SportWagon
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- 1,822
- Punkeydoodles Corners, Ontario, Canada. (aka GT2t
A Massive Mediocre Meander Through the Eyeful Mountains
Sigh. Everyone here drives so much faster. But, me I can just barely do better than the AI.
Start Dec 21 10:00pm
Nürburgring 24
1. 4f Nissan FALKEN*GT-R Race Car '01
2. 9a Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6 Ti '93
3. 8a Abt Audi TT-R Touring Car '02
4. 12a Audi A4 Touring Car '02
5. 14b BMW M3 GTR Race Car '01
6. Abt Audi TT-R Touring Car '02 (me)
43 A-spec points!
There was a little trickery involved in getting even that many points. I mapped my lineups, and noticed that the above lineup occured offset by two. So I entered and exited a Tsukuba Wet Special Conditions Race, and then took the 26th lineup for the Nurburging 24 after that. I tried experimented before, and probably could have managed a 60 point race (ballast), but a 75 point race I seemed likely to lose. Thinking it would be easy to repeat after more practice, I decided not to get too clever the first time, and went with a non-handicapped Abt Audi. Actually, it wasn't totally non-handicapped, because it had completed a combination A+B Spec race before, without oil-change or chassis refresh.
I paused the game at least briefly at each pitstop, and, after stop 4, began recording all notes on a memory card (via PDA), as well as on paper. Which is why you are so lucky to have all these details.
Stop 1
lap 6 0-44:08.416 fl7:12.296
- got lead to lead over other Abt
- had got to 21 secs (reduced to 7 by pit stop
)
- lap 6 is a real struggle
(15sec or more slow)
Stop 2
lap 12 1-29:30.988 fl7:12.256
- got lead to 34sec
=> 22 or less (bad pit entrance)
Stop 3
lap 17 2-05:23.150 fl7:12.256
- did a 7:13
- lead of 0:31 going in (not good)
- lead by 10sec on exit (became 0:47 after AI Abt pitstop)
Stop 4
lap 22 2-42:01.283 fl7:12.256
- did a 7:14
- had built lead to 1:07
- a LOT more comfortable this way!
Stop 5
lap 27 3-18:40.100 fl7:09.440(yay!)
- built lead; did fastest lap
- got to 1:47, but baddish inlap; probably go out -1:10
- NEEDED SLEEP
- so slept about 4hr (3am to 7am)
Dec22 3:00am
Dec22 7:00am
Stop 6
lap 32 3-55:50.216 fl7:09.440
- not running well after rest
- got to 1:47, but baddish inlap
- had slipped to 1:07
- built to 1:49 maybe
Stop 7
lap 37 4-32:18.650 fl7:09.440
- did two 7:13's and a long 7:09
- got to 1:47 before AI pit (made lead 2:27); built to about 2:32
- should come out > 2 minutes ahead
REST SOME MORE
Dec22 9:00am
shopping
Dec22 7:15pm
Stop 8
lap 42 5-08:43.303 fl7:05.472
- set new fastest lap, then did 7:07
- lead 2:10 will go to 2:47 (he will pit)
- lapped FALKEN in pits (might not stay)
- was nipping at Alfa when I pitted
Stop 9
lap 47 5-44:56.766 fl7:05.472
- did another 7:05
- fought with Alfa and A4
- have almost lapped 4 cars (fastest 2(BMW,A4) will not stay)
- lead got to 3:42
Stop 10
lap 52 6-21:09.500 fl7:05.472
- did a 7:07 and some low 7:1X
- lapped 4 of 5 cars now (should stick)
- lap 50; saw BMW flailing near pit Entrance; it pitted (its lap 49?)
