rec.autos.simulators

Hi,

I seem to have  a bit of difficulty keeping my cars tracking straight
and true. I don't know if it is my steering wheel (older Thrustmaster
T2), or some setting, or the default car setups, or just my own
driving. I don't seem to have too much trouble in the turns (other
than slowing down enough, and not puttin too much boot into it). But
after I come off of a fast turn it usually takes all of my
concentration to keep the car where I want it on the road. If I make
the slightest move, say to take my hand off the wheel to shift, the
car darts from side to side. And boy trying to move to the edge of the
track in preparation for following the line in a curve is often so
treacherous for me. I usually find myself allowing plenty of room from
the edge for fear of putting a wheel off.

Any suggestions on what can be done to make the car less darty? The
sim is great, but also quite frustrating when you can't keep the car
on the road.

Here are my system details:
Celeron 300A (currently at 450Mhz)
64 Megs RAM
SB-16 (ISA) for joystick
Thrustmaster T2 wheel and pedals
Vodoo II 3Dfx
Win98

TIA, Derek

Remove nospam from my email address when replying to

Hi Derek,

Well, it could be all three, or something else.

You might want to try Allison Hines setups for the Coventry at
http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~alison/gpl/index.htm
That should eliminate any setup problems (very stable).  Check your steering
linearity in the options/controller menu in GPL.  If you have it set too
close to the left side steering can be twitchy on the straights.  Also,
steering pots get dirty.  Open up your T2 and squirt a little contact
cleaner in your pot and work the steering back and forth.

And finally, it could be your driving.  In that case it'll just take
practice.

Enjoy,

-Mike

On Mon, 23 Nov 1998 08:19:45 GMT Derek Ealy

% I seem to have  a bit of difficulty keeping my cars tracking straight
% and true. I don't know if it is my steering wheel (older Thrustmaster
% T2), or some setting, or the default car setups, or just my own
% driving. I don't seem to have too much trouble in the turns (other
% than slowing down enough, and not puttin too much boot into it). But
% after I come off of a fast turn it usually takes all of my
% concentration to keep the car where I want it on the road. If I make
% the slightest move, say to take my hand off the wheel to shift, the
% car darts from side to side. And boy trying to move to the edge of the
% track in preparation for following the line in a curve is often so
% treacherous for me. I usually find myself allowing plenty of room from
% the edge for fear of putting a wheel off.

% Any suggestions on what can be done to make the car less darty? The
% sim is great, but also quite frustrating when you can't keep the car
% on the road.

Okay, the first thing would seem to be out (your system seems stout
enough so frame rate shouldn't be the problem).  But for everyone, it is
important to get as high a frame rate (and as consistent) as possible to
help maintain fine control of the car.

I would suspect the #1 culprit is either a dirty or worn steering
potentiometer (or pot for short) on your T2.  Get some electronic
switch cleaner/lubricant, open up the housing on the T2 steering box,
and spray the lubricant inside the pot attached to the steering wheel
(this is the metal cylinder with wires attached to it).  Work the
cleaner in and around by moving the wheel a number of times.  You may
also want to turn the wheel fully one direction, spray some more and
then move the wheel fully in the opposite direction and spray it again.
Make sure you use an electronic switch cleaner/lubricant and not
something like WD40.

I have the linear setting about 60% to the left.  When you calibrate, in
GPL, does the steering calibration dance alot when the wheel is
centered?  Or does it jump left and right as you turn in one direction,
instead of moving smoothly in the direction you move the wheel?  If
after cleaning the pot, this still happens, you may have a worn pot and
should contact Thrustmaster for a replacement.  Or, your soundcard's
gameport can't cope with the speed you are pushing the bus on your
motherboard.

Another poster suggested trying Alison's Coventry setups.  I would
suggest the same, just to insure that the problem isn't with your car's
setups vs. a controller issue.

URL's:

Thrustmaster Repair:
http://www.thrustmaster.com/support/servmail.htm

Alison's Coventry setups:
http://nh.ultranet.com/~alison/gpl/coventry.htm

% Here are my system details:
% Celeron 300A (currently at 450Mhz)
% 64 Megs RAM
% SB-16 (ISA) for joystick
% Thrustmaster T2 wheel and pedals
% Vodoo II 3Dfx
% Win98

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1) lubricant on the pots in your T2. I use Radio Shack brand,
personally- I think it is made for TV tuners and volume knobs. I feel
pretty sure this is your problem- a classic.

2) using the wrong sort of toe-in in your setups can make the car
wildly unstable, I've found. But presently I can't remember which is
the bad kind- in such situations, I tend to set the toe-in to 0.0!

I have had the same problems and I have tried Alisons Coventry setups
which helped tremendously. I have read in the manual that came with the
game, that the wandering effect you are getting, going down a straight
could be caused by breaking the reaer wheels lose. According to the
manuals you should be able to adjust the ramp angles and clutches to
correct this situation. You also may try to adjust the toe in settings
on the car. If your tires point outwards (positive toe) it will cause
the car to wander. These are only assumptions as I have yet to actually
experiment with them in the game.

   This also is a problem when going slow? If it is, try lubricating
your potmeters.
Setting the diff to 85/85 with 1 clutch also helps a lot, as well as
setting up with way too long/high gear ratios (So that the power comes
in more progressively). And drive the brabham until you get the feel!

Good luck,

Matt Knutsen

P.S - driving a racecar at race speed; it does'nt just go straight.
You'll fight it if the surface is even the slightest bit bumpy!