How can I improve my times on GPL?

I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) Monza: 1:30.96 Watkins Glen: 1:07.69 Silverstone: 1:32.19 I haven't started fiddling about with the car settings, I've only lowered the fuel to 9 laps or so. I am reluctant to do so because I can't tell if the setting I've changed has improved the car or not! Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? PS Has anyone else noticed that you can't get a frame rate higher than about 36fps??

Hi, Scott -- You don't mention whether you're driving the 1.0 version or if you've patched it. If you don't have the patch installed, do it now. Despite some of the patch's inherent problems, the new default setups are much more forgiving and easier to drive than the defaults in 1.0. My experience using other people's setups downloaded off the net is that it won't take hours of practice to determine if the set-up is right for your style -- probably just half a dozen laps at any one track. (I know someone will disagree with that.) For instance, when Alison Hine released her set-ups for the Ferrari, I started breaking my personal best times that same night. Tell us what marque you prefer driving, and I'm sure you'll get all kinds of suggestions of whose setups to try. Regards, Kurt

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>I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and >I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been >concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) >Monza: 1:30.96 >Watkins Glen: 1:07.69 >Silverstone: 1:32.19 >I haven't started fiddling about with the car settings, I've only lowered >the fuel to 9 laps or so. I am reluctant to do so because I can't tell >if the setting I've changed has improved the car or not! >Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing >the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? >PS Has anyone else noticed that you can't get a frame rate higher than >about 36fps??

Thanks for that, but I can't find the patch anywhere on the web, help would be much appreciated. >Hi, Scott -- >You don't mention whether you're driving the 1.0 version or if you've >patched it. If you don't have the patch installed, do it now. Despite some

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>of the patch's inherent problems, the new default setups are much more >forgiving and easier to drive than the defaults in 1.0. >My experience using other people's setups downloaded off the net is that it >won't take hours of practice to determine if the set-up is right for your >style -- probably just half a dozen laps at any one track. (I know someone >will disagree with that.) For instance, when Alison Hine released her >set-ups for the Ferrari, I started breaking my personal best times that

same >night. >Tell us what marque you prefer driving, and I'm sure you'll get all kinds of

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>suggestions of whose setups to try. >Regards, >Kurt >>I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and >>I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been >>concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) >>Monza: 1:30.96 >>Watkins Glen: 1:07.69 >>Silverstone: 1:32.19 >>I haven't started fiddling about with the car settings, I've only lowered >>the fuel to 9 laps or so. I am reluctant to do so because I can't tell >>if the setting I've changed has improved the car or not! >>Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing >>the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? >>PS Has anyone else noticed that you can't get a frame rate higher than >>about 36fps??

http://www.papy.com/gpl/download.html -- -- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard> -- May the Downforce be with you... "People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."

http://www.papy.com or http://www.theuspits.com

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> Thanks for that, but I can't find the patch anywhere on the web, help > would be much appreciated. > >Hi, Scott -- > >You don't mention whether you're driving the 1.0 version or if you've > >patched it. If you don't have the patch installed, do it now. Despite > some > >of the patch's inherent problems, the new default setups are much more > >forgiving and easier to drive than the defaults in 1.0. > >My experience using other people's setups downloaded off the net is that

it > >won't take hours of practice to determine if the set-up is right for your > >style -- probably just half a dozen laps at any one track. (I know someone

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> >will disagree with that.) For instance, when Alison Hine released her > >set-ups for the Ferrari, I started breaking my personal best times that > same > >night. > >Tell us what marque you prefer driving, and I'm sure you'll get all kinds > of > >suggestions of whose setups to try. > >Regards, > >Kurt > >>I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and > >>I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been > >>concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) > >>Monza: 1:30.96 > >>Watkins Glen: 1:07.69 > >>Silverstone: 1:32.19 > >>I haven't started fiddling about with the car settings, I've only

lowered

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> >>the fuel to 9 laps or so. I am reluctant to do so because I can't tell > >>if the setting I've changed has improved the car or not! > >>Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing > >>the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? > >>PS Has anyone else noticed that you can't get a frame rate higher than > >>about 36fps??

Try the Lotus! And afterall, Im not much faster (after 5 month). Not erverybody is a natural born racer.

You can download the patch at http://www.papy.com/ (Papyrus home page) or at the Fast-lane http://www.the-fastlane.com/ , they have nearly every cool add-on for GPL also. You'll notice that the GPL 1.1 setups are much more forgiving than the 1.0 ones. For other good setups check out: Alison Hine' site: http://simracing.com/alison/gpl/ (especially her Ferrari setup) Ricardo Nunnini's Lotus setups: http://get.to/gpl/ click 'Driving Tips' To your question about fps: GPL is limited to 36 fps, you should try to always have 36 fps, since the control input is smoother. If you want to improve your times, it's best not to fiddle too much around with setups, they won't give you 2-3 secs. Try to find a car with a good neutral setup, download the replays of the fast guys and analyze where you lose time. A very good tool to do this is SpyGirl, which lets you merge two replays into one (Yours and the fast one... :-). I think you can download it at the FastLane. Hope, that helps! Peter Vienna, Austria

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> Thanks for that, but I can't find the patch anywhere on the web, help > would be much appreciated. > >Hi, Scott -- > >You don't mention whether you're driving the 1.0 version or if you've > >patched it. If you don't have the patch installed, do it now. Despite > some > >of the patch's inherent problems, the new default setups are much more > >forgiving and easier to drive than the defaults in 1.0. > >My experience using other people's setups downloaded off the net is that

it > >won't take hours of practice to determine if the set-up is right for your > >style -- probably just half a dozen laps at any one track. (I know someone

