The Perdition of Time

 

The first race of Racinnexus DTM Series is over and I feel sick. I crashed out on lap 2 and that was that. I was side by side with the league owner and mod maker in a flat-out right-hander sweep. I went over the kerb and we touched slightly; suddenly my car went into a slide and I didn't react properly and hit the wall. I lost the whole front body and the front right wheel. I made it back to the pits but there was too much damage for repairs so I had to retire. A DNF is not the best way to start a season.

I just can't figure out this DTM car. The car setup is weird to me; it doesn't seem to respond to changes as I'd expect. The increments to various settings are unusual, the differential preload is locked at 1 and the dampers (among other things) are a mystery. I can't help but think that everything is optimized to the league owner and mod maker's driving style. He was easily the fastest and won the race, despite not qualifying and starting from the back.

Now, I've got a week until the next race. I've got to find my balance and learn the track, Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain. Never raced at this venue before and I'm gonna need a thousand laps or so of practice I suppose. It doesn't help that I have things to do in the outside world. I am feeling a distinct lack of motivation for the coming event. 

Dream of Rad Duffer

Racinnexus DTM 2015 Series opening race is next week. 33 drivers registered, 12 races scheduled. I will be driving a BMW M3. Been doing some preseason testing the past two weeks. It hasn't been the best; I am struggling with the car and can't find my balance. I think I should just move all the weight to the back and try to drive it like a mid-engine car. About 2 seconds slower per lap compared to the fast guys. But at least I am not the slowest maybe. I expect to be in the top ten in the final standings.

I was also able to do a quick tour of all the tracks for SRO's Saleen Mustang Classics Series. I had a better time with the preseason testing of the Mustang. I find the car easier to drive that the DTM. It's like I feel the weight more or something. Maybe it's just because the Mustang is slower than the DTM. It could also be the series schedule; all street tracks. 7 races, each one a Death Star trench run except for Cleveland which is an airplane runway. I get so lost in the Cleveland race track.