450pp Street Car Tuners Club -- Nightly 9:45-12:00 EDT

[chuyler1]

That would be awesome. Now we can see how each of the weight reduction options affects the balance. For example, a FF car would probably benefit from a CF hood because it is already nose heavy.

I generally don't like doing weight reduction on cars at 450pp but if I can properly adjust the weight distribution by removing, then adding back weight, it should make some cars a little more competitive.

 

[dudeondacouch]

Indeed.

It may also help balance out some notorious misbehaving MR cars.

 

[chuyler1]

Yeah, it was a guessing game until now....like most tuning options.

I did manage to balance out the MR-S with ballast before this update. I looked up the weight distribution online and added the necessary kgs to the front. It was already pretty close, like 47/53 or something so it didn't take much to equalize it. I know some were claiming things were backwards but adding weight to the front worked perfectly and it allowed me to run equal spring rates for a balanced ride. Aside from the times I was pushed off track, my MR-S was always a decent performer on roadster nights.

The real question will be whether ballast weight is equal to original weight when it comes to performance points. I'll do an analysis of that soon.

 

[dudeondacouch]

Good. Too bad it doesn't also list a "Center of gravity height" so we could see the difference the windows/hood makes.

 

[chuyler1]

Given that we were all powned by a samba bus at Autumn Ring Mini, I seriously doubt the game calculates center of gravity height. If it did, that bus would be flipping over instead of drifting. The same applies to trucks on racing tires. No way a truck could take a 0-camber turn at racing speeds on racing tires without toppeling over....but it would be cool if that could happen.

 

[dudeondacouch]

Good point.

makes you wonder what parts of the physics model they've tried to make realistic and which parts they just kinda fiddled with until it seemed to work.

 

[chuyler1]

Who knows...but 6 years of fiddling and I have mixed results. They've done great with cars that are already balanced, but I can't for the life of me get understeering cars to oversteer. If I put super stiff rollbars and super stiff springs on the rear of a FF car...it should spin around on every turn...but they have designed FF cars to understeer no matter what.

 

[esoxhntr]

The real question will be whether ballast weight is equal to original weight when it comes to performance points. I'll do an analysis of that soon.

The answer to that is it depends.

With the F/R weight distribution visible, I can now verify what I've thought all along - F/R dist affects PP. ie. moving a car from 55/45 to 50/50 will see an increase, albeit a small one (1 point), in PP - (ballast) weight being equal.

 

[chuyler1]

I'd say it is well worth the 1 point.

 

[Nicktune]

The real question will be whether ballast weight is equal to original weight when it comes to performance points.

Its different...If I remember correctly (example:your car weight 1200kg+weight reduction+ballast to get to 1200kg at (0))....should be different pp now.Maybe not on every car...

Already got some car close to 50/50 weight distribution
mx5 49/51
challenger 52/48

I think its still better to tune by the feedback/feeling and not trying to get exactly 50/50 weight distribution (on every car) as a lot of cars handle very well in the 55/45 to 45/55 range...even some with 60 in front.That's a nice tool we got here!I'm happy with the update!

 

[esoxhntr]

yea i think it's a win-win. yes, you take a penalty for adding weight (and it can be more than you think kg wise) but, 1) you get a better balanced car 2) the penalty you took for added weight translates to more HP in the power portion of the PP equation.

edit, the downside a better balanced (easier to drive) car may still be slower in the corners if you had to add a lot of weight

 

[dudeondacouch]

Who knows...but 6 years of fiddling and I have mixed results. They've done great with cars that are already balanced, but I can't for the life of me get understeering cars to oversteer. If I put super stiff rollbars and super stiff springs on the rear of a FF car...it should spin around on every turn...but they have designed FF cars to understeer no matter what.

Have you tried jacking the front all the way up and slamming the rear all the way down?

(Yes, it seems backwards, but I've heard claims that the physics engine interprets F/R ride height inversely.)

 

[chuyler1]

I tried that to some extent, +10/-10. I didn't go extreme...but I guess I should join the club since others have reported it working. Seems stupid to run such a whacky ride height but if it works, it works.

 

[Nicktune]

added weight translates to more HP in the power portion of the PP equation.

...and the little drawback of this is that the power/weight ratio decreases

 

[dudeondacouch]

I tried that to some extent, +10/-10. I didn't go extreme...but I guess I should join the club since others have reported it working. Seems stupid to run such a whacky ride height but if it works, it works.

Alternatively, you could just slip some McDonald's trays under the rear tires and lock the E-brake.

 

[chuyler1]

LOL yeah. Its just weird how the physics engine gives FF cars what seems like infinite rear grip. I've watch FF cars race along side FR cars and they do just fine. You shouldn't have to do this much to get them to turn in.

 

[Max911]

Some FF cars are ridiculously fast, though.

 

[chuyler1]

Indeed. My Citroen was quicker than any of the other sedans the other night...it just wouldn't turn for me.

 

[BTK]

I was fiddling with all my cars today, and was goofing off and clicked on my bus. With ZERO ballast, it has a perfect 50/50 ratio. Which answers some questions for me on why the bus was so good in many races.

 

[Bones Brigade]

I'll finally be on tonight! See you at the ring!

 

[BTK]

Goin to the drive in tonight fellas won't be on.

 

[k_riens]

I'm not sure, but I think I saw someone post that the saving during championships doesn't allow you to do anything else in between the races. Your only option when turning the console back on is completing the championship or quitting. (Like GT2? used to be.)

I could be wrong. (And hope I am.)

Or you could practice under another log-in.

Just sayin'.

 

[esoxhntr]

room open

1472 6118 4130 9224 3828

 

[Bones Brigade]

A lot of punting going on tonight. I'm not doing too well regardless, but Christ, it's been bad. I guess it's the Nurb and people don't give a ****.

 

[turbobmw]

somehow i got kicked out

 

[esoxhntr]

I had to leave the room early around 1115 EDT. I did boot a pubber but not you turbobmw. You all have to speak up if you're being pushed around on the track and I will do the needful - I'll take your word over those not on my FR. If I see something I'll address it but I can't see everything.

 

[k_riens]

Given that we were all powned by a samba bus at Autumn Ring Mini, I seriously doubt the game calculates center of gravity height. If it did, that bus would be flipping over instead of drifting. ....

I agreed with you about this yesterday, but this morning I saw this youtube video of a bus with a 520hp Porsche 993 twin-turbo drivetrain under it.

I don't know if its under 450pp, but I want one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XvjVvFdMIY&feature=player_embedded

 

[chuyler1]

Sweet!

 

[RotaryFreak]

Holy ****!!! that was awesome. Wonder what were the reaction from the Lotus drivers?
Missed the last 4-5 days racing with you guys. Wife is on a 1 week leave. Cant touch my PS3 or else she'll get mad. Still hiding my DFGT wheel from her.

 

[esh]

I agreed with you about this yesterday, but this morning I saw this youtube video of a bus with a 520hp Porsche 993 twin-turbo drivetrain under it.

I don't know if its under 450pp, but I want one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XvjVvFdMIY&feature=player_embedded

I'ld like to be a passenger on that bus, pulling some tubes!

I've not been online due to extreme temps in my office, which resides on 3rd floor of an un-A/C'd house. I guess that would be more accurate when behind the wheel of most of the cars we drive but it's pretty brutal when there really isn't any relief when not behind the wheel...