iracing.com

[Pingwhen]

OMG. the mx5 and bathurst is an UNREAL combo. you are almost flat our the entire time. i cant not wait to run a race.(also a great way to learn the track the down high section is NO JOKE)

 

[Mac K]

I bought Mount Panorama and the Skippy, first I want to test the new tire model on the MX-5 to see how it compares to the real one.

 

[superbike81]

I got so excited when they said we would have dynamic weather in official sessions!



Then Tony Gardner came in and spoiled the fun by saying it would only be changed once a week, so it's essentially exactly the same as it was before.

 

[Mac K]

Anyone else having problems with their G27 after the latest build? Mine calibrates, but returning it to the center still shows the top number (calibration) at 0.500.. I was prompted to "configure controls" for some reason right after I finished installing the new build, so I did and now my steering feels weird, the force feedback is "wonky" and in general it drives like crap. I've tried several different cars, both with the new and old tire model just to be sure and they all feel pretty well the same.

 

[spooble]

I have a G27 and I'm downloading the update now. Will report back when it's done.

Edit: I didn't have to recalibrate and the ffb feels the same so far.

 

[zslane]

I got so excited when they said we would have dynamic weather in official sessions!



Then Tony Gardner came in and spoiled the fun by saying it would only be changed once a week, so it's essentially exactly the same as it was before.

Yeah, the title of his thread was misleading. He put "dynamic weather" in there when what he actually meant was "realistic weather".

 

[Jav]

I got so excited when they said we would have dynamic weather in official sessions!



Then Tony Gardner came in and spoiled the fun by saying it would only be changed once a week, so it's essentially exactly the same as it was before.

In the name of fairness the weather has to be exactly the same for every session every week. So we're pretty much assured that every session will be exactly the same as the one before and the next one for that particular week.

 

[Dhalism]

Doing the 49 to farm up SR for advancement

 

[Mac K]

I have a G27 and I'm downloading the update now. Will report back when it's done.

Edit: I didn't have to recalibrate and the ffb feels the same so far.

I think it was just me.. I just found it strange I had to re-calibrate everything and I think I got that in my head and I kept telling myself something was wrong when it really wasn't

 

[Jav]

Absofreakinglutely loving this awesome track!!! Go big or go home definitely applies here when trying to get out every tenth!! Got down to a 2:10.730 with about 3 tenths I could still squeeze out of it. Happy for the night and very pleased with iRacings job on both the track and the new update to the car's front suspension!
Please excuse the crappy 240p quality, it takes Youtube a bit to improve the quality to 720p (captured on iPhone's camera...) :

 

[aarror]

Absolutely loving Bathurst, what an insane track! I love that it really rewards aggressive driving, but also really punishes it.

Unfortunately, I don't like the NTM on the SRF. It totally takes away the off throttle oversteer, so now it just under steers. It's like its a totally different car.

 

[hennessey86]

 

[superbike81]

In the name of fairness the weather has to be exactly the same for every session every week. So we're pretty much assured that every session will be exactly the same as the one before and the next one for that particular week.

I respectfully disagree, and the general consensus on the forums seems to think the same. Most people seem to be ok with minor changes in temp, humidity, wind speed, etc, from race to race. It's not like the weather is going to go from 75 degrees and sunny to 30 degrees and 50mph wind. The changes will be minor enough so that small adjustments have to be made, not huge ones.

 

[spooble]

So I bought Bathurst and the V8 last night. The track is excellent! And the car isn't as bad as I expected. Only put about 30 minutes in, but was able to keep it on track for consecutive laps by the end (using the driving line).
When you guys are learning a new track, do you turn the driving line on to help learn the brake points? Or do you just suck it up and take your offs like a man?

 

[BRP17]

I use the driving line for apx 10 laps. Then turn it off.

 

[Jav]

I respectfully disagree, and the general consensus on the forums seems to think the same. Most people seem to be ok with minor changes in temp, humidity, wind speed, etc, from race to race. It's not like the weather is going to go from 75 degrees and sunny to 30 degrees and 50mph wind. The changes will be minor enough so that small adjustments have to be made, not huge ones.

Don't read me wrong, I'd love that but it wouldn't be fair for people in the running for a championship to be on adverse conditions while thier contendrs can just push and cruise on a shinny sunny day...

So I bought Bathurst and the V8 last night. The track is excellent! And the car isn't as bad as I expected. Only put about 30 minutes in, but was able to keep it on track for consecutive laps by the end (using the driving line).
When you guys are learning a new track, do you turn the driving line on to help learn the brake points? Or do you just suck it up and take your offs like a man?

