New here!!

[Sonny]

Hi everyone, I've found this site by your youtube links, your training videos seem very impressive and I've come across Dom's and Gregger's names before. :) I've joined because i wish to meet some sim racers for a game or 2 and take part in some competitive races from time to time, I've never really played against like minded racers before! I've only dabbled slightly in the online world of GTR and GTR2 but never seem to find any consistancy due to the wreckers and variable abilities online. I dont mind playing people faster or slower than me but when you purpously get smashed off of the circuit it makes it a very frustrating process. I've found myself relegated to just doing practise runs in GTL and GTR2 recently, I saw Doms Imola training video with the Pantera in GTL and have been trying to get a setup to go that fast, I'm lapping in the 2:02.5's at the moment but i know its setup thats letting me down. :scared: I hope!

Anyway I'll buy any games that people recommend, i currently own GTR, GTR2, GTL, GTR Evo, RBR and RACE, i've hardly really played them in terms of racing against people or AI but i do enjoy a good fast session.

I look forward to any suggestions people have so that i could at least have a race once a week or something :)

[EZeemering]

Most popular now is iRacing. Netkar Pro is also nice to check out.

[Dom]

Hey Sonny:) Welcome to the forum:)

Did you manage to get Gregers setup from his GTL setup pack? I think that was a good one!

In terms of racing competitively, I would suggest you try iRacing (bit expensive I know), at least to start off slowly and work your way up. the cars arent as exciting as GTR or GTL but the online experience is much better. Other than that I also recommend you check out the race department guys http://www.racedepartment.com/content/ and the nogrip guys http://www.nogripracing.com/ , they seem to have active GTR2 communities who often have league races, though I'm not sure what level:)

Let me know how well you get on with the Pantera, its a beast!

[Sonny]

Thanks Ez. iRacing looks very American to me (no offence meant, its just that I can't get into something I know nothing about), maybe there is more to it than meets the eye. I'll look into it tomorrow.
Dom, thanks for the reply, I do have Greggers setup but I dont like it. I've created my own but I may try Greggers again to see if I can adapt to it if its capable of sub 2 minute laps. I love the Pantera, such a satisfying car to drive!

[Dom]

I think I found the set, uploaded here

http://www.teamredline.co.uk/setups/110/

and the replay here

http://www.teamredline.co.uk/replays/95/

:)

[Sonny]

I think I found the set, uploaded here

http://www.teamredline.co.uk/setups/110/

and the replay here

http://www.teamredline.co.uk/replays/95/

:)

Many thanks Dom! I'll try that a bit later to see if i like your setup, 2 minutes flat would please me but if i can break in under that I'll be very happy. I think the fastest time I've seen is a 1.58 :scared:

I've been looking at the track list for iRacing... Theres plenty to learn there for me! I'm confused though, you purchase the subscription and you compete in a rookie season with limited cars and tracks... Does this mean when you progress you have to purchase the rest of the content?

[Dom]

Hey Sonny:)

I think we got into the 57's with the Pantera, dont let that put you off though! :P This was in early 2006 wow how times flies.

Well with iRacing you start as a rookie, and once you progress you do indeed have to purchase more content. It is expensive in comparison to other sims, but the online experience I think is much better, also the lazer scanned tracks are incredible, not just for accuracy but for the fact that you can feel the bumps. I think there are promotions out there that let you try for free for a month first.

Anyway its an option:) Have you also tried simraceway? seems they have many online competitions. http://www.simraceway.com/

:)

[Sonny]

57's!!! well, I'm a bit quicker with your setup but not getting into the 2:01's yet, just outside by a tenth. Its similar to the setup i created so I'm happy i got the right direction with the setup, its obviously my confidence with getting the power down early thats letting me down. I'll try some more but sometimes i think you can try too much and its best to come back a few hours or a day later. I know i can go quicker but i can't hook a whole lap up on the absolute limit (or my limit!). I really appreciate the help you've given me! Many thanks.

Simraceway, no not heard of that one! I'm leaning towards buying into this iRacing as Simbin haven't really advanced much since GTR2 and its about time i got something more modern.

[EZeemering]

With iRacing you start as a rookie. You get all the tracks and cars you need to compete in the rookie road and oval classes when you subcribe for the first time.

