Racing Sim Thread, Part II

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 4:48 pm

Smurfy wrote:Do you use voice chat or keyboard chat?

Keyboard. One of these years I'll get a headset.

Take care,
PK

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:07 pm

I use a keyboard, and probably will continue to do so, especially after my early exit from the Star Mazda race this morning; no way I want the words that came out of my mouth echoing across the internet.

15 laps into the race, the 2 guys in front of me got together, and collected me into their little club. Sad thing is a few laps earlier while watching them I said out loud "nothing good will come from this!" Sadly I was correct. The rear guy was too slow to get by on the straight, and was getting way too aggressive in the wrong parts of the track. Sure enough they tangled in the left hander, took myself and one of them out, and left another 3 cars scrambling behind us. I took a tow but the car ended up being too damaged to continue.

Worst part is the puta that started it finished 4th.

At least my Skippie race this afternoon went better!

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:22 pm

I know what puta means.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:38 pm

Grant, if puta is the worst you called him you're doing alright...

Smurf, I've added you as a friend. I shall throw a Rookie Solstice PB for Laguna Seca in too. It is 1:50.189, set long enough ago that I probably can't remember how to do it now. Other drivers are a great learning tool so make sure to hop onboard if you see someone doing great things in a practice session - I took a second off my Laguna times watching Jeff Bye Jr for just a couple of laps there.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:52 pm

LOL, I meant to type "putz", but you guys get the idea...

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:43 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Grant, if puta is the worst you called him you're doing alright...

Smurf, I've added you as a friend. I shall throw a Rookie Solstice PB for Laguna Seca in too. It is 1:50.189, set long enough ago that I probably can't remember how to do it now. Other drivers are a great learning tool so make sure to hop onboard if you see someone doing great things in a practice session - I took a second off my Laguna times watching Jeff Bye Jr for just a couple of laps there.

Adam, I looked up your stats before I turned my first lap at Laguna Seca. That's why when I crossed the line after my first accident-free lap and saw 1:58, I knew I had my work cut out for me. Now you'll appreciate better why I never took to GPL. Now that I'm paying money for iRacing, I hope it will force me to finally learn how to drive properly.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:57 pm

Smurfy wrote:Now that I'm paying money for iRacing, I hope it will force me to finally learn how to drive properly.

iRacing has done exactly that for me. While I'm no where close to the leaders, I can now at least see improvements in my driving; something that has never really happened before. By concentrating on a limited number of cars, and having set scheduled races and tracks, I concentrate on being a better driver, which slowly has lowered my lap times. I'm going to have to try the Solstice again and see if I do any better in them now that I have some Skippie races under my belt.

Probably the main difference in my driving is that now I'm starting to recognize where I'm losing time. I still may not be fast, but at least I know where I'm slow! That skill alone will help in the long run.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 12:30 am

Gurantsu wrote:
Smurfy wrote:Now that I'm paying money for iRacing, I hope it will force me to finally learn how to drive properly.
iRacing has done exactly that for me. While I'm no where close to the leaders, I can now at least see improvements in my driving; something that has never really happened before.

By concentrating on a limited number of cars, and having set scheduled races and tracks, I concentrate on being a better driver, which slowly has lowered my lap times. I'm going to have to try the Solstice again and see if I do any better in them now that I have some Skippie races under my belt.

Probably the main difference in my driving is that now I'm starting to recognize where I'm losing time. I still may not be fast, but at least I know where I'm slow! That skill alone will help in the long run.

Same here. I'm no longer the reckless, cornholing, loud-mouthed lout behind the wheel I was on XBL.

iRacing has been the greatest sim racing education I've ever experienced. I'm nowhere near the fast guys, but I'm usually in control in a racing game for almost the first time ever.

And for the first time I know it's not the fault of the physics or tire model of the game that I'm slow: It's all my fault. The onus is solely on me to improve, and I love that.

Take care,
PK

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 12:13 pm

And away we go again. Ran another Star Mazda race this morning, finished 7th 2 laps down despite some close calls, and I now have a class B road license with a SR of 3.61. All I need to do is get the SR to 4 and I can finally race my beloved Daytona Prototypes.

I understand I'm not as fast as the leaders, but man some of those guys need to show a little patience. I was almost booted off of the track twice by guys who just couldn't wait for a clean spot to pass. If they get a run or if they are lapping I'll make room when I can, but I won't put my car at risk to just let them by. I've seen too many wrecks where slower guys almost stop to let someone by, and it almost always leads to trouble.

