Turin Circuit - Parco Valentino - Torino, Italy (1937)

This particular race was run in 1937. I used the proper Formula 1 Era chart provided in the Motorsport game. I have substituted myself and a few of my friends for the actual race drivers. A report of the real race can be found here at The Golden Era of Motor Racing website. Additional information on the history of this circuit can be found here.

Laps: 60
Total Distance: 109 miles

The race is broken up into gameplay sections: A Start Section and 6 separate race sections.
For this race of 60 laps, each section will count for 10 race laps.

Comments will be written about events that occur within each race section. Not all important race events will be commented on so it is important to pay attention to the Driver Position Chart for each section to track the performance and position of each driver.

Starting Grid
1. Mike          2. Billy        3. Everett 
4. Chris        5. Alex        6. Buddy
7. Dave        8. JP             9. Brian

Start
Chris grabs the best start and zips into the Lead.
JP struggles off the line and allows Brian to pass him.

1. Chris    2. Mike       3. Everett
4. Billy    5. Buddy    6. Alex
7. Dave   8. Brian      9. JP

Laps 1-10
Alex drives well but Buddy still stays ahead of him.
Billy gets around Everett and claims the 3rd spot.
Chris continues his momentum from his good start and maintains the Lead.

1. Chris       2. Mike    3. Billy
​4. Everett  5. Buddy  6. Alex
7. Dave      8. Brian    9. JP

Laps 11-20
Brian has a good set of laps and gets around both Dave and Alex to move from 8th place into 6th place. 
Chris continues to drive well but Mike’s car seems to have a little more oomph - Mike moves into the Lead.

1. Mike          2. Chris         3. Billy
4. Everett    5. Buddy       6. Brian
7. Alex         8. Dave         9. JP

Laps 21-30
Dave has a solid session, passing Alex, Brian and Buddy to move up from 8th place into 5th place.
​Chris has been pushing his car from the start and it finally gives in - he is forced into the Pits and comes back out on the track but at the high cost of being lapped twice by every other driver.

1. Mike        2. Billy      3. Everett
4. Buddy    5. Dave    6. Brian
7. JP            8. Alex      9. Chris (2)

Laps 31-40
Chris, though back out on the track, is in a car that just can’t perform - he falls behind another lap.
Everett also is in a car that is beginning to feel the strain but is able to hold on to 3rd place.
Buddy loses control coming out of the third turn and spins completely around - by the time he recovers he has fallen from 4th place down to 8th place.
Mike is not quite as solid in this section of the race and Billy takes advantage - Billy moves into the Lead.

1. Billy       2. Mike      3. Everett
4. Dave    5. JP           6. Brian
7. Alex     8. Buddy    9. Chris (3)

Laps 41-50
Buddy’s car is feeling the effects of the spinout and he falls one lap down but remains in 8th place.
JP has also driven well and has climbed into 5th place.
Dave has continued to drive a good race and has worked his way up to 4th place.
Billy’s car begins to not perform at peak efficiency and Mike moves into the Lead.

1. Mike      2. Billy         3. Everett
4. Dave    5. JP             6. Brian
7. Alex    8. Buddy (1)  9. Chris (3)

Laps 51-60
Buddy’s car continues to lose horsepower but he stays within one lap of the field.
JP and Everett are nose-to-nose on the final lap - with JP crossing the Finish Line in 4th place. 
Dave and Billy also battle during the final lap - with Dave edging Billy at the Finish Line for 2nd place.
Mike crosses the Finish Line first  - and wins the race!

Finish
1. Mike    2. Dave          3. Billy
4. JP        5. Everett       6. Brian
7. Alex    8. Buddy (1)   9. Chris (4)

​The Alfa Romeo 12C-36 driven by Mike and a few other racers in the event. (Image from here.)

This is the first game of Motorsport I have played in a few months. This is an elegant game in its design and play. It is simple to play out. The largest time investment needed is in the set-up phase when writing out the Race Control Sheet where the race/events are tracked. For a game that is really more recorded than "played" out, a lot of narrative comes through and the story of the race unfolds very well - it was a lot of fun to picture myself and my friend zipping around the Turin Circuit in circa 1937 race cars.

When looking at the final finishing spots, it's a surprise to see Dave in 2nd place and JP in 4th place. Dave started 7th and JP 8th. Looking over the Race Control Sheet, neither Dave or JP had any trouble during the race - that clearly seemed to aid them in reaching their finishing positions. Mike started the race in the pole position and slipped down to 2nd spot a few times during the race, but also did not suffer any major problems and that obviously proved helpful.

I will use this as a warm-up race and look to expand the field for the next go 'round - maybe even begin a short season of sorts.