rec.autos.simulators

Probably going to get flamed for this, but here goes.

I've been putting alot of time into GPL lately and I've hit a wall.  My
quickest time at Monza is a 1:35 and I run 3:50's at Spa and 1:40's at
Zandy.  I've had a hard time getting faster then that (despite watching
practice hotlappers w/ in car view). I realize that I'm way off the pace but
I finished 3rd (Four laps down) in a 27 lap race at Zandy (10-12 car
field....don't quite remember).  During that race I was involved in one
incident and spun twice.   I'm fairly smooth, but slow.

Now a comment/observation based upon my experience that I would like to get
everyone's opinion on:

There are alot of fast racers, but few good drivers.  Don't get me wrong;
I'm neither.   But it gets old when I get re-ended and then I'm told that I
have to drive faster. A) I have as much right to be on the track as anyone
in a non-password protected race.  B) I get out of the way when I can, but I
can't move over easily in a high speed corner or the middle of the Masta
kink.  Don't drivers look for a good place to pass, or do they just try to
run hotlaps OVER everyone? What is the point of being fast if you can't make
ANY adjustments to track conditions?

 The availability of Shift-R makes this worse, as well as the fact that the
often short length of VROC races don't reward consistant drivers.  I agree
that both have their place and Shift-R makes online racing 'practical',  but
I think people use it as a crutch.  Not sure that cold tires and a full tank
are that much of a penalty.

I lack talent and have to drive 'smart'. I just wish that some of the other
drivers would combine their talents with some sense.   I'll try to get
faster if they'll try to watch out for me. :)

That is all, please be gentle with the flames, I burn easily.

Andrew M on VROC

If I'm not doing great and get lapped, I've notice that often
the guy in first place will pull up behind me, wait a few seconds,
then sieze the first opportunity and cleanly pass me...  perhaps
the driver in second place will too... then comes along a hotshot
who just rams into you instead of bothering to wait until a good
passing spot, then gets all upset you 'ruined' his race.  The really
good drivers accept that slower cars must be passed, so they
learn to do it.  The hot-lappers just wish there were no slower
cars and spend their time crashing & cursing them.  So, in
short, I agree with you.

By the way, maybe I shouldn't be offering advice because I'm
not one of the faster drivers out there, but here goes. Instead
of watching hot-lappers or ai drivers turn quick laps, try doing
a race against a small number of ai.  Turn it down to just a few
 competitors so only the very quick ones are left.  Then see how
long you can stay with them.  What I find is that unconsciously,
I've been taking it easy on some parts of the track (i.e. not
bothering to get on the gas then back on the brakes between
two corners that require similar speeds.)  It's harder to figure
out where I'm losing time if I'm just comparing a lap in progress
with my memory.

If you have any ideas of your own on how I can speed up,
please share them because I need them badly!

rob.

<snip stuff about slow Andy>

Yeah this guy has a good point:  racing is not hotlapping!  Having seen some
great racing on the weekend (real cars, AROCA 6-hour race, cars ranged from
ex- group A racers and Porsche Cup GT2 to near-standard MG Midgets and Fiat
Abarths).  What I really noted was the consistent lapping at around 95%
pace, through traffic.  The slower drivers watched their mirrors and the
marshalls (blue flags everywhere!) and indicated which side of the racing
line they would use (arm out window).  The fast guys were aware of good and
bad places to pass and bided their time (slightly).

What's my point?  Mainly that the AROCA 6-hour is a great spectacle, with
accessable pits and cars, but also that racers need to watch their equipment
carefully....most people were driving their own cars and this showed.
Finishing is paramount, finishing first is the icing.

Ben

Andrew,

Well said.

Bill