After that you have to pay monthly and buy the other cars and tracks that you want or need. (cars 11,95 and tracks 14,95). One month will cost you 11 dollar, but you can subscribe for 1 or 2 years as well what will make the monthly cost a bit lower. However you can earn back iR credits with prize money and participation bonuses.

Most of the time they have promo codes. I think the ones below still work and otherwise I advice to wait until they start a new promo action. That will save you a lot of money most of the time.



I think PR-RADICAL5 still works - 1 month with Radical and Silverstone track for $5 - you get to keep the car and track if you later subscribe worth $11.95 & $14.95 each.


Great offer for new members - 3 months for $32 INCLUDING the COT and Daytona track - use promo code PR-DAYTONA500-2010

If you sign up you can help us out by pointing us out as referrer :) Just fill in erwin
(at)teamredline.co.uk or use dom@, greger@, volker@, luke@. :)

[Sonny]

I had another go with the Pantera but seems I've hit a brick wall at 2:02.1.

Damn, i wish I'd read this before buying a years subscription :crying: Silly Sonny! Is there a way i can put in a late referral? Doubtful i know but worth asking if TRL can benefit.

So far I'm impressed with the Quake Live style interface through your browser but can't say much for the cars so far. That horrible 30's style moped powered piece of junk is infuriating and as for the Solstice it doesn't rev correctly when downshifting so for $99 it seems I'm a bit short changed :( The autoblip and autoclutch settings are checked but it still overrevs stupidly when downshifting. I'm going to spend my time getting the hang of the cars but i dont see this going too well. Any recommendations to get my rank up quickly?

I tried Simraceway too, the free edition, went through the installation process but i can't start a game so thats a no no for me at the moment. I am on Windows 7 Ultimate x64 so it could be the issue :(

[Dom]

Oops looks like you havent had a good day hehe, did you try with autoblip/autoclutch off?

I think they automatically rev for you and its not as quick. Most importantly did you try on track yet, go into a practise session, thats usually a good place to get to grips with driving with people:)

[Sonny]

lol, My moaning came across as been quite sharp but it was a long day yesterday. I find the whole handling quite natural so it wont take me long to get to a decent pace. That first oval, the Boston South (i think), i was lapping that consistantly in the low 0:18.1's and 2's in that moped. I've seen people getting 0:17.8's, they must be ultra smooth to get that time although I'm no fan of the ovals. The only thing fun about that car is the oversteer, its quite unpredictable and can cause a few hairy moments!

I'll go back to it later today or tomorrow as I've got a lot of computers to fix today :) I'll try that setting with the auto clutch and auto blipping. Many thanks for the suggestion :)

[Dom]

Hehe no probs, what about the solstice, is it at laguna or lime rock?

[Sonny]

I'll get back to you on that, with the blipping problem and overrevving i think i got a 1:46 but i only had 3 or 4 laps just getting accustomed to Laguna Seca and the car. I'll try tonight once i sort the overrevving out :)

[Sonny]

Well that revving between gear changes is very annoying, whats the point of sequential paddle shifting unless its going to lift the throttle before engaging the clutch? I can't get rid of it :mad:

I can't break into the 17's at the Bostan Oval with the moped and I've given up on the Solstice so i dont know what to do now :glare: Really disappointed with this sim, theres just no atmosphere, sounds are lacking and the cockpit feels a bit too safe. The handling on the other hand is magnificent, its extremely realistic but that doesn't make it fun in the slightest apart from the good old oversteer moments which i find really nice to control compared to many sims! :crying: I think i'll try and have a decent race in the solstice and if it doesnt happen then I'm just going to have to wait for some content that I will enjoy.

[Dom]

Hmm well the corvette is more like GTR2, thats if you want to fork out more cash, I agree the solstice and the legends are not for me:P Do you like open wheelers or just closed? The Daytona Prototype maybe more up your alley, the Radical feels weird unfortunately.

Did you try some online races? I think thats where iRacing strength lies.

[FilipM]

Just dwo 3 safe races with no incidents in the slowstice and then the fun begins. Many people hate the SRF, but i think its one of the best cars in the sim.

