> > My wife got me the Experience of a Lifetime for my big
I've
> > driven computer cars since they
> > started, but nothing compares to the real thing. Man, I can't say
enough,
> > but if you ever get the chance what ever
> > it takes, sell something, borrow the money but if your into
> > racing go do it. If I was 20 years younger i would be doing what ever
it
> > took to do that for a living. The faster you go the better the car
drives.
> > I had never driven a real race car today but, after the 1st couple laps
I
> > was ready to run. Fastest lap was only a 157mph, so that was the only
bad
> > thing you have to follow the instructor, but I still
> > have a much better understanding what the guys go through week after
week
> > driving the beast. NR2003 is good, but again, nothing can replace the
G's
> > and all the other senses you get in the real car. Sorry to ramble on
> > but, I am so pumped about it. I will be doing this some more..., the
whole
> > staff of people were top notch as well.
> > But, I may do the Buck Baker school next, there you get to race at your
on
> > pace and not have to follow a pace car. I did get to pass a couple of
slower
> > students today on the outside it was a real blast.
> Sounds like you had a helluva time! Cudos to your wife. I hope if I ever
> have one, she'd be that lenient ;)
> If I may pose a question for you?
> How do the physics (feel of the tires on pavement while in the 150 MPH
> range, vehicle reactions to your steering input) in the game compare to
> the real deal? Do the two match up okay?
> Granted, G's and whatnot play a huge role in determining this. Do you
> feel that your sim experience helped you prepare in any way? Such as
> what to expect when the car does this, track layout, etc?
> Oh, yes. Happy 40th, senojm. :)
> -Will
Hey Will, I've never done the Petty thing, but I have been to the Fast Track
school at C***te (3 days) and to the Buck Baker deal when it was at
Rockingham (dunno if it still is) and I can tell you that Papy's stock car
sims of late (NR4-NR2003) are pretty close. As close as a sim can come I
think, to being real. Of course the seat of the pants feel is not there in
the sim, and is a major force on you in a real car. Real steering feedback
is a MAJOR improvement over the phoney FF effects found in games and wheels
today (and is the reason I run a TSW 2 when I race sims, no feedback is
better than phoney feedback to me).
Also, there are other things that change the experience, the firesuit (hot),
the helmet, belting system that make you a part of the car, the noise, the
vibrations inside the car, and so on. As far as driving though, on the two
tracks I have been 150+ on, is pretty closely approximated within the sims.
