rec.autos.simulators

On the other hand moving over to a different line (usually to protect
the inside for a corner) I think is perfectly fine, just don't weave
back and forth!
If you're the lead driver then pick a line and stick with it, don't pick
a line on what way the driver behind seems to be taking. Take the
insideline and let the driver trying to pass try the outsideline if he
wants to pass!

Exception is at very long straights (which usually means just the
frontstraight at Monza :-) I will sometimes weave a little to make it
harder for the car behind to stay in the slipstream. I think this is
fair as long as the car behind is still some distance behind ( <3
carlenghts), any closer and (s)he might be thinking of making a move on
you at the same time which cause some dangerous situations!

Oh and be sure to pick a line early enough so that the driver behind
doesn't get taken by surprise just as (s)he is about to overtake you on
that side!

--
Arne Martin

        Between Alan Orton, Ross MacGregor and I, coming out of the last turn
on the last lap at Silverstone, There have been many times when we would
run side by side trying to win.  You will never see either of us trying
to block the other only because it's more fun to win by one inch then it
is to win nose to tail. :-)

Mike Barlow

Race Communications Association
http://www.racesimcentral.net/
Holodyne Engineering

Mystic Music

(have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

Marty

Joe McGinn
==========================================
Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network
http://www.racesimcentral.net/***.com/
==========================================

If you do that do it early, i.e. at the start of the straight. Dont
go off the line just some meters away from the braking zone. That will
ruin the race for both drivers.

Georg

Actually the later reminds me of a F2 race, practice session, at Silverstone
where I was following Tore Hansen's gearbox all over the track....even
though I didnt go by, I enjoyed every minute of it. :)  Thx Tore.

Cheers!
John

Exactly - so why help him?

It's more fun to win nose to tail than to lose by an inch though. It's
also a lot more fun to win when you know the guy you're racing with
has fought tooth and nail.

Cheers!
John

Anyone who doesn't want to win by at least a lap isn't a racer in my book
;-)

Cheers,
Richard

Joe McGinn
==========================================
Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network
http://www.racesimcentral.net/***.com/
==========================================

% >Is it possible that people are slowing down early to avoid the carnage AHEAD of
% >them...?

% Very possible. I can't count the number of times I've been rammed [by
% someone not watching the road] when I slow down to avoid a T1
% accident.

No, No, No!  We don't want them watching the road.  That is usually the
cause of the problems.  They need to be watching the "traffic" in front
of the car(s) they are following.  These ramming and pile-ups usually
happen because the rammer is only watching the track directly in between
them and the car ahead of them.  It's a case of needing to be a "pilot",
"situational awareness".  It seems that instead of being pilots, they
are being engineers (ala trains, where you just stick to the rails and
don't have to worry much about traffic).

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

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

That is kind of hard to do when you can only see the closest cars around
you.  Cars off in the distance that may be engaging in bold overtaking
moves destined for failure don't even register either because of bandwidth
limitations or simply because as in real life your view is obstructed by
a car in front of you, so without seeing the accident unfold the only thing
you can do is take part in the chain reaction.  At the close distances
between cars at the start there simply isn't enough room to allow
for successful evasive action if the only thing you can do is react
to the immediate traffic in front of you.  Unlike ordinary driving if you
do give the cars in front of you enough room to allow for a possible
escape route a competitor will surely insert himself in that space putting
you another position down.  Hmm, actually that does sound like
ordinary driving now that I think about it. :-)

Perhaps, but I think a bit too much is made out of all the first lap
incidents.
In my view it is almost always a simple case of 'racing'.  After all how
many people who get paid to do this on a professional basis suffer through
the very same thing each year?  Considering they have far more at risk
than the average online racer (contracts, points, money, and actual bodily
harm) and far more information available to them to process (reality vs.
a good, but limited in some ways with respect to multiplayer action,
simulation) why is it so surprising or frustrating that most online races
don't have clean first laps?  It happens in the real world so it should
by extension happen in GPL as well.

Perhaps GPL needs a chief steward to hand out fines, volunteers?

 - George

--
Ian Parker

UKGPL League
http://start.at/greenflag

--

You still have to give enough room to the car infront. If another car
passes you then so be it, you can be sure he'll be caught up in an
accident, so just take a different line and drive around when he crashes
:-)
I've lost count of all the race where I've gained lots of positions by
being a little more careful at the start and watching out for what's
happening up ahead.

Yes it happens in real life as well, but not nearly as often as in GPL,
I mean there's hardly a race where there isn't an accident somewhere on
the first half lap!

--
Arne Martin

As for taking another line it is only applicable at track that allows a
plethora of lines in and around the first corner.  On tight tracks there
is only room for two cars side by side so taking another line will only
result in driving into the side of a competitor.  So at Brands Hatch or
Mosport there is almost always a first corner incident whereas at Monza
a first corner pileup is the exception rather than the rule.

How many can you count where you crashed into a person crashing
in front of you.  I have that happen all the time albeit when I am
coming around to put a lap on them. :-)

Limitations of GPL in my opinion.  I seriously doubt anyone gets their
jollies participating in a big pileup anymore than you enjoy getting
punted from behind.  This is certainly the case (as in real life) if you
know each and every person you race against and know you will
be racing against them again in the future.  So start a good online
series and save yourself the stress of worrying about the inevitable
first lap crashes that plague the pick-up races.

 - George

 - George