[Sonny]

I'll spend some more no problem as the driving physics are brilliant. I'm going to do a bit more in the Solstice, won a race yesterday so was pleased with that, going to enter another today and do some more over the weekend and toy with the idea of purchasing some other cars once my rank is higher.

I like both open wheelers and enclosed cockpits, I'm a big fan of GT and F1 cars generally.

I've changed my wheel settings to 450 degrees, having much better control with that generally but i have to be extra cautious with my inputs, making sure they're not too over aggressive.

[EZeemering]

After the Soltice you can drive in the Spec Ford which is a nice car for online racing. I think you will like it better, there's also more competition in it with higher class drivers.

The first car you have to buy in the road series is the Skippy. But you don't have to. If your license is high enough after Rookie promotion you can directly jump in the Star Mazda.
If you have enough money buy the Skip and have some fun. Do you want to save some money and want to climb the ranking ladder as quick as possible skip the Skippy and get the Mazda.

So far the tip of the day :)

[Sonny]

After the Soltice you can drive in the Spec Ford which is a nice car for online racing. I think you will like it better, there's also more competition in it with higher class drivers.

The first car you have to buy in the road series is the Skippy. But you don't have to. If your license is high enough after Rookie promotion you can directly jump in the Star Mazda.
If you have enough money buy the Skip and have some fun. Do you want to save some money and want to climb the ranking ladder as quick as possible skip the Skippy and get the Mazda.

So far the tip of the day :)

Many thanks EZ, the Solstice is a good car to throw about apart from this shifting issue i have, i find that the faster drivers with it are the very aggressive drivers who can generate heat into the tyres. I'm suprised to find many people with over 100 starts still using the Solstice. I can lap in the low 1:48's consistantly once the tyres are upto temperature but i dont know how people get into the 47's, they must take a different line into a few corners but i can't find a way of looking up peoples replays if thats at all possible?

I have tried the Ford on a test run and indeed its to my liking, the quicker and more responsive a car is the more I'm going to like it :w00t:

Oh also, does anyone know of a way to look up the horse power and peak torque graphs for cars? I'd be interested in finding the best shift times for these cars if possible. :)

[Sonny]

Right, I need to get this clear in iRacing as its doing my head in!! :o

Auto clutch and Auto Blip enabled in all the sims I've ever played means that the sim does this....

You press a button/paddle or shift a stick to change gear, the software disengages the throttle, depresses the clutch, shifts and rengages the clutch and throttle position.

in iRacing it seems to work like this..

You shift with the paddle shifter, the software depresses the clutch whilst maintaining throttle position, changes gear and rengages the clutch. This in effect causes revving between shifts which in a long race is going to kill the engine, Am i doing something wrong? Does iRacing require me to lift everytime i change gear with autoclutch enabled? How do you folks at Team Redline go about this? Any help on this would be very much appreciated, so far I'm very grateful for you to have pointed me into the direction of iRacing, I've found some great competition :)

[EZeemering]

Buy the Fanatec clubsport pedals and do the clutching yourself,... ;)

I just ram the gear in and I don't really care about revving. The sims doesnt seem to care really, never had a blown engine. They will change that eventually though. I wanna learn manual clutch but so far practising with the clubsports didnt gave me enough confidence to race with.

[Sonny]

I do clutch myself but with autoclutch on why should I? Seems to be a huge bug in my eyes. I can race nearly as quickly manually clutching but i prefer to use no clutch as its very competitive online and consistancy is important which is hard to achieve on a full manual transmission with the awful G25 shifter. :)

[Dom]

Well I've blown loads of engines:)

I'm not sure though Sonny, I dont use autoclutch and blip that much, I have used it on the DP a bit as it was easier under braking. Blown engines mainly come on downshifting not upshifts as well.

Out of interest why do you have them on?:)

[Sonny]

Yes I've had blown engines on downshifts, what i fear though is that in long races the over revving would take its toll on the upshifts. :crying:

Is it faster to have them switched off and blip manually without using the clutch? I noticed Greger on his videos uses throttle ever so slightly when slowing the car down, I'm scheduled to race at 6, I'll try with both boxes unticked and manually blip. It just seems odd to me that the clutch isn't mapped correctly.

