Re: GPLRank...a personal progress report

In article <[email hidden]>, "J. P. Hovercraft" <[email hidden]> writes: >Fear not, St. Eldrid, I'm still a long way off, but I am within shouting >range of a sub-200 in the Cup. That's the next goal. Are you left-foot braking? Just curious... Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL hcp. +70.45 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

So...it's been almost a month since I packed in the automatic transmission after seeing my 600+ handicap when I first posted my player to GPLRank. The month has seen me take 2 minutes off my "Ring time, 3 seconds off Monza (the track I drove the most in automatic), I just got under 4 min. at Spa, and I'm finally under 300 at GPLRank. YES! Oh yeah, the upgrade from the P166 to a Celery 533 a couple of weeks ago has turned this sim into something else entirely. Between the manual shifting and the much improved frame rate, I've never felt so in control of the cars. The manual shifting has changed everything. I've discovered that a judicious downshift followed by a shot on the throttle can put me right back in control of previously unrecoverable almost-spins. Actually being able to regulate how much power is getting to the rear wheels is simply amazing, providing increased speed and control. It feels better each time I boot up for a run at my rank. The previously ignored 'Ring has been a source of much joy and challenge (chalk another one up to GPLRank), and I can -feel- where there's more speed to be had on all the tracks, except maybe Monza, although I could try braking later, I guess (crunch...8^)...). I actually set my current PB at Monza in a novice race against the AI and didn't even notice until the next day, so there may be more room there. There defenitely is at Spa, Rouen, Mexico (shudder), the 'Ring of course and certainly at my personal nemesis, Monaco. So very narrow, so many rocks and hard places. It's still a handful for a novice shifter. I'm hoping all the 'Ring time will help when I tackle it again. Fear not, St. Eldrid, I'm still a long way off, but I am within shouting range of a sub-200 in the Cup. That's the next goal. Oh yeah, Don...I pared about another half a point of the Canada ranking tonight. Yours in joy and historic acceleration, J. P. Hovercraft

[email hidden] (J. P. Hovercraft) wrote in <[email hidden]>: >Oh yeah, Don...I pared about another half a point of the Canada >ranking tonight. > >Yours in joy and historic acceleration, > >J. P. Hovercraft Go J.P. Go! Your at the point of learning that you steer with your feet as much as with your hands. Enter the turn nice and easy/controlled, then gently apply more and more throttle until your hanging the rear end out in a *controlled* power slide, which gets you rocketing down the next straight. Mastering that is 80% of gpl driving. Once you get the hang of it your lap times will plummet, and you'll be doing your country proud. -- Don Scurlock Vancouver,B.C. GPLRank -2.86 Come see how you rank, at the GPLRank site http://newgplrank.schuerkamp.de/

writes: Are you left-foot braking? Just curious... Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL hcp. +70.45 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

The key to Spa is to be able to take Masta Kink at near full throttle, without a downshift. When I was able to do that and not wreck on a lap was when I was able to get my single biggest accomplishemt in GPL. I did a 3:27.85 in the Lotus, I have gotten close to this time, only a few times, and Online I am able to keep up with the crowd, that took a while. My problem area at Spa now is Blanchimont, I know how to do it, just sometimes I do it wrong! This cost me 3rd place in my last race! The bad thing is, I am 10 seconds off of an excelent lap! SLG (172.02) "J. P. Hovercraft" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>So...it's been almost a month since I packed in the automatic >transmission after seeing my 600+ handicap when I first posted my player >to GPLRank. The month has seen me take 2 minutes off my "Ring time, 3 >seconds off Monza (the track I drove the most in automatic), I just got >under 4 min. at Spa, and I'm finally under 300 at GPLRank. YES! Oh yeah, >the upgrade from the P166 to a Celery 533 a couple of weeks ago has >turned this sim into something else entirely. Between the manual >shifting and the much improved frame rate, I've never felt so in control >of the cars.

othe stuff removed

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> >Yours in joy and historic acceleration, > >J. P. Hovercraft > > >

(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are due to too many English classes/teachers)

