Racing Sim Thread, Part II

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:55 pm

Well this is certainly a nice birthday present. I just bought every single thing that they have on the service and it had some 25% discount. It all totaled up to be $480 of my $500 credit, so I now have access to every track and car on the service.

To not use it would be ridiculously stupid.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:20 pm

I expect to see your name right up there with Junior's atop the Pro level oval series. Dale Jr. is the No. 1-ranked oval racer in the world in iRacing right now.

It would be pretty cool to race against him online. Dude is VERY hardcore about his PC racing sims.

Take care,
PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:56 pm

I dont' see that happening. I don't have the time to sit down and run practice laps and tweak setups (or the know-how on so many different cars) to really do that. If I can even compete and win a few races, I'll be happy.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 3:10 pm

Not a bad sized iRacing crew. I'm surprised there are that many of us!

I was just looking through the stats, wow there is a lot of stuff and it really keeps a good record of things.

ow do you advance your license? Not that I'm close to doing so by any means, but what is the criteria for moving up? (Other than buy more stuff!

)

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:03 pm

Gurantsu wrote:ow do you advance your license? Not that I'm close to doing so by any means, but what is the criteria for moving up? (Other than buy more stuff! )

Good, clean finishes will advance your safety rating to the 3.0 and 4.0 plateaus, with an emphasis on clean. When you hit other drivers, go off course or spin, your safety rating drops.

I'm not sure how you move from Rookie to Class D, C, B and A. I'm so far away from that I haven't even bothered to look!

Take care,
PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:10 pm

If you mouse over your "MPR" icon next to your ratings on the main header, you can see how many races and TT's are left for promotion. You have to have a combination of experience and rating to promote.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:14 pm

pk500 wrote:I'm not sure how you move from Rookie to Class D, C, B and A.

This link will give you the specific details, but I think it works as follows:

http://members.iracing.com/membersite/m ... qsg_10.jsp

Each iRacing "Season" is essentially 12 weeks long. During that time there is a minimum number of official races and/or time trials that you need to compete in to boost your iRating and Safety Ratings. At the end of 12 weeks, anyway attaining the needed ratings for next levels will be graduated up in class.

Now that we have a few DSP'ers on iRacing, we've got to get some sessions going.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:11 pm

Holy sh*t, the sound for the upcoming Prototype C mod for rFactor is UNREAL:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q4Y5wQpEO10&co ... edded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed>

Take care,
PK

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:44 am

I hopped into another 40-lap legends race at Lanier in iRacing right before our rFactor race last night, and had fun. Clean racing all around, and I'm slowly getting faster in those cars. I still got lapped, but it wasn't until the race was almost over. Plus I passed a couple of guys too.

The one thing about it that I really didn't like when I first heard about it turns out to be one of the things that I like the most. That is the whole penalty system. In other games there are no repercussions for poor driving. Here it means you won't be trusted with more powerful cars and tracks. You need to learn to drive clean as well as fast, or you'll be lapping Lanier for years. It makes you make more realistic decisions behind the wheel.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:20 am

Gurantsu wrote:The one thing about it that I really didn't like when I first heard about it turns out to be one of the things that I like the most. That is the whole penalty system. In other games there are no repercussions for poor driving. Here it means you won't be trusted with more powerful cars and tracks. You need to learn to drive clean as well as fast, or you'll be lapping Lanier for years. It makes you make more realistic decisions behind the wheel.

My sentiments exactly. The driving rating system has completely changed the way I approach races. They're no longer sessions of connected hot laps, which almost always result in an early wreck or spin.

I'm still learning and still adjusting to be consistent first and then worry about speed. It's a slow process, just like my driving.

But thankfully, the iRacing rating system rewards consistency and clean driving over speed.

Funny, after my clusterf*ck of a 800-meter race last night at Le Mans, I jumped into iRacing and practiced in Legends at Lanier and Solstices at Laguna. Found a really nice rhythm in some tough sections for me at Laguna. I also took the COT for a test at Daytona and the Radical at Lime Rock.

F*ck, I love iRacing. I can't believe I just typed that.

Take care,
PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:07 am

I played the damned thing all night. Tried Silver Crowns at Bristol, CoT's at Vegas, Modifieds and Late Models at Stafford, the Spec Racer at Summit, Mazdas and Rileys at Laguna...it was a nice evening. I suck in pretty much everything and haven't seen any setup sites that have a lot of things to test. Many of the cars snap the rear end around under the slightest amount of braking for a corner, so you really have to focus so much on braking in a straight line, that when you're trying to hit race speeds it's incredibly easy to end up with "Loss of Control > X2".