It usually takes me around 5 laps and 10 destroyed cars to learn a new track, around 7 to start pushing and 10 to be on pace... No line assist here.

 

[zslane]

I stopped using the racing line aid after my first week on the service. Everyone advised me to leave it off and figure out the line on my own for any new car/track combo. And I gotta say I'm glad I did because I feel that the exercise of exploring a track and finding speed on my own is such an important and valuable skill to develop that using the racing line aid isn't a shortcut so much as a misleading waste of time.

 

[cnd01]

I've never used the line. Thankfully, when I put it in the tires at 120, I don't have to buy a new one

 

[livemusic]

Unfortunately, I don't like the NTM on the SRF. It totally takes away the off throttle oversteer, so now it just under steers. It's like its a totally different car.

I'm yet to test the new build but I was looking forward to try the SRF with the NTM. Hope I'll still like it.

 

[Zathra5_]

Don't read me wrong, I'd love that but it wouldn't be fair for people in the running for a championship to be on adverse conditions while thier contendrs can just push and cruise on a shinny sunny day...

Why not? Everyone who races in the same race has to deal with the same conditions. The guys pushing and cruising on a shinny sunny day are pushing and cruising against other racers with the same conditions. Having variable weather favours the people that can adapt to the conditions rather than those that can memorize static conditions on a track.

 

[carfetish]

Unfortunately, I don't like the NTM on the SRF. It totally takes away the off throttle oversteer, so now it just under steers. It's like its a totally different car.

More on the NTMv5 SRF:

The SRF understeers at the limit now (like I've heard it should, from those who have actually driven them) rather than having significant lift-throttle oversteer. Speaking of which, that behavior seems to exist still, but instead of leading to spins, the front of the car catches back up pretty quick and you usually end up washing out. It's slow now, rather than dangerous.

On the Lotus 49:

Lotus49 feels better now much more stable but im a second down now at Watkins but same for all and ill take the better more stable car.

Definitely a huge improvement, even the L49 is drivable on baseline. (...) Whatever they've done, the Lotus 49 is much more stable on the baseline setup than it was even with last season's Allison Hine setup. Can't wait to get an even more stable setup on the thing. (...) Might make the car drivable for me (still off pace, but predictable enough I'm not walking on eggs).

RafQ from simracing.pl says the L49 is "quite stable at high speeds, much easier to control at low speed. There is a somewhat fuzzy boundary between full grip and no grip, so the car drives very predictably." He then adds more detail on the feeling at low speed and the laptime difference from previous build, but the google translate is not good enough:

(...) Zmiana dosc wyrazna jezeli chodzi o stabilnosc zwlaszcza przy duzych predkosciach. Przy niskich auto jest znacznie łatwiej kontrolować. Rozmyto nieco granice pomiedzy full grip a no grip tak wiec auto prowadzi sie bardzo przewidywalnie.
Czy to dobrze? Pewnie tak ale ja zdecydowanie wolałem jego poprzednią czyli bardziej hardkorową wersję. Ta zmiana gripu na niskich prędkościach jest trochę dziwna. Wydaje się że jest lepsza bo gdy wyjedziemy na prostą to np. na nierównościach auto lepiej się trzyma. W zakrętach natomiast sporo tracimy w porównaniu do poprzedniej wersji. Na Glen tracimy ok 0.8 sek na kółku z tym że teraz troszkę szybciej można pojedziechać na "Esach" a duzo wolniej w wolniejszej, krętej częsci toru. Teraz auto sprawia wrażenie jakby bardziej ociężałego i nie wymaga takiej pracy gazem jak poprzednio. IMO jest bardziej podsterowne. Sety do poprawki. Mój z Glen oczywiście też, gdyż po updejcie za każdym razem auto wyjeżdża przodem na esach. (....)

Ogolnie auto jest teraz bardziej przyjazne w prowadzeniu co pewnie zacheci do jazdy w tej serii ale wg mnie straciło trochę "wigoru".

I haven't read anything yet on the Jetta or the F1. On the NTM5 F1 of previous build, issues were on lack of lateral grip and that it had "no dynamics, just all grip" (as Richard Towler said on twitter). I wonder if there has been any change in that regard.

 

[Mac K]

Curious about people's thoughts on the Jetta, MX-5, and Solstice..

 

[Coxis]

Curious about people's thoughts on the Jetta, MX-5, and Solstice..

Same here. I don't have the Jetta, and I've no interest in driving the Solstice, but the MX-5 I used to love back when I raced it. I'll turn a few laps this weekend.

