rec.autos.simulators

I'm plowing my way around Sears point whenever I have the chance,
and can't say I'm real pleased by my progress.  I'm looking for
setup and driving tips anyone would care to share.  I'm turning
1:49s right now when I can keep it on the track.

setup
    - i've cranked in -2.60 camber on the left; it seems to help;
    - i've increased the steering lock to 22 degrees.  I was having
        a hard time in traffic getting around both hairpins.

line tips
    - I'm finding I shift into 4th just before the sf/line, and
      need to lift before diving down to an inside line.  This seems
      way different than the AI cars, which turn in sharper and
      later than I am.  Opinions?

    - turn 2 -- in absence of the real berm, it seems advantageous to
      run almost into the grass here.

    - Turn 3 -- the AI's shoot to the right edge and then
      turn in sharply.  I don't ever seem to have that much grip,
      and prefer to take the entry straighter.

    - like turn 2, turn 4 at the top of the hill doesn't have a real
      berm, so it seems like a good idea to take this part-way into
      the grass.  The AIs don't do this, but it really lets you floor
      before you come over the top.

    - Carousel -- does anyone shift into 4th before the top of
      the hill and shift down under braking, or is it reasonable
      to have a tall eough 3rd that you just carry it over?  In N2
      it seems to work to defer braking until over the top.  In real
      life you seme to need to lift just before you get there
      to keep the nose down as you crest so the brakes have
      something to grab.

      there are three lines in this turn.  Many of the AIs start at
      the far right and dive down toward sthe apex, at least during
      practice.  During the race, everyone properly porotects the
      inside.  when I dir real-car-driving school there, the preferred
      line was basically dead-center, then dive down to the apex
      under the bridge.  

    - Turn 7.  where the hell is the braking point and the braking
      line?  Sometimes I get into the brakes before the 5 mark and
      still slide off the end.  Frustrating.

    - Esses -- any thoughts about*** the inside on the grass
      extensively?

    - Turn 10 -- I can't get through this at all reliably with any
      speed.  It seems like you ought to be able to touch the brakes
      in 4th and set the car on line, but every time i try that I'm
      sideways into the wall.  I can't believe you really need to
      brake heavily and shift down to 3rd.

    - Turn 11 -- seems like the braking point is just before the
      yellow pit lane line.  If I have any speed, waiting beyond there
      just takes me into the outside wall.

thanks,
-dB

--
"It's hard to find a black cat in a dark room.     | David Brower

go to http://www.ivga.com/pjfnas2.htm

Joe Farr has a top of the line setup and track guide.
When NRO starts I hope I don't have to race him
for a while.

heheheheh

--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Doug Maer
"Somebody's gonna wreck, let it be the other guy!"
See ya in the pits!!!!

I looked at Joe Farr's setup, and was amazed at how little rear weight
he runs here.  I run 1840 rear. I tried -2.50 camber for a while, but
lost a lot of time to squishyness in the esses.  I now run -2.30 both
sides. I run pretty soft shocks, 22 deg lock, and a pretty tall first
gear, so that the stack is closer ratio.
    I shift into 4th going down hill to the carousel.  On the virtual
track, I am fastest going into 7.  On the asphalt, fastest into 1.
My best so far is 1.39.3x..  I make up most of my time on the back side.
Being smooth and precise through the esses, so that you can get into top
gear as early as possible on the way to 10 works for me.  If I even
touch grass through there, I have blown the lap.

I looked at Joe Farr's setup, and was amazed at how little rear weight
he runs here.  I run 1840 rear. I tried -2.50 camber for a while, but
lost a lot of time to squishyness in the esses.  I now run -2.30 both
sides. I run pretty soft shocks, 22 deg lock, and a pretty tall first
gear, so that the stack is closer ratio.
    I shift into 4th going down hill to the carousel.  On the virtual
track, I am fastest going into 7.  On the asphalt, fastest into 1.
My best so far is 1.39.3x..  I make up mostof my time on the back side.
Being smooth and precise through the esses, so that you can get into top
gear as early as possible on the way to 10 works for me.  If I even
touch grass through there, I have blown the lap.

I looked at Joe Farr's setup, and was amazed at how little rear weight
he runs here.  I run 1840 rear. I tried -2.50 camber for a while, but
lost a lot of time to squishyness in the esses.  I now run -2.30 both
sides. I run pretty soft shocks, 22 deg lock, and a pretty tall first
gear, so that the stack is closer ratio.
    I shift into 4th going down hill to the carousel.  On the virtual
track, I am fastest going into 7.  On the asphalt, fastest into 1.
My best so far is 1.39.3x..  I make up mostof my time on the back side.
Being smooth and precise through the esses, so that you can get into top
gear as early as possible on the way to 10 works for me.  If I even
touch grass through there, I have blown the lap.