GPL, Lotus' reliability!

Hi GPL gang, Today I tried my first "Intermediate - Short" -AI-race in the only track I know quite well, Monza, and it really seems to need an effort to keep a Lotus _alive_, already in the "Advanced" damage model! My camshaft seems to be quite fragile... :-) I only guess they made a great work in Papy in modelling cars' unique behaviour...? Should I start using Honda in Monza, or Brabham througout? In 67 Monza was won in Honda by Surtees and the whole season was won by Brabham... Only problem is that I'm so slow in Monza by either of these cars... I guess using the "intermediate" or even the "pro" really evens the superiority of Lotus. Any comment by you, "on-line" folks? In what level do you set the game in on-line races? Arto PS I need lots and lots of practice before joining any on-line races... :-/

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>Hi GPL gang, >Today I tried my first "Intermediate - Short" -AI-race in the only track I >know quite well, Monza, and it really seems to need an effort to keep >a Lotus _alive_, already in the "Advanced" damage model! My camshaft seems >to be quite fragile... :-) I only guess they made a great work in Papy in >modelling cars' unique behaviour...? >Should I start using Honda in Monza, or Brabham througout? In 67 Monza >was won in Honda by Surtees and the whole season was won by Brabham... >Only problem is that I'm so slow in Monza by either of these cars... >I guess using the "intermediate" or even the "pro" really evens the >superiority of Lotus. Any comment by you, "on-line" folks? In what >level do you set the game in on-line races?

Yes! The Lotus is a nigthmare if you push the engine too much on high revs. Personally I find the Ferrari quite reliable. K.S. Br?nnick

To answer the original question.. Use what ever car you are most comfortable with. All cars will blow up if you maintain a high rpm for an extended amount of time. I would suggest that if you stay with the Lotus you should put either a taller final drive in it or set each gear a tad bit higher. This way your rpms will be lower and odds are your engine will last longer. You may end up being a tad bit slower but at least you'll finish the race in one piece. As far as the Ferrari.. They do tend to last longer then the Lotus. But don't change cars just for the reliability. Change cars only if one of the others feel better to you. just my $0.02 worth Mike Barlow

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> >Hi GPL gang, > >Today I tried my first "Intermediate - Short" -AI-race in the only track I > >know quite well, Monza, and it really seems to need an effort to keep > >a Lotus _alive_, already in the "Advanced" damage model! My camshaft seems > >to be quite fragile... :-) I only guess they made a great work in Papy in > >modelling cars' unique behaviour...? > >Should I start using Honda in Monza, or Brabham througout? In 67 Monza > >was won in Honda by Surtees and the whole season was won by Brabham... > >Only problem is that I'm so slow in Monza by either of these cars... > >I guess using the "intermediate" or even the "pro" really evens the > >superiority of Lotus. Any comment by you, "on-line" folks? In what > >level do you set the game in on-line races? > Yes! The Lotus is a nigthmare if you push the engine too much on high revs. > Personally I find the Ferrari quite reliable. > K.S. Br?nnick

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I too find the Lotus engine made of glass. I've manage to win a Pro Long race at Monza the other day using it, but only after many many blowouts. I've started to shift a bit sooner now and I DO NOT power shift anymore in a race; only in qualifying for a hotlap. Practice gaining time by braking a bit later or using the best line through a corner instead of shifting without lifting your foot from the accelerator. You'll gain more time this way and you'll still be in the race for the final lap. Hope this helps. Robert, Hull Qubec

Once blew a Lotus up while warming the tires (whilst warming the tyres for you limeys...) at The Glen, not even one lap in! During the '67 season you would often find Sir Jack's Brabham stuck to the gearbox of the nearest Lotus49 during qualifing enjoying the tow. Yeah, Honda won Monza with Surtees up after Lotus and Brabhams fell off. Clack pitted with a flat tire (tar for you N2 'necks) and lapped the field afterwards...um I don't remember what his final fate in that race was. Seems to me some of Papy's final decisions as to marque powerplant reliablitiy and power were kind of arbitrary but overall satisfactory. Happy Motoring

says... The Lotus and the Eagle are the most delicate cars in the GPL stable. Seems to me like Papy modelled the reliability fiarly accurately. In a GP-length race at Spa, about half the AI field dropped out with problems - all but one Lotus, all the Eagles, and at least one of each of the other marques. I think the AI Surtees won the race. -- ========================================================= John Simmons - Redneck Techno-Biker (Zerex12) http://www.members.home.net/jms1/index.html John Simmons - Barbarian Diecast Collector http://members.home.net/jsimm/diecast_index.html IGPS (Season 2) Director http://207.104.111.77/igps2/igps2.html If you want to send me email, go to either of the URL's shown above & click "Send Me Mail" in the contents frame. =========================================================

A while ago I decided to see what happened if I let 19 AI run a GP length race without me. I of course just ran it on accelerated time and I don't know if that affected the outcome but by flagfall there was just ONE car left! It was McLaren in the Eagle. Cheers! Graeme Nash http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk ICQ# 11257824 1998 Xoom GP2 League Champion