rec.autos.simulators

"Gunner"
ORSA Bronze #78 Navy Dodge

This brings up a topic that has not really been debated. Which sim prepares
drivers better for N3: GPL or N2/99? I would have to think that GPL prepares
you better because the engine is so much different than N2/99. However,
N2/NR1999 does give you the experience of oval racing and the prefered
racing lines on all of the tracks. The answer is: Know how to drive BOTH.

Or maybe drive N2/99 tracks in GPL?

;o)

A. Renault

M

        Whether or not the same physics engine is used in N3.  The more times
you race against your self, AI, Online, You gain expieriance.

So, Do I think you should practice with GPL in hopes that it will help
you in N3?  Any SIM that you use will help you with N3.  YES, Run GPL!

For that mater, Run as many Racing SIMs as you can as often as you can.

Just my $0.02 worth,
Mike Barlow

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

Holodyne Engineering

Mystic Music

"Gunner"
ORSA Bronze #78 Navy Dodge

Few days ago, I was watching the 95 Nascar season in review. In it they had
a interview with Gordan after and accident.  In that interview, he had
stated that he had no place to go.  He pick the high line over the low line
due to the possiblity of spinning the car.  I have heard other drivers say
basically the same thing.  When was the last time you spun, in N2, trying to
avoid a wreck?  Now, I have spun many-a-time after hitting the car infront
of me, I have even spun on my own.  I don't believe I have ever worried
about spinning when trying to avoid a wreck.

I was running GPL at my friends house.  We where running at Monza.  My
biggest problem, was gearing down for the hair pin.  I kept locking up the
rear tires and kicking the rear wheels out, because I was gearing down too
fast.  Never happened to me in N2...  Oh, by the way, the three laps that I
did complete in a race at Monza, was some of the best sim racing I have ever
seen.

The biggest problem, I have with road racing, is learning the track.  22
miles at the ring (not going to try and spell it.) NASCAR tracks are mostly
ovals.  Not much to learn for each track. That leaves more time learning to
drive the car and less to worry about whether the next turn goes left or
right and how tight it is.

I feel that GPL is forcing me into a proper or better drive style.

My two cents....

Hi Don,

The simple answer is that N2 has always been 2D. The physics model has
concentrated on modeling the basics of a stock car, and as of now, it
is still the most realistic we have. I have learnt that to drive N2
fast, you can give inputs that in reality would leave the car in the
wall very quickly. To qual fast at Rockingham you would enter turn1,
using the maximum amount of brakes, and a  ton of steering. Thankfully
the tire wear model means a more realistically smooth entrance is
required in a long race. N2 is every bit as challenging to drive
*fast*, over a large distance such as a fuel window, as it is to stay
on the track in GPL. Just with N2, the physics are not developed to
the level where small changes in throttle, brake, weight distribution,
steering and a plethora of forces that I can sense and see happening
in real life but do not know the names of.

In GPL, just about all these effects are plugged into the physics
engine. My guess is that with N3, going from no throttle to full
throttle quickly will kick the rears spinning at just about any turn
on the WC calendar. This may be a lot easier to catch due to weight of
these vehicles, but will be no good to tire wear... Dabbing the brakes
will cause the car to be upset, to much weight forward, you're at a
steady equilibrium on a banked oval, a loose condition shall be coming
your way very soon.

I can't wait for the demo. :-T ~~~

Cheers,

-:http://www.simproject.com/ccg/

 http://members.tripod.com/~HOSHUMUNGUS

    and

 http://www.frontiernet.net/~godsoe/bolt/home.htm

Papyrus states that their new physics model is excellent in that to
model a new type of car they just punch in its variables and it
handles like its real life counterpart.Nascars have   weightmore
HP,more stable suspension,front engined,etc.etc..But like i said
before a car is a car is a car.Nascars or Cart cars or 67F1 cars all
experience weight transfer from braking and acceleration.Of course
they all handle differently but the basics stay the same.Well most
likely find that N3 will be much easier then GPL since no grip tires
on low banked turns is gonna require some very artful driving to race
quick on:)))))
Skeeter

Yes!  But, don't bother if you still want to run N2/99, as the GPL
experience may just sour you on the lame physics in N2. ;-)

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

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