GPL: w00t - there it is!!

Hey all, I don't know why I feel the need to post this but I'm going to. I have managed to go under the benchmark on my first GPL track!!! Watkins Glen, specifically. OK, I didn't go very much below it with a time of 1.06.70, but I went under nonetheless. This is old hat to all of you, but it is a huge thing for me. When I first got the game and started messing around with it, I didn't see how I could ever even approach the benchmark times, much less get under one. I started racing with Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit and High Stakes, so you can imagine what a learning curve it has been to go from those games, move on to Porsche Unleashed, and end up in GPL. It's kinda funny how it happened, too. I was getting frustrated because I couldn't seem to get under 1.07. I was still using automatic shifting, because it was just a disaster every time I tried to switch to manual. So I figured, what the heck, I'll try it again with manual shifting. In the same session I made the switch, I managed to get under benchmark. I couldn't believe it! Now I have to really get used to doing it manual. It's one thing to do it at Watkins Glen where I have done a ton of laps and have memorized braking points and what gear I should be in, but now what about on other tracks? It's pretty ugly. Spin after spin. I'm seeking some advice. I know you are supposed to lift off the throttle slightly when upshifting. How about when braking? Can you hold down the brake and shift down? Say I'm going from 5th to 2nd gear, can I hold the brake pedal down all the way through the downshifts? Or am I supposed to brake, lift off the brake, downshift, brake, lift off, downshift, etc? Also, when people say stuff like "rev matching" I am just clueless. My method has been to use a sort of timing system where I think I've slowed down enough for a given gear, then shift down. I'm sure this isn't the proper method. Sometimes I shift too early and the back end starts to come around; sometimes I shift too late and end up having to build up RPMs for too long. And, on upshifts... what RPM range should I be doing it at? I drive the Eagle and I have been upshifting at around 10k RPM for the most part. One final question: Let's say I'm approaching a corner where I'll need to downshift, I'm accelerating up to it and I get to a point where I can upshift to 5th gear, but it's only going to be for a very short amount of time. Is it quicker to hold at 4th or to go ahead and do the upshift, even though it might not even last a second that I'll be in the higher gear? I don't know if I phrased that properly. Thanks! --- Ped Xing

congrats! Achim

"Ped Xing" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Hey all, > > I don't know why I feel the need to post this but I'm going to. I have > managed to go under the benchmark on my first GPL track!!! Watkins Glen, > specifically.<snip> well done! I love the Glen, it never fails to challenge me. I still get a buzz coming down the hill into the carousel.

Quoted text (9 lines)

> Now I have to really get used to doing it manual. It's one thing to do > it at Watkins Glen where I have done a ton of laps and have memorized > braking points and what gear I should be in, but now what about on other > tracks? It's pretty ugly. Spin after spin. I'm seeking some advice. I > know you are supposed to lift off the throttle slightly when upshifting. > How about when braking? Can you hold down the brake and shift down? Say > I'm going from 5th to 2nd gear, can I hold the brake pedal down all the > way through the downshifts? Or am I supposed to brake, lift off the > brake, downshift, brake, lift off, downshift, etc?

People do it differently. I use the brake to turn the car in, so it's no good to be jabbing the brake as you shift. Keep the brakes at the threshold all the way in, and shift back when you are slow enough - remember the gearing is most important when you accelerate, so try to be in the right gear by the time you start to apply power. Some drivers shift down gradually, some drivers shift in a flurry of downshifts just before they turn in. It will depend a lot on your driving and your car setup (and maybe how many modern f1 sims you play :) > Also, when people say stuff like "rev matching" I am just clueless. My > method has been to use a sort of timing system where I think I've slowed > down enough for a given gear, then shift down. I'm sure this isn't the > proper method. Sometimes I shift too early and the back end starts to > come around; sometimes I shift too late and end up having to build up > RPMs for too long. You should download that GPL Replay Analyser thingee to help you time your shifts... Rev matching is just matching the rpm of the engine to the speed of the gearbox (ie - rear wheels). It basically means the drivetrain is neither pulling nor pushing - in a normal car you can shift gears with no clutch by matching revs. I have developed an annoying habit of blipping the throttle in my own car when shifting down, but I put that down to liking the sound of my engine.

Quoted text (9 lines)

> And, on upshifts... what RPM range should I be doing it at? I drive the > Eagle and I have been upshifting at around 10k RPM for the most part. > > One final question: Let's say I'm approaching a corner where I'll need > to downshift, I'm accelerating up to it and I get to a point where I can > upshift to 5th gear, but it's only going to be for a very short amount of > time. Is it quicker to hold at 4th or to go ahead and do the upshift, > even though it might not even last a second that I'll be in the higher > gear? I don't know if I phrased that properly.

