iracing.com

[Rudi Raser]

many, but i think it will be better for you (and me) , if someone else explain it to you.

 

[bevo]

I saw they have a special on, buy 1 month get 2 free so I signed up last night. And to be honest, everything is pretty overwhelming with what I can and can't do I tried to do a race last night (Mazda Cup at Okayama Short) and all we did was do hotlapping, no starting race grid or lap count. I didn't know it was a race until the checkered flag came up. Anyway, is there some sort of license tests I can do to get used to the cars and tracks?

Thanks in advance.

Jerome - Northwest Division

To get use to the cars and tracks, just go to the test the car tab. there you can just do as many hotlaps as you want by yourself and not worry about hurting your safety rating. You can also go to the practice sessions and run there with other cars. When you click on race, look above it and there will be 3 options. One for race, qualify, and time trial. The race, qualify, and TT will go toward your safety rating, so it's not really a good place to try and learn a car or track.

It is a little overwhelming at first, but after you figure out whats going on, it is a really good setup. You could also go and read the manual, it will tell you everyhting about the game. It's a great game, give it a chance, and as long as you like competitive racing, then you'll love iracing. If you like to just stroll through though, and dominate the computer, then iracing might not be the game for you.

 

[Jump_Ace]

I clicked on the race option and it had a green light on it and then I clicked join down below. Maybe some light reading is needed...I hate reading (except comics! )

Jerome

 

[Cauchy]

Once you select the race tab, you should see on the very left the various series that you can do. On the very right you should see the select a session box, with race, qualifying, time trial, and practice. Practice sessions do not affect your safety rating, and you can do practice in any series regardless of licence level, as long as you have the car and track.

 

[plate88]

Once you select the race tab, you should see on the very left the various series that you can do. On the very right you should see the select a session box, with race, qualifying, time trial, and practice. Practice sessions do not affect your safety rating, and you can do practice in any series regardless of licence level, as long as you have the car and track.

Also to add to that is you can only enter a session if it is highlighted in red.

I felt the same way a few months ago. Didn't have a clue what I was doing and was quite overwhelmed by it all. I didn't really like iRacing the first week. After a few weeks I figured most of it out. Began learning how to manage my sessions so I didn't have too much down time when I would get on. Now look at me, a few months later and I've dropped about $200 to $250 on tracks and cars.

iRacing has essentially replaced almost all my race games. Except for F1 2011 which looks rather promising. I'd say in the long, long, looong run I may actually save money having one sim to play and don't need to buy many games to fill that void of sim racing.

Thats another great thing about iRacing is they have so many different series to run. Almost anything a sim racer will ever need, almost. Of course it costs money, but so far it has all been worth it.

 

[Jav]

Also to add to that is you can only enter a session if it is highlighted in red.

I felt the same way a few months ago. Didn't have a clue what I was doing and was quite overwhelmed by it all. I didn't really like iRacing the first week. After a few weeks I figured most of it out. Began learning how to manage my sessions so I didn't have too much down time when I would get on. Now look at me, a few months later and I've dropped about $200 to $250 on tracks and cars.

iRacing has essentially replaced almost all my race games. Except for F1 2011 which looks rather promising. I'd say in the long, long, looong run I may actually save money having one sim to play and don't need to buy many games to fill that void of sim racing.

Thats another great thing about iRacing is they have so many different series to run. Almost anything a sim racer will ever need, almost. Of course it costs money, but so far it has all been worth it.

100% agreed! The only thing I turn my PS3 on is for GTPFIA realted stuff, other than that it's just iRacing for me!
Are you doing the Belgian GP?? There's some real fast times being thrown down, but I know you'll do good!

 

[plate88]

100% agreed! The only thing I turn my PS3 on is for GTPFIA realted stuff, other than that it's just iRacing for me!
Are you doing the Belgian GP?? There's some real fast times being thrown down, but I know you'll do good!

I don't have the Williams F1.......yet

Didn't realize I could get in that, class b is eligible?

 

[TheBook]

Anybody's eligible. I'm a Rookie and eligible, though I don't have a good enough handle on the FW31 to be worth a damn in the race. Working on it though; those practice sessions are invaluable.

 

[MagpieRacer]

What sorta times you guys throwing down at Belgium? Im down to 1'50s so far but feel I can take another chunk off that with a bit more bravery. Should do some long runs soon as well.

Also, what strategies will people be using? I plan on 2 stopping, aounrd lap 16 and lap 30 perhaps, depending on how well I can hold my tyres.

 

[Patrocles]

I saw they have a special on, buy 1 month get 2 free so I signed up last night. And to be honest, everything is pretty overwhelming with what I can and can't do I tried to do a race last night (Mazda Cup at Okayama Short) and all we did was do hotlapping, no starting race grid or lap count. I didn't know it was a race until the checkered flag came up. Anyway, is there some sort of license tests I can do to get used to the cars and tracks?

