rec.autos.simulators

How do you go fast in GPL?

Randy Rig

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Randy Rig » Fri, 16 Jun 2000 04:00:00

Hi Eldred,

For me anyway, I have found the perfect practice routine to get my lap
times competitive quickly. In a matter of few hours practice I took my
bests at Monaco from 1:30.xx to 1:27.xx, Spa from 3:23.xx to 3:19.xx,
Silver from 1:30.xx to 1:28.xx. and the 'Ring from 9:00-ish to
8:30-ish.

After you know the track well enough that you can get around
reasonably consistently (as I assume you already can at all the
tracks) do this:

1. Go to http://www.racesimcentral.net/
is Lights Ot Racing's track guides. I believe all the ones I have gone
though are by Russ Hodgson and they are great.

2. Carefully read the guide, you may only get a few insights here that
you didn't already know, but hey, improving one corner can easily mean
one second in some cases.

3. Download the replay from the track guide. These are times which
mere mortals can get close to on a good lap so the comparisons to
yourself are much more meaningful than GH's who's is in another world.

4.Go out and make a replay with the best lap you can make.

5. Using Spygirl, merge your best replay with the one from the track
guide.

6. Launch GPL, sit back relax and watch the merged replay very
carefully, especially how he gets back on the gas at every apex (for
the most part). Slow in, fast out. Be sure to sync on spots in Spygirl
if he is much faster so that both cars can go though the corners
together and you can get a real feel of the difference between the
fast way thru and the slow way thru.

Repeat 4. 5. and 6., maybe go back and re-read the guide, perhaps try
the setup from the site (I find them to be wonderful -- not full of
understeer and not too twitchy, they four wheel drift under power
wonderfully) or play with your setup, whatever. Keep repeating until
you are happy with your times.

For me, this works so well it ought to be illegal -- please don't tell
anyone in my league about this :)

Randy


Eldre

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Eldre » Fri, 16 Jun 2000 04:00:00



>I think the hardest thing is to try and go faster gradually. You only
>need to go very slightly faster, maybe 1-2 mph on each corner to get a
>good improvement, especially at a long track like the Ring.

>I do think that everybody has a natural limit they will run up against
>though. Naturals like Gregor Huttu have a much higher limit than most
>other people. Its the same in all fields of sporting endeavour. Shouldn't
>stop us trying though.

>I've reached a wall at 8:19 on the Nurburgring in GPL. I've done
>countless laps between 8:19 and 8:23! Very frustrating.

>- Michael

I'd settle for an 8:23...
I ran three laps yesterday 9:33.xx, 9:48.xx, 9:43.  It was late, so I gave up
after that...

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL hcp. 2:12.80 minutes-GPLRank:329 and falling..

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Larry Hawe

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Larry Hawe » Fri, 16 Jun 2000 04:00:00

Steve,

MSFF split axis. Go to 'start', 'programs', 'Microsoft hardware', 'game
controllers', 'profile activator'. Once in the activator select the
profile you have created for GPL (or create one if you haven't) go to
'file', 'edit profile', and select 'settings'. Under pedal select
'separate' and you are done. Hope that helps

Larry



> writes
> >I put a squash ball under my lwff pedals but I think I'll have to make
> >the switch to my chpro's pretty soon. I think a new chair might help me
> >with the left foot braking idea. I use my left foot to balance while
> >I'm driving because my chair is an old spinny office type. Of course I
> >only know how to go slow and I'm not too good at that.

> Hmmm - I have a M$ sidewinder FF wheel. I've not tried using a squash
> ball yet, mainly because I can't find one! (I know I have some in the
> house somewhere - just not entirely sure exactly where!)

> I'll have to try it though - it seems to work for a lot of people.

> One thing I would like to try out is this 'split-axis' thing. Basically,
> I'd like to map my accelerator pedal to one axis, and my brake pedal to
> another, so I can use full travel on both, rather than having them both
> use the same axis.

> Anyone know if this is possible to do with the Sidewinder FF wheel? I've
> looked through my sidewinder profile thingy and can't see where it could
> be set. Anyone care to walk me through it, or tell me it's not possible
> with this wheel?

> I've been waiting for an FAQ to appear, as I guess this question must
> crop up often, but nothing so far - is there an FAQ for this group?

> --
> Steve

Vintoo

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Vintoo » Sat, 17 Jun 2000 04:00:00

How do you sync on spots in Spygirl??

Vintook


> Hi Eldred,

> For me anyway, I have found the perfect practice routine to get my lap
> times competitive quickly. In a matter of few hours practice I took my
> bests at Monaco from 1:30.xx to 1:27.xx, Spa from 3:23.xx to 3:19.xx,
> Silver from 1:30.xx to 1:28.xx. and the 'Ring from 9:00-ish to
> 8:30-ish.

