SCC Old Timer Event - 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS4 Spyder - Sun, Jan 17 - 20:00 GMT

[jjaisli]

Fixed. My uploader automatically defaults to private and I keep forgetting to change it.

 

[chilledant]

Biggles, i guess if sumone doe's well to notice sumthing our helps us out we tend to say shot,, like a type of thanx our well done i guess,, were generally a crazy bunch of people here in SA, if your on the shooting range and get a bulls eye,, its always polite to say shot bro,, we have a different culture here, to england our even north america,, our english is not 100% the same, pronunciation is way different on loads of words,, notably noticing, you wrote to me(notably) you have seen my weaker points (noticing) i hope that helps B,,,,

 

[Biggles]

I see you're a poet Chilli.

 

[bullie77]

were generally a crazy bunch of people here in SA,

True... but you have some of the great Bull Terriers dogs and breeders of the world!

International Champion, European Winner, South Africa Supreme Bull Terrier Lubjan Rock & Stone

 

[steve30b]

after a totaly humiliating race on my behalf i decided to have a practice last night on the VIR track with the same car as we used on the race night, i completed 33 laps and my best lap was on lap 22 (1-53-20) i had all the assists turned off but i had the racing/braking line on, i cant seem to get any where near the times you boys are putting in (more practice needed.)

 

[bullie77]

after a totaly humiliating race on my behalf i decided to have a practice last night on the VIR track with the same car as we used on the race night, i completed 33 laps and my best lap was on lap 22 (1-53-20) i had all the assists turned off but i had the racing/braking line on, i cant seem to get any where near the times you boys are putting in (more practice needed.)

I'd suggest you too to turn off the racing/braking lines. I feel that they are more of a distracting item than a helpful one - you'll tend to pay more attention to it to stick with it, than the road and the car position itself.

And don't worry, practice will get you there. I have a time of 1'48'' in VIR on the GTS356/4 and I am myself a pretty lame excuse of a driver...

 

[Hun200kmh]

Steve, read this, written by me about one year ago (referring to FC, but it's the same):

.... then I thought "Well, Biggles will show some mercy on this poor soul and will turn "braking zones on". But no, the guy was in a bad mood and not only did he keep the settings (assist on, but I defended my dignity and kept them off) but he also chose ... Virginia Raceway .

As it happened I was 1st in the "grid", so I just did the straight and parked to let them guys all by. Then, made a mess of myself the entire race and even parked again when they all ... lapped me

For the full read you can check it here:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=112827

Biggles is SimcoeAce, the guy I chased for almost the entire race this time, so I would say I learned a lot since then, and you will learn also

A few notes:

1 - get rid of the braking zones line. It may look useful but it will in fact prevent you from learning the track as you should. Try lapping it without the line. If you struggle to find a correct braking point to a particular corner, check where does the "braking line" show up and turn it off again before you try it.

Without the braking line, the knowledge of the track increases dramatically. Not only braking distance in normal situations, but the effect of extra speed (because of drafting) or less speed, or the way you balance the car or the car gets un-balanced because of bumps or your own driving. Without the braking line you may feel you get "blind" in the first few laps, but you know what happens to blind people, don't you? They learn to use better all the other senses they have, in ways that we - not blind - will never understand or reach.

2 - No idea if you play with pad or wheel, but if with wheel, try putting the FFB to "Low" and both sensitivities to "Medium". This is what I use, maybe it is best for you also.

The steering in this game is a very delicate business but provides you of great feedback