LCC Rocket Spot Race Series (stock) - March 23rd, 10pm GMTOpen
- Thread starter MC-Chase
- 1,113 comments
- 37,282 views
- 12,018
- Indianapolis
- BrandonW77
Eventually we may tire of the Rocket so it's good to be on the lookout for our next candidate, there are some worthy ones out there but I think it will be hard to top our lightweight friend.
Maybe for our second run through the "rocket friendly" tracks we could try a different format of racing to change things up. A reverse grid would certainly liven up the racing action! 👍
- 2,526
- Afghanistan
I don't really care for what car we race, but I already gave my 2p above. If you guys want to keep the Rocket, that's fine.
- 1,300
- Indiana
- Naptown25rs
Wish I didn't have to work today, Tsukuba was the track I was most looking forward to...
- 1,325
- In the gravel trap
- RDAardvark
I'm hoping to join you if that's ok.
- 629
- Ontario, Canada
- B-Line98
Im not going to make an attempt today, I just had a 6+ hour drive and I don't want to go in and disconnect.
- 936
- United Kingdom
- MC-Chase
Can't argue with that! Might catch you next week sometime 👍.
- 12,018
- Indianapolis
- BrandonW77
Just a reminder to everyone that this is a long race with many laps and at this track it sometimes tacks a couple laps to pull off a pass. If we're all patient and take our time making our moves it should be a heck of a fun race. See you on track!
- 936
- United Kingdom
- MC-Chase
Just a reminder to everyone that this is a long race with many laps and at this track it sometimes tacks a couple laps to pull off a pass. If we're all patient and take our time making our moves it should be a heck of a fun race. See you on track!
Hi everyone, having MAJOR trouble, getting on PSN at the moment, I keep receiving DNS errors. Bare with me, I'm working on it here! Spread the word please Brandon
.EDIT: I'm in, sorry, room will be open shortly.
- 2,526
- Afghanistan
Sorry for not coming (again!!). I stayed out all day and came home too late to catch the race.
- 12,018
- Indianapolis
- BrandonW77
Great racing everyone, this car makes me feel like I have some talent! Incredible battle with Chase for the first dozen laps. Too bad about that drive-through penalty, would have been a battle for the ages.
- 936
- United Kingdom
- MC-Chase
^Very nice upload Brandon, thanks!
Yeah, real shame about that drive-through 'penalty', the pit-lane here is weird but never mind, the first 26 laps were great! Unlucky for you you had the next 23 or so fairly on your own. For me, as much as the pit-lane issue was an annoyance I dropped back out with Slalom and Hobbsy for a few battles which was excellent fun so I don't resent it too much.
Tuskuba I always used to find a little yawn worthy, but after today my opinions changed; for small cars like these this track makes a whole lot of sense, there were spectacular battles everywhere on the grid, ample places to make a pass and some superb racing all round. I think this race is going to be hard to beat to be honest! Damn good fun 👍.
Watched the replay already and man, watching Hobbsy crawl that last 1/3rd of a lap at 50mph because he ran out of petrol was painful! Shove another liter in next time!
Yeah, real shame about that drive-through 'penalty', the pit-lane here is weird but never mind, the first 26 laps were great! Unlucky for you you had the next 23 or so fairly on your own. For me, as much as the pit-lane issue was an annoyance I dropped back out with Slalom and Hobbsy for a few battles which was excellent fun so I don't resent it too much
.Tuskuba I always used to find a little yawn worthy, but after today my opinions changed; for small cars like these this track makes a whole lot of sense, there were spectacular battles everywhere on the grid, ample places to make a pass and some superb racing all round. I think this race is going to be hard to beat to be honest! Damn good fun 👍.
Watched the replay already and man, watching Hobbsy crawl that last 1/3rd of a lap at 50mph because he ran out of petrol was painful! Shove another liter in next time!
