Wed 20:30-21:30 UK Time - CLOSED - Suspended until further noticePS4

[Skip7950]

Why was he driving a F2, Skip, not enough race entries, like there was in MotoGp at that time.

Was commonplace back then for F1 drivers to be ordered to drive F2 entries for their team owners between F1 championship races...lots of drivers didn't want to do this, but really had no choice..there weren't as many championship races then...so they filled dead time.
Not sure or timing of when this practice stopped, but maybe in part due to Jimmy's death???

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Sick, I would like to 'give it a go' with race tonight....ok?

Fine Skip - good to see you back.

I must apologise to everyone before we start - instead of practising I haven't been able to keep my hands off the Porsche Pack, so I'm very slow with this car and I struggle with this track to understand when to brake - I will do my best to keep out of the way of the fast drivers.

Sick's usually at work until shortly before race time so I expect he won't see your message until much later, if at all.

Normally true, but finished early tonight!

Count me in 👍

Great Tavilha!

Was commonplace back then for F1 drivers to be ordered to drive F2 entries for their team owners between F1 championship races...lots of drivers didn't want to do this, but really had no choice..there weren't as many championship races then...so they filled dead time. Not sure or timing of when this practice stopped, but maybe in part due to Jimmy's death???

Due to time I'll add to Skips response tomorrow, but I'll transfer this conversation to the Monday thread as it is very relevant to the series we are doing on Monday's in 2018. The life of professional racing drivers was so different in the 1960's from today, but there were also some big similarities and the topic is really quite interesting.

I'd better go and get some practise!

 

[AndreasR]

Results from Hockenheim

 

[IBZ6L20VT]

Race report:

Couldn’t match @Friday_GTRP and @Tavilha times on qualifying. This time they were superior.

And the race wasn’t dissimilar.

@lancerevoo had a bad start and hit me involuntarily. I was 6th or something and then the usual mid-pack chaos on the first corner. @lancerevoo was in front. He lifted to avoid crashing with another driver and I braked to avoid hitting him. With 90kg of fuel and mid corner, that means losing the rear end and spinning.

Then recovered up to third place where I stayed until the end, despite making a big mistake in the second chicane, which for me was a bit of a hit or miss.

I had some good battles with different drivers as @Napalm_LT and my teammate @richroo.

Overall good race. Thanks to everyone!

 

[Tavilha]

Today's race

Quali:

Pole lap:

Race:

Replay:

 

[AndreasR]

And another chaotic start which leads me to the point of not doing a good qualification when I am actually have to start from behind the whole field. This can only be avoided by changing the start procedure.( I can hear you saying: "not again this theme"). Ok, I´ll be fine with everything but don´t wonder when I might start from behind the next races.
Perhaps we could use only 10 minutes of qualifying then.

 

[IfAndOr]

Amongst the many options I've noticed that you can select to have a manual rolling start - your car not controlled by the AI. I'm not sure if this carries over into the multiplayer though.

 

[IBZ6L20VT]

I am happy with whatever Sick decides

 

[Friday_GTRP]

Another interesting race where i was not able to conistently set fast times. First couple of laps i was building up speed, then i was able to close the gap a bit to @Tavilha but then minor mistake on minor mistake made the gap bigger.

I think a manual rolling start will prevent standing start collissions but it makes the risk higher in the first turn because everybody is very close to eachother.
I used to race in the GTP WRS series in the GT6 days, they did a formation (1 line, no overlap) lap where the leader has to adhere a maximum speed of 120kmh on the start/finish straight he slowes down to 100kmh and everyone may start when they themselves pass the start finish line.

Footage from my point of view:

Qualy :

Race :

Replay :

 

[Sick Cylinder]

I really enjoyed that race! Even though I was much slower than most other drivers I was happy with my race as the car was exciting and challenging and the track seemed particularly well suited. I managed to stay on the track and got up to 4th soon after the start as other people had problems, then let them past whenever they caught back up. It was nice imagining that I was a real Formula One back marker !

Everyone should read this book by Perry McCarthy (The Original Stig from Top Gear) about his quest to become Formula One World Champion - he does eventually make it to F1, but with a team so bad that any kind of results are impossible - they are desperate for him to walk out so they can employ a driver who brings more money to the team. It is the funniest and most entertaining motor racing book I have ever read and you can pick it up secondhand on Amazon for only 1p (yes £0.01). Definitely you should all read it!

I am happy with whatever Sick decides

That is kind of you, but this is a difficult problem!

