No Practice allowed at Lydden Hill?

[Benny44]

Ok, this is probably a dumb question - but I'm planning on hosting a race for the first time tomorrow evening, and I can't seem to allow practice for Lydden Hill. I'm thinking it must be because of no pit lane, so you can't practice because in order to start you have to be in pit lane?

 

[BrandonW77]

Ok, this is probably a dumb question - but I'm planning on hosting a race for the first time tomorrow evening, and I can't seem to allow practice for Lydden Hill. I'm thinking it must be because of no pit lane, so you can't practice because in order to start you have to be in pit lane?

That seems to be the case with a few tracks that have no pit lanes.

 

[crowhop]

Interesting. I've practiced there before in more than a few cars. It's a short, drifty type track good for testing/practicing powerslides. This must be a new thing.

 

[Benny44]

Interesting. I've practiced there before in more than a few cars. It's a short, drifty type track good for testing/practicing powerslides. This must be a new thing.

Hmmm....I'm not testing solo, this is a pre-race practice. Maybe that's the difference?

 

[Wolfe]

Hmmm....I'm not testing solo, this is a pre-race practice. Maybe that's the difference?

In private testing, tracks that don't have a pit lane spawn you on the starting line.

 

[Benny44]

In private testing, tracks that don't have a pit lane spawn you on the starting line.

Yeah, I guess that's it. Too bad we can't do that before a race. I guess Lydden Hill is probably not the ideal place for a race then - maybe a practice 3 lap race would have to suffice

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Yeah, I guess that's it. Too bad we can't do that before a race. I guess Lydden Hill is probably not the ideal place for a race then - maybe a practice 3 lap race would have to suffice

Hi Benny - maybe set a longer Qualification period and not bother with a practise session.

I've been to Lydden Hill a lot of times over the years in real life and for club meetings. This is a great track for spectators because when a race finishes the cars or bikes exit the circuit really quickly and a fresh batch appears from the Paddock at the side of the track and lines up on the grid and the next race is underway in just moments. There used to be an old double decker London bus parked next to the track which contained the time keepers and race stewards on the top deck. When you stood at the bottom of the hill (it's much steeper in real life than it looks in the game) the run off used to be about as wide as a dining table - you were so close to the action - you could almost taste the cars and bikes as they whizzed past!

Try multi-class at this track - pick GTB and GTA and choose the Merc AMG 6.8 saloon and soon you'll be battling Z28 Camaros - slipping past them on the approach to the hairpin!

 

[Benny44]

Have you ran a race there @Sick Cylinder? I'm not home right now, but I don't think I was able to set qualifying for this track either.

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Have you ran a race there @Sick Cylinder? I'm not home right now, but I don't think I was able to set qualifying for this track either.

I just tried to - and by jove Benny you are right! No qualifying or practise is allowed at this track. It would be nice if SMS could get round this by using part of the Paddock as a pit lane. The Paddock is connected to the track in two places like a pit lane and this would enable this great little track to be used more often.

Below a great clip of Neil Bray in action at this years Lydden Classic Festival - unfortunately I missed the meeting because of a date clash with AMOC at Brands Hatch, but hopefully I can attend next year.



I'm just off for a quick race or two round Lydden before work!

 

[sgohsixthree]

That seems to be the case with a few tracks that have no pit lanes.

And even ones that do. Stowe and Horsetheif Mile have pits and don't allow practice or qualifying either. At least on PS4.

 

[BrandonW77]

And even ones that do. Stowe and Horsetheif Mile have pits and don't allow practice or qualifying either. At least on PS4.

Bizarre....

 

[Benny44]

I wonder if they could do as @Sick Cylinder said and use that paddock. Even if they made it so your car just got the work done by an invisible pit crew without all the animations, it'd be better than nothing, IMO. As it is, the best options for these tracks would certainly have to be a timed race so people could get a feel for the track, then a completely new race after that. Certainly not ideal.

It really would make it difficult to have a race with any length unless you turned off fuel consumption, tire wear, etc. Everyone would eventually run out of fuel! Funny, yes - but ultimately not a good thing.

Oh, and great video Sick-awesome little track. I wish Canada had some races like that I could attend

 

[Sick Cylinder]

I wonder if they could do as @Sick Cylinder said and use that paddock. Even if they made it so your car just got the work done by an invisible pit crew without all the animations, it'd be better than nothing, IMO. As it is, the best options for these tracks would certainly have to be a timed race so people could get a feel for the track, then a completely new race after that. Certainly not ideal.

It really would make it difficult to have a race with any length unless you turned off fuel consumption, tire wear, etc. Everyone would eventually run out of fuel! Funny, yes - but ultimately not a good thing.

Oh, and great video Sick-awesome little track. I wish Canada had some races like that I could attend

Benny - I think there will be a problem with the grid order if you use a track with no qualifying session - I recommend the short Sakitto layouts as a good alternative. NB I normally race with the fuel and tyre wear off.