 

[Imari]

I'm not a fan of the new MX5. I haven't raced it in a while, but I spent so much time in it when I joined the service that my experience is that I've always been able to just jump in and knock out a few laps with no real drama. Easy to drive, predictable, and pleasant.

After 15 or so laps at Lime Rock I'm not finding it to be so. Maybe the baseline setup is wacky, but probably not. It just feels like the back of it is so much more sensitive than I remember to lift-off oversteer. I remember sort of pumping the throttle to wiggle the back end round in turns, now I feel like I have to be very careful not to lift too much or the back end just goes.

I'm not going to profess to know what's more realistic. Probably the new car. But it's much less fun to drive than the old, at least for me.

 

[zslane]

I think having to adapt to changes in the handling of familiar cars is like having to adapt to new rules changes in F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, etc. in the real world. The new aero package for the 2014 Gen6 Sprint Cup car, once they settle on its details, will require becoming familiar with it all over again, for instance. Resting on one's laurels sounds easy but not fun, at least to me. Besides, changes in car handling due to improvements in realism are a Good Thing IMO, even if that means having to re-learn the car virtually from scratch.

 

[Mac K]

As someone who races the real version of the MX-5, I liked the way it was before as well. It wasn't perfect but it just felt right. Nicely balanced, predictable and not very hard to drive. Now it's way off balance, and I don't like it as much either. Maybe it'll take time, I don't know.. But right now I want the "old" MX-5 back.

 

[Coxis]

Could it be because of the setup you're running? Maybe by next week once the Mazda Cup is up and running again you'll be using a more similar (fixed) setup than before.

 

[carfetish]

I'm not a fan of the new MX5. (...) I've always been able to just jump in and knock out a few laps with no real drama. Easy to drive, predictable, and pleasant. After 15 or so laps at Lime Rock I'm not finding it to be so.

Maybe the baseline setup is wacky, but probably not. It just feels like the back of it is so much more sensitive than I remember to lift-off oversteer. I remember sort of pumping the throttle to wiggle the back end round in turns, now I feel like I have to be very careful not to lift too much or the back end just goes.

As someone who races the real version of the MX-5, I liked the way it was before as well. It wasn't perfect but it just felt right. Nicely balanced, predictable and not very hard to drive. Now it's way off balance, and I don't like it as much either. Maybe it'll take time, I don't know.. But right now I want the "old" MX-5 back.

Given that the MX-5 is the most used car in the service, and the portal for most new drivers, they'd better fix it soon, by way of releasing more appropriate setups or even fine-tuning the physics midseason (as they recently did with the F1).

 

[Imari]

I think having to adapt to changes in the handling of familiar cars is like having to adapt to new rules changes in F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, etc. in the real world. The new aero package for the 2014 Gen6 Sprint Cup car, once they settle on its details, will require becoming familiar with it all over again, for instance. Resting on one's laurels sounds easy but not fun, at least to me. Besides, changes in car handling due to improvements in realism are a Good Thing IMO, even if that means having to re-learn the car virtually from scratch.

I agree. Cars will always change as improvements are made. I do suspect that what's wrong with the MX5 is a setup thing. I'll get used to it, or tune it out myself.

The major issue is that it's the rookie car with a fixed setup. If I, as someone who is reasonably experienced with iRacing and is hopefully not entirely incompetent, can struggle to get it working over the period of half an hour it's just going to frustrate a new person just coming over from FM/GT. It's far more off-throttle sensitive than say, the Lotus 49.

The fixed setup for the MX5 needs to be bulletproof and ultimately very forgiving. It's the basis on which road rookies will judge the service, and if it's a twitchy nightmare to them then it's not going to do it's job.

 

[zslane]

Maybe I'm an unusual case, but I certainly didn't mind flaws in the MX-5 because I only planned to be stuck in it for as long as I was a rookie, after which I knew I'd probably never drive it again in favor of cars like the Skippy, the prototypes, and eventually the more advanced open wheel cars. It is easy to overlook "problems" in a rookie car when you know you're only ever going to be driving it for a few weeks. But maybe few folks look past their short-term rookie circumstances, towards their long-term virtual racing career where improvements to cars like the Skippy, the Star Mazda, the HPD, and the Williams F1 are more important.

Frankly, I think most folks who tried iRacing and then quit before ever getting out of rookie would still quit even with these improvements to the MX-5. I'm not convinced that it will do that much to boost new driver retention, but what's done is done. I'm curious to know which batch of cars are going to get NTMv5 next!