointers. The 2CV is a tremendously disadvantaged car to use, even when "fully loaded" with mods. The SettingsHP maxes out at 57, and even with that and a Stage 3 weight reduction, it still can't hold speed when coming up the hills at The Ring.

But there's more to winning a race than simply being the fastest. I highly doubt there are more than a handful of people who would be able to sweep this series for 200 pointers while driving "cleanly" (using the 2CV), and I'm not the kind of person who would care enough to try more than I already have.

Lawnmowing, crash-turning, and bumper bashing are all within the rules I've set for myself, and if I have to repeat myself when I say I don't care about how "dirty" some of my tactics are, I'll explode. ANYTHING GOES, especially when 200 points are being offered! Like many 200 pointers (not all of them), one can't win by driving cleanly, and one can't win by driving poorly.

So after getting in this car, I headed to the Tune Shop for the mods I needed. I bought a Racing Muffler, a Stage 1 Turbo Kit, Nitrous, Sports Suspension, Full Custom Transmission, Triple-plate Clutch, and a Racing Flywheel. I should warn those who haven't tried it to NOT use a Chip if they're also using the Turbo 1. Starting from a stand-still is nearly impossible, in addition to dropping the SettingsHP down.

The tougheset of these races is the first at Nurburgring. The 2CV barely makes it up the hill between T5 and Karussel in the 70s, while the opponents easily run near the triple digits. Blocking opponents in this section is absolutely required, as it is for many other portions of this course. This race cannot be won without keeping an eye on the rear-view mirror.
...

Participated in Europe Classic Car League Battle 1 (Nurburgring Nordschleife). Champion.
Time: 10'07.094

European Events: Europe Classic Car League: Nurburgring Nordschleife: 1 Lap
Settings: N3/N3; Racing Muffler, Stage 1 Turbo (51 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 90; RideHt 141/141, Shocks 5/5, Camber 0.5/0.0; Auto 13, 4-0.847; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 000; 98 Ballast @ 0
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $10000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	2	Citroen 2CV Type A '54	10'07.094	10'07.094
2	3	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale '63	+0'00.524
3	5	Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA 1600 '65	+0'01.515
4	1	Ginetta G4 '64	+0'04.077
5	4	Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Duetto '66	+0'06.015
6	6	VW Karmann Ghia Coupe (Type-1) '68	DNF

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

Qualifying is an important part of winning the races of this event. To qualify P1 at The Ring is VERY difficult, as one would have to block the opponents for both the out lap AND the hot lap. Any time one gets by, it's a guarantee that they'll be starting in front of you, as there are very few opportunities to catch up. The GTA and the G4 are the toughest of the bunch, and I had to typically block more than 2 opponents during the practice sessions and the race. I've only managed to qualify P1 once in the many many attempts I've made at this race, and I ended up having to reload the game after losing that race...

For the practice session, I fitted S2 tires front & back, set the Ballast to 0, and maxed the Nitrous at 100. For the out lap, I tried as best as I could to keep the GTA behind me, but it got by and I restarted the session. For the second session's out lap, I would only spray to get back in front of the others, conserving the bottle for the hot lap. Unfortunately, the G4 got by me while coming through Mutkurve, but knowing how poorly it drives, and knowing from previous attempts that there are early opportunities to pass it, I continued on with the GSS and GTA behind me.

I qualified P2 with a 9'51.479, still more than 23 seconds behind the G4. I refitted the N3/N3 tires, set the Ballast back to 98kg, and ticked the Nitrous down to 90 to allow for slightly more liberal use. I also ticked 4th gear up by 3, in the hopes of holding speed up the hills a little better... I should've done a little more...

The race starts normally, and I crash-turn Hatzenbach and then cut through the grass for the left-right that follows. Heading into Hocheichen, I cut sharply to the left to avoid colliding with the G4, and manage to take the lead there.

The G4 is on my tail as we cross T1, and I'm ahead by 0.209". I continue to block it as we head for Kottenborn, but now the others are starting to join the lead pack. By the time we get to Schwedenkreuz, the G4 starts to make its move to my right, and I do my best to send it into the grass. It works well, as the G4 spins and ends up facing the wrong direction, but not without cost. This allows the GSS to slip by on my left, and I briefly lose the lead as we head through Aremburg.

