Forza 6

[Wilk5280]

Hi All, sorry for the delay, I did get a screenshot of the final results and I believe Adam did get his 3:27 posted in time (Nice Run!). I saved that screenshot to One Drive and to my Drop Box, but I am just realizing that both services have eliminated the ability to share a file with the public unless you are on a pay version of the product. Can't figure out how to just embed the image now in the post. Let me know if this link below works and that you can see the results. I thought there used to be an easier way to publicly share screenshots from Xbox One and embed the image in a post. Anyway, again sorry for the delay.

Official Competitors results from the weekend were as follows:

1) theycallhimsim - 03:27.271 (1492 overall)
2) Rockjaw McGraw - 03:31.439 (2670 overall)
3) DChaps66 - 03:50.251 (8495 overall)
4) Wilk5280 - 03:55.005 (9105 overall)

Thanks again to everyone who participated. Wilk5280 won the random drawing. Please check your PM's later today for your Xbox Gift Card codes.

https://1drv.ms/i/s!At45QxFltW3MhC-IeUWiyu9JZEwD

I've been out of town so haven't been able to keep tabs on this or try to turn a better lap after getting my first clean lap in. Thanks again for doing this and I'm anxious to get back and play some more. Can't believe I didn't play it that much when it first came out. It really is a damn fine game.

[Dave]

Week1 Rivals Challenges:

Indycars at Road America (Full):
X Class - Any setup, Any Assists that you want to use. dave2eleven is the only one on my friends list currently with a clean lap time -1:49
http://www.kudosprime.com/f6/carlist.php?cartype=15


Can-Am at Sonoma (Short)
R Class - Any setup, Any Assists that you want to use. No times posted from my friends list to date.
http://www.kudosprime.com/f6/carlist.php?cartype=3

Looking forward to seeing some of the lap times you guys lay down at Road America. With Indycar there this weekend I was already planning to run more laps there. Can-Am at Sonoma should be a blast as well.

[TCrouch]

Thanks for putting these together, Don. I like the little "do what you can, when you can" challenges!

[pk500]

Thanks for putting these together, Don. I like the little "do what you can, when you can" challenges!

I'll second that sentiment!

These are big fun and remind me Forza catches an unfair amount of sh*t as a "vanilla racing sim." It's a brilliant game with endless replay ability.

Crap default car setups are among the few flaws. Once you find a good setup, this game is a sublime pleasure.

I found a setup with which I came within a second and change of Adam in an Indy car at Road America. Hell, that feels like winning the World Championship to me!

The Can-Am cars gush with handfuls of opposite lock in nearly every corner, even with a comfortable setup. Love them!

[DChaps]

There are some good back and forth battles going on right now on the Leaderboards. I cannot get the last turn at Road America or at Sonoma. Forgot to mention, deadline is 11 hours from now (3:00am EDT Monday morning). Yeah, the Can-Am's are a handful for sure.

[pk500]

Fell asleep last night after watching a bunch of racing on the DVR, so I never got a chance to put in a clean lap at Sonoma or try to improve my Road America time.

But what fun! Thanks again for doing this, The Donald. Already eager for this week's challenge -- BRING IT!

[GB_Simo]

Thanks for putting these together, Don. I like the little "do what you can, when you can" challenges!

I found a setup with which I came within a second and change of Adam in an Indy car at Road America. Hell, that feels like winning the World Championship to me!

Nice lap, mate. I tried to improve last night and couldn't manage it, in spite of knowing there's half a second in my pocket if I get within 10 yards of the apex at Canada Corner next time. I also tried the tune you ran and it felt pretty much the same as the one I was using - possibly a slightly more positive front end and possibly slightly slower in a straight line, but any difference is minute and likely down to me not driving that well last night.

My main issue with the IndyCar is the slow, lazy turn in and the inherent understeer, which I can never quite dial out and I'm never quite on top of. I didn't get too much of that on the Can-Am run. Hoo boy.

[pk500]

I like a pointy front end, mate. I'm not one of those "early brake, carry corner speed," geometrically perfect automatons like Terry. Maybe I should try, but it's not in my nature!

My biggest quibbles with the baseline setup of the Indy car are the lack of stability under hard braking and the horrific oversteer on acceleration at corner apex and exit. The setup I found cured both of those ills. So any remaining problems were driver related.

[Dave]

I need to try that setup, I adjusted gear ratios and found some speed with that but didn't touch anything else.

[pk500]

I need to try that setup, I adjusted gear ratios and found some speed with that but didn't touch anything else.

That setup sacrifices some top end for better grip. Hurts on the two long straights at Road America, but I made up a ton of time in the Carousel compared to every ghost I chased, so I'll take it!

[TCrouch]

I don't know what setup I tried (I think it was the one Don used), but it was absolutely magical in the corners and under braking. It felt like I was cheating, because I think it was something like 5 seconds under what Adam posted at the time, which I knew he'd come along and destroy last night.

