rec.autos.simulators

I was wondering if my T2 wheel with its combined brake/throttle axes is
holding me back, and would a split axis wheel help?  Also if there's some
specific skill I could practice, I know I corner slowly but how to improve I
dunno.  thx much!

rms

rms

Anyway, you can find websites where there is very good info on how to do it.

It will improve your laptimes.

In fact I have my modified T2 wheel for sale (I bought a FF wheel)

I would say view the replays. Once you believe that a corner can be taken
at a certain speed, all you have to do is get the line right.

- Michael

Actually, you've done amazingly well for having had the game for just a few
weeks. Ask Eldred how long it took him to reach the dizzy heights he's
acchieved.... be sure to wear your nomex undies though. <g>

How to improve even further? -Well, IMO, it all boils down to putting in the
laps. Intimate track knowledge is a must. Only when you're really using
what's there and are sure which lines you want to be driving you can tell
whether the car is working for or against you in certain sections and adjust
your setup accordingly. So find a reasonably stable setup (e.g. Alison's
Ferrari setups) and take to the track. Don't worry about times just yet,
instead concentrate on getting your lines right and improving your technique
and speed will follow. Setup is an important part of the equation, allowing
you to do faster laps easier and more consistently, but raw speed at a track
is either there or it isn't, if you find it, it won't come from a setup
change. That said, keep an eye out for the return of Richard Nunnini's
site... he's got some very good stuff on how to setup your car. I can also
recommend using the GRE (also linked from Alison's site). Apart from a solid
reference on setups, it's got a very good system for setting up and gauging
the "progression" of your gearbox.

Use the replay analyser to compare yourself to "known good" laps. Choose
laps that are only a couple of seconds faster than your own as improving at
GPL is an incremental business. Online races are a veritable goldmine for
"run of the mill" good laps, so save those replays. Note how the faster
drivers use the maximum ability of their car and their setup without having
to resort to overdriving which could lead to unforced errors. Observe the
margin of error they maintain in order to be able to react when something
does happen.

Keep a positive mindset... I used to look down on this sort of approach, but
now I realise believing you can do it is paramount to being able to do it.
No joke, after your reach a certain level a lot of this stuff becomes
"mental".

Anyway, good luck and please, for my ego's sake, don't overtake me in the
rankings in the space of two weeks, ok? ;-)

Jan.
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Roger,

I took a quick lok at your times, your best bet to get up the rankings
is to work on Nurburgring. Not only can a small percentage improvement
here drop your rank considerably but the ring is a great training
ground for smoothing out your driving and improving braking and
balance through corners. Looking at your other times I think that
you can shave up to 30secs off your ring time, I think you are in
the right car with the Lotus, keep the default settings (with just
enough fuel for 2-3 laps) or use Alison Hines'.  Even if you only
knock off about 15secs or so, then go back to twisty tracks like
Zandvoort and see how much you improve.

I'm a relative newbie just dropped below +50 so not that far
ahead of you and it worked well for me.

Good Luck.

MaXX (Malcolm Edeson GPLRank +49.24)

  OK - beginners tips:

  Stick to one car and one track - practice until you think your head
will explode.  Eventually the track will click.  Don't change set ups.
Don't change fuel until you run out.  Don't run it in race mode.  Just
drone round in practice until something "clicks".  Pick an easy track
and car to start with - say the Ferrari at Monza.  You should be able to
get it down to 1:32 without too much trouble.  (by which I mean "with
lots and lots of practice")

  Gain time by taking the proper line not by trying to accelerate harder
or brake later.  The line is the easiest way to find time.  Don't go for
a fastest lap every lap.  You'll learn much more by "settling in" and
learning to be consistent.

  I wasted loads of time with GPL chopping between cars and tracks,
blaming undrivable set ups, going for hotlaps and bouncing off the
scenery.  The best way is to just concentrate on the line and on getting
round.

  Find your braking points.  Work out some trackside marker and say "I
should be braking next to that tree/crowd member/dip in the track" - if
you stick to the same line you can brake there every time and you'll be
fine.  

  Once you can pull out 10 laps with a consistent time then, if you're
still slow, experiment - brake a bit later somewhere or take a different
line through a corner.  Run a little wider on the exit or try taking a
double apex.

--
Richard G. Clegg       Only the mind is waving
    Networks and Non-Linear Dynamics Group
      Dept. of Mathematics, Uni. of York
     UPDATED WWW: http://manor.york.ac.uk/

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

<snip>

Right, here's what helped me:

Firstly, don't get obsessed with Monza/the Glen. Once you're capable of
getting round say 10 laps at an even halfway reasonable speed (even
1:10 at the Glen will do if it's steady), "get out into the world" and
try out some of the other places. I don't think it pays to stick
blindly to one circuit all the time - it ceratinly didn't me.

As to where - well, I'm utterly biased here, but I'd say Spa. It's a
longish track, which teaches you concentration; it's fast, which means
you need good reactions; there's masses of gradient change and camber,
which helps your car control; and above all it's a very enjoyable track
to drive.

As well as Spa, try some completely different styles of tracks -
Silverstone for "getting into a groove", Zandvoort to practise blind
corners, and of course the Ring. You'll have to meet it sooner or
later, so it might as well be sooner.

And use several different cars - a track like the Ring feels very
different in a Brabham from in an Eagle. This will get you used to the
variety of handling attributes in GPL - adaptability is the skill you
most need to develop a good GPLRank, as this demands proficiency at
very different skills for each track.

So, in one word: variety. Once I started expanding my horizons from the
Lotus, my ranking improved dramatically. Even though almost all my best
times are in that Lotus, the experience gained from wrestling a BRM
around Monaco or threading a Brabham through Rouen's curves was
tremendously useful.

--
David. (GPLRank handicap: -3.90)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

Strangely enough I set some of my PB's with combined axis after forgetting
to set them to split axis after playing other games. Strange but true.

The split axis is a comfort to have but a myth that it makes you go faster.

cheers

Greg Stewart     GPL rank -72.63

Jan.
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