I juice it to regain the lead, and I'm side-by-side with the GSS as we cross T2. I'm behind by 0.027" at that point, with the GTA hounding my tail. I edge past the GSS for the lead again, and we head down the hill.

I cut the grass through Adenaur-Forst, and I'm up 3.867" to the GTA as I cross T3. A little bit of breathing room for a little while, but the opponents aren't far behind. The lead shrinks to 1.618" as we cross T4, and I choose to take Breidscheid normally instead of wallriding it.

Between Ex-Muhle and Bergwerk, the GTA closes the gap completely. I manage to block it through Bergwerk, choosing not to risk a bad wallride through it, and I'm ahead by 0.192" as we cross T5. As we head into Mutkurve, the lead pack is now 4-deep, and fortunately the GSS and GTA block the G4 from making a move. We cross T6, and I'm up 0.355".

Just after that, the G4 comes up fast on the right and I move to block it sucessfully. After doing so, it cuts back across the others and they fall back slightly as we head into Steilstreke.

The Duetto has caught up by now, and the pack is now 5-deep heading into Karussel. I elect to wallride it, but the G4 still manages to close the gap shortly after the exit. I'm ahead by 0.205" at T7, and we enter my favorite section of The Ring.

With N3 tires, I'm forced to take the turns much slower and much more cautiously than I normally would. I take tight lines to the inside curb, but for my exit out of Brunnchen, I go wide into the grass. I recover well enough, and after crossing T8, I'm ahead by 0.667".

The GTA moves into P2 after exiting Sprunghugel, and I move to the inside curb of Pflanzgarten III to prevent it from passing me. At the same time, the G4 makes its move on the outside of both of us, and takes the lead!

I cut over to the left to push it into the grass, and after failing, I'm forced to countersteer, then counter-countersteer, to prevent from going off. The GTA falls back a little bit, and I hound the G4 as we head for Schwalbenschwanz. However, I'm too hot heading into the right hander, and I go off into the left side grass just before its entry.

Fortunately, the G4 goes off to the right and into the junk for the exit of Schwalbenschwanz. It spins as it gets back on track, facing the wrong way, and while I'm distracted by the GTA that's directly on my bumper, I crash into it, sending me wide, and slowing me down below 30mph!!! The GTA and the GSS manage to pass by, putting me in P3 with very little "recovery speed".

At this point, my neighbors must've wondered what's wrong with me (more than they usually do), as I yelled something not worth typing here, VERY LOUDLY. I almost decided to reload the game, but with 3 bars of Nitrous left (I usually only have 2 at this point), I decided to press onward...

And it was a good thing, too. I never noticed how slowly the opponents take Kleine-Karussel, and I managed to catch a draft from the GSS while exiting that corner. This gave me hope, and as I lay into the spray, I pass the GSS on the inside to the first part of Galgenkopf. This sets me into the draft of the GTA, and I find myself only down 0.884" to the GTA at T10 and gaining.

I manage to hit 118mph while in the windbreak of the GTA, my personal record in this car, and manage to overtake the GTA for the lead!!! I squeeze by it and immediately get in front of it, but it might've been better to stay behind it and push-draft it to extend the gap to the others behind us. You can see how poorly the 2CV cuts through the air, as I instantly start to lose speed, dropping down back below 110.

I'm in the lead by 0.172" to the GTA as we cross T11, but then the GSS zooms by on my left to put me into P2! I do my best to cut in front of it, but can only manage to scrape fenders with it as we head up the final hill. And as we ascend the hill, MY BOTTLE RUNS OUT! Knowing there's one final grass-cut available, I press onward.

As we pass the barrier on the left on the entry to Hohenrain, I brake and cut across the grass. My angle is poor, and I smack the wall opposite the pit lane entry, but manage to move back into P1. I drop it back down to 2nd gear (usually I can hold 3rd), and try to settle the car down for the final turn, but in my excitement, I turn-in too early and have to correct from going into the inside wall. Fortunately, I manage to stay clear of it, and despite my slow speed, manage to cross the line for the win!!!