I have to go to work now, but I will keep thinking about the different options and post something later, after further thought.

 

[John Wells]

 

[IfAndOr]

This is sort of related to recent start line problems and also a genuine question.

Starts in Pcars - how does everyone do them?

In GT it was quite easy. Put the car in gear, press the handbrake button, rev the engine the desired amount and then release the button at the green light. Off the car would go.

Now in PC there's two problems in using that method. One, many cars don't have a handbrake (not even a virtual one) and two, in those that do it is usually ineffective at stopping the car creeping forward when revved in gear - often giving you a jump start penalty.

I've sort of figured out that there are 3 ways to do it. 1/ Rev the engine with your foot on the brake and select first gear on the green light. 2/ Select first gear put your foot on the brake and then on the green press the throttle. 3/ Select first gear press the brake and the clutch and if you can rev the engine too. On green release the clutch. On all the methods on go you have to release the brake of coarse.

I have varying degrees of success with each method. I'd like to use #3 more since it can result in a smoother start, but due to my re-spaced peddles I can't really press all three at once so it ends up in it being more like #2.

I was just wondering what everyone else does. Maybe there's something different I'm missing?

 

[Skip7950]

This is sort of related to recent start line problems and also a genuine question.

Starts in Pcars - how does everyone do them?

In GT it was quite easy. Put the car in gear, press the handbrake button, rev the engine the desired amount and then release the button at the green light. Off the car would go.

Now in PC there's two problems in using that method. One, many cars don't have a handbrake (not even a virtual one) and two, in those that do it is usually ineffective at stopping the car creeping forward when revved in gear - often giving you a jump start penalty.

I've sort of figured out that there are 3 ways to do it. 1/ Rev the engine with your foot on the brake and select first gear on the green light. 2/ Select first gear put your foot on the brake and then on the green press the throttle. 3/ Select first gear press the brake and the clutch and if you can rev the engine too. On green release the clutch. On all the methods on go you have to release the brake of coarse.

I have varying degrees of success with each method. I'd like to use #3 more since it can result in a smoother start, but due to my re-spaced peddles I can't really press all three at once so it ends up in it being more like #2.

I was just wondering what everyone else does. Maybe there's something different I'm missing?

I use option 1, but then I am a left foot braker. Since we have no engine damage, I rev all the way, left hard on brake, then paddle into first at the light. In some cars I use 2nd gear to avoid extreme burnout...

 

[Napalm_LT]

I usually use 1 method, but on Mondays racing I use 3 method, because historic car are slow on gear changing. I don't use brake at the start unless there is uphill or downhill.

 

[IBZ6L20VT]

I use 3 but I am sometimes slower than the rest of the field. It’s a black art to nail everything: timing with the green light, having the right rpm and finally control the wheel spin whilst getting the maximum traction.

EDIT:

I managed to squeeze a few laps earlier today at Spa with the 98T. Find below my best lap so far at 2:01.300. As usual, a few tenths lost here and there with potential for someone to maybe get under 2 minutes.



The hardest part is to nail all those mid speed corners, where you need to carry speed while keeping an eye on the turbo. Pretty technical combination. Love it.

 

[John Wells]

I use Skips method, can be easy too get a start line penalty, with this PC2.

It also might be better if someone makes contact, to wait and give the position back. Like we did in GT6, this was good, maybe make start line accidents, less frustrating and others that happen during the race.

The race is 30 mins so everyone going for it in the first corner will cause problems.

 

[Tavilha]

This is sort of related to recent start line problems and also a genuine question.

Starts in Pcars - how does everyone do them?

In GT it was quite easy. Put the car in gear, press the handbrake button, rev the engine the desired amount and then release the button at the green light. Off the car would go.

Now in PC there's two problems in using that method. One, many cars don't have a handbrake (not even a virtual one) and two, in those that do it is usually ineffective at stopping the car creeping forward when revved in gear - often giving you a jump start penalty.

I've sort of figured out that there are 3 ways to do it. 1/ Rev the engine with your foot on the brake and select first gear on the green light. 2/ Select first gear put your foot on the brake and then on the green press the throttle. 3/ Select first gear press the brake and the clutch and if you can rev the engine too. On green release the clutch. On all the methods on go you have to release the brake of coarse.

I have varying degrees of success with each method. I'd like to use #3 more since it can result in a smoother start, but due to my re-spaced peddles I can't really press all three at once so it ends up in it being more like #2.

I was just wondering what everyone else does. Maybe there's something different I'm missing?

