rec.autos.simulators

1. After racing a while, my LF tire is much cooler than the
others at around 130 degrees (on Martinsville).  Does this mean
there is a problem with my driving style?  I haven't modified
the car.

2. Where can I learn more about tactics, techniques, racing
rules, etc.?  The manual is good in some respects, such as
history and details on setting up the car, but poor on these
subjects.

3. When I go into a turn, my wheels screech throughout, and I
bang into the outer wall.  Do I need to slow down more, or is
there another way of handling this?

4. Is there a consensus best joystick setup?  I use the X-axis
for steering, Y-axis for accelerate/braking, and the buttons
for shifting.

5. I set the textures all to auto, and the computer chooses not
to show any of them.  However, my frame rate is okay and I
think I can turn a few of them on.  Any recommendations as to
which ones?

6. If I don't maintain forward pressure on the joystick, my
speed fades away.  Is it supposed to work this way?

7. Should I have saved my money and waited for the next Indy
Racing (Windows 95)?

Personally, I think NASCAR is better than Indycar, simulation OR real
world!

Go #6 Mark Martin and #16 Ted Musgrave - Jack Roush Racing!!
NASCAR Racing!!

http://innet.com/~sean/nascar/nascar.html <--NASCAR Racing Sim page

Obviously, but I have a different problem:  even when I mash the
accelerator/joystick forward, I can never come close to the 100% speeds
of the fastest cars (the closest I've come to a lap record at any track
is still about 4 mph off that pace) - even when using the Ace setup.

I play using auto shifting - does that make a difference?  Manual
shifting is NOT an option for me...

Thanks,

Earl

You do have to lift more than you'd think.  These cars are heavy

Watch NASCAR races on TV

yes

Setup, but geta feel for driving a Cup car before you go in the garage.  
Start with the supplied setups.  Start with easy and progress to Ace as you
improve.

No comment.  I have a T1

NASCAR will eat up all of a 486-dx4-100 and give a P-100 quite a workout too.
My thinking is that what you have on is all you should run.

Yep.

No way.  NASCAR is the world's most competitive sport (and a damn good sim
too!)

I would suggest using the button for Acceleration. I use button #1 for
Acceleration, #2 for braking and #3 for reverse.

Kirk

This is also covered in the above article, but the short answer
is...yes.

I don't know if there is a "best" way to setup.  I use the x-axis for
steering and the buttons for accel/brake.  The keyboard can be used for
shifting.

What I did was assign the min. rate to 25 and the max. rate to 30.  I
turned most textures off except for the last three (car, skid, and
smoke.)  The skid marks are, in my opinion, most important because they
help you stay in the groove.  Besides, you can always turn everything on
for the replays. :-)

Hope this helps.
PoombaT

Glad to hear you've got it and are impressed.

No, it's one of the (relatively few) problems with the game- the RF
doesn't get the heat it should.

One of my prime sources is Cirle Track.  Not only does it have great
stories of NASCAR, it also has tech/setup pieces to help average folks
tune up a stock car.  Many of the techniques do apply to this sim
although things like engine building and car construction are of little use.

You bet you need to slow down more.  That screeching sound is traction
lost.  Also some setup work is required.

On thing you might consider is putting your braking on a button if
possible (I've got a Thrustmaster joystick).  This way you can come off
braking even faster.

You bet.

EM->I play using auto shifting - does that make a difference?  Manual
  ->shifting is NOT an option for me...

There is a difference between 100% speed and 100% throttle.  You probably
are reaching the maximum speed determined by your setup (all that ugly stuff
under the garage menu <g>).  Time to lower some wings, stiffen some
suspension....its a chore to setup a race car.  <g>

... All sentences that seem true should be questioned.

Car Detail on/off - 7 key
Smoke/Dirt on/off - 8 key
Skid/Paint on/off  - 9 key
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^---- for those who are too lazy to look at the
included keyboard reference guide.... like me!

Go #6 Mark Martin and #16 Ted Musgrave - Jack Roush Racing!!
NASCAR Racing!!

http://innet.com/~sean/nascar/nascar.html <--NASCAR Racing Sim page

The best I have found so far is to use the x-axis for steering,
the keyboard for accel/break  and (this is the good bit) the two joystick
buttons for shift up/down. After blowing the engine a few times
you get used to it and it makes for plenty of red-lining - fry that engine!

Stuart.
Stuart Booth

: - does wind speed/direction have any affect on a car's handling during

:   a  race and, if so, how do we know what direction we face when  
:   driving around each track?

: - computer cars are very quick off the draw when the green flag drops
:   after a period under yellow.  Anyone else share the same opinion?

: - autobrake doesn't work very well (at least not at Atlanta) in
:   keeping speeds below 55mph while in pit lane.  Testing from a saved
:   position resulted in getting a black flag each time for exceeding
:   the pit lane speed limit.  Under autobrake, the speed at times will
:   hit 56mph briefly, which is apparently all it takes to be penalized.

:   Has anyone else suffered this as well?  I make sure not to exceed
:   54 mph now.

: - saving a race midway through results in a yellow flag and a change
:   in the order the cars were in when you resume.  Why does this
:   happen?  Can't the save function save the position, speed and
:   acceleration of each  of the cars instead of just their current
:   standing?  Its frustrating to have to save at a point during a long
:   race when you've built up a 5 second lead only to have it erased
:   when you resume the same race.

   I agree that if you save a race you should be able to resume EXACTLY where
   you exited.  The way I get around it is to save the race on a yellow.  
   As soon as the pace car crosses the time line and gives the one to go until
   green, exit and save, this way all of the laps are reallistic, not
   'missing' any on yellow.
: - in replay films, cars appear to repeatedly bump their nose into the
:   outer  wall down the straights of Bristol.

: - at times during a race (again, seeing this in Bristol), cars
:   suddenly veer into the outer wall and then quickly veer back down
:   the track and towards the pit.  It is as if the driver is
:   purposefully damaging the car so he can make a pit stop.  Is this
:   the computer's way of randomly assigning car damage due to driving
:   mistakes?  If so, why don't we ever see damage being done to the
:   car?  The car looks in perfect condition as it lumbers in to pit
:   lane.  Am I the only one who's seen this?

: - pit times are not realistic.  My pit times are always 20-21 seconds
:   no matter if I change one tire on the left side or all four tires.  
:   One tire usually takes about 7 seconds to change, but then I have to

:   sit around for 15 more before I can leave.  I don't request
:   refuelling, nor for any damage to be repaired or any other
:   modifications to be made.

: I hope Papyrus responds to these problems.  I've forwarded the above
: to them in hopes that any new update will make some effort at
: correcting these problems.