rec.autos.simulators

I really can not agree with this at all. For some of us, the look left
and right buttons aren't always accessible during a race, especially
not at critical times, such as when somebody is trying to overtake
you. For example, my steering wheel has only four programmable
buttons. Two are used up for the gearstick, the third for the clutch
and the fourth one for the 'raise arm' feature.

Even if I had the ability to use Hotkeys and even if I had far more
buttons, there would still be good reason for accidently hitting
somebody from the side. Say, for example, you're going around a long
left hander and somebody behind you tries to overtake you on the
right. Your car begins to drift to the right slightly, but because the
person behind you is attempting to overtake you, you bang into him.
Who's fault is it that an accident happened? On the real roads, it
would be the overtaker, because the person coming from behind is
_always_ in fault, even if it was caused by a mistake of the person in
front.

Also, when using the left and right keys on a big open track, like
Spa, there are many places which are easy to use them. However, using
them at Monaco, for example, is very difficult indeed, in comparison,
of course.

Griffin, the Slayer

It really can be quite disconcerning.

Griffin, the Slayer

Ok Davy I'll concede this one. I used a poor selection of words there mate.
There may be a slight blind spot but in my experience this should rarely
cause problems. If you are so  close to a car as to be in striking range,
you should be able to hear his engine in very close proximity. Given this, I
personally, would be very cautious about moving over too rapidly. Sure I'll
admit that positional audio would help but in my experience, using the look
left /right function will save the day in 99% of cases. There will always be
accidents but that is just the nature of the beast. Of course one thing you
might not have considered is that enemy to us all.....Warping. No amout of
stimulus can account for a car being where it should not be all of a sudden.

reputation as an experienced racer within VROC using GPL.

I have a reputation. Thanks for the compliment. Did you ever hear the story
about the tortoise and the hare? Guess how I win most of my races <G>.

Regards

Mark

Stick the clutch and raise arm feature on the keys man. The clutch is only
needed on the startline if at all and nobody ever sees arms raised anyway

If you drift into another car, as a result of not being able to control your
line or using excessive amounts of road when someone is along side you it is
your fault......

Cut to M. Schumacher 1997. " Sorry Bernie but that championship should be
mine. Mr Villeneuve must have been wrong because he was trying to overtake
me. Cut to Adelaide 1994 ......
By being able to see where the other car is, you could (should) be driving
in such a manner as to prevent collision. When a guy is alongside you, you
cannot just drive as though you have a god given right to use all the road
even if it means taking someone out. Common sense prevails in such
instances.

Only if he takes you out from behind. Not if you are side by side and you
drive into him. Are you suggesting that you would rather go off the road and
then apportioning blame to someone else for trying to overtake you? If this
is the case (and tell me if I am wrong), You aint going to win too often my
friend.

Agreed. It aint always  easy. But then GPL was never meant to be easy. It's
very easy to crash and take half the field out by not learning a very basic
skill like using your eyes to their full advantage.

Regards

Mark

I'm therefore stuck with having to use Z and X to look left/right!

However, my TSW analogue clutch kit will be arriving soon, so then I'll
have the jump on you guys!!!

If you do, then I'm mystified, as I tried repeatedly to assign the
clutch to a keyboard key, by clicking on the clutch entry and pressing a
key on the keyboard, but each time it ignored the keypress and the
clutch remained unassigned.

I'll try it again later!

I had 1 feet advantage to the Lotus on the left of me, and the gap
between us was wide enough to go somewhat to the left. KABOOM. It
appears that there was a car (an Eagle) between us, his nose 2 feet
behind my nose. Since you only can see 1 car behind you, I didn't see
this car at all.

So, not only warping is the enemy here, the only 1 car behind visible,
is as well.

Remco

    To further Marks statement...  You should have seen that the overtaking
driver was in your mirrors at one time and was a bit faster just before he
disappeared.  In such an occasion, I'd lay odds that that driver was considering
to overtake me and is probably someplace near by, Maybe to my right.  A quick
"right" look would help determine if he is in fact there.  If I still can't see
him, Then he is in my (if there is one) blind spot and I will hold my lower line
and decrease my speed to be able to stay low till I can see where he is.

    To add to this,  I'm using the "look left and right" feature more often.
Because of this,  Places like Mexico are becoming easier and easier to use the
"look left and right".  so, It's also my opinion that the "look" feature is
another skill to learn.

--
=========================================
Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing?
=========================================
Member of R.O.R. 1999
http://www.pivot.net/~marknjess/ror.html
=========================================
Racing online with the help of......

Race Communications Association
http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html

Holodyne Engineering

Mystic Music

    As I said, I think it's been mentioned before that you can see more behind you
with the faster modems such as a cable.

--
=========================================
Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing?
=========================================
Member of R.O.R. 1999
http://www.pivot.net/~marknjess/ror.html
=========================================
Racing online with the help of......

Race Communications Association
http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html

Holodyne Engineering

Mystic Music

Dave Ewing

By modifying the packetsize, in the CORE.INI, you can alter the amount
of visible cars. For an explanation of this, see Bart Westra's -
excellent - site.

http://people.a2000.nl/bcwes/gplol.htm

Remco

Oh well, at least it'll speed up my starts, so I can crash into other
people who aren't looking in their mirrors!

Mark