GT Academy Finals Coverage!

  • Thread starter grafpt
  • 390 comments
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Dude, amazing! The list is legit, it's gonna be an epic voyage to Silverstone from here on out, can't wait to see how these guys stack up on the track together.

But there's something else we should all realize here. We're pretty much looking at the best 16 Gran Turismo players in the United States and I'm just humbled to have had the opportunity to get to know and race with them.

Keep giving it your all guys, I'm busting out the popcorn.
 
Congratulations to the amazing drivers that made it to Silverstone! Way to represent GT Planet.👍
 
This was amazing to follow.I hope we get another academy soon rather than later.I hope we can start racing online now that this is over forced stig.lets get a lounge up tonight.:)
 
OK, OK just curious here, on the breakdown for regions represented in the final 16. Without a single doubt these 16 still represent the fastest from America. Good job! now get to work for Silverstone and I hope everyone passes their medical!

4/8 continue from West
6/8 continue from Northeast
4/8 continue from Southeast
2/8 continue from Midwest

1. Bryan Heitkotter (GTZf_CudaMan) -West
2. Christopher Roberts (Dr_3Wide_Skills) -Northeast
3. Jason Miller (R1600Turbo) -West
4. Andre Gomes (FixByWire) -Northeast
5. John Wilding (SpecMiata-JSW) -Southeast
6. Christopher Morton (Z06Fun) -Northeast
7. Kris Norris (Appalachian_Kris) -Northeast
8. Gregory Russell (Gar529) -Northeast
9. Connor Clifford (ConMan_Skills) -Midwest
10. Phillip Arscott (Doctor_ILL) -West
11. Nick Fontana (BlindSideFive0) -Northeast
12. Rich Pratt (ZeroLM) -Southeast
13. Glenn McGee Howle (Glenn_McGee) -Southeast
14. Steve Driscoll (Choate51) -Midwest
15. Sean Johnston (GTP_TheCheef) -West
16. Jose Cedeno (SebaF1) -Southeast
 
NWMann
OK, OK just curious here, on the breakdown for regions represented in the final 16. Without a single doubt these 16 still represent the fastest from America. Good job! now get to work for Silverstone and I hope everyone passes their medical!

4/8 continue from West
6/8 continue from Northeast
4/8 continue from Southeast
2/8 continue from Midwest

1. Bryan Heitkotter (GTZf_CudaMan) -West
2. Christopher Roberts (Dr_3Wide_Skills) -Northeast
3. Jason Miller (R1600Turbo) -West
4. Andre Gomes (FixByWire) -Northeast
5. John Wilding (SpecMiata-JSW) -Southeast
6. Christopher Morton (Z06Fun) -Northeast
7. Kris Norris (Appalachian_Kris) -Northeast
8. Gregory Russell (Gar529) -Northeast
9. Connor Clifford (ConMan_Skills) -Midwest
10. Phillip Arscott (Doctor_ILL) -West
11. Nick Fontana (BlindSideFive0) -Northeast
12. Rich Pratt (ZeroLM) -Southeast
13. Glenn McGee Howle (Glenn_McGee) -Southeast
14. Steve Driscoll (Choate51) -Midwest
15. Sean Johnston (GTP_TheCheef) -West
16. Jose Cedeno (SebaF1) -Southeast
Click to expand...

This representation is probably very close to what was thought in most of the threads about "regional strength." I wish the west could have gotten one more in... But I am very happy that the finals were done in a way that allowed the best drivers to go to Silverstone. (as opposed to having exactly four from each region)

On a separate note.. Just going through the list (just by Stig and I so far) and 27 of the 32 finalists were recognizable to us as GTPlanet!
 
gravydavy35
I hope we can start racing online now that this is over forced stig.lets get a lounge up tonight.:)
Click to expand...

This is killing me. Want to race so bad right now. I am still waiting on my replacement laser. Best case scenario, I will be able to get on by this weekend. I hope some of these guys continue to join the lounges, even though, I bet they are a bit "burnt out" right now.

EDIT: My apologies for double post
 
redreevos
This is killing me. Want to race so bad right now. I am still waiting on my replacement laser. Best case scenario, I will be able to get on by this weekend. I hope some of these guys continue to join the lounges, even though, I bet they are a bit "burnt out" right now.

