This is probably your #1 problem:
"I'm using consistant in the sense that, the throttle is wide open, not
hitting guard rails, and trying to keep revs up as high as possible."
This is NOT the way to go fast on dirt. Unlike asphalt, you do not get
any payoff on dirt from keepign your throttle wide open and keeping the
revs up -- all you get is wheelspin, which does not necessarily
translate into speed (at least not directly). All you get is a lot of
sound and fury, and it SEEMS like you should be going fast as all get-
out, but you're not, and that's why everybody else leaves you in the
dust.
When DTR was in the beta test stage, I tried doing some head-to-head on
my home LAN with a friend who actually races sprint cars. He adapted
pretty quickly, but I had been playing around with DTR for several
weeks at that point, so I was already fairly quick, so he couldn't
really keep up very well. We were racing at Nock's Hill, and I lifted
off the throttle to slow down a bit, figuring that I'd just tool around
the track at 8/10ths or so to give him a chance to catch up. To my
surprise, I started lapping even FASTER, and even more surprising, out
of nowhere I set a new personal best time, even though I seemed to be
going more slowly (no wheelspin, lower revs, less sound and fury).
What was really happening is that I was actually getting hooked-up
better -- less wheelspin meant more traction, which translates DIRECTLY
into more speed. Plus, since everything seemed more sedate, I was
actually driving a little more smoothly, as opposed to my usual out-of-
control slide all the way around the track.
Later, I got involved with some DTR hotlaps competitions at the Late
Model Player's Guide site, and I found that smoothness is even more
important if you want to REALLY go fast in DTR. Setups matter, too. I
recommend you check out some of David Harrison's setups at the LMPG
site:
http://blitzsports.com/racing/Dirt/
Also, check out their "Dirt School" articles as well -- these are
invaluable for learning how to go fast in DTR.
To start with, though, remember that you have to get your rear tires
hooked up to put down the traction -- rather than flat-footing it all
the way around, start feathering the throttle through the turns, and
you should see your lap times start to improve immediately. And don't
forget to be smooth, above all else.
Hope this helps a bit.
- JB
> First off, obviously, I'm new to online racing, but everyone
> had to be new at one time, so please bear with me.
> After practicing a good bit on some tracks, and using supposedly
> good setups, I got fairly consistant on a couple of them.
> For the sake of explanation, I'm using consistant in the sense
> that, the throttle is wide open, not hitting guard rails, and
> trying to keep revs up as high as possible.
> I noted that if you hit the wall a little with the ass, you lose
> 3 tenths maybe. If you miss the corner a bit, you lose 3 tenths maybe
4.
> So what I'm asking is, if you get to the point where you are running
> a fairly smooth lap and there doesn't seem to be much left, where
> do you get the other second and a half, or two seconds?
> I expected that I would be last, beieve me, I'm not UNrealistic,
> but I just don't understand where I'm losing SO much speed?
> I did ask in one chat box, and they said practice.
> I DO understand practice makes you better. But what I'm asking is
> how do you knock off SO much time, when smaller mistakes only account
for
> 10ths?
> Are there certain 'lines' that are just that much quicker, even though
> the line you are taking, would seem to be the fastest?
> I do enjoy the game, and certainly don't mind practicing, but it's not
> a lot of fun getting tubed THAT bad.
> thanks for any help/
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