rec.autos.simulators

1.  Invariably, some schmuck is gonna try to win the race on the first lap.  
REMEMBER:  There is more than one lap in the race!!  Those who charge to the
front going into turn 1 on cold tires will do nothing but wreck and take others
with them.  This can be injurious to your physical health if you live in
proximity to those you're wrecking.

2.  Sometimes, you just ain't gonna win.  Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Richard
Petty, et al didn't win every race...neither will you.  Don't get pissed, don't
cry...learn where you're weak and work on it.

3.  Race safely.  You gain nothing by swapping sheet metal except wasting your
money and that of the other racers.  Remember that you ARE penalized (in the
skill levels) for incidents.  Pretty soon, no one will race with you if you are
a level 1 except rookies, who will do unto you.

4.  Be polite (within reason).  Just because someone wrecks you out, don't go
off the deep end.  Yes, you'll be pissed.  But that other player may be
starting out just like you did (remember all the times YOU hit SHFT-R?).  OTOH,
if someone is a constant problem...don't race with them.  Check the standings
when you first enter a race to see who else is there, and if Jerkola is among
them, leave.  You won't get penalized on the skill levels until the race
starts.

5.  Pay attention to the damage settings.  If damage is set to "off" at
Bristol, you can be that you won't be dealing with serious racers.  Unless
you're looking for a demolition derby, don't go there.  

6.  THIS IS STILL A BETA PROGRAM!!!  DON'T get all pissed if it glitches, DON'T
throw a hissy fit if something isn't the way you think it should be.  DO
politely let the Papy staff know about glitches.  DO post intelligently about
things you think are wrong.  "This thing sucks!" is neither intelligent or
helpful.  It won't get better without intelligent input.

7. Enjoy yourself.  There are a lot of frustrations...but it goes away quickly
when you can race someone well.  Nobody ever climbed into a Winston Cup car
without first climbing out of many piles of sheet metal and/or broken cars.

8.  #1 above cannot be stressed enough.  Flying starts, overly agressive
drivers, jackasses lower the fun level for everyone.  Since you're always going
to have some of those jerks...don't play with them.

--
Dean Robb (WB: Raz1) (Hawaii Beta Tester)
PC-Easy
On-site computer services and consulting

Seriously, this same thing has happened four times for me at Talladega.  
Fortunately, I was only caught up in two of the wrecks.  People just need to
use a little restraint and good judgment.  Once people learn to settle down,
it will be a better experience for us all.  Perhaps if more people used the
pace lap option, this could be avoided (although this opens up the unfair
jumps that people try to get).

--
Eric T. Busch

Emory University

Exactly, spent my first month watching people pass me, I didn't give
up, learned the best lines to pass and how TO pass.  This thing takes
a lot of practice, it's a SIM, just like Falcon3, and nobody won that
one the first time out.

This is one of my biggest beefs.  Rubbing is a part of real Winston
Cup races.  BUT, this is not real.  The multiplayer service is a bunch
of guys sitting in front of monitors, breaking joysticks, wheels, or
God forbid... Keyboards... People do not have the situational
awareness nor can they feel the cars to be able to react properly to
someone giving them a "little tap".  Most of the time the tap ends up
spinning the tapee,  and some poor guy is out of a wreck because of
the over eagerness of another driver.  Remember, real Winston Cup
drivers get penalized for causing someone else to wreck.  The network
is the same way, and losing a point for every incident you cause is a
quick way to stay at 0.

Yep, the best way to gain respect is to be courteous.  If you***up
apologize, everyone is going to make mistakes sometimes, and chewing
them out isn't going to improve things a bit.

AMEN!!!!!!  The only time I even consider going to the short tracks is
if the people in it are people I know can hold a line.  Otherwise 9
outa 10 times it ends up being someones idea of bumper cars :(

Yep, things are CONSIDERABLY better than they have been, my hats off
to the Papy guys, they busted their rumps every week trying to fix our
little misgivings :)

Yep, the first time you take turns 3 and 4  3 wide at Darlington...and
no one wrecks...it brought tears to my eyes ;)

Yep, you won't let the kid back in the sandbox who's always kicking
sand in everyone's faces...same thing here.

