rec.autos.simulators

FASTRACE 97 - OFFICIAL STARTS

Don Wilsh

FASTRACE 97 - OFFICIAL STARTS

by Don Wilsh » Thu, 18 Sep 1997 04:00:00

******        FASTRACE 97 Offline racing league           ******

FASTRACE is a contest amongst the drivers on the INTERNET that
allows them to compete against each other.  The competition has
two parts - QUALIFYING and RACING.  The conditions and variables
are the same for all drivers.  FASTRACE is a plug-in software
module for PAPYRUS/SIERRA NASCAR 2 RACING SOFTWARE.  This software
was developed as this capability didnt exist within the NASCAR 2
software. FASTRACE is based on the Dave Martin's RACESET software
and we at the IVGA also use it for our FASTLAP 97, INL97 and BEATBILL
97 OFF-LINE RACING SOFTWARE.  Lets talk alittle about FASTRACE for
now and you can visit the IVGA http://www.ivga.com and check out the
other plug-in variants.

The Conditions for Qualifying and Racing are Fixed at 70 degrees, 0
Wind, No Pace Lap, Yellows Off and 22 Gallons of Gas.  We have 39
Drivers
where ever possible running against you on the track.   But you real
competition is the other OFF-LINE drivers that you are racing against.
The distance that we RACE is about 1 tank of fuel.  That is long enough
to give you a ranking when you combine your FASTLAP qualifying attempt
and you 40 to 100 laps of racing. Now its time to install the software
and show the other drivers what you have.

Thanks for your interest!

Don Wilshe, IVGA
Joe Farr, IVGA
Jim Janssen, IVGA
Dave Martin, IVL

Who can participate?

The FASTRACE97 offline league is open to all drivers that have
an IVGA number.  If you dont have an IVGA number, go to the
http://www.ivga.com and than go to MEMBERSHIP and request one or
E-mail to Don Wilshe <dwil...@ivga.com> with the following information:

Name:
City:
State:
Country:

We will than send you one.  If you are not sure if you have an IVGA
number you can go into the IVGA ROSTER of over 2947 Drivers and look!

What are the league rules?

This year-around season will consist of 18 tracks and you can run
the tracks as many times as you want in any order.  We have added for
fun both REDROCK and BULLRUN.  In the Fall we will add the tracks from
the NASCAR 2 Track Packs that will certainly add California and Texas.

Each race will take around 40 minutes to run, with Pace lap OFF, No
Yellow
flags ON, Damage ON (realistic), and Player breakdown OFF.

Note:  Why do we run with PACE LAP off and Yellow Flags Off.  Its
because
we have waited for 2 years for PAPYRUS to fix NASCAR to prevent
cheating,
They havent so we must!!!

The IVGA ranking for each track will be based on fastest race average
for
completed races.

Any driver who is penalized by the Raceset2 software will be scored
after
all non-penalized drivers.

RACE LENGTH - The race is about 1 tank of fuel and no pitting is
required.

RACE CONDITIONS - The conditions for FASTRACE are 70 degrees, 0 wind, 22

        gallons of gas and as many cars on the track as possible.

DUE DATES - There is no schedule and races can be submitted as many
times as
        you want!

RESULTS - The director needs the Qualifying (.ste)  and Final race
(.ste)
        standing files created by Raceset2 (.ste files), That is two
*.ste
        files.

THE RACE - This is you start FASTRACE97?

You can use one of the two .bat files included (FR97.BAT <nascar2.exe>
or
FR97R.BAT <rendition>)  or simply type as the DOS prompt:

raceset2 [nascar option] FASTRACE97.rps

The first time you run a race under the FASTRACE.RPS season, you will be

asked a few simply questions (name, organization, driver number).  Every

time after that, you will not be asked these questions.  You can enter
any
race orgainzation you want; IGN; NASS97; INL97; IVGA; Etc, but you must
enter your IVGA number.

RACESET2 will start up the main menu page that informs you of the track
and race settings.  At the bottom you will see your choices:

<P>  for Practice
<Q>  for Qualify
<R>  for Race
<S>  for Skip
<X>  for Exit

PRACTICE        Allows you to start Nascar and pratice without recording
any
                information.

QUALIFYING      Allows you to qualify your car.  THIS IS THE ONLY THING
YOU
                SHOULD DO!  There is a time limit for qualifying, so
qualify
                your car, save the standings, save the race, and exit
nascar.