- 120
- United States
- Slalom823
I also got that goofy drive through and I ran out of gas on the last turn, although it probably only cost me 3 seconds if that. It was fun running right behind nemesis for a while, it was a good view watching him ahead battling for the third position I think. Good race guys
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- 1,375
- Warwick/UK
- Nemesis-Reaper
I probably should have given the pit-stop a check before the race and dropped a warning
Yeah i would rather be the one putting the pressure on, I have a bad habit of looking back and then losing my rythem!
I couldnt believe it when my fuel light came on, after you got passed i started to short shift, slow down and tried to save fuel... The damage was done by then though.
All good fun though
- 12,018
- Indianapolis
- BrandonW77
As do I. Even if the race report is only half the length of the previous one it will still be stupendous. 👍
I drove the Rocket around various versions of Silverstone and I think it could be a useable track. The National and International versions should both be fine, the GP version would probably see us tap the limiter once or twice but it would just be for a moment and shouldn't cause any big problems.
Also, I've been driving the Rocket without ABS for the last couple weeks and my report is that it's an enjoyable experience. Both of the races I've won were without ABS. It takes a lot to lock them up and I've found at higher speeds you can't lock them up. At Autumn Ring I pounded the binders coming down the hill to the hairpin, I was in 4th gear and they did not lock up or even start to, it's not until you're at lower speeds and under heavy braking that they start to lock. I can often feel them starting to lock up (especially at Tsukuba) but it's easy to back off them a bit and keep it going. It adds an extra element of fun for me. There's often been speculation that even ABS-1 enables some kind of phantom traction control at the rear of the car and I have to say I think this is the case. Without ABS the Rocket turns in so much sharper and feels more lively, it responds to inputs much better and quicker and feels noticeably different than it does with ABS on. I've been running all my low-to-medium powered cars without ABS now, I think the Rocket is a good car to learn no-ABS with. 👍
I drove the Rocket around various versions of Silverstone and I think it could be a useable track. The National and International versions should both be fine, the GP version would probably see us tap the limiter once or twice but it would just be for a moment and shouldn't cause any big problems.
Also, I've been driving the Rocket without ABS for the last couple weeks and my report is that it's an enjoyable experience. Both of the races I've won were without ABS. It takes a lot to lock them up and I've found at higher speeds you can't lock them up. At Autumn Ring I pounded the binders coming down the hill to the hairpin, I was in 4th gear and they did not lock up or even start to, it's not until you're at lower speeds and under heavy braking that they start to lock. I can often feel them starting to lock up (especially at Tsukuba) but it's easy to back off them a bit and keep it going. It adds an extra element of fun for me. There's often been speculation that even ABS-1 enables some kind of phantom traction control at the rear of the car and I have to say I think this is the case. Without ABS the Rocket turns in so much sharper and feels more lively, it responds to inputs much better and quicker and feels noticeably different than it does with ABS on. I've been running all my low-to-medium powered cars without ABS now, I think the Rocket is a good car to learn no-ABS with. 👍
- 1,375
- Warwick/UK
- Nemesis-Reaper
I too was running without ABS, and I'm with Brandon in that it makes the car feel more alive, however I do feel it is a wheel (and decent pedal) owners pursuit only! DS3 user's would come with a Hazard warning!!!
In the heat of the moment of battle, it all to easy to overcook it and take someone with you... I nearly did to chase last night! Watch the replay for T1
If you have the tyre graphic on, you can also see your tyre overheating as it locks/starts to lock up, along with that understeer feeling
I do hope that PD sort out the bias bug (in that changing the values does nothing) along with RA control bug
, as this will help neutralize any cars that have a waggly tail. Luckily though the Rocket is not one of them.
In the heat of the moment of battle, it all to easy to overcook it and take someone with you... I nearly did to chase last night! Watch the replay for T1
If you have the tyre graphic on, you can also see your tyre overheating as it locks/starts to lock up, along with that understeer feeling
I do hope that PD sort out the bias bug (in that changing the values does nothing) along with RA control bug
, as this will help neutralize any cars that have a waggly tail. Luckily though the Rocket is not one of them.