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> >will disagree with that.) For instance, when Alison Hine released her > >set-ups for the Ferrari, I started breaking my personal best times that > same > >night. > >Tell us what marque you prefer driving, and I'm sure you'll get all kinds > of > >suggestions of whose setups to try. > >Regards, > >Kurt > >>I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and > >>I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been > >>concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) > >>Monza: 1:30.96 > >>Watkins Glen: 1:07.69 > >>Silverstone: 1:32.19 > >>I haven't started fiddling about with the car settings, I've only

lowered

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> >>the fuel to 9 laps or so. I am reluctant to do so because I can't tell > >>if the setting I've changed has improved the car or not! > >>Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing > >>the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? > >>PS Has anyone else noticed that you can't get a frame rate higher than > >>about 36fps??

Further to my original post, I thought it would be a good idea to put a replay file of one of my laps on my website. The lap is 251Kb and can be downloaded from www.boham.freeserve.co.uk/Monza_B.rpy Any comments on how I could improve, or what settings to change on the car would be most appreciated. PS. I think GPL is the best racing simulator ever. It's just brilliant when a friend is watching you do a 1:31 round Monza, then you ask them if they want a go and they can't even get round the first corner.

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>I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and >I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been >concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) >Monza: 1:30.96 >Watkins Glen: 1:07.69 >Silverstone: 1:32.19 >I haven't started fiddling about with the car settings, I've only lowered >the fuel to 9 laps or so. I am reluctant to do so because I can't tell >if the setting I've changed has improved the car or not! >Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing >the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? >PS Has anyone else noticed that you can't get a frame rate higher than >about 36fps??

I'm not the GPL expert (yet, I hope... my PB in Monza is 1:29.25 in the Lotus and I can do high 1:29's quite consistently), but I'd something to say about your replay. First, hitting the armco exiting Ascari and then going through the grass is not a good idea. (But I think you can imagine that yourself... :-) Second, work on your exit of Parabolica. You are way too slow there. I always measure my exit speed of parabolica by watching the replay in 'arcade view' and looking at the speed when I just go by the edge of the wall to the left. I get 207-208 kph there (the champs get over 210...), you are about 10 kph slower. This lack of exit speed haunts you all along the looong front straight. I enter the parabolica a little bit faster than you, then let it go wide, turn the car by going off the throttle and go into third gear very early. Then I can almost go flat out of the corner. Third, I don't know, which setup you drive with, but your top speed seems too low. Even if your exit of Parabolica is not the best, you should be faster before braking for Curva Grande. I get 311 kph there, if I mess up Parabolica I get about 309 kph. You get 306 kph with the Eagle, which generally has a slightly higher top speed than the Lotus. Don't know, gears set too long, too much fuel, calibration of your wheel (gas pedal - maybe you can't reach full thottle) not OK? That also becomes obvious when braking for Lesmo1: You get about the same exit speed out of Curva Grande as I get, but before Lesmo1 you are about 5-6 kph slower. The Lesmos are very good, from my point of view. If I'd get the Lesmos so good and do the Parabolica as I've done in my best lap, I'd surely get a 1:28. Peter Vienna, Austria

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> Further to my original post, I thought it would be a good idea to put > a replay file of one of my laps on my website. > The lap is 251Kb and can be downloaded from > www.boham.freeserve.co.uk/Monza_B.rpy > Any comments on how I could improve, or what settings to change on > the car would be most appreciated. > PS. I think GPL is the best racing simulator ever. It's just brilliant

when

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> a friend is watching you do a 1:31 round Monza, then you ask them if > they want a go and they can't even get round the first corner. > >I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and > >I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been > >concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) > >Monza: 1:30.96 > >Watkins Glen: 1:07.69 > >Silverstone: 1:32.19 > >I haven't started fiddling about with the car settings, I've only lowered > >the fuel to 9 laps or so. I am reluctant to do so because I can't tell > >if the setting I've changed has improved the car or not! > >Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing > >the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? > >PS Has anyone else noticed that you can't get a frame rate higher than > >about 36fps??

Your times are almost exactly the same as my best after 6months or so. I just can't seem to go quicker. Alison's Ferrari set up for monza took me from 1.31.9 to 1.30.4 within a few laps, but I've hit a brick wall again now. I wish I had more replays to check out Jack

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>I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and >I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been >concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) >Monza: 1:30.96 >Watkins Glen: 1:07.69 >Silverstone: 1:32.19 >I haven't started fiddling about with the car settings, I've only lowered >the fuel to 9 laps or so. I am reluctant to do so because I can't tell >if the setting I've changed has improved the car or not! >Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing >the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? >PS Has anyone else noticed that you can't get a frame rate higher than >about 36fps??

