rec.autos.simulators

This may or may not get any responses.  If you have even any
ideas, I'd love to hear it.

Since N2 even, I have a general strange issue with my setups that
I find very interesting.  On most all of my setups, when near the
end of the race if I change only right side tires... MY CAR TURNS
INTO A ROCKETSHIP :)   While this is great and all, I am left
with a question haunting me on what is the general symptom of my
"normal" setup causing this to occur.  Obviously I could better
maximize my 4 tire setup if I could figure this out.  

There must be some GENERAL CONDITION(S) that a crew chief could
hear this problem and say this is likely caused by 1 of (n)
things.  Just last week Everenham was saying that when they go
right sides only they make an adjustment to Gordon's car to
compensate... what is that adjustment?  Maybe I should make that
in reverse?

It's the most amazing thing.  I just ran my most fun N99 race
ever at C***te against 103 rels AI, and Mark Martin and I had
the race of a lifetime.  For 80+ straight laps, including pit
stop, he was within .5 seconds.  My mirror was so full of that
Valvoline "V" the entire friggin time.  I nearly pissed my pants
a few times.  He could not get around me though.  It was a
fantastic race.  We lapped the entire field.  There was a caution
w/25 to go.  I pitted and only took right side tires because I
was afraid he'd beat me out of the pits (my pit crew is the
slowest bunch of schoolgirls on the planet!!).  On the restart,
after two laps my car took off like a rocketship, it was silky
smooth in the turns, and like a space shuttle launching off the
turns, and I ran away from him even though he wasn't in traffic.
Ended up winning by over 3 seconds... including 5 straight laps
under 30 seconds, and I had run ZERO laps under 30 secs in the
previous 200+ laps (my setup get's me usually about 30.080 sec
laps if I'm driving good/consistent in the clear, until tires
start to go away)

This is becoming a general condition of all my setups.  I must be
mising something, and am BEGGING for expertise.  Thanks.

-=Hammer
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I'm guessing left side tires don't wear down as much.  You had fresh right
sides along with a low fuel load.  Martin might of only stopped for right sides
or a gas and go.  It's hard to tell.  I think the your sub 30sec laps might of
been due to the fresh right sides and a low fuel load.
Racer X
Veteran Sim Racer
Victory Lane-
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/1423/

Can't help you much, but I've noticed the same thing to some extent at all
the tracks.  For about 2-3 laps, you can drive alot faster laps than the
AI(although not at record pace).  I attribute it to the tires being cool,
and I dont think the AI is capable of*** it out like the human drivers
can.  As far as turning five laps in the 29's all I can say is, that after
200 laps, you developed a good rythem that you couldn't get at the start of
the race.(practice makes perfect, ever hear that?)

Thanks Target.  I'm not sure though, to be honest.  The car feels
much more "free" from the center out.  I believe I may have a
balance or pressure problem with my standard setup that is
"accidentally" cured by reducing the the left side .vs right side
grip difference.  

Maybe you are correct though and it's that... lower fuel,
although in this case my idiot labotomized crew chief gave me
enough fuel for almost 35 laps although I had only 25 to go.
Looked like a 60% load to me, just guessing by the gauge.

I did replay and watch several of Martin's laps after the race,
and he seemed to run about the same as previous.  My car was
definitely faster than it had ever been during the whole race, I
even had a 29.7... wowsers on about my 5th lap after the restart.
Flying.

Hard to say.  Interesting.  It's a "good problem" to have I
s'pose, knowing at most tracks I can turn myself into a
rocketship at the end... how many real world stockers would love
to have that problem :)

-=Hammer
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Try a practice session or training (whatever they call it ;-) ) and use
a small fuel load. It might be the combination of slightly less grip on
the left side with good grip on the right side PLUS lower weight in rear
due to fuel load being lower. .....or just good tires (the lf side
shouldn't wear as much) and lighter fuel load

I suppose you could stiffen your left side shocks a bit to try and
~simulate~ the effect that you get late in the race by changing rt side
tires only. Or maybe move some weight forward to simulate the lighter
fuel load. Of course these changes might adversely affect your car setup
as the race wears on.

Alan

A late race tire stop will result in less fuel in the tank but fresher tires
which is the reason for your increased speed.  A rule of thumb to use when
taking only 2 tires is to add 10-20 lbs of wedge to compensate for the left
side tires getting worn and causing the car to get loose.

Don Merpaw
Netracer