Round 8 from Midfield
Our first round using the new disconnection friendly format of multiple short races gave racers several chances to get in the room and hopefully stay connected long enough to complete a race. The best two scores count towards BSCC and the single best score counts towards the AMOC championship - note this means that there can be more than one person showing in each position.
After eight rounds (and before the deduction of dropped scores) we can see that Pimiki leads Lex Lathor by six points in Class 2, while SimbaLora leads Class 1 and overall.
Below AMOC points - Flaco was amazingly fast in the Ferrari F40.
Interview with IfAndOr
1. What is the secret behind your speed?
Er, the throttle peddle.
Seriously though it's probably the brake! Knowing when to brake, how much to brake and, most importantly, when not to brake increases your overall pace. When you're braking you're not accelerating!
I find I'm considerably slower in races than I am in time trials, where I can usually set some good times comparable to those on my friends list. In races I find I get too concerned about where everyone is around me. I really do miss the zoom-able map from GT5 - it was a great help.
I also find the friends ghost lines in the time trials are very useful. If someone has taken a corner at a faster speed it means I should be able to do so also.
2. Do you use a wheel or controller?
Wheel. I've always used a wheel even in my PC days prior to getting a PS3 and I don't think I could revert to a controller now. I recently tried out Forza 6 (seemed very good) using a controller and my driving was very erratic - yes even more than usual!
3. If you use a wheel, what sort of wheel and rig or stand?
My initial proper wheel for the PS3 was the DFGT and I was very happy with it and probably would have stuck with it, but I had some extra cash at one point and decided to get a G27. Although the peddles were good, I added a progressive brake spring mod. I've recently removed all the peddles from their casing and mounted them to a raised box I made - it's made them more stable and in a more natural/comfortable position to use.
I've also recently bought a new "comfortable looking" chair off the Internet - it wasn't! Don't buy chairs on looks.
My "rig" is a wrap around office desk to which the G27 is attached - it's all very sturdy. My viewing is via a 27" monitor around ¾ meter away - this might be upgraded to a bigger screen soon.
4. How many hours per week do you practice?
I used to be on regularly in my spare time, many hours were spent "messing about". Recently that's dropped. There are sometimes when I literally turn it on and race - which accounts for some of my performances!
If you see me online now I'm probably fiddling around with the course maker.
5. How do you tune your cars - what do you start with first?
I look to see if there's one available in the Piriano app on my tablet! If there isn't, race soft/hard suspension is all I do these days.The tuning aspect is my least favorite part of the game.
6. How long have you been playing GT?
My GT experience started with the PS3 and GT5. I didn't get GT5 straight away it was second hand copy off Ebay around Christmas of the year it came out - so it's however long that is. Apart from a 4-5 month period when I got addicted to the game Red Dead Redemption (I love westerns), I've been playing it on and off ever since. In GT5 it was mainly with the course maker and in GT6 it's mainly online racing.
7. How old are you or is that private?
Well 1961 was a good year.
8. What does your family think of your hobby?
I look after and care for my elderly mother (which is why I sometimes can't race) and she finds it comical with me sitting at the steering wheel driving my imaginary cars. But she also finds it fascinating that I'm racing with people from all around the world.
9. What sort of car do you drive in real life?
Working through them all I've had 14 cars so far from a Renault 5 Turbo up to a 2.8i Capri. With a few other interesting ones in between.
Currently it's a Honda Accord 2.4 - goes well but it's a bit thirsty.
10. Do you drive fast in real life?
Not really, there's little opportunity to do so these days. Although I used to have my moments - See R5 Turbo above!
11. What car would you drive if you won a lot of money?
I'd probably buy a Limo and get a chauffeur.
Future Interviews -
I think we have now interviewed all our racers, but if I have forgotten anyone - I apologise - just send me a reminder. This feature has been popular so I am currently devising a second round of interview questions - if you have any suggestions for questions you would like answered send them to me via the conversation feature - they don't have to be car or motor racing related.
Car Change - Please note this has been postponed until round 10. I have produced a car and colour chart which I will post after round 9.
Supported Car Suggestion - Ford Galaxie - I can't remember if I have suggested this already, but it needs more votes. Ford produced 200 lightweight Galaxies in 1963 known as Code R. Most of these were destined for the drag strips and NASCAR tracks of the USA, but three were prepared by Holman Moody and shipped to the UK where they created an immediate impression on the public and broke the long standing Jaguar stranglehold of the big class (D) of BSCC.
Click on this link and click like to the first post to try and get this great car added to a future version of Gran Turismo:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/ford-galaxie-500-sport-special-tudor-fastback-1963.306617/
Next Round 9 from Mount Panorama - Sunday 6th March