rec.autos.simulators

I have had GPL for a while and always used the "crutches" --Throttle help,
Brakes and auto shifting.

I have weaned myself off all of this and am using the Coventry with Alison's
setup and learning all over again :) It's different, but better, without the
driving aids--more control etc. Faster too.

I am starting at Monza in my re-learning to drive but have hit a wall: I
turn consistent 1:34 or 1:35 times but cannot get any faster. Is this semi
respectable in a Coventry?

My question is is this due to te Coventry? Is it time to learn a new car
that has more speed or just start tuning the setups for the Coventry? I Took
Alison's advice, about which car to learn in, and am VERY happy . I of
course  started with the Lotus when I got GPL and spent a lot of time in the
weeds.....

Now, without the driving aids and a solid 36 frames per second I am a MUCH
better driver, but am not sure where to go from here.

Also, advice to new GPL pilots: Dump the driving aids as soon as you can !

Bob

Well done Bob, 1:34's in the Cooper at Monza is very respectable. Don't be
put off by the sub 1:30 laps ya see posted. Those laps are usually one-off's
and have taken MANY attempts to achieve. I've never tried running gpl with
any driving aids, but i'd imagine it'd be quite difficult adjusting after
dispensing with them, so i'm sure with some more laps under ya belt you'll
have no trouble running 1:32 - 1:33's with Alison's setup.

My advice would be stay with the Cooper, which is a well balanced setup imo,
and just concentrate on ya driving and breaking points. An unbalanced setup
will only lead to heartache, frustration and despair. Besides, Alison should
be uploading some race setups for the Brabham, Ferrari etc before too
long....Ah whata women.<g>

Happy lappin'
Phil

GPL, just like it's real life counterpart is full of learning plateaus.
I think you just landed on one of them.  The first thing to work on is
consitency and it sounds like you are there.  Now it's time to look up
to your next plateau, consistently fast.  You should be able to squeeze
a few more seconds out of the Coventry.  And this is accomplished the
same way it would be for any other marque in the game, "exit speed".

Start working on one corner at a time and concentrate on entering the
turns so you can start to apply the throttle as soon as possible after
completing the apex of the turn.  This may mean entering the turns a tad
slower than you have been.  Also, you will need to learn how to use the
throttle to steer you through the turns.  Try to use small/short
throttle applications to help move the rear end out as you turn through
your turns.  What you ultimately want to accomplish is to have the car
pointed straight out of the turn as soon as possible (so as to apply
full power as soon as possible).

As you "alter" your driving style, you need to check in the garage and
look at your tire temps.  Work on evening out temps across the tires.  I
usually check after 4-5 good consistent laps, and usually after a
section on the track where the tires have had a chance to "come back"
after any hard turns.

After you have accomplished the above, it's time to work on shortening
your braking distances for the approach to the turns.  Achieving this
may mean going back to working on your exits (but you should have good
practice in doing that by this stage).

Also, keep in mind that the stock setups provided by Alison have a tad
bit of understeer tuned into them.  You can compenstate for this by
learning to use slight application of the brake (or de-throttling) to
help turn the car into the turns.

And don't worry, there is no end to the plateaus you can reach in GPL,
so keep practicing and enjoying.

% My question is is this due to te Coventry? Is it time to learn a new car
% that has more speed or just start tuning the setups for the Coventry? I Took
% Alison's advice, about which car to learn in, and am VERY happy . I of
% course  started with the Lotus when I got GPL and spent a lot of time in the
% weeds.....

<snip>

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I made the pretty good Brabham setup that gets me 1:30.xx consistantly,
with a fastest lap of sub 1:30.xx.  My replay shows I did the fast lap on
about lap #30, but that is because it took 30 laps to build the setup from
default.

About time to try with the Coventry.

Agreed :)

--
--------
Jason Monds
"My other car is a Ferrari"
http://members.home.net/gpl.mondsj/gpl - For my combined gas/brake setups
(Please remove 'no extra spork' when replying)

I find Zandvoort is a nice flowing track with some elevation changes that
encourages trail braking and 4 wheel drifts at moderate 3rd / 4th gear
speeds.  Ease off the gas and touch the brakes as you enter a turn to help
tuck the nose in - drift through the apex and get on the gas smoothly on
exit.

Changing the rear differential setting from the 85/30 that Alison uses to an
85/45 or 85/60 helps tuck the nose in when you get off the gas (due to
faster diff lockup on deceleration).

Once you're comfortable with that, you might want to try using those
techniques at much higher speeds at Spa - very exhilarating when you get it
right :)

And of course, once you're comfortable with a track, don't forget to have
fun and race the track online!
Brian

Guys,

Thanks for all the advice! Now I do have some stuff to work on and WOW with
all the options and learning new cars and tracks the depth of this game is
incredible.

IT is the only game other than Falcon 4 on ye olde HDD now.

I wanna try that Ferrari being italian and all :) --but man what a bear of a
twtichy beast......

Thanks again and with my cable modem I will see you on VROC!

Bob