That thing would stick the ass end on every corner exit, and it would stop so fast it felt like a Formula 1 car. Going from that to the Can Am was hilarious, though. Polar opposites in driving style needed between those two vehicles. One hand on the wheel the other on the shifter for the Can-Am, just hoping you can find that sweet spot between tail-happy and forward bite, multiplied by a dozen corners. I think I did finally lay a lap down that was something like #735 on the overall leaderboard, though.

And then Adam came along and blistered it by about 3 seconds, I think

[Dave]

That thing would stick the ass end on every corner exit, and it would stop so fast it felt like a Formula 1 car. Going from that to the Can Am was hilarious, though.

I decided to try a rivals event that uses a Cadillac CTS-V at Road America right after running laps in an IndyCar, it felt like a tank.

[TCrouch]

Yeah, those high-downforce cars can really make you feel like Superman. I could barely get that Can-Am car around the track--I can only imagine trying to RACE those suckers in a full field...

[GB_Simo]

I don't know what setup I tried (I think it was the one Don used), but it was absolutely magical in the corners and under braking. It felt like I was cheating, because I think it was something like 5 seconds under what Adam posted at the time, which I knew he'd come along and destroy last night.

That thing would stick the ass end on every corner exit, and it would stop so fast it felt like a Formula 1 car. Going from that to the Can Am was hilarious, though. Polar opposites in driving style needed between those two vehicles. One hand on the wheel the other on the shifter for the Can-Am, just hoping you can find that sweet spot between tail-happy and forward bite, multiplied by a dozen corners. I think I did finally lay a lap down that was something like #735 on the overall leaderboard, though.

And then Adam came along and blistered it by about 3 seconds, I think

I'm about 2 seconds off you in the Can-Am, but that's fair enough - I tuned but didn't upgrade, so I'm running an R854 against R900s, and I dirtied a slightly quicker lap (than my best, not yours) by hitting the wall coming off the final kink. All things considered, a decent enough effort for about 10 laps of running and that McLaren is an absolute blast to drive.


What's bugging the everloving out of me is that I've invested hours into the IndyCar challenge and I'm still 5 seconds off. So far, I've:

- Ran the default setup, cursed at the horrible understeer and gone away for a think
- Downloaded a recommended tune and got down to a 1:46.3
- Downloaded PK's tune and found it pretty much identical to the one I'd used
- Checked Terry's time
- Wept gently
- Downloaded Terry's tune and found it pretty much identical etc
- Spent 1.4 million credits on the #1 Chevy, having previously spent 1.4 million credits on a Honda, to see if that made any difference
- Regretted the spending of 1.4 million credits on something that made no difference

I've got Don's ghost lap as my Rival and what's really striking about it is that when we get to the Carousel, Don just drives away from me. He can carry enormous speed compared to me while holding a sensible line, while I'm part-throttle with an additional lift for the bulk of the corner and still washing wide using the same tune. If I try to carry the speed Don is carrying, all I do is plough straight off the road.

Terry and Don, are you both using a wheel to set your times? I'm at a point where either the game is applying some sort of limitation to the steering with an XB1 controller or I just flat-out can't drive the IndyCar. If you're using a wheel but find you can set the same times with a pad, or if you're using a pad already, I've got my answer...

[TCrouch]

Yeah, I used a wheel. I just tried using a controller and posted 6 laps, none of them faster than 1:42. Anywhere from 1:42.1 to 1:44.3, as I couldn't quite get the same smooth entry as I can with a wheel. So, good news there, mate!

[DChaps]

Yes, I am using a wheel too. Thrustmaster TX to be exact. If you are using a wheel, you might want to make sure that the calibration is correct. I got a brand new Thrustmaster TX and the pedals starting only calibrating to 50% on the braking after just a few months. This was on Xbox One and PC. I tried all sorts of recommended fixes and nothing worked. I applied my old pedals back and it was all good. Maybe you are having a similar issue but on acceleration.

Terry, I would agree that setup felt like almost cheating, but it was fun. It took me about an hour to realize just how far I could go. I was chasing your ghost to no avail when all of a sudden I realized I had beaten everyone else's laps. For the life of me I can' figure out the last turn though. I am either too slow, or take it too hot and end up off track. I will post the official results tonight. Got some good ideas for this week's challenges.

[GB_Simo]

Don, I'm using a controller. It's been bashed about a bit because I'm terrible at hiding it from my daughter but nothing that impairs its function, as far as I can tell.

Terry, at least I'm only 4 seconds off you now, not 5
I'll figure this out if it's the last thing I do, though at my present rate of gain, there's every chance it will be.

[pk500]

Still Xbox controller here. No plans to get a wheel!

