Alfa Z-Cup - Johnnypenso and Carracerptp Z-Cup Co-Champions!

[Johnnypenso]

To start with, I think it best we stick to cars that everyone can buy for sure, unless we take a poll and find everyone has a particular UCD/Untradeable car like the FTO. There are plenty of choices in the TC area without having to use the FTO. Part of the idea here is to make it simple to do and being able make a race a few minutes after reading a post about it and look in your garage and if you don't have the car, go out and buy it.

I would even go so far as to suggest we use the non-broken in power levels of cars at least in the beginning. Anyone purchasing a car and doing an oil change will have a significant disadvantage over guys with cars broken in already and if our goal is to create truly spec/equal racing, then it makes no sense to have any possible power advantage either.

Something that would take a bit of co-ordination although not much really, but would surely add to the competition level, is handicap racing. You can do it with weight or hp. Basically you reset the hp level a little lower, allow the bottom half of the reverse grid on the track(top half of the first race), then raise it up to normal and allow the top half of the reverse grid (bottom half of the first race) on track. The reverse grid race is a quick start and so long as we agree not to go back to the garage for adjustments, we can have the slower guys in front with a little more hp/less weight, making for an even more interesting reverse grid set up.

 

[BrandonW77]

^ We drove the FTO and Impreza Super Touring Cars last night, they're a dead-even match and the FTO is incredible to drive. Probably one of the best sounding cars in the game too. If the Impreza Touring Car can be traded (I believe it can) then those who have the FTO can run it and those who don't can have an Impreza sent to them. Or at the very least there are two to choose from which makes people more likely to be able to participate.

We already discussed limiting the power to bone-stock levels and we decided against it. A compromise is that the cars will be announced at least 1 week in advance so people will have plenty of time to acquire the cars and get them broken in. For the week 2 and 3 cars they would have 2 weeks and 3 weeks (respectively) to get their car. That should be plenty of time and eliminates the need for complicated settings changes (one less thing to keep track of). The fewer rules, the better.

Handicapped racing is something I'd like to do, but in the future. Once we have a good system down and a solid foundation to build from, as well as more members, we can look into different ways of doing it. For now my only concern is getting people on the grids on a regular basis. I have a modified version of the proposed plan I'll present a little bit later (gotta get some work done) that I think will be popular and make everyone happy. And yes, there are some points/prizes in the mix. 👍

 

[Blind829]

...I have a modified version of the proposed plan I'll present a little bit later (gotta get some work done) that I think will be popular and make everyone happy. And yes, there are some points/prizes in the mix. 👍

Sounds good B. Try to keep it simple, we don't want you to get burned out over there

 

[BrandonW77]

Sounds good B. Try to keep it simple, we don't want you to get burned out over there

The basics are the same, first 3 weeks would each see a different car or cars. For the 4th week we go a different direction. Taking from the VCRC format, we hold 4 different 3 race tournaments using the favorite car (decided by poll) from the previous 3 weeks. Using our same current time slots (moving the early GMT race to a different day), each one would be a self-contained tournament with 3 races, races 2 and 3 would be reverse grid, all at different tracks (decided upon in advance, each day would run the same 3 tracks). We tally the points for each night and declare an overall winner (with a prize) for that night. So in the 4th week of the month we could potentially have 4 different "champs" receiving prizes.

People would sign up ahead of time for the time slot that suits them (probably only allow them to race in 2 at the most), so even if everybody ran 2 races we'd be able to accommodate 28 different people, all in 1 lounge. Half way through the 3rd week I would put up a poll for people to decide which of the 3 cars we'll race in the tournaments. So we'll have had a chance to drive all of them and decide which is the most popular, then we run it in "official" races.

Does any of that make sense? In my head it's a good plan that solves a lot of issues but I'm not sure if I'm explaining it well.

 

[TrackBound7]

Makes sense to me, but than again you and I have been thinking alike lately...for better or worse I suppose.

