Cockpit View Sux!

After 4 years driving a minivan I finally got tired of it and leased a 2003 Intrepid, which I picked up a couple of days ago. Immediately upon sitting in it I got my first big shock, which only increased as I drove it home - I had completely forgotten how bad the visibility is in a car compared to just about any kind of truck. I don't think the visibility in the Intrepid is bad compared to similar cars, but compared to the minivan I felt like I was sitting way too low, the roof header was right in front of my face, I couldn't see the street in front of me, I couldn't see the hood of my car, neighboring cars and trucks were all now way too tall, peripheral vision was poor, I could practically see my knees I was sitting so low, the windshield was just a thin stripe in front of me... hmm, just like the cockpit view in most games. I wonder how many of the roof riders and kite flyers around here drive trucks in real life? I myself have complained about the cockpit view in some sims on occasion, but now it's clear to me that the cockpit view in most sims suck precisely because the cockpit view in a car sucks in real life too. ;o)

"Haqsau" I myself have complained about the cockpit view in some sims > on occasion, but now it's clear to me that the cockpit view in most sims > suck precisely because the cockpit view in a car sucks in real life too. > ;o) > You have taken the first step. Now realize that most racers don't sit about two feet above the floorpan with a nice cushioned seat. They have their butts practically nailed to the floor. So take your cramped driving view in your Intrepid...now slink down in your seat til your chin is about level with the dash. THAT should approximate the eye-view you would have in a race car. dave henrie --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.427 / Virus Database: 240 - Release Date: 12/6/02

I spent 10 minutes driving a Formula First once. The view wasn't as bad as I'd expected - yes you're very low and you can't see the road immediately in front of you, but there's loads of visibility to each side of dead ahead because unlike in a real car you can look round the bodywork. It felt much more open and free than the GPL cockpit, but oddly it also felt lower, which made it hard to see where the road went cos you couldn't see over the top of lines of marker cones, or armco, or even slightly high kerbs. I guess in sims I know where the road goes cos I've driven 435823 laps but on a new track it's difficult. :0)

Some guy in England (mebbe one of you tea-cuppers can refresh my memory) bought the last of Jim Hall's front-engined Chaparrals, built by Troutman & Barnes as a spare for Jim's team. Just a chassis and engine; no bodywork. He was going to run it in hillclimbs...only...so he jacked the driving position up to Kenworth altitude so he could get a better view. He was the terror of Rest-and-Be-Thankful, etc., formany happy years. Phil-something, I think. "Haqsau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:atuaqv$2qqqo$[email hidden]...

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> After 4 years driving a minivan I finally got tired of it and leased a > 2003 Intrepid, which I picked up a couple of days ago. Immediately upon > sitting in it I got my first big shock, which only increased as I drove > it home - I had completely forgotten how bad the visibility is in a car > compared to just about any kind of truck. I don't think the visibility > in the Intrepid is bad compared to similar cars, but compared to the > minivan I felt like I was sitting way too low, the roof header was right > in front of my face, I couldn't see the street in front of me, I > couldn't see the hood of my car, neighboring cars and trucks were all > now way too tall, peripheral vision was poor, I could practically see my > knees I was sitting so low, the windshield was just a thin stripe in > front of me... hmm, just like the cockpit view in most games. I wonder > how many of the roof riders and kite flyers around here drive trucks in > real life? I myself have complained about the cockpit view in some sims > on occasion, but now it's clear to me that the cockpit view in most sims > suck precisely because the cockpit view in a car sucks in real life too. > ;o) >

Whoa...I never knew there were any front-engined Chapparals. That would explain why the Can Am cars were all in the 2 series I guess. Still....a Chaparral WITHOUT any aero effects? Scary!! dave henrie "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:JVBM9.84464$[email hidden]... > Some guy in England (mebbe one of you tea-cuppers can refresh my memory) > bought the last of Jim Hall's front-engined Chaparrals, built by Troutman& > Barnes as a spare for Jim's team. Just a chassis and engine; no bodywork. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.427 / Virus Database: 240 - Release Date: 12/6/02