I did hop into a Legends race at Lanier last night, though. I didn't have a qualifying time set, so I started in the back of a field running 16.0 to 16.2. Worked my way to 7th and sat there for 40 laps. It was still very fun, and I have yet to have any incidents in an oval race. I think I'm probably too polite, as I'll sit in one particular lane when I know a faster car is coming and let him go by.

Either way, iRacing has a lot more content and had me racing a hell of a lot longer last night than the last time I tried it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:29 am

Terry:

Just before I signed off iRacing at 2 a.m. this morning, I checked your racer stats and noticed they had MUSHROOMED since yesterday afternoon. I'm not surprised: Your gaming OCD has clicked in again!

16.0 to 16.2 at Lanier? Damn, I need to practice with you and follow your lines. I can't get out of the 16.5 zone. Funny thing is, I was fourth out of nine guys in a practice session last night running steady 16.5's and 16.6's, so that was good for my confidence.

Man, I get into a massive zone when practicing, time-trialing or racing at Lanier. Finding a rhythm and feeling the car is hypnotic as hell; it really is. Big fun.

Regarding the brake pedal, it's REALLY sensitive in iRacing. That's why there's no way I could use a DFP without the sponge ball hack, which has worked wonders.

What was your favorite of the cars you tried last night? I'm still head-over-heels in love with the Radical on just about any road course, especially Lime Rock. I love that little joint.

Take care,
PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:45 am

Didn't try the Radical. Think that's the one I didn't try.

The Silver Crowns and CoT's SOUNDED BEASTLY. Those were awesome to hear. I was barely hanging onto the CoT using the advanced setup, which felt great.

As far as my favorite car, though, the Mazda was pretty damned fun. I don't know what's my favorite just yet, but the Mazda and the Spec Racer were fun to drive.

Trying to see out of the Modified and the Riley Prototype were about as fun as having my balls pounded flat with a crowbar.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:05 am

Of course now you guys are all bought into iRacing and my PC racing rig has gone South. By the time I get back up and working you will all be in the pro class and I will still be stuck back in class D.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:15 am

That's the part that still has me baffled. How will we ever really "do" anything together? I don't understand how we can ever really race each other or anything like that.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:20 am

TCrouch wrote:That's the part that still has me baffled. How will we ever really "do" anything together? I don't understand how we can ever really race each other or anything like that.

I did a bit of research on that, and iRacing tries to match you with people on your Friends list who are trying to race in the same class. But the primer also said matching people of similar skill and safety ratings is a priority over matching Friends.

So once you get to Class A with a safety rating of 5.0 next week, Terry, we'll wave goodbye to you unless it's practice sessions.

Take care,
PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:45 am

I don't see that happening. Do incidents in practice count against your rating as well? I was practicing last night and several times some bonehead comes off the corner too hot, spins, bounces into me, etc. I sat in the 2nd lane at Lanier and another fool slams down into me. Both times I see "Car Contact> X4" and I watched the replay from the zeppelin cam and I held my lane perfectly in each of the situations.

If I'm getting penalized simply for being NEAR a moron, that's rough.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:49 am

Incidents in practice do not affect your safety rating. Incidents in all other sessions are factored into your safety rating on a weighted scale. Screwups in races will cost you more than those in qualifying or time trials.

That's why I don't mind skipping qualifying and starting from the back in races right now.

Take care,
PK

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:45 pm

TCrouch wrote:That's the part that still has me baffled. How will we ever really "do" anything together? I don't understand how we can ever really race each other or anything like that.

If we agree on the series and session time before hand it should work out like Paul stated, unless it is during a time frame where there are alot of people running. If we agree to 2:00am EDT races, we should probably be good to go.

The other way is to meet in chat and monitor which sessions have least numbers of sign-ups right to the last minute, then have everyone go for that one.

It is definitely one of the drawbacks if you want to do anything close to a friends private room or poker night type setting. That's why I have mostly done laps upon laps in testing mode with all sorts of different cars. Strange to pay so much money to do that, I know, but it is the most addicting hotlapper I have ever tried. Only thing I wish is that it tracked your stats in testing mode. It only tracks it for actual series based time trials. However, at least in testing mode you can really find out the limits of the car and your driving without fear of rating loss.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:22 pm

DChaps wrote:Strange to pay so much money to do that, I know, but it is the most addicting hotlapper I have ever tried.

Absolutely, positively true. Hell, it's the most addicting sim I have ever tried, every part of it.