 

[RDAardvark]

Only downside is that there's still a lot of point's recording and tallying to do, but otherwise this sounds like a good plan. Will VCRC do an Apple on us though and sue?

 

[BrandonW77]

Only downside is that there's still a lot of point's recording and tallying to do, but otherwise this sounds like a good plan. Will VCRC do an Apple on us though and sue?

It's still way fewer points tallying than we currently do. Tally up the 3 races for that night, done. If I can recruit a different host for each night then each host just has to record/tally 1 night, and we'd only have to do it 1 week per month.

I've been discussing these plans with the leaders of the VCRC to make sure they don't feel like I'm encroaching or stealing their ideas. So far everything is cool and I don't anticipate any lengthy patent lawsuits. 👍

 

[BrandonW77]

If anybody was under the impression I had decided that we would be doing something with the FTO Super Touring Car in the near future, I apologize. I was simply thinking out loud and commenting on suggestions made by other people. Owens, TrackBound and myself did play around with the FTO last night (along with the Impreza Super Touring Car) just as an experiment. I realize this car can not be traded which could make it difficult for people to acquire it and race it and this is something I would take into account if I were to move forward with this plan.

So let me put up a disclaimer: Anything discussed right now is simply discussion and not necessarily something that will come to fruition. I want your feedback which is why I'm discussing ideas openly. Whatever I do for the future I want to make sure it's something you all would enjoy so I want your opinions on some of my ideas. Once I start finalizing things I will be very clear about what is official and what isn't. I'm also not ruling out a return to the traditional points series in the future, but I honestly have no idea what it would be right now because I've been limited to mostly driving Capp's and Alfa's for the last 6-8 months. This "club" idea is a way we can keep racing in the meantime and try out different cars, perhaps we find the next perfect points series car and evolve it into a traditional championship. 👍

 

[SagarisGTB]

If anybody was under the impression I had decided that we would be doing something with the FTO Super Touring Car in the near future, I apologize. I was simply thinking out loud and commenting on suggestions made by other people. Owens, TrackBound and myself did play around with the FTO last night (along with the Impreza Super Touring Car) just as an experiment. I realize this car can not be traded which could make it difficult for people to acquire it and race it and this is something I would take into account if I were to move forward with this plan.

I really like the idea, both cars are fun to drive and evenly matched. I've got a few of each, so I can send out my Imprezas if needed.

 

[BrandonW77]

I really like the idea, both cars are fun to drive and evenly matched. I've got a few of each, so I can send out my Imprezas if needed.

I do too, this is the kind of thing I'm thinking about doing but I want to make sure everyone has easy access to any cars I would choose so maybe the FTO isn't a great choice. But, having driven it last night I'm in love with it so I imagine it's going to be hard to keep off my radar. Pairing it with a more accessible car like the Impreza S.TC would help accommodate more people, but the Impreza is a bit of a rare bird too and I don't want us all to have to "gift" a bunch of cars just so people can race. Perhaps one/both of them will show up in the OCD soon which would make them easy to acquire, I'll keep my eye out for that.

Again, this is just chit-chat. Nobody needs to go on a hunt for the FTO touring car right now. But perhaps the chit-chat helps to make the overall vision more clear for everyone. It's all starting to come together in my head now, I think it's a good idea the way I picture it but I'm not sure I've done a good job of describing my thoughts. Just over the last 2 days I've already gotten a lot of feedback about what people want/don't want and that's helping to shape things in my head. I'll continue to think about it, and I think I'll put together a mock-up of a month's schedule to better illustrate the concept to myself and everyone else. If it seems like a good plan that has some interest I'll continue to develop it. If not, I'll start over with a new plan.

 

[Naptown25rs]

Actually everyone does need to go on a hunt for the Impreza and FTO touring cars... Two of my favorites since they first came out in GT1 or 2. If you don't have them, you're missing out!

 

[Johnnypenso]

I really like the idea, both cars are fun to drive and evenly matched. I've got a few of each, so I can send out my Imprezas if needed.

