rec.autos.simulators

I need to jump in here and clarify just a few things. First, if you will indulge me, I'd like to a share a portion of the NTT Pre-Race Advisory that every NTT driver in each of the three NTT divisions receives before every event.

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Driver's Code Of Conduct

NTT takes pride in the responsibility of its drivers. As a group they appreciate the fact that they have an opportunity to compete in a controlled, competitive environment. All those who participate are expected to be able to recognize the current limits of their ability and to drive within those limits, so as to insure a safe, competitive environment at all times. We place a premium on sportsmanship and require that every NTT driver conduct himself in a sportsmanlike manner. When in a race, this entails, among other things, yielding to lapping drivers in a safe, and reasonable manner. Drivers who drive in a unsportsmanlike or reckless manner may be penalized or relegated.

Drivers are also asked to refrain from treating their fellow competitors in a rude, abusive, or otherwise discourteous manner, and to refrain from the use of profane or vulgar language in the pits. In addition to many drivers finding such behavior simply inappropriate, please beware that family members of competitors, including young children, often enjoy watching the competition and that such conduct is inconsistent with the standard of good sportsmanship on which NTT is building its reputation.

Continued or flagrant abuse may result in the suspension or termination of competition privileges. We think you'll enjoy the difference these guidelines make in our racing environment.

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So I think you can see that NTT takes sportsmanship and driver responsibility very seriously. As the drivers are advised by this code of conduct, violations can result in deduction of points, relegation, or, in extreme cases, suspension of NTT competition privileges. Part of the reason for the creation of NTT was, in fact, to provide a competitive environment in which drivers do indeed "have something to lose" for irresponsible conduct.

The incidents that Mark described in initiating this thread will be reviewed and appropriate action will be taken. The very ability to do that is part of the reason that, on the contrary, NTT has quickly developed a reputation for consistently high quality fields and mature, competent drivers which bring serious praise from experienced veterans like Chris Cavin, who commented "This was the most courteous race I've ever been in" after one recent victory.

But some of the best news out of this thread is that Mark reconsidered, gave NTT Europe another chance tonight, and came away with two things: 1) satisfaction with what he found on closer examination, and 2) an improvement of over a full second in his personal best at Kyalami. I think he said that he "nailed that track!" Couldn't ask for a better ending!

Jack Rambo

--
Greger Huttu

--
Pat Dotson
IMPACT Motorsports
http://www.impactmotorsports.com/pd.html

Yeah, that nearly caught me out last night - I'd spun off and waited for
a lotus to go past before pulling onto the track, luckily I heard the
engine sound and managed to get off the track again and out of the way
of the Ferrari coming towards me (by that time I wasn't at a good angle
to see anything on track from my mirrors or from the***pit view). I
think it gave him a bit of a scare though!
--
Mike Buckley    
Cotswold Pig Development Co Ltd
Tel: 44 (0)1472 371591  Fax: 44 (0)1472 371208

WWW:    www.toastyhamster.freeserve.co.uk

"Passing fever". Also has something to do with the car ahead masking
some brake markers or even the corner ahead.

Still trying to get more consistency to one day try VROC...

-
"If the meaning of life was printed in a book, someone
 would use it to keep the window open."

I understand, but we are talking of different things. When you are following
the leader, then the car in front is a backmarker. I agree that Backmarkers
should make way as soon as they can without crashing. But if the car in
front is not a backmarker, but the race leader and he just came in front
because marty and you went off in first corner, you should respect (at least
a tiny little bit) his race position and overtake him sportsmanlike. But
then again, of course there's no such thing as a clear difference between a
legendary and a reckless passing maneuver (see e.g. zanardi - herta at
laguna seca 97).

Racing Pro-difficulty would perhaps encourage more responsible driving, but
would be too frustrating for many and after all this is about having fun! I
have never before seen such a fair and sportsmanlike bunch of drivers as
those who compete in NTT. I think it says something about the high level of
NTT Driving standards when a single lonely incident like this in 4 races
causes such a discussion.

Alex

Pat and I ran the the whole 24 lap race never more than one second apart. When I came
up to lap an Eagle, who in the previous NTT race had pressed me to go low and late
into T1 while lapping him the night before,
I expected to have to be aggressive to get around him quickly so Pat wouldn't get a
run on me.

I came out of the last turn before the kink leading onto the pit straight at Kyalami
close enough to the Eagle to have to decide whether to back off before the kink to
stay behind him and then probably have to fight him for T1 like the previous race, or
keep the pedal down to try to get around him before the kink. You guessed it, I went
for it. The Eagle kept the fast line on the left approaching the kink which is fine,
so I went right pulling a***.

Now comes the moment of truth for two drivers, side by side coming up to a flat out
4th gear turn that has a line that normally will only  permit one car to drift through
without leaving the pavement. The Eagle had two easy choices, having plenty of
opportunity to see me in his mirrors and hear me pull along side he could lift and let
me have the turn or not lift forcing me to lift and try to pass him later. Well,
running side by side I could hear he wasn't letting up. And now I was in a possition
were I was going to loose a lot of speed if I let up. And THAT could mean the race for
me as Pat was just waitng to take advantage of the situation. So I didn't lift. Not
expecting the Eagle to leave me room at the apex, I found myself cutting the turn on
the inside with all four wheels off the track bearly*** on to it as I slid back
on to the straight completing the pass. Everyone survived, but that's not a move I
want to do on a regular basis. On second thought ....... :-)

Thanks Pat for a great race. The best wins are the ones you have to work for.

Marty

Dave Ewing