- passed A4 a lot more cleanly this time
- lead got to 4:34
Stop 11
lap 57 6-57:27.583 fl7:05.472
- slowing a little; most laps < 7:10
- no traffic
- lead stretched to 5:39
Stop 12
lap 62 7-33:50.616 fl7:05.472
- slowing a little; most laps < 7:10
- no traffic, getting tired
- lead increased to 6:33
- but another very bad pit entrance
- AI getting far enough behind that, e.g. pitstop timing seems weird
Stop 13
lap 67 8-10:56.400 fl7:05.472
- getting tired;
- mistakes costing me seconds a lap; laps around 7:20 8-(
- no traffic, getting tired
- lead got to 6:42 after his stop (i.e. no progress)
MUST REST
Dec23 12:30am
did a few things, then slept 5 hours
resumed at 7:12am
Eyes are a little strained. After this, I began rinsing them with cold water during each pitstop. (Sometimes twice). This is when I wondered whether this track is in fact, in the Eyeful Mountains.
Stop 14
lap 72 8-47:52.516 fl7:05.472
- outlap fairly slow at 7:30
- lead was 6:20; went as low as 6:07; got back to 6:20 (no progress)
- laps around 7:15
- no traffic
- AI (other Abt) will pit right after me
Stop 15
lap 77 9-24:21.550 fl7:05.472
- lapped FALKEN(2x) early in shift
- then chased down AI(other Abt) and Alfa
- AI is rude when you pass; (e.g. will move over when you're beside it)
- stretched lead to 7:05
- weird--effects of a good lap appear delayed when you're that far ahead
- laps: did 7:09; all below 7:20
Stop 16
lap 82 10-00:58.733 fl7:05.472
- had exited just after Alfa, but it was an easy pass on its cold tires
- lapped AI(other Abt) on my lap 79 (when it pitted)
- got lead to about 30 secs over 1 lap, I think
- did a 7:09
Stop 17
lap 87 10-37:39.116 fl7:05.472
- got out just ahead of lapped AI Abt; it pitted on my lap 85
- after that my lead stretched to 1:00 over 1 lap
- did only a 7:10
- eyes and general focus tiring again
REST SOME MORE
Dec23 10:17am
Dec23 12:53pm
Stop 18
lap 92 11-14:11.516 fl7:05.472
- got out 40s ahead of lapped AI Abt; stretched to over 50
- it pitted on my lap 91-92
- I diced with A4 while lapping it again
- collided with BMW? wiped out between Karussel and Pflantzgarten
- both these will likely unlap, unless they pit (BMW probably will)
- did only a 7:10, but smooth
Stop 19
lap 97 11-50:34.983 fl7:05.472
- A4&BMW did pit, and will stay lapped
- kept over 1 minute ahead of lapped AI Abt
- lapped AI Abt will pit now too
- did 7:07 and 7:10; in-lap very fast, too
Stop 20
lap 102 12-26:47.200 fl7:04.526 ! 8-)
- kept lead well over 2 minutes over 1 lap
- no traffic; all good laps
- new fastest lap 7:04.526, and a couple 7:07; in-lap very fast, too
Stop 21
lap 107 13-03:08.050 fl7:04.526
- over 3 minutes lead
- lapped FALKEN(3x) near end (might not stay)
- laps around 7:10, in-lap very fast, too
Stop 22
lap 112 13-39:34.683 fl7:04.526
- stayed ahead of FALKEN(3x)
- didn't quite get by Alfa when it pitted
- lost time fighting with it
- laps around 7:15; in-lap reasonably fast
- lead over 4:00 (+1 lap)
Dec23 4:50pm
STOP for supper and rest
Dec23 5:40pm
Stop 23
lap 117 14-16:27.133 fl7:04.526
- mediocre laps about 7:15
- then very bad in-lap (wipeout heading to Bergwerk)
- may have lost ground; still about 5:30 over 1 lap?
Stop 24
lap 122 14-53:09.833 fl7:04.526
- engine feeling blah? only managing about 7:11
- mediocre in-lap
- losing track of 2nd place car; still about 5:00 over 1 lap?
Dec23 7:15pm snooze
Dec23 7:35pm came back feeling much better
Stop 25
lap 127 15-29:26.933 fl7:04.526
- managed several laps under 7:10, and in-lap reasonable pace
- lead about 5:00 over 1 lap? (hope to catch its pitstop soon)
Stop 26
lap 132 16-05:48.566 fl7:04.526
- lapped BMW&A4 in pits (nice; should stick)
- mediocre laps about 7:12, in-lap reasonable pace
- lead about 6:30 over 1 lap
Stop 27
lap 137 16-42:21.583 fl7:04.526
- lapped AI Abt as stuck behind FALKEN; neither stuck when I pitted
- laps about 7:11 or worse with traffic
- 2 laps in sight!
