Or not...
After some more thinking and discussion with Jellis @ work today, we made the following conclusion: If this series is for ALL skill levels as advertised, and now that there are three divisions, what would be the objection to allowing the D3 drivers to use some aids (like driving line, TCS, and maybe even skid recovery force) so that they can actually learn in small bites while remaining competitive?
In my opinion, if one should require use of the driving line to navigate a track, they are not likely to be in contention for the podium anyway, but may at least keep themselves from being constantly saddled with penalties. And, as an entry level competition, it would seem fair. Especially with several of the newer driver voicing their concerns about the difficulty they've had "finding the line".
Also, it was stated in the only response I got that TCS "only makes you slower". If that is the case, why could it not be allowed in the lower two divisions?
I'm just asking. It seems logical to me (I know I'm setting myself up here) to have some gradient in the assists to coincide with the gradient in skill level between the divisions...
I was looking for input from others before 'chiming-in' on this topic.
ABS:
I personally don't know the official reason about why it's used, but I can tell you that have my ABS set to "1" for all my cars, regardless. My reasoning is simple; the game does a decent job and mimicking the results wheel lockup, but the feedback it gives the player via the controller is a joke, and even a bigger joke if you are using the wheel. When I was racing, I could tell you which wheel(s) locked-up just by the input from the car. GT5 doesn't bother to give the player any feedback or input about the lock at all, it's just a lock up of all 4 wheels, which is complete B.S.! A car give you input via the steering wheel, vibrations in the chassis (as felt through driver's seat) as well as the pedals. GT5 give the player no information to work with at all. If the GT5 were to offer the player feedback via the wheel and pedals, that would be great, I would turn off ABS in a heartbeat. Instead, GT5 offers the player absolutely nothing regarding this matter. Until GT5 offers up this much needed information, then my ABS will be set to "1" for all my cars - it's all I need to get the braking done.
TCS:
I personally run without the TCS for all my cars, and instead I rely on my ability to control the car with throttle control. If the TCS is turned off, GT5 does offer the player some information about which wheel(s) has 'broke traction' (depending in the powertrain of the vehicle in question). This is a far cry from the way GT5 addresses wheel lockup (as addressed above) Given that GT5 does give the player information, I'm willing to turn off my TCS for every car I own in the GT5 game - but make no mistake, GT5 does give the player the information needed to make an adjustment, if needed or desired. What the player does with that information is up to the player. (unlike with the ABS)
As for your comment about the different Divisions using different aids, that is a topic for Zero to address. However, I did notice that you implied that allowing the aids would allow drivers to actually learn in small bites while remaining competitive? What exactly would they be learning, I wonder? As a former racing/driving instructor, we forced students to turn off all computer assistance because it undermines our efforts to teach the correct techniques to the students. A student would do something stupid and the computer would correct their driving and make the turn look and feel flawless, but the computer did the work, not the student. I had a student burnout the computer assistance controls at a track because he continually failed listen to what I was telling him, and he just wanted to enjoy his brand new BWM M5. Okay fine, 4 laps later the car is "chirping" & "dinging" inside the cabin, (the assistance computer failed) the driver continued to drive the car like he had been (completely wrong) and drove off the track, and rolled the car! What did this guy with the computer doing all the work for him? Not a Damn thing! the computer did all the work, a fact I'm sure he's well aware of now. If drivers in the lower divisions are allowed to use driving aids, they will not learn to drive at all, so I fail to understand your argument. However, I can see letting the lower divisions have more driving aids available, but that's not my call to make.
Driving line during the races:
There is nothing to stop a driver from practicing with the driving line on "to help find their way around a track". It doesn't take much to learn a track, in my opinion. If drivers in Div 3 are continually driving off track, then perhaps they should attend the tutoring sessions that mopar & I have been offering. it doesn't take time to give pointers that will help drivers find their way around a track. Little things like 'reference points' can make a huge difference. These are all things that a SNAIL driver can to do help their efforts.
In short (I know this has gotten quite long) I don't have an problem with lower divisions having different aids allowed. While I do think that this is going to promote closer racing, it will also promote drivers to stay in a certain division rather than learn new skills. I new of a couple of drivers (I'm not going to name names) that are able to run with division 1 and hold their own, but they would much rather be in division 2 because they are scared to step up, step out of their comfort zone, because they want the "Big W" or whatever. I hope that IF driving aids are allowed int he lower divisions, then I hope the behavior I just described above will not be norm.
or is it "Get out in the street and skin that hogleg, ya varmint!" 
Just so I know what to expect...
