rec.autos.simulators

I'm sure I will. But I certainly don't enjoy Lowes! I thought it was a pretty big
track .It turns out that at 175mph it's actually quite small and my truck prefers
to go in a straight line. :-> The 'basic' setup at Daytona was very stable and easy
to drive. The basic setup at Lowes is scary!

Andrew McP

Andrew, you just let this guy get away with pulling your chain. What he
did, was used a sales technique called "fear, uncertainty and doubt." He
made you defensive. You are second guessing yourself. It is him who has
the big ego for saying it that way he did. You don't need to explain
sh*t to him about that.

He must be an a-hole for saying that. Or worse, a salesman.

The added HP to the truck makes that dive into turn one very interesting.
.......:-). Try one of the setups from the forum. There are some very fast
Brits in the truck too, maybe there are some good ones in your club forum
for Lowes. Lift just a bit before entry just enough to settle the truck and
get right back on the trottle.......a bit of practice and you will get right
up there. I just got my "A" license on ovals and love the trucks, but hate
the SR hit if something happens. I enjoy the trucks much more than the COT
or Nationwide car.

Ed M.

Oh no... now I feel inadequate as well as egotistical! ;-)

Andrew McP

A setup from the forums helped quite a bit. What helped even more was realising
where the engine is in the truck. Moving the brake bias % up instead of down made
it a lot safer for me. Rookie error. :-)

I did quite a few laps this morning in practice, while listening to some guys
exchanging advice. But even though I feel safer on the track now I can't imagine
ever being comfortable enough to risk racing. One small mistake on exiting a corner
and I'm an unguided missile at 150+mph. While it's impressive feeling the weight of
the truck moving around via the force feedback, it's as unnerving as hell! And it's
certainly helping me understand why there's been so much talk about wrecks in truck
races.

Andrew McP

So far I haven't been tempted to even do the free month of testing.

Fortunately for me the physics of the racing games isn't that important
and I like both sim oriented and arcade type racing games, although
the currrent NFS Undercover went a bit over the top with cars that
drive more like swoop racers with what appears to be like pulling
10 g's in turns, especially when using it's magic nitrous that
also increases downforce.

So I can get a fix from the ISI games, a run with GPL, NR2003,
or games like RD3 or games like NFS. Personally I'm wanting to see
how sim-oriented NFS Shift will be.

Just let the egotistical Andrew drive :)

I understand, but you know I'm both a fan and a critic of iRacing, and I do think
it's hard to criticise something properly until you've tried it (though this does
not extend to ***, genocide, or voting Republican).

If you -- or anyone else -- fancies an extended trial, they sent out an email today:
"Sign up before 6/15/2009 and you ll get a 3-month membership for only $25 that s
a 50% savings!" with the following promotion code for a 3 month for $25 deal...

PR-3MONTHOFFER-MAY2009

That should work for anyone who's not currently signed up. The SRF at Lime Rock is
probably worth it... great combination this week. And you only have to drive the
Solstice for long enough to get your SR up to 3, which doesn't take very long if
you're patient and treat it like medicine: a necessary evil. :-)

This must have been a fairly successful way of pulling people in recently if
they're repeating it now.

Personally I find it hard to justify signing up for a year in advance (I might get
p*ssed off and not use half of it!) but a steady dripfeed of offers like this would
keep me there (it helps soften the blow of being stung for content on a regular
basis).

Still, summer's coming and I suspect they're aware they'll lose quite a lot of
racing to the good weather. iRacing is still nowhere near well populated enough to
sustain a big hit like that IMO.

Andrew McP

So much for the referral program :)

Have I made a blunder? I hope not.

Andrew McP

nope, just saw the email myself.

Ed

I think Tony might have been referring to the, er, referral deal which I think is
still operating. There seems to be an older code people can use, which still works,
to get the same deal *and* give the iRacer referring them some credits.

Personally I'd never want to benefit from anyone else's subscription. That opens
you up -- potentially at least -- to accusations of promoting the sim out of
self-interest. It makes you a pusher rather than an ***. :->

Andrew McP

They sent me the same email. You can't fault them for effort, after
I'd made it abundantly clear that I think their business methods stink.

I entirely agree. I happen to enjoy iRacing myself. I am just finishing up
my first year and have all the content except Darlington which I will
probably get soon. I am at "A" class in ovals and "C" on the road courses
and plan on renewing for another year. There are places for improvement and
all is not perfect with iRacing. Private leagues will be implemented soon
and that will make a number of folks happy. I don't try and push iRacing on
anyone since it is IMO a niche simulation that really is not going to please
everyone. I really enjoy the Silverado more than the other oval cars and am
getting back the road racing bug a bit with the Spec Ford. I have my fun
with it and use the Mazda for my advancement since it is my class car at
"C". Drop into the General Discussion area of the chat room sometime and BS
with us. ........ There are usually folks in there from 9-10am US EST on. We
talk about anything iRacing or not.....:-) You will find real racers in
there from 12yr old Legends jockeys to 60yr old wingnut simmers like
myself....:-)

Ed

The referral program contest is to win a real Skip Barber drive and
closes the end of May. I can't see it being a big deal but I just
imagined people going for the prize trying to persuade people to join
and being told they had already found a promotion code by doing a google
search :)