@photonrider never underestimate the educational value of video games for kids, in particular to Gran Turismo.
My son was in the 1st grade and at our first conference the teacher commented on his advanced reading and math skills. She was soon to be a first time mother and asked what programs or materials we used with him.
I told her video games (with a straight face). I don't believe there is a better motivation for a child to learn to read than figuring out the on screen instructions of a video game are. I told her his concept of value to 7 digits and basic math was due specifically to playing Gran Turismo 3.
Fast forward 10 years and GT came in handy when it was time to teach him to drive in addition to how a car will respond / how to correct it under some emergency situations.
I grew up before video game consoles and would probably not be playing GT today if I had not bought him that used copy of GT3 for his PS2 (he did not ask for but it interested me). When GT4 came out dad bought a DFP wheel and a PS2 of his own, the rest is history.
I hear you. Yup. My kids teethed on video-games and never let go till University for one at present and Gifted Academy (99th percentile children) for the younger two - and all three still play video/computer games (and related activities) predominantly for their infotainment.
Gone are the days of monopoly and backgammon and chess, though . . .
Fortunately I can get my younger son to shoot a game of pool with me now and then - or else he's too busy running his Minecraft server. Or checking subscribers on his Youtube channel.
I had an old cricket bat and a chewed up tennis ball to go with it - no wonder I'm not as smart as them.
But they all teethed on racing games - I think racing games are the most easiest concept for children to understand - after all - even at the moment of conception they are racing to hit an egg first.
So racing is in the DNA of the chromosomes even before it hits the egg - and from there there's no stopping us.
Man or woman, we raced for an egg - and won (or else we wouldn't be alive) - and this stays with us.
We gotta run ahead. We gotta get . . there . .
first!
Racing games feed this - and when you say Gran Turismo specifically shows off the educational angle of it - Oh! yes. In spades.
The short story I gave about my neighbor and his son coming over to use GT6 as a simulator to check out the car they had bought was a saga in a capsule.
I was blown away by the outstanding capability of this application to be instantly plug-and-play - and watching a fourteen year old who usually plays COD or GTA V play (and explore) GT6 for the first time and while using a G27 was an eye-opening demonstration of how we are used to being spoiled by Gran Turismo, and how the average joe gets absolutely awed by it.
What was most outstanding was its plug-and-playabilty across a wide cross section of game-sectors.
And then came crunch time.
At one point I asked him about the AI (he called them 'robots'.)
"What do you think of the robots?" I asked.
"They're real!" he says. "They're like real!"
That was good enough for me.
Then I took the all stock yellow bird out...
It took some getting used to... That's about the most polite way I can put it.
Not sure how to get a slower field here... Jantunen was flying and pulled Shwartz with him! I had a chance if i could have kept the tail inline during braking!
She's tail-happy for sure. But that's the whole thrill. When she wags that tail, and you use that little waggly tail to wag yourself around a curve or two is when the whole thing comes together and you're hooked to a Yellowbird for life.
Another go with Furai... If I could just make all 10 laps clean that time could get so much lower!
Still the same rain schedule while using this car with this setup... Maybe if I change the paint color...
Check out the statistics in the thread about Weather Analysis - this might help you attack it from a whole different angle.
That's ok, I am glad you like my tune and later on I see if my 51 year old body can beat your time
.
I didn't realise you were a youngster. In GT5 I was actually given the 360 '58 as a birthday present. I was a bit disappointed because I wanted the BMW 507 '57, which is the only car in the game from my actual birth year.
I thought you were a lot younger than me, well I was wrong but this is a good thing because the older I get the faster I will go
.
So both you guys are basically saving up from now for hip-replacements I take it?
I sat down myself for a couple of hours at the Eifel, and dang, was I sore when I left the console - especially my right.
I have to assume that this is one game that is top-heavy with adults - and in fact all the way to the eldest of elders. Not because of the many adults and in fact seniors who are using and enjoying the game in here (after all not every older gamer posts at forums) but because of the way GT takes automobile lore and the whole complex sport of racing as well as the different disciplines in the various types of racing very seriously - in a methodical, easy to use format that can be used for everything from learning about the various cars to just plain test driving.
And it keeps evolving, getting better, giving us more ways to be creative in playing this game and getting our adult driving/racing/petrol-head fixes - especially for us adults who drive everyday - dodging zombie traffic like the way we dodge the rabbits in here sometimes.
Trying to manage 6 different leaderboards with as much as eight racers in here now throwing in multiple timesheets is another thing altogether . . .
. . . so bear with me sometimes if I miss a timesheet - point it out as soon as possible.
The little Sub has been great fun though (inspired choice
@photonrider). I love a car that's a challenge to get the best out of, and this sort of pace suits me. I get scared over 100mph.
This is the car that gave birth to the post-war Japanese auto-industry, what put the industry back on its feet, gave it direction, and resulted in GT-Rs and LM55s. This car started it all. This car is the original 'Rabbit Scooter'.
GT told me that. And more.
Yes, they had the Sports version, too - but we can soup up our own.
And once she's dressed - she kills. This was the perfect event to take her out. Addictive, enjoyable drive - even if you don't get a top time, the rabbits just love racing this car, and the races are huge fun right down to the wire.
And 'fun' being the other name of the game . . .
Good luck. But of course there may be trump cards yet to played.
Couple more days for this event to wrap up - so yeah, if someone has stashed an MTM card away (obviously the worst would be MTM himself casually appearing) then there's going to be some gnashing of the molars.
I tried Hall's tune and got nowhere; it was slower than the one I had. so back to the drawing board for me.
Maybe
I can crack 7:20. 💡
I've had another go with the Mazda Furai and was able to run a
24:55.551 race
My race strategy was to use IM tires from the start, and to pit after 6 laps for another set of IM tires. I will post a picture once I'm able. Margin over the 2nd place car was about 1 min and 30 seconds.
GTsail
Coming up with some great times GTsail. Good to see you've got your wind up. Looking forward to some pics.
And talking about pics - and rabbits - take a look at what that Finn
Heikkinen did to
Nielsen:
Above, Nielsen on the left just finishing his third lap - he doesn't seem committed to pit. Heikkinen on the right roaring in from the big sweeper, on fresh tires from the end of L2, and keeping to the right of Nielsen is about to make the pass.
Nielsen suddenly decides to dive for the pits - which meant Heikkenen would have to slow down:
The Finn was having none of that:
Putting Nielsen neatly into the wall -
And facing the wrong way:
Actually it was the right way - a perfect dive into the pits quickly from there - but he turned around again and went all the way another lap on worn RS before finally making it back to the pits.
Very disciplined racer, I would say, though not at all like a human.
so nothing to worry leaders about. 