Stop 28
lap 142 17-18:43.300 fl7:04.526
- lapped FALKEN(4x) on road, then it pitted
- got to about 12 secs behind AI Abt
- next lap AI Abt (now ahead) pitted, lapped AI Abt(2x) then
- pulled out about 45 secs before I pitted
- did a 7:08, but other laps were worse with traffic
Stop 29
lap 147 17-55:20.933 fl7:04.526
- lapped Alfa(4x) on road--won't stick unless it pits
- AI Abt pitted on my lap 147, so my (2x) is safe for now
- only managed 7:10, in-lap alright
Stop 30
lap 152 18-31:43.716 fl7:04.526
- somehow got out ahead of Alfa(4x) and extended my lead some more
- managed 7:07, mostly good laps; in-lap goodish time, but ragged
Stop 31
lap 157 19-08:42.833 fl7:04.526
- very bad shift
- lap 155 was 7:27
- no traffic; car seemed obstreperous
- other laps not very fast, but in-lap alright time
Stop 32
lap 162 19-45:48.283 fl7:04.526
- that was terrible
- barely managed 7:20; just lucky I'm keeping ahead of (2x)
- no traffic
MUST SLEEP
Dec24 2:00am
Dec24 8:20am
Stop 33
lap 167 20-22:43.650 fl7:04.526
- mediocre, but adequate
- 7:27, 7:15, 7:15, 7:14, +slowish in-lap
- lead about 2 minutes over (2x)
Stop 34
lap 172 20-58:59.583 fl7:04.526
- 7:15, 7:09, 7:07, 7:09, +okay in-lap
- lead just over 3 minutes over (2x) (after his pitstop)
- draughted by FALKEN(5x) on lap 171 on big straight
- but that won't survive my stop
- more traffic up ahead now
Stop 35
lap 177 21-35:27.116 fl7:04.526
- 7:20, 7:11, 7:10, 7:10, +okay in-lap
- didn't actually check lead
- lapped FALKEN(5x) and A4(4x?) between Bergwerk and Karussel
- FALKEN pitted on my lap 171(his 165)
- A4 should stay lapped, I think it pits my lap 179(his 174) (checked)
BEGIN VIDEO RECORDING
Stop 36
lap 182 22-13:05.850 fl7:04.526
- 7:39.402,7:30.260,7:25.627,7:21.040, in-lap about 7:26.099
- terrible
- in danger of a car unlapping itself; lead slipped to 2:42 over(2x)
Dec24 11:20am
MrsWagon said needed to go shopping.
Hmm. I bet Mrs. Stirling Moss never called him away from an important 24 hour race to go shopping.
Dec24 7:20pm
Stop 37
lap 187 22-50:32.083 fl7:04.526
- 7:39.449,7:26.344,7:24.255,7:14.099, in-lap about 7:27.126
- still terrible
- lap 183 - messed up so A4 caught me
- lap 184 - caught A4, but he pitted
- lead only 2:30 over(2x)
Stop 38
lap 192 23-27:39.216 fl7:04.526
- 7:26.786,7:21.370,7:15.260,7:21.282, in-lap about 7:27.256
- from terrible to mediocre, but I just need to crawl home now
- stayed ahead of the A4
- lead only 2:37 over(2x)
FINISH (Dec24 about 10:00pm)
lap 197 24-04:58.375 fl7:04.526
- 7:31.202,7:20.461,7:26.533,7:25.603
- final 7:19.611
- a quiet cruise to victory
- final margin of victory only 2:24 over(2x)
- however, AI Abt probably only 194laps
- (it was really close to 24 hours exactly when AI Abt crossed the line)
Final Results
1st. Abt Audi TT-R Touring Car '02 (me) 197 laps 24-04:58.375
2nd. 8a Abt Audi TT-R Touring Car '02 +2 laps
3rd. 14b BMW M3 GTR Race Car '01 +4 laps
4th. 12a Audi A4 Touring Car '02 +4 laps
5th. 9a Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6 Ti '93 +5 laps
6th. 4f Nissan FALKEN*GT-R Race Car '01 +5 laps
Fastest laps in the first five laps (replay)
2nd. 8a Abt Audi TT-R Touring Car '02 7:18.326
3rd. 4f Nissan FALKEN*GT-R Race Car '01 7:19.919
4th. 14b BMW M3 GTR Race Car '01 7:21.130
5th. 9a Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6 Ti '93 7:22.464
6th. 12a Audi A4 Touring Car '02 7:22.739
But experience from B-spec races suggests all cars will better those times later in the race.
