Ferrari Dominates the British Grand Prix and Bandini Takes Championship Lead
Steve, the Ferrari team manager, orchestrated a near perfect race. Ferrari held first and second place throughout the event.
Despite starting in sixth postion, Brabham’s Denny Hulme charged through the pack and made a run at Team Ferrari, but Niki Lauda easily fended him off. Bandini finished first followed by Lauda and Hulme.
Ferrari Dominates Brand Hatch
Chamaco driver Vic Wilson’s car suffered a brake failure and he was not able to finish the race.
Season championship leader, Jack Brabham started dead last and was only able to finish in 9th place. As a result, Bandini gained the points lead in the driver’s championship.
Race results:
1st Steve (L. Bandini) 60/40/40/140/6** 2nd Steve (N. Lauda) 60/40/40/140/6 4th Den (D. Hulme) 60/40/40/140/6 5th Ray G. (R. Bucknum) 60/40/40/160/5 6th Terry (P. Hill) 60/40/40/140/6 7th Terry (D. Gurney) 60/40/40/140/6 8th Ray G. (R. Ginther) 60/40/40/160/5 9th Den (J. Brabham) 60/40/40/140/6 10th Jerry (B. Bondurant) 80/20/40/140/6 11th Mike (P. Arundel) 40/60/60/140/4 DNF Jerry (V. Wilson) 60/60/20/140/6
Series 9’s French grand prix was held at Reims, another fantastic circuit recreated for Speed Circuit by Steve.
Fourteen drivers started the race. Team Winkleman’s A. Rees held the pole position and shared the front row with Tyrell’s J. Ickx. Rees charged right from the start and held the lead for the first two laps, closely followed by Ickx. The rest of the pack exchanged positions throughout the race. Ickx passed Rees on the last lap to take the checkered flag. Farrari’s Bandini battled his way from 8th place on the starting grid to finish 3rd. Lotus’s P. Arundel placed 4th.
Reims 2019
Due to a brake failure Tyrell’s H. Hahne was not able to complete the race. Brabham driver D. Hulme finished the race in 3rd place, but was disqualified after the post race car inspection.
Steve’s Reims 2019: The Front Straight
Race results follow:
1st Travis (Jacky Ickx) 40/40/60/180/4** 2nd Dan (A. Rees) 80/40/40/160/4 3rd Steve (L. Bandini) 60/40/20/160/6 4th Mike (P. Arundel) 80/40/60/160/4 5th Ray G. (R. Ginther) 60/40/40/160/5 6th Steve (M. Parkes) 60/40/20/160/6 7th Den (J. Brabham) 60/40/40/160/5 8th Terry (D. Gurney) 60/40/40/160/5 9th Ray G. (R. Bucknum) 60/40/40/160/5 10th Terry (P. Hill) 60/40/40/160/5 11th Mike (J. Clark) 40/40/60/160/4 12th Dan (H. Hermmann) 60/40/40/160/5 DNF (Brakes) Travis (H. Hahne) 60/60/20/160/5 DQ Den (D. Hulme) 80/40/20/160/5
Belgium’s Gendenbien started on pole for the first race at Steve’s Spa circuit. Gendenbien maintained an early lead with team Honda in hot pursuit. Surtees looked strong, but faded. Team Brabham’s drivers worked in concert, slip streaming each other and conserving wear points. Jack Brabham slipped to the front and was the first to complete lap 1.
Lap one after the La Source.
During the second lap, Brabham, Gendenbien, and Ginther battled for first place staying ahead of the pack. Gendenbien and Ginther ran out of wear points before Brabham. Brabham secured the lead going down the back straight and won the race. Gendenbien was in position for second, but his brakes failed and his car stopped just short of the finish line. Ginther finished second followed by Bucknam.
Gendenbien falls just short of the finish line.
Race results follow:
1st Den (J. Brabham) 40/40/40/160/6*
2nd Ray G. (R. Ginther) 40/40/40/160/6
3rd Ray G. (R. Bucknum) 40/40/40/160/5
4th Den (D. Hulme) 60/40/40/160/5
5th Terry (P. Hill) 60/40/40/160/5
6th Terry (D. Gurney) 60/40/40/160/5
7th Steve (J. Surtees) 60/40/20/160/6
DNFSteve (Gendenbien) 60/40/20/160/6
Ferrari Dominates! Team McLaren Crashes Out! Team Chamaco, Bondurant and Wilson, secured the first row, but Ferrari driver Bandini, starting from the second row, quickly slipped by them. Chamaco’s manager, Jerry, singled to the team to close the door and they prevented Hulme from making a pass-through on the hill before the virage Massenet. As a result, Hulme spun-out, was overtaken the rest of the field, and never fully recovered. Meanwhile, Bandini never looked back and extended his lead.