Thanks in advance.

Jerome - Northwest Division

Welcome to iRacing!
👍


It is best if you take a little time before jumping into an Official Nvidia Cup Race to increase your enjoyment and reduce the chances of ruining the races of other pilots.

Yes, spend a little time with the Sporting Code and iRacing official users guide. There is also a member-created Beginner's Guide to iRacing that is worth reading.

Conduct several TT (time trials) until you can complete 20 laps with no crashes and no (or few) incidents penalties.

Conducting a Practice session (it sounds like that is what you joined in post above) is an excellent way to gain experience driving around other cars. There are no penalties against pilots in an official Practice session.

In your first race take it easy. Do not try to win the race at T1, but your goal should be to get the car over the finish line in one piece. AFter you get more and more official races under your belt then you will find you have more skill and ability to fight for a top 5 and/or podium.

good luck and see you on the track!

 

[Patrocles]

Also to add to that is you can only enter a session if it is highlighted in red.

I felt the same way a few months ago. Didn't have a clue what I was doing and was quite overwhelmed by it all. I didn't really like iRacing the first week. After a few weeks I figured most of it out. Began learning how to manage my sessions so I didn't have too much down time when I would get on. Now look at me, a few months later and I've dropped about $200 to $250 on tracks and cars.

iRacing has essentially replaced almost all my race games. Except for F1 2011 which looks rather promising. I'd say in the long, long, looong run I may actually save money having one sim to play and don't need to buy many games to fill that void of sim racing.

Thats another great thing about iRacing is they have so many different series to run. Almost anything a sim racer will ever need, almost. Of course it costs money, but so far it has all been worth it.

haha
yeah, the GUI is awfully confusing!

Yeah, it is tempting to drop cash and pick up tracks and cars. I think i dropped an extra $120 since I joined last July! Then i realized I am too busy with the events and races to even try out the tracks and cars that I bought.

I signed up for the simhq American race tour starting in September. After spending 99% of my time with the Mazda MX5 and then going to the GT1 Corvette C6R is a real challenge!

 

[plate88]

Anybody's eligible. I'm a Rookie and eligible, though I don't have a good enough handle on the FW31 to be worth a damn in the race. Working on it though; those practice sessions are invaluable.

Oh, Formula Fun series

Forgot about that series.

 

[Cauchy]

I think he is talking about the Belgian GP event that is part of the World Tour, not the Formula Fun series.
http://members.iracing.com/jforum/posts/list/1715168.page#3684413

 

[OLDSKOOLACURA]

Yea, I'm still new to IRACING and still find myself scratch my head with somethings (like how seasons work,etc). That being said, I love IRACING and will be a long time racer 👍

now, like what a few other members said. I really need to start reading more about IRACING

 

[Cauchy]

now, like what a few other members said. I really need to start reading more about IRACING

If you have not already read it the beginners guide is quite informative.
http://membersmedia.iracing.com/pdfs/Beginners_Guide_100909.pdf

http://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/DrivingSchool.do

 

[OLDSKOOLACURA]

If you have not already read it the beginners guide is quite informative.
http://membersmedia.iracing.com/pdfs/Beginners_Guide_100909.pdf

http://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/DrivingSchool.do

thanks 👍

 

[plate88]

I think he is talking about the Belgian GP event that is part of the World Tour, not the Formula Fun series.
http://members.iracing.com/jforum/posts/list/1715168.page#3684413

Oh ok. I'll have to check it out. Haven't been near the computer all day and posting from my phone.

Just checked it out and it looks like a lot of fun. Unfortunately I won't be around this weekend to enter.

I need to check out these special events more often. A lot of good races going on in there.👍

 

[livemusic]

I did my first race in the Skip Barber last night, in a private league series for Rookies. I started at 2nd on the grid, spun at lap 3 or 4 I think and lost some positions. But a lot of people were having accidents and I managed to get back to second place.

I damaged the front of the car hitting another driver who braked earlier than I expected it. Fortunately it didn't affect the stability of the car, though it wasn't as fast anymore so I just held my position until the end of the race.

Here's the VT of the race if anyone wants to watch, the race starts around six minutes in the video:

 

[Jav]

Just realized the GrandAm cars are racing at Infineon this week! I'll definitely be doing some practice tonight on the DP!!

 

[Jump_Ace]

Welcome to iRacing!
👍


It is best if you take a little time before jumping into an Official Nvidia Cup Race to increase your enjoyment and reduce the chances of ruining the races of other pilots.

Yes, spend a little time with the Sporting Code and iRacing official users guide. There is also a member-created Beginner's Guide to iRacing that is worth reading.

Conduct several TT (time trials) until you can complete 20 laps with no crashes and no (or few) incidents penalties.