PHEW! What a race! My test run had a tighter lead pack, but a little over 6 seconds separating P1 to P5 was still quite a rush!

I ended the practice session with 28 miles, and ended the race with 41 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
(Practice)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=124627898703379154
(Race)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1151211272005951186

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 271 (28 DEC, YEAR 1): Prize Car Delivery

Prize car Citroen 2CV Type A '54 has been delivered.
Paint Color: Gris Clair

This used to be one of the most hated cars in my fleet. However, it's grown on me. I first managed to sweep the Europe Classic Car League with it, but only for 118 points each. After more practice, and a HECK OF A LOT OF BLOCKING, I've been able to sweep that same series (vs the same lineup) for **200 pointers**!!! And while there are many mods that I have to buy for it to do so, all of them are removable, making it easier to score more A-spec points for its OMR.

I, like many others, used to think that this car was incapable of doing so. But after extensive testing, it's become one of the "crown jewels" of my fleet. Using it to win the ECCL was CRUCIAL to my "minimum driven" goals, as it's one of a handful of cars eligible for the ECCL that's eligible for OMRs (other candidates require repeating races and/or transfers, or drop the A-spec yield by a large amount).

So, after completing the TFC and acquiring this car, it's time to race in that event (the ECCL). Here's what my Game Status screen looks like after this car was delivered:
http://gt4.mygt4diary.com/gamestatus.asp?d=272

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 270 (27 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / Tous France Championnat / Race 5

Participated in Tous France Championnat Battle 5 (Cote d'Azur). Champion.
Time: 2'01.340 Overall Champion

European Events: Tous France Championnat: Cote d'Azur: 3 Laps
Settings: S2/S2; (138 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 40; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 001; 135 Ballast
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $10000, $35000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Renault Megane 2.0 16V '03	6'11.295	2'01.340
2	2	Renault 5 Turbo '80	+0'04.139
3	3	Peugeot 206cc '01	+0'19.573
4	5	Peugeot 106 Rallye '03	+0'20.214
5	4	Peugeot 206 RC '03	+0'22.022
6	6	Peugeot 206 S16 '99	+0'24.067

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

After 2 hot laps, I qualified P1 with a 2'01.861, about 7 seconds quicker than P2 (based on the gap from my first hot lap) while using 3 bars of Nitrous.

A wall nudge here and there, but for the most part, this was a clean and easy victory. The 5 Turbo never really challenged for the lead, and I finished with 3 bars of Nitrous...

I ended the practice session with just under 82 miles, and ended the race with 88.9 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-879754333607331016

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 269 (26 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / Tous France Championnat / Race 4

Participated in Tous France Championnat Battle 4 (Grand Valley Speedway). Champion.
Time: 2'23.934

European Events: Tous France Championnat: Grand Valley Speedway Reverse: 3 Laps
Settings: S2/S2; (138 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 40; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 001; 135 Ballast
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $10000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Renault Megane 2.0 16V '03	7'31.289	1'45.307
2	2	Renault 5 Turbo '80	+0'00.239
3	4	Peugeot 206 RC '03	+0'07.440
4	3	Peugeot 206cc '01	+0'07.904
5	5	Peugeot 106 Rallye '03	+0'08.502
6	6	Peugeot 206 S16 '99	+0'10.558

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

After 2 hot laps, I qualified P1 with a 2'24.578, 4.730" quicker than P2 while using 6 bars of Nitrous.

With a standing start, the 5 Turbo takes the lead off the launch. The long straight to start the race gives it time to pull a little bit away, but I manage to catch up to it as we enter Turn C. It's right on my tail as we cross T1, so I elect to crash-turn the tunnel after the bridge. It tries to pass on my right as we enter Turn O, but I manage to scrub it for a little more breathing room.

But as we approach the end of Lap 1, it jukes me to the right before passing on my left. I'm now down 0.423" as we start Lap 2, and it starts to pull away despite my spraying. I bash it into the wall at Turn C again, and retake the lead for a while.

I keep it behind with some blocking, and I begin the Final Lap with a 0.101" lead. It doesn't threaten to pass again for a while, but the gap never widens much beyond 1 second.

