Racing Sim Thread, Part II

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:06 pm

If anyone is interested patch v1.3.1 was just posted for Indycar 2009 to fix the road course setup issues.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:38 pm

pk500 wrote:Plus there is an advantage in balancing the car at times by dabbing the brake with the left foot while the right foot is still on the throttle.

Which is exactly what I want to be doing with the Solstice quite a lot of the time. The only way around it if you're braking with the right foot is to get off the brake, jab the throttle and then get back on the brake again, but instead of stabilising the car once, what you're really doing there is destabilising it twice...

Rod, my G25 gets attached to the slide-out keyboard shelf on a regular PC desk. If I'm using the shifter, I clamp that onto the same shelf, with the pedals on the floor as far away from me as I can get them (which, unfortunately, isn't anything like far enough to be comfortable). The only thing I do to accommodate the wheel is move my keyboard a bit. It's a long way from optimal, and I wish I had something that let me put all my gear at the right height and the right distance away from me, but it isn't essential to go to great lengths to incorporate a wheel.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:56 pm

Rodster wrote:If anyone is interested patch v1.3.1 was just posted for Indycar 2009 to fix the road course setup issues.

Mike Peters has just posted on rFC that the drag values for Indianapolis are now incorrect, so presumably there's a 1.3.2 coming. It does get tedious after a while, doesn't it?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:56 pm

GB_Simo wrote:
Rodster wrote:If anyone is interested patch v1.3.1 was just posted for Indycar 2009 to fix the road course setup issues.
Mike Peters has just posted on rFC that the drag values for Indianapolis are now incorrect, so presumably there's a 1.3.2 coming. It does get tedious after a while, doesn't it?

Quite. Mike is a really nice and talented guy, as he did all the artwork for the IndyCar spotters' guide on indycar.com in 2007 and 2008.

He's also an endless tinkerer, which isn't a bad thing if you're correcting flaws. But Mike is so earnest that he investigates nearly every flaw, real and perceived, pointed out by the rFactor community and often creates a patch as a response. That patch may fix a real problem that creates another problem or "fixes" a problem that never existed.

The 2008 IndyCar Series mod was an example. The 1.2 version of the mod -- I think it was that version; I honestly lost track -- was the best rFactor open-wheel mod I've ever driven online or offline, road courses or ovals. It was the version we used for our EPIC DSP online Indianapolis races last year. But some bozo in the community told Mike something was wrong with that version, and Mike made a patch that completely screwed up the mod, never to be corrected in subsequent patches.

Sometimes I wish Mike would ignore the community, as bad as that sounds.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:51 pm

Speaking of which

v1.32
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... ies%202009

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:58 pm

pk500 wrote:Sometimes I wish Mike would ignore the community, as bad as that sounds.

The thing with the rFactor Central community, and with enough of the online contingent that I still don't race in public rooms anywhere outside iRacing, is that a fair number of them are complete cretins. There is, in fact, a shining example in the comments thread for Mike's mod.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:07 pm

Hands-on impressions of the Lotus 79 coming soon to iRacing:

http://www.iracingworld.com/_Much-ado-a ... 57752.html

DROOL!

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:10 pm

Hey PK how about getting me a job at the IRL? I would sure love to have a prepaid iRacing subscription myself.

WPatrick · Post by **WPatrick** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:30 am

I was negative in some of my posts about iRacing a few weeks ago, but I have been racing the Legends again and they are really fun.

PK you can Greger Huttu's set ups for many of the cars at http://www.teamredline.co.uk/

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:44 am

Thanks, WP.

I've tried some of Huttu's setups, and that dude is a major-league alien. His setups are so damn loose that there's no way I can control them. Loose is fast, and that cat is silly fast. Arguably the fastest sim racer in the world.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:49 pm

Short video of upcoming Lotus 79 for iRacing at The Glen:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3yQWmRsudIA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed>

BOING!

Take care,
PK

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:16 pm

Nuff said......

July 20,2009 - LOTUS 79 – Coming Soon
Among the most graceful race cars ever built, the Lotus 79 also ranks among the most successful. Of course, Mario Andretti drove the Lotus 79 to five wins en route to the 1978 World Drivers Championship. Of course, the nearly-unbeatable combination of Andretti, Ronnie Peterson and the Lotus 79 brought Lotus the 1978 World Manufacturers Championship. But beyond race wins and a championship, the Lotus 79’s ground effect design makes it one of history’s most influential race cars. It is no exaggeration to say every successful open wheel racer built since 1978 – as well as most sports cars, touring cars and even stock cars – owes a debt to this seminal work of Lotus founder Colin Chapman and his design team.