I must admit, I love the Mazda's though. They are the first cars that feel like "the training wheels are off", and start really giving the feeling of some power when you accelerate. For the most part the racing seems clean, but for some reason I think Lime Rock brings out aggressive driving in a lot of folk, I don't know why. I actually like the place in the SM's, and I know there are a few more seconds I can find there. Still it will be cool to move on to Infineon and let them stretch their legs a bit.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 2:16 pm

Gurantsu wrote:For the most part the racing seems clean, but for some reason I think Lime Rock brings out aggressive driving in a lot of folk, I don't know why.

Two reasons, I think.

One, it's the track at which most iRacers have the most laps. You start there with the Rookie Solstice, and it stays in the rotation for other series because it's a fun track and not a very challenging layout.

Two, it's a tight, fast lap. You're getting around the joint in a minute or less in most cars.

Congrats on your progress, Grant!

Take care,
PK

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:49 pm

Okay, I just ran a bunch of time trials at Laguna Seca to increase my safety rating. Well, it didn't work at first - It was more like a practice session. My rating dropped to 2.48

After a few more time trials I got my rating up to a massive 2.51. I think I've attended four time trials so far and I have yet to complete four consecutive clean laps.

However, I do have decent speed there. So a race at either Lime Rock or Laguna Seca should no longer be a problem for me.

I am now an iRacing addict.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:57 pm

Smurfy wrote:So a race at either Lime Rock or Laguna Seca should no longer be a problem for me.

I continue to not be very good at Lime Rock, and I still can't get to the bottom of why. I know right foot braking hurts me, but it shouldn't hurt me to the extent that it seems to. I'm either oversteering backwards into a wall I don't see coming or understeering into one I do - just can't rotate the car properly, no matter what that car is.

Smurfy wrote:I am now an iRacing addict.

Really is worth it when you get going, isn't it? Welcome to the club, mate.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:53 pm

Smurfy wrote:I am now an iRacing addict.

Welcome to the club. Glad to have you!

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:55 pm

iRacing Dallara movie from Texas:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xSy22dfjihU&co ... edded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed>

BAD ASS.

Take care,
PK

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:21 pm

From www.virtualr.net:

iRacing Black Friday Offer – 12 Months for $75
Posted 3 hours, 56 minutes ago in iRacing - 7 Comments

In the United States, the Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally a day of shopping as many stores will offer heavy discounts on various products. This year, even sim racers can take advantage of the so-called Black Friday as iRacing has just launched a limited-time promo rate to celebrate the occasion.

Using one of the two codes below, both new subscribers and existing members can get twelve months of iRacing’s service and the basic content package for just $75 instead of the regular $99, lowering the price-per-month to just $6.25.

To take advantage of the offer, pick the right code below and enter it either in shopping cart screen (existing subscribers) or the sign-up page (new members).

New Members: PRBLACKFRIDAYNEW09

Existing Subscribers: PRBLACKFRIDAY09

12 months for $75 is 50% off what I paid for my annual just a few months ago. Pretty good deal.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:51 pm

Hell, there's NO excuse to avoid subscribing with a deal like that.

Take care,
PK

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:41 am

Woohoo:

http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/Product ... t_id=76271

This may be worth a 20 spot.

Hopefully it is close to the origianl Rat Bag PS2 version.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 6:48 pm

pk500 wrote:Hell, there's NO excuse to avoid subscribing with a deal like that.

Take care,
PK

Yes there is... having a rig that will run it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:02 pm

Jimmydeicide wrote:
pk500 wrote:Hell, there's NO excuse to avoid subscribing with a deal like that.

Take care,
PK
Yes there is... having a rig that will run it.

Good point. Sorry, man.

Take care,
PK

Smurfy · Post by **Smurfy** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:54 am

pk500 wrote:Hell, there's NO excuse to avoid subscribing with a deal like that.

Take care,
PK

Well, I spent $1200 CAD on a rig that will run iRacing and now I've purchased the 12 months for $75. I also threw the Dallara IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Road America into the cart.

Tell me there's gonna be a race this weekend. I'll pay for hosting if necessary (assuming it's easy to figure out how).

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:54 pm

Back in the iRacing saddle tonight after some time away, and having resolved to get myself up to C class licences pronto, I decided that what my safety rating absolutely didn't need was me trying to get back up to speed in a Skippy at Lime Rock. No no - what it needed was somewhere safe and flat like Sebring, in a steady, predictable kind of car.

I've been through the last right hander at Sebring plenty of times in plenty of sims. I've been through in GT3 Porsches, Radicals, Daytona Prototypes, Audi R10s, Toyota GT-Ones...name the motoring exotica and I've virtually driven it through there. I've been through that turn in all those cars and never once lost the back end. Tonight my run ended, and it ended in one of these:

Forgot to power out of the slide, you see...