Well let me just say this....there arent alot of people that can do 1:30s at monza. I can do it and alot of other GPLers on this NG can...but the real Jim Clark only ran in the 1:29-30s there. Now on to how to get faster...its not your setup (well...it COULD be but i doubt it). You are a little slow off Parabolica (to echo a previous post). My PB at Monza is a 1:30.61 so i could take the same advice your getting. Where i notice i lose ALOT of time is in the Lesmos. You want to run about 75-80 MPH thru the first and 80-85 thru the second to have a fast lap. Chris

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>Second, work on your exit of Parabolica. You are way too slow there. I >always measure my exit speed of parabolica by watching the replay in 'arcade >view' and looking at the speed when I just go by the edge of the wall to the >left. I get 207-208 kph there (the champs get over 210...), you are about 10 >kph slower. This lack of exit speed haunts you all along the looong front >straight. I enter the parabolica a little bit faster than you, then let it >go wide, turn the car by going off the throttle and go into third gear very >early. Then I can almost go flat out of the corner. >Third, I don't know, which setup you drive with, but your top speed seems >too low. Even if your exit of Parabolica is not the best, you should be >faster before braking for Curva Grande. I get 311 kph there, if I mess up >Parabolica I get about 309 kph. You get 306 kph with the Eagle, which >generally has a slightly higher top speed than the Lotus

Hmm. I just checked one of my replays. I'm at 188kph out of the parabolica, and about 304kph before Curva Grande. I'm using AH's Ferarri setup. I guess I *still* have a long way to go... :-( Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread, your ideas have been a real help. I have started using the Lotus, which knocked over a second off my best at Silverstone straight away (1:30.57 now, download the replay from www.boham.freeserve.co.uk/SilverB.rpy , comments welcome (yes, I know I went on the grass a bit)). I am next going to start working on Monza again, try to get under 1:30 (!) It's good to know that there's people out there willing to help. Scott Boham

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>I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and >I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been >concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) >Monza: 1:30.96 >Watkins Glen: 1:07.69 >Silverstone: 1:32.19 >I haven't started fiddling about with the car settings, I've only lowered >the fuel to 9 laps or so. I am reluctant to do so because I can't tell >if the setting I've changed has improved the car or not! >Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing >the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? >PS Has anyone else noticed that you can't get a frame rate higher than >about 36fps??

I think it was probably my throttle pedal not going to 100%, I've had some problems with that because, strangely enough, the pedal gives 100% reading when about 96% to the floor. This means, when I calibrate it, I am never able to get 100% throttle. I have sorted it though by putting a small bit of wood under the pedal so that it doesn't quite go to floor. I'll let you know how I get on at Monza. >I'm not the GPL expert (yet, I hope... my PB in Monza is 1:29.25 in the >Lotus and I can do high 1:29's quite consistently), but I'd something to say >about your replay. >First, hitting the armco exiting Ascari and then going through the grass is >not a good idea. (But I think you can imagine that yourself... :-) >Second, work on your exit of Parabolica. You are way too slow there. I >always measure my exit speed of parabolica by watching the replay in 'arcade >view' and looking at the speed when I just go by the edge of the wall to the >left. I get 207-208 kph there (the champs get over 210...), you are about 10

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>kph slower. This lack of exit speed haunts you all along the looong front >straight. I enter the parabolica a little bit faster than you, then let it >go wide, turn the car by going off the throttle and go into third gear very >early. Then I can almost go flat out of the corner. >Third, I don't know, which setup you drive with, but your top speed seems >too low. Even if your exit of Parabolica is not the best, you should be >faster before braking for Curva Grande. I get 311 kph there, if I mess up >Parabolica I get about 309 kph. You get 306 kph with the Eagle, which >generally has a slightly higher top speed than the Lotus. Don't know, gears >set too long, too much fuel, calibration of your wheel (gas pedal - maybe >you can't reach full thottle) not OK? That also becomes obvious when

braking

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>for Lesmo1: You get about the same exit speed out of Curva Grande as I get, >but before Lesmo1 you are about 5-6 kph slower. >The Lesmos are very good, from my point of view. If I'd get the Lesmos so >good and do the Parabolica as I've done in my best lap, I'd surely get a >1:28. >Peter >Vienna, Austria >> Further to my original post, I thought it would be a good idea to put >> a replay file of one of my laps on my website. >> The lap is 251Kb and can be downloaded from >> www.boham.freeserve.co.uk/Monza_B.rpy >> Any comments on how I could improve, or what settings to change on >> the car would be most appreciated. >> PS. I think GPL is the best racing simulator ever. It's just brilliant >when >> a friend is watching you do a 1:31 round Monza, then you ask them if >> they want a go and they can't even get round the first corner. >> >I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and >> >I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been >> >concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) >> >Monza: 1:30.96 >> >Watkins Glen: 1:07.69 >> >Silverstone: 1:32.19 >> >I haven't started fiddling about with the car settings, I've only

lowered

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>> >the fuel to 9 laps or so. I am reluctant to do so because I can't tell >> >if the setting I've changed has improved the car or not! >> >Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing >> >the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? >> >PS Has anyone else noticed that you can't get a frame rate higher than >> >about 36fps??