After the race, my car's horsepower was down to 433 from 461 initial; no wonder I was slowing.
I guess the game didn't think much of my accomplishment, because it gave me only another crumby white Formula GT car?
Coincidentally, game date was Dec 24.
(Dec 25 after prize delivery)
So towards the end I slowed definitely because of the oil. And also the control was getting pretty bad. It's strange, I have a Motul Pitwork Z which has gone more races without chassis refresh, and it doesn't seem so obstreperous.
But one thing I've wondered about Gran Turismo from the first game. They call the anti-roll bars "stabilizers", and, indeed, it seems, while low settings should help grip cornering, higher settings do serve to "stabilize" all cars in all versions of the game. So when you anticipate chassis flex, perhaps a higher stabilizer setting will help.
I guess perhaps I should give up on the "don't refresh so flex won't get any worse theory". I think it continues getting worse long after the point where you're first allowed to fix it (about 3 or 4 hours, I think). Furthermore, in the A and B-spec race I did with the same car previously, it didn't seem too different to handle towards the end of the race. Or at least, not enough that a penalty from initial bad handling was worth it. In fact, it seems like chassis wear tends to give you a couple of difficult-to-control laps every now-and-then, and then settle back to more predictability. Although, I can't fully verify that since I'm not a great driver. (I have difficulty reproducing my actions in any case).
And, as to it being easy to repeat for a few more A-spec points, I now realize I was totally wrong. The impact of an A-spec 24 on other life activities can be enormous.
Sigh. Everyone here drives so much faster. But, me I can just barely do better than the AI.
Start Dec 21 10:00pm
Nürburgring 24
1. 4f Nissan FALKEN*GT-R Race Car '01
2. 9a Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6 Ti '93
3. 8a Abt Audi TT-R Touring Car '02
4. 12a Audi A4 Touring Car '02
5. 14b BMW M3 GTR Race Car '01
6. Abt Audi TT-R Touring Car '02 (me)
43 A-spec points!
There was a little trickery involved in getting even that many points. I mapped my lineups, and noticed that the above lineup occured offset by two. So I entered and exited a Tsukuba Wet Special Conditions Race, and then took the 26th lineup for the Nurburging 24 after that. I tried experimented before, and probably could have managed a 60 point race (ballast), but a 75 point race I seemed likely to lose. Thinking it would be easy to repeat after more practice, I decided not to get too clever the first time, and went with a non-handicapped Abt Audi. Actually, it wasn't totally non-handicapped, because it had completed a combination A+B Spec race before, without oil-change or chassis refresh.
I paused the game at least briefly at each pitstop, and, after stop 4, began recording all notes on a memory card (via PDA), as well as on paper. Which is why you are so lucky to have all these details.
Stop 1
lap 6 0-44:08.416 fl7:12.296
- got lead to lead over other Abt
- had got to 21 secs (reduced to 7 by pit stop
)- lap 6 is a real struggle
(15sec or more slow)
Stop 2
lap 12 1-29:30.988 fl7:12.256
- got lead to 34sec
=> 22 or less (bad pit entrance)
Stop 3
lap 17 2-05:23.150 fl7:12.256
- did a 7:13
- lead of 0:31 going in (not good)
- lead by 10sec on exit (became 0:47 after AI Abt pitstop)
Stop 4
lap 22 2-42:01.283 fl7:12.256
- did a 7:14
- had built lead to 1:07
- a LOT more comfortable this way!
Stop 5
lap 27 3-18:40.100 fl7:09.440(yay!)