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 2:08 pm

Two more non-US tracks coming to iRacing:

Pair of 47-Year-Old Tracks Half A World Apart
To Be Available to Global Racing Audience

BEDFORD, MA (December 1, 2009) – When the checkered flag fell over a field of motorcycles at Australia’s Oran Park Raceway earlier this month it marked the final competitive motorcycle event in the 47-year history of this suburban Sydney motorsport facility. Following an all-comers car race at the end of January, 2010, Oran Park Raceway is slated to become a housing development.

But that won’t be the end of racing competition for Oran Park. In future years, while suburbanites sleep peacefully where Aussie V8s and Formula 5000 cars once thundered, racing enthusiasts from all around the world will be competing with one another in the virtual world on an exact digital duplicate of this historic venue, including its unique-for-Australia over-and-under figure-eight set of turns.

“Oran Park Raceway has played an important role in the history of Australian motorsport,” noted Divina Galica, director of partner relations for iRacing.com. “Too many great race tracks have been lost forever; I’m pleased that we’re able to preserve this digital version of Oran Park and make it available to racers all over the world.”

Galica also announced that iRacing and the management of Circuit Zolder have signed an agreement that will see the sometime host of the Belgian Grand Prix join Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Zandvoort as initial European venues in the iRacing service.

“Zolder is our second track on the continent of Europe, after Zandvoort,” Galica said. “In the fullness of time we’ll have quite a few more, but it’s exciting to have two such challenging driver’s circuits to begin with.” Galica said she expected that Circuit Zolder would join the iRacing inventory in the latter half of 2010.

Capturing Oran Park

Last month a surveying crew from iRacing.com made a series of millimeter-accurate scans of the 1.65-mile Oran Park facility, including all three of the track’s existing configurations and further documenting it with thousands of digital photographs. Over the course of the next several months, the data gathered by the iRacing surveyors will be transformed into a virtual version of the track that will join Phillip Island as the first two Australian iRacing circuits.

Oran Park opened its gates in 1963 and regularly hosted rounds of the Australian Touring Car Championship, V8 Supercar Championship Series, Australian Drivers' Championship and Australian Sports Sedan Championship.

The Australian Grand Prix (not then a Formula One race, it featured F5000 cars) was held at Oran Park in 1974 and 1977. In the 1970’s the circuit attracted large crowds for touring cars and sports sedans. The Rothmans 500 for touring cars was staged in 1977 and 1978, and touring car endurance races continued through the running of the 1989 Pepsi 300. The final running of the contemporary V8 Supercar series Oran Park event was held in 2008. Oran Park was also home over its long history to club road-racing events, so it’s fitting that the final competitive race meet held January 23-24, 2010 is an all-comers amateur race.

Circuit Zolder

Like Oran Park, half a world away, Circuit Zolder opened in 1963. It hosted ten Belgian Grands Prix during the 1970s and 1980s. Mario Andretti drove a Lotus 79 to victory there on his way to the 1978 Formula One World Championship, but the death of Gilles Villeneuve in practice for the 1982 race signaled the beginning of the end of Formula One competition at the 10-turn, 2.492-mile circuit.

Following a series of safety-related upgrades in 2006, Zolder hosted a European round of the North American-based ChampCar series. The overall lap record was established by Sebastian Bourdais on his way to victory in that one-off event. Today Circuit Zolder is host to the FIA Formula 2, FIA WTCC Race of Belgium and the GT Belcar championship, including the 24 Hours of Zolder.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:41 pm

I didn't realise Oran Park was closing. Really fun little racetrack, should be a blast in the V8 Supercars once they're both released.

I'm not sure I knew Divina Galica was involved in iRacing either. She could drive a bit, and I'm fairly sure she was alright on skis too.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:49 am

Check out this video of Todd Bettenhausen's custom made triple monitor iRacing setup. He filmed it from his POV and looked to his left and right a couple times to show how it looks while you are actually driving. Unbelieveable immersion.

Go here for the thread that shows how he built it. Cool stuff.

http://members.iracing.com/iforum/threa ... &tstart=60

http://members.iracing.com/iforum/servl ... AG0069.jpg

http://members.iracing.com/iforum/servl ... AG0071.jpg

http://members.iracing.com/iforum/threa ... 3&tstart=0

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8WM3ISbv4Q0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WM3ISbv4Q0

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:38 am

Finally got a chance to play Forza 2 at a Gamestop yesterday. Flying Lizards Porsche, no assists whatsoever.

Maybe I'm spoiled silly by iRacing, but what a joke. The physics were terrible. Serta Perfect Sleeper suspension, center spike turning axis model. Maybe adjusting controller sensitivity helps, but let's just say I don't miss console racing one bit!

Viva iRacing!

Take care,
PK