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[Jav]

Does anyone recommend any series for Week 13?

You know, this Week 13 sucks!

The term Bakers Dozen refers to the practice of giving folks more than they bargained for, specifically, 13 for the price of 12. At iRacing we like to think of Week 13 as our Bakers Dozen: a little something extra in addition to the four, 12 week regular seasons each year.



Actually, there’s nothing “little” about the extras in Week 13. Rookie and veteran iRacers alike will find there’s plenty of bonus fun to be had during the week of July 24 – 30. For starters, everyone from Rookie to Class B can boost their license ratings in time for Season 3 in the Legends Cup (ovals) and Mazda Cup (road) series. The Legends Cup features the ’34 Ford Legends car at South Boston, Thompson, Oxford Plains, Lanier, USA and Charlotte (Legends). Road racers can try to move-up the license ladder in the Mazda MX5 (Cup and Roadster) at Lime Rock, Charlotte (road), Okayama (long and short), Summit Point – Jefferson Reverse (aka nosreffeJ) - and Laguna Seca.


Both are official series, so Safety Ratings and iRatings apply, so competitors have a final chance to increase their license ratings before the official license promotions for 2012 Season 3 are finalized at week’s end. Likewise, rookies who have yet to complete the category-specific minimum participation requirements for graduation to a D license (two official races or four time trials in each category) can do so in Week 13.



We’ll also have not one, not two, not three but four separate 24 heures du fun. 24 heurs du fun “un” features 60 car fields of Legends, Street Stocks and Late Models at Road America . . . not gridded by class . . . all week long. A second 24 heures du fun sees the Chevy Silverado at Langley for the first three days and, following a short tow across Virginia, four days at South Boston. Want something completely different? La troisième 24 heures du fun is right up your alley: Impala Class A, Impala Class B and Chevy Silverados gridded by class at Daytona International Speedway all week long. Last but not least, 24 heures du fun IV sees the 2011 Class B Impala at Road America for three days followed by four days at Watkins Glen International (Cup).



We’re also running the popular Carburetor Cup with the Impala Class A at Talladega Superspeedway along while Formula Fun features the Williams-Toyota FW31 at Zandvoort. 24 heurs du fun, Carburetor Cup or Formula Fun, the competition is decidedly unofficial, so check your iRatings and Safety Ratings at registration.



You say you want more from your Week 13? How about not one but two World Tour of iRacing events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? We’ll celebrate Indy’s inaugural GRAND-AM Rolex Series race on Friday, July 27 with an event of our own on the road course featuring the Riley Mk XX and Mustang FR500S, followed on Saturday, July 28 by our virtual Brickyard 400, with the Impala Class A on the fabled 2.5 mile oval.

I guess I'll be checking out the Street Stock and the Legends on the road courses, I am not buying the Impala B just for this and never use it again! Other than that, maybe some oval racing if I own the track...
The schedule seems kind of lame so I'll be looking at whats up on the hosted side!

 

[superbike81]

I'm excited about the schedule, but then again I really like oval racing and I've been dying to race some oval cars on road tracks.

Also I'm going to try to do both the Brickyard 400 and the Grand-Am race.

 

[superbike81]

This guy on the iRacing forums summed up almost everything I currently want in iRacing into one cool story post:

The environment in rF2 feels alive. I just spent all day racing the Clio at Croft. Firstly, the session starts with a clean track, which is relatively slick and makes for a loose car. All of the tire bundles at the apexes are in place. All of the road cones I use as braking markers are in their spot. The sun is at its angle, the rain level is just so. I start my qualifying session to find the pits temporarily closed, signified not by some HUD pop-up, but the red/green lights at the end of pit lane. After holding, I make my way onto the track. I come upon a braking zone and -- oops! I was a little late because the first road cone of 3 that I use as a brake marker was knocked off by another driver. I carry on. A few laps later, I start pushing my braking points deeper, as the track has more grip. I can use that 2nd cone that's still present as my braking marker. The track color is changing with the rubbering, so that odd mark on the left that I use for my turn-in reference is now gone, interesting. The sun is setting now, I can't use shadows for markers anymore. OOH! Someone just took out the tire bundle at the next apex, now I can take the curbing much more aggressively without worrying about hitting that large mass with my inside fender. Bam! The combination of missing bundle and rubbered track means I just took that corner flat-out, something Huttu couldn't do on a fresh track, feels good. I should have used a larger brake duct, my brakes are fading from the heat, my pedal went to the floor trying to stop for that last corner. A yellow up ahead, there are actually two marshalls hand-waiving flags, neat. Oh shi-swerve around a tire bundle in the middle of the racing line. I drive next to a wall and hear my car's sound reflecting back at me. This is fun ...