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>Your times are almost exactly the same as my best after 6months or so. I >just can't seem to go quicker. >Alison's Ferrari set up for monza took me from 1.31.9 to 1.30.4 within a few >laps, but I've hit a brick wall again now. >I wish I had more replays to check out >Jack

I am beginning to wonder if it's patch-related: ever since I installed the patch, I find it extremely hard to get close to my old lap records from 1.0. For instance, I hardly ever get a sub 1:30 at monza with 1.1 where my pb is a 1:29.5. the only track I managed to improve upon is Zandy, and only by switching to a Ferrari and abandoning the trusty toad. Anyone else having the same problems? Regards, Uwe -- Uwe Schuerkamp http://www.schuerkamp.de/ Herford, Germany (52.0N/8h30mE) Ever wondered what's wrong with the world? http://bnetwork.com/ PGP Fingerprint: 2E 13 20 22 9A 3F 63 7F 67 6F E9 B1 A8 36 A4 61

nope. check out the driving tips of ricardo nunnini at http://website.lineone.net/~richardn/ [address restored] the most important thing he mentions is: "Line, exit speed, braking - in that order.". try to drive smooth and consistent and try different lines without pushing too much. to find a good line, you can also download a replay of a good hotlap (be sure it's with the same car you are driving and it is not way faster than you!) and compare them using GPL SpyGirl (get it at www.the-fastlane.com or www.theuspits.com) using 'syncing at each spot'. when I found the right line for the first two corners of kyalami, i could do 1:22.xx there and when I "mastered" the ninety at watkins glen, that knocked almost a second off my time to a low 1:06 ... Lio

I'm at my limit as well. I can crank out mid 1.30s at Monza with the Ferrari all day, but I can't get under 1.29 no matter what. The hotlaps I've looked at all have the ass end*** out in the breeze on every corner, gas to the floor and tires howling, steering all over the place, missing guard rails and walls by a coat of paint, no-lift shifting, Christ, it's a nightmare. My question is, do people actually drive this way consistently lap after lap? Is it actually possible to knock off eight or ten laps in a row at Monza in the low 1.28s with the Ferrari? I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I've reached the limits of my ability (and reflexes) and that's that. I've tried a half-dozen different setups including one I took hours of testing to develop on my own. Any comments? Zog

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> > Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing > > the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups now? > nope. check out the driving tips of ricardo nunnini at > http://website.lineone.net/~richardn/ [address restored] > the most important thing he mentions is: "Line, exit speed, braking - in > that order.". try to drive smooth and consistent and try different lines > without pushing too much. to find a good line, you can also download a > replay of a good hotlap (be sure it's with the same car you are driving > and it is not way faster than you!) and compare them using GPL SpyGirl > (get it at www.the-fastlane.com or www.theuspits.com) using 'syncing at > each spot'. > when I found the right line for the first two corners of kyalami, i > could do 1:22.xx there and when I "mastered" the ninety at watkins glen, > that knocked almost a second off my time to a low 1:06 ... > Lio

well, monza is a bit different I think ;-) the track is not too tricky and has just 4 'real' turns ... easy to reach your limit ... I don't think you can do consistent low 1:28s with the ferrari - I have seen some driving consistent 1:29 to 1:30 with it, but I'd say even in the eagle there are only a few that could do it ... if a track annoys you too much - just switch to another one ;-) Lio

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>I am beginning to wonder if it's patch-related: ever since I >installed the patch, I find it extremely hard to get close to >my old lap records from 1.0. For instance, I hardly ever get a >sub 1:30 at monza with 1.1 where my pb is a 1:29.5. the only >track I managed to improve upon is Zandy, and only by switching >to a Ferrari and abandoning the trusty toad. >Anyone else having the same problems?

Yes, I'm experiencing a similar effect. I have become much more consistent since the advent of 1.1 (and since I upgraded my computer again), but even though I now can drive lots of laps in the high 1:30s / low 1:31s in Monza without spinning out, I can't break the 1:30 barrier anymore. And my pb is about 1:29.5, too. I does not even matter what car I drive - it's the same with the Ferrari and the Lotus. OTOH, I can't pinpoint the reason, since there are too many variables: slightly changed physics in 1.1, new setups, my own exposure to the sim etc. -- Wolfgang Preiss \ E-mail copies of replies to this posting are welcome.

Some Fyi from my point of view; I found the same with 1.1 as I did with 1.0 but I also feel 1.1 did give me better 'driveablity.' First patching to 1.1 it felt as I was starting all over again but once I adjusted to 1.1's feel from 1.0 my times lowered quickly! I do "trailbraking" alot & after I pushed my envelope a 'tad' more {imho} I found my times lowering. So if you give this a try I think your time will lower also. Good luck.. Thom_j.

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> >I am beginning to wonder if it's patch-related: ever since I > >installed the patch, I find it extremely hard to get close to > >my old lap records from 1.0. For instance, I hardly ever get a > >sub 1:30 at monza with 1.1 where my pb is a 1:29.5. the only > >track I managed to improve upon is Zandy, and only by switching > >to a Ferrari and abandoning the trusty toad. > >Anyone else having the same problems? > Yes, I'm experiencing a similar effect. I have become much more > consistent since the advent of 1.1 (and since I upgraded my computer > again), but even though I now can drive lots of laps in the high 1:30s > / low 1:31s in Monza without spinning out, I can't break the 1:30 > barrier anymore. And my pb is about 1:29.5, too. I does not even > matter what car I drive - it's the same with the Ferrari and the > Lotus. > OTOH, I can't pinpoint the reason, since there are too many variables: > slightly changed physics in 1.1, new setups, my own exposure to the > sim etc. > -- > Wolfgang Preiss \ E-mail copies of replies to this posting are welcome.

cancellation warned.