 JMK3rd    hawaii beta tester        Jimmy Kehoe

9. Don't crash the party at a series race.

the following is a clip from a constructive intelligent post:

This next post is very helpful, also:

   Any suggestions from experienced Multi-testers is welcome here..

 Pacing safely takes practice and concentration

Ah, but this last post is neither intelligent nor constructive:  

        A couple of points I would like to add are:

        1. Learn how to draft! Races are won on the last lap last corner!

        2. If a faster car makes the move to go under you, let him go! Pick up his draft  
         and wait for your chance to line him up and pass him when its safe!  

        3. If drafting at Talledega, let the faster car stay in front! It works for both
           your benefits. Race each other on the last lap!

        4. If a car breaks away from the pack and you know you won't run him dowm in time
           work the draft. Don't duel with the other cars until you have caught him.

        5. Learn different grooves around the track, most have more than one! Leave the
           competition scratching their head by braking early when following them and then
           accelerate all the way through the turn. They might run in hard and be on the
           edge you'll blow by them.

        6. Let front runners through, blocking them only causes problems. Yes there is  
           a problem on some tracks maintaining your line and forcing them to go around
           you. Unfortunately Bristol must be treated with care, if you maintain line
           there with a slower car you will cause many accidents. Use your shift key after
           you have hit F2 to toggle back and forth, to find out how close others are. If
           you see a car coming up on you fast as the time diff goes down move over. There
           are people doing 135 laps at Bristol and your 125 laps will create problems.

        7. Most races are run at either 70 or 85 degrees on line! Have setups for both
           as the colder track does make a difference. Use your new multi.exe to practice
           with not the old nascar.exe. The physics model is different and in most cases
           more realistic. You can also use the modem multi-player mode to practice with
           friends who have it.

        8. Now I will get back to race starts! If you are going to run standing start
           races, make dam sure you have a setup that you have changed the gears to take
           advantage of it. If somebody is running gears setup to use in pace laps and
           they are on the pole, guess what happens! I have done it myself, not only
           going out early but taking others out with me. I have seen the best racer on
           line make this mistake(open race forgot to look) and he ended up losing at a
           track he dominates!

        9. Learn, how to run the pace lap, pay attention to the clock as it counts down
           on the start not the idle chatter. When you start to move, move over a little
           so the guy behind has a good view and if someone jumps too fast he can get out  
          of the way, plus see what the leader is doing. Don't scrub your tires, as has    
          been said it doesn't help.

        10.Anticipating the start can be very hazardous as well. As you will find
           out if you get into the Leagues further down the road. Passing will not be
           allowed in the first corner and in some cases the first lap. You will also find
           that some leagues will require single file pace car laps. Why, you ask? In the
           name of safe clean racing. Its expensive right now, so a little common sense can
           make it alot more gratifying by not taking out half the field on pace laps. You
           came on the service to race and thats what the ultimate goal should be!

        11.Finally, the worst for last! Forget the flying starts! Learn how to drive the
           and you won't need to! One individual justified it by stating he had to win at
           all costs regardless of the consequences. We had a 27 car field at Tally, he
           qualified 2nd, proceeded to drop to the back off the field. Not sure how far he
           was behind but when he passed  me at the start finish he had to be doing 190.
           The result 15 cars gone as a result of the accidents he caused. The restart
           was better he only eliminated 6 cars this time. I don't want to associated
           with this kind of driver. And doubt that anyone else would as well.
                Drive safe, drive clean, drive smart and lastly drive fast!

        Sorry, if I went on too long! Hope every one enjoys themselves as much as I have!
           See you at the track! Its the only game thats real!

          Pete(PReston)

 P.S. Thanks Papyrus for a great experience!

But if you are damaged, you aren't going fast enough to have a problem
in the dogleg, so please get out of the line.

Mike

Eldred Pickett

I am NOT paranoid.  And why are you always watching me?!?

        Pete