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Rec.Autos.Simulators Archive

GPL car setup questions

7 posts by 6 people · 26 Mar 1999 - 04 Apr 1999

Mapson 26 Mar 1999#458259
I am still confused, even after reading the manual and various web pages, about what-does-what in the GPL "garage" window. Basically, it would help to have some idea from you all with some sort of prioritized list of what is important to car performance. For instance, spending an hour to discover that adjusting the "Bump ***" on a tire has no real effect on my general performance is not an effective way to learn about setup. So, in some kind of order from most important to least, are the most important elements of setup? In my trials, I'd say the top 5 are: 1) wheel inflation 2) wheel camber 3) wheel rate 4) front and rear roll bar 5) getting gear ratios fine-tuned But there are so many things I don't quite understand- like the number of "clutches" I have, or how specifically roll bar adjustments change performance, the two other types of chassis adjustment available, toe-in. And is "wheel-rate" what I used to think of as "shocks"? If one tire is severerly underheating, I often increase the "wheel-rate" on it... but am not really sure what I'm doing to the car overall, or even if it is always succeeding in heating that tire. ALl this said, I've finally gotten some setups that get me in winning range at the Glenn, Monza, Zandvoort, and a few others in a lotus. But now I'm trying the Ferrari, and am loathed to go at it so blindly this time. Please post any followups here- thanks!
Wosco 26 Mar 1999#458260
I would have to rate the top 5 as being... spring & anti-roll bars Ramp Angles Clutch Toe-in/out Gear Ratios Jesse
Quoted text (37 lines)|I am still confused, even after reading the manual and various web |pages, about what-does-what in the GPL "garage" window. Basically, it |would help to have some idea from you all with some sort of |prioritized list of what is important to car performance. | |For instance, spending an hour to discover that adjusting the "Bump |***" on a tire has no real effect on my general performance is not |an effective way to learn about setup. | |So, in some kind of order from most important to least, are the most |important elements of setup? | |In my trials, I'd say the top 5 are: | |1) wheel inflation |2) wheel camber |3) wheel rate |4) front and rear roll bar |5) getting gear ratios fine-tuned | |But there are so many things I don't quite understand- like the number |of "clutches" I have, or how specifically roll bar adjustments change |performance, the two other types of chassis adjustment available, |toe-in. | |And is "wheel-rate" what I used to think of as "shocks"? If one tire |is severerly underheating, I often increase the "wheel-rate" on it... |but am not really sure what I'm doing to the car overall, or even if |it is always succeeding in heating that tire. | |ALl this said, I've finally gotten some setups that get me in winning |range at the Glenn, Monza, Zandvoort, and a few others in a lotus. But |now I'm trying the Ferrari, and am loathed to go at it so blindly this |time. | |Please post any followups here- thanks! |
Mapson 26 Mar 1999#458261
Thanks for the quick reply... Now, here are some questions: On Fri, 26 Mar 1999 12:21:02 -0500, "Wosco" >I would have to rate the top 5 as being... >spring & anti-roll bars Interesting. In Lotus, I keep both front and rear anti-roll bars up around 90, but let some front out if I'm pushing too badly. But I don't really know what I am doing (or, really, what they are!). And what is the "spring"- does it consist of the two damping options each wheel has? Or is it part of "wheel rate"? Is that ride height? Sorry, GPL is nowhere near me here at this computer, and I don't recall that option. For what it is worth, I set ride heights at minimum (1) for everything. Sounds appaling, but I certainly don't hear any rubbing (unless I've missed a brakepoint badly), and I figure it is good to be low as possible. Seriously? Please explain what you notice from changing them- I've not seen any effect in the little I did. But then, I just assumed it was sort of "digital"- clutch is in/clutch is out. I use absolutely not toe-in or toe-out anymore, and I'm on the threshhold of breaking in to the 1:03's at Watkins Glen. I used to use some, but never really saw it help my times. The car is certainly more tricky to drive without any toe-in in the rear, though- but I feel like my fast laps are faster without any. And toe-out in the front confuses me... seems like it does the opposite of what I'd expect. Given how weight transfers in a turn, it seems like it would make a turn more gentle, but it seems to make turning more "twitchy." I think they and tire temps are about the only two things I really understand! Thanks again.
Joe McGinn 26 Mar 1999#458262
>I am still confused, even after reading the manual and various web >pages, about what-does-what in the GPL "garage" window. What these sims really need is a "setup wizard", some kind of automated mechanic to advise and help you setup the car. I like GPL, but will never be competitive because I don't have the patience to learn the intricacies of all this car setup stuff. Joe
Prefect Bei 27 Mar 1999#458474
Quoted text (14 lines)>Thanks for the quick reply... >Now, here are some questions: >On Fri, 26 Mar 1999 12:21:02 -0500, "Wosco" >>I would have to rate the top 5 as being... >>spring & anti-roll bars >Interesting. In Lotus, I keep both front and rear anti-roll bars up >around 90, but let some front out if I'm pushing too badly. >But I don't really know what I am doing (or, really, what they are!).
Anit-roll bars are torsion bars used to check the roll of the car through a turn. Do a dejanews search on rec.autos.sport.f1 for an article on the subject by Doc Knutsen, a race car engineer. I asked him the same question ages ago. His posting name is Cheek Sr. First, you may like to visit members.home.net/rck/phor for articles on the physics of racing. I also asked about springs and dampers. The same guy replied. I think the article was titled Springs and Dampers (wow!). Once you've read those articles you may be interested to see insideracingtechnology.com for some photos of real IRL/CART suspensions. Clutch and ramp angles are to do with the differential. Don't ask me what ramp angles are. I don't own GPL but I'll guess that refers to the clutch pack on a limited slip differential (LSD). Basically, the more clutch you run the less speed difference is allowed between the rear wheels. More clutch should (I think) mean more power-on oversteer. -joe-
t.. 28 Mar 1999#458628
>What these sims really need is a "setup wizard", some kind of >automated mechanic to advise and help you setup the car. I like GPL, >but will never be competitive because I don't have the patience to >learn the intricacies of all this car setup stuff. I'm with you there. I just download other people's set ups and try them out. I have little enough time to play GPL anyway without spending it all twiddling with the car. Just my $0.02. Tony Whitley Please remove 'spam' to reply.
What we really need is a setup program like N2crewcheif. It asks you questions,you answer them,and it adjusts the car. It takes a long time but eventually you get a setup that is what you're looking for. Joel Willstein

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