But coming out of Turn P on the Final Lap, I'm too wide, and it passes me for the lead! I do my best to catch up to it, and I get an opportunity to take away the inside while heading into the hairpin. I do so, sending its right side into the dirt, and juice it to the line with one bar left...

I ended the practice session with 65 miles, and ended the race with 75 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-589388615511309138

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 268 (25 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / Tous France Championnat / Race 3

Participated in Tous France Championnat Battle 3 (Special Stage Route 5). Champion.
Time: 1'45.307

European Events: Tous France Championnat: Special Stage Route 5: 3 Laps
Settings: S2/S2; (138 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 50; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 001; 135 Ballast
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $10000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Renault Megane 2.0 16V '03	5'27.709	1'45.307
2	2	Renault 5 Turbo '80	+0'06.586
3	3	Peugeot 206cc '01	+0'18.150
4	5	Peugeot 106 Rallye '03	+0'19.852
5	4	Peugeot 206 RC '03	+0'20.431
6	6	Peugeot 206 S16 '99	+0'20.671

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

After 3 hot laps, I qualified P1 with a 1'44.466, 1.768" quicker than P2 while using Nitrous. I'm running more practice laps than my usual 1, hoping to wear my car down for more A-spec points when I enter the OMR. I'm unsure as to how much it'll help, but I'll likely enter another championship practice session before doing so (probably the GT All Stars @ High-Speed Ring).

Without using any wallrides (this course has MANY opportunities), I manage an easy victory. I ended with 1 bar of Nitrous, using 6 of them on the final lap. Notice how closely (and slowly) the Peugeots run, making it a PITA to record the final gap times...

I ended the practice session with 48 miles, and ended the race with 56 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=128020092788941063

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 267 (24 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / Tous France Championnat / Race 2

Participated in Tous France Championnat Battle 2 (Circuit de la Sarthe I). Champion.
Time: 5'22.744

European Events: Tous France Championnat: Circuit de la Sarthe I: 1 Lap
Settings: S2/S2; (138 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 50; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 001; 135 Ballast
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $10000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Renault Megane 2.0 16V '03	5'22.744	5'22.744
2	2	Renault 5 Turbo '80	+0'07.390
3	5	Peugeot 206cc '01	+0'09.870
4	4	Peugeot 106 Rallye '03	+0'10.349
5	3	Peugeot 206 RC '03	+0'14.001
6	6	Peugeot 206 S16 '99	+0'16.146

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I dropped the ballast to 0 for the practice session, and qualified P1 with a 5'09.027, 8.261" quicker than P2, using the entire bottle and cutting through the Dunlop and Ford chicanes.

Everything's fine after cutting through Dunlop, and I maintain around a 7 second gap for most of the race. But on my approach into Indy, my left side edges the sand and I go spinning into the wall! After recovering, I find myself in P3, down just over 2 seconds at T4 and T5. The 106, who's leading at that point, goes into the junk out of the Porsche curves, and I manage to pass it for P1 heading into the final stretch.

I choose not to take any chances, and cut the Ford chicanes to ensure the victory, nearly 15 seconds slower than my Q-time, with 1 bar of Nitrous left.

I ended the practice session with 29 miles, and ended the race with 39 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6037441916845980113

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 266 (23 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / Tous France Championnat / Race 1

After purchasing this vehicle, I headed over to the Tune Shop for a few goodies. I bought a bottle, a Triple-plate Clutch, and a Racing Flywheel, and headed over to the TFC.

While testing on my other gamesave, I found a good 200 point lineup: 206 S16, 106 S16, 205 Turbo 16, 5 Turbo, 206 RC. It showed up after around 10 re-entries, and found that it could be beaten. But for reasons I'm not sure of, it took me a LONG time to find a comparable field. I never found the same one, but after around 25 re-entries, I found the one I eventually used.

It's nearly the same, except for the entry of the 106 Rallye instead of the 106 S16, and a 206cc instead of the 206S16. The 200 point settings were nearly identical for both lineups, with the 5 Turbo being "the one to beat".
...

