rec.autos.simulators

Ah, ok, your statement makes more sense now :)

Andre

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No Daytona?

I've only done a handful of laps at Sears and didn't enjoy any of them.

Maybe in a different type of race car.

David  G Fisher

   Just make sure the #19 Dodge is left Free and I'll be
happy....Green/red...Dodge...what more do I need???
dave henrie

What's up with SP in NR2002? Anyone else feel like they're driving on
ice here? I thought at first Papy had screwed the track grip. But it's
actually set higher than WG is. I know there is a lot of elevation
change here that will make the car feel light. Still, I can't believe
that the car would feel this way in real life.

                  Tim Wortman
      North American Simulation Series
               www.nasscar.com

I'll be going in fairly cold too, having only ever run the GPL version.

Jan.
=---

Have we settled on a time/day for this yet?

I vote for a 100% race at Bristol. =)

Jason

Phil

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Olav K. Malmin
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"Olav K. Malmin"

but Olav, you'd be racing with us...not sure if we all qualify as good...;)
dave henrie

I'm going on vacation tomorrow morning and will be back next
saturday. Hopefully I'll find a copy.

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Olav K. Malmin
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How many laps have you run on the real (current) Sears Point Track.  Or, how
many Winston Cup races have you attended there in the last few years?  TV
coverage doesn't always "tell the whole picture".....you know.  From the
standpoint of an "at race" fan.....this track is now one of the most
spectacular road racing tracks in the entire world.  From 90% of the current
"seats" (or terrace seating locations) a fan can see the entire 2+ miles of
the road racing circuit (can follow a race car around by sight)......but for
about 100 feet of it if you sit up in the T2 terrace seats only.  Look up
just slightly from the track and you gaze out a nearly a 360 degree view of
the Sonoma Wine country....North bay area of San Francisco.  The "view" by
itself....... is worth the price of admission......but you can't see this on
TV.  FIA officials visiting the track this winter....were blown away by what
they saw.  The track is now on their "possible" list of alternate tracks for
a USAGP....or possibly a second USAGP race.  So, I think your comment
represents the viewpoint of an uninformed/misinformed person....IMHO.

TP

I'd be glad to get in the practice session early and help anyone out who
wants some tips on getting around the track.  Also, the default setups are
not very good.....makes the car feel like its running in the rain or on an
"ice track."  That's the fault of the setups....not the track or the sim.  I
think John Simmons has a very good handle on running at Sears too....and I'm
sure he'd be glad to help anyone who wants it.

If you pay attention to Darryl's "lesson"....he is pretty much spot-on with
his "tips" for getting around Sears.  The "line" he suggests is
decent....and running practice laps with the racing line turned on....will
help you immensely!  Try to set your gearing as you are learning the
track...so you use only three gears (2nd, 3rd and 4th)....and don't use 1st
gear in T11.  Here's another caveat of racing at Sears......don't be tempted
to late brake into T11 (its the biggest mistake I see in online racing at
Sears).........brake well before the start of the white line that demarks
the pit road exit.  You can get away with braking later than that (at the
white line, for example)...but your margin of error is very small....and you
will pay a huge "price" in your lap time if you miss you mark by a couple
feet at best......or crumble yourself up in the tire wall in T11...at the
worst.  And, if you brake late perfectly......it only gives you about .1
secs....not worth the huge risk of missing a braking point by only two
feet......IMHO.

Setup suggestions (I have only worked on my set up for about an hour.....so
its no where near worth giving it out....you can get close in a few
"clicks"):  Start with the "intermediate" setup (the "fast" is
terrible..IMHO).  Stiffen up all four corners to take the body roll
out...and get the car sliding in the high-speed turns.  Add two pounds tire
pressure all around......then you will probably need to back these down a
1/2 pound per corner as you get dialed in.  If you fudge the "left
turn/right turn" bias....fudge towards right turns (there's more of
those)....but ***don't give up too much speed*** down the main straight and
up into T1 and T2......or you'll not like your race performance....but your
lap times won't show you this until you race the AI (or me).  I run the AI
at 89%.....its about right for the lap times I'm running at Sears at this
level of seat time and setup work.  I turn race laps of mid
1:22's....usually qual at mid-1:21's......nothing special (pb is a 1:20.11).
Want some extra help....follow Jeff Gordon in a race (just run an AI
race...but don't get into your car).

At race starts....brake early going up into T2.....leave lots of room on
both sides......try to stay in the center of the track as you turn into
T2.......and try to get sorted single file BEFORE getting into T2, even
better!  I know that's not totally realistic....but it will avoid "the big
one" at race starts in online racing at Sears.  You are not going to win the
race on the first lap in any online race....and it is double-triple
underlined....at Sears.  Use caution following closely into T7....for the
same reason.  If you consider the general braking zone into that turn to
begin about half-way down the short straight....you'll be prepared to avoid
rear-ending your competitors.

Just like Darryl says in the "lesson"....you'll be frustrated and hate Sears
Point....at first......but keep practicing and working on your set up.  All
of a sudden....you'll "have it".....and when you get to this point...its one
of the more rewarding experiences in sim racing......a really good
accomplishment to be comfortable and competitive at Sears Point in N2K2.

This track is not for beginners....or people that don't take their sim
racing seriously.

See you guys on Sunday.

Tom

*PS:  Race time is 10:00 am Pacific Standard Time...???  just confirming.

**PSS:  I'm wondering if it might not be more fun.....since pretty much
everyone is inexperienced at racing at Sears in N2K2....to do a series of
shorter, "sprint" type races (say 20 laps)......with no damage and no
yellows.  Three or four of these races back to back..... might give everyone
a better feel for racing at Sears.....and it takes the whole issue of tire
wear and fuel consumption out of the equation.  Unless everyone is really
proficient racing at Sears.....we're just going to be parade of "yellow
laps".....interspersed with a few racing laps....you know....running a 50%
race?  Not my idea of "fun racing with your buddies."