Finally made Club Class on Viper!!!

I finally made it to club class on Viper after more than 3 hours of actual driving time. I am convinced that the AI becomes more aggressive, the better you become. It took me many, many tries to finally win, since the AI cars would do their best to "nudge" me off the track. I won Bemidji with a 38:19 lap time, and Castlegreen with a 1:32.89 lap time. To anyone just starting their careers, you MUST win both of the first two races to even have a chance of winning overall. I finished fourth in Dayton with a best lap time of 1:05.31, and won overall by one point! I'm positive Dayton cannot be won in the amateur class, since qualifying first is very difficult, if possible at all, and it is too hard to gain enough ground on only three laps, if you start from the middle of the pack. At least it wasn't necessary to win, otherwise, I probably would've pulled my hair out by now. This game just gets better, and better! -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Remove "spam-jammer" to reply Peace, love and Monkeemobiles, Galley

I hope so. Could it possibly get worse? The demo had no sense of speed. The speedometer showed 90mph but it felt like 35mph.

I found Dayton to be quite easy - for some reason the AI slow down as they cross the line (on the first lap only) and I can sprint by into first. After that it's a matter of some creative blocking for a couple of laps! :-) Do you see that slow down or was that some wierd effect on my system? Wait till you get to GT. My most fun was the battle to win the GT season, since by that time the AI were pretty damn quick. In all other formulae I basically did one season to pick up money to buy all the goodies, and one other season to actually race and win the league. Invariably in the second season I kicked the AI's ***once I had my car fully upgraded, and it really wasn't as much fun as the first season where I had to fight for even third or fourth place. In the GT class the AI were competitive even after I had the car fully upgraded, and the racing was pretty good fun. It was also the only time I had to actually adjust the setup from the default in order to have a chance. Bemidji laps were in the low 30s, high 29s, and Castlegreen in about 1:14! :-) The only thing is that after you drive the GT car it feels pretty crappy to go back to the lower level ones - they just feel too slow! One possible tactic I thought about was to deliberately lose the second season, so as to spend a third season picking up wins and money easily so as to have some cash behind you going into the next formula. It may work if you have trouble gaining money at first at the higher level. I usually found that the larger prize money at the next level made it worthwhile moving up despite placing lower, but YMMV. Cheers! John

>>This game just gets better, and better! > I hope so. Could it possibly get worse? The demo had no sense of >speed. The speedometer showed 90mph but it felt like 35mph. I agree, the***pit view has no sense of speed what so ever. Now I only drive from the view where you can see the front wheels and the suspension. It has a much better sense of speed. Nothing like GPL, though :-) Viper is a fun game anyways. -Juha --

Do what I did :o). First spend over 1000 hours in other racing sims, then drive a couple of laps in the Viper Racing demo, then go buy Viper Racing retail version, then spend less than an hour in career mode (according to the log), then you beat the AI at Dayton in Amateur class. I think I needed two seasons to fully upgrade my car and then beat the AIs at Dayton my third season. You also get to club class before the hour is over :o). Sounds easy, doesn't it :o)? /Christer, it's a very good sim, though :o))) > I'm positive Dayton > cannot be won in the amateur class, since qualifying first is very > difficult, if possible at all, and it is too hard to gain enough ground on > only three laps, if you start from the middle of the pack. -- http://home4.swipnet.se/~w-41236/ (Read all about the "Global online racing"-proposal under "For developers". Read it a couple of times, cause noone has understood it the first time they've read it yet :o)). If there's a six in my email replace it with the digit instead.