Plug the winningest Formula One engine in history – the incomparable Ford Cosworth DFV – into the business end of the Lotus 79, and you have one of the most iconic cars in the annals of motorsports. And soon you can have it. Better yet, soon you’ll be able to race it. Right here at iRacing.com.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:24 pm

Quite a few very cool features coming in the next build and future builds of iRacing:

http://www.iracingworld.com/_A-day-in-t ... 57752.html

Take care,
PK

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:24 pm

For all you iRacers, don't forget that this Monday is the end of 2009 Season 2 and promotion date for moving up classes. So get your MPR requirements met before that date. I have a lot of racing to do in the next 48 hours.

Monday, July 27th
Rookie license promotions
Rookie iRacers who meet their MPR requirements are promoted to the next license level.

Also, it appears that the new 2009 Season 3 build with Lotus 79 will be available Tuesday.

Maintenance (est. 2 hours): 2200 GMT [1800 EDT] Mon, 27-JUL-09
---> Promotions

Maintenance (est. 4 hours): 1255 GMT [0855 EDT] Tues, 28-JUL-09
---> Release of new Build

Please note that these start times are tentative and the durations are estimated. We will update Twitter if durations differ much from the stated estimates.

Week 13 (Fun Week between iRacing Seasons) is shaping up to have some good times:

Finally, something every racer with a sense of history has been waiting for – GP79 with the Lotus 79 – will be included among the unofficial series in Week 13 as soon as our new build is ready. The Lotus 79 is one of the most influential Formula One cars in the history and we’re particularly proud of the way our car reflects the revolutionary ground effects technology of its day. In keeping with the Lotus 79’s heritage, GP79 will race on the Watkins Glen classic boot and Silverstone historic Grand Prix circuits on alternating days.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:29 am

Thanks for the reminder!

I'm good to go for Road racing, up to a 3.36 Safety Rating and with enough races/time trials to advance to Class D.

I'm still below 3.0 and remain a Rookie on Ovals, but I'm working the Brickyard until Monday. Plus I'm concentrating the vast majority of my time on road courses.

Oh, baby, let's jump in that Lotus 79 for some practice sessions next week!

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:07 pm

Haven't turned a wheel for 3 weeks so I'll be seeing you on the Class D road schedule next season, PK. All I can say about the Lotus 79 video is that it's the first time that's ever happened to me while watching a clip from a racing sim.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:22 am

No promotion for me, as I haven't played much lately, sitting at 2.7 for Road and 2.8 for Oval. Still, after my past performances I need more time in the Rookie ranks anyway.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:30 pm

What kind of silly, gullible little muppet could be swayed into believing he'd made a real contribution to an iRacing club's success just because of a printable certificate sent by iRacing?

England are the Western European champions for 2009 Season 2, apparently, and having received my certificate all I have to say is this: CAMPIONE, CAMPIONE, OLE, OLE, OLE!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:53 pm

GB_Simo wrote:What kind of silly, gullible little muppet could be swayed into believing he'd made a real contribution to an iRacing club's success just because of a printable certificate sent by iRacing?

England are the Western European champions for 2009 Season 2, apparently, and having received my certificate all I have to say is this: CAMPIONE, CAMPIONE, OLE, OLE, OLE!

Congrats! Hopefully it won't be followed by a 43-year title drought, like your national football team.

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:06 pm

Ha, the bit where the Germans beat us and our club leader resigns in the toilets after the race should be something to behold.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:50 am

iRacing site is down for maintenance today, so that can only mean one thing: The new build, including the Lotus 79, and the new Web site features should be coming later today!

But in a masterstroke of bad timing, a virus struck my laptop Monday night, and I must return it to IMS today. Pisses me off because I'm ultra-careful about my browsing and downloading habits. The loaner machine they're sending me is too weak to run iRacing, and my good machine isn't returning until the weekend. And then I leave for a week's vacation Sunday.

So I'll be drooling to drive the Lotus by the time I can get my mitts on iRacing again. Eager to read impressions of everything from you cats -- the Lotus, the new Web features, the new game build and the effect of anti-lock brakes being added to the Solstice. Seriously!

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am

Volkswagen Jetta TDI starts as a Class D series Aug. 17. Pics:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... 4&comments

Can't wait for this one. A proper tin-top!

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:04 pm

From iRacing's Facebook updates (not that anyone here follows those, and PK will tell you exactly the same):

Just a quick update from the home office. Obviously our update is taking longer than planned. Our entire team is working to fix the issue. It has to do with a heavy load on one of the database servers. We expect to be up and running, you guessed it, soon

Start your engines, boys...

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:43 pm

New site, new updates, new Lotus 79, all up and ready for download.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:55 am

User-generated videos of the Lotus 79 in iRacing already are on YouTube, showing the incredible car and some of the very cool new replay camera angles available in the new iRacing build:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LOK3sqdeIGA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed>

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c9UGjYdI6cY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed>

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qKGYN0Z5xHU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

Why the hell did my machine have to get infected by a virus THIS week?

Take care,
PK