EDIT: My apologies for double post
Click to expand...

That sucks! Hurry up and get that fixed dude.

Me and midi had some fun drivin on the ring last night for a few hours in miatas. I'll be open tonight for sure, but I think everyone's coming back tomorrow so I doubt any of em will be on tonight :(
 
Well if you guys are down tonight we could try to recreate some of the challenges put forth at the finals by running GT-Rs through GVE rev. and Cape ring full with really short quali. before the 3 lappers. I have a short work night so I'll be back home like @ 10pm PDT, which will probably be late for most of you but I can hope :)
 
Wardez
Well if you guys are down tonight we could try to recreate some of the challenges put forth at the finals by running GT-Rs through GVE rev. and Cape ring full with really short quali. before the 3 lappers. I have a short work night so I'll be back home like @ 10pm PDT, which will probably be late for most of you but I can hope :)
Click to expand...

I'll still be on, but REALLY? you WANT to drive nissans still? ;) JK
 
It seems to me that all the legit drivers at the top raced clean and admirably throughout the competition... except for one. I am tired of the competition being thought of as a cheaters competition... but unfortunately it appears one of the course cutters from Indy is going to Silverstone.

Doctor Ill - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vshAdyoBd8

I hope he was the only one, as I have a lot of respect for the job the top drivers have done in this comptetition. Just wish someone that played "unethically" wasn't going to Silverstone.
 
Stig, During one of our races in your lobby, you gave me alot of help on my standing start practices....I applied your advice every start and got a great start every time.... I thought about you every start during the competition and you helped me tremendously more than once... You know what I am talking about. I owe you more than one!!Thank you very much!!
Great competition, and GREAT bunch of guys, every single one of them....
 
zerolm
Stig, During one of our races in your lobby, you gave me alot of help on my standing start practices....I applied your advice every start and got a great start every time.... I thought about you every start during the competition and you helped me tremendously more than once... You know what I am talking about. I owe you more than one!!Thank you very much!!
Great competition, and GREAT bunch of guys, every single one of them....
Click to expand...

👍 Congrats dude I'm thrilled I could help!
 
Hello everyone. Sorry for late delay. A lot going on and I am now home. There is a lot of random talking in the thread so kind of skimmed through it. Did any of you have any questions about the event you wanted to know? I will answer them as best as I can. The point of this trip for me was to get behind the scenes as best as I could. I am by no means a journalist so some of the expectations some of you have expressed is just silly. The whole experience of this is just too much for word. I met countless amazing people and several contacts to possible work for/with in the future. So it was much more than a show up and watch deal. I was helping out with many things. You will probably see me in some videos of they use any of the footage haha
While the official results were being determined and people higher up decided when to actually announce the information, it was cool down, hang out mode. Myself, fellow GT drivers and Lucas Ordonez all have fun 3lap races in the rigs and just had a great time telling stories and sharing each others experiences with this whole event. I am absolutely exhausted from all of thism that for sure. I work my day job tomorrow early in the morning. But I will make sure things are refined and available for people. I haven't seen anyone really complaining about that so I am assuming all is well.

I thank Jordan and my contacts with Sony for the amazing time I had. This was WAY more than just a cool trip to go there, if you couldn't tell from my posts already. Thank you all for enjoying all I could give you.
 
SohnVonStig
👍 Congrats dude I'm thrilled I could help!
Click to expand...

Wait, I want standing start help. I am terrible at it. I know to usually start in second gear and pick a throttle point... But please share Stiggy, because what I do now does not seem the fastest

grafpt
Did any of you have any questions about the event you wanted to know? I will answer them as best as I can.
Click to expand...

Actually I had a few questions a couple of pages back. Steve's gf was kind enough to relay the info that she had heard from him. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind explaining the structure further, as you were there.

From page 9
redreevos
Grafpt, a request for you.. Would you mind giving us the structure of the competition. I know that there are 4 drivers in each group.. But would you mind telling us, how many laps/how much time for qualifying and practice. How many laps for the race. How many races in the round. How the matchups were determined. Thanks man!
Click to expand...
 
