rec.autos.simulators

by **Tom Pabs** » Wed, 17 Jul 2002 11:14:42

Guys.....

If you are struggling to learn to race at Sears Point....here's a "tool" you
have as a sim racer that real-world drivers don't have: Run it backwards!

Go into a "Testing Session"....run the track in the opposite direction.
You'll need to use a stop watch for your lap times....but that's not
unreasonable. Besides being a total blast of a track to run backwards (and
a completely different track than it is forwards)....you'll gain valuable
insight as to what the car wants.....at certain parts of the track because
of the elevation changes. You'll have a better "feel" for the track in all
places........and you'll have fun doing it. Get your backwards lap times
close to your forward lap times....and you find the later start to come
crashing down. When ever I'm trying to get myself prepared for an online
race at Sears....I always start with running a dozen laps or so
backwards......its perfect for getting my head into the track.

By the way, this works great at Watkins Glen too.

Have fun....give it a try.

TP

by **Dave Henri** » Wed, 17 Jul 2002 11:23:51

I'll just quickly add, don't do this ONLINE or the server will take
notice.

dh

by **Doug Hoo** » Wed, 17 Jul 2002 11:46:56

Sure Dave, take all the fun out of it.

killjoy :-)

> I'll just quickly add, don't do this ONLINE or the server will take
> notice.

> dh

> > Guys.....

> > If you are struggling to learn to race at Sears Point....here's a "tool"
> you
> > have as a sim racer that real-world drivers don't have: Run it
backwards!

> > Go into a "Testing Session"....run the track in the opposite direction.
> > You'll need to use a stop watch for your lap times....but that's not
> > unreasonable. Besides being a total blast of a track to run backwards
> (and
> > a completely different track than it is forwards)....you'll gain
valuable
> > insight as to what the car wants.....at certain parts of the track
because
> > of the elevation changes. You'll have a better "feel" for the track in
> all
> > places........and you'll have fun doing it. Get your backwards lap
times
> > close to your forward lap times....and you find the later start to come
> > crashing down. When ever I'm trying to get myself prepared for an
online
> > race at Sears....I always start with running a dozen laps or so
> > backwards......its perfect for getting my head into the track.

> > By the way, this works great at Watkins Glen too.

> > Have fun....give it a try.

> > TP

by **Uncle Feste** » Wed, 17 Jul 2002 12:41:42

> I'll just quickly add, don't do this ONLINE or the server will take
> notice.

*NOW* you tell me Dave! :-)

--

Fester

by **Scott B. Huste** » Wed, 17 Jul 2002 22:09:14

The last time I was facing backwards at Watkins Glen was not a pleasant
experience... and I wish I were 'only' sim racing at the time. ;)

--
Scott B. Husted
PA-Scott
ICQ# 4395450
http://www.Husted.cc

by **Alan Bernard** » Wed, 17 Jul 2002 23:46:59

Tom,

Would this work for 95 % of the tracks in N2002-- the ovals? :)

Alanb

by **Jan Verschuere** » Wed, 17 Jul 2002 23:59:21

Only if the game allows you to reverse the setup completely, IMO. Which I
don't think it does. It works on the roadcourses as we can make the car
symmetrical.

Jan.
=---

by **Tom Pabs** » Thu, 18 Jul 2002 00:57:29

That's true, Jan.....I didn't think about that. I have a "reversed" setup
for Sears......my forwards setup is not exactly symmetrical.....the
"reversed" one is. I forgot to mention that.

TP

by **Tom Pabs** » Thu, 18 Jul 2002 00:52:22

Duh!

Would somebody really have tried this?

TP

> I'll just quickly add, don't do this ONLINE or the server will take
> notice.

> dh

> > Guys.....

> > If you are struggling to learn to race at Sears Point....here's a "tool"
> you
> > have as a sim racer that real-world drivers don't have: Run it
backwards!

> > Go into a "Testing Session"....run the track in the opposite direction.
> > You'll need to use a stop watch for your lap times....but that's not
> > unreasonable. Besides being a total blast of a track to run backwards
> (and
> > a completely different track than it is forwards)....you'll gain
valuable
> > insight as to what the car wants.....at certain parts of the track
because
> > of the elevation changes. You'll have a better "feel" for the track in
> all
> > places........and you'll have fun doing it. Get your backwards lap
times
> > close to your forward lap times....and you find the later start to come
> > crashing down. When ever I'm trying to get myself prepared for an
online
> > race at Sears....I always start with running a dozen laps or so
> > backwards......its perfect for getting my head into the track.