Before installing the patch, my best at Monza was 1:31.26 in the Eagle. After about 10 laps with the patch, I got a 1:29.89. The patched version seems much more 'controllable' and more forgiving to eratic driving. I got below a 1:07 at Watkins Glen as well after I got the patch. This may be just because I'm getting better . . . . . . . >On Sat, 28 Aug 1999 23:57:18 +0100, Jack Russell >>Your times are almost exactly the same as my best after 6months or so. I >>just can't seem to go quicker. >>Alison's Ferrari set up for monza took me from 1.31.9 to 1.30.4 within a few

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>>laps, but I've hit a brick wall again now. >>I wish I had more replays to check out >>Jack >I am beginning to wonder if it's patch-related: ever since I >installed the patch, I find it extremely hard to get close to >my old lap records from 1.0. For instance, I hardly ever get a >sub 1:30 at monza with 1.1 where my pb is a 1:29.5. the only >track I managed to improve upon is Zandy, and only by switching >to a Ferrari and abandoning the trusty toad. >Anyone else having the same problems? >Regards, >Uwe >-- >Uwe Schuerkamp http://www.schuerkamp.de/ >Herford, Germany (52.0N/8h30mE) >Ever wondered what's wrong with the world? http://bnetwork.com/ >PGP Fingerprint: 2E 13 20 22 9A 3F 63 7F 67 6F E9 B1 A8 36 A4 61

I find the the best way to improve on a particular track is to carefully study replays of some of the hottest drivers out there. Watch the lines they take, the exit speeds from corners, the gears they use at a particular point on the track and so on. Then I run off 20 or so laps then watch my replays of the fastest laps and then compare the replays to one of the hot lapper's. Usually I can spot where I am loosing fractions of seconds at various points on the track. It's also very important to have a good setup as no-one will break any records using the default setups and you will soon reach a barrier (although they may be good for some to develop consistent lap times). I use other's setups as I have the uncanny ability to ruin a good setup with only a couple of clicks. Wolfgang's are very good and Ian lake's, and possibly R Nunini's, although personally I find them not loose enough for real quick lap times. If you try a looser setup, persever as at first it will seem a wild ride, but as you get used to it, you will learn to make very small adjustments and the control will come with lower lap times. Although I don't do any of the hot lapper's setups justice, using "other" people's cars I have got PB's of 104.78 at the Glen and a 128.19 at Monza. Good luck ! Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

>Thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread, your ideas >have been a real help. >>I have been playing GPL on and off for about 5 months now and >>I can't seem to improve my lap times any more. I have been >>concentrating on 3 circuits, here are my PBs. (using an Eagle) Try to download my hotlaps (Monza 1:28.02 Spa 1:17.29 Kyalami 1:20.46). You can learn a lot by studying the replays. The URL is http://web.tiscalinet.it/GPLItalia/ ("giri veloci" section) Stefano

I watched some fast lap replays in spy girl, which shows the lap times of all the other laps in that session. Most fast laps I've seen were driven in long sessions (20-40 laps) and absolutely not consistently. When you're going for the real fast laps, you push yourself at every corner, with big chances of making mistakes. Still, even if I drive sessions of 60 laps I still can't reach those fast laps :) Andre

Boy can I relate to this. Had a couple of rogue 1:28's at Monza but consistent low 1:30's. Got frustrated and am now running Rouen trying to get under 2:00. I also question whether people are running those super fast times lap after lap. Watching most of the replays I have downloaded I see previous lap times as much as a second slower than the fast time and the replay is usually several laps into the run. I really don't concern myself any more with what others blast out once in a blue moon. I just try to go as fast as I can without crashing. I don't race online so it really is a moot point. I do this to have fun, not to impress anyone else. Joe > I'm at my limit as well. I can crank out mid 1.30s at Monza with the Ferrari > all day, but I can't get under 1.29 no matter what. The hotlaps I've looked > at all have the ass end*** out in the breeze on every corner, gas to the > floor and tires howling, steering all over the place, missing guard rails and > walls by a coat of paint, no-lift shifting, Christ, it's a nightmare. My > question is, do people actually drive this way consistently lap after lap? Is > it actually possible to knock off eight or ten laps in a row at Monza in the > low 1.28s with the Ferrari? I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I've > reached the limits of my ability (and reflexes) and that's that. I've tried a > half-dozen different setups including one I took hours of testing to develop

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> on my own. Any comments? > Zog > > > Have I got some way to go with my lap times before I start changing > > > the settings, or have I got to spend hours testing different setups

now?

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> > nope. check out the driving tips of ricardo nunnini at > > http://website.lineone.net/~richardn/ [address restored] > > the most important thing he mentions is: "Line, exit speed, braking - in > > that order.". try to drive smooth and consistent and try different lines > > without pushing too much. to find a good line, you can also download a > > replay of a good hotlap (be sure it's with the same car you are driving > > and it is not way faster than you!) and compare them using GPL SpyGirl > > (get it at www.the-fastlane.com or www.theuspits.com) using 'syncing at > > each spot'. > > when I found the right line for the first two corners of kyalami, i > > could do 1:22.xx there and when I "mastered" the ninety at watkins glen, > > that knocked almost a second off my time to a low 1:06 ... > > Lio

Maybe I should have elaborated. I have set the AI with AI tweak that I downloaded from Allison Hines site. Don't remember what I have them set at but I can beat the AI regularly. Maybe I should reset them to default and see just how lousy I really am. : ) Joe > >I really don't concern myself > >any more with what others blast out once in a blue moon. I just try to go as > >fast as I can without crashing. I don't race online so it really is a moot > >point. I do this to have fun, not to impress anyone else. > But, if you can't be competitive, either online or with the AI, is that really > fun? When I bought the game, I was about a 13th place driver at Monza against > the AI. Ten months later, I'm about a 11th place driver. At this rate, it'll

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> take me more than three YEARS to win against the AI... :-) > Eldred > __ > Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... > remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

