rec.autos.simulators

I know it's just my setup, but...

Even though I can beat the AI cars on this track in total lap times,
they still blow by me at the end of the long straights.  Is this really
just my setup (too much drag)?  Or is this "just one of those sim
deals"?

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

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

#6 (will he be #28 in '97) & #94 in the *real* quest for the Cup
My home away from home... http://www.mindspring.com/~ntotoro/
______________________________________________________________________

i used to go 4 seconds a lap quicker then they would {100%} but their
straight line speed was greater than mine. I guess their cars are set
up to drive straight.

GAUNTLET

 >I know it's just my setup, but...
 >
 >Even though I can beat the AI cars on this track in total lap times,
 >they still blow by me at the end of the long straights.  Is this really
 >just my setup (too much drag)?  Or is this "just one of those sim
 >deals"?
 >

I experience this same thing.  I believe it's because the setup you're using
is turning horsepower into downforce, which IMHO, is probably more important
for this course.  Do you also notice how slow the AI cars are around the
corners?

Clark Archer
IVGA #3920

*************************

: Michael,
: I would guess that you have your wing angle too high.  You didn't say
: what it was, but my experience with AI cars at 100% is no more than 15%
: front, 14% rear.

I am not positive, but I really think part of the problem for the non-AI
drivers could relate to the "traction" bug.  If I reduce wing to get
better straight speed, I am racing on ice in the turns.  I have opted
for more down force to keep from doing too much agricultural racing :)

This is the setup I am using at the moment.
Fuel:            40  gallons            1st Gear: 11.90
Steering Lock:   11  degrees            2nd Gear:  9.40
Stagger:        -0.100  inches          3rd Gear:  8.20
                                        4th Gear:  7.00
Front Wing:     15.40                   5th Gear:  6.00
Rear Wing:      14.80                   6th Gear:  5.40

Boost Level:     0
Front Anti-Roll: 6
Rear Anti-Roll:  4
Brake Bias:      6

   TIRE         COMPOUND     PSI      CAMBER     SHOCK
 Right Front    Soft          35      -2.30       90%
 Right Rear     Soft          33      -1.20       85%
 Left Rear      Soft          37      -1.40       50%
 Left Front     Soft          35      -2.10       70%

I can out accelerate the AI coming out of the turns onto the straights,
but they eventually get even with me about a quarter of the way down the
straight.  By mid-way they are drawing ahead of me and blow right on by
around 3/4's down.  However, if I am lucky and got a good enough of a
jump coming onto the start/finish straight I can outbrake them coming
into the festival turns.

After the ICR2 patch comes out it will be interesting to see if I can
reduce the wings and still stay on the track.  As it is I can still
easily lose it if I am not careful.
--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

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

Too much downforce.... you go faster in corners, but slower on
straights. If a course is mostly straights where significant time
spent traveling at high speeds matters more for fast times, reduce
downforce.

You aren't late-apexing, instead you are trying to carry maximum
speed INTO the corner, instead of maximizing speed coming OUT of the
corners... meaning go a bit slower and deeper into the corner, then
do the turn-in, then start coming on the gas before you hit the late
apex... the earlier you can get into the gas (even starting from a
slower cornering speed) the more revs you build earlier, and the
more speed you can carry out of the corner and ALL THE WAY DOWN THE
STRAIGHTAWAY...  obviously, most important to late-apex on the turns
before straights, the longest straight the most significant. Don't
just try to hang on and go as fast as possible into the turn

Check your local public library for high-performance driving books,
better yet find your local Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and do
some Autocrossing/Gymkhana (parking lot racing around pylon courses,
against the clock only, in your street car, safe, but low speed is
relative and you would be amazed how much drifting you can do around
30mph or so on a tight course), so you can see what is fast and what
isn't. It's cheap, fun, and not a sim... it's called a real life!

--

I think it is drag. Remember that below a certain speed (50mph I think) your
wings do not have an effect. So after a certain point too much drag is not
good. Drag is only important in the 50+ Mhp curves.

Also, your gear ratio could be sooo high that it is taking too long to
accelerate.

just get used to driving with less wing, find some mechanical grip like the
real drivers.  I don't even run that much rear wing at detroit, I'm at
1:13s race pace.

Gregory Fung

Vancouver, B.C., Canada

About losing ground on the straight: it's inevitable with a fast AI setting,
but you should be easily able to outbrake them into the chicane.

Josh Beaulieu