Wednesday Night ToCA (5/31)

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed May 31, 2006 1:38 pm

Anyone up for some racing tonight? A nice mix of 3 or 4 race series (5 lappers, 2-lap practice, 1-lap quali), and maybe the usual 10-lapper at Spa in the 80's F1 Williams cars would likely be the program.

10:30p EDT would be the start time, though I could go at 10p.

The only thing I'd rather do is play some SC:CT, so if there's not enough response for ToCA, and we can get a foursome for SC, . . .

Anyone?

nyisles16 · Post by **nyisles16** » Wed May 31, 2006 1:51 pm

workin' tonight.. gleefully these next two days should be the end of the "night time hours" !!!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:57 pm

Zep:

I'm in for racing. Wouldn't mind running a race at Indy, either, since I still have a serious case of "500 Fever."

Thanks,
PK

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:02 pm

Man, this has gotten as much response as. . . As much enthusiasm as. . . Help me out here PK!

Anyway doesn't look like it'll be happening tonight in ToCA. Maybe next time.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:14 pm

Never could bring myself to part with it, so I would have tried to race and see how bad my connection was. I ended up having issues for a while with a few games after that, so I'm hoping it wasn't just TOCA but my connection in general...

ProvoAnC · Post by **ProvoAnC** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:34 pm

I should be in...I gotta pick my Mom up from the airport so I should be in unless her flight is late-

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed May 31, 2006 7:24 pm

Geez, now you tell me

I'll start up a room 10:30E and see what we can get. Maybe some punting around of the Mitch Bacons and - gasp - (whatsisname, can't remember), or maybe we can lure in some other suckers- er- DSPers we see online.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed May 31, 2006 8:19 pm

Zep:

I just sent an PM invite to three OS guys who are regulars in TOCA 3 threads over there and seem to be clean racers and good guys.

I also mentioned racing to Neck today during work. He has to leave early tomorrow for Watkins Glen, but he may make it for a while.

See you at 10:30 p.m.

Thanks,
PK

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed May 31, 2006 8:51 pm

Probably won't make it, but it has been a real b*tch of a week so I could use a fun TOCA session...

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed May 31, 2006 11:50 pm

First time I have raced online in a few months and it showed. Sorry that I was a moving chicane out there as I am sure I was responsible for more than my share of incidents. Forgot how much improved the damage model is, i.e. much less forgiving. Those F1's were sweet although I could not keep them out of the kitty litter. Good fun.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Wed May 31, 2006 11:55 pm

Gosh darn that was good fun....Don, it was great to see you online again. I do admit Iam still trying to best your GPL Watkins Glen time through GPL Rank.

PK, you bastard....why can't I talk crap and still beat you....I had that one coming. Glad your back from Indy.

Zep and Terry were sure the class tonight...as usual...although Terry is showing some rustiness for him.

Add Slimer to the mix and it was a great night of racing with DSP'ers.

Let's do it again soon.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:53 am

Big fun last night, fellas, but I'm afraid I was at my worse, both on the track and in the head. Sorry about that.

When I crashed for the umpteenth time with those 80s F1 cars, I heard a few big rumblings. Checked the radar and realized a thunderstorm was barrelling right toward us, so I had to shut the windows and then decided to shut down in case a lightning bolt decided to fry our electrical system.

Really good fun, though. Felt a lot like the "old gang" with the return of Piggy and Terry. Great to have you cats back -- please become regulars!

Terry, advance apologies to your wife from us for hooking you on this game again, especially the 80s F1 cars, which I could play every night.

Speaking of that, I'm always game for some TOCA 3. We can do this on more than just Wednesdays, boys!

Take care,
PK

slimer · Post by **slimer** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:29 am

The F1's were too much for me last night, after the AI wiped PK out, then threw me into PK a few seconds later, I had to give up. Plus, my headset went out, so I couldn't give any warning to my poor driving.

Lot's of fun though.

nyisles16 · Post by **nyisles16** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:39 am

slimer wrote:The F1's were too much for me last night, after the AI wiped PK out, then threw me into PK a few seconds later, I had to give up. Plus, my headset went out, so I couldn't give any warning to my poor driving.

Lot's of fun though.

hehe - seems like the AI took driving tips from me...

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:51 am

That was fun, fun, fun, fun...

I told my wife when she came in the door last night that "hey, you know I spent most of the night playing TOCA with the DSP guys", and her face went pale. I mean ghost white. It was funny, she already knew without me saying another word.