[Dave]

Holy sh*t, these tunes are like going from used-up tires to fresh Firestone reds. With Terry's set-up, I kept over-turning at entry since it is so much sharper than the default.. Need to turn some more laps with it, it is so damn fast...it was so discouraging to lead the ghost for half a lap until I didn't get back into the gas soon enough in the carousel. I'm just using the controller but both PK's and Terry's tunes make me want to get the wheel out, although I've been seconds slower with it most of the time.

F*CK!!!!! Just missed out on your lap by 3 one-hundredths of a second, Terry.

[DChaps]

Week 2 Rivals Challenges:

Star in a Reasonably Fast Car:
Track: Top Gear Test Track Full (Dry)
Car: 2013 Toyota GT86
http://www.kudosprime.com/f6/car_sheet.php?id=452
Class: C Class
Tune: PTG Jamie C500 Class Tune (download from my ghost)
Restriction: Standing start, only do one lap, then restart if you want to try again. Don't do multiple flying hot laps. See video below,
To celebrate the fact that Matt, Chris, and Rory managed to save Top Gear this season from last years mess, I wanted to mimic their new "Star in a Reasonably Fast Car" challenge. We will use a relatively stock, partial race modified setup from PTG Jamie so everyone is in same car and setup. This is just a great C Class tune overall and fun to drive, but still a challenge to be ultra fast. PTG Jamie setups and tunes are some of my favorites. As usual, feel free to use whatever assists you like.

SIX HOURS OF THE GLEN
Track: Watkins Glen Full
Division: Modern GT Racing (26 cars to chose from)
http://www.kudosprime.com/f6/carlist.php?cartype=19
Class: R Class
This weekend the IMSA WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP is at Watkins Glen for the SAHLEN'S SIX HOURS OF THE GLEN endurance race. Since we did the Prototypes at Le Mans a couple weeks back, this week we will use Forza's Modern GT Racing Division which has cars similar to those in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class running this weekend. Feel free to use any R class setup with these Modern GT cars, along with any assists you like.

DLC Bonus - Dale Jr.'s Last Daytona
Track: Daytona Oval - Night
Division: NASCAR (24 cars to chose from, requires DLC)
http://www.kudosprime.com/f6/carlist.php?cartype=32
Class: R Class
Dale Jr. runs his last race at Daytona this weekend before retirement at the end of this season, so this week I am adding a special DLC bonus to pay tribute to his career and dedication to sim racing as well. Use any of the NASCAR cars within R class and any setup/assists you like. I currently have the 51st fastest time for the NASCAR Division set on this track using R Class. Take me down....Love this Dale Jr. Paint Scheme at Daytona Night!

All Week 2 Challenges go until Monday morning July 3rd at 3:00am EDT, but this is for fun so I am not being too restrictive. I will need for someone to screenshot and post the results as I will be out of town starting over the weekend, but would like to keep this going if there is continued interest.

[pk500]

Rock on, The Donald! Thanks for this great array of challenges. BIG FUN!

[GB_Simo]

Some excellent car/track combinations this week, Don. I could run the Top Gear challenge all day.

After running a few laps tonight, I built up enough XP for my next prize spin and won an IndyCar. I've barely stopped laughing since. I've also taken it to Road America, with the same dismal, understeering results.

[pk500]

I'm odd because I despise the Top Gear Challenge. Can't figure out the track or the car. No one's fault but mine!

But man, I LOVE driving the GT cars around The Glen. Like Adam at the Top Gear track, I could do that all day. I almost did it all night -- up until 4 a.m. this morning!

I also must thank you guys for FINALLY prodding me to remove my training wheels. I noticed every one of you use a manual tranny or manual with a clutch. I've used auto tranny exclusively in racing games for the last 25 years. So last night I finally returned to a manual tranny for the first time since Michael Andretti's World GP on the 8-bit NES in the late 1980s, and it made a WORLD of difference in control, speed and immersion.

Thanks, boys!

[TCrouch]

Oh, man...the minute you shift to a manual transmission and it "clicks", your lap times will drop across the board, man.

You can't ever trust an auto transmission to get down to the right gear, and you're losing some acceleration as they short-shift it in most cases.

But your whole world changes when you start to remember courses based on the gear for a corner and entry point. I have a tough time with Forza's clutch, because unlike in iRacing or other games, it seems to really make you hold it longer than you should, and in some cars, you won't even need it when speed shifting. Forza doesn't care about that, so you have to clutch a paddle-shifting GT car when you're going up through the gears...always feels weird to me. So I use a manual transmission with an auto-clutch, personally. Don and Adam use manual clutch, too, which is even more impressive. I used to do it when Clutch was A so that all I had to do was thumb A and then X/B on a controller, but it just feels so funky with some of the cars in Forza with a wheel that I gave up trying. The fact that Don can do it as quick as he can just means he's much more awesome than the rest of us.

[WPatrick]

Dang! Just noticed this was going on. It's time for me to go turn some laps.