>Although I don't do any of the hot lapper's setups justice, using >"other" people's cars I have got PB's of 104.78 at the Glen and a >128.19 at Monza. Geez, I can only DREAM... The day *I* get to 1:28 at Monza, I'll probably have a heart attack. I'm only doing 1:32's With Nunini's setup, and that's less comfortable than AH's Ferarri setup. I'm about 3 sec. off at WG. Long way to go... Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

>I really don't concern myself >any more with what others blast out once in a blue moon. I just try to go as >fast as I can without crashing. I don't race online so it really is a moot >point. I do this to have fun, not to impress anyone else. But, if you can't be competitive, either online or with the AI, is that really fun? When I bought the game, I was about a 13th place driver at Monza against the AI. Ten months later, I'm about a 11th place driver. At this rate, it'll take me more than three YEARS to win against the AI... :-) Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

GPL was never meant to be easy ... I remember that someone from the GPL-team once said, that the AI was designed so that only the very best drivers could have the chance to win. personally I prefer getting 11th in monza after month of training rather than winning each race and losing the challenge ... and if you really get annoyed by the AI: tweak them! Lio

Eldred, it's been said to you before... you better start using your left foot for braking, or else you'll never be fast enough to win a race... Andre

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>>I really don't concern myself >>any more with what others blast out once in a blue moon. I just try to go as >>fast as I can without crashing. I don't race online so it really is a moot >>point. I do this to have fun, not to impress anyone else. >But, if you can't be competitive, either online or with the AI, is that really >fun? When I bought the game, I was about a 13th place driver at Monza against >the AI. Ten months later, I'm about a 11th place driver. At this rate, it'll >take me more than three YEARS to win against the AI... :-) >Eldred >__ >Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... >remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

I'm by no means the fastest out there, but can lap consistently at low to mid 1:29's at Monza in the Ferrari and mid 1:28's in Eagle ( I don't drive Lotus anymore ) but have always been slightly faster in the Eagle at Monza. My best laps are 1:28.05 in Eagle and 1:28.71 in Ferrari, all race or qualifying times (I get bored hotlapping :) ) There are a few people who can run low 28's and even high 27's for many laps of a race !!! -- Ian Parker UKGPL League http://start.at/greenflag --

Sounds good to me Ian. Two questions. First, are you running these laps with V1.1 and the 2.5" minimum ride height, or the old setups? Second, if you ARE getting these lap times under 1.1, can you send me your setups for the Ferrari at Monza? I'd really like to see if it makes a difference for me or if, as I suspect, it's my driving style or lack of it that's the limiting factor. Zog

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> I'm by no means the fastest out there, but can lap consistently at low to > mid 1:29's at Monza in the Ferrari and mid 1:28's in Eagle ( I don't drive > Lotus anymore ) but have always been slightly faster in the Eagle at Monza. > My best laps are 1:28.05 in Eagle and 1:28.71 in Ferrari, all race or > qualifying times (I get bored hotlapping :) ) > There are a few people who can run low 28's and even high 27's for many laps > of a race !!! > -- > Ian Parker > UKGPL League > [link lost in import] > -- > > I'm at my limit as well. I can crank out mid 1.30s at Monza with the > Ferrari > > all day, but I can't get under 1.29 no matter what. The hotlaps I've > looked > > at all have the ass end*** out in the breeze on every corner, gas to > the > > floor and tires howling, steering all over the place, missing guard rails > and > > walls by a coat of paint, no-lift shifting, Christ, it's a nightmare. My > > question is, do people actually drive this way consistently lap after lap? > Is > > it actually possible to knock off eight or ten laps in a row at Monza in > the > > low 1.28s with the Ferrari? I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that > I've > > reached the limits of my ability (and reflexes) and that's that. I've > tried a > > half-dozen different setups including one I took hours of testing to > develop > > on my own. Any comments? > > Zog

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>GPL was never meant to be easy ... I remember that someone from the >GPL-team once said, that the AI was designed so that only the very best >drivers could have the chance to win. personally I prefer getting 11th >in monza after month of training rather than winning each race and >losing the challenge ... and if you really get annoyed by the AI: tweak >them! >Lio

I'm trying to avoid DOING that... And BTW, I'm 11th after TEN months of training...<g> Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

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>Sounds good to me Ian. Two questions. First, are you running these laps >with >V1.1 and the 2.5" minimum ride height, or the old setups? Second, if you ARE >getting these lap times under 1.1, can you send me your setups for the >Ferrari >at Monza? I'd really like to see if it makes a difference for me or if, as I >suspect, it's my driving style or lack of it that's the limiting factor. > Zog >> I'm by no means the fastest out there, but can lap consistently at low to >> mid 1:29's at Monza in the Ferrari and mid 1:28's in Eagle ( I don't drive >> Lotus anymore ) but have always been slightly faster in the Eagle at Monza. >> My best laps are 1:28.05 in Eagle and 1:28.71 in Ferrari, all race or >> qualifying times (I get bored hotlapping :) ) >> There are a few people who can run low 28's and even high 27's for many >laps >> of a race !!!

