- 449
- Medina, Ohio
- Disabled_Racer
A-spec Intermediate Level Classic Muscle Car Race: Big Willow
- Thread starter nowcontrol
- 84 comments
- 8,592 views
- 156
- United States
I think im one of the minority in liking big willow..... Except for the intense sunlight, I like the flow of those long sweeping bends. Using the 69 stingray has been my favorite so far, I just couldn't get it done with the earlier vettes, tried this one and loved it, those fenders 
- 116
- North Korea
- spawn_of_loki
Tried with a completely stock Trans Am at first. It was pretty fun, and I was in 2-nd place by the 3-rd lap. Sadly, the guy in 1-st place was in a GT40 and had already a 30+ second lead by the time I got there. I hate it when this happens: you get a low PP car compared to the challenge limit and you actually have fun catching and passing most of the AI... Until you get to 2-nd or 3-rd and you realize that you can't catch the leader because he had a way better car and a clear track in front of him - while you had to fiddle with your lines in order to pass the entire AI field cleanly.
Disappointed and unwilling to lose more time on the event (not a big fan of Willow), I took out my own GT40, made it completely stock and plowed through the field with ease. Leader was a Chrome Line Cobra that actually stuck with me for a little while, mainly because he was much faster in a straight line. Still won by about 10 seconds though. Anyone got a (preferably stock) car than can win this and still have some fun? Because the way I see it it's either going for low PP, having fun but not winning, or else, get a decent car and win but only having some fun when catching the leader.
Disappointed and unwilling to lose more time on the event (not a big fan of Willow), I took out my own GT40, made it completely stock and plowed through the field with ease. Leader was a Chrome Line Cobra that actually stuck with me for a little while, mainly because he was much faster in a straight line. Still won by about 10 seconds though. Anyone got a (preferably stock) car than can win this and still have some fun? Because the way I see it it's either going for low PP, having fun but not winning, or else, get a decent car and win but only having some fun when catching the leader.
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- 1,337
- England
- woodski427
I do quite like Big Willow, but still struggle with reference points for that final turn - where the big sweeper tightens just before the S/F straight.
Even on my winning run I screwed up twice: once prodded the gas a bit early only to be projected across the track for a bit of sideways action on the sand in between the road and pit lane. Second time I was too fast and ran off slightly as the corner tightened. Luckily the sand is pretty forgiving!
The Cobra driver must have been daydreaming though as I took him just before the final turn, and gained enough space so he couldn't quite catch me on the drag to line. I used a tuned '70 Charger on Sports Hard, but might come back for some different dirty V8 fun.
Even on my winning run I screwed up twice: once prodded the gas a bit early only to be projected across the track for a bit of sideways action on the sand in between the road and pit lane. Second time I was too fast and ran off slightly as the corner tightened. Luckily the sand is pretty forgiving!
The Cobra driver must have been daydreaming though as I took him just before the final turn, and gained enough space so he couldn't quite catch me on the drag to line. I used a tuned '70 Charger on Sports Hard, but might come back for some different dirty V8 fun.
- 1,510
- United Kingdom
- StirlingMoose
- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
I have found all the tracks to have a multitude of 'reference points' for braking. If one studies the markings on barriers it is almost as if the devs had planted these markers for astute players to notice and use advantageously.
On your laps into the final sweeper note carefully the bushes on the right hand side of the track and you will notice that there is more vegetation that appears just before you make (what should be) your turn in.
@StirlingMoose - I used the Cougar first, and probably did the race a dozen times before tiring of that car.
- 148
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Xposed2Play
I've been having a grand time with this seasonal; perhaps because I like the old muscle cars. I try to win with each of the cars that are used by the AI, usually tuned as appropriate for the requirements... or less. Sadly one of the AI cars this time around is the Buick Special, and the race restrictions won't allow you to enter it! (Presumably because it real life it is only based on the '61?) 
Sheesh, PD, if we have to race against it, we should be able to race with it!
Sheesh, PD, if we have to race against it, we should be able to race with it!
- 1,367
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
- SVPSkins
- 1,337
- England
- woodski427
Yes, I'll admit that I'm not great at finding the optimum points but the Willow track is pretty featureless. I'll check for the bushes on my next trip round 👍, which might be a good excuse to get a Nova 💡.
- 151
- London
I first tried this event in a 69 Camaro Z28, fully stock.. stock SH tyres too. I won! Ran out of revs at around 117mph on the straight but the field must have been slow as the win was reasonably easy. I was really surprised.
On other attempts with same car, SS tyres, tweaked gears, few power upgrades, suspension and diff.. I just couldn't win.. different rabbits from the first go btw.
I'm going to try in the GTO. I had previously set it up as a lurid pink lowrider with all the power it can take... and it turned out to be beast to control. So for this event I've recreated a GTO I saw at a car show. It was a lush solid red with big chrome wheels, lowered slightly and tuned engine/exhaust. My version comes in at just over 500pp, it's got all the weight reductions but only minor power upgrades, fully cust susp, lowered and stiffened, cust diff. I'm hoping for a lack of GT40 and Cobra for this attempt.
