rec.autos.simulators

Having put in quite a few hours with Nascar Heat, I have a problem with the
steering.

I am using a MSFF wheel, but the car is twitchy and pulls to the left, or is
difficult to keep in a straight line. Instead the vehicle sways, and so
consequently knocks into other cars when trying to pass them, when I am
trying my best to keep out of their way.

 I have read all the documentation both on line and in the manual but can
not resolve the problem. I hope someone can guide me.

I have already tried the following

1)  disabled 'interrupt with polls' in control panel

2) tried both super sampling and the other option next to it which is also
meant to smooth the steering (the name of which escapes me).

3) tried both linear and non linear steering option

4) played with every overshoot setting and dead zone setting

5) used max on Force Feedback setting and centering option (I have also
played with the centre wheel option in the games' option file).

6) used a number of set ups I've found on the net.

As a matter of info, this is played on an Athlon 900 with V5500 3dfx card
(so its not a graphics issue).

Hoping that someone can point me in the right direction

PJ

  Being you have Nascar Heat you have Direct X 7A.  It may be a driver
problem, try MS for updated drivers. My Thrustmaster would twitch in the
straight a ways and updated driver cured it.

  First you MUST realize that the car is SUPPOSED to pull to the left.
Everything about the setup is designed to get the car through the turns
quicker.
and that means the  car WANTS to go left even on the straights, add to that
the fact that most tracks have at least some slight banking even on the
straights and you have another reason why the car wants to dive to the
bottom.
  Now Heat does have one item that will help you...It is a 'trim tab' key.
which lets you set a certain amount of counter-steer into your wheel
automatically.  Once you get it balanced out..you pretty much go smoothly
down the straight.  I would say only use that if you must...you'll get far
better results from continual practice til the pull isn't even noticed...
  Unfortunately,  I've never used the trim tab. So I don't know what key
combination enables it....:(   Check the patch readme...maybe it' in there.
dave henrie

Paul,

It is supposed to do this. It is simulating the actual pull to the left the
a real Stock car feels. This is called stagger and it's effect on your
handling. There is s setting in the garage.. (you must have the patch
installed) that will allow you to tweak this pull until it is totally gone.

The adjustment is called "trim".

If all else fails go to the Heat newsgroups and read up.

Good Luck!

Thanks to everyone who's replied to my post - I'm pleased that you've
obviously understood how some of us in the UK are a little ignorant when it
comes to Nascar set-ups and driving technique, but we really want to learn
in order to appreciate a sport that I think is infinately more exciting now
than F1.

PJ

Dont use TRIM !!!
imhumbleo trim is for wusses looking for shortcuts in the garage :)

Seriously, racing on ovals is all about freeing up the car in the turns
When you add trim you slow, to some extent, the car in the corners

Also, its a fallacy that you should be 'relaxing' on straightaways anyway
Instead, work on learning how to handle the car better on the str8s
IMO the more your car pulls left, the better you are improving on your
setups :)

Get back in that garage you mechanic you !!!

  Paul and any others that are new to Nascar.  Once you get a feel for
Nascar Heat or Nascar 4, go to the following website and clik on the nascar
4 icon.
You will get a VERY in depth and detailed look at not only setting up a
Winston Cup car, but how to drive the dang thing as well.  VERY Informative.
www.sascar.com.   Great work and I'd like to congratulate the author for a
very informative article.  Keep in mind, we Yanks have the steering wheel on
the left side of the car, so when he talks about driver's side etc..you'll
have to flip-flop that in your head...
dave henrie