Ian, is your Ferarri setup posted anywhere? I'd like to try it too. Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

hehe. I'll get back to you next YEAR. I should have it figured out by THEN...<g> Eldred __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

there are racing drivers in real life who are 11th after YEARS of training ;-) SCNR ... Lio

And they're still being PAID well... ? ^^^^^^ what does this mean? __ Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Sorry, Could Not Resist Lio

I LOVE F3 racing because of how slow they are. In F1, you can pass or get passed too quickly. Where as the F3's, you can fight for the position making the racing more enjoyable. I used to do average laps of low 1:06's and several fast laps of 1:04's at the Glen in F1 before I was turned on to F3 racing. At monza I was lucky to see a 1:31 even after tweaking the hell out of my setups. After a long time away from F1, I decided to change formula's just to do something different for a while. I loaded up an Eagle F1 with the default setup and set the fuel load to 11 laps. My Pit Out lap was a 1:31 and my fast laps were 1:28's. Give me time to get stable and I could end up with 1:26's with ease. I have to say I got there only because of my experience with the F3's. This by no mean says that I'm giving up on F3 racing. Even with the three or four close F1 races at Monza, I still can't enjoy it. Mike

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> >GPL was never meant to be easy ... I remember that someone from the > >GPL-team once said, that the AI was designed so that only the very best > >drivers could have the chance to win. personally I prefer getting 11th > >in monza after month of training rather than winning each race and > >losing the challenge ... and if you really get annoyed by the AI: tweak > >them! > >Lio > I'm trying to avoid DOING that... And BTW, I'm 11th after TEN months of > training...<g> > Eldred > __ > Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea... > remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

-- ========================================= Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing? ========================================= Racing online with the help of...... Race Communications Association http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html Holodyne Engineering Mystic Music (have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

These are both run with version 1.1 and with a MSFF wheel I've attached my Ferrari and Eagle setups for Monza -- Ian Parker UKGPL League http://start.at/greenflag -- > >Sounds good to me Ian. Two questions. First, are you running these laps > >with > >V1.1 and the 2.5" minimum ride height, or the old setups? Second, if you ARE > >getting these lap times under 1.1, can you send me your setups for the > >Ferrari > >at Monza? I'd really like to see if it makes a difference for me or if, as I > >suspect, it's my driving style or lack of it that's the limiting factor. > > Zog > >> There are a few people who can run low 28's and even high 27's for many > >laps > >> of a race !!! > Ian, is your Ferarri setup posted anywhere? I'd like to try it too. > Eldred begin 666 Ian_P_Ferr_monza.fe1 ` end begin 666 IanP_Eagle_Monza.ea1 M``,````#`````P````,````#``````" OP```+\```"_````````2$0``$A$ ` end

Thanks a bunch Ian, gonna try them tonite! Zog

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> These are both run with version 1.1 and with a MSFF wheel > I've attached my Ferrari and Eagle setups for Monza > -- > Ian Parker > UKGPL League > http://start.at/greenflag > -- > > >Sounds good to me Ian. Two questions. First, are you running these laps > > >with > > >V1.1 and the 2.5" minimum ride height, or the old setups? Second, if you > ARE > > >getting these lap times under 1.1, can you send me your setups for the > > >Ferrari > > >at Monza? I'd really like to see if it makes a difference for me or if, > as I > > >suspect, it's my driving style or lack of it that's the limiting factor. > > > Zog > > >> There are a few people who can run low 28's and even high 27's for many > > >laps > > >> of a race !!! > > Ian, is your Ferarri setup posted anywhere? I'd like to try it too. > > Eldred > Name: Ian_P_Ferr_monza.fe1 > Ian_P_Ferr_monza.fe1 Type: unspecified type (application/octet-stream) > Encoding: x-uuencode > Name: IanP_Eagle_Monza.ea1 > IanP_Eagle_Monza.ea1 Type: unspecified type (application/octet-stream) > Encoding: x-uuencode

You took the default Eagle to 1:31 on your OUTLAP?!? Ok, it's time for me to quit. I never got the Eagle lower than 1:32.64, with only 4 gallons... Eldred __ Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto GPL.GAMESTATS.COM/VROC If all the world's a stage, where is the audience sitting? remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Oh, thanks a LOT, Lio... :-) Eldred __ Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto GPL.GAMESTATS.COM/VROC If all the world's a stage, where is the audience sitting? remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

I goofed, My pit out lap was a bit higher then that. the next lap was 1:31 then dropped drastically from there. If you cant get below a 1:32, I'd assume your trying to force the car around instead of driving it.

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> >After a long time away from F1, I decided to change formula's just to > >do something different for a while. I loaded up an Eagle F1 with the > >default setup and set the fuel load to 11 laps. My Pit Out lap was a > >1:31 and my fast laps were 1:28's. Give me time to get stable and I > >could end up with 1:26's with ease. > You took the default Eagle to 1:31 on your OUTLAP?!? Ok, it's time for me to > quit. I never got the Eagle lower than 1:32.64, with only 4 gallons... > Eldred > __ > Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto GPL.GAMESTATS.COM/VROC > If all the world's a stage, where is the audience sitting? > remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

-- ========================================= Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing? ========================================= Racing online with the help of...... Race Communications Association http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html Holodyne Engineering Mystic Music (have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

I never said I did do a lap below 1:27. I said "Give me time to get stable and I could end up with 1:26's with ease". As it stands, I'm very unstable with the default setup. When I'm stable, I know i'll be doing laps better then my 1:28's. Then let me tweak it some for faster lap times and I'm sure to be in the 1:26 range or better. :-) Mike

