rec.autos.simulators

I was wondering what everyones opinion is on how difficult it will be
to pass in GPL.  I seem to be having a tough enough time driving the
correct line, and I'm afraid to know what it will be like possibly
trying to pass someone on the outside of a turn.
  I've only been playing this sim since Wednesday and have so far gotten
a best lap of 1:10.87.  I know that is nowhere near what some people are
running, but my question is this.  I am able to run consistent 1:11's
for over an hour without spinning.  What kind of consistent lap times
are the rest of you running?
  I was also wondering at which RPM you guys think is the best to shift
the Lotus at?  I usually shift at 1000 rpm below TDC.  Does this seem
about right to you, or should I shift 1500-2000 below TDC.
  And last but not least, where do you like to have your steering set
at?  I like mine all the way over at linear, but it does seem a little
twitchy.
  Well, sorry about the long post, and thanks for the replys.

Eric

For 3 days worth of practice, your times are excellent. You should have no
trouble competing. I'm kind of curious what the internet races will be like.
I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of crash and burn racing. That's
not meant as a knock on anyone either. :-)

Dave
(DmndDave)

1:10.87 and you've only been playing simce Wednesday... I take back what
I said about passing on the outside... you'll likely be able to pass me
on the outside and make it stick every time. You don't want to know how
pathetic my lap times are compared to yours.

Trips

ha:) that laptime plus your consistency is very very good for
jsut 3 days. give yourself 50 hours in the***pit like those
really fast guys (some of them are probably over 100 hours by now)
and you will be right up there.
I'm at about the 45-50 hour mark or thereabouts, and my best is
a 1:07.36, but i still have so much more to learn! this game is
a game where it will take years before we get bored with it:)

um, not sure about anyone else, but if my concentration is "in"
i can lap at about 1:07.9 average for 20 laps or so before my
concentration fails and i start spinning. i have never figured out
how to race without spinning once my concentration fails even
when i slow down, so i can't give a average laptime for an hour's
consistent racing.
i expect some of those 1:06 guys could probably average under
1:07.5 very easily.

what's TDC ?
I shift at about 8500 rpm.

i use full linear too. don't like non-linear:)
but i just got a new digital gamecard so my steering is a lot more
precise than it was, except the gamecard doesn't read the wheel's
pot linearly (or even nonlinearly, it just reads it weird)

no it wasn't long;)

keep up the practice!
Grant.

They will be very competitive, believe me, they've practiced around 50 - 100
hours in the demo and has probably around 1000 hours in previous racing sims.
They'll be competitive for sure :o). They have probably no trouble at all
lapping forever in the 1:08's unless they fell asleep :o). I haven't tried, but
I think I and Grant can stay very long in the 1:09's. I was pretty consistent in
Grand Prix 2, which was harder to be consistent in than F1RS, IMO. My best race
ever in Grand Prix 2 was the Pacific race at www.lfrs.com 97/98 season. Ian Lake
(fast in GP2 and fast in GPL) was also in that race and beat me, we had very
similar qual time and best lap time, and both of us did very few mistakes in
that race if any :o). We both drove without any helps or aids whatsoever of
course. We got beaten by another no helps and no aids driver, though. He beat us
by 0.3 sec in qual and 1.5 sec in fastest lap.

/Christer, hope you're convinced that their 1:06's isn't luck, but instead an
incredible amount of talent and practice :o)

% I was wondering what everyones opinion is on how difficult it will be
% to pass in GPL.  I seem to be having a tough enough time driving the
% correct line, and I'm afraid to know what it will be like possibly
% trying to pass someone on the outside of a turn.

If we are talking about AI, that will depend on how well Papy programs
them.  If the AI will be programmed to race like mere mortals, they will
make mistakes from time to time and you will have your chance to pass.
The same goes for human drivers...  I assume you will need to drive near
perfect laps and wait for the opportunity to pass when it arises.
Hopefully Papy will program a little "nervousness" into the AI.  I don't
want them to roll over if I make a stab at a pass, but I sure want them
to start to "worry" each time.

The above scenario should make for a good "racing" *simulation*.  Once
we are able to setup our cars, I am sure they won't be as twitchy and
wild.  Then we should feel confident to try out-braking and a few off-line
passes (when the track allows).

<snip>

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

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

A few remarks:

1. The GPL-DEMO is shipped with a bad setup.

2. Tyre wear is not modelled in the DEMO.

3. You're doing great, 1.10 in such a short time.

So, in the final version you could setup the car to your own
driving style. This 1.06 laps is great for hotlapping, but in the race
you need a different driving style to preserve your tyres.

Remco

 -Juha

--

   I am predicting that both the computer and human opponents will be quite easy to pass!
:))))

TDC = Top Dead Centre.
Although how on earth he can see the timing mark on the main engine
pulley from the***pit, I'm ***ed if I know!

Eric

I think what he's getting at is the people that set their cars up so loose
are fine turning great laps until they are in traffic, then all hell breaks
loose.  I can't count how many fast drivers I've seen take each other out in
turns even on simple tracks like dega.  It's a nitemare to try and pass a
driver like this and a nitemare to be passed by one.  In rl, you'd never get
away with nor would a real driver try with half the setups these "super
fast" guys run.

I'm not saying there aren't guys who aren't fast without resorting to barely
controllable setups (I've seen quite a few), but I've seen plenty who are
only competitive by themselves. ;)

Smokin_D.

|/Christer, hope you're convinced that their 1:06's isn't luck, but instead
an
|incredible amount of talent and practice :o)
|
|
|> Thanks for the complement.  But I really would like to know what kind of
|> average lap times people are running.  I've seen some 1:06 replays, and
|> in my opinion, they are so loose, I don't see how they would be able to
|> run competivily unless they are in front.
|
|
|

Definitely true. Hotlapping and racing against real, or even computer
opponents, are two very different things. Some guys practice the perfect lap
so much, that when they are thrown into a real race, and have to use
different lines and speed, they are lost. I get a little bored hotlapping
after awhile. I have to get a top lap time fairly quickly. I'm not going to
spend 20, 30, 100 hours trying for the ultimate lap, get it, and then pat
myself on the back. If it takes me that long, I don't feel like I've
accomplished anything. There is no decision making required during
hotlapping after awhile. You have just memorized every action. The best part
of sim racing, for me, is internet races against the top drivers. That's
where the skill level is really tested. The e***ment and fun level goes
way up and the racing is more difficult and rewarding. Hotlapping and AI
races are far behind.

Some people have good talent, but just don't have the time to race as much
as they'd like. They seem to do well in internet races regardless. Then
there are the ones who are slow and have little chance of winning but have
the right spirit and are as fun to race as anyone.  :-)

Dave
(DmndDave)