Ferrari Driver Bandini Extends His Lead
Throughout the race, competition in the pack was brutal. Cars spread-out some going through the tunnel, but then clumped back together. Team Winkleman’s drivers steadily made their way through the fray. Rees started in 8th place and finished 4th. Herman started 5th and finished 2nd. While Winkleman was on its way to gained its first podium, McLaren met with double disaster.
McLaren and his partner, Bell, tried to claw their way up from 7th and 9th place on the starting grid. By the middle of lap 2, aggressive driving had left their rides in shambles. Both drivers pressed their luck and spun-out. They tempted fate once more and both crashed!
One of the McLaren’s Spin in the Chicane!
After the smoke cleared, Bandini finished 1st followed by Hermmann. Eagle driver Hill weaved his way through the debris to finish 3rd.
Race results follow:
1st Steve (L. Bandini) 60/40/40/140/6
2nd Dan (H. Hermmann) 60/40/40/140/6
3rd Terry (P. Hill) 60/40/40/140/6
4th Dan (A. Rees) 60/40/40/140/6
5th Den (J. Brabham) 80/40/40/140/6
6th Jerry (B. Bondurant) 80/20/40/140/6
7th Jerry (V. Wilson) 60/60/20/140/6
8th Terry (D. Gurney) 60/40/40/140/6
9th Den (D. Hulme) 60/40/40/140/5
10th Steve (J. Surtees) 60/40/40/140/6
CRS John H. (B. McLaren) 60/40/40/160/5
CRS John H. (Bell) 60/40/40/160/5
Honda and Brabham dominated this years Kyalami race. Ferrari driver Niki Lauda, frustrated by the slow pace of the race, made a bold move to insert himself into the lead position, but failed a pass through attempt and nearly wrecked his car in turn 7. Despite falling back and lacking wear and skill points, Lauda managed to finish the race in 3rd place.
Honda Leads Lap 1
Honda driver Richie Ginther and Brabham owner Jack Brabham stayed ahead of the pack and exchanged the number 1 and 2 positions throughout the race. Brabham secured the lead on the last lap and took the checkered flag. Ginther finished second followed by Lauda and Phil Hill.
Rookie team manager Dan made his debut heading the Winklemann Racing squad! Welcome to the Tabletop Racing Club.
Race results follow:
1st Den (J. Brabham) 60/40/40/160/5*
2nd Ray G. (R. Ginther) 80/40/40/160/5*
3rd Steve (N. Lauda) 60/40/20/160/6
4th Terry (P. Hill) 60/40/40/160/5
5th Den (D. Hulme) 60/40/40/160/5
6th Steve (L. Bandini) 60/40/20/160/6
7th Terry (D. Gurney) 60/40/40/160/5
8th Dan (A. Rees) 80/40/40/160/4
9th Ray G. (R. Bucknum) 40/40/40/160/5
10th Dan (H. Herrmann) 60/40/40/180/4
This year we will being holding Speed Circuit events exclusively. If we do hold an event using other racing games, then they will be for exhibition and not count toward the championship.
The points system has changed since last year. I tried to keep the spritit of the original Speed Circuit system while accounting for the larger number of drivers we typically have in a race. Points are granted as follows: 1st = Number of Cars +3; 2nd = Number of Cars +1; 3rd = Number of cars -2; 4th = Number of Cars -3, etc. Up to 14 cars, then 14+ = 1pt. DNF or Crash (CR) = 0pt. One bonus point is awarded for leading the first two laps of a three lap race or the first lap of a two lap race. Below is an example of the points system:
6 Cars
8 Cars
10 Cars
First Place
9
11
13
Second Place
7
9
11
Third Place
4
6
8
Fourth Place
3
5
7
Fifth Place
2
4
6
Sixth Place
1
3
5
Seventh Place
2
4
Eight Place
1
3
Ninth Place
2
Tenth Place
1
We will be paying homage to the drivers and teams of the 1966 Formula One season. Check the calendar for upcoming events.
In between official racing seasons, I like to introduce new racing games to our group. After announcing I planned to host a bicycle racing game, the group expressed a high level of skepticism. The hardened group of wargamers I play with barely tolerate our once a month excursions into racing games. But, bicycle racing…yikes!
On game night, I setup Flamme Rouge including its Peleton expansion; got odd stares from other folks at the game shop. Are those bicycles? Is that a French game? Are you serious?
We had had seven players. Two players had to share a team. By the end of the first stage all skepticism seemed to melt away. We finished a second stage and then everyone insisted we run a third. Everyone had fun and seemed impressed with the game.
