racing in N4....lately. In contrast to that, this has been my experience in
the last several months, racing online in N4:
********
About the only online racing I have been able to do lately is some
pickup racing on N4....even as rare as that is (usually a couple hours a
month - max). Usually, I've been testing some new BRD "pre-beta"
control.......and I did a lot of online testing on the overhead pedal
system (reported by High Gear). This means I've only been running the two
road courses. And, since I'm testing equipment, I'm generally pretty slow
(I'm being kind to myself...sometimes I'm flat dangerous....lol....like when
I first tested the overhead pedals...it was like "scratching my head,
rubbing my belly" racing until I got the hang of the heel n' toe work
again). Because of that, I've been looking for Papy servers running
"arcade" handling on either road course - as my "first choice" pick up race.
There was a lot of these races at Sears around the time of the
real-world WC race here. My "experience" running those races was that
they've been some of the best I've had in online racing......and that
includes going all the way back to the early days of TEN racing - and in the
WON Net N3 era. Oh sure, some of these road races have had a little too
many rookie drivers in them.......but many have had fairly competent drivers
who can handle their cars (particularly because of the improved handling
from the Arcade setting) and know their way around the track fairly well!
I've not seen any "wreckers" in these races....that doesn't mean they are
not there on occasion....but I've not run into them. If you go look at my
LPI on N4 (Pabst-PRTD), this verifies what I'm saying......99% of my online
races are 10-15 lap road course races.....and my LPI is 26.3.....that means
approximately two races for every "incident"....which is not bad for road
course racing (in my opinion).
********
I'm posting this for primarily one reason:
On occasion, I run into some of the so-called "hot shoes" who turn their
nose up at running an arcade road race. I think that's a big mistake. Why?
Well, the arcade races I've run are a blast. They are short races
anyway....and who cares about being a "set up guru" for a 9 lap race at
Watkins? I don't. In these races, everyone gets the same
"chance"....particularly in the "fixed setup races"......so it boils down to
being able to handle your car in and through traffic, and knowing the fast
racing line. I generally try to start in the back of the grid.....and see
how far I can work my way up through the field in 10 to 15 laps. Its
incredibly valuable "practice racing".......its just not "setup development"
racing.....but I'm not running any N4 leagues so I don't need to do that.
In a small few of these races, there's been several "hot shoe" drivers
(guess there was nothing else to run at the time?) and those have been
really some of the most competitive races I've run online....ever!
I recall one race in particular....it had like 18 total drivers (on a
Papy server) at Sears - Arcade handling. There were like 12 drivers who
qualified north of 93 mph....the pole was had by George Sandman at around 96
mph (if I recall?). The slowest qual time was a low 90's......(there were
actually like 28 or 30 original drivers in the practice session....but the
slow guys/rookies must have dropped out...or sat in the pits to
watch....when they saw the quality of the field when the qual times posted.
Besides George Sandman, SweetAl was in the race and so was Charlie
Buscher....these guys are top drivers in any race. It seems to me this was
around a 20 lapper....but I don't recall exactly. I do recall it was one of
the best online races I've ever been in.......and it boiled down to the
winner being the driver who could run consistent laps while picking their
way through the back markers after a few laps. Doesn't that sound a lot
like what a real-world WC race is like at Sears?
I'd also like to point out that the "Arcade" mode is really a misnomer!
There's nothing "arcade-like" about it. Actually, the car handles pretty
much the way my "full simulation" car handles....or at least, the way I try
to create the setup to make the car handle. Its certainly not a "***
mode" car physics experience! I am totally amazed how many "hot shoes" I've
talked to that have never even tried the "arcade" mode. In a road
race.....its pretty much the same as a great handling, "full simulation"
car.
I'm inviting some of you "hot shoes" to put your egos away for a race or
two, and jump into one of these races and try it out. Sure, some of them
won't be very good....but a high percentage of them are great racing! As
far as **pick up racing** on N4 is concerned....I think these arcade-mode
road races are the best there is! If you see me online in N4.....that's the
kind of races I'll be looking for.....come in and join me......you just
might be totally, and pleasantly, surprised! This is what I call "fun
racing"....and I do it for relaxation and pure "*** fun."
I never thought I'd hear myself say that......but...there it is!
********
This is a suggestion for Papyrus.....only a suggestion:
How about giving a trial period to dedicating one of your servers to
loop races only between Sears and Watkins (or maybe throw in Pocono and
Phoenix too...since they are pretty much left-turn only "road courses") in
Arcade "fixed setup" mode? Why? I assume you monitor the participation on
the Papyrus race servers? If you find the participation during this trial
period to exceed the norms.....maybe it would benefit online racing by
allowing a lot more of the GPL community to participate in N4 racing online
too? A lot of those guys like running N4 on the road courses only......for
obvious reasons, they are not thrilled with circle track racing, especially
pick up type racing. I don't think there'd be any argument that the quality
of drivers in the GPL community...on average....far exceeds the quality of
the general N4 community of drivers. It would be great to know.....at any
time you get online in N4....there'd be a quality race server....running
road course races only, with some good drivers running......pretty much
round the clock! The Arcade mode/fixed setup....just takes the issue of
setup and car handling......out of the competition and makes it easier to
just jump in and drive!
If this turns out to be a successful "trial"......based on the numbers
of participants.....maybe it would be possible to add a second dedicated
server (road races only) with standard, full-simulation setup too? It seems
to me there are enough Papyrus servers that this would be a reasonable trial
run to test out?
I don't know....this is only a suggestion. But, I do know you'd see me
online in N4 a lot more often.....and I don't think I'd be the only one who
would participate in online N4 racing......a lot more.
Regards,
Tom Pabst