I use method 3 in race cars and manual road cars, and method 1 in road cars with paddle shifters. I'm not particularly fast off the grid, but I'm even slower with any other method I've tried.
Note: I have auto-clutch set to off. I' thinking method 2 requires it being set to on
Edit: for cars with handbrake a 4th method would be clutch and handbrake engaged, revving with right foot, disange clutch and handbrake on green

 

[Tavilha]

I use Skips method, can be easy too get a start line penalty, with this PC2.

It also might be better if someone makes contact, to wait and give the position back. Like we did in GT6, this was good, maybe make start line accidents, less frustrating and others that happen during the race.

The race is 30 mins so everyone going for it in the first corner will cause problems.

I find Scott Mansell's videos very useful, and he's done one about first corner approach.

The main difference between what he says in the video and simracing is spatial awareness. With a triple monitor setup or VR we would be more aware of other cars. What I learned to do and has been useful is choose my line (inside or outside) and stick to it if I'm not sure there's a car beside me or not. That way, I always give him space, even if it means being a little slower. Other advice would be to brake early and smoothly, try not to lock up and don't brake check. Don't dive into the inside of the car in front because he may not have seen you.

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Interesting bit of trivia - Nigell Mansell holds the current lap record for the Brands Hatch GP circuit (Williams-Honda 1986) while his son Scott Mansell holds the lap record for the Brands Hatch Indy circuit (Benetton-Renault 2004)! I can't imagine that there are many circuits in the world where the different layout records are held by father and son.

Regarding starts - I am obviously not going to be on the front row or near the front. I find it best to have the start lights off - I would strongly recommend choosing this option for anyone who is not on the front two rows of the grid as it prevents false starts and start line collisions. It is a shame that it is not an option that as a host I am able to enforce.

I find that the best way to start is to leave the car in neutral and not bother with brakes. Rev to an amount which in practise gives the best getaway - this is normally just below the red line (perhaps around 1000rpm below) then just put the car in gear using the paddle shifter and adjust the amount of throttle according to the type of car. I think clutch is set to auto. Sometimes it is difficult not to over rev the car which can result in a lot of wheelspin - I recommend practising starts on the new DLC Porsche 917/10 Can Am car - this has massive power and torque and can start either really well or really badly depending on the revs used.

Message to all Drivers

I will be trying Perfomance Impacting Damage this week (the middle setting) in an effort to encourage cleaner driving and better starts. We will try this on Monday and Wednesday (where there is currently more of a problem because of the extreme performance of the Lotus 98T) - if we don't get cleaner starts - especially on Wednesday's I will try a new start procedure next week.

 

[Don Mejillone]

Have a nice one !

 

[Napalm_LT]

sorry guys I am not racing tonight.

 

[John Wells]

No worries Napalm see you next time

 

[joedakiss]

We never did have the discussion on here about the 'DRS' button, so shall we?

Apparently it's a representation of the push-to-pass button the 98T had in real life – basically shuts the wastegate, giving the turbo 100% boost. Obviously any sustained use would wreck the engine, but since we're not running with engine damage, perhaps that why you only get one use per lap to stop people abusing it.

With that in mind, I think it might be fun to use it? Adds a bit of strategy and drama without being unauthentic – plus it helps overcome the standard setup's poor gearing for longer straights?

 

[beachboy6658]

either way I'm happy but could bring in an extra element that may complicate things leading to more accidents

 

[IBZ6L20VT]

I still say no, but whatever @Sick Cylinder decides is fine with me, as usual.

I think it won’t change much the final results and it would lead to ‘unfair’ overtaking. A bit like the DRS in current F1.

 

[Sick Cylinder]

We won't use the DRS button during the current series.

If we use the car again in the future, we can look at this anew, but I would want people to have plenty of time to practise with it and also time to set up the most convenient button for them. The car is already difficult to control - also being able to use it each lap would be rather unrealistic as it was only used once or twice - if at all during two hour races.

 

[IfAndOr]

I've run out of buttons anyway! And I've got an extra keypad!!

 

[Harsk100]

I'm sorry everyone, but because I found out that the Lotus 98T is harder to control than I expected, I have to withdraw from the rest of the season. However, I'll return when GTE America (USA v Europe) starts. Sorry!

 

[AndreasR]

Results from Spa Francorchamps

 

[John Wells]

No worries Harsk you were struggling with the car in practice room, upside down one point. Have you got a reset button, mapped for car when goes on its roof, this might help.

Good race though, people had some problems, car was really suited too the track.