rec.autos.simulators

Does the level og grip change from race to race even on the same
circuit?

Last night I did a 1.17.6xx in a 100 % race at Brazil.

Tried again 39 min. later (new race, same car fuel etc.)
1.8.6xx was the best i could do.

Also the ai cars went faster the first race.

I've spent about 600 hours driving GP2 :-), and I can tell you that the
player car's grip and BHP vary from session to session, and as soon you
press 'q' in practice mode you get a new grip and a new BHP. It's the
same for the CC's.

/Christer Andersson

Several things are randomized when you start a race/practice session/qualifying
session. Horsepower is certainly one of them (variation of 6 BHP). But I don't
think the grip changes (?)

JoH
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On Mon, 15 Sep 1997 21:58:58 +0200, Christer Andersson

Stefan Dijkshoorn

I agree that the BHP never exceeds 779, but I'm quite sure it can be
lower.

I also use hof2lap and for a couple of days ago I did some practice in
one practice session. I saved a couple of the laps during this practice
session and then I run hof2lap on them and voila, the BHP was different
in some of the laps. Never over 779 though. I'm quite convinced that the
BHP is randomized from about 774 to 779 every time you press Q in
qualifying.

/Christer Andersson

I'm sure the grip gets rerandomized every time you press Q in practice
mode, cause now and then I notice a big difference in grip when driving.
When I hotlap I always take on four laps of fuel and then go three laps
full out, press Q, fiddle with the setup, then back in the saddle again.
I know most hotlapper go out with 2 laps of fuel and run the first lap
real slow and save just before they start their timed lap. Then they run
their saved lap again and again, and they will never notice the
difference in grip, I guess :-), but I've noticed it, especially at
Hungaroring and Monaco, where grip is important.

/Christer Andersson, drives without any helps or aids, and with a
Thrustmaster T1 :-)

On Tue, 16 Sep 1997 23:41:15 +0200, Christer Andersson

AFAIK no-one has found any random grip setting within GP2.EXE though....

Looks like it may not be the grip that accounts for your change in laps
then <g>

Cheers,
Richard

Well...

The final word is: the grip level ISN'T randomized. I run a hotlap series
(http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/9326) and got permission by Dave Gymer
(programmer of HOF2LAP) to use AUTH2LAP, a tool that analyses the authentication
codes produced by HOF2LAP. This authentication code also contains the grip (not
shown by HOF2LAP itself), and this is ALWAYS the same in practice sessions:
16384.

It's probable that the minor changes in setup cause the different feel (which
isn't more than logical, I think  ;-)   )

JoH
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I have of course been driving the same setup when I noticed the
difference in grip between the Q presses :-), I'm stupid, but not that
stupid :-).

As I said before I've been driving GP2 without steering help, for about
600 hours, and I've noticed this the first time just a couple of weeks
ago. A matter of importance is that I never let the occupancy exceed
100%, hence I always drive in real time, and thus I can "feel" the speed
:-). Those driving in slow motion, may perhaps not notice the grip
changes that easy, though I didn't notice it very easy either (after 550
hours of practice :-) ), but that's just a theory :-).

I have taken part in a no helps hotlaps competition for about 9 month
now, which dont allow slomo-driving. I currently lead the competition,
so I'm not that bad as a driver either, hence if the grip changes, I
should notice it :-). The hotlap competition:

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/2922/

/Christer Andersson, I really hope it do changes now :-)!

Read my response to Richard first, Jo, I'm really not that stupid, yet
:-).

Have you read my response to Richard, yet :-)?

I've followed the developing of the hof2lap and I seem to remember that
he couldn't extract the player grip with any certainty. It could explain
why everything else except the grip is shown by hof2lap. There also are
no editor that can change the player grip, at least not to my knowledge,
so I'm guessing there are some trouble getting and setting the grip in
GP2. To bad, cause I've been driving a little Formula Ford in reality,
and with the possibility to also change grip, I could perhaps simulate
an FFord.

/Christer, it's just a feeling I have, and it could of course be wrong
:-)!

On Thu, 18 Sep 1997 22:06:05 +0200, Christer Andersson

I first really noticed an "apparent" change in grip when I ran a league
race at Suzuka a year ago. No problems in practice races but come the
real thing I could barely keep on the track :( Most of the time there
isn't any really noticable difference but every now and again the car
seems to slide all over the place for no obvious reason - I usually just
restart GP2 when that happens which seems to cure it.

NB: I deliberately say "apparent" as we're still waiting for someone to
prove it.

Keep digging - theres a couple of seconds more to shave off at some of
those tracks ;-)

If you want some real competition, dig out one of those Compuserve trial
CDs and have a look in the SPRTSIMS forum. You won't find quicker no-aids
drivers anywhere else!

Cheers,
Richard

Now when you mention it I also have noticed the difference in grip
during races after pit stops.

For the hotlapping I blame my and my fellow competitors lousy times for
not being talented :-), we just practice a lot :-). I also would love to
see those hotlappers in the ONLY no helps competition on internet, and I
want to see them now :-). I need the competition :-), and I hope their
not slomo-drivers.

I tried the compuserve thingy, but it seemed as if one needed some
special software besides GP2 and Netscape :-).

/Christer, may the downforce be with you Richard :-)

On Fri, 19 Sep 1997 23:02:30 +0200, Christer Andersson

As for joining in your hotlap competition, it's unlikely I'm afraid. As
far as is humanly possible we know & trust the times of the friends we're
competing against. Many of us on Compuserve are there because that trust
exists and there isn't the ***ing found in many of the 'net based
competitions (no slur intended on the one you are competing in as I
obviously don't have any personal experience of it - but the friendliness
(and speed!) of the CSi drivers compared to what I had encountered in
'net leagues is what attracted me over there even though it costs me
extra money)

It's possible to get by with the standard Compuserve software for
following the forums although an off line reader soon pays for itself if
you are going to follow the busier forums.

As for racing, there's no special software required for hotlapping with
GP2 and the only required extra for taking part in the F1SA races is a
utility for producing race reports and an authentication code.

Cheers,
Richard

I think I've found a summary of your times at F1SA and I must say I'm
impressed :-). On some tracks you drive circles around us :-(. In our
competition we have a great friendliness, kept up with emailing,
everyone knows everyone. A new driver is always being welcomed to the
competition by the other drivers.

How is your rules regarding processor occupancy?

Regarding slomo-driving, I guess we have to wait for a F1 simulator,
which wont allow it, and then see who is still very fast :-). The danger
in slomo-driving now is that one would be relatively slower in such a F1
simulator.

What's the standard Compuserver software and how do I get it. I hope
it's not a problem being from Sweden when you connect to Compuserve?

/Christer, now you've got me all interested :-)