rec.autos.simulators

Peter Hooper

Michael.

can

Isn't that the whole point? You either match the car to how you drive, or
adapt your driving to the car. I know what you mean about the hot-lapper
setups. They feel good for a while, but I end up changing them quite a bit.
Even so, going back to their original setups after you've driven your tweaks
for a while is educational.

And yes, comparing my driving to the AI is meaningful (unless you mean that
they're too slow :-). I definitely prefer the Single Race practice sessions
over solitary Practice, even though that means no Shift-R. I thought at one
time the AI had to be cheating. I'm finding now that it was my ham-fist,
setup, and/or line, cuz there came one day when I found that I *could* run
with them, and then I started beating them. If nothing else, they're good
benchmarks for top and cornering speeds. Riding in-car with them in replays
is also instructional. The replay analyzer will tell you where and how much
you're slower or faster. (I got strong hints to get slower on entry at some
corners from doing this.)

Off-line, I consistently qualify between Gurney and McLaren, sometimes
edging out Bandini; other times not quite catching Amon. I used to start
every race farther back, between McLaren and Rodriguez. One of my larger
joys now, in late practice after lap times have stabilized, is to punt
McLaren when I catch him from behind. Try finding someone online who won't
be looking to return the favor when the race starts.  :-)

Michael.

If you haven't done so already download the ReplayAnalyser from:

http://www.bigfoot.com/~GPL_Replay_Analyser/

and see exactly where the bulk of the time is lost (time difference trace).
Then watch the section in question over and over again. Check out the line
of the faster driver. It's not his setup which makes him fast (it merely
suits his style), it's the way he drives the track. For example, if you can
do it without compromising putting the power down, keeping tight out of the
Parabolica (not using all of the exit and keeping to the right/middle of the
main straight) is worth 0.4s at Monza. If I can do 1m31s dead in the BRM you
can easily break 1m30s in the more performant vehicles (forget the Ferrari
and the Repco, this is Lotus/Eagle country).

The trick with GPL is not to set up the car so it will corner/accelerate
fastest, you should try and formulate a setup which allows you to push the
car, HARD, with total confidence. Drive the contact patches, i.e. make use
of every bit of grip that is out there. I know it is hard to do, as part of
your brain is busy compensation for the lack of sensation in the sim as
opposed to a real vehicle, but you much achieve a level of experience/setup
where the actual driving is unconcentrational and your mind is free to
analyze and get the most out of the situation at hand (I can only achieve
this on rare occasions, but it's happening more often all the time).

And finally, realize your limitations and drive accordingly, if only to
please yourself (when you're up against a VERY competitive field). The crash
and burn approach to GPL can only lead to frustration.

Jan.
----

Andre

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Own Grand Prix Legends?  Goto  http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Jan.
----

The latest version of SpyGirl has a sync function that allows you to resync the
two cars at any place on the track as many times as you choose.
--
Don Scurlock
Vancouver,B.C.

--
don

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