> Many of the fast-lappers drive and steer with the tail of the car. It's
> a very fine art and one that I haven't even come close to mastering.
> --
> **************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
> Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Well, thats only partially true. They steer with a combination of the
front and rear of the car. The typical diff setup being 85/30 or 45
lends itself to tremendous amounts of understeer and thusly many of
these drivers increase the number of clutches to get the rear lean in
the direction of oversteer under power, and back off when a spin is spin
is near and allow the coast side to induce understeer and thusly
maintain high speeds through the turns while using the maximum amount of
trackspace.
It looks a lot more like modern rally driving than late '60s F1
powerslide style driving, and it would seem that given the physical
restraints of the GPL world this is the fastest way around most of the
tracks. It is however not at all the way these cars were driven (or
driven today in classic races).
Having said that, I should say that G. Huttu, W. Woeger and all the
others whom have put many hours into GPL and hold record laps should be
considered masters....of that particular style.
The complexity of GPL is such that you can learn a lot about vehicle
dynamics by experimenting with different diff. settings ride heights
etc. But as always, as with other sims, everyone wants to get the world
record hotlap, and all it takes is one guy to figure out where the
physics are weak, exploit it, and then you have the next trend in
driving style. Why?, because he figured out how to go fast...regardless
of whether it was "realistic" or not.
If you think driving with brake bias set at 53 is hard, try 51% with
front springs set to the softest and the rear set to under 100 and a
45/85 diff with 1 clutch (supposedly a "real world" setting according to
Carrol Smith) . With such a setup you can fully experience steering with
the rear end and really get a taste of what driving one of these
magnificent beasts was like.
You probably wont break any records, unless your name happens to be
Huttu or Woeger.....but not without practice and a complete change of
philosphy.
TJSB