Participated in Tous France Championnat Battle 1 (Opera Paris). Champion.
Time: 1'44.172

European Events: Tous France Championnat: Opera Paris: 4 Laps
Settings: S2/S2; (138 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 50; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Aids 001; 135 Ballast
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $10000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Renault Megane 2.0 16V '03	7'00.164	1'44.172
2	2	Renault 5 Turbo '80	+0'04.616
3	3	Peugeot 206cc '01	+0'18.752
4	5	Peugeot 206 RC '03	+0'19.651
5	4	Peugeot 106 Rallye '03	+0'20.053
6	6	Peugeot 206 S16 '99	+0'20.621

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

After 2 hot laps, I qualified P1 with a 1'41.075, 4.151" quicker than P2, while using 4 bars of Nitrous.

Before the race begins, you can see the 5 Turbo slam into the wall. This widens the gap before we even start the race, and there really wasn't much trouble in defeating these chumps. The 5 Turbo would prove to be much more of a nuisance later on...

But other than keeping things steady through the turns, there's not much to the victory, and I finished with a full bottle. For a narrow street circuit like this one, it's simply a matter of starting P1 and keeping out of the Armco. The toughest part of this race was having to watch the replay 4 times to get the finishing gaps.

I ended the practice session with 5 miles, and ended the race with 12 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2212591086695807602

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 265 (22 DEC, YEAR 1): NEW Car Purchase

Renault Megane 2.0 16V '03 purchased.
Paint Color: Noir Nacre Dore

I've tested the Megane IDE, and using it didn't lead to much benefit over this one in terms of A-spec points from its OMR. I chose to buy and use a new Megane instead, although I'd have to wear it down to maximize the A-spec haul from the Megane Cup. In any case, it (as well as the IDE) can sweep the Tous France Championnat for 200 pointers, given the right lineup.

I'll be putting away the DB7 for now, but I'll be using it in its OMR, and I'll look into possibly using it for an endurance race to try to wear it down. I'd like to get as many 200 pointers completed as possible before I "settle for less", so I'm putting the car cover on for now.

The Megane will be used to acquire the Citroen 2CV Type A, my candidate for the Europe Classic Car League...

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 264 (21 DEC, YEAR 1): Prize Car Delivery

Prize car Jaguar E-Type Coupe '61 has been delivered.
Paint Color: Black

This car was awarded for winning the British GT Series event. It's a great entry for the classic car races, but since it's not eligible for any OMRs, I chose not to use it for this gamesave.

Here's what my Game Status screen looks like after this car was delivered:
http://gt4.mygt4diary.com/gamestatus.asp?d=265

Thanks for reading. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 263 (20 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / British GT Series / Race 5

Participated in British GT Series Battle 5 (Mid-Field Raceway). Champion.
Time: 1'22.951 Overall Champion

European Events: British GT Series: Mid-Field Raceway Reverse: 3 Laps
Settings: S2/S2; Chip, NA2 (426 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 30; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Carbon Driveshaft; Aids 001; 5 Ballast
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $12000, $45000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Coupe '00	4'17.684	1'22.951
2	2	TVR Tuscan Speed 6 '00	+0'00.513
3	3	TVR Tamora '02	+0'01.834
4	5	TVR T350C '03	+0'04.228
5	4	Lotus Esprit V8 SE '98	+0'04.920
6	6	Aston Martin DB9 Coupe '03	+0'09.489

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I qualified P1 with a 1'23.801, 2.061" quicker than P2.

The Speed 6 and the Tamora move past me off the launch, and I move into P2 after the Tamora on the inside to the first hairpin. I'm still P2 as we cross T2, but I manage to pull side-by-side with the Speed 6 as we're heading into Turn J.

I push it wide to the right, and scrub it against the Armco. The long straight, however, always offers them time to catch up, and I'm only up by 0.090" at the end of Lap 1.

I've got a little more than a 1 second lead at T2 of the Final Lap, but the Speed 6 nearly closes the gap entirely by the time we finish... with less than 5 seconds separating P1 to P5.