> After you know the track well enough that you can get around
> reasonably consistently (as I assume you already can at all the
> tracks) do this:

> 1. Go to http://lightsoutracing.simplenet.com/trackguides/gpl/. This
> is Lights Ot Racing's track guides. I believe all the ones I have gone
> though are by Russ Hodgson and they are great.

> 2. Carefully read the guide, you may only get a few insights here that
> you didn't already know, but hey, improving one corner can easily mean
> one second in some cases.

> 3. Download the replay from the track guide. These are times which
> mere mortals can get close to on a good lap so the comparisons to
> yourself are much more meaningful than GH's who's is in another world.

> 4.Go out and make a replay with the best lap you can make.

> 5. Using Spygirl, merge your best replay with the one from the track
> guide.

> 6. Launch GPL, sit back relax and watch the merged replay very
> carefully, especially how he gets back on the gas at every apex (for
> the most part). Slow in, fast out. Be sure to sync on spots in Spygirl
> if he is much faster so that both cars can go though the corners
> together and you can get a real feel of the difference between the
> fast way thru and the slow way thru.

> Repeat 4. 5. and 6., maybe go back and re-read the guide, perhaps try
> the setup from the site (I find them to be wonderful -- not full of
> understeer and not too twitchy, they four wheel drift under power
> wonderfully) or play with your setup, whatever. Keep repeating until
> you are happy with your times.

> For me, this works so well it ought to be illegal -- please don't tell
> anyone in my league about this :)

> Randy


> >Me again, resident slowpoke.<g>
> >I ran some laps at Watkins Glen tonight.  15 in a Ferrari, 15 in a Lotus.
I
> >tried Greger's 1:03.22 Lotus setup.  I could only get down to 1:07.36.
> >Comments:first, every time I hit the brakes, the car wants to spin to the
> >right.  Second, the brakes seem to be an on/off switch.  Either the tires
are
> >squealing from lockup, or the car doesn't slow down enough.  Third, the
car
> >never seems to 'over-rev'.  Has anyone else noticed these issues?  I've
> >double(triple)-checked my controller callibration(both win95 & GPL),
because 2
> >and 3 sounded like controller issues.

> >And before anyone asks why I'd compare my laps to Greger - it's because
I'm
> >able to download both the lap replay AND the setup used to run it.  I
don't
> >think too many sites have 'mediocre' laps to download...<g>
> >So, how do I find those other 4 seconds?  Or even 2?

> >Eldred
> >--
> >Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
> >Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
> >GPL hcp. 2:12.80 minutes GPLRank:332 and falling..

> >Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats
you
> >with experience...
> >Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

David Butte

How do you go fast in GPL?

by David Butte » Sat, 17 Jun 2000 04:00:00


<snipped bit about handling>

I've tried that setup too - and it's *very* hard to control. I've got
my best time (1:05.47 in a race) using it, but I'm a lot more stable
with the default setup, a slightly more rearward brake balance, and one
click of oversteer. I can stay in the 1:06.xx bracket for lap after lap
with that.

Now that's a fantastic idea. Hotlap replays ordinary people could beat!

--
David.
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

Randy Rig

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Randy Rig » Sat, 17 Jun 2000 04:00:00

By running a lap around a track and raising your arm where you would
like spots to be. The obvious places are in the straights between
corners. Save this lap as a replay, that's really the only purpose of
this lap, take it easy around and raise your arm every so often. Then
open Spygirl, select that replay and push the extract spots button.
Spygirl will import the locations you raised your arm, let you rename
them if you want and save this data.

Now when you merge two replays, if you select "sync on spots", the
cars will re-sync as they go by those places on the track. It's a
wonderful utility!

Eldre

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Eldre » Sat, 17 Jun 2000 04:00:00



>> Repeat 4. 5. and 6., maybe go back and re-read the guide, perhaps try
>> the setup from the site (I find them to be wonderful -- not full of
>> understeer and not too twitchy, they four wheel drift under power
>> wonderfully) or play with your setup, whatever. Keep repeating until
>> you are happy with your times.

>> For me, this works so well it ought to be illegal -- please don't tell
>> anyone in my league about this :)

I've tried this, but I don't seem to get the same results as you do.  I'll try
again this weekend.

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL hcp. 1:45.49 minutes-GPLRank:342 as of 6/15/00

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Michael Youn

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Michael Youn » Sat, 17 Jun 2000 04:00:00


You're bottoming and locking the left front.

Definitely bottoming the fronts. Try 5" of static ride height and/or stiffer
springs and bars, and see if the squirreliness goes away. Then bring it back
down until you can almost manage it. Setting things down right on the bump
stops really simplifies car setup (or drives you nuts until you realize why
even big changes don't make any difference).

Split axis and left-foot braking also help. Don't stomp; roll on and off the
controls. One should be going up while the other is coming down.
Smoooooth...

Have you tried a Ferrari setup from the Eagle Woman?

Michael.

Don Scurlo

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Don Scurlo » Sun, 18 Jun 2000 04:00:00



clip Randy's secrets

So that's how you do it!!  Randy's in my league and is annoyingly quick (I find
anyone faster than me annoying) so I'm sure it's good advice. The replays he's
referring to by Russ Hodgson, who's GPLRank is -43.8, are very good studies.