Conducting a Practice session (it sounds like that is what you joined in post above) is an excellent way to gain experience driving around other cars. There are no penalties against pilots in an official Practice session.

In your first race take it easy. Do not try to win the race at T1, but your goal should be to get the car over the finish line in one piece. AFter you get more and more official races under your belt then you will find you have more skill and ability to fight for a top 5 and/or podium.

good luck and see you on the track!

That might be needed for most drivers, but I had no problem switching to iracing, the physics are pretty good. I read over some rules and such and I decided to hop into a race in the Mazda cup and got it right this time (no really, I shouldn't be celebrating that I found out how to race finally ) and I got the top time of everyone with a 1:02.497 and I didn't quite have the best start as I waited forever for the lights to show and upon entering turn 1 of lap one, someone spun me out! 👎

What I think is I"m no rookie, I know how to drive and here I am stuck with a bunch of other rookie's who don't know what they are doing. So I tried it again later and someone else hit me hard from behind and straight into a wall I went, not cool.

Then, I decide to go try something a little further away from the rookies and what do I find? I have to Buy more tracks and cars? Ugh....so I think I'll be sticking to GT5 since I don't like the slippery slope spending iRacing has. Sorry for the rant, but after racing online in GTR2 and GT Legends where the races were 99% clean and competitive, I expected the same. /rant


Jerome

 

[MagpieRacer]

It is the same, just gotta keep winning races, the game will assume you are a base rookie until you start doing well. Racing cleanly instead of quickly at first is key. i.e. start from the pits if you have to, work up to Class D by just racing cleanly in the vndia cup and then you will start getting palced with better, cleaner, quicker drivers and the enjoyment levels rise.

Meanwhile, just had my 2nd win of the day at Okayama in the nVidia Cup, and a new PB to go with it of 1'01.9

 

[Cauchy]

First corner incidents are bound to happen in the rookie series. Keep in mind that you have a fast tow, which gives you a brand new car, so there is no reason to quit out of a race. Get your iRating up so you get out of the bottom split and the racing is typically cleaner. You can also do the advanced rookie series, without buying anything, with either the solstice or the srf which is typically cleaner then the Nvidia cup.

 

[jjaisli]

Ugh....so I think I'll be sticking to GT5 since I don't like the slippery slope spending iRacing has. Sorry for the rant, but after racing online in GTR2 and GT Legends where the races were 99% clean and competitive, I expected the same. /rant


Jerome

Don't let it get you down. Yes, the NVidia Cup is a Rookie series and these things do happen. I just signed up for iRacing this month as well and have to start from the bottom of the pack too. But my experience has been quite different. With one or two exceptions, Everybody in the lobbies I raced in (NVidia Cup) was cautious and respectful. It all depends on who you get lumped with. And mind you, I'm the person who has not raced in a public lobby in any console racing game in more than a year. A lot of the rookies out there are not real rookies. One guy, who had also just joined in August, completely dominated two races I entered from Lime Rock last weekend from flag to flag and made some of the level A & B racers in the field look decidedly average.

But I will also say, I think the Okayama short track is not the best layout for a beginners series. That 2nd~3rd corner complex is very difficult to get right even when you're the only car on the track and if somebody spins there it's a big mess. Likewise, the two opposing 90* left and right handers require a great deal of finesse and for people without a lot of sim racing experience, it's a lot to ask.

If racing real beginners is getting you aggravated, you could also just try going the TT route, building up your safety rating and advance levels that way. Paying more for additional content is a bitter pill. And it's what kept me away from iRacing for years because I'm not a fan of a pay to play system. But now that I've joined up, I'm sorry I didn't do it sooner. The laser scanned tracks, the impressive physics, the real life race format--in my opinion if you're looking for realism, it's better than anything else out there, on console and PC.

 

[Dapper]

Sticking to GT5 for clean racing is an oxymoron!

What's bad about wrecks in iRacing is they are close to reality, meaning bad things happen, unlike when a wreck or contact occurs in GT5. This is easily avoided by starting first and never letting anyone get to your rear bumper. Before you know it you can't qualify first and you end up racing 30 laps with a car on your nose... and one on your tail.

The system iRacing has is brilliant. It is incredibly frustrating at first, as Jerome pointed out, and I've experienced this too. iRacing will (eventually) set everyone up to race others with near equal skill sets. The better you are the better the guys you race... brilliant! /rant

 

[Wardez]

First corner incidents are bound to happen in the rookie series. Keep in mind that you have a fast tow, which gives you a brand new car, so there is no reason to quit out of a race. Get your iRating up so you get out of the bottom split and the racing is typically cleaner. You can also do the advanced rookie series, without buying anything, with either the solstice or the srf which is typically cleaner then the Nvidia cup.

