LeMONS to LeMANS Race Series -- Season Ended

  • Thread starter Thread starter chuyler1
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A handful of thoughts:

I vote for 60+ laps that GVE-R. I think it should be long enough that we will have to pit. I don't want to vote for too long (I do have to get to bed), but I know I would enjoy it being longer.

Drivers that can't attend should probably be handled like drivers that get dropped. I would vote for no championship points and average pay. And I'll try to explain that a little...

To me, the appeal of this series is the hope that it will help drivers balance out. In most online races I'm in, and in the last league I was in, I would see the pack through the first turn or two and that was it. I would be driving by myself. I wouldn't be racing, I'd just be driving on the course at the same time a race was going on.

Because of this balancing, it is hard to say how much a driver will "improve" from week to week. It is hoped that the difference in money award to the last place driver over the first place driver will be enough to make him competitive the next week. If the driver that missed the race was not one of the last place drivers, then that difference may be enough to make him unbeatable.

By the same token, if he was not one of the first place drivers, and we only award the minimum, then he may not be competitive at all.

For this reason, I say we should award the average amount of money and hope that the driver that misses a race isn't too crippled or empowered by this.

Now... to the races...

I did poorly at Autumn Ring, but honestly, I did better than I expected. I did lap a couple other drivers, but I don't take any thing positive from that. I had a smaller AWD. They had heavier FRs. They will be much faster on a more open track like GVE-R.

What I do take something positive from is I was able to shadow people that passed me for more than just two turns. I could follow some for more than a lap. Invariably though, I would push too hard, go too wide, and watch them pull away.

I can drive very clean through the course, but doing so means I drive very slowly. To actually race, one needs to drive at that edge where they are going as fast as they can and still drive clean.

I feel that I will still be somewhat competitive at GVE-R. I won't had the advantage over the large FRs that I had at Autumn Ring, but there is more than one place where I can open it up, and my car is probably has one of the highest (if not the highest) power to weight ratios. Again, I'll count it a victory if I 1) can actually stay with other cars for more than two corners, and 2) don't finish last.

As to my car having an advantage at GVE-R, I still fear I chose poorly. Later in the season, my little car won't be able to keep up with the heavier ones. They will have much more horsepower, and without downforce, my light weight and short wheel base may make this car very temperamental. We'll see how it goes, but I'm wondering if I should've gone with the heavier, longer GT-R.
 
redreevos
This is a completely separate topic, but in the same post as to not double post. I sent one of the members of this series, my thoughts for the turns in Autumn Mini. Just in case anyone is interested, or might find something useful in it, I will post it here.
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This is awesome.
 
Great Write-up Reevos. I was just looking for the turn numbers to follow and came across another good write-up...

http://www.gt5guide.com/gt5-track-guide-autumn-ring-mini-forward/

GT5-Track-Guide-Autumn-Ring-Mini-Forward.jpg


After running 60 laps I definitely altered my line quite a bit looking for more consistent speed. The key place I made changes was 5 into 6. I started almost coasting around 5 and braking much earlier for 6 so that I could come in tight (much further inside than the skidmarks show). Getting tight on turn 6 basically straightens out turns 7-10. However through 8-9 I started paying more attention to my speed. Flooring it out of 8 makes you run wide for 9 so I worked on finding the right speed to carry through the whole section. Once I got it down I waited to floor the throttle until I had the nose pointed straight across the apexes for 9 and 10. A little brake after 10 for 11 and I was on my way.
 
Vol Jbolaz
As to my car having an advantage at GVE-R, I still fear I chose poorly. Later in the season, my little car won't be able to keep up with the heavier ones. They will have much more horsepower, and without downforce, my light weight and short wheel base may make this car very temperamental. We'll see how it goes, but I'm wondering if I should've gone with the heavier, longer GT-R.
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You'll still be able to add a spoiler to your car. It will help at Le Sarthe with some of the tricky high speed turns. When you perform the additional weight reduction stages it will be a must for keeping traction.
 
Lets discuss GVE-R...

GT5_Circuit_Grand_Valley_East_Course_rvs.svg


Turn 1: This is probably the scariest turn on the track. It is high-speed and if you come in hot you will be in the sand trap before you know it. I brake lightly as to not upset the chassis. I maintain very light pressure on the brake pedal until the car noses in to the apex. If no one is in front of me. I give it 50% throttle and track-out.

Turn 2: I brake and turn in at the same time for turn 2 shifting the weight forward and rotating the rear end. If I come in hot, the car will drift outside and I will have to wait before applying throttle. If I hit it just right I can open the throttle at the apex and power through turn 3 like it doesn't even exist.