You want a sense of speed, try the bumper cam view!!!! I set my best time at Silverdale in the Quick Race mode with this view. Paul

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> >>This game just gets better, and better! > > I hope so. Could it possibly get worse? The demo had no sense of > >speed. The speedometer showed 90mph but it felt like 35mph. > I agree, the***pit view has no sense of speed what so ever. > Now I only drive from the view where you can see the front wheels > and the suspension. It has a much better sense of speed. Nothing > like GPL, though :-) Viper is a fun game anyways. > -Juha > --

You and John Wallace are either the exception, great sim drivers or my driving smell like crap. I'm into my 5th season at PRO(took me 6 to get out of Ameatuer) and I can already see at least 2 more,if the most competative 2 AI's will wreck, before I get to GT and I had enough money to buy all the goodies in 2 season at pro. I just seem to fall 20 to 30 point short of of winning the season. There is always one race that I will crash or get spun out in and it will put me in 2nd place. Oh well back to practice. You have humbled me, Paul.

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> Do what I did :o). First spend over 1000 hours in other racing sims, then drive > a couple of laps in the Viper Racing demo, then go buy Viper Racing retail > version, then spend less than an hour in career mode (according to the log), > then you beat the AI at Dayton in Amateur class. I think I needed two seasons to > fully upgrade my car and then beat the AIs at Dayton my third season. You also > get to club class before the hour is over :o). Sounds easy, doesn't it :o)? > /Christer, it's a very good sim, though :o))) > > I'm positive Dayton > > cannot be won in the amateur class, since qualifying first is very > > difficult, if possible at all, and it is too hard to gain enough ground on > > only three laps, if you start from the middle of the pack. > -- > http://home4.swipnet.se/~w-41236/ (Read all about the "Global online > racing"-proposal under "For developers". Read it a couple of times, cause noone > has understood it the first time they've read it yet :o)). > If there's a six in my email replace it with the digit instead.

I think John has over 1000 hours in racing sims, and I know I have :o). With so much practice you really dont need much talent :o). /Christer

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> You and John Wallace are either the exception, great sim drivers or my driving smell > like crap. I'm into my 5th season at PRO(took me 6 to get out of Ameatuer) and I > can already see at least 2 more,if the most competative 2 AI's will wreck, before I > get to GT and I had enough money to buy all the goodies in 2 season at pro. I just > seem to fall 20 to 30 point short of of winning the season. There is always one > race that I will crash or get spun out in and it will put me in 2nd place. Oh well > back to practice. You have humbled me, Paul. > > Do what I did :o). First spend over 1000 hours in other racing sims, then drive > > a couple of laps in the Viper Racing demo, then go buy Viper Racing retail > > version, then spend less than an hour in career mode (according to the log), > > then you beat the AI at Dayton in Amateur class. I think I needed two seasons to > > fully upgrade my car and then beat the AIs at Dayton my third season. You also > > get to club class before the hour is over :o). Sounds easy, doesn't it :o)? > > /Christer, it's a very good sim, though :o))) > > > I'm positive Dayton > > > cannot be won in the amateur class, since qualifying first is very > > > difficult, if possible at all, and it is too hard to gain enough ground on > > > only three laps, if you start from the middle of the pack. > > -- > > http://home4.swipnet.se/~w-41236/ (Read all about the "Global online > > racing"-proposal under "For developers". Read it a couple of times, cause noone > > has understood it the first time they've read it yet :o)). > > If there's a six in my email replace it with the digit instead.

-- http://home4.swipnet.se/~w-41236/ (Read all about the "Global online racing"-proposal under "For developers". Read it a couple of times, cause noone has understood it the first time they've read it yet :o)). If there's a six in my email replace it with the digit instead.

Actually, you can win. You need to get the car set up with NO drag and as little rolling resistance as possible, though. Also, you _may_ have to, uh, get a little rough with the second place car:) Actually, this is a requirement quite a bit in Viper Racing. If you don't protect yourself forcefully, they will knock you right into the guardrail sometimes. -Larry

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> I'm positive Dayton > cannot be won in the amateur class, since qualifying first is very > difficult, if possible at all, and it is too hard to gain enough ground on > only three laps, if you start from the middle of the pack. At least it > wasn't necessary to win, otherwise, I probably would've pulled my hair out > by now. > This game just gets better, and better!

