rec.autos.simulators

Ok, we have had Monza for about a whole day now (well, I 've only just
d/l'd it and had about ten laps, but you know what I mean?)

What are the *quick* guys technique for this circuit? (After about 10
laps I've only managed 1:38 so far but I know I'll go a *lot* quicker
than that with practice), but already I've seen posts mentioning times
in the low 1:30's, and I'm sure it won't be long before sub 1:30 times
are forthcoming.

In the few laps I've had so far I've figured out the following (using
the GP Lotus)....

Turn 1 - Brake at the last minute (just before the turn in) and change
down to 4th for the first right hander, keep the revs high and stay on
the inside following the apex and change up to 5th just before the exit
of the corner.

Turn 2 - Slight kink to the left taken flat out in 5th, careful not to
go too far over to the right or its very easy to go on the dirty stuff?

Turn 3 - Brake fairly early (about half way along the straight? - I've
found it hard so far to find a braking point at this part of the
circuit) and change down to 3rd gear, stay in 3rd gear along the short
straight to turn 4....

Turn 4 - Just dab the brakes, try and keep the revs high and power out
of this right hand corner, changing up to 4th as soon as possible, and
then up to 5th just before turn 5....

Turn 5 - Another kink to the left taken flat out in 5th, keep to the
left hand side of the track, and keep going flat out through the
tunnel.

Turn 6 - And yet another kink to the left. This should be taken flat
out in 5th I'm sure, but I've only managed it successfully a couple of
times, you have to keep a very smooth line and stay well over to the
left, which is difficult because on the approach it appears to be a
slight incline, which makes seeing the correct line difficult. But I'm
sure with practice it will get easier? If your not too confident you
can just lift off the throttle a tiny bit on the entrance to the
corner, but this will lose you a *bit* of time. (couple of tenths?)

If you get turn 6 wrong, you will be sucked out wide to the right and
go on the dirty stuff, losing valuable time.....

Turn 7 - Approach it flat out in 5th, keep to the left side of the
track, brake just as the large "Ford" sign on the right hits the edge
of the screen, and change down to 3rd (I might try 4th for a few laps
and see if thats quicker?) try to keep the revs high as you follow the
apex round and change up to 4th on the exit as you hit the straight.

Start finish straight - floor it and hope for a good laptime......

So come on then, how do *YOU* do it?

8-)

*Peter*    8-)
(NB: remove asterix to e-mail)

Bad form to reply to my own message but hings change sooooooo
quickly in the world of GPL so here goes anyway.......

8-)

I've now done 1:36 and am hopping off to bed as its getting far too
late,
I'll crack 1:35 tomorrow....

I now take turn 1 in 5th, just ease off the throttle on the entrance
to the
 corner and feed it back in as I go through the corner, carries a bit
more
speed through using this method methinks?

I can now take turn 6 flat out *every* time, turn in to the left
early (just
before the top of the incline) and hold it on the left side, keep the

throttle on full power and be smoooooth!!!!

straight.

Tried 4th, but 3rd is better IMHO? keeps the revs higher for the
exit.

8-)

*Peter*    8-)
(NB: remove asterix to e-mail)

Brake? *Break*? BREAK? Gerroff you tart! Ease off the accelerator when you
get close, drop into 4th while idling, turn in a little early and a little
fast, start opening up the gas, let the back end slide just a *tad*,
then, -- as you start to turn steadily towards the apex -- floor it, going
straight up into 5th at the exit.

If you've got it right of course :-) Happens about 10% of the time for me
<g>. But when it happens right it's a *very* satisfying corner (whether
I'm doing it right or not ;-)

3 and 4 are where I'm losing most time... always catching kerbs and
grass... and exit hedges.

Absolutely, I look for the start of the darker racing line before the turn
and follow it as closely as I can. Foot should never leave the floor and
the tyres only squeal a little if you get it right.

Down the straight it's great if you clip a bit of grass. You feel the car
"drag" to that side and can have a real fight on your hand to recover.
Great sensations.