The game mechanics are very simple to learn and provide a good balance of luck and strategy. Flamme Rouge may not be a bicycle racing sim like Racer One, but it is thematically spot on and very fun to play.
Miki Hakkinen plunged through pack to seize the lead on the first lap, but quickly burned through his wear and skill points. Miki eventually crashed out of the race crushing any hope of winning the championship. Phil Hill, Damon Hill, and John Watson fought for the lead.
Team Lotus put up a brilliant fight, but Phil Hill passed the start finish line first on the second and then on the final lap to win the race and secure 1st place in the championship. Lotus’ Watson finished 2nd in the championship ahead of Mclaren driver James Hunt. Ferrari driver Villeneuve finished 4th only 2 points behind Hunt.
McLaren won the manufacturer’s trophy followed by Lotus and Ferrari.
Race results:
1st Den (P. Hill)* 60/40/40/160/5
2nd Terry (D. Hill) 80/40/40/160/4
3rd Terry (J. Watson) 60/40/40/140/6
4th Steve (J. Villeneuve) 60/40/20/160/6
6th Steve (C. Regazonni) 60/40/20/160/6
7th Ray R. (J. Stewart) 60/60/40/160/4
8th Ray (K. Raikkonen) 60/40/40/160/4
9th Ray R. (AJ Foyt) 80/40/40/160/4
CRS Ray G. (M. Hakkinen)* 80/40/40/160/4
Six players showed for the two stage Rallyman game on 5 September 2018. Miki Hakkinen finished the first stage in 2 minutes and 47 seconds nearly a minute ahead of the nearest driver.
Rallyman Stage 1
During the second stage, several drivers lost control. Villeneuve finished with the best time, 2 minutes and 28 seconds, but not fast enough to win the overall rally. Hakkinen won the rally with a total time of 6 minutes and 22 seconds, 26 seconds ahead of Villeneuve.
Rallyman Stage 2
1st Ray G. (M. Hakkinen) 6:22
2nd Steve (J. Villeneuve) 6:48
3rd John H. (D. Gurney)* 7:04
4th Jerry (L. Hamilton) 7:06
5th Den (P. Hill) 7:39
DNF Bill (B. Marshman)
Full house as Monza, but only 2 of 3 Laps Completed.
We had planned on racing on Steve’s Monza track, but he called saying he was stuck in traffic. We delayed the start, but then he called again saying he would be really late and to start without him. We setup the old Monza circuit and were about to begin racing when Steve showed up. Instead of starting at 1800 we started after 1900. Monza is usually a quick race so we thought we had enough time to complete the scheduled 3 lap race–we were wrong.
A record 7 teams showed up for the race and 14 cars lined up on the starting grid. Dan Gurney held the pole position sharing the front row with A.J. Foyt and Watson. Gurney pushed his car to the limit, even hitting 200mph, and lead the first lap. A battle was happening behind him with multiple position changes. Hakkinen and P. Hill dueled for second. P. Hill held position behind Gurney going down the front, but slowed to conserve wear through the Curva Grande and was passed by Hakkinen.
During the second lap, Gurney continued to push and maintained his lead
Speed Circuit, Monza 2018 Finish!
while burning though all his wear and skill points. The pack was gaining on him. He cleared the last corner and entered the front straight with Hakkinen
right behind him followed by team McLaren and Ferrari. Both McLaren cars had a full laps worth of wear remaining. Then we ran out of time and had to end the race at the conclusion of lap 2. Gurney took the checkered flag in team Eagle’s first race of the season–congratulations John!
Here are the final results:
1st John H. (D. Gurney)* 80/60/20/180/4
2nd Ray G. (M. Hakkinen)** 80/60/40/160/4 (started 6th)
3rd Den (P. Hill) 60/40/20/160/6 (started 5th)
4th Den (J. Hunt) 60/40/20/160/6 (started 12th)
5th Steve (J. Villeneuve) 60/40/20/160/6 (started 9th)
6th Steve (C. Regazonni) 60/40/20/160/6 (started 14th)
7th Terry (J. Watson) 60/40/40/160/5 (started 3rd)
8th Bill (J. Hurtibise) 40/60/40/180/4 (started 4th)
9th Terry (D. Hill) 80/40/40/160/4 (started 11th)
10th Bill (B. Marshman) 60/60/40/160/4 (started 10th)
11th John H. (J. Fangio) 40/40/40/160/5 (started 13)
12th Ray (K. Raikkonen) 60/40/40/140/5 (started 8th)
13th Ray R. (AJ Foyt) 60/40/20/180/5 (started 2nd)
14th Ray R. (J. Stewart) 80/20/20/160/6 (started 9th)
On September 5th we plan to run a racing using the Rallyman game.
