rec.autos.simulators

Ok, I really like the looks of GPL. I WANT to like the sim overall,
but it's just to darn hard! I know I'm a wimp, you don't need to tell
me. Are there any tips for a lamer like me who really wants to do well
at this sim?

Please?

Planedoc

http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~alison/gpl/

--
Don Burnette
Palmetto Racing
Dburn on Ten
AOLL Iroc Administrator

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

    and

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

Yeah, it is.  Ain't it wonderful?  You ever see those guys on the tube get
pissed and toss their steering wheels in the dirt as they crawl from the
wreckage of their ambitions for the day?  Good thing mine's clamped down.
That's why they call it a SIM.
Like everyone says, try the trainers, particularly the G2, as it helps you
learn to deal with excess power better.  And learn to work the throttle as much
as the steering.  Resist the urge to just nail it, and it'll come to you.  Slow
down and you'll go faster.

Steve B.

I'm still pretty much in the Mostly Harmless category myself, but a few
things helped me improve from Harmless.

1) Bought a fairly decent wheel/pedal setup (F1 Sim in the UK). My only
regret is not saving a while longer and importing a bottom end TSW, now
I've got to wait till I break this set... which should be about three
months judging by current wear and tear! :-) If you use a joystick at
least invest in a decent set of pedals that allow separate brake and
throttle axes.

2) In the full sim I have to cut the fuel load to about 10 gallons. With a
full tank the car handles scarily, and the back end flies out really
easily.

3) Brake first, drop gears later. Took me a while to learn this, but
braking is much more controlled if I resist the temptation to drop down
the gear box before I've burnt off a lot of momentum.

4) Be gentle with the brake and throttle. I find myself making the
smallest of movements with my throttle foot as I'm cornering on the edge
of the performance envelope (sounds impressive, looks less so in action
:-)

6) I tend to "modulate" the brake... trying to act like an ABS system.
Helps avoid lockups. Not sure whether it helps much, but it makes me think
it helps, so I guess it helps... I think. Pardon?

6) If in doubt, slow down! Driving slowly is embarrassing, but not as
embarrassing as shunting someone online.

Andrew McP

--
Anssi Lehtinen

David Snider

Cheers!

--
Graeme Nash

You know what to do with "don't_spam_me"...
http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk/
ICQ# 11257824

"Do I know what rhetorical means?!" - Homer Simpson

I drive the Ferrari and use the default setups (with less fuel)
for all the tracks except Monza.  They say Monza responds
better to tweaking because the road is flat, not crowned like
Watkins Glen for example.  My best at the Glen is 1:07.44
I believe.

I'm usually in the top 1-10 when racing and enjoy competition
for 3rd as much as 7th.  Slowly I'm getting faster with watching
for new lines and shift points.  I figure the tweaking will come
after I can run 5 or more consistant laps.

moves the pivot in the same direction as the rear, ending rotation, but moving
the entire lever laterally.  Push a pencil around on a desk and it's easy to
see.  That's why you always end up going wide with opp-lock.  Eventually the
tires will generate enough heat, and thus friction, to stop their slide, and
with luck, you'll still be pointed in a desirable direction with pavement under

your tires.'
Paul