Wait till you hit pro or GT class. You'll get all the speed sense you can handle. -Larry > I hope so. Could it possibly get worse? The demo had no sense of > speed. The speedometer showed 90mph but it felt like 35mph.

I get the slow down too. You need to make the best of this to win this track. And, you're right about the creative blocking. -Larry > I found Dayton to be quite easy - for some reason the AI slow down as > they cross the line (on the first lap only) and I can sprint by into > first. After that it's a matter of some creative blocking for a couple > of laps! :-) Do you see that slow down or was that some wierd effect > on my system?

Took me 22 to get from Pro to GT :) At least I had a shit load of money to immediately buy all the goodies! -Larry > You and John Wallace are either the exception, great sim drivers or my > driving smell like crap. I'm into my 5th season at PRO(took me 6 to get > out of Ameatuer) and I can already see at least 2 more,if the most > competative 2 AI's will wreck, before I get to GT and I had enough money > to buy all the goodies in 2 season at pro.

I got nearly 20,000 laps at Taladega on TEN :) -Larry > I think John has over 1000 hours in racing sims, and I know I have :o). > With so much practice you really dont need much talent :o).

I just got promoted to Club class and I have a great idea for a patch. Since I only had to win one Amateur championship to move up, why do Valdez and Tillin keep winning and never get promoted? And now I have to drive with a completely new group of guys. Why not run the game so that the AI uses the same promotion rules as the player. That way, the good amateur AI drivers will move up and be waiting for you in Club class and so on. Also, it lets the drivers that aren't as good move up in the ranking just because they've been there forever and have more upgrades than the newbies. Bryan

I don't believe it, I won Pro in just one more season by "1" point!!!!! Now the problem is I don't have but $37,000 for upgrades--Iguess it will take a few seasons before I will even start to become competative--Hell I can only buy tires. Oh well, off to the races. Paul > Took me 22 to get from Pro to GT :) > At least I had a shit load of money to immediately buy all the goodies!

To Hell with Valdez and Tillin, I don't want to ever see them again except as spectators, they caused me enough grief ;-) Paul

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> I just got promoted to Club class and I have a great idea for a patch. > Since I only had to win one Amateur championship to move up, why do Valdez > and Tillin keep winning and never get promoted? And now I have to drive with a > completely new group of guys. > Why not run the game so that the AI uses the same promotion rules as the > player. That way, the good amateur AI drivers will move up and be waiting for > you in Club class and so on. > Also, it lets the drivers that aren't as good move up in the ranking just > because they've been there forever and have more upgrades than the newbies. > Bryan

That's my point. If the promotion system included AI drivers, then you'd see Valdez for one season, Tillin for two, then they'd move up and out of Amateur. After winning my one season and getting the Big Check, it seems unfair that Valdez gets to win several championships (and the Big Checks) to purchase equipment while I only get one before I'm kicked upstairs to struggle in Club class with a car that just isn't up to par in that class. Bryan > To Hell with Valdez and Tillin, I don't want to ever see them again except as > spectators, they caused me enough grief ;-) Paul

I guess it's similiar to real life in that there are many talented drivers(and people of other professions) in all types of racing that never get the opportunity to progress to the next level of competition. Life was not ment to be fair, just tough. Paul > That's my point. If the promotion system included AI drivers, then you'd see > Valdez for one season, Tillin for two, then they'd move up and out of Amateur. > After winning my one season and getting the Big Check, it seems unfair that > Valdez gets to win several championships (and the Big Checks) to purchase equipment > while I only get one before I'm kicked upstairs to struggle in Club class with a car > that just isn't up to par in that class.

