rec.autos.simulators

I am using joystick to race in GPL( as well as alot of
other games )
and due to the steering-at-speed feature, I am not able to
catch the
drift that I am used to.

So this limits my style to "slow-in-fast-out"
which depend a lot on the "slow-in" part.
Since with joystick, I can't get trail-braking
I found myself unable to improve my time at all.

I note there are quite a few racers using joystick.
I wonder what driving technique are you using ? ?

--
regards

===========================================
Singapore

My setup is simple. I use forward and backward for acceleration and
braking, and side-to-side for steering.

I do most of my braking in a straight line, with some trail brake, which
involves just easing off the brakes when I've begun my turn in... like
at Tarzan at Zandy.

Hope it helps.
--Dave

Hi!
I don't get it: Tail-braking is braking as well as staying on the throttle,
and IMO can't be achieved using your setup; You'd have to assign a button
for braking, and in GPL you then get Braking-Help turned on which reduces
your lap-times, clear me up if I'm wrong, wheel-driver myself....
cya
Markus

Trail braking, as defined by driving instructor (and former 60s F1
driver) Bob Bondurant means you are "trailing off of the brakes as you
enter the first third of the corner." This means that the gas is off
completely, and you are easing off of the brake pedal as you turn in.
You actually use some of the weight transfer from the braking to your
benefit to help you turn in quicker. Done properly, it yields nice
turn-in with less steering input... You're essentially using the brakes
to turn-in. Think of it as trailing-throttle oversteer with a brake
pedal instead of gas... if your car doesn't oversteer much on a trailing
throttle entering the corner, try carrying some of your braking into the
corner. It should help the rear end rotate a bit. I've done it plenty of
times in race-prepared RX-7s to know how that works... and it works well
in the right car and setup.

Left-foot braking, OTOH, is braking in some fashion with the gas ON,
either lightly or heavily. That is why you need two-axis pedals to make
this technique work. This is what IndyCar drivers call it, and how they
use it. It makes the transitions smoother on and off the brakes when you
can *blend* the application of brakes and throttle.

I hope this clears up why I *do* sometimes use trail braking and get
away with it with a joystick.

:-)

--Dave

the trail braking I was referring to is the
brake with slight throttle.
Seen some of them being used in replays
which gives better braking and control
even at mid-corners.

The way I see it, CORNERS make or break
your lap time
If you can get throught the corners with speed
and brake efficiently, your lap time will
improve dramatically

btw, what steering settings are you using for the
j-stick ?

| Well, trail braking is tough, but it can be done... and
it helps late
| braking and turning quite well. What trail braking is, to
clarify, is
| extending your braking zone into the beginning of the
corner. This way,
| you can brake slightly later and still get good turn-in.
But you need a
| understeering setup to get away with this.
|
| My setup is simple. I use forward and backward for
acceleration and
| braking, and side-to-side for steering.
|
| I do most of my braking in a straight line, with some
trail brake, which
| involves just easing off the brakes when I've begun my
turn in... like
| at Tarzan at Zandy.
|
| Hope it helps.
| --Dave
|
| >
| > Hi
| >
| > I am using joystick to race in GPL( as well as alot of
| > other games )
| > and due to the steering-at-speed feature, I am not able
to
| > catch the
| > drift that I am used to.
| >
| > So this limits my style to "slow-in-fast-out"
| > which depend a lot on the "slow-in" part.
| > Since with joystick, I can't get trail-braking
| > I found myself unable to improve my time at all.
| >
| > I note there are quite a few racers using joystick.
| > I wonder what driving technique are you using ? ?
| >
| > --
| > regards
| > Leong                     email :

| > ===========================================
| > Singapore
|
| --
| Dave Schwabe
| The Aussie Toad -- Grand Prix Legends & Brabham site
| http://users.wi.net/~schwabe
|

As for steering settings, I am using (on the controller menu) the
linearity slider all the way to the RIGHT. Now, my old Flightstick is
really worn out, so there is play on-center. So anything more linear and
it gets really nervous.

Also, I tend to use steering ratio (in the setup menu) of 17-20:1,
depending on the track. I like slower steering on the higher speed
tracks. But I really base it on this: if I have to steer *too much* to
make some corners (meaning really cranking the stick over), I'll quicken
the lock (meaning a lower first number) and that usually helps the car
steer faster... like it's supposed to! :-)

Hope it helps!
--Dave