rec.autos.simulators

During some close racing at C***te I got a tap on the left
rear and got sent sliding sideways through the pits at about
80 Mph. Of course the AI code could not determined if it was
deliberate or an accident so I got black flaged. Lost two laps
and a lot of positions.
So I have a possible idea that could solve this for Nascar 3.

The AI would not black flag for speeding through the pits so
long as you have your brakes on to the maximum or at least
95% at say 100 metres out from the pit road entrance.
If you have your brakes on to that degree then the AI code
could then decide something like this:

if brakes on greater than 95% at point 100 metres out from pit
road entrance and speed on pit road is still greater than
limit then
give the guy a break and don't black flag him
(because his brakes are locked up and he is at least trying
his best to slow down)

else if brakes on max or greater than 95% BUT WITHIN 100
metres of pit road and speed on pit road still is greater than
limit then give the buggar and black flag
(because he left it too late to slow down.)

else if brakes on less than 95% and speed on pit road is
greater than limit then still give the buggar a black flag.
(because he is not even trying to slow down.)

end

That 100 metre or so buffer is to stop people booming up to
the pit road and then braking hard just before the entrance to
cheat the code into deciding it was an accident. The distance
out from pit road would have to be calculated for each track
based on possible max speed heading towards to pit road

The same idea may work for the chicane at Watkins Glen so as
the walls could be taken away. I understand the one of the
prime reasons for the walls (other than track building code
can't get rid of them) is to stop cheaters from blasting
through the outer loops to gain positions. So maybe the AI
code could decide in a similar fashion to pit road as to
weather it was deliberate or not.

Any ideas anyone?

--

Nigel of Lakewood Motorsports
Nascar Coruba & Coke Chevy
Hamilton
New Zealand

I like most of your suggestions but I think some of the solutions are
maybe a bit complex. :)

Although, to tell you the truth, I think you're spinning down the pits
solution is probably the only reasonable way. Not to sure how else it
could be done.

However I think that the comment a while ago about using the pit lane
to avoid a wreck is easily solved. I'm sure the in-game AI could
immediately drop pit-speeding penalties if there is any type of spin
on the front-stretch only, maybe just from the end of turn4 to the
start line. The minute the in-game AI senses trouble in can put a
time-counter for say 10 seconds(?) that will allow anyone to use the
pit lane if they see the need. It will also mean that cars more than
10 seconds away from the trouble, will be able to slow down and drive
through/past the wreck at a safe speed. Therefore people on the
backstraight, when told of a "big mess on the front stretch" can not
fly down pit road for free.

The Watkins Glen-inner loop solution is much easier in my view. Let's
presume you have out-broken yourself and will be going across the
middle. A built in sensor should immediately pick up the fact that
you, for some reason, have crossed the grass. It should automatically
give you a stop-go penatly, when you cross the line.

To cancel it, you must simply stop. Think about it... if you out brake
yourself and cross the grass, simply keep the brakes full on and come
to a complete stop, before racing off again. This should prove a big
enough penatly for your misjudgement. If you are spun or spin through
that area you will most liklely stop anyway, if you don't make sure
you do. Then it will cancel the penalty and it will be like spinning
off just about anywhere else in NR2. Lastly, if you are trying to
cheat and go flat out across the loop, upon crossing the line you will
recieve the black flag penatly. The only problem I can see with this
is that flying across the chicane, having a stop-go, will be quicker
than driving legally :) Also, if you do this 'cheat', get the black
flag, do it again on the next lap :) and then make your stop-go, that
WILL be quicker? So a penatly is needed for everytime it's done.

Well that's how I'd go about it. :)

Jon

Guildford, UK

http://www.meganet.co.uk/~pegasus/nascar2/

Yeh some good ideas there Jon
I think something could be done with some effort.

--

Nigel of Lakewood Motorsports
Nascar Coruba & Coke Chevy
Hamilton
New Zealand

I think a much simpler implementation would be just to NOT black flag
someone who speeds through the pits but does not stop.  There is nothing to
be gained by this, so why fly the black flag in this case.  This is pretty
much the same judgement call that NASCAR makes.   N2 could also include a
test to see if the car gains positions on the track on cars that are still
running the normal groove and warn the driver with "Stay behind the #xx
car".  This would give the driver the chance to fall back in line before
passing the s-f line and avoid the black flag.  If he does not, then fly
the black flag.  This could most certainly work for the chicane at Watkins
Glen and in fact this is exactly what NASCAR does.  If someone cuts off the
chicane and does not gain positions on the track, this is not met with a
black flag.  However, NASCAR will warn a team that is continually doing
this to stop or get black flagged.  N2 might let you do it a couple of
times during a race but penalize you for doing it a 3rd time.

/THansen