The Thread I Yap About Sim Racing In

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PK: Here we are in beautiful San Bernardino County, California for the 2nd annual Auto Club 400k Presented By Grillerz, the official sandwich of the Synergy Endurance Cup brought to you on the Top Hat Entertainment Network. I'm Page Kennylz and joining me in the booth today are Junior Jenkins and Radgar Grendel.

On the pole today Vinland's own AJ Grendel driving the green, number 13 Shred car; and if we look at the split between first and last in qualifying, the gap is barely over three-quarters of a second.

First, let's talk about Sebastien Loeb, who celebrated his second win of the season and his second on a superspeedway after a disappointing 40th at Interlagos.

JJ: He's beena real impressive on'a t'ose tracks hwere yhew justa'run flatout an' dey're quida change from t'h rally stages like'a y'all 'eard 'im in'da pre-race.

But y'all know hwo's really 'ad'a stellar season so far? It's Jean Girard, 'e's had'a two t'ird place finishes an'a second an' has got 'imself'a solid points lead. Takumi Fujiwara and Cosicia Franco also 'ada real consistent, solid finishes...

RG: ...and when we look at the manufacturers points we see it's pretty much anyone's game so far.

You know it's interesting how many of the guys with oval racing backrounds have failed to dominate this series as much as many predicted. These cars do run a fair bit different than the stock cars when they run the tappered spacers, in terms of power band and just overall, they weigh about two-thirds and make a lot of power in the top end than the stock cars. This is the first oval track this season where they normally run the stock cars with the full power package. That might make this race feel a little more familiar for those drivers.

JJ: 560 HP in a car t'ada weighs 2400 lbs wid'a more grip and more downforce and t'ey seem to be pretty tame in dir'y air.

T'e increased downforce seems to lead to a bit more bobbing up and down, or porposing as it's sometimes called; teams have managed to dial a lot of t'at out compared to t'e 500 of'da South though. T'is track isn't quide'as fast as Ricardo Roberto or Daytona, buta'we still saw cars getting up over - hwat was it - 320 kilometres per hour? 200 miles anyway ina quahlifyin'.

PK: And they're coming around to the green flag.

Race Control: GREEN-GREEN-GREEN


PK: And we're underway for the Auto Club 400k Presented By Grillerz.

JJ: Justa listen ta'dem tings - sound like'a swarm o'bees ina tin can.

RG: That's nearly 11 thousand RPM - well into sports bike territory - these things just absolutely scream.

JJ: An'dey giggle and pop eve'ytime t'e driver lets offa t'e gas. It's dif'rent t'en t'e V8s but ima startin' to enjoy it.

It's like t'ada cereal commercial 'but it's not oatmeal' only 'but it's not stock cars' ...but it donta mean I'm not enjoyin' it plenty. T'ada standin' start for Interlago sure was somet'ing widda all them pops an'a bangs from'da anti-lag.

...

JJ: It'a looks like Grendel's had a bituva slow firs' pitstop an' now he's back all the way in 14th.

RG: That's a shame, those Bad Luck/Gamma Racing Hondas were so impressive in qualifying and practice.


PK: Meanwhile Jean Girard is into the first position.

JJ: Nowa let's see if he'll adda win t'his runa podium finishes.

...

PK: Rob Kelser to the pits.

RG: You know, he was complaining about a vibration earlier and remember, with these single lug wheels if it's loose there's no margin like a traditional 5-lug pattern provides.

JJ: An'da last t'ing you wan'at 200 miles per hour is t'hava hweel decide to file for divorce. T'ada sure will ruin yah day
right quick.
...

PK: Beck has gotten around Girard again.

RG: Girard has had an incredible season so far.

...

PK: Oh, we've got contact between Maggiacomo and AJ Grendel, Grendel goes down into the grass, back across the track and tags the wall but it doesn't seem too serious. No caution so far. He's got it back in the right direction but loses 8 positions, falling to 17th.


...

JJ: An'a now here'a comes Matt Beck challengin' Girard fur'a t'e lead.

PK: And he's past. The TRD Corolla of Matt Beck has taken the lead from the number 55 Perrier Chevrolet of Jean Girard.

JJ: Can you repeat t'at? My French ain't so good.




PK: Twenty-two laps to go and Grendel has just set the fastest lap of the race.

...

PK: Six laps remaining; Grendel has closed from 17th up to 6th. Girard back to the lead.



...

RG: Looks like my nephew figured out he can use the apron to pass on the front stretch. He's upta third right now.

JJ: I dunno if he's gotta enough time to catch Beck an' Girard, t'ey're both still a good six seconds ahead.

...

PK: Six laps to go and Girard to the pits, Maria Lopez and Franco follow. Grendel has caught Beck.

...
PK: Four laps to go Grendel passes Beck only for Beck to pull into the pits.

JJ: T'ey tooka gamble whena t'ey stopped shy of lap 84. T'ese fuel tanks only 'old 'bouta'nuff for 45 laps o' so.

...

PK: White flag is out, one lap to go. Brazil's Carlos Bueno follows the Vinlander AJ Grendel, the gap is about three-tenths of a second. Honda vs. Honda.

JJ: Itsa Civic War for t'e lead righta now.

PK: Checkered flag is out as they come out of turn four. Less than a quarter of a second between these two Hondas.

RG: I bet he's so excited he's shaking right now.

PK: Grendel holds off Bueno to the line to take the checkered flag at the Auto Club 400k Presented By Grillerz.

AJG: WE DID IT! THAT'S ANOTHER ONE!

JJ: Aw'hellna, Roger ain'ta gonna like 'im tearin' t'e grass all up lik'a t'at.

PK: Honda 1,2 and Erik Tviet's Lojack Renault takes his first podium of the season. Fernandez fourth, Fujiwara fifth.

JJ: T'adsa'nother solid finish for Fujiwara. I'jus' shows 'ow muchuva difference a good pit strategy can make, t'em two Toyoders should be usin' t'e same 'mounda gas.

PK: And we go live to victory road.

The lines "Justa listen ta'dem tings - sound like'a swarm o'bees ina tin can."

and "Itsa Civic War for t'e lead righta now." both made me laugh. This was fun to read. Thank you

Thank you.
The next round is at Riverside. I'll try to do the race either tonight or tomorrow.

The points format is: 35 for first, 32 for second, 30 for third, 28 for fourth, each position lower than fourth receives one fewer point (27 for fifth, 26 for sixth, etc); every driver that finishes receives at least 1 point; DNFs receive zero points.

─=Riverside 200=─