GPL question (Christmas at Nurburgring)

Hi all, What are the good strategies to make fast lap at Nurburgring? Usual strategy of pushing hard does not work for me, because I can't make it this way through the whole track without crashing few (or more:>) times (not in the same places). Should I just continue to make laps in this style hoping that sooner or later I will make a lap without crashing? Going slower didn't work either as I still couldn't stay on the track long enough and had 1-2 crashes and the best times I managed were in 8:30-8:40 range. I have tried to combine these methods and push hard at the crucial (for the fast time) places and drive cautiously where one can not get more than few tenths. This worked better, as I managed few laps in 8:24-8:25, but again with couple of crashes each time. Still 6 seconds of the 107% mark. What upsets me is that there are so many seconds for grab, and I can't even post a time to get into the race :(. Maybe pushing hard for the first 5-6 minutes and than, if there was no problems before, drive more carefully? Alex (alexti)

I push real hard in the places that I am very sure of...when I KNOW what is next...then in the places where I vaguely know what is next or I am always finding that I screw up (flugplatz) then I back off...just know your limits throughout the limit and don't push harder than you are capable in any given section. JB "Alex" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Hi all, > > What are the good strategies to make fast lap > at Nurburgring? Usual strategy of pushing hard > does not work for me, because I can't make it > this way through the whole track without crashing > few (or more:>) times (not in the same places). > Should I just continue to make laps in this style > hoping that sooner or later I will make a lap > without crashing? > > Going slower didn't work either as I still > couldn't stay on the track long enough and > had 1-2 crashes and the best times I managed > were in 8:30-8:40 range. > > I have tried to combine these methods and push hard > at the crucial (for the fast time) places and drive > cautiously where one can not get more than few > tenths. This worked better, as I managed few laps > in 8:24-8:25, but again with couple of crashes each > time. Still 6 seconds of the 107% mark. What upsets > me is that there are so many seconds for grab, and > I can't even post a time to get into the race :(. > > Maybe pushing hard for the first 5-6 minutes and > than, if there was no problems before, drive more > carefully? > > Alex > (alexti)

The key to the 'Ring, Alex, is the realisation you don't need to go that much faster in each turn to take off big chuncks of time at the end of a clean lap. 5mph faster/slower overall equates to a whopping 30 seconds there! So significant gains can be made, even with small increments of speed (1mph ---> +/- 6 seconds). Also, like Wosco and yourself sort of hinted at, it's easy to forget to push where it's actually possible at this track. Good luck, Jan. =--- Alex wrote... > Hi all, > > What are the good strategies to make fast lap > at Nurburgring? <snip>

Alex, Depends. If all you want to do is set a hotlap, just keep driving over yer head until you luck into a crash-free lap. Same theory as a thousand monkeys at a thousand typewriters--sooner or later, by accident, they will type all the great works of man. OTOH, if you ever intend to run a race against human opponents, you'd better learn to drive. --Steve Smith Alex <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Hi all, > > What are the good strategies to make fast lap > at Nurburgring? Usual strategy of pushing hard > does not work for me, because I can't make it > this way through the whole track without crashing > few (or more:>) times (not in the same places). > Should I just continue to make laps in this style > hoping that sooner or later I will make a lap > without crashing? > > Going slower didn't work either as I still > couldn't stay on the track long enough and > had 1-2 crashes and the best times I managed > were in 8:30-8:40 range. > > I have tried to combine these methods and push hard > at the crucial (for the fast time) places and drive > cautiously where one can not get more than few > tenths. This worked better, as I managed few laps > in 8:24-8:25, but again with couple of crashes each > time. Still 6 seconds of the 107% mark. What upsets > me is that there are so many seconds for grab, and > I can't even post a time to get into the race :(. > > Maybe pushing hard for the first 5-6 minutes and > than, if there was no problems before, drive more > carefully? > > Alex > (alexti)

Thank you for advice (and for your book too :>). The problem is that learning to drive is a relatively slow process and I set for myself the task of getting GPLrank before the New Year :> So my question was how the driver of fixed ability can get a decent lap. What's funny is that while waiting for advises I decided to load GPL and practice some corners without worrying about fast times. With surprise I was watching times staying in low 20s. So I ended up with 8:18:79 without even trying to make a fast lap. No crashes this time, but the lap was quite ugly anyway because of many mistakes. Alex (alexti) [email hidden] (Stephen Smith) wrote in <pzU16.66824$[email hidden]>:

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>Alex, > >Depends. If all you want to do is set a hotlap, just keep driving over >yer head until you luck into a crash-free lap. Same theory as a >thousand monkeys at a thousand typewriters--sooner or later, by >accident, they will type all the great works of man. > >OTOH, if you ever intend to run a race against human opponents, you'd >better learn to drive. > >--Steve Smith > >Alex <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:[email hidden]... >> Hi all, >> >> What are the good strategies to make fast lap >> at Nurburgring? Usual strategy of pushing hard >> does not work for me, because I can't make it >> this way through the whole track without crashing >> few (or more:>) times (not in the same places). >> Should I just continue to make laps in this style >> hoping that sooner or later I will make a lap >> without crashing? >> >> Going slower didn't work either as I still >> couldn't stay on the track long enough and >> had 1-2 crashes and the best times I managed >> were in 8:30-8:40 range. >> >> I have tried to combine these methods and push hard >> at the crucial (for the fast time) places and drive >> cautiously where one can not get more than few >> tenths. This worked better, as I managed few laps >> in 8:24-8:25, but again with couple of crashes each >> time. Still 6 seconds of the 107% mark. What upsets >> me is that there are so many seconds for grab, and >> I can't even post a time to get into the race :(. >> >> Maybe pushing hard for the first 5-6 minutes and >> than, if there was no problems before, drive more >> carefully? >> >> Alex >> (alexti) > >

In article <2YT16.3635$[email hidden]>, "Wosco" <[email hidden]> writes: >I push real hard in the places that I am very sure of...when I KNOW what is >next...then in the places where I vaguely know what is next or I am always >finding that I screw up (flugplatz) then I back off...just know your limits >throughout the limit and don't push harder than you are capable in any given >section. > If that's the case, then you're stuck wherever you are. How do you get faster? Right now, I'm stuck with a laptime, and I'm just barely hanging on... Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL F1 hcp. +39.11/F3 hcp. +373.73 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Alex) writes:

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>Going slower didn't work either as I still >couldn't stay on the track long enough and >had 1-2 crashes and the best times I managed >were in 8:30-8:40 range. > >I have tried to combine these methods and push hard >at the crucial (for the fast time) places and drive >cautiously where one can not get more than few >tenths. This worked better, as I managed few laps >in 8:24-8:25, but again with couple of crashes each >time. Still 6 seconds of the 107% mark. What upsets >me is that there are so many seconds for grab, and >I can't even post a time to get into the race :(. >

You can get to 8:24 even WITH crashes?!? Shit, I may as well give up NOW...<sigh> Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL F1 hcp. +39.11/F3 hcp. +373.73 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

On 26 Dec 2000 06:36:24 GMT, [email hidden] (EldredP) wrote:

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>In article <2YT16.3635$[email hidden]>, "Wosco" <[email hidden]> >writes: > >>I push real hard in the places that I am very sure of...when I KNOW what is >>next...then in the places where I vaguely know what is next or I am always >>finding that I screw up (flugplatz) then I back off...just know your limits >>throughout the limit and don't push harder than you are capable in any given >>section. > >If that's the case, then you're stuck wherever you are. How do you get faster? > Right now, I'm stuck with a laptime, and I'm just barely hanging on...

I disagree, Eldred (and to a lesser extent, Wosco). Based on my experience this afternoon (lapping the Nurburgring in every car but the Lotus), I find that improving your time doesn't come about by nailing one corner (or two, for that matter) perfectly. Rather, it is by taking the other hundred-or-so corners imperceptibly faster. This can only be done if you have a bit more confidence which, in turn, can only be gained if you believe you can take the next corner without crashing. Martin Long Live Nigel Mansell!

EldredP wrote: > > You can get to 8:24 even WITH crashes?!? Shit, I may as well give up > NOW...<sigh> > That's right forget about the Ring. In fact, delete that atrociously bad time which is almost 6 seconds faster than my best. :-) > Eldred > -- > Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 > Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett > GPL F1 hcp. +39.11/F3 hcp. +373.73 You mean +28.80, don't you? Good job, Snoopy! /Jens

You can get 8:14 without even remembering the track exactly?! I have to practice more... Alex (alexti) [email hidden] (Wosco) wrote in <2YT16.3635$[email hidden]>:

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>I push real hard in the places that I am very sure of...when I KNOW what >is next...then in the places where I vaguely know what is next or I am >always finding that I screw up (flugplatz) then I back off...just know >your limits throughout the limit and don't push harder than you are >capable in any given section. > >JB

Have you tried the 'Ring guide at http://www.turkeyshoot.demon.co.uk/ring/ring.htm? I find it very useful. And instead of giving up try to check your wheel and pedals. I have replaced my old set after discovering, that it was far from smooth, so I couldn't be smooth either. My times quickly improved. I am not sure how you can check them within GPL, but if you have some other sim with performance graphs (GP2 or GP3 for example), you can test it by gently applying throttle and brakes and turning the wheel. Do not worry where the car goes, just do it smoothly. Graphs should be linear (assuming you set linear steering). Good luck, Alex (alexti).

