Hi Rich. So how do you feel after this victory?
Relief. Spa was another one of those races where my finish was not indicative of how I performed. While I haven't raced Madrid that much during my GT5 career, my pace there has always been a notch higher than my usual standard. I'll admit that after 3 or 4 laps, my biggest concern was having a disconnection. It's a shame about Spurgy's issues; I hoped he would've found that extra pace to keep me honest.
What brought you to PURE and what keeps you coming back?
Many of the PURE members were competitors I faced in prior series, so I knew they were of high caliber in both pace and sportsmanship. I've been fortunate to meet even more racers of the same mold, and for the most part, the PURE races have been challenging but enjoyable.
There's a lot to do around the forums so I have to ask: what sub-forums/threads do you frequent most often and why?
For the most part, I stick to the threads relating to the series I race in. On occasion, I post in the NASCAR/F1 forums and once GT Academy is up and running, I may look around there as well.
Do you remember your first post on gtplanet? Could you find it?
I've had almost 3,000 posts so that's a tall order. I want to say it was around GT Academy 2011 or even earlier.
How did you come up with the name "outlaw4rc"?
outlaw initially came from either the character in the Twisted Metal video game series or an anime. Thought of changing it but I find that it's an okay fit for my personality (a somewhat non-conformist). 4 is my favorite number for no good reason and rc is actually my initials since outlaw4 is too common for use. It's also an acronym for racing.
Do you play other racing game like i-Racing or GT-R or anything else?
Currently, I don't. However, my video game history is full of (mostly arcade) racing games: RC Pro Am (NES), Excitebike (NES), Super Hang Out (Genesis), Super Monaco GP (Genesis), Test Drive series, Need for Speed series, a few TOCA games, and even limited action in Nascar Racing 2003. I had been a controller user until GT5 came out, but the transition wasn't too bad.
We know that you're not far from the "alien's skills". Do you have any hope in GT Academy this year?
It's tough to say. Looks like GTA will be using the GT6 physics engine, which means a learning curve for everyone, moreso if they utilize new tracks. I always tell people that my strength is not setting the fastest time, but hitting close to that time on a consistent basis, so a trial time format doesn't suit me. If I do hit that magic lap, let's just say I'll be packing heavy for an eventual overseas trip. Last year, I raced against many of those that went to the Finals and I finished near or at the top every time.
What's your driving setup for GT5?
At one point, my Logitech Driving Force Pro was mounted on a coffee table held down by ankle weights. Now, the same wheel is attached to a desk... most of the time. I've literally had it hanging in the air during a race -- I wouldn't recommend driving a car like that. An upgrade will come once I have the funds and room to buy something a lot nicer.
Anything else to say?
For all the great cars I've driven in the virtual world, the fastest vehicle I took onto the road in real life was a numb and dull Toyota Avalon. One of these days, I'll have to fix that sad fact.