- 936
- United Kingdom
- MC-Chase
OK, so I decided to give ABS off a go with Rocket at Tuskuba, before I start though, allow me to bore you with some completely tedious background information from my own perspective about the pad and ABS;
I've never felt at any disadvantage with a pad while playing Gran Turismo. I remember one occasion in GT5 where I was in a series with the FGT alongside players i was familiar with in other series, and I noticed the smooth throttle application they were capable of with a wheel gave them a sniff advantage over me - not a lot, maybe a tenth or 2 a lap; that was the only time i noticed any disadvantage. Indeed I think pad has always been the advantageous of the two in FWD applications where quick direction change and point-and-squirting is key.
Thing is though, ABS off is incredibly difficult to manage with a pad. With throttle application I find you can manage traction nicely by a series of quick 'blips' on the throttle trigger, brake application doesn't seem to work like that on GT games though and a smooth application is required - this is something that's basically impossible on the controller triggers and only marginally better on the analogue sticks.
This all being said I gave the Rocket 10 laps blast around Tuskuba with ABS off expecting the worst, and honestly, was incredibly surprised. The only time I experience a lock-up was into turn one, and because of the extra work I was able to put into the front tires under braking they heated up far better than when ABS was on, this in turn reduced the understeer and by lap 5 I managed a 59.2! Finishing my 10 laps I can conclude that on a fast lap I was faster than when I had ABS on, but similarly I was no where near as consistent in OVERALL lap times with it off - I also think tire wear would increase significantly for me over a race length though I can't really confirm this over 10 laps.
In conclusion it's certainly more viable for me than I initially thought it would be, perhaps my lack of consistency can be boiled down to lack of experience with ABS off, or perhaps it's just a far harder thing to do with a game-pad, most likely it's a combination of both. If I have the time this week I'll do all my practice with ABS off, and if I think i can be consistent enough to not ruin anyone else's race by Sunday then it will remain switched off.
I've never felt at any disadvantage with a pad while playing Gran Turismo. I remember one occasion in GT5 where I was in a series with the FGT alongside players i was familiar with in other series, and I noticed the smooth throttle application they were capable of with a wheel gave them a sniff advantage over me - not a lot, maybe a tenth or 2 a lap; that was the only time i noticed any disadvantage. Indeed I think pad has always been the advantageous of the two in FWD applications where quick direction change and point-and-squirting is key.
Thing is though, ABS off is incredibly difficult to manage with a pad. With throttle application I find you can manage traction nicely by a series of quick 'blips' on the throttle trigger, brake application doesn't seem to work like that on GT games though and a smooth application is required - this is something that's basically impossible on the controller triggers and only marginally better on the analogue sticks.
This all being said I gave the Rocket 10 laps blast around Tuskuba with ABS off expecting the worst, and honestly, was incredibly surprised. The only time I experience a lock-up was into turn one, and because of the extra work I was able to put into the front tires under braking they heated up far better than when ABS was on, this in turn reduced the understeer and by lap 5 I managed a 59.2! Finishing my 10 laps I can conclude that on a fast lap I was faster than when I had ABS on, but similarly I was no where near as consistent in OVERALL lap times with it off - I also think tire wear would increase significantly for me over a race length though I can't really confirm this over 10 laps.
In conclusion it's certainly more viable for me than I initially thought it would be, perhaps my lack of consistency can be boiled down to lack of experience with ABS off, or perhaps it's just a far harder thing to do with a game-pad, most likely it's a combination of both. If I have the time this week I'll do all my practice with ABS off, and if I think i can be consistent enough to not ruin anyone else's race by Sunday then it will remain switched off.
- 2,526
- Afghanistan
Do you accel/brake with the triggers? Maybe that can help.
- 936
- United Kingdom
- MC-Chase
I use either triggers or analogue stick, I re-map dependent on what I'm driving. Traditionally anything with lots of power (FGT, Le Mans prototypes, etc) I use the analogue sticks for so I have a bit more throttle control. I prefer using triggers if I can though.
- 12,018
- Indianapolis
- BrandonW77
Do you use these? I've heard they help but never used them myself.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AW156U/?tag=gtplanet-20
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