- built lead; did fastest lap
- got to 1:47, but baddish inlap; probably go out -1:10
- NEEDED SLEEP
- so slept about 4hr (3am to 7am)
Dec22 3:00am
Dec22 7:00am
Stop 6
lap 32 3-55:50.216 fl7:09.440
- not running well after rest
- got to 1:47, but baddish inlap
- had slipped to 1:07
- built to 1:49 maybe
Stop 7
lap 37 4-32:18.650 fl7:09.440
- did two 7:13's and a long 7:09
- got to 1:47 before AI pit (made lead 2:27); built to about 2:32
- should come out > 2 minutes ahead
REST SOME MORE
Dec22 9:00am
shopping
Dec22 7:15pm
Stop 8
lap 42 5-08:43.303 fl7:05.472
- set new fastest lap, then did 7:07
- lead 2:10 will go to 2:47 (he will pit)
- lapped FALKEN in pits (might not stay)
- was nipping at Alfa when I pitted
Stop 9
lap 47 5-44:56.766 fl7:05.472
- did another 7:05
- fought with Alfa and A4
- have almost lapped 4 cars (fastest 2(BMW,A4) will not stay)
- lead got to 3:42
Stop 10
lap 52 6-21:09.500 fl7:05.472
- did a 7:07 and some low 7:1X
- lapped 4 of 5 cars now (should stick)
- lap 50; saw BMW flailing near pit Entrance; it pitted (its lap 49?)
- passed A4 a lot more cleanly this time
- lead got to 4:34
Stop 11
lap 57 6-57:27.583 fl7:05.472
- slowing a little; most laps < 7:10
- no traffic
- lead stretched to 5:39
Stop 12
lap 62 7-33:50.616 fl7:05.472
- slowing a little; most laps < 7:10
- no traffic, getting tired
- lead increased to 6:33
- but another very bad pit entrance
- AI getting far enough behind that, e.g. pitstop timing seems weird
Stop 13
lap 67 8-10:56.400 fl7:05.472
- getting tired;
- mistakes costing me seconds a lap; laps around 7:20 8-(
- no traffic, getting tired
- lead got to 6:42 after his stop (i.e. no progress)
MUST REST
Dec23 12:30am
did a few things, then slept 5 hours
resumed at 7:12am
Eyes are a little strained. After this, I began rinsing them with cold water during each pitstop. (Sometimes twice). This is when I wondered whether this track is in fact, in the Eyeful Mountains.
Stop 14
lap 72 8-47:52.516 fl7:05.472
- outlap fairly slow at 7:30
- lead was 6:20; went as low as 6:07; got back to 6:20 (no progress)
- laps around 7:15
- no traffic
- AI (other Abt) will pit right after me
Stop 15
lap 77 9-24:21.550 fl7:05.472
- lapped FALKEN(2x) early in shift
- then chased down AI(other Abt) and Alfa
- AI is rude when you pass; (e.g. will move over when you're beside it)
- stretched lead to 7:05
- weird--effects of a good lap appear delayed when you're that far ahead
- laps: did 7:09; all below 7:20
Stop 16
lap 82 10-00:58.733 fl7:05.472
- had exited just after Alfa, but it was an easy pass on its cold tires
- lapped AI(other Abt) on my lap 79 (when it pitted)
- got lead to about 30 secs over 1 lap, I think
- did a 7:09
Stop 17
lap 87 10-37:39.116 fl7:05.472
- got out just ahead of lapped AI Abt; it pitted on my lap 85
- after that my lead stretched to 1:00 over 1 lap
- did only a 7:10
- eyes and general focus tiring again
REST SOME MORE
Dec23 10:17am
Dec23 12:53pm
Stop 18
lap 92 11-14:11.516 fl7:05.472
- got out 40s ahead of lapped AI Abt; stretched to over 50
- it pitted on my lap 91-92
- I diced with A4 while lapping it again
- collided with BMW? wiped out between Karussel and Pflantzgarten
- both these will likely unlap, unless they pit (BMW probably will)
- did only a 7:10, but smooth
Stop 19
lap 97 11-50:34.983 fl7:05.472
- A4&BMW did pit, and will stay lapped
- kept over 1 minute ahead of lapped AI Abt
- lapped AI Abt will pit now too
- did 7:07 and 7:10; in-lap very fast, too
Stop 20
lap 102 12-26:47.200 fl7:04.526 ! 8-)
- kept lead well over 2 minutes over 1 lap
- no traffic; all good laps
- new fastest lap 7:04.526, and a couple 7:07; in-lap very fast, too
Stop 21
lap 107 13-03:08.050 fl7:04.526
- over 3 minutes lead
- lapped FALKEN(3x) near end (might not stay)
- laps around 7:10, in-lap very fast, too
Stop 22
lap 112 13-39:34.683 fl7:04.526
- stayed ahead of FALKEN(3x)
- didn't quite get by Alfa when it pitted
- lost time fighting with it
- laps around 7:15; in-lap reasonably fast
- lead over 4:00 (+1 lap)
Dec23 4:50pm
STOP for supper and rest
Dec23 5:40pm
Stop 23
lap 117 14-16:27.133 fl7:04.526
- mediocre laps about 7:15
- then very bad in-lap (wipeout heading to Bergwerk)
- may have lost ground; still about 5:30 over 1 lap?