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>You can get to 8:24 even WITH crashes?!? Shit, I may as well give up >NOW...<sigh> > >Eldred >-- >Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 >Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett >GPL F1 hcp. +39.11/F3 hcp. +373.73 > >Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats >you with experience... >Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, "Jens H. Kruuse" <[email hidden]> writes:

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>EldredP wrote: > >> >> You can get to 8:24 even WITH crashes?!? Shit, I may as well give up >> NOW...<sigh> >> >That's right forget about the Ring. In fact, delete that atrociously bad >time which is almost 6 seconds faster than my best. :-) >

And you're STILL ahead of me in GPLRank...

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>> Eldred >> -- >> Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 >> Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett >> GPL F1 hcp. +39.11/F3 hcp. +373.73 > >You mean +28.80, don't you? Good job, Snoopy!

Oops - forgot to change that...thanks!<g> Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL F1 hcp. +28.80...F2 +151.26...F3 hcp. +373.73 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Alex) writes: >Have you tried the 'Ring guide at >http://www.turkeyshoot.demon.co.uk/ring/ring.htm? >I find it very useful. >I think I have a printed copy around here somewhere. I've read through it a couple of times. I haven't found the magic bullet yet... >And instead of giving up try to check your wheel and pedals. >I have replaced my old set after discovering, that it was >far from smooth, so I couldn't be smooth either. My times >quickly improved.Well, I have a TSW2mod, which should be pretty darn smooth...<g>

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> >I am not sure how you can check them within GPL, but if >you have some other sim with performance graphs (GP2 or GP3 >for example), you can test it by gently applying throttle >and brakes and turning the wheel. Do not worry where the >car goes, just do it smoothly. Graphs should be linear >(assuming you set linear steering).

I don't have GP3, but I think I still have GP2 on my HD. I've never checked the graphs in that program, even when I raced it all the time. Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL F1 hcp. +28.80...F2 +151.26...F3 hcp. +373.73 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <3a484965.13585410@news>, [email hidden] (Martin Ursua) writes:

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>>If that's the case, then you're stuck wherever you are. How do you get >faster? >> Right now, I'm stuck with a laptime, and I'm just barely hanging on... > > I disagree, Eldred (and to a lesser extent, Wosco). Based on >my experience this afternoon (lapping the Nurburgring in every car but >the Lotus), I find that improving your time doesn't come about by >nailing one corner (or two, for that matter) perfectly. Rather, it is >by taking the other hundred-or-so corners imperceptibly faster. This >can only be done if you have a bit more confidence which, in turn, can >only be gained if you believe you can take the next corner without >crashing.

I've done laps in every car, though mostly the Ferrari. I know, do each cornet .1 second faster, and you gain 17.4 seconds. But, I already feel that I'm on the limit - as a matter of fact, my PB contains several 'pucker-inducing' moments. Eldred -- Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPL F1 hcp. +28.80...F2 +151.26...F3 hcp. +373.73 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

> And instead of giving up try to check your wheel and pedals. > I have replaced my old set after discovering, that it was > far from smooth, so I couldn't be smooth either. My times > quickly improved. So what kind of wheel works for you? I'm using the Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro, serial version. The only thing I've found with a good shifter is the newer digital/USB Thrustmaster, which I'll probably buy. Tried their FF wheel, which sucked.

[email hidden] (Rex Burkheimer) wrote in <[email hidden]>:

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>> And instead of giving up try to check your wheel and pedals. >> I have replaced my old set after discovering, that it was >> far from smooth, so I couldn't be smooth either. My times >> quickly improved. > >So what kind of wheel works for you? > >I'm using the Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro, serial version. The only thing >I've found with a good shifter is the newer digital/USB Thrustmaster, >which I'll probably buy. Tried their FF wheel, which sucked.

Thrustmaster Force Feedback Racing Wheel. It is also sometimes called Ferrari FF Wheel, Guillemot FF Wheel or some other modification. Wheel is very nice and precise, pedals are pretty good too, though they don't look very promising. Drivers are somewhat suspicious, but fortunately the problems only happen when I shutdown the computer. Sometime it hangs, sometime reports that write operation on AUX failed. Though it maybe something specific to my computer or other drivers. Anyway, it doesn't cause much problems. I don't know about durability, mine is working just fine for about a month. Alex (alexti)

Geez, I got one of those a few months back. After returning the 2nd one for non-functionality, I gave up. > Thrustmaster Force Feedback Racing Wheel. It is also sometimes > called Ferrari FF Wheel, Guillemot FF Wheel