rec.autos.simulators

> > Most top level real-world drivers do a regular "eye sweep" of dash and
> > mirrors at multiple times each lap.  On road courses, this is generally
> > during the straights (although at Portland I would do one "sweep" during
> the
> > infield run each lap too).....it varies on the ovals and is generally
more
> > interval related than track position related.  Once this good habit is
> > established....the subconscious mind takes over and you hardly realize
you
> > are doing this.  The conscious mind is alerted only when there's a
> > conditional change (a car in the mirror changes position...or a dash
gauge
> > needle is out of position).  I find this habit to be so engrained in me
> > now.....I do it when driving on the streets too.  If someone were to
> "freeze
> > frame" me somewhere on a highway or street in town even....cover my
> mirrors
> > and ask me, "What's behind you?" ....I would be able to tell them the
cars
> > behind me...which lane they were in and what color they are...and
roughly
> > what their positions are relative to my car.  Like I said, its a habit
> when
> > ever I'm behind the wheel of a car.

> > I didn't invent this technique...it was hammered into me at the first
> > Piterressi Racing School I took back in my rookie year in racing.  The
> > instructors would pull you into the pits for a stop.  They would ask
you,
> > "What's the color and car number of the three cars that were behind you
on
> > that last lap?"  If you couldn't tell them....they'd make you sit in the
> > pits until the session was over.....loosing track time at a racing
school
> > was not fun....nor was the fact that everyone could see you sitting in
the
> > pits "the penalty pits"...lol....!!!  It was a good way to teach you to
> > develop the "eye sweep" habit.  They'd also ask you questions about your
> > gauges....you never knew exactly what they'd ask....so you learned
pretty
> > quickly by "day two" of the school to be ready to answer the questions.
I

> > lost some valuable track time at that school....as did all the
> > rookies.....but I gained a very good "racing tool" very early in my
racing
> > career because of it.

> > All you rookie sim drivers out there should at least give this a try.
You
> > will be amazed at how much more "situationally aware" you become during
a
> > race or practice session.  It does work.

> > Just a helpful hint.....

> > Tom

> That's what I loved about driving sprints on dirt....in every corner you
> could glance over your left shoulder and see what's happening behind
you:-)
> Naz"T"

> > We had a "fine sensory input to help us withe the loss of peripheral
> vision"
> > in N2.  In short, the mirrors covered just as much field and did so
> without
> > shrinking the vehicles imho.
> > Naz"T"

> Yea, you are right, now that I think about it. There were two types of
> mirrors, the concave one as we have  now and the one you mention above. I
> guess Papy decided it was too much work doing both or the other type
caused
> too much of a perfrormance hit.

> > How come the mirror gives the impression that the car behind you is
about
> 4
> > car lengths back when it actually is only half a car length? I've gotten
> > used to it, but it seems too far off especially since you drive bumper
to
> > bumper so much in NASCAR.

> > Is there a file you can edit to set your start postion in a quick race?
I
> > don't see that as an in game option anywhere.

> > David G Fisher

> Don't know about your second question, but you can turn on the roll cage
in
> the rear view and that also puts the rear spoiler in the view. Then the
cars
> will 'appear' the proper distance behind you. If you run without the roll
> cage and spoiler activated, the cars behind you will look further away
than
> they actually are.

> David G Fisher

> > > I just tried your suggestion, but they still look the same. The cars
> don't
> > > change at all when I swtich roll cage on/off.

> > > David G Fisher

> >  Thats really the point Daivd, if you will switch back and forth between
> the
> > roll cage view and non roll cage view, you'll notice that the spoiler
> > appears further behind the car in your mirror, about where it should be.
> The
> > cars' appearance (distance) will not change, but the extra graphic gives
> you
> > a more tangible point of reference (the rear spoiler)  to gauge the
> > following cars' distance behind..It works, really, your eyes just need to
> > see the difference once then you'll understand.