He's talking about rFactor 2.

 

[Roush_fan_99]

I'm probably going to run legends at Road america, I have a pretty decent setup for that now, but I've got to get used to my new CSP

 

[OLDSKOOLACURA]

Damn, I might have to try rfactor after reading that

 

[zedfonsie]

This guy on the iRacing forums summed up almost everything I currently want in iRacing into one cool story post:



He's talking about rFactor 2.

I feel like RF2 won't have as good as physics as iracing, but in other areas RF2 will beat iracing as a whole.

 

[Jav]

I feel like RF2 won't have as good as physics as iracing, but in other areas RF2 will beat iracing as a whole.

IMHO rF2's physics are too forgiving and there's way too much grip at the moment, other than that and the need of graphic optimization the game is coming along nicely.

 

[superbike81]

The feel of the Formula Renault 3.5 tires is absolutely amazing, and something that I wish I could get iRacing to feel like. When I'm in that car I feel like I'm actually in the car and on the road. The open wheelers in iRacing don't give enough feedback to really make me feel like I'm driving. More like I'm driving an R/C car.

I think the physics in rF2 are already on par with iRacing's physics and both should only get better.

Don't get me wrong, I love iRacing (I just did the 2-year renewal deal) because it's got the whole package with it's online system, but if I really want to feel like I'm driving, rFactor2 has no match right now.

 

[left888]

I think iRacing doesn't really care about other Sims ATM, iRacing has over 32,000 active members and an initial investment of 20 million dollars. They also have been listening to what members want (within reason) The next couple years iRacing is going to pull so far ahead of every Sim out there.

 

[Jav]

The feel of the Formula Renault 3.5 tires is absolutely amazing, and something that I wish I could get iRacing to feel like. When I'm in that car I feel like I'm actually in the car and on the road. The open wheelers in iRacing don't give enough feedback to really make me feel like I'm driving. More like I'm driving an R/C car.

Oh yes the FFB on rF2 right now is amazing! You can really feel the tires grippig the road and feel everything the car is doing! Where they need to improve is on the graphics department and bring the cars to more realistic grip levels.
Also one thing I really hate is the smoking tires... anytime you're near the limit the tires will start smoking, wich is pretty arcady to be honest.

 

[Roush_fan_99]

I think where iRacing needs to improve most is low speed grip, there is no reason that I should be spinning out at 35 MPH while not punching the throttle trying to make it spin the tires. Other than that I'm happy, however a dynamic track would be very welcome

 

[redmalloc]

I have been spending a lot of time in the SRF recently. I am no expert but here is what I've learned. Cornering is best done with at least part throttle or you will generally oversteer and spin. So getting through the corner is all about throttle control and entrance speed. On some corner exits it can also be easy to spin with too much throttle. So you are in this constant battle of dialing in enough understeer so you don't spin but then not over do it and step the back out with too much throttle. For me, past a certain slip angle it is more luck than anything.

Frankly, I find it very difficult but I am mostly enjoying the challenge. However, I believe the lack of inertial forces makes it that much more difficult. So while the sim strives to be as real as possible, that entire missing element spoils the balance to a certain degree. The iRacing training video even says as much - but that you need to learn to compensate.

I know these are not unique thoughts, but it leaves me wondering if there is a basic flaw in attempting to make everything as real as possible.

Off topic: left888, how do you feel about that sequential shifter now that you've had it a while? I am basically sold on it but for some reason keep hesitating.

 

[Eric.]

This guy on the iRacing forums summed up almost everything I currently want in iRacing into one cool story post:



He's talking about rFactor 2.

I read that too, almost caught myself drooling. I downloaded the beta afterwards but I'm not quite ready to pay $40 to use it.

Edit: And I think the mixed class oval cars on Road America will be fun. Hopefully some road setups are shared. I've heard the Late Model is a great road car. The Legend is fun, but twitchy. Really not sure how the Street Stock will be. I sort of expect the running order to be Late Model, Legends, Street Stocks.

 

[Roush_fan_99]

I don't know, we might have some SS mixed with Legends, we have a 2:93 and a 2:50 gear and the 2:93 tops out at 122 MPH which is well before the end of the 2 main straights but the 2:50 doesn't get off the corner as well (which may be a good thing to some people) but I think SS and Legends will be fighting along side each other almost like MX5 and Jetta but the late model will definitely be way ahead.
Legends is all about throttle control, even in ovals, if you aren't smooth you can spin the tires in 4th gear all day long. Not to mention that there is almost 0 weight to the rear end, with a little effort the average Joe can pick the rear end off the ground and move it around. Anyway I'll probably do this

Is the 24 hrs of fun only 24 hrs? Not all week or just races are every hr on one day (obviously not 24 hrs long...)