I'll take one if you're giving them away in my Johnny account. I'll trade anything you want from my Yuri account, I have just about every tradeable car there.👍

 

[RDAardvark]

I'll take one if you're giving them away in my Johnny account. I'll trade anything you want from my Yuri account, I have just about every tradeable car there.👍

[Beavis and Butthead mode=on]
You have a Johnny account?
[Beavis and Butthead mode=off]

Or maybe it's just me, but over here, a Johnny is something else entirely.

 

[Blind829]

I guess I'll start searching for some touring cars then, first I'll be sending an strongly worded PM to B about it though...

My preference is "tuning prohibited" racing as it takes the tuning time out of it, and with warmer months coming I personally won't have a ton of time to practice. Also, I like the weekday evening race slot. That's my two sense, keep up the good work B.

 

[OwensRacing]

There is also those S2000 LM. Not sure tradable or not. I've got two of them now.

Anything with a number plate. I prob own ........two of them. LoL

Honestly the FTO/Impreza maybe best left as the next league idea. This would push that need for these out atleast a month. Giving plenty of time to acquire.

Love to see us drive both cars. Basically you race twice a week. Two races per night. Night one you start in FTO and second race use Impreza. Next night start with Impreza and FTO second race.

This way each person gets to enjoy both cars.


Great ideas being tossed around. The S2000 LM seems to have a few other similar LM as well so maybe something that could be mixed in.

 

[Johnnypenso]

[Beavis and Butthead mode=on]
You have a Johnny account?
[Beavis and Butthead mode=off]

Or maybe it's just me, but over here, a Johnny is something else entirely.

We have to keep it PG here...

 

[SagarisGTB]

Some ideas of the top of my head for spec racing (feel free to laugh and critisize all you want, just throwing it out there without holding back):
Aston Martin V12 Vantage (maybe vs a rival, haven't tested the car yet)
Opel Speedster or Opel Speedster Turbo
Volkswagen Golf RM
Suzuki Swift
Gran Turismo 350Z RS or Amuse 380RS SL
Prius TC vs CRZ TC
TVR T350C vs RX-7 Bathurst R vs NSX TypeSzero vs BMW M3 vs Esprit V8
M3 CSL vs RGT
ASL Garaiya vs TK ZZ-S
Lancer Evo VI RS vs Skyline GTR Vspec (R33) vs Corvette Grand Sport
Audi TT vs Alfa GT vs Altezza RS200/Lexus IS200
Audi S4 '98 vs BMW 330i
Peugeot 206 RC vs Mazda 323F/Lantis

Those last seven might not be feasible because of the use of standards (other than the ASL/TK which are prize cars) and are based off the cars being very closely matched stock on low-grip tires in GT4. I'm unsure how performance has changed on ported standards in GT5, though I do know the gearing and top speed of certain standards has changed drastically.

I'll take one if you're giving them away in my Johnny account. I'll trade anything you want from my Yuri account, I have just about every tradeable car there.👍

No problem. I'll check to see what colours I have and I'll let you have your pick.

If you're willing to trade something (though you don't need to), there's a few standard supercars that I require (with less than 15k miles) for my performance testing. XJ220, Cizeta and CTR2 come to mind, I'll let you know what you can give me. I don't know if these cars are tradeable though.

 

[LancerEvo7]

Volkswagen Golf RM

Tried it already, didn't end too well.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Tried it already, didn't end too well.

Can you elaborate?

It's a fun little car to drive and I don't see how there would be a problem using such a car for one week of racing.

 

[TrackBound7]

For those that want to be addicted to the UCD like myself, the fastest way to turn it over is to head over the license tests. You can quickly load up 5 (that will flip the whole UCD) license tests within probably 2 minutes. You do not need to run them, just go the the first one, once loaded, head over to the arrow for the 2nd one. Continue to repeat until you get to license test number 5, than exit out all together.

While browsing the UCD, I can see this group running touring cars, RFT's, Anything 1987ish and before, and some tuner cars, like Spoons, Amuse, or even the HPA. Just some things I continue to look for and could see as a future car some where down the road. Happy hunting and shopping.