Steve Garrotto wrote:

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> > The key to Spa is to be able to take Masta Kink at near full throttle, > without a downshift. When I was able to do that and not wreck on a lap > was when I was able to get my single biggest accomplishemt in GPL. I > did a 3:27.85 in the Lotus, I have gotten close to this time, only a > few times, and Online I am able to keep up with the crowd, that took a > while. My problem area at Spa now is Blanchimont, I know how to do it, > just sometimes I do it wrong! This cost me 3rd place in my last race! > The bad thing is, I am 10 seconds off of an excelent lap! >

<snip> Mmm, 3:27.85? I think you've lost the rest of your keys. Hehe. :)

Mission accomplished! I'm at 197 something in the St. Eldrid's Cup! A few seconds off at the Glen, 5 at Rouen, a few at Kylami, a couple at Mosport...and I'm there...8^). J. P. Hovercraft "J. P. Hovercraft" wrote:

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> So...it's been almost a month since I packed in the automatic > transmission after seeing my 600+ handicap when I first posted my player > to GPLRank. The month has seen me take 2 minutes off my "Ring time, 3 > seconds off Monza (the track I drove the most in automatic), I just got > under 4 min. at Spa, and I'm finally under 300 at GPLRank. YES! Oh yeah, > the upgrade from the P166 to a Celery 533 a couple of weeks ago has > turned this sim into something else entirely. Between the manual > shifting and the much improved frame rate, I've never felt so in control > of the cars. > > The manual shifting has changed everything. I've discovered that a > judicious downshift followed by a shot on the throttle can put me right > back in control of previously unrecoverable almost-spins. Actually being > able to regulate how much power is getting to the rear wheels is simply > amazing, providing increased speed and control. It feels better each > time I boot up for a run at my rank. The previously ignored 'Ring has > been a source of much joy and challenge (chalk another one up to > GPLRank), and I can -feel- where there's more speed to be had on all the > tracks, except maybe Monza, although I could try braking later, I guess > (crunch...8^)...). I actually set my current PB at Monza in a novice > race against the AI and didn't even notice until the next day, so there > may be more room there. There defenitely is at Spa, Rouen, Mexico > (shudder), the 'Ring of course and certainly at my personal nemesis, > Monaco. So very narrow, so many rocks and hard places. It's still a > handful for a novice shifter. I'm hoping all the 'Ring time will help > when I tackle it again. > > Fear not, St. Eldrid, I'm still a long way off, but I am within shouting > range of a sub-200 in the Cup. That's the next goal. > > Oh yeah, Don...I pared about another half a point of the Canada ranking > tonight. > > Yours in joy and historic acceleration, > > J. P. Hovercraft

Erm...actually I'm using a joystick. There's a wheel in my future, but I have to pay off the new system first. That should be by the end of the summer. Then I can start all over again...8^). J. P. Hovercraft EldredP wrote:

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> In article <[email hidden]>, "J. P. Hovercraft" <[email hidden]> > writes: > > >Fear not, St. Eldrid, I'm still a long way off, but I am within shouting > >range of a sub-200 in the Cup. That's the next goal. > > Are you left-foot braking? Just curious... > > Eldred > -- > Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 > Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett > GPL hcp. +70.45 > > Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you > with experience... > Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

I am lost by your meaning, I am sure if I understood I would laugh, but I do not understand. :-O Peter Ives <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>Steve Garrotto wrote: >> >> The key to Spa is to be able to take Masta Kink at near full throttle, >> without a downshift. When I was able to do that and not wreck on a lap >> was when I was able to get my single biggest accomplishemt in GPL. I >> did a 3:27.85 in the Lotus, I have gotten close to this time, only a >> few times, and Online I am able to keep up with the crowd, that took a >> while. My problem area at Spa now is Blanchimont, I know how to do it, >> just sometimes I do it wrong! This cost me 3rd place in my last race! >> The bad thing is, I am 10 seconds off of an excelent lap! >> > ><snip> > >Mmm, 3:27.85? I think you've lost the rest of your keys. Hehe. :)