Edit: I just checked and confirmed that I am receiving my $4 for completing the mustang Challenge !

 

[RobJackson85]

I'll be running the Silverado at Daytona.

Probably run that afew days and just practice the rest.

 

[Wilbur]

Well go figure I'd have issues with connection since its first race in last week I even have tried. D class Impala, and had 23 guys in it at 8 am which shocked me.

I will say whoever makes those setups, needs to find a better job. Everytime they are way too tight, but can't do much in fixed series or they don't care.

Is the Indycar oval fixed series any good for general racing or still same low number issues?

 

[swiftwilly]

any news on new cars or updates for next season? I havent seen any car updates and checked season 3 schedule I assume there will be no new cars?

 

[Patrocles]

I think iRacing doesn't really care about other Sims ATM, iRacing has over 32,000 active members and an initial investment of 20 million dollars. They also have been listening to what members want (within reason) The next couple years iRacing is going to pull so far ahead of every Sim out there.

I hope so! For online pickup racing I cannot find anything better than iRacing.

I will support other racing games (AC, maybe pCARS, rF2) when released as a complete game, but I am pessimistic that they will have a decent online racing component of friendly and safe participants in pickup racing.

 

[superbike81]

Honestly, I don't think any of the next crop of racing games/sims is going to provide anywhere near the level of pickup racing that we have in iRacing. There is a reason that we pay $100/yr (not including discounts) + content prices. The online ecosystem we have in iRacing is expensive to run and maintain.

When I first started iRacing with my roommate back in 2009 I still mostly played rFactor and Grand Prix Legends in leagues and to this day that is still the best racing I've ever had. Instead of doing what I do now and running several races a week in iRacing, I would run several hours of practice sessions for my league to get ready for the weekly or bi-monthly race.

There are enough racers out there who don't support the iRacing pay-to-play system and will stick to league racing in one of the new sims. With modders like Enduracers staying with rFactor2, I can guarantee there will be absolutely awesome LeMans leagues with FULL FIELDS, all the classes, multiple makes within classes, etc, etc. Something we will never get in iRacing unfortunately.

 

[zedfonsie]

Good News! There might be a GTR3!

 

[RobJackson85]

any news on new cars or updates for next season? I havent seen any car updates and checked season 3 schedule I assume there will be no new cars?

No new cars for S3.

Afew of the old tracks will have improved shaders. Also there looking into adding moving flag men on the start/finish strait, I'm not sure if this is to be included in the new build or a future one.

http://youtu.be/rxxGuyu6Lk4?hd=1

Check out the beginning of this video for the news.

 

[Jav]

Is the 24 hrs of fun only 24 hrs? Not all week or just races are every hr on one day (obviously not 24 hrs long...)

Runs trough the whole week.

 

[Roush_fan_99]

Runs trough the whole week.

Awesome, thanks

 

[OLDSKOOLACURA]

My rSeat. Will be here tomorrow, really had my fingers crossed for today

 

[Jav]

My rSeat. Will be here tomorrow, really had my fingers crossed for today

Sweet! We need pictures or it never happened!!

 

[OLDSKOOLACURA]

Sweet! We need pictures or it never happened!!

I'll post some when it comes

 

[Roush_fan_99]

I'm definitely curious what you think of your Rseat too

----------
I decided what the heck and bought the V8 Supercar, Brands Hatch (to finish out my collection of all road courses.... excluding Ovals with interior road courses), the Late Model, and the Impala Class B to take advantage of the last couple of hrs for the Impala 2009 2 for 1. So now I'm pretty much covered for cars for the season, my only problem is my lack of ovals. I'll probably get the C6R, Silverado, Bristol, Michigan, And Martinsville next season.

 

[OLDSKOOLACURA]

I'll post a little review of it.

 

[Blaze_409]

Why do i need to buy the Impala to run the 24 heures du fun MC at Road America?
I want to use the Legends car.

I could race in the GTC against the Jetta's even though I don't own it.

 

[Jav]

Why do i need to buy the Impala to run the 24 heures du fun MC at Road America?
I want to use the Legends car.

I could race in the GTC against the Jetta's even though I don't own it.

I don't know! That's exactly what i thought but it's not the case... Hope they fix that crap!