I ended the practice session with 139 miles, and ended the race with 146.7 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1060474409751979468

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 262 (19 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / British GT Series / Race 4

Participated in British GT Series Battle 4 (Infineon Racway - Sports Car Course). Champion.
Time: 1'43.895

European Events: British GT Series: Fuji Speedway 90's: 3 Laps
Settings: S2/S2; Chip, NA2 (426 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 30; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Carbon Driveshaft; Aids 001; 5 Ballast
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $12000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Coupe '00	5'16.215	1'43.895
2	2	TVR Tuscan Speed 6 '00	+0'08.784
3	3	Lotus Esprit V8 SE '98	+0'13.271
4	4	TVR Tamora '02	+0'14.279
5	5	TVR T350C '03	+0'18.669
6	6	Aston Martin DB9 Coupe '03	+0'20.423

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I qualified P1 with a 1'45.045, 6.733" quicker than P2.

With a rolling start, the opponents didn't have much of a chance. I'm ahead by more than 4 seconds to begin Lap 2, and cruised to an easy victory without using the bottle.

I ended the practice session with 126 miles, and ended the race with 134 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1809847939853484661

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 261 (18 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / British GT Series / Race 3

Participated in British GT Series Battle 3 (El Capitan). Champion.
Time: 1'55.165

European Events: British GT Series: El Capitan: 3 Laps
Settings: S2/S2; Chip, NA2 (426 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 30; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Carbon Driveshaft; Aids 001; 5 Ballast
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $12000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	1	Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Coupe '00	6'01.769	1'55.165
2	2	TVR Tuscan Speed 6 '00	+0'09.169
3	4	Lotus Esprit V8 SE '98	+0'14.619
4	5	TVR T350C '03	+0'17.625
5	6	Aston Martin DB9 Coupe '03	+0'21.725
6	3	TVR Tamora '02	+0'22.271

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I qualified P1 with a 1'59.921, 6.831" quicker than P1.

Another bad launch, and the Speed 6 and Esprit move past me within the first 5 seconds. The DB9 surprisingly edges it's way briefly into P3 as we enter Turn 2, but I move past it as we exit. I pass the Esprit as we're about to head into the tunnel, and finally take the lead at the top of the hill.

With a lead as big as it was, I decided to cross the finish line while pitting. This helps make sure that the opponents will have time to finish their race as the championship standings scroll across the screen.

I ended the practice session with 111 miles, and ended the race with 121 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6077684339723111293

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/

Day 260 (17 DEC, YEAR 1): European Events / British GT Series / Race 2

Participated in British GT Series Battle 2 (Fuji Speedway 90's). Champion.
Time: 1'39.506

European Events: British GT Series: Fuji Speedway 90's: 3 Laps
Settings: S2/S2; Chip, NA2 (426 SettingsHP); Nitrous @ 30; Triple-plate Clutch; Racing Flywheel; Carbon Driveshaft; Aids 001; 5 Ballast
A-spec points: 200
Prize: $12000

F	S	Car Name	Time (Gap)	Best
1	2	Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Coupe '00	4'59.414	1'39.506
2	1	TVR Tuscan Speed 6 '00	+0'06.032
3	4	TVR Tamora '02	+0'11.325
4	3	Lotus Esprit V8 SE '98	+0'12.901
5	5	TVR T350C '03	+0'18.995
6	6	Aston Martin DB9 Coupe '03	+0'22.340

Please refer to these track maps when looking up Turn numbers/names ** Special thanks to AMG @ GTPlanet.net for the hard work put in to generate them!!! **

I qualified P1 with a 1'42.330, 0.240" slower than P1.

The Speed 6 manages to start P1, but knowing how easy this race is when cutting the final chicane, I decided to continue anyway. However, the Esprit gets away with a great launch to move into P2, then the T350C passes to put me into P4. I punish the T350 for passing me, as I bash it into the junk at Turn 1.

I nudge the Esprit wide at Turn 5, and pass the Speed 6 while cutting through the chicane. From there, I cruise to an easy victory, even taking the remaining laps "normally"...

I ended the practice session with 97 miles, and ended the race with 105 miles on the odometer.

Here's a video of my run:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1392137437227757958

Thanks for reading. Thanks for watching. And Have A Great Drive!
RoadHazard
http://www.mygt4diary.com/