 

[LancerEvo7]

Can you elaborate?

It's a fun little car to drive and I don't see how there would be a problem using such a car for one week of racing.

10 people showed up for race 1. The best turnout after that was 5.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Sag,

Colour doesn't matter to me send whichever one you don't want or if you are reloading a save and keeping the car, then send me whichever one you think looks the best.

I have all three of those on the Yuri side of things. Couple might even be 0/0/0 not sure, I'll check later tonight.

Update: I have 0/0/0 in the Cizeta and Ruf and the Jag has 14,700 km's on it

 

[OwensRacing]

FWD- while I can swallow my pride and race them once in a great while. I'm truly not a fan. No more like I dislike completely. It's not that I can't drive them. I do ok. I just flat enjoy some power slides and taming a rear end.

It truly comes from my upbringing. I grew up my Dad owned a Dirt Late Model. Uncle Larry drove it. Then my Dad got out of racing and my other uncle Les bought a car and Larry drove it. So dirt track racing is engrained deeply in me. Now imagine how well hanging the rear end out and letting it eat would work with FWD. as a kid I vowed I would never own one. My brothers teased saying all cars would be FWD and I wouldnt be able to power slide cause there won't be RWD cars. Hahahaha deeeeeep so yea I detest FWD.

But I will race it if the group goes there. Won't league race them nor will I be much into it when we do.

 

[TrackBound7]

There are really only 2 FWD I would like to run at some point, in this order:
VW 76 Rabbit GTI
83 or 90 CR-x
I remember seeing a lot of both as a kid and I think the VW had a decent racing heritage. Other than that, I am with you on the FRs.

 

[TrackBound7]

Well I was quickly reminded tonight why I enjoy this group so much and almost never venture into the open lounges. Watermelon had opened a low pp shuffle room. I hopped in for 2 races and quite half way through the 2nd. Most kept talking about keeping it clean, but I didn't see it at all. I think I got hit by 5 cars in the first 2 turns of lap 1. Then there was the whiner. Whining about the car, whining about cheaters, whining about getting penalties. Enough of that!

 

[Johnnypenso]

When it comes to FF cars, I haven't driven all of them but the Integra Type R from the NCD is in a class by itself. It handles like an RWD car about as close as one can get with FWD. Online you can tune it to power slide if you're into tuning although it's more of a power drag It has incredible grip on all tires that I've run it on and would make a great spec FWD ride if we do go there.

I've never had much fun Shuffle racing. Maybe there's a trick to it I don't know about, but I always seem to get stuck in something that's either way underpowered or handles like crap. Once in a while you get a decent car but if you aren't in a decent car you have no chance to win or even compete with anyone else. I ran in one shuffle race yesterday where I got passed by 5 cars before the first corner. And I don't mean entering the corner I mean they were all a few car lengths ahead of me when we began braking. I drove the wheels off the thing and finished dead last. In another race, I got a 69' Camaro and it topped out in three places and again I finished last. I didn't have SPA in my Johnny account yet so I sat that one out and watched 4 muscle cars try to compete with a BMW M3. That was a close one....the BMW driver stopped to type something for about 15-20 seconds and still won by a dozen.

 

[BrandonW77]

^ That's my general opinion of shuffle racing too. I've only done it a few times and every time I ended up with a terrible car that couldn't hang with the others. I am a big fan of recommended garage racing though.

Ok, time for some more details about the Grand Experiment. I'll give a general outline and then an example of the format.

- We will still have 4 race nights per week at our normal times (ideally with a different host for each night). Most of the meets will be informal racing but we could us a standard template: 2 races run back to back at the same track, reverse grid for the second race. Short tracks are 10 laps, long tracks are 5 laps (excluding Nordschlife variants). Repeat as necessary.
- The main focus would be on one-make spec racing. Everyone in the same car with tuning prohibited and likely on the stock tires (some exceptions will be made on tires). On occasion there may be two evenly matched cars instead of just one.
- Selected cars will be easy to acquire. I will choose them from either the new dealership or online dealership so they will be readily available to everyone. If a standard UCD car is selected it will be paired with a NCD or OCD car so those who don't have the UCD car will have another option that is easy to find. Paired cars will be thoroughly tested to ensure they are perfectly matched.
- I will create a trading thread in the social group so if members need help finding a car for the races they can turn to the members for help. Since cars will be announced ahead of time it should give members an opportunity to arrange a trade.

