rec.autos.simulators

Just wondering, does anyone know how the tracks are programmed in the
Nascar or Indycar programmes. I mean is there a way of making our own
tracks and such???

 I would #love# to have the tracks we race in to be able to practise
on them even before the season has started!!

 Of course, this brings up the other question...is there a way of changing
the car data on either of these games, you know, power, grip, etc...?

                           Pleeeeeeease help me!!!
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no.

Yes!! In NASCAR, make a copy of your car set(don't use the originals!). Use a
text editor to view the drivers.txt file. In it, you will see a description of all the
parameters used in the file for the drivers. You ca also change your car's power
in IndyCar by altering the power numbers on your line. I took the Liberty of adding
my own engines too. I created the Honda engine for Bobby Rahal and Mike Groff,
gave them relatively anemic power ratings( the engine IS a little on the weak side),
 and thos guys are usually the first ones I lap!

Remember, don't modify your original. Use the paintkit to create a new car set.
(I'm assuming you have the IMS expansion pack here). Hope this helps!

Peter, I don't mean to keep dragging the issue, but ...

OK, true, Adding Honda to the engine list basically just adds another engine
to the available list, however, when the power settings are modified, it DOES affect
the overall speed of the car. Before I made the modifications, Bobby Rahal(who
raced with the Chevy C) used to qualify in the top 10. After changing the Min and
Max power settings in the DRIVERS.TXT file, he now qualifies near the bottom
of the order. The name change was added just for realism, but the power
settings DID affect the car's performance. The folowing comes from the file...

rem DINFO is driver number, chassis, engine, engine power minimum/maximum
rem name, nickname, city, country, country abbreviation

I have Bobby Rahal's and Mike Groff's settings at 800/900. Penske
drivers(as weel as some of the other prolific drivers) have settings at about 890/925.
Change any of your drivers that have the high settings to the settings above. They
should have difficulty qualiying well. I'll admit, I haven't changed power settings for
anyone else, but the results of changing these two drivers convinced me. As for
tire grip, I never said that IndyCar had adjustable tire grip settings, but NASCAR
does. The info is remarked in the DRIVERS.TXT file as well.

Julio

we are not talking along the same lines. I am totally aware of what you
are
talking about. BUT changing the speed of the cars does NOT affect the
chracteristics of the vehcle - it's a simple multiplyer - they will go
faster in every turn of the track based on those values. It will never
create a
car that handles well, but has a sucker engine (like Rahal's 94 car). All
you get is cars that are relatively fast or slow on ALL sections of the
track.

You may want to check out all the mods made to all kinds of files
(track.txt
AND drivers.txt) in my ftp site at didnt.doit.wisc.edu. Believe me, I've
done what you are suggesting, but I am trying to point out that modifying
the drivers.txt file really doesn't create more realistic cars - it just
spaces the specific AI cars more like they were spaced in the real world,
without affecting the actual car's character. I'd love to see a car that
lacks
top power in Michigan, but still keeps up with the Penske's in Detroit
or Vacouver. You won't get that by playing with the drivers.txt file, nor
any
other user-modifiable file in ICR.

Peter