Stop 24
lap 122 14-53:09.833 fl7:04.526
- engine feeling blah? only managing about 7:11
- mediocre in-lap
- losing track of 2nd place car; still about 5:00 over 1 lap?
Dec23 7:15pm snooze
Dec23 7:35pm came back feeling much better
Stop 25
lap 127 15-29:26.933 fl7:04.526
- managed several laps under 7:10, and in-lap reasonable pace
- lead about 5:00 over 1 lap? (hope to catch its pitstop soon)
Stop 26
lap 132 16-05:48.566 fl7:04.526
- lapped BMW&A4 in pits (nice; should stick)
- mediocre laps about 7:12, in-lap reasonable pace
- lead about 6:30 over 1 lap
Stop 27
lap 137 16-42:21.583 fl7:04.526
- lapped AI Abt as stuck behind FALKEN; neither stuck when I pitted
- laps about 7:11 or worse with traffic
- 2 laps in sight!
Stop 28
lap 142 17-18:43.300 fl7:04.526
- lapped FALKEN(4x) on road, then it pitted
- got to about 12 secs behind AI Abt
- next lap AI Abt (now ahead) pitted, lapped AI Abt(2x) then
- pulled out about 45 secs before I pitted
- did a 7:08, but other laps were worse with traffic
Stop 29
lap 147 17-55:20.933 fl7:04.526
- lapped Alfa(4x) on road--won't stick unless it pits
- AI Abt pitted on my lap 147, so my (2x) is safe for now
- only managed 7:10, in-lap alright
Stop 30
lap 152 18-31:43.716 fl7:04.526
- somehow got out ahead of Alfa(4x) and extended my lead some more
- managed 7:07, mostly good laps; in-lap goodish time, but ragged
Stop 31
lap 157 19-08:42.833 fl7:04.526
- very bad shift
- lap 155 was 7:27
- no traffic; car seemed obstreperous
- other laps not very fast, but in-lap alright time
Stop 32
lap 162 19-45:48.283 fl7:04.526
- that was terrible
- barely managed 7:20; just lucky I'm keeping ahead of (2x)
- no traffic
MUST SLEEP
Dec24 2:00am
Dec24 8:20am
Stop 33
lap 167 20-22:43.650 fl7:04.526
- mediocre, but adequate
- 7:27, 7:15, 7:15, 7:14, +slowish in-lap
- lead about 2 minutes over (2x)
Stop 34
lap 172 20-58:59.583 fl7:04.526
- 7:15, 7:09, 7:07, 7:09, +okay in-lap
- lead just over 3 minutes over (2x) (after his pitstop)
- draughted by FALKEN(5x) on lap 171 on big straight
- but that won't survive my stop
- more traffic up ahead now
Stop 35
lap 177 21-35:27.116 fl7:04.526
- 7:20, 7:11, 7:10, 7:10, +okay in-lap
- didn't actually check lead
- lapped FALKEN(5x) and A4(4x?) between Bergwerk and Karussel
- FALKEN pitted on my lap 171(his 165)
- A4 should stay lapped, I think it pits my lap 179(his 174) (checked)
BEGIN VIDEO RECORDING
Stop 36
lap 182 22-13:05.850 fl7:04.526
- 7:39.402,7:30.260,7:25.627,7:21.040, in-lap about 7:26.099
- terrible
- in danger of a car unlapping itself; lead slipped to 2:42 over(2x)
Dec24 11:20am
MrsWagon said needed to go shopping.