> > By the way, this works great at Watkins Glen too.

> > Have fun....give it a try.

> > TP

by **Tom Pabs** » Thu, 18 Jul 2002 00:55:59

Alan...

Theoretically..."yes"....but on the ovals the car is less subject to being
upset by sudden elevation changes in the track......most of which require
responsive driver input to maintain speed and stability. The road courses
are difficult to get a feel for.......over the ovals, IMHO....for this
reason. Running in the opposite direction gives your minds-eye....a better
feel for the elevation changes at each important turn on the track. Try
it.....I think you'll see what I mean.

TP

> Tom,

> Would this work for 95 % of the tracks in N2002-- the ovals? :)

> Alanb

> > Guys.....

> > If you are struggling to learn to race at Sears Point....here's a "tool"
> you
> > have as a sim racer that real-world drivers don't have: Run it
backwards!

> > Go into a "Testing Session"....run the track in the opposite direction.
> > You'll need to use a stop watch for your lap times....but that's not
> > unreasonable. Besides being a total blast of a track to run backwards
> (and
> > a completely different track than it is forwards)....you'll gain
valuable
> > insight as to what the car wants.....at certain parts of the track
because
> > of the elevation changes. You'll have a better "feel" for the track in
> all
> > places........and you'll have fun doing it. Get your backwards lap
times
> > close to your forward lap times....and you find the later start to come
> > crashing down. When ever I'm trying to get myself prepared for an
online
> > race at Sears....I always start with running a dozen laps or so
> > backwards......its perfect for getting my head into the track.

> > By the way, this works great at Watkins Glen too.

> > Have fun....give it a try.

> > TP

by **Jim Morriso** » Thu, 18 Jul 2002 03:10:17

Tom, no offense but that is rediculous. How can driving the track backwards
improve your time when you drive it fowards? The only way to improve you lap
times is to practice. If you can't learn the track properly nothing will
help you...

by **Jan Verschuere** » Thu, 18 Jul 2002 03:37:19

Sometimes, from the***pit, you can get a wrong idea about certain turns.
Driving in the reverse sense can sometimes make you realise your error. For
example it can be difficult to "see through" a downhill turn. Driving it
uphill "familiarizes" the perspective and makes it easier to see it's
characteristics/pick out reference points. Try it with Malmedy in GPL,
you'll see what I mean.

Jan.
=---

by **Tom Pabs** » Thu, 18 Jul 2002 04:47:57

Jim...

There are many things that seem to defy "logic".....particularly in racing.
This is one of them.

Example: Driving forwards only, you don't see that there is actually a near
level plateau past the top of 3a....then the track drops off again....going
down to T-5. From forwards only, it looks like its a graduated drop from
T3a down to T5 (its not). With this knowledge, I now short shift going over
the top of 3a.....so I'm not under high rear torque when the car goes off
the second drop-off (causing wheel spin). That alone, took a quarter to a
half second off my lap times. I would have never seen that had I not driven
the track backwards. There's a couple of "discoveries" to be revealed in
the esses....by going backwards. Go have a look!

Try it.......then answer your own question.

TP

by **Tim** » Thu, 18 Jul 2002 05:28:28

rofl

--
Tim White
INTRAC Motorsports
www.birds-i-view.com/intrac

> Sure Dave, take all the fun out of it.

> killjoy :-)

> > I'll just quickly add, don't do this ONLINE or the server will take
> > notice.

> > dh

> > > Guys.....

> > > If you are struggling to learn to race at Sears Point....here's a
"tool"
> > you
> > > have as a sim racer that real-world drivers don't have: Run it
> backwards!

> > > Go into a "Testing Session"....run the track in the opposite
direction.
> > > You'll need to use a stop watch for your lap times....but that's not
> > > unreasonable. Besides being a total blast of a track to run backwards
> > (and
> > > a completely different track than it is forwards)....you'll gain
> valuable
> > > insight as to what the car wants.....at certain parts of the track
> because
> > > of the elevation changes. You'll have a better "feel" for the track
in
> > all
> > > places........and you'll have fun doing it. Get your backwards lap
> times
> > > close to your forward lap times....and you find the later start to
come
> > > crashing down. When ever I'm trying to get myself prepared for an
> online
> > > race at Sears....I always start with running a dozen laps or so
> > > backwards......its perfect for getting my head into the track.

> > > By the way, this works great at Watkins Glen too.

> > > Have fun....give it a try.

> > > TP

by **Alan Bernard** » Thu, 18 Jul 2002 05:59:04

Er... a joke maybe? :)

Alanb

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