Dave Henrie wrote: > Whoa...I never knew there were any front-engined Chapparals. That would > explain why the Can Am cars were all in the 2 series I guess. Still....a > Chaparral WITHOUT any aero effects? Scary!! Dave: Troutman & Barnes is the operative term. Hall contracted them to improve upon their Scarab design, and build him a car, which became the Chaparral 1. I believe there's a fair amount of coverage in "Chaparral" by Falconer & Nye. -jde

Aero? It had more front-end lift than an Otis! "Dave Henrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:u%FM9.44210$qF3.3306@sccrnsc04... > Whoa...I never knew there were any front-engined Chapparals. Thatwould

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> explain why the Can Am cars were all in the 2 series I guess. Still....a > Chaparral WITHOUT any aero effects? Scary!! > dave henrie > > "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:JVBM9.84464$[email hidden]... > > Some guy in England (mebbe one of you tea-cuppers can refresh my memory) > > bought the last of Jim Hall's front-engined Chaparrals, built by

Troutman > & > > Barnes as a spare for Jim's team. Just a chassis and engine; nobodywork.

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> > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.427 / Virus Database: 240 - Release Date: 12/6/02 > >

I'm reminded of a comment Martin Brundle made during an F1 broadcast a while ago. He said that the F1 drivers basically have a 'faceful of dash' and it's difficult to see very far down the road.

There is a long straight section of road on the way home from work - at least I thought it was straight when viewed from the minivan. Now when seen from car height, it undulates up and down so much I can't see more than a couple blocks. From the minivan I could see several traffic lights ahead, but not anymore. Reality sucks. ;o) "Damien Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:PsMM9.7375$[email hidden]... > I'm reminded of a comment Martin Brundle made during an F1 broadcast awhile > ago. He said that the F1 drivers basically have a 'faceful of dash'and it's > difficult to see very far down the road. > >

"Haqsau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:au0fb2$3e6kq$[email hidden]...

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> There is a long straight section of road on the way home from work - at > least I thought it was straight when viewed from the minivan. Now when > seen from car height, it undulates up and down so much I can't see more > than a couple blocks. From the minivan I could see several traffic > lights ahead, but not anymore. Reality sucks. ;o) > >

I once went from driving a Toyota Corolla to driving a Bronco II 4x4. Drove it for 10 years and never went back to cars. (except for GPL, GTR2002 etc.) Elrikk ;o)

> > > Some guy in England (mebbe one of you tea-cuppers can refresh my memory) > > > bought the last of Jim Hall's front-engined Chaparrals, built by Troutman & > > > Barnes as a spare for Jim's team. Just a chassis and engine; no bodywork. That might be Richard Falconer? Met him at the annual meeting of the Alex Moulton Bicycle Club <www.moultoneers.net> in England a few years ago, very nice guy. He wrote an un-authorized history book called "Chaparral", co-author was Doug Nye. When I met him he was trying to figure out where the front uprights (forged) used in one of the Chaparrals came from -- must have been some production car...? Anyway, he was restoring (or building a copy?) of one of those cars, forgot which one. -- Doug Milliken

> I once went from driving a Toyota Corolla to driving a Bronco II 4x4. > > Drove it for 10 years and never went back to cars. (except for GPL, GTR2002 > etc.) Grrr....urban 4x4s are a MENACE..

"Damien Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:5YSM9.7579$[email hidden]... > > I once went from driving a Toyota Corolla to driving a Bronco II 4x4. > > > > Drove it for 10 years and never went back to cars. (except for GPL,GTR2002 > > etc.) > > Grrr....urban 4x4s are a MENACE.. > Not in Quebec . . . in the winter . . . if you're handicapped and can't shovel snow ;o) The rest of the time it was left in regular RWD. Elrikk

Unless you are in one yourself. ;o) "Damien Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:5YSM9.7579$[email hidden]... > > Grrr....urban 4x4s are a MENACE.. > >