Settling Into September...
- Kabort Motorsport
- Sep 15, 2023
- 8 min read
For two years in a row - I never expected the month of August to be as hectic as it turns out to be.
In both 2022 and 2023 August has thrown multiple curve-balls - I probably have to prepare for August 2024 already!
September started in very much the same fashion that August ended - absolute carnage.
31st August 2023
Evolution Sim Racing Finale - this marks my last running league - starting the second week of September - I wouldn't be racing in a single league.
Had I raced at Imola, I would have received a real-life trophy for participating in so many weeks in the league - but after dissapearing for a few weeks, I didn't feel like I earnt it and I was busy anyways.
The 31st August also marked the final day of the final month of the year that didn't end in BER (in English at least) - we're now in a BER triple-header to the end (of the year).
September 2023
I won't lie, September started off as a rough month - my contract at Tesco ending on the 1st September - essentially leaving me unemployed.
It was also a diabolical month for deaths.
4/09/2023 - Steve Harwell (Smash Mouth Lead Singer) ("All Star" artist)
6/09/2019 - Drew (Very Close Friend)
8/09/2022 - Her Majesty (The Queen)
8/09/1989 - Avicii's Birthday (Not death par se.)
11/09/2001 - 9/11 Tragedy.
14/09/1983 - Amy Winehouse's Birthday
15/09/2007 - Colin McRae
1/09/2023 - 4/09/2023
On the 1st September, 2023, it was both my 2-month anniversary of working at Tesco, whilst also my final shift at work.
After being offered a day's wages on the mainland, I decided to stay on the mainland over the weekend - Tesco couldn't fire me as it was my final shift - and firing me would be pointless.
After moving some furniture around, we'd have a BBQ on the 3rd September - some absolutely DIVINE food being cooked up.
I'd eventually head home on the 4th September.
5/09/2023 - A Grand Day Out...
On the 5th September - I organised to meet a friend in Portsmouth and explore the city with him - it had been at least 6 years since I saw him (bar one occasion) - so, being a massive motorsport fan like myself it was amazing to catch up after all these years - especially as so few make the effort to come down to Portsmouth/IOW.
Granted, he was in the area anyways - it was just lovely of him to think of me - and remember I was in the area.
We were absolutely blessed with the weather - it was pleasantly warm with not a cloud in sight. Initially, the plan was to take the hovercraft or foot-ferry over, but with plans slightly tweaked, I took the car to give me the option to drive elsewhere after seeing my friend.
We started off the day with a bite to eat in a delicious Bistro, next to the IOW-Portsmouth Ferry Port - I wasn't hugely hungry so I had a small Pizza, whilst my friend had a vegetarian burger.
It was just what we both needed to start off a big day.
We had one (main) item on the itinerary for the day - to go up the Spinnaker Tower - I had driven past it many times - but surprisingly had never been - even though it was my nearest landmark.
Despite being a little warm, the spectacular views were something to marvel at - although due to the heat, it was a rather swift trip up, look round, snap a few pictures and then returning down again.
My highlight was seeing an aircraft carrier docked up - seeing the flight-deck from afar, it still baffles me how quickly fighter jets can go from flight-speed to stationary.
It was also cool to see the glass-bottom of the observation deck, looking down at the ground below.
With nothing else planned - we decided to head to the sea-front/beach - which was very picturesque - and on our walk, we stumbled upon Southsea Castle.
Southsea Castle
TL: A regular cannon
TM: Lighthouse (being beside the sea, very important...)
TR: A traversing "64 Pounder Rifled Muzzle Loading Gun" - both ends rotating for ease of use (I imagine)
Bottom: Out of shot on the preview are the two different building styles/materials used in the construction of the building - the central building (right) was built by the Tudors (King Henry VIII - 1544), and the outer building/brick was constructed by the Victorians (Queen Victoria - 1814)
Being a former military base on the coast - the castle saw it's fair share of death and destruction - very little of the original building first built still remain.
Following this, my friend had to head off back home.
Sadly, Much of the coastline had been fenced off due to some construction work (the coastal defences were "at the end of their serviceable life" - and needed replacing)
Had we had more time - I would have liked to have walked down to South Parade Pier - although that was another couple minutes walk further from where we were - but it was a lovely catch-up, and I'm sure we both had a blast of a time.
After my friend left, I walked back to my car, got lost at Portsmouth Point (a peninsular/marina/boat-yard in Portsmouth before finding the right-turn I missed and found my car pretty quickly thereafter.
Whilst exploring the castle, my phone (battery) died - so I charged up my phone, returned to the castle, and quickly took pictures of everything I missed (not overly much).
Upon walking back to my friend's dad's car we passed a D-Day landing vessel on display/on dry land with some tanks aboard - due to the lack of time (and the fact we needed tickets) - we didn't get to have a gander, but with a recharged phone - I ventured in the "D-Day Story Museum".