On other attempts with same car, SS tyres, tweaked gears, few power upgrades, suspension and diff.. I just couldn't win.. different rabbits from the first go btw.
I'm going to try in the GTO. I had previously set it up as a lurid pink lowrider with all the power it can take... and it turned out to be beast to control. So for this event I've recreated a GTO I saw at a car show. It was a lush solid red with big chrome wheels, lowered slightly and tuned engine/exhaust. My version comes in at just over 500pp, it's got all the weight reductions but only minor power upgrades, fully cust susp, lowered and stiffened, cust diff. I'm hoping for a lack of GT40 and Cobra for this attempt.
- 155
- United States
- WindWizzard
- 432
- VIC
- torm1
Some of these AI cars are faster than others ...
Edit: The GT40 Mark I is more racing car than muscle car. There are other non-muscle cars that you can bring into this event too.
Edit: The GT40 Mark I is more racing car than muscle car. There are other non-muscle cars that you can bring into this event too.
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- 7,436
- Canada
- photonrider
Oh! Not pointing the finger at you at all, Woodski - just throwing what I know about it at you. Willow is featureless - it's just nothing but sand and bushes. The markers that are usually strewn around (orange paint-outs for instance) are there where there are the odd barriers, and even the 'white posts' that tell you when a turn in or braking point are hidden around, but otherwise it's just a bunch of shrubs and sand.
I used to go off that sweeper often till I noticed the change in the shrubbery at the braking points and the turn-in so I use that as the 'markers' now. Hope it helped you and anyone else having a problem at the turn-in there.
- 449
- Medina, Ohio
- Disabled_Racer
One more thing to try when you get tired and bored of Willow Springs.... Execute a rolling roadblock with the help of a lapped car (63 Vette in picture below) and go the same speed of the lapped car, and then laugh at the Cobra and GT40 because they can't pass!
EDIT: The rolling roadblock doesn't work so well when you have to "try" and block three rabbits! (Two Cobra's and a GT40)
EDIT: The rolling roadblock doesn't work so well when you have to "try" and block three rabbits! (Two Cobra's and a GT40)
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- 1,337
- England
- woodski427
I didn't think you were being anything other than helpful my friend, perhaps my meaning was entirely clear -the result of a hasty post!
I actually don't play the game a huge amount, maybe 4-6 hours a week so spotting markers isn't always at the top of my list, and I'm not a natural at it anyway
. I tend to be better on the tracks that have been around for many games as I played GT4 and 5 quite a lot and it's all stored away in somewhere where I don't have to actively think about it after a few laps.Anyway, I'll look out for the shrubbery! 👍
- 163
- United Kingdom
- alexojideagu
Won with a Red Mustang Mach 1. I always liked that car because of Diamonds Are Forever! It was the first car I bought on GT6. Sounds quite beastly with the racing exhaust, stage 3, custom gears and external mic. No GT40 in my race, only a Cobra 427 Chrome Line at the end.
- 163
- United Kingdom
- alexojideagu
- 781
- SFO,California
- twocam16
Re-visited with my Shelby GT350. Had a FUN final two laps battling with two Cobras, one a Chromeline. Lap 4 entering the turns before the straight, Chromeline gets in my inside right and literally starts pushing me to the left. Ended up on the inside runoff. At this point they are passing me. Luckily I was able to keep it in control and rejoined them in third at the straight. Had that last lap to overtake both. Overtook the Cobra easily, but the Chromeline was a tough one,. Got him late breaking into the quick esses. Then he tried to pull the inside right move again but this time I was able to keep jussssst enough space for him not to punt me. I felt a tap and watching the replay confirmed that. Held on to the lead into the checkered. FUN!!
- 1,393
- Tennessee
- tnfedexman
I'm going to miss this one. I ran every eligible car at least 2X, some up to 4 times. Funny thing was I didn't own but one eligible car at the beginning. I used to hate this class. I even broke my "no standards" rule.
- 1,796
- Mocksville, NC
- Please ask
I liked this race so much that I used all of the muscle cars in my garage. In the early hours of the 28th I specifically used 4 Chevy's with tunes from @Bowtie-muscle who IMHO has the best tunes for the Chevy's. I've not tried any of his other tunes though. All that I used won easily with the best and fastest '69 Z/28. So if you are looking for a tune for Vettes, Camaros, Callaway's or Mustangs please give him a go.
- 5,161
- Massachusetts
I hear ya. I was never interested in purchasing the muscle cars, except one or two that I needed for particular events. But with this race, I had a blast trying all sorts of muscle cars on Big Willow. Same as you, I even bought a couple of Standard muscle cars which I never, ever thought I would do.
Bowtie-muscle definitely can tune those muscle cars. His '69 Camaro Z28 was the first one I applied and it drove spectacularly. Of course, I then started applying tune after tune from his garage. You can really tell he loves those types of cars.
- 334
- Finland
He really can. I used @Bowtie-muscle 's amazing tune for the El Camino with minor changes, final gear and supercharger for 550PP. I was very close to manage a sub 7 minutes race with it. Coming up 7:01 and clocking a low 1:17 at best.
for the tune Bowtie!Similar threads