I just think it would be more fun if you could develop a kind of emotional attachment to the other drivers as you progress. You finally make Club and there's ol' Valdez and Tillin, waiting to taunt you some more before they move up. Maybe you progress a little faster and start to think, "I can catch those jerks when we get to Pro class." But I think you're missing my point. I'm not whining about "fair". I'm saying that I would prefer to race in a more fluid system where drivers move out of the class and new ones come in while I'm moving through the seasons--which is like real life. Bryan

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> I guess it's similiar to real life in that there are many talented drivers(and people > of other professions) in all types of racing that never get the opportunity to progress > to the next level of competition. Life was not ment to be fair, just tough. Paul > > That's my point. If the promotion system included AI drivers, then you'd see > > Valdez for one season, Tillin for two, then they'd move up and out of Amateur. > > After winning my one season and getting the Big Check, it seems unfair that > > Valdez gets to win several championships (and the Big Checks) to purchase equipment > > while I only get one before I'm kicked upstairs to struggle in Club class with a car > > that just isn't up to par in that class.

I do understand your point and agree with what you said but i had to give you the tounge-in-cheek other side view. many people never want to see their competitors again and hope them nothing but the worst. Paul

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> I just think it would be more fun if you could develop a kind of emotional attachment to > the other drivers as you progress. You finally make Club and there's ol' Valdez and Tillin, > waiting to taunt you some more before they move up. Maybe you progress a little faster and > start to think, "I can catch those jerks when we get to Pro class." > But I think you're missing my point. I'm not whining about "fair". I'm saying that I > would prefer to race in a more fluid system where drivers move out of the class and new > ones come in while I'm moving through the seasons--which is like real life. > Bryan > > I guess it's similiar to real life in that there are many talented drivers(and people > > of other professions) in all types of racing that never get the opportunity to progress > > to the next level of competition. Life was not ment to be fair, just tough. Paul > > > That's my point. If the promotion system included AI drivers, then you'd see > > > Valdez for one season, Tillin for two, then they'd move up and out of Amateur. > > > After winning my one season and getting the Big Check, it seems unfair that > > > Valdez gets to win several championships (and the Big Checks) to purchase equipment > > > while I only get one before I'm kicked upstairs to struggle in Club class with a car > > > that just isn't up to par in that class.

>To Hell with Valdez and Tillin, I don't want to ever see them again except as >spectators, they caused me enough grief ;-) Paul This was a feature of Geoff Crammond's Stunt Car Racer, and one which I quite liked. If you didn't win your league one season, the next season if you moved up you would find last year's winner. I thought that was a nice feature. One thing I didn't like about Viper was that I spent a season battling like hell with Sentell (Hi Matt! :-) ) which he won, and I won the next season, but I went up and he didn't. I would have liked to have met him again the next season in the next class, except he would have had one season's worth of money and upgrades. Still that's what *I* would have liked, and it's obviously outside Viper's remit. Cheers! John

That's only 250 hours, what's your point ;o). Seriously, 250 hours on one track is a lot of time :o). /Christer

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> I got nearly 20,000 laps at Taladega on TEN :) > -Larry > > I think John has over 1000 hours in racing sims, and I know I have :o). > > With so much practice you really dont need much talent :o).

-- http://home4.swipnet.se/~w-41236/ (Read all about the "Global online racing"-proposal under "For developers". Read it a couple of times, cause noone has understood it the first time they've read it yet :o)). If there's a six in my email replace it with the digit instead.

250 hours if you're fast. I'm slow, so it's more like 1000 hours... Silly me :) I've got even more off-line hours:) -Larry

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> That's only 250 hours, what's your point ;o). Seriously, 250 hours on one > track is a lot of time :o). > /Christer > I think John has over 1000 hours in racing sims, and I know I have :o). > > > With so much practice you really dont need much talent :o). > -- http://home4.swipnet.se/~w-41236/ (Read all about the "Global online > racing"-proposal under "For developers". Read it a couple of times, cause > noone has understood it the first time they've read it yet :o)). If > there's a six in my email replace it with the digit instead.