Like lesmo 1 and 2? I've read it argued about here a few times, albeit 2nd and 3rd gear. Every time you shift, you spend some time out of gear and hence not accelerating. Also, you can upset the car more shifting down for the next corner. If it's an important set of turns, I've found it useful to slightly alter my gearing so I can stay in one gear. Or learn how to take the second corner faster (like lesmo2 in 3rd). iksteh

"Ped Xing" <[email hidden]> wrote... <snip>I have managed to go under the benchmark on my first GPL track!!! Congrats! Anybody remember; wasn't Dave Mansell the first to go under at the Glen in the demo way back when? ;-) <snip>I know you are supposed to lift off the throttle slightly when upshifting. How about when braking? Can you hold down the brake and shift down? Yes, you can, and should. <snip> Also, when people say stuff like "rev matching" I am just clueless. My method has been to use a sort of timing system where I think I've slowed down enough for a given gear, then shift down. You can blip the throttle when downshifting under braking to "match revs" and keep from locking the rears. The effect is a sort of dynamic brake balance adjustment, controlled by the throttle. This will let you run a more rear-biased brake balance, which helps your turn-in, and also let you benefit more from engine braking and allow you to brake a bit later. It's easier to do if you're a left-foot braker. > And, on upshifts... what RPM range should I be doing it at? I drive theEagle and I have been upshifting at around 10k RPM for the most part. That sounds pretty good, but it really depends on how your gears are set up; if you have them spaced closely, you don't need to rev the car out as far before upshifting. The key is to be in a good spot on the torque curve when you hit the next gear. But if you're not blowing the engine with damage on full, then you're not overdoing it. > Is it quicker to hold at 4th or to go ahead and do the upshift, eventhough it might not even last a second that I'll be in the higher gear? If you're not overrevving the engine enough to damage it, stay in 4th. If you look at telemetry graphs of really fast laps, you'll notice those drivers minimize shifting in these situations. Since GPL automatically declutches when you shift, you lose drive and you'll always see a bit of lost time vs. someone who keeps it pinned in the lower gear. Have fun in your quest for the "dark side"! SB

Congratulations! I'm surprised that the Glen is your first, as I find it to be a very difficult and non-intuitive track. If you can go under at the Glen, then Monza and Silverstone should be relatively easy to do next. "Ped Xing" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... <snip> > One final question: Let's say I'm approaching a corner where I'llneed > to downshift, I'm accelerating up to it and I get to a point where Ican > upshift to 5th gear, but it's only going to be for a very short amountof > time. Is it quicker to hold at 4th or to go ahead and do the upshift, > even though it might not even last a second that I'll be in the higher > gear? I don't know if I phrased that properly. > In that situation you might want to change the 4th gear ratio so that you don't need to shift up to 5th. It might only require a small ratio change and therefore will not cost you a significant amount of acceleration, and what little time you lose by having a longer 4th will be easily made up for by getting rid of a shift. And additionally, you are getting rid of a downshift into that corner, which will make your braking more stable.

"iksteh" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]: > well done! > > I love the Glen, it never fails to challenge me. I still get a buzz > coming down the hill into the carousel. Thanks! I know I am not as quick as I could be through that loop. It's tricky for me to get it just right. > Some drivers shift down gradually, some drivers shift in a flurry of > downshifts > just before they turn in. It will depend a lot on your driving and > your car setup (and maybe how many modern f1 sims you play :) I mainly play GPL and Live For Speed. I gave F1 2001 & 2002 a try, but I couldn't come to grips with the driving. I think I've had more success, and have shown much more improvement, playing GPL than either of those modern F1 sims. > You should download that GPL Replay Analyser thingee to help you > time your shifts... I have that program. What portion should I use for what you suggest?

Quoted text (7 lines)

> Like lesmo 1 and 2? I've read it argued about here a few times, > albeit 2nd and 3rd gear. Every time you shift, you spend some time > out of gear and hence not accelerating. Also, you can upset the car > more shifting down for the next corner. If it's an important set of > turns, I've found it useful to slightly alter my gearing so I can stay > in one gear. Or learn how to take the second corner faster (like > lesmo2 in 3rd).

Yeah, exactly. Ok, thanks for all the advice!

"Haqsau" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:arug5v$kav2h$1@ID- 125164.news.dfncis.de: > Congratulations! I'm surprised that the Glen is your first, as I find > it to be a very difficult and non-intuitive track. If you can go under I just started with the track that was recommended by Steve Smith in "Four Wheel Drift". :-) My friend has taken the opposite approach. He has started with the Nurburgring. I tell him he is crazy. > at the Glen, then Monza and Silverstone should be relatively easy to do > next. I'm knocking on the door at Monza, currently +0.516!

Quoted text (7 lines)

> In that situation you might want to change the 4th gear ratio so that > you don't need to shift up to 5th. It might only require a small ratio > change and therefore will not cost you a significant amount of > acceleration, and what little time you lose by having a longer 4th will > be easily made up for by getting rid of a shift. And additionally, you > are getting rid of a downshift into that corner, which will make your > braking more stable.

Thanks, this seems to be the consensus.

Thanks to all for the kind words and advice. I feel like I can say I am a real GPLer now. Better 4 years late than never, eh? LOL