Hmm. I bet Mrs. Stirling Moss never called him away from an important 24 hour race to go shopping.
Dec24 7:20pm
Stop 37
lap 187 22-50:32.083 fl7:04.526
- 7:39.449,7:26.344,7:24.255,7:14.099, in-lap about 7:27.126
- still terrible
- lap 183 - messed up so A4 caught me
- lap 184 - caught A4, but he pitted
- lead only 2:30 over(2x)
Stop 38
lap 192 23-27:39.216 fl7:04.526
- 7:26.786,7:21.370,7:15.260,7:21.282, in-lap about 7:27.256
- from terrible to mediocre, but I just need to crawl home now
- stayed ahead of the A4
- lead only 2:37 over(2x)
FINISH (Dec24 about 10:00pm)
lap 197 24-04:58.375 fl7:04.526
- 7:31.202,7:20.461,7:26.533,7:25.603
- final 7:19.611
- a quiet cruise to victory
- final margin of victory only 2:24 over(2x)
- however, AI Abt probably only 194laps
- (it was really close to 24 hours exactly when AI Abt crossed the line)
Final Results
1st. Abt Audi TT-R Touring Car '02 (me) 197 laps 24-04:58.375
2nd. 8a Abt Audi TT-R Touring Car '02 +2 laps
3rd. 14b BMW M3 GTR Race Car '01 +4 laps
4th. 12a Audi A4 Touring Car '02 +4 laps
5th. 9a Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6 Ti '93 +5 laps
6th. 4f Nissan FALKEN*GT-R Race Car '01 +5 laps
Fastest laps in the first five laps (replay)
2nd. 8a Abt Audi TT-R Touring Car '02 7:18.326
3rd. 4f Nissan FALKEN*GT-R Race Car '01 7:19.919
4th. 14b BMW M3 GTR Race Car '01 7:21.130
5th. 9a Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6 Ti '93 7:22.464
6th. 12a Audi A4 Touring Car '02 7:22.739
But experience from B-spec races suggests all cars will better those times later in the race.
After the race, my car's horsepower was down to 433 from 461 initial; no wonder I was slowing.
I guess the game didn't think much of my accomplishment, because it gave me only another crumby white Formula GT car?
Coincidentally, game date was Dec 24.
(Dec 25 after prize delivery)
So towards the end I slowed definitely because of the oil. And also the control was getting pretty bad. It's strange, I have a Motul Pitwork Z which has gone more races without chassis refresh, and it doesn't seem so obstreperous.
But one thing I've wondered about Gran Turismo from the first game. They call the anti-roll bars "stabilizers", and, indeed, it seems, while low settings should help grip cornering, higher settings do serve to "stabilize" all cars in all versions of the game. So when you anticipate chassis flex, perhaps a higher stabilizer setting will help.
I guess perhaps I should give up on the "don't refresh so flex won't get any worse theory". I think it continues getting worse long after the point where you're first allowed to fix it (about 3 or 4 hours, I think). Furthermore, in the A and B-spec race I did with the same car previously, it didn't seem too different to handle towards the end of the race. Or at least, not enough that a penalty from initial bad handling was worth it. In fact, it seems like chassis wear tends to give you a couple of difficult-to-control laps every now-and-then, and then settle back to more predictability. Although, I can't fully verify that since I'm not a great driver. (I have difficulty reproducing my actions in any case).
And, as to it being easy to repeat for a few more A-spec points, I now realize I was totally wrong. The impact of an A-spec 24 on other life activities can be enormous.
And conversely, it would be good to embellish the prose a bit for more interesting parts.