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grafpt
Hello everyone. Sorry for late delay. A lot going on and I am now home. There is a lot of random talking in the thread so kind of skimmed through it. Did any of you have any questions about the event you wanted to know? I will answer them as best as I can. The point of this trip for me was to get behind the scenes as best as I could. I am by no means a journalist so some of the expectations some of you have expressed is just silly. The whole experience of this is just too much for word. I met countless amazing people and several contacts to possible work for/with in the future. So it was much more than a show up and watch deal. I was helping out with many things. You will probably see me in some videos of they use any of the footage haha
While the official results were being determined and people higher up decided when to actually announce the information, it was cool down, hang out mode. Myself, fellow GT drivers and Lucas Ordonez all have fun 3lap races in the rigs and just had a great time telling stories and sharing each others experiences with this whole event. I am absolutely exhausted from all of thism that for sure. I work my day job tomorrow early in the morning. But I will make sure things are refined and available for people. I haven't seen anyone really complaining about that so I am assuming all is well.

I thank Jordan and my contacts with Sony for the amazing time I had. This was WAY more than just a cool trip to go there, if you couldn't tell from my posts already. Thank you all for enjoying all I could give you.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for all the info you gave us man :) I'm sure it was an amazing experience (albeit exhausting for all ;) )
 
Well without having seen official rules. The structure was groups of 4, I believed based on the points you had going into the round. Each round consisted of 2 races. You had 2 laps (1 non timed and 1 times) to qualify. The number of laps were really based on the length of the track, but were usually 3 or 4.

Any bumping and rubbing that went on was closely watched and noted. I actually became pretty good friends with a few of the Sony Official Judges and explained that when there is some sort of discrepancy, they load the replay (usually from the main person where the problem occurred) and would agree on what action, if any, needed taking. Points were lost for any kind of penalties. The last round was very intense because everyone was almost more cautious, yet very fast. A lot of the races had less action than yesterdays for sure (at least any of the ones I watched.


SohnVonStig
Thanks so much for all the info you gave us man I'm sure it was an amazing experience (albeit exhausting for all )
Click to expand...

Your very welcome. I am glad I was able to do what I did. Had I know sooner than about 13 hrs before having to be there I'm sure a few things would have been different, but I felt I did a good job and was glad to do this.
 
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grafpt
Had I know sooner than about 13 hrs before having to be there I'm sure a few things would have been different, but I felt I did a good job and was glad to do this.
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Without even the slightest shadow of a doubt... You made all your best and that was perfect. It must have been a really cool experience. But I have a question. Did you talk to a SONY guy there about the possibility of including Canada and Mexico next time?
 
lapierre4
Without even the slightest shadow of a doubt... You made all your best and that was perfect. It must have been a really cool experience. But I have a question. Did you talk to a SONY guy there about the possibility of including Canada and Mexico next time?
Click to expand...

Or about the possibility of the academy returning next year.
 
Bah, really disappointing they seem to have a spelling error on the official page.

It's GTXf_CudaMan, PD!

:D
 
What a week! Lots of fun, lots of friends made, and plenty of excitement. I am very much looking forward to the trip to England, and am glad to see a lot of friends and great racers heading over there with me.

lapierre4
Did you talk to a SONY guy there about the possibility of including Canada and Mexico next time?
Click to expand...

After some time spent in the bar at our hotel with some folks from Nissan, I can tell you that your future is looking bright, sir. :)
 
EL_ZISSOU
What a week! Lots of fun, lots of friends made, and plenty of excitement. I am very much looking forward to the trip to England, and am glad to see a lot of friends and great racers heading over there with me.



After some time spent in the bar at our hotel with some folks from Nissan, I can tell you that your future is looking bright, sir. :)
Click to expand...

So that means that the future looks bright for us all? :dopey:
 
Great job guys!!!!

Guess what? None of you finalists can make it into the next GT acad. NICE!!!!! Next time should be a BREEZE!!!!:dopey:lololllololololllooll

But, in all seriousness, watching all of this coverage, and seeing all the cool things you guys got to do(most of which is yet to come) has really made me dissapointed in myself for not putting in enough time. I hope they come back and do another one of these, cause im gonna be on that one like white on rice.....
 

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