rec.autos.simulators

Are there any tricks out there to get your CART cars to handle better?
Is it best if you balance the car perfectly, or should you run massive
camber with totally different shock loads?              

        I am having a hell of a time trying to drive competitively in ICR2, and
can't get anywhere near the speeds that the computer cars get while
going through medium speed turns. The AI cars just walk away, as i can't
match their speeds thoroughout the corners without having the front end
washout and going nose-first into the wall.

Check out Shane Pitkin's Velocity Motorsports.  He has a zip file with
an excellent setup for each ICR2 track.  These are much more forgiving
and driveable than the Papyrus setups, and much faster, too.  With the
Papy setups, I had to run the AI cars at 95% to keep up; with Shane's
setups, I can run at 100% and take pole and win on most tracks.

Also, there is a lot of information on doing your own setups on the Web,
and a variety of places to get good setups.  There are setups which may
be ultimately faster than Shane's but I don't think there's a complete
set anywhere that is as good to start out with.

Here are some URL's:

  http://www.racesimcentral.net/;  The Sim Project
  http://www.racesimcentral.net/;Velocity Motorsports
  http://sim***world.simplenet.com/icr2/index.html Sim ***world
  http://www.racesimcentral.net/;  Snake Racing

Alison

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http://www.racesimcentral.net/~alison

: Are there any tricks out there to get your CART cars to handle better?
: Is it best if you balance the car perfectly, or should you run massive
: camber with totally different shock loads?            

:       I am having a hell of a time trying to drive competitively in ICR2, and
: can't get anywhere near the speeds that the computer cars get while
: going through medium speed turns. The AI cars just walk away, as i can't
: match their speeds thoroughout the corners without having the front end
: washout and going nose-first into the wall.

First thing to watch out for in ICR2 is that the AI cars have
unrealistic straight speed on the long straights.  Do not set up your
car to keep up with them on the long straights.  Usually attempting to,
will force you to take too much wing off the car.  The affect of this is
you will not be able to make the medium to fast corners well.  It sounds
like you  may be taking too much front wing out.  The front wing can
help turn, but also helps braking.

I usually setup the front camber to keep the tire temps even across the
tires after 4-5 good hot laps.  If the springs are too soft in the
front, it takes too long for the front wheels to take the weight of the
steering change and braking.  Stiffen them until you get good response
to your steering.  

If you are "pushing" or "washing out" (as you put it) going into the
turn, try softening the shock on the front opposite side of the turn
or tightening the rear shock on the opposite side of the turn.  For
pushing coming out of a turn try softening the front shock on the same
side as the turn or tightening the rear shock on the same side of the
turn.

Try to "trail-brake".  This is the method of keeping the brake on
slightly while you start your turns.  This helps keep the weight over
the front wheels and aids in making the turn.  For the really tight
corners you need to turn early.  It's a fine art, but you almost have to
aim for the inside wall when you start your turn.

One last point.  Practice, practice, practice.  Work on smoothness and
consistency and speed will follow.

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

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