rec.autos.simulators

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The popularity of Ratbags Dirt Track Racing is surely going to grow.
And next year, we will have one (if not two) new dirt racing
simulations from Ratbag, and they too will be fun, challenging, and
demanding games to race competitively Online and Offline.

In light of the coming explosion of dirt racing popularity, it is
necessary now to establish a benchmark of driving competence, a 'Dirt
License', that will allow us here at LMPG to proceed with our contest
and competition plans knowing that we have qualified participants.

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And here's a description of the procedure:

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LMPG DTR License Test:

  Shawano Speedway, 3 laps Online, 'Proximity Control'.
Each driver must show that he can successfully maintain a close
distance (proximity) to the lead car (me) without undue contact or
lagging behind.

  At the start of the test I will move in front of the applicants car,
and he will seek to stay as close as he possibly can to my car over the
course of 3 laps (including the first lap, which officially begins on
the back shute of the first lap).

  I will drive a similar racing line throughout all laps in the test,
and it will be a racing line
that does not bring us close to the walls in the corners. I'll use
certain gearing and tach indicators to keep my speed steady throughout
all the tests.

  Light contact and occasional bumping is fine! I would prefer that you
stay CLOSE, and suffer the occasional light contact, than for drivers
to lag several car lengths behind.
Hard contact, at any time during the test (especially in the corners)
is very bad and will probably require a re-test   (anytime after 10
days have past).

  I will consider 1 to 2 car lengths to be the average acceptable
distance of proximity, with slightly more leeway allowed in the
corners. Remember that 1 to 2 car lengths is an average! Do not be
discouraged if you fall further behind for a few moments. Its the
average gap thats important, though of course, the closer you stay and
the longer you stay there the better.

Look for me Online from 5:30-7:00 pm Mountain Time to test.
(mail me if you need to set up a different time for yourself)

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Check the site for info on how to join up to the test server.

Congrats to Mark and the LMPG site -- I think this is a great idea
that's long overdue.  Now, instead of just applying to race in a
league, you're going to have to show a minimum level of competence in
order to be "licensend" to race -- and if you show too much
INcompetence during a race, I presume that license could be revoked or
suspended.

Mark's licensing program doesn't dictate that only the fastest can
race, it merely ensures that you will be racing against other COMPETENT
drivers -- which may preclude a few of the ultra-fast hotshoes who can
blow the rest of us away, yet still somehow can't manage to pull off a
clean pass without using "bulldozer" techniques.

Kudos for implementing this program, Mark.  See you online!

-- JB

Sent via Deja.com http://www.racesimcentral.net/
Before you buy.

  :) In fact, I drive the testing laps at a reduced speed. I do that
because*** the back end out makes it much harder for people to
stay close and directly behind. I'll tell you one thing though: I've
tested about 20 people since we started yesterday and by now its almost
instantly clear 'who can do what' with those racecars. Out of 20, 3 or
4 were excellent. 3 or 4 have to try again (couldnt stay close enough)
and the rest were average. The excellent drivers really *did* show
their DTR talent over the others, so at least I know the process is
valid. Give it a try! :)

MR
p.s. ok to pass me? try it son, and I'll make you look like that
character from the Peanuts cartoon...you know...the one who lives his
life from within a dirt cloud (get my meaning :)?  :)

Sent via Deja.com http://www.racesimcentral.net/
Before you buy.

How do you tell how close the qualifying car is to you? One thing sadly
missing from DTR is a "replay" feature. I'd really like to see what my
car is doing in the turns, but I only use the***pit view and it's
hard to tell exactly how far you're really*** it out. I suppose I
could go to the behind-car view, but I'm not sure that I could actually
drive it the same way in "cheater" view!

  Doug Gordon (DG89)

Sent via Deja.com http://www.racesimcentral.net/
Before you buy.

   Hi Doug Gordon,
Its really simple to tell how close they are, but like driving, its part
done by feel. I use the rear view mirror of course, but I *know* (its a
clear feeling in my gut) when the car behind is inside of say, 2 feet
from my rear contact area. In the same way, I always race using the
bumper view, and I have little problem knowing when I am within say 1
foot of the car ahead or the walls to my side etc. etc. even though I
cant see the front of my car...or ANY part of my car! :)  Its just a
personal thing, but know that its not 'guessing'. Its a sense about
distance I gained since Toca2, GP2 and before, because I only ever used
the front bumper view all this time. The rear view mirror is used to
see when people are too too far behind, and once they get within about
a car length or two my animal instincts kick in (self preservation? :)

MR

Sent via Deja.com http://www.racesimcentral.net/
Before you buy.

--mountain K

   Yeah, I've grown used to using sound cues.. and I finally got a
sound card that gives placement cues (so-called '3D sound' card), and
its just fantastic. One more thing: we are using the LMPG DTR License
thing to also get people to send in their personal car skin, its
a 'licensed drivers only thing'. They get their car showcased on the
site, but more important, other licensed drivers can download them and
then when we race together we can turn off the names above the cars and
still recognize each other by the paint jobs.

Theres a very good driver with a tiger skin paint job, and yesterday I
saw his car in online racing for the first time. Its really a great
thing to do.

MR

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

--mK

Thank You.
Brit
--
The Artist formerly known as the Mocker