(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are due to too many English classes/teachers)

In article <[email hidden]>, Steve Garrotto <[email hidden]> writes >I am lost by your meaning, I am sure if I understood I would laugh, >but I do not understand. :-O > Oh I do hate having to explain myself, it takes the whole spontaneity thing right out of it. :) It was the fact that you described in all seriousness that being fast at Spa relied on the one key area of taking Masta at full throttle and then went on to state that you had done a 3:27 lap. Transposing the meaning of the word 'key' to now mean a physical key and noting that your time wasn't the fastest and then thinking that maybe you were putting too much emphasis on one part of the track to the detriment of all the other important parts of Spa I then said that you had lost the rest of your keys. You know, giving a double meaning to the word key. Is it key areas you have lost or a set of keys? Is this making sense? Didn't think so. Oh well.... Anyway, isn't life a laff eh? :)

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>Peter Ives <[email hidden]> wrote: > >>Steve Garrotto wrote: >>> >>> The key to Spa is to be able to take Masta Kink at near full throttle, >>> without a downshift. When I was able to do that and not wreck on a lap >>> was when I was able to get my single biggest accomplishemt in GPL. I >>> did a 3:27.85 in the Lotus, I have gotten close to this time, only a >>> few times, and Online I am able to keep up with the crowd, that took a >>> while. My problem area at Spa now is Blanchimont, I know how to do it, >>> just sometimes I do it wrong! This cost me 3rd place in my last race! >>> The bad thing is, I am 10 seconds off of an excelent lap! >>> >> >><snip> >> >>Mmm, 3:27.85? I think you've lost the rest of your keys. Hehe. :) > > >(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new >and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are >due to too many English classes/teachers) > >

-- Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) No person's opinions can be said to be more correct than another's, because each is the sole judge of his or her own experience.

3:27.85? ain't sounding too fast. I did a 3:29 with a keyboard./wl Steve Garrotto <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> The key to Spa is to be able to take Masta Kink at near full throttle, > without a downshift. When I was able to do that and not wreck on a lap > was when I was able to get my single biggest accomplishemt in GPL. I > did a 3:27.85 in the Lotus, I have gotten close to this time, only a > few times, and Online I am able to keep up with the crowd, that took a > while. My problem area at Spa now is Blanchimont, I know how to do it, > just sometimes I do it wrong! This cost me 3rd place in my last race! > The bad thing is, I am 10 seconds off of an excelent lap! > > SLG > (172.02) > > "J. P. Hovercraft" <[email hidden]> wrote: > > >So...it's been almost a month since I packed in the automatic > >transmission after seeing my 600+ handicap when I first posted my player > >to GPLRank. The month has seen me take 2 minutes off my "Ring time, 3 > >seconds off Monza (the track I drove the most in automatic), I just got > >under 4 min. at Spa, and I'm finally under 300 at GPLRank. YES! Oh yeah, > >the upgrade from the P166 to a Celery 533 a couple of weeks ago has > >turned this sim into something else entirely. Between the manual > >shifting and the much improved frame rate, I've never felt so in control > >of the cars. > > othe stuff removed > > > > >Yours in joy and historic acceleration, > > > >J. P. Hovercraft > > > > > > > > > (All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new > and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are > due to too many English classes/teachers) > >