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> You had me ready to call bullshit. Just went to schubi's hotlap page and there > isn't anyone there, including Wolfgang himself, that's done under 1.27 at Monza in > the Eagle. > Zog > > I goofed, My pit out lap was a bit higher then that. the next lap was > > 1:31 then dropped drastically from there. If you cant get below a 1:32, > > I'd assume your trying to force the car around instead of driving it. > > > >After a long time away from F1, I decided to change formula's just to > > > >do something different for a while. I loaded up an Eagle F1 with the > > > >default setup and set the fuel load to 11 laps. My Pit Out lap was a > > > >1:31 and my fast laps were 1:28's. Give me time to get stable and I > > > >could end up with 1:26's with ease. > > > You took the default Eagle to 1:31 on your OUTLAP?!? Ok, it's time for me to > > > quit. I never got the Eagle lower than 1:32.64, with only 4 gallons... > > > Eldred > > > __ > > > Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto GPL.GAMESTATS.COM/VROC > > > If all the world's a stage, where is the audience sitting? > > > remove SPAM-OFF to reply. > > -- > > ========================================= > > Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing? > > ========================================= > > Racing online with the help of...... > > Race Communications Association > > http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html > > Holodyne Engineering > > Mystic Music > > (have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

-- ========================================= Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing? ========================================= Racing online with the help of...... Race Communications Association http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html Holodyne Engineering Mystic Music (have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

Don't forget, due to the AI "hype" system as you get better then the AI drivers will improve as well (or I think actually the spread between fastest and slowest AI drivers will narrow). Because of this I suspect that as you improve times you will basically "hold position" until all the slower AI drivers reach their non-degraded performance. Perhaps at that point you may see faster moves up the grid. Anyway, the above is theoretical from my perspective - until I practive a bit more I'm locked at the back of the grid and currently rely on mechanical failure not to come last :-) - at least they didn't have the 107% rule in '67 :-) Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

You had me ready to call bullshit. Just went to schubi's hotlap page and there isn't anyone there, including Wolfgang himself, that's done under 1.27 at Monza in the Eagle. Zog

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> I goofed, My pit out lap was a bit higher then that. the next lap was > 1:31 then dropped drastically from there. If you cant get below a 1:32, > I'd assume your trying to force the car around instead of driving it. > > >After a long time away from F1, I decided to change formula's just to > > >do something different for a while. I loaded up an Eagle F1 with the > > >default setup and set the fuel load to 11 laps. My Pit Out lap was a > > >1:31 and my fast laps were 1:28's. Give me time to get stable and I > > >could end up with 1:26's with ease. > > You took the default Eagle to 1:31 on your OUTLAP?!? Ok, it's time for me to > > quit. I never got the Eagle lower than 1:32.64, with only 4 gallons... > > Eldred > > __ > > Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto GPL.GAMESTATS.COM/VROC > > If all the world's a stage, where is the audience sitting? > > remove SPAM-OFF to reply. > -- > ========================================= > Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing? > ========================================= > Racing online with the help of...... > Race Communications Association > http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html > Holodyne Engineering > Mystic Music > (have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

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> I goofed, My pit out lap was a bit higher then that. the next lap was >1:31 then dropped drastically from there. If you cant get below a 1:32, >I'd assume your trying to force the car around instead of driving it. >> >After a long time away from F1, I decided to change formula's just to >> >do something different for a while. I loaded up an Eagle F1 with the >> >default setup and set the fuel load to 11 laps. My Pit Out lap was a >> >1:31 and my fast laps were 1:28's. Give me time to get stable and I >> >could end up with 1:26's with ease. >> You took the default Eagle to 1:31 on your OUTLAP?!? Ok, it's time for me >to >> quit. I never got the Eagle lower than 1:32.64, with only 4 gallons...

That's entirely possible, something being wrong with my driving style. Question is, how do I *fix* it? I'm not sure what you mean by *forcing* the car... Eldred __ Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto GPL.GAMESTATS.COM/VROC If all the world's a stage, where is the audience sitting? remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

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>> I'm trying to avoid DOING that... And BTW, I'm 11th after TEN months >of >> training...<g> >Don't forget, due to the AI "hype" system as you get better then the AI >drivers will improve as well (or I think actually the spread between >fastest and slowest AI drivers will narrow). Because of this I suspect >that as you improve times you will basically "hold position" until all >the slower AI drivers reach their non-degraded performance. Perhaps at >that point you may see faster moves up the grid.

Nope, I've disabled the AI hype, so they shouldn't be running any faster than when they came out of the box.<g> Eldred __ Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto GPL.GAMESTATS.COM/VROC If all the world's a stage, where is the audience sitting? remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

How can you do this? Jens --------------------------------------------- Remove "NOSPAM" before using my email-address

Use AITweak (Download at the Pits) Andre

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>How can you do this? >Jens >>Nope, I've disabled the AI hype, so they shouldn't be running any faster than >>when they came out of the box.<g> >>Eldred >--------------------------------------------- >Remove "NOSPAM" before using my email-address

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>Use AITweak (Download at the Pits) >Andre >>How can you do this? >>Jens >>>Nope, I've disabled the AI hype, so they shouldn't be running any faster >than >>>when they came out of the box.<g> >>>Eldred

Well actually, I modified the setting in the GPL_AI.INI file. In the 'magic' section, I changed this line: override_difficulty_hype = 1.0 When it's 0, the hype is in effect. When it's 1, it's disabled. Supposedly. They STILL seem too damn fast for ME... <g> Eldred __ Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc If all the world's a stage, where is the audience sitting? remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

<snipped> Yes EP but did you try your new Thomas yet?? Hmm? Just funnin' Cheers Thom_j.