Re: GPL: Frustrated newbie here

Roger, While you are learning, get all your braking done while you are going straight. Only after you have slowed sufficiently to make the corner should you turn in. If you do this, you will find that you are able to keep the car on the track much more often. Only after you have sufficiently mastered this should you attempt "trail braking". Also, go to Alison Hine's website and pick up her Cooper/Coventry setups. These setups really make the car easy to drive. http://simracing.com/alison/gpl/ Good luck, Dave Ewing Roger Squires wrote: > I just have no idea how to proceed from here; I'll spare you the whining > complaints. Any tutorial urls for newbies like me or advice would be very > appreciated. -- ***************************************************** David A. Ewing Xilinx Boulder [email hidden] *****************************************************

"David Ewing" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Roger, > > While you are learning, get all your braking done while you are going > straight. Only after you have slowed sufficiently to make the cornershould > you turn in. If you do this, you will find that you are able to keep thecar > on the track much more often. Only after you have sufficiently masteredthis > should you attempt "trail braking". Of course, not everyone agrees. :-) Controlling weight transfer is the largest part of car control, and this is done through proper use of gas and brakes. Andretti Sr is fond of saying that he's amazed at how many drivers still think brakes are for slowing down the car. It's never too early to start learning. > Also, go to Alison Hine's website and pick up her Cooper/Coventry setups. > These setups really make the car easy to drive. > http://simracing.com/alison/gpl/ Definitely. I think her Ferrari setups are easier to drive, and far more competitive, but both are good starting points.

hi the best advise I received was := 1) drive slowly to make sure you are always on the track ( you can go faster as you progress) 2) never jam brakes nor throttle 3)slow into corners fast out of corners ( also known as slow in fast out ) 4) Go straight into Grandprix cars, don't bother to learn other cars as you will start the learning curve all over again....... 5) GPL cars are like ladies Treat them gently and coax them to do what you want It works for both :-) Alex Kihurani <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:YUR85.3057$[email hidden]... > Don't expect to be any good for the first 3 months ir you'll driveyourself > utterly crazy and be severly pissed off. I didn't do ANYTHING on the > internet for GPL until about 3 months of playing it. The physics justhooked > me, and the challenge was great and fun. I didn't get frustrated becausein > GPL, I was satisfied by rapidly imporving. When you first get the game you > improve very fast, and that's what kept me in. Now online races andGPLRankm

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> and the physics, again, kept me in. > > Buy the game, and don't give up! > > Thanks, > Alex > Roger Squires <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:z4R85.5998$7%[email hidden]... > > Ok, I'm very good in NFS5 and decided to try the GPL demo. I got the

d3d

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> > patch also, getting 36fps on my system, and using a T2 wheel. > > > > My fastest time on the Watkins track is 11.75 with the lotus and all > realism > > turned on, but that was mostly a fluke, usually 13-14 with crashes every > > couple laps. > > > > I just have no idea how to proceed from here; I'll spare you the whining > > complaints. Any tutorial urls for newbies like me or advice would be

very

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> > appreciated. > > > > rms > > [email hidden] > > > > > >

Ok, I'm very good in NFS5 and decided to try the GPL demo. I got the d3d patch also, getting 36fps on my system, and using a T2 wheel. My fastest time on the Watkins track is 11.75 with the lotus and all realism turned on, but that was mostly a fluke, usually 13-14 with crashes every couple laps. I just have no idea how to proceed from here; I'll spare you the whining complaints. Any tutorial urls for newbies like me or advice would be very appreciated. rms [email hidden]

Don't expect to be any good for the first 3 months ir you'll drive yourself utterly crazy and be severly pissed off. I didn't do ANYTHING on the internet for GPL until about 3 months of playing it. The physics just hooked me, and the challenge was great and fun. I didn't get frustrated because in GPL, I was satisfied by rapidly imporving. When you first get the game you improve very fast, and that's what kept me in. Now online races and GPLRankm and the physics, again, kept me in. Buy the game, and don't give up! Thanks, Alex Roger Squires <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:z4R85.5998$7%[email hidden]... > Ok, I'm very good in NFS5 and decided to try the GPL demo. I got the d3d > patch also, getting 36fps on my system, and using a T2 wheel. > > My fastest time on the Watkins track is 11.75 with the lotus and allrealism

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> turned on, but that was mostly a fluke, usually 13-14 with crashes every > couple laps. > > I just have no idea how to proceed from here; I'll spare you the whining > complaints. Any tutorial urls for newbies like me or advice would be very > appreciated. > > rms > [email hidden] > >