Turn 3: Depending on the car, you can sometimes put two wheels in the dirt. I suggest trying to apply throttle in the dirt during practice to see what happens. At some point during the race you will run wide coming out of turn 2 and will need a strategy on how to get up the hill without making things worse. I've seen cars slingshot across the track in front of me before.

Turn 4 (entering the tunnel): During the race, this will be the one place you want to play it safe. The turn is slightly off camber and you WILL have to brake before entering. Put two wheels over the curb to straighten out the line, but don't expect to open the throttle until you are sure you won't hit the tunnel wall. Get it just right and your tires might graze the curbing inside the tunnel. Get it wrong and your car will sled into the tunnel wall and you'll be driving the next lap with suspension damage.

Turn 5 (the hairpin): Brake before you exit the tunnel. Drop all the way down to 2nd in a straight line and shoot for a slightly late apex with two wheels on or slightly over the curb. As soon as you have turn 6 in your site give it some gas and get to 3rd gear. If you apex early on the hairpin you won't be able to get the car pointed in the right direction early enough. Many people try to pass here. It can be done, but not without rubbing fenders. Its better to wait for exit of the turn when the leading driver runs wide, then you can come slower in and slingshot by on the right side of them before they even make it to turn 6.

Turn 6 (left hander after hairpin): You should just hit 3rd gear as you approach this turn. Ease off the gas and the car should rotate a little for you. If you gain too much speed between turns 5 and 6 you will have to completely let off the gas and/or tap the brakes to avoid hitting the wall. Using the concrete area near the wall is part of the track so use it for track out as long as you don't hit the wall.

Turns 7, 8, 9: Full throttle through these turns until you approach turn 9. Lift off the throttle and nose in. You can put two wheels over the curb of turn 9 but it isn't necessarily faster. Once you get the car close to the curb you can get back on the throttle.

Turn 10: Exiting turn 9, the apex of turn 10 is somewhat hidden. Have faith as you accelerate out of turn 9 that you will hold your line. You do not want to ease off the throttle for turn 10 because it will slow your approach to turn 11.

Turn 11 (the big hairpin): This is a text-book turn, my favorite in the entire game. Use your best out-in-out line and find a land mark for when to start braking. Plan to use slight trail braking on entry, scrub off a little more speed mid corner, then hit the gas as soon as you see the apex of turn 12. Never hit the gas early as you will run wide into the grass of turn 12.

Turn 12: Coming from turn 11 you want to apex at the center of the turn and let the car track out. There should be no tire squeeling through this turn.

The Straight: You can track out as much as you want out of turn 12 but make your way to the right side of the track for the best entry into turn 1.
 
What lap times are you running on average now at GVE-R? What speeds are you hitting before Turn 1?

I'm in the mid to high 1:17.XXXs at my fastest.
 
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I can hit a 1:14.8 on fresh tires but it settles into 1:15.5-1:16.5 for most of the tread life. By the end of tire life I go into the 1:17-1:18.
 
sl3ight
ps. thanks for the paint, the s15s gonna look sweet next race.
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Not a problem. Cant wait to see it. :)

Lap time. I'm down to 1:13.8xx top lap with avg after 20 some odd laps was 1:15 and change, half laps under and half over. I didnt hit the 1:13 though till my 12th lap...the the tires are lasting a lot longer than I imagined in 4wd. By the 20th lap, I was in the mid 1:16s
 
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My best time is 1:16.9 but I'd say I would average about 1:18-19 on practice with no tire degradation. I'm pretty bad though and I am finding turn 2 probably the most difficult.

Off the top of my head, I think I am trying to take turn 1 at 130kph (80mph) then brake slightly before turn 2. I need to read chuyler's guide above and see if that helps at all.

Struggling using a controller though. Have ordered a wheel from Fanatec but getting more and more frustrated by the minute with the lack of response.

I won't be surprised if I come last but having fun practicing nontheless.
 
You'll get your wheel eventually. Over the past year or so I've put in three orders with Fanatec (GT3RS, GT2, shifters). The lack of communication is just a little disconcerting at first, well worth it for the product though.

My S15 is destroying tires on this track. Who would've thought it'd be an understeering mess half the time.
 
Hopefully it takes less than 2 weeks but I am doubtful at this stage. The EU webshop is out of stock of the PWC (which is what I bought) but the US shop does not indicate the same so hopefully they have product on hand. Also ordered a WSP but communication with them has been excellent.