[Sonny]

Well I've just turned them off in the solstice and done a 1.03.4 so thats not too bad, theres only one downshift so its a funny one. :P I take it when you upshift you lift off the throttle then? Its alright, I've never done this in a sim before unless using a h-pattern shift.

[Dom]

I dont lift off, I flat shift:) The transmission model isnt complete, I heard that they are working on one currently which means you have to use the clutch.

I wouldnt worry about upshifting and lifting, the engines going are due to downshifting too quickly and not letting the revs drop:)

[Sonny]

Well I've just turned them off in the solstice and done a 1.03.4 so thats not too bad, theres only one downshift so its a funny one. :P I take it when you upshift you lift off the throttle then? Its alright, I've never done this in a sim before unless using a h-pattern shift.

^^ That was Lime Rock.

Flat shifting... i shall continue with that then :) Thanks Dom. My next aim is to focus on getting my incident rating down, i tend to start in the mid pack which means i have to work through the field and sometimes when i put pressure on people and I'm following closely they'll spin in front of me and I have nowhere to go but into their sides especially with a track like Lime Park :(

[Dom]

Lime Rock gahhh, so many incidents:P Looks like you are up to speed already which is good:)

Laguna is more fun I think.

[Sonny]

Just an update, I've moved onto the SRF car more seriously now, damn its a fun car!! Lovely handling compared to the Solstice, far more sensitive and responds much better at the front end although I'm driving it with a little caution in the races as its a bit tail happy early on in a stint! it's a weird car to setup, in fact overall i find the setup screen in iRacing a bit hit and miss so far, I'm so use to our European metric measurements and clearer layout from the likes of GTR2 :)

I did buy the Skippy, thats an awesome car too but I'm illegible for the series so I'm going to concentrate on working my way up until I start driving that seriously.

I must start learning not to put any wheels on the side of the track too as my incidents are too high because of this, dusty laguna and its hidden apex's!! In the SRF I'm getting 1m 40's but I'm sure I can get into the 1m 39's with a bit more perserverance :)

I was wondering with the Pro World Drivers championship how you go about preparing? I noticed with both of Greger's wins he hasn't notched up a single incident and he really was blisteringly fast, now i know its a gift but mental preperation must be important for a 50 lap stint with pit stops just as in real life, oh and a comfortable seat and pedal position!!

[Dom]

Well I can only speak for myself :P but I tend to go into a 'zone' for long races, before the race I could hardly get 4 consistent laps in a row and I was pretty concerned about crashing. However in race my concentration improved and I was able to start to attack harder - saying that about 40 mins in your mind naturally starts wandering a bit, then you have to refocus:)

I think you would enjoy the Corvette as well, also good news the aussie v8 is out soon:)

[FilipM]

@Sonny

Mental strenght in racing doesnt come over night though, it takes hours and hours of driving right on the limit to gain mental strenght. I mean myself, i dont know how to drive 90%, i drive 100% or more, constantly pushing to what i can do. I took a break off long races (GTR2) where i raced with guys like Fernando Rees (for those that dont know, LMP2 driver) and some others like him, trying to hold off the whole race and not taking a single look in the mirror or a mistake, thats mental strenght.

Unfortunately, cant say the same about iracing, im still not on that level. If i'm on ts wth my friends and if i start speaking i make mistakes, lol. :P

Yes, there is the tallent side to it aswell, but at the end of the day we are all human beings, so what makes us so different? In the core, we are all the same, so its somewhere in our brains that stops us from driving 100% accurate. I always say, if someone can go quicker than me, why can't i? What am i less than him, so push push push :D



The good side is, simracing helps in real life situations too. Im still at school (yes, yes i am) and it helps alot during a week where you have an exam every day, thats for sure.

[Sonny]

Hi Flip. I wish you luck with your positive outlook. Yours is different to mine as I always think there's got to be someone better! Perhaps its an age thing! :) Real life motor racing is full of varying talent levels and personalities. There's only a few who ever reach a point of dominance and sheer outright pace. Its always inspiring though, and its nice to follow and learn this type of discipline as like you said it can help in many fields, especially improving concentration, focus and patience.