Terry and I just spent 20 minutes on IM stroking iRacing's johnson almost to climax. And with that image, I will see you soon.

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:09 pm

Being invited to imagine PK stroking anything or anyone to climax is very nearly enough to make my stomach and I dismiss iRacing altogether...

What genuinely does make me wonder whether it's the sim for me is the subscription and racing model. The only online racing I do is with you lot here on PC and the XBox 360 poker nights here and at Sports Gaming Nation as and when they crop up. I don't race in public rooms because on road courses I have little tolerance for the one bonehead who drives around the track the wrong way trying to wreck everyone, then turns round and spends the rest of the race deliberately blocking. I don't race in oval course public rooms because I don't have the oval racecraft to get away with it, and so have a deep-seated fear of being that one bonehead.

I'm happy with rFactor, quirks and all, and while there are a few disappointing mods I am generally happy enough with what I have in my collection. The big bonus, of course, is that I don't pay for a licence to have them or a subscription to be allowed to drive them.

The AI generally don't concern me since most of my offline time is spent hotlapping in test sessions. Yes, iRacing is for the more serious set and so should have an infinitely lower bonehead coefficient, and that being so I should enjoy the racing, but when all is said and done it's easy for me to conclude that it isn't really for me.

I'm downloading the installer now...

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:15 pm

Adam, there are NO instances of somebody driving the wrong way. You'll be in bliss with guys on iRacing. Guys like that quickly get kicked out of servers altogether because their rating drops like a rock when they get DQ'd for things like that. I've never seen anybody drive backwards intentionally (I've been flying backwards unintentionally many times, though).

What's more, drivers are more courteous and collected because hitting another car in a race gives you horrid x4 penalties to your rating, so guys will exercise a lot of give and take.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:19 pm

On that note, I also experienced bliss just now at lunch. I went digging for setups and tried the Late Model Chevy Monte Carlo at the weekly track and got my times down into the 20.9 range. Still a half second off the world record pace of 20.4, but the car felt infinitely more driveable.

Then I decided to attempt to tackle the Silver Crown at Lowe's, and man what a riot. Those cars force you to stay hammer-down, letting the ass end dance. I was a good 1.5 seconds off the world record there, but had a grin across my face the entire time. I have no idea what I'm racing or when, but now, with so much more content than before, I can always find something "that counts". I don't have to sit around practicing for 2 hours just to try to get in a 40 lap race.

I can qual at 12:45, race another series at 1:00, qual in a 3rd series at 1:35, do a time trial at 1:55, back to a race at 2:30, etc. It's insane how much freedom you have after you start bouncing from series to series and not pidgeon-holing yourself into one race series or track.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:29 pm

The only bad thing is that you have to pay for the bouncing! Of course, the pay model is in place to A: Make Dave and company lots of scratch, and B: to keep out the boneheads Adam was talking about. So far all of the sessions I have been in have been raced clean, and other than some nasty comments in one race (nothing worse than you hear from real racers) the folks online have been good guys.

I'm planning on just using the starter cars for now, then working up when I get the higher license. Of course I say that now...

And Adam, if you are going to get it, do a Google search for the promo code to get the 3 months for $25. It was still working a couple of days ago for me.

OK, off to work. Most likely I'll be in iRacing after I get home!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:32 pm

GB_Simo wrote:What genuinely does make me wonder whether it's the sim for me is the subscription and racing model. The only online racing I do is with you lot here on PC and the XBox 360 poker nights here and at Sports Gaming Nation as and when they crop up. I don't race in public rooms because on road courses I have little tolerance for the one bonehead who drives around the track the wrong way trying to wreck everyone, then turns round and spends the rest of the race deliberately blocking.

That does NOT happen in iRacing. If anyone tried that, their Safety Rating would be subterranean in a snap of a finger, and they would be tossed from the service quickly.

GB_Simo wrote:The AI generally don't concern me since most of my offline time is spent hotlapping in test sessions. Yes, iRacing is for the more serious set and so should have an infinitely lower bonehead coefficient, and that being so I should enjoy the racing, but when all is said and done it's easy for me to conclude that it isn't really for me.

Ah, that's what I thought during my first go-round with iRacing, too, mate. I've definitely seen the light now. You should give the three-month subscription for $25 special a go. Don and Grant posted a link to it somewhere in this thread.

I think you'll be pleasantly awed. Terry and I agreed yesterday in IM: This game is so suited for a fast, smooth, controlled fury racer like you that it's not funny.

Take care,
PK