I wait for the start of the dark racing line again, maybe just a little
later, and drop down pretty hard to 2nd, dabbing the brakes all the way as
I try not to fishtail too badly (though it's great feeling on the edge
like that :-) (Takes me back to GP2 diving into this corner).

Then I try and keep the revs up (try being the important word here!) and
to throw it round that tight bit, then up into third as the turn opens out
again... sometimes taking out that bit of fence on the lhs in my
enthusiasm :-)

All in all Monza'a a *great* track to drive after WG... a real change.
Should be a bit of a hoot online, speshly playing chicken into T1 :-)

Andrew McP

PS Only managed a 1:34.33 so far, with average fast laps of around 1:35.5
and a lot of well-dodgy 1:40's

Gimme a brake, it's been a long night ;-)

Andrew "inconsistent spelling" McP

"You will..."
"No You Will..", damn it!

Oh Noooo !! You both didn't make enough room and you end up as a crumpled
mess in your what left of your Lotus 49C. The car lands on its side in the
middle of the track, directly in front of the bridge (Bridges don't "give"..
you "bounced back onto the track). Your legs are trapped by the metal that
caved in on you when your right-front hit the bridge.. The steering wheel
has been bent by your hands due to the impact.. if only it weren't pressing
down on the top of your legs, you might be able to crawl  out here before
another car comes along.

All of a sudden you hear something, and feel the heat start to build on your
back. You stare into your mirrors and see the orange flames***ing up
around the engine. The terror of the situation becomes clear to you (You ARE
feeling a little woozy!), and you panic. "Help! I can't get out of here!
Where are the marshals?" you ask yourself. (They will be there shortly, we
hope). What to do.. I can't move..

You take a quick glance over your left shoulder...My God!!.. here comes a
pack of cars... "There must be four of them", you say in horror. They're
slipstreaming and will have no chance to avoid each other (and YOU) once
they get nearer..

Your heart  pounds faster, and you begin to desperately wrench the steering
wheel, trying to free yourself. "What to do?".. You start panicking.. "What
to do?"..."What to.."

PRESS "SHIFT+R" ... You FOOL!!!

doktorB
http://www.racesimcentral.net/~drbryan/gpl

You might want to consider taking a sleep break every now and then!  You need
to keep up your strength for the finished product.  

Late last night, after about my 83rd trip into the gravel on the last turn, I
could have sworn I saw Elvis among the spectators.  He was right there at the
turn, leaning against one of the posts with the FINA sign.  After some sleep,
he has disappeared.

Regards,

Kurt

Ok, ok! I now brake just the *merest* hint, to scrub off a tiny bit
of speed (no matter how hard I tried I find it impossible to go
around at full speed!!!!) BUT leave it in 5th all the way around,
this way the revs never drop below the 9 - 10 o'clock position

Me too, the hardest part I find is trying not to scrub off too much
speed? most times I find I'm going to slow and wish I'de taken the
corner faster!!!

I *always* take this flat out if 5th now, I've found a decent line
and stick to it.

Yeah, sometimes if I get turn 6 slightly wrong you are sucked out to
the right and can easily clip the grass, but at least theres lots of
room after the grass to collect it if it all goes paer shaped?    
8-)

I couldn't take it in 2nd, sometimes I think 3rd is too slow, and
even tried only dropping down to 4th for a few laps? but I think 3rd
is about right?

:-)

Absolutely.....   8-)

Did my***1:34 today, and couldn't wipe the stupid grin off my
face!!!!

8-)

Peter G

Hey, I saw him too, wasn't he standing next to Eve Marie Saint?

Maybe it was because I had Grand Prix playing in the backround while
hotlapping, but I swear...<g>

-don

"To race is to live, everything else is just waiting." - Rudi Caricciola

: Hey, I saw him too, wasn't he standing next to Eve Marie Saint?

        No, that was Cary Grant.  Didn't you see the biplane trying to
run him down?

Martin
Nigel Mansell RIP!