>>Me again, resident slowpoke.<g>
>>I ran some laps at Watkins Glen tonight.  15 in a Ferrari, 15 in a Lotus.  I
>>tried Greger's 1:03.22 Lotus setup.  I could only get down to 1:07.36.
>>Comments:first, every time I hit the brakes, the car wants to spin to the
>>right.

I assume your spinning when braking at the end of the straight. For me the
braking zone here is in two sections. You break hard at your breaking point,
let up as the car gets light over the brow, then on again for a short bit as
your turning in. If you maintain hard breaking over the brow you will lock up
and spin.
And Eldred, I see you've managed to retake your rightful place at the bottom of
the GPLRank list by posting a F3 player.ini, very clever ;-)

--
Don Scurlock
Vancouver,B.C.
GPLRank -1.90

Come see how you rate, at the GPLRank site
http://gplrank.schuerkamp.de/

Eldre

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Eldre » Sun, 18 Jun 2000 04:00:00





>> Comments:first, every time I hit the brakes, the car wants to spin to the
>> right.

>You're bottoming and locking the left front.

Really?  I don't remember seeing the left front actually STOP turning.  I'll
have to check again.

I'm still using right-foot braking.  I haven't figured out how to use the left
yet.  It's currently an exercise in frustration.

Other than using a Cooper for my league, that's what I've used almost
exclusively for the past 8 or 9 months.  

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL hcp. 1:45.49 minutes-GPLRank:342 as of 6/15/00

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

MichaelJ

How do you go fast in GPL?

by MichaelJ » Tue, 20 Jun 2000 04:00:00





> >I think the hardest thing is to try and go faster gradually. You only
> >need to go very slightly faster, maybe 1-2 mph on each corner to get a
> >good improvement, especially at a long track like the Ring.

> >I do think that everybody has a natural limit they will run up against
> >though. Naturals like Gregor Huttu have a much higher limit than most
> >other people. Its the same in all fields of sporting endeavour. Shouldn't
> >stop us trying though.

> >I've reached a wall at 8:19 on the Nurburgring in GPL. I've done
> >countless laps between 8:19 and 8:23! Very frustrating.

> >- Michael

> I'd settle for an 8:23...
> I ran three laps yesterday 9:33.xx, 9:48.xx, 9:43.  It was late, so I gave up
> after that...

> Eldred
> --

That's the other thing about the Ring, sometimes you have to give up for
a while and try again later!

I just got 8:18.7! I've broken my 8:19 barrier:-)

- Michael

Eldre

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Eldre » Tue, 20 Jun 2000 04:00:00

I think my problem is that I just don't know the track well enough.  There are
several places where I'm tentative because I don't know what's next.  Other
spots I *think* I know, then get surprized by a blind curve...<AUGH>
I'd guess that I could probably get down to 9:10-9:15.  I don't see going much
lower...unless I become possessed with the spirit of Jim Clark...<g>

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL hcp. 1:35.98 minutes-GPLRank:378 as of 6/18/00

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Don Scurlo

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Don Scurlo » Tue, 20 Jun 2000 04:00:00



There's no question Eldred, if you don't know exactly where your
going at the Ring it's slowing you down. Just keep putting in the
laps, and you'll suddenly find yourself breaking the 9 minute
barrier.

--
Don Scurlock
Vancouver,B.C.
GPLRank -1.90

Come see how you rate, at the GPLRank site
http://newgplrank.schuerkamp.de/

Eldre

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Eldre » Tue, 20 Jun 2000 04:00:00


writes:

I'm probably doing at least 10-15 laps/week.  I don't know how long this is
gonna take.  I ran 3 laps yesterday, but lower my time... :(

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL hcp. 1:35.98 minutes-GPLRank:378 as of 6/18/00

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Don Scurlo

How do you go fast in GPL?

by Don Scurlo » Tue, 20 Jun 2000 04:00:00




>Scurlock) writes:
>>There's no question Eldred, if you don't know exactly where your
>>going at the Ring it's slowing you down. Just keep putting in the
>>laps, and you'll suddenly find yourself breaking the 9 minute
>>barrier.

>I'm probably doing at least 10-15 laps/week.  I don't know how long
>this is gonna take.  I ran 3 laps yesterday, but lower my time... :(

Progress seems to come in plateaus, and it can feel like your going
nowhere, but one day you "suddenly" have a break through. Something
that helped me at the Ring was watching world class replays and
realizing that there are a number of areas of the Ring that can be
considered straightaways, even though they aren't very straight. The
places where the fast guys get into top gear. Focusing on these areas
can have a bigger effect on lap times at your stage than working on
cornering speed.

Don Scurlock
Vancouver,B.C.
GPLRank -1.90

Come see how you rate, at the GPLRank site
http://newgplrank.schuerkamp.de/


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