Ah, I understand now, but for me, a 3:27 is a major acomplishment! It is one of the only times that I am happy about. Yes, there are many places that I am still slow at, but for me the place that made the biggest difference was Masta. Sure I am slow, but I am like a turtle, yeah that's it, slow and consitant. :-) I think I have found why I am having problems getting faster at GPL, I am fighting the urge to do controlled slides. Everytime the tires start to talk I tend to get off the gas a bit and we all know what happens when we do that! SLG Peter Ives <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>In article <[email hidden]>, Steve Garrotto ><[email hidden]> writes >>I am lost by your meaning, I am sure if I understood I would laugh, >>but I do not understand. :-O >> > >Oh I do hate having to explain myself, it takes the whole spontaneity >thing right out of it. :) > >It was the fact that you described in all seriousness that being fast at >Spa relied on the one key area of taking Masta at full throttle and then >went on to state that you had done a 3:27 lap. Transposing the meaning >of the word 'key' to now mean a physical key and noting that your time >wasn't the fastest and then thinking that maybe you were putting too >much emphasis on one part of the track to the detriment of all the other >important parts of Spa I then said that you had lost the rest of your >keys. You know, giving a double meaning to the word key. Is it key >areas you have lost or a set of keys? Is this making sense? Didn't >think so. Oh well.... > >Anyway, isn't life a laff eh? :) > >>Peter Ives <[email hidden]> wrote: >> >>>Steve Garrotto wrote: >>>> >>>> The key to Spa is to be able to take Masta Kink at near full throttle, >>>> without a downshift. When I was able to do that and not wreck on a lap >>>> was when I was able to get my single biggest accomplishemt in GPL. I >>>> did a 3:27.85 in the Lotus, I have gotten close to this time, only a >>>> few times, and Online I am able to keep up with the crowd, that took a >>>> while. My problem area at Spa now is Blanchimont, I know how to do it, >>>> just sometimes I do it wrong! This cost me 3rd place in my last race! >>>> The bad thing is, I am 10 seconds off of an excelent lap! >>>> >>> >>><snip> >>> >>>Mmm, 3:27.85? I think you've lost the rest of your keys. Hehe. :) >> >> >>(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new >>and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are >>due to too many English classes/teachers) >> >> > >-- >Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) > >No person's opinions can be said to be >more correct than another's, because each is >the sole judge of his or her own experience.

(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are due to too many English classes/teachers)

Ah, I understand now, but for me, a 3:27 is a major acomplishment! It is one of the only times that I am happy about. Yes, there are many places that I am still slow at, but for me the place that made the biggest difference was Masta. Sure I am slow, but I am like a turtle, yeah that's it, slow and consitant. :-) I think I have found why I am having problems getting faster at GPL, I am fighting the urge to do controlled slides. Everytime the tires start to talk I tend to get off the gas a bit and we all know what happens when we do that! SLG Peter Ives <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>In article <[email hidden]>, Steve Garrotto ><[email hidden]> writes >>I am lost by your meaning, I am sure if I understood I would laugh, >>but I do not understand. :-O >> > >Oh I do hate having to explain myself, it takes the whole spontaneity >thing right out of it. :) > >It was the fact that you described in all seriousness that being fast at >Spa relied on the one key area of taking Masta at full throttle and then >went on to state that you had done a 3:27 lap. Transposing the meaning >of the word 'key' to now mean a physical key and noting that your time >wasn't the fastest and then thinking that maybe you were putting too >much emphasis on one part of the track to the detriment of all the other >important parts of Spa I then said that you had lost the rest of your >keys. You know, giving a double meaning to the word key. Is it key >areas you have lost or a set of keys? Is this making sense? Didn't >think so. Oh well.... > >Anyway, isn't life a laff eh? :) > >>Peter Ives <[email hidden]> wrote: >> >>>Steve Garrotto wrote: >>>> >>>> The key to Spa is to be able to take Masta Kink at near full throttle, >>>> without a downshift. When I was able to do that and not wreck on a lap >>>> was when I was able to get my single biggest accomplishemt in GPL. I >>>> did a 3:27.85 in the Lotus, I have gotten close to this time, only a >>>> few times, and Online I am able to keep up with the crowd, that took a >>>> while. My problem area at Spa now is Blanchimont, I know how to do it, >>>> just sometimes I do it wrong! This cost me 3rd place in my last race! >>>> The bad thing is, I am 10 seconds off of an excelent lap! >>>> >>> >>><snip> >>> >>>Mmm, 3:27.85? I think you've lost the rest of your keys. Hehe. :) >> >> >>(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new >>and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are >>due to too many English classes/teachers) >> >> > >-- >Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) > >No person's opinions can be said to be >more correct than another's, because each is >the sole judge of his or her own experience.

(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are due to too many English classes/teachers)