rec.autos.simulators

Haven't played too much with the new patch, but here are a couple of
things that I haven't seen mentioned:

1)  From the readme10.txt file:
"If the patch is run on a Minimum Installation of NASCAR Racing 2, there
are four track files that will not get updated.  One relates to fixing
the pitting problems at Atlanta, and the other three of these relate
only to 4-bit rendition graphics."

The patch only updates 3 tracks (Atlanta, night race C***te, and day
race Bristol).  Did they forget to include the night race Bristol?  Or
did they forget to include a fix for Martinsville?

If you are using the minimum install, you only need to copy the *.dat
files from the CD-ROM for the following TRACKS dirs:
        Atlanta
        Bristol
        NChrltte

2)  The save game feature seems to work pretty good.  It remembered the
setup changes that I setup for the next pit stop.  However, the tire
temps are only kept for the Inside tire temps only.  Here is an example:

Pre-Saved tire temps:
        LF              RF
        145 148 148     179 187 178

        LR              RR
        159 163 159     185 193 185

Restored tire temps:
        LF              RF
        121 121 147     176 121 119                    

        LR              RR
        122 123 159     182 122 120

Note:  This is from Talladega with over-inflated tires (60 lbs.).

This really shouldn't cause too big of a deal as long as one only saves
during cautions or after pulling into the pits.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

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Okay, have spent a little more time with the patch.  I am not trying to
break, but enjoy it.  Since Talledga is coming up I thought I would try
this one out (also because some people are mentioning problems with
steering jerking to the right).  Didn't have any trouble with the
steering (other than the "loose nut behind the wheel").

Coming out of turn 4, the spotter warns me of a spin in the Tri-Oval.
"Go Low", he advises.  So I start riding the apron, letting up just a
little on the throttle as the yellow hasn't come out.  The problem with
Dega is that it stretches so far out in the distance it's really hard to
see anything, until you are right on it.  Anyway, the yellow is finally
out, but I still have to race to the line.  I guess I am in the right
"groove", as the spotter is telling me to "Hold your line".  Finally I
see the wrecked car whip by the left, when the spotter starts telling me
to "go high".  (Oh, no my inner voice says, not the endless "go high",
"go low" spotter loop! --  Well, they didn't address it in the
"readme.txt" for the patch so, here we go again!).  But, as a good
driver should, I listen to the spotter and start to drift out towards
the wall, when he says, "Hold your line".  Sure enough, I end up
threading the needle through a pile up.  God knows, what would have
happened if the spotter wasn't on his toes and especially if he hadn't
told me to "hold my line".  As I had only gotten to the middle of the
track and was planning on going out to the wall.

The m***of the story:  Thank you Papyrus, this was a welcome relief
and surprise.

Also, it seems that some of you may have gotten your wish.  It seems
that the AI guys are out to catch themselves up in alot more wrecks than
before the patch.  In the incident above, the second "wreck" further
down the track was caused by a driver that just brushed the first car as
it slid back across the track.  Since this happened at speed, he got
turned around as he lost control and started sliding backwards up the
track, only to catch a few more guys that thought they had made it
through the first incident.  Also 4-5 drivers got caught up in the first
wreck as they were "racing back to the yellow".  Something similar
happened in an earlier test with the patch at Talledga.  Jeff Gordon
just flew right into a "blocked" track by a "gaggle" of broken cars.  
Most of the drivers had already checked up or even had to "stop" because
of the "road block", but not JG, he came flying in like a kamikaze
pilot.  I wonder if the "agression" setting has this much influence on a
driver's "recklessness" while racing back to the line under yellow?

Anyway, I know that this "foolishness" had been addressed in the
pre-race drivers' meeting.  But as we all know, once the green drops
portions of the brain begin to shut down.

Again, thanks Papy for the work done in the 1st patch.  Hope to see some
of the minor nigglies taken care of soon in an upcoming patch.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=