I have to apologize for my erratic lines, though. I know a few times Zeppo was trying to get past me and I was just trying to do my "run my line, don't be erratic" technique that I preach, and I couldn't hold a bloody line! I don't know if it was the Caterhams or what, but I was shooting all over like an elderly rally racer with parkinson's disease. Then I cornholed PK in practice and I was like "damn, sucks to be me".

However, the crown jewel of the night was that bicycle onto my lid. I about died laughing. I didn't even know that was possible. I'm skating around the corner, pushing the car really hard because I kept gaining on pk there and I had just made the pass. Then I see my view tilting to the left a little bit. "Ah, no big deal" I think...and stay on the hammer. It tilts more. I try to counter a little bit but I don't want to lose too much speed, so I never left off the hammer. Suddenly the ground is up, the sky is down, and I realize I just did one of those drunk-cowboys-on-a-mechanical-bull routines: "I can do it, Marge! Watch this!" and then just absolutely fall flat on my face. Comedy.

I've never seen those 80's F1 cars, and Zeppo pitted early and just checked out. I think he won by something like 20 or 25 seconds over the AI, and I was last. I hit the kitty litter more than I care to admit, and still had a blast.

Something I remembered during the course of the night: the trigger is ANALOG. I don't know why I have such a habit of treating it like a digital on/off button lately. Once I remembered that there's a whole range of motion in that sumbitch, I was better off.

Good fun boys. Tonight?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:06 am

Ah, the man has the fever again!

Those Caterhams are an absolute riot to drive. Thanks to Zep for choosing them. They should be a staple every time we race. I finally flipped mine after bicycling it on two wheels at least three or four times and dropping it back to four wheels by pure luck.

Plus, as you said, Terry, the ass end of those cars steps out with ease, which makes driving them really fun.

I LOVE the 80s F1 cars. Usually I'm pretty quick in them, but it just wasn't happening for me last night. Wonder why?

As for tonight, I'd love to race as soon as Game 7 between Buffalo and Carolina ends. Anyone want to host?

TOCA ... TOCA ... TOCA!

Take care,
PK

ProvoAnC · Post by **ProvoAnC** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 1:10 pm

I'm in for tonight!!!!!!!!

I *can* host, but I don't have s*** unlocked

Just lemme know the time

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 1:29 pm

I can host and have everything unlocked, but I can't start until the Buffalo-Carolina game is over. If it's over in regulation, I should be ready by around 10:30 p.m. If it's OT, who knows?

Thanks,
PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 5:52 pm

My wife just reminded me of a prior obligation I had made...

I get to play Mr. Mom tonight to SIX KIDS (ages from 17 down to 2) from the time I get off work until about 1am EST, so I'm a no-go.

F*ck, F*ck, F*ck.

nyisles16 · Post by **nyisles16** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:32 pm

sweet - i'll hop in

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:25 pm

I'll be on by 10:35 or so and can host.

Take care,
PK

nyisles16 · Post by **nyisles16** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:44 am

ahhh - i see ya got your revenge on me at Indy there PK.. lying motionless on the front stretch & KAPLOW.. right into ya..

just if that one dude stopped calling for his cat & whistling..

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 8:34 am

Yeah, I bolted quickly because my tolerance of those d*uchebag randoms was exceeded. Too bad, because a couple of them were good, clean racers.

Let's do this again soon! We have enough guys here to get a good, private room of six to eight racers. Big fun.

Take care,
PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:50 pm

I still want to run a longass race in the IRL cars at IMS. I have yet to do that.

I spent my evening catering to a bunch of 3 year olds and watching Bambi on my 360...what a waste of horsepower!!!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:12 pm

Terry:

The IRL cars at Indy are a mixed bag in TOCA 3.

The positives: The lowest camera angle gives a great sense of speed and grip, and the cars are harder to drive than in either IndyCar Series game by Codemasters. The sense of G forces are great when you arc a turn correctly, and the damage model is pretty tough. Understeer on cold tires and general tire wear are modeled very well, too.

The negatives: No caution system, just local yellows, which mean nothing in oval racing. The pole winner starts on the outside of the front row, which is whacked, too. But the biggest flaw is incredibly bad pit exit logic, in which the CPU simply throws your car toward the outside wall when you exit the pits in the short chute between 1 and 2. You have to be a real joystick jockey to keep the car off the wall, and God help you if there's any traffic on the track when you exit. It's IMPOSSIBLE to avoid a big wreck that way.

Piggy has played some IndyCar Series 2005 online lately, and he said all of the latency and connectivity problems that plagued that game are gone now. I think I'm going to repurchase it, as I'm really jonesing for some long online races at the Speedway with full cautions, proper pit stops and management, etc.

Let's race TOCA 3 again soon!

Take care,
PK