Unfortunately, this was due to close in just over an hour (after I arrived) - so they recommended I only have a look at the landing vessel I passed earlier - it was very interesting and was mocked up to look like as it was on D-Day (albeit with fewer tanks).
Landing Craft Tank 7074 (LCT 7074)
(The last surviving Landing Craft Tank from D-Day)
(I missed the toilet...for obvious reasons - no, it was clean!
From here, I headed to see my other (friend) and we had Maccies and a natter (chat) before I headed back to the Isle Of Wight.
Week 13
Just after midnight on Tuesday 5th September, iRacing's Week 13 began.
Week 13 happens every 3 months and is when iRacing adds new content, features, updates and fixes big bugs.
Typically Tuesday is a "nothing" day - with the update usually rolling out on a Wednesday - and as luck would have it, it just so happened to be that very Wednesday.
The previous week, iRacing announced the new Ferrari 296 GT3 (Ferrari 488 GT3 successor) - and come Wednesday, it was released...
Well, it was released, but we all had to wait for the updates to download and iRacing to come out of maintenance mode (to allow us to race).
By about 9pm, iRacing had come online and the updates were downloaded. I was in mixed thoughts - I'd never usually race as late as 9pm - but since it was week 13 and everything goes out the window - and I had only a small window of opportunity to race the new Ferrari at Spa - I did so.
Put bluntly, Week 13 was a complete clusterfuck. Mostly my fault...partially being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In the first 4 races of Week 13, I qualified 14th. Now that's consistency!
Tuesday (W0) -
N/A (No Race)
Wednesday (Spa) (W1) | Thursday (Zandvoort) (W2)
During the first 2 races of Week 13 (Weds & Thurs) I've have to go for two different comeback drives after something chaotic or catastrophic happened on the opening laps (i.e crashing/spinning at both Spa and Zandvoort)
Friday (W3) - Road America
During race 3 at Road America, there was a start-line pile-up, I braked a little too late - went into the back of the car in front (him avoiding an accident ahead) and caused myself to have aero damage - and essentially went from 7th to 12th by the end of the race. (In real life, I had a driving lesson on this day)
Saturday (W4) - Ledenon
Things went from bad to worse at the following round at Ledenon as I got disqualified for driving with too much damage - although my steering was fine and I was 7th/8th up until I got DSQ'd - worst still - had I got DSQ a lap later, I would have probably made it to the end of the race.
Sunday (W5) - Chicago
Chicago was up next and I practiced hard - learning my braking points and the gears I was to use - and I told myself - the only way I'm going to improve is by waiting for everyone else to bin it...and you will never guess what I did on the 3rd lap. Bin it into the wall, and then miss the pit-entry at the end of the lap.
Monday (W6) - Okayama
As always with Week 13, the best things come to those who wait - and I had an insanely fun race at Okayama on Day 6/6 - finishing 6th from 4th on the grid.
Anniversaries
On Friday 8th September, 2020 (3 Years ago) the Chevrolet Corvette C8.R was released to iRacing as the final GTE added to the service - still to this day, it's my favourite GTE to drive.
On 7th September, 2021 (2 Years Ago) - we were gifted with the new Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo. On 5th September, 2017 (6 Years ago) Ferrari made their debut in iRacing with the original Ferrari 488 GT3.
Week 1, Season 4, 2023
September's surprises didn't end there either - I've got fairly confident at Bathurst in the Holden V8 Supercar - and I had an absolutely phenomenal start to the season, finishing 4th after starting 4th on the grid.
In real-life news, life has been quiet - my car has been making some weird noises under braking, so I've avoided going out as best as I can until I can get it sorted (car is booked in for work) - although with my driving test next week - Driving Lessons are imperative to attend.
12/09/2023
1 Year ago, on this day, I was informed that I had failed my course and could either re-do the entire year, or re-take just the modules I failed, and then in my final year would be pushed back to Sept. 2023 - June 2024.
I didn't want to cross this bridge again - and thought "I don't enjoy going up to members of the public and interviewing them" so took a year off - and only after 9 months got my first job.
2 months on, my contract ended - but Tesco did say apply for the position of a festive colleague. (yes, I know I'm walking straight into the same situation of temporary work - but after that season, I can look into moving out onto the mainland.
We're almost at mid-September - in less than a month, they are already recruiting festive colleagues - however, come the end of that contract, it will be at least 4 months before they start hiring/looking at hiring Summer colleagues again - meaning I can't just wait for them to start hiring summer colleagues and so on and so forth.
13/09/2023
On Wednesday 13th September, 2023 - I had an incredible start to the Season 4, 2023 season at Le Mans - an incredibly hectic race (I rather an all-GT4 split than top-split) finishing 4th, giving me my highest iRating of my iRacing career so far.
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