VERY IMPORTANT!!  We have extended the qualifying times so make a note
of
them.  Even if the software says you have exceded the time limits of
RACESET
we at the IVGA have added some extra times.  Future versions of RACESET
will
correct.

These are the official time limits per track permitted by the IVGA for
FASTLAP 97 V1.05..  Don Wilshe

ATLANTA  130
BRISTOL  120
CHRLTTE  130
DARLINGT 120
DOVER    120
NWENGLND 130
MRTNSVIL 130
MICHIGAN 140
PHOENIX  125
POCONO   179
RICHMOND 130
ROCKING  120
SEARSPT  280
TALADEGA 235
WATGLEN  214
WILKES   130
REDROCK  TBD
BULLRUN  TBD

RACE            Race only appears if you have already qualified your
car.
                Run your race and save the final standings.  There is no

                time limit for the race, so pause the race if you need
to.
                NO RACE SAVES ALLOWED!  If you save the race in the
middle
                and return later to finish it, you will be penalized.

                *note*  Saving the race after qualifying will not
penalize
                you, but during the race will.

SKIP            Skip will allow you to skip a race as you can run them
in any
                order.

EXIT            Exit will bring you back to the DOS prompt.

=============================================================================

How do I run a race?

STEP 1 IS QUALIFYING!!!

        Make Sure you have loaded SMARTDRV, and Your DOS MOUSE Driver
        before you start FASTRACE..

1).     First, start Raceset2 with one of those batch commands.

2).     Hit 'Q' to qualify your car.  Nascar will start after Raceset2
creates
        the  settings.

3).     Go to CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON!! (not Quick race)
        Continue a season.

4).     There will be only one season, FASTRACE.  Pick FASTRACE.

5).     Choose RACE.

6).     `Go to QUALIFY and qualify your car.
        Save the standings.

7).     (** VERY IMPORTANT **) Hit Next Session so RACE appears.
        If you fail to do this, you will end up racing with your
qualifying
        setup. Leave track and answer 'YES' to save race.

8).     (** VERY IMPORTANT **) You must Exit Nascar after Qualifying!!

9).     If you qualified in the proper amount of time, you will be
allowed
        to race.  If you took too much time, you will need to qualify
again.

STEP 2 IS RACING!!!

        Make Sure you have loaded SMARTDRV, and Your DOS MOUSE Driver
        before you start FASTRACE..

1).     Now on the RACESET SCREEN Hit 'R' for Race.  Nascar will start
after
        Raceset2 creates the settings.

2).     Go to CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON again.

3).     Continue a season.  (FASTRACE)

4).     Choose RACE.

5).     The Race option should appear next.  Start race.

6).     (** VERY IMPORTANT **) Restore the Race and Proceed

7).     If you DNF, use 'accelerate time'. You might as well abort
        this attempt..

8).     (** VERY IMPORTANT **) Save final race standings.

9).     Exit Nascar.

If all goes well, you have completed your first race and Raceset2
informs
you of the next race.

Send the two new files with a .ste extention to the race director.  That

will be Don Wilshe at  dwil...@ivga.com.  Make sure you send both the
QUALIFYING and RACE RESULTS .ste files...  Thanks Don

===========================================================================

SUGGESTIONS FOR BEATING THE TIME LIMITS!!!!!

1).     SMARTDRV, You should always run it. I have a 32MB system so I
        usually run from the C Prompt SMARTDRV 8192 and enter.  If you
        have a 16MB System I would type in SMARTDRV 2048.  I have found
        that running SMARTDRV allows RACESET to run twice as fast.

2).     Always go straight to qual - there is no longer time to mess
with
        the car and if you do you will get a penalty.

3).     When you get to qual, select "Quick Qual" (I was waiting
before), This
        is not an OPTION it is a MUST DO!!!

4).     When it comes time to save files, just save a 1 letter name like
"Q"
        or "R".  Then write it down with the time when the program
exits.
        You can rename the file to the right format before sending it
in.

5).     Use the ESC and ENTER keys whenever possible.  The ESC key will
take
        you out of the program very quickly.  The ENTER key will get
your
        file saved quickly.

6).     When you select Qualify, grab the wheel and press the gas - it
will
        take off as soon as it gets there.

7).     I have gotten very good with the mouse, and can usually move it
        (while it is frozen) right where it needs to be next while the
        program is loading.  I think this helps too.

8).     I even changed my gear ratios for Michigan, because I hadn't
        optimized them for acceleration!  Hope this helps and good luck!

        From: Mr. Quickie <GG> esetser <eset...@concentric.net>

=========================================================================


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