I'm might practice on GVE-R tonight when I get home so if anyone is interested add me and maybe we can mock race before the 450pp timeslot.
 
diabolicwyvern
Not a problem. Cant wait to see it. :)

Lap time. I'm down to 1:13.8xx top lap with avg after 20 some odd laps was 1:15 and change, half laps under and half over. I didnt hit the 1:13 though till my 12th lap...the the tires are lasting a lot longer than I imagined in 4wd. By the 20th lap, I was in the mid 1:16s
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Sounds like you are going to have plenty of straight line speed. I might be able to keep up with you using the draft but it will be tough to maintain pace and not fall behind. I'm guessing the lower price of your car has allowed for more mods than me. What did the PP of your car end up being?
 
chuyler1
sounds like you are going to have plenty of straight line speed. I might be able to keep up with you using the draft but it will be tough to maintain pace and not fall behind. I'm guessing the lower price of your car has allowed for more mods than me. What did the pp of your car end up being?
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497pp I had 11K left for mods and I've used 8K of it. I strongly suggest weight reduction over power for 4WD. Gained me over a second vs spending money equally on power
 
Yeah, I think you'll be set to win this first race then if you can run the right tire strategy. Grenade and I are around 477 I think. But Reevos has some money to spend on his car too and my bet is that he will run the most consistent lap times again.

So can we get a final decision on number of laps. The options are...

60 laps -- Race length ~78 minutes. Drivers can push for 30 laps per set of tires or try 20 laps. Not pitting likely won't work but someone could attempt it.
70 laps -- Race length ~90 minutes. A 1 pit stop strategey is really stretched thin but might still work. 2 pit stops will be the safe bet.
 
fatrab
I'm might practice on GVE-R tonight when I get home so if anyone is interested add me and maybe we can mock race before the 450pp timeslot.
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I'm up for this, not sure when though since a lot of us run the 450pp every night (9:30 - 12 eastern). I'd like to know where I'm really at in terms of pace.

If anyones interested my cars at 458pp. This is with ECU, stage 1 engine tuning, sport air filter, and the sport cat.

298bhp / 230ft-lb @ 6800rpm
1240kg

EDIT: I vote 60 laps.
 
chuyler1
So can we get a final decision on number of laps. The options are...
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60 laps

sl3ight
I'm up for this, not sure when though since a lot of us run the 450pp every night (9:30 - 12 eastern). I'd like to know where I'm really at in terms of pace.
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OK, add me on PSN and we will aim for 8.30 EDT. Wyvern will most likely join at 8.45.
 
Sounds like I have some practice to do... I can run 1:16s for a while with the STi, looks like I need to find that extra second or two!

Edit: I vote for 70 laps
 
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pm here works, or email to chris(at)huyler.net if you have a photo to attach.
 
Ok, here's what I've got for everyone's cars. I'm still waiting for Rockin's selection but I think everyone else is all set. Let me know if I need to make corrections.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub...5udDdNaUxqUjB5dEVWeUJ3Tl81UzNTd1E&output=html

Oh, and here is a photo of my car in the UCD. I've got photos or prices of everyone else's cars so its only fair I share mine with you for verification purposes...
EVO.T.M.JPG
 
Thank you for taking time out to not only get the spreadsheet together, but also organize the series as a whole. Hopefully were all in it for the long haul. I've been apart of many racing series and they seem to fall apart by the third race or so at an alarming 50% rate.
 
I noticed a lot of series are held on weekends. That might be the time that some people have free to play...but its also the time you use for other things. I find the weeknight crowd is pretty consistent. I know things come up, but I think I've raced with you and grenade for several weeks straight now. Since we've got a good number to start, I'll be happy if there are only 7 of us by the end. The scoring also gives you hope since cars will bounce around in the pack and there are so many variables in play that the only thing you can do is pick the right mods and do your best to race clean and get as many points as you can each night.

I am loving this lap time discussion. Wait until week 3 or 4 when people start debating an upgraded transmission vs suspension kit. Drivers may end up chosing power over handling in hopes of making passes on the straights and praying through the corners that they won't spin out.

Daytona for example is half corners, half straight. If your car is slow through the infield you might be able to make it up on the banks. So much strategy beyond your own driving!!! I can't wait!
 
chuyler1
If your car is slow through the infield you might be able to make it up on the banks. So much strategy beyond your own driving!!! I can't wait!
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Shhhh...You're letting everyone know grenade's strategy
 
fatrab
OK, add me on PSN and we will aim for 8.30 EDT. Wyvern will most likely join at 8.45.
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I'm logging in shortly. I'll send you an add and join you guys for practice.

There was discussion earlier about using prices, since they differ so greatly. Perhaps the series could be done again using PP allocation. You are given so many PP to purchase and fit a car. Then each race, you are allowed to raise it by so many PP.

I would add that you can't add weight or restrictor plates to make PP. If the part would put you over, then you can't use it.
 
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