Format example (just for the sake of illustration):

Week 1: '69 Corvette Convertible C3 - spot racing
Tues. @8pm EST
Wed. @9pm GMT
Fri. @ 9pm EST
Sat. @3pm EST

Week 2: '08 Ferrari California - spot racing
Tues. @8pm EST
Wed. @9pm GMT
Fri. @ 9pm EST
Sat. @3pm EST

Week 3: GT-R N24 Shulze Motorsport '11 - spot racing
Tues. @8pm EST
Wed. @9pm GMT
Thurs. Poll opens for tournament car voting
Fri. @ 9pm EST
Sat. @3pm EST
Sun. Poll closes, tournament car announced

Week 4: Tournaments with winner of poll, Ferrari California (example)
Tues. @8pm EST - qualifying, 3 races (2 & 3 with reverse grid), points awarded for each, overall winner gets a prize.
Wed. @9pm GMT - qualifying, 3 races (2 & 3 with reverse grid), points awarded for each, overall winner gets a prize.
Fri. @ 9pm EST - qualifying, 3 races (2 & 3 with reverse grid), points awarded for each, overall winner gets a prize.
Sat. @3pm EST - qualifying, 3 races (2 & 3 with reverse grid), points awarded for each, overall winner gets a prize.

*members will be allowed and encouraged to open the lounge at any time during the week to race these cars, but the listed "official" time slots will follow a slightly more organized format.

That's the rough outline so far, there are some specifics left out because I didn't want to make it too confusing at first. But I think this explains my concept pretty well, at least as it stands so far. Does this sound like something that would be entertaining, rewarding, and attract people on a regular basis? Are there ways I can simplify it or improve it?

I also feel like I should make something clear; I've said I need a break from the normal points structure. I do not need a break from racing with this group and I enjoy racing with each and every one of you. I realized my comments could have come across wrong and my need for a break is in no way related to any of the members. The rigid schedule has started to make this feel more like a job or a chore to me, when that starts to happen it's a sign that burnout is coming. I don't want to feel like racing with you guys is a chore, so I just need to do something a little different for a while to keep that burnout from happening. So I would like to try this new format out for a month or two, for a change of pace and to experience new cars. If it turns out to be a dud I'll likely be eager to get back to the traditional weekly points structure, but if it turns out to be popular and enjoyable I may continue with it or expand it to include both weekly racing and a title series that runs for points.

 

[RDAardvark]

Not wishing to detract from Brandon's post above, but I've only just become aware of this:

GT5 INFORMATION
Maintenance Notice

Last Updated: Feb 20, 2012


The online service of Gran Turismo 5 will undergo maintenance during the following hours:

Start: 23/02/2012 14:00 GMT
Finish: 23/02/2012 23:00 GMT

During the maintenance, it will not be possible to connect to any of the online services.

*Please note that the exact times of the maintenance may slightly vary.

 

[carracerptp]

Not wishing to detract from Brandon's post above, but I've only just become aware of this:

GT5 INFORMATION
Maintenance Notice

Last Updated: Feb 20, 2012


The online service of Gran Turismo 5 will undergo maintenance during the following hours:

Start: 23/02/2012 14:00 GMT
Finish: 23/02/2012 23:00 GMT

During the maintenance, it will not be possible to connect to any of the online services.

*Please note that the exact times of the maintenance may slightly vary.

Would that be the Mach DLC?

 

[BrandonW77]

Would that be the Mach DLC?

Not likely, updates generally come out on Tuesday's, regular maintenance is on Thursday's.