I've had GPL for about 4 months and this is what worked reasonably well for me. I started with the F3 cars but they were way to slow, stayed with the F2's for a few weeks to get used to applying the brake and gas (you never stomp on the pedals, rather "pretend there is an egg under your foot" type squeeze), and then moved to the F1's. One of the best tips (from Alison Hine's site) was the conventry (aka Cooper). Its a very stable car and easier to control than the faster cars, but if you really push it you can get a decent time. Once you can get the conventry around the track consistently and have the line and brake points nailed, then try the lotus, or simply push the cooper a little harder. The lights out racing tracks guides (see Don H's post for url) helped a ot in finding the correct line, braking points etc. Others have cautioned against playing with setups until you can drive consistently enough to notice the changes. I usually download a couple setups for each track to find one I like and then stick with it. And as someone once said:Practice, practice some more, and then practice again. :) best of luck Ken MacKay Halifax, Canada GPL Handicap +103.25 Roger Squires wrote:

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> Ok, I'm very good in NFS5 and decided to try the GPL demo. I got the d3d > patch also, getting 36fps on my system, and using a T2 wheel. > > My fastest time on the Watkins track is 11.75 with the lotus and all realism > turned on, but that was mostly a fluke, usually 13-14 with crashes every > couple laps. > > I just have no idea how to proceed from here; I'll spare you the whining > complaints. Any tutorial urls for newbies like me or advice would be very > appreciated. > > rms > [email hidden]

* Leong <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> hi > > the best advise I received was := > > > 1) drive slowly to make sure you are always on the track > ( you can go faster as you progress) > 2) never jam brakes nor throttle > 3)slow into corners > fast out of corners > ( also known as slow in fast out ) > 4) Go straight into Grandprix cars, don't bother to > learn other cars as you will start the learning curve > all over again....... > 5) GPL cars are like ladies > Treat them gently and coax them to do what you want > It works for both :-) >

In addition, it helps to stick with the same car. Try them all, and stick with one you prefer for a while. The cars are noticeably different, so chopping and changing can be a hinderence. Use the trainers at your peril, and lose all the driving aids. Be very patient. -- -Ace-

You guys forgot the most important thing! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! Also don't give up, the more you practice the easier it gets and the more rewarding, but also frustrating heheheheh. Vintook "Ace" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8k2je9$m40$[email hidden]...

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> > * Leong <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > hi > > > > the best advise I received was := > > > > > > 1) drive slowly to make sure you are always on the track > > ( you can go faster as you progress) > > 2) never jam brakes nor throttle > > 3)slow into corners > > fast out of corners > > ( also known as slow in fast out ) > > 4) Go straight into Grandprix cars, don't bother to > > learn other cars as you will start the learning curve > > all over again....... > > 5) GPL cars are like ladies > > Treat them gently and coax them to do what you want > > It works for both :-) > > > In addition, it helps to stick with the same car. Try them all, and stick > with one you prefer for a while. The cars are noticeably different, so > chopping and changing can be a hinderence. Use the trainers at your peril, > and lose all the driving aids. Be very patient. > -- > -Ace- > >

Practice, practice, practice. Go slow, then speed up as you improve. Also...and this may seem weird...DON'T use the braking help. You won't be able to slow down enough and you'll go off the track. I got 100% better as soon as I turned that off. Just go easy on those brakes! The thing that separates GPL from other racing games is that when you finally finish a race in 10th place or so you'll jump for joy! Roger Squires wrote in message ... >Ok, I'm very good in NFS5 and decided to try the GPL demo. I got the d3d >patch also, getting 36fps on my system, and using a T2 wheel. > >My fastest time on the Watkins track is 11.75 with the lotus and allrealism

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>turned on, but that was mostly a fluke, usually 13-14 with crashes every >couple laps. > >I just have no idea how to proceed from here; I'll spare you the whining >complaints. Any tutorial urls for newbies like me or advice would be very >appreciated. > >rms >[email hidden] > >

"David Ewing" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > to make a turn, it comes as quite a shock when you keep spinning when youdo > turn. And the primary reason for this is turning in while being on the > brakes. All too true. I can remember blowing perfectly good laps by playing it "safe" and going slower into corners than I knew I had to, only to spin and wreck, contrary to any apparent rhyme or reason. :-) Understanding and controlling weight transfer is the key. (Gas on, and get the weight back over the rears, to explain this strange phenomenon our intrepid newbie will surely have noticed by now.) There is nothing so fearsome as continual misfortune that you don't understand and can't explain. Spinning out from going *too slow*, of all things, rubs strongly against the intuition we hold from a lifetime of driving on the street. Now that it's been explained, Mr. Newbie can get on with his life and learn how to conquer it. I can't think of a better way to explore this than to trailbrake, excessively and improperly at first, and then hopefully more successfully. I never thought of hotlapping as a reasonable course for learning. Maybe it's just me; I was (and am) so darned awful at it. To each their own. Laptimes will come down with skill and experience, no matter how it's gained. I think learning the basics first is still the right way, but it's not the only way, given that it's just a sim. After all, we don't suffer downtime when we explore the limits too aggressively... > Following my advice will definetly cut down on the frustration > factor. Although I do agree with your advice about it never being tooearly > to start learning - which is why I recommend dispensing with any drivingaids > or even with starting on the trainers. Yup. Full agreement there. > I guess I think of the Coventry > setups as being easier because they were a real breakthrough when theyfirst > came out those many months ago. I'll give those big white whales another try, now that Eldred's not breathing down my virtual gearbox at the moment. <Obligatory Eldred content.> Michael.