@Jumpace
This.
You really need to put in some groundwork in order to get yourself some real racing. You said you raced mostly clean races in GTR but you weren't able to just go into any random server to have that, you had friends.
In iRacing, every one's your clean racing "friend". Although now, you CAN jump into any room, once you have your iRating up as Cauchy mentioned quite appropriately, and expect a clean race. All you have to do is pay iRacing some of your time and patience when it comes to dealing with new people. But no where else will you find a more streamlined system of moving up past that in many different forms than iRacing.

Also,
I've been running Advanced Rookie for ages. Most of the guys in there are super dedicated to that series, friendliest group of guys in their forum section too. If you choose to master the SRF it'll pay you back by building up your race craft ten fold. Because having to worry about your pedal balance at all times during a close race with a bunch of other guys doing the same in their SRFs + the Solstices makes for a really enriching experience. Getting a good race in in AR makes you feel like you were a gear in a precision Swedish watch.

Right now I'm mostly running the Skippy even though the HPD keeps calling my name... But anyway they're running Sebring right now and I hate it with a passion so I'll be sitting out this week of random PGTC decking.
Has anyone else running in the PGTC run into a lot of weird incidents? Seems like every guy and his mom fast tracked their way to B just to have a go.

 

[Jav]

Just 1 advice on my part, if you see a red stripe on the rear bumper Run and hide! Green and blue are ok to race with maybe yellow, orange stripe be carefull but for the majority they tend to be clean. Just race them clean and fair and you'll have a good time!

 

[Jump_Ace]

True Dapper, very true.

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I wish there was a free way for me to prove my skills and not race with all the nubs.

My biggest complaint is that if I want to move forward, I have to keep shelling out more $$ I thought my $12 included everything in the game, my mistake there 👎


Jerome

 

[plate88]

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I wish there was a free way for me to prove my skills and not race with all the nubs.

My biggest complaint is that if I want to move forward, I have to keep shelling out more $$ I thought my $12 included everything in the game, my mistake there 👎


Jerome

The only free way to prove yourself is if there is another GT Academy next year. Mind you that comes with a lot of baggage. More PR stuff and non-racing activities than actually racing.

As far as iRacing, maybe figure out what road you want to go down as far as racing series in iRacing. Whether it be oval/road racing and open wheel or "tin tops." Doing this will narrow down how much you have to spend to get to where you want to be.

I have chosen road racing for now and full bodied cars. I went from the MX-5's to the Mustang, Riley DP, Ford GT, C6R, HPD, and F1. Now, yes thats a lot of cars, but it only costs about the price of a ps3 or xbox game to get all those. I try to buy 6 things at a time to get a 20% discount(3 things at a time for 10%). As for tracks, I have gotten Spa, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, Road America, VIR, Mid-Ohio, Mosport, Silverstone, Sebring, and Suzuka. Again a lot of money hear, but with a 20% discount its barely more than 2 ps3/xbox games. Really not too bad as iRacing keeps me away from all my other games and haven't even thought about buying a game for the ps3(except F1 2011 is preordered, it looks epic.) All these tracks get me through every series for the cars I have. Seasons are 12 weeks long, but you only have to race in 8 out of the 12 weeks. If you do race all 12 weeks your lowest 4 weeks are dropped. So you really only need 8 tracks to complete a season in any series. Also bear in mind, any mixed class racing requires you to purchase all cars for that series.

If you want to do it all in iRacing then better get out a loan Just kidding, but it would cost a lot for sure. I've spent around $180 on content which I don't believe is too bad. I now have everything I want to race in iRacing for a long time. Maybe I'll try some oval racing down the road, but personally I don't like the oval racing too much in iRacing. I do realize paying to play is not everyone's cup of tea, but its not like iRacing is sitting on that money we pay. Theres always something new coming out whether it be added features, cars, tracks, and the new tire model coming to all the cars. iRacing is constantly working on something with that money we pay so I do not see it as a waste or a bad thing.

I hope this helped you out or anyone checking the thread out. Its not so bad when you compare it to other things you could spend money on. Maybe I'm just making an excuse, I don't know. But for me, all I play is iRacing anymore and don't even touch the ps3 that much. So it works out to where I probably would have spent that money on ps3 games or something else anyway.

 

[Dapper]

My biggest complaint is that if I want to move forward, I have to keep shelling out more $$ I thought my $12 included everything in the game, my mistake there 👎


Jerome

This is the reason I am not on iRacing right now.
Just to finish the Star Mazda season would cost me more than I am willing to spend after considering how little time I am going to have to play. My subscription ran out, currently at a track I don't have, I only have 3 of 7 (or so) tracks left for the season... I'll just wait until someone asks me what I want for Christmas.

 

[SpecMiata-JSW]

Dapper you done for a while eh? Bummer, I was hoping to share some track with you in the MX-5 sometime.