rec.autos.simulators

How many cars is everyone displaying ahead of them in Hawaii?  I have my
system set to display 38 ahead of me and when I race online, it only
draws about 5.  I've tried 20 and it still only draws 5.  Does the
hawaii server reduce this for you if you have a bad connection, or a bad
latency period?  I always get the "you have a shakey connection"
message.

Anybody know? Ed? Rick?

David Martin

Don Clawson

Ed Martin
Producer, Series Director
NASCAR Racing League
Papyrus / Sierra On-Line, Inc.

Dave "davids" Sparks
Sequoia Motorsports

I think the inability to adjust speed and/or direction to avoid these
mishaps is why you seen 10 or 15 people taken out in a lot of these
races, instead of just the two or three that are initially involved in
the problem.

In a related question, does the server adjust packet information on the
available link throughput?  For instance, if someone calls in on a 28.8
modem, do they get twice as many packet updates (or twice as much packet
information) as someone using a 14.4 modem?  It would be nice to give
those with faster connections as much information as you could jam down
the link.

Best regards,

Ron Mackey                      Distributed Systems International, Inc.

708-665-4639                    Wheaton, IL 60187-5057

Dave "davids" Sparks
Sequoia Motorsports

David Martin

        Are we saying that Hawaii ignores my options menu where I set the
# of cars drawn ahead and behind?  It seemed to me that the 10 cars drawn
ahead I had set up in my options menu wasn't being displayed.  If that is
an option that is disabled by Hawaii, then I think we need to suggest
that there be a change for this in N2.  
       And I agree that this may be the cause of the multiple car pile
ups, especially at Talladega, that seem to RUIN each and every race I run
there.  I end up getting into someone who crashed in front of me in every
race I run there.  I thought I had that problem solved by qualifying in
the top 10, but the guys up front are crashing too!
       Which brings me back to the point of "Why are you guys crashing on
the first lap at Talladega, anyway.  Wouldn't you rather finish 4th or
5th on the lead lap than 23rd, 5 laps down?  Come on Hawaiians!

Tom

The problem is that YOU are in too much of a hurry... the process at
Talledega is this.
Unless you can Qualify in the top 6 you qualify slowest..31st when the
green flag drops.
DON'T START ( no one is behind you so its not a problem).  Count to 15 (12
second or so).
Then go.   You will fly through the carnage because all the wrecks are
being towed and
you can see the one or two cars out on the grass and track.  I have run 30
races with this strategy and have finished no worse than 7th.  I won 2 and
came in 2nd on three.  The thing is you have  clean sheet metal and turn
good times.  and lots of times the leaders get nervous and passed and bump
into things.  It works best if you get a partner and Draft together
because you can catch the leaders sometimes.  

I moved from a 0 to 8 in one week...

With the current skills rating formula, it doesn't take a great driver
to move up.  Especially one that can't drive any other track besides
Talladega.  I, for one of many people, will be glad when they start
doing skill ratings for each track.  Let's see ya go from 0 to 8 in a
week on a track like Phoenix.

David Martin

I race in leagues with 7 thru 11's and I am competative not the fastest
but I usually manage a top ten finish. I want the racing to be like it
was in 78 and 79 when I raced Sportsman Cars on the short tracks in
Michigan and Ohio. Everybody out their worked and saved and got the
Cars ready...No big sponsers either. We weren't about to slam into
anybody or take stupid chances. I'm seeing more of that attitude. And
maybe when this becomes a real league they will assess $penalties and
you have to pay to come back and race... Well lets just say we should
be able to keep the knuckleheads off the track.  

The way the real guys do it is to wait forThe other racers misteaks and
take advantage of them.  Not go out hell bent for lexington and slam
into the wall on the first turn and take out 1/2 the field.

Sorry you think I was being uncompetative. Not my intent.  Just trying
to help a poor sole get out of the trenches if he has the ability and
race in the upper levels with some talent.  Talledga is the track I
race the least but I do prefer the other superspeedways.

See ya on the Track
Tim Daley

I was in two league races at Talladega last night. I watched normally
rational, sane, competent drivers turn into raving maniacs. There's got to
be some sort of male hormone thing going on here, or maybe Ed's right and
the track IS haunted.

Think about it: You're traveling roughly the length of a football field
every second. At 15 fps, that's more than a car length every frame. You
drive 2 feet off the bumper of the car in front of you. Now, let's throw in
a warp every once in a while, just to stir things up a bit. Are you still
wondering why there's so many crashes?

Here's a few secrets: You don't have to be 2 feet behind the car in front
to catch a draft. You can stay a couple of car lengths back and you'll
still have to lift to keep from getting into the back of the car you're
drafting. Try drafting for a few laps as a pack instead of trying to
constantly pass each other. It's fun and it's actually more challenging
than passing.

Unfortunately, none of this is likely to change things at Talladega. So my
best suggestion is to race at a track where people don't drive like
lunatics and leave Talladega for the crazies.

Dave "davids" Sparks
Sequoia Motorsports

Charlie Heath
Papyrus Design Group