Michael Young wrote:

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> "David Ewing" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > Roger, > > > > While you are learning, get all your braking done while you are going > > straight. Only after you have slowed sufficiently to make the corner > should > > you turn in. If you do this, you will find that you are able to keep the > car > > on the track much more often. Only after you have sufficiently mastered > this > > should you attempt "trail braking". > > Of course, not everyone agrees. :-) Controlling weight transfer is the > largest part of car control, and this is done through proper use of gas and > brakes. Andretti Sr is fond of saying that he's amazed at how many drivers > still think brakes are for slowing down the car. It's never too early to > start learning.

Yeah, but for the absolute newbie who is used to the racing sims that allow you stay on the track as long as you can turn the steering wheel fast enough to make a turn, it comes as quite a shock when you keep spinning when you do turn. And the primary reason for this is turning in while being on the brakes. Following my advice will definetly cut down on the frustration factor. Although I do agree with your advice about it never being too early to start learning - which is why I recommend dispensing with any driving aids or even with starting on the trainers. > > Also, go to Alison Hine's website and pick up her Cooper/Coventry setups. > > These setups really make the car easy to drive. > > http://simracing.com/alison/gpl/ > > Definitely. I think her Ferrari setups are easier to drive, and far more > competitive, but both are good starting points. Agreed. Alison's Ferrari setups are great. I guess I think of the Coventry setups as being easier because they were a real breakthrough when they first came out those many months ago. Dave Ewing -- ***************************************************** David A. Ewing Xilinx Boulder [email hidden] *****************************************************

Just so you know that it can be done, I raced an hour with the novice on Tue, the day I bought the game. After reading *Leong's advice below, I jumped into the GP car at WG and within an hour had a 1:17.5 hotlap, and could run comfortable 1:20's. (I don't know if that's good or not, but it was sure fun). No helps at any time, except auto tranny. I do have a lot of time invested in MGPRS2 and F12K. The move to the GP car after the plodding novice trainer was a total rush. But, my first and foremost concern was to always drive the correct line to program my brain, and to stay on the track no matter what. Smoothness and throttle control seems to be the key here. BTW, I drove the first 5 laps or so at half throttle or less just to get used to the unbelievable torque of the GP car. But, I can understand the frustration. The first time I tried the game a couple of years ago, I ran off the road repeatedly and gave up in total disgust. But, definitely buy the game (got mine at Media Play for $9.99), and either keep pecking at it or try an easier sim (TOCA2, SCGT, MGPRS2, F12K was my progression) for a while to build up to it. On Thu, 6 Jul 2000 12:03:25 +0800, "* Leong" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>hi > >the best advise I received was := > > >1) drive slowly to make sure you are always on the track > ( you can go faster as you progress) > >2) never jam brakes nor throttle > >3)slow into corners > fast out of corners >( also known as slow in fast out ) > >4) Go straight into Grandprix cars, don't bother to >learn other cars as you will start the learning curve >all over again....... > >5) GPL cars are like ladies >Treat them gently and coax them to do what you want >It works for both :-) > > > > > > > >Alex Kihurani <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:YUR85.3057$[email hidden]... >> Don't expect to be any good for the first 3 months ir you'll drive >yourself >> utterly crazy and be severly pissed off. I didn't do ANYTHING on the >> internet for GPL until about 3 months of playing it. The physics just >hooked >> me, and the challenge was great and fun. I didn't get frustrated because >in >> GPL, I was satisfied by rapidly imporving. When you first get the game you >> improve very fast, and that's what kept me in. Now online races and >GPLRankm >> and the physics, again, kept me in. >> >> Buy the game, and don't give up! >> >> Thanks, >> Alex >> Roger Squires <[email hidden]> wrote in message >> news:z4R85.5998$7%[email hidden]... >> > Ok, I'm very good in NFS5 and decided to try the GPL demo. I got the >d3d >> > patch also, getting 36fps on my system, and using a T2 wheel. >> > >> > My fastest time on the Watkins track is 11.75 with the lotus and all >> realism >> > turned on, but that was mostly a fluke, usually 13-14 with crashes every >> > couple laps. >> > >> > I just have no idea how to proceed from here; I'll spare you the whining >> > complaints. Any tutorial urls for newbies like me or advice would be >very >> > appreciated. >> > >> > rms >> > [email hidden] >> > >> > >> >> >

What I did when I was learning was I used a program called GPLseason. I slowed down the other AI cars to my level so I was running faster then the rest of the cars. I still wouldn't always win the races because of my wrecks and would wind up finishing in the middle of the pack. This made it more interesting to race. It also allowed me to drive slow enough to learn the tracks. After I learned the tracks and didn't wreck as much I began to win too many races. So I made the AI drivers faster so I was running in the middle of the pack again. I always kept some cars faster then me so I had something to shoot for. Eventually I quit using GPLseason. What this did is made the learning process for me a little less frustrating and made it more fun. It basicly like racing other drivers more in your class. Jim D. Roger Squires wrote in message ... >Ok, I'm very good in NFS5 and decided to try the GPL demo. I got the d3d >patch also, getting 36fps on my system, and using a T2 wheel. > >My fastest time on the Watkins track is 11.75 with the lotus and allrealism

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>turned on, but that was mostly a fluke, usually 13-14 with crashes every >couple laps. > >I just have no idea how to proceed from here; I'll spare you the whining >complaints. Any tutorial urls for newbies like me or advice would be very >appreciated. > >rms >[email hidden] > >

In my experience car setup and driving style play an equal role in driving a good lap. By "good" I don't necessarily mean fast but just that you can easily keep the car on the track and race wheel to wheel with confidence. "Fast" will come as you gain experience. I'm an experienced driver but when my setup is off by a bit I can easily feel like a complete rookie, even when I'm trying to take each corner smoothly. It's important for you to download (or create) a *drivable* setup, otherwise you'll get very frustrated. The sites that Don Hodgdon mentions are great sources for setups and setup tutorials. My personal favorite is Ricard Nunnini's site ( http://website.lineone.net/~richardn/.). Sometimes when you're working on a setup you may wonder how anyone could drive those cars. Just keep in mind that it is possible to create a setup that results in a very drivable, and fast, car. It's just a matter of creating a setup that's right for your driving style. It does take time and a lot of laps to discover what each setting really does for you. Once you find a good setup and you have *raced* and know Monza (the usual first track for newbies) like the back, front, and side of your hand, you may want to try online racing (may?!!). It's important to be prepared before you jump in to a race. Besides reading the online racing sections of Don's list of websites, try running some laps offline for a awhile shortly before you join a series of online races. Run a few laps on cold tires keeping to the right side of the track only. Then pit and start again but this time keeping to the left. Then run on the racing line. I can't sress enough how important it is to be able to keep to your line with ease. If you can't keep your line then adjust your setup or driving style or just slow down a bit. Make sure you know your braking points from whatever side of the track you're running on. I find the most difficult part of online racing is braking for that first lap, first turn. You want to be conservative to avoid creaming the frontrunners (ok assuming you don't get pole :-) ) but you don't want to be too cautious and get rear-ended. Make sure your brake bias is set for maximum braking effectiveness. When I'm alone on the track I brake deep and hard and let off in the corner (trail braking). However in the first lap traffic I hang back a *bit* and watch for the car in front to brake. Right away I brake, gently at first to give the hotshoe in back a bit of warning :-) , then I brake harder closer to the corner. Well that's my 5 cents. Welcome to the wonderful world of GPL. Good luck! Hope to see you on the track some time. Roger Squires <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:z4R85.5998$7%[email hidden]... > Ok, I'm very good in NFS5 and decided to try the GPL demo. I got the d3d > patch also, getting 36fps on my system, and using a T2 wheel. > > My fastest time on the Watkins track is 11.75 with the lotus and allrealism

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> turned on, but that was mostly a fluke, usually 13-14 with crashes every > couple laps. > > I just have no idea how to proceed from here; I'll spare you the whining > complaints. Any tutorial urls for newbies like me or advice would be very > appreciated. > > rms > [email hidden] > >

Try the Coventry. The Lotus is the hardest car. Also Glen is a very frustrating track. Try Silverstone or Monza.

...and stick with the default setups, just reduce the fuel load to about 10 laps worth.

Michael Young wrote:

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> "David Ewing" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > > I guess I think of the Coventry > > setups as being easier because they were a real breakthrough when they > first > > came out those many months ago. > > I'll give those big white whales another try, now that Eldred's not > breathing down my virtual gearbox at the moment. <Obligatory Eldred > content.>

The "big white whale" is the Murasama / Honda. Alison's setups for those are also very driveable. Dave -- ***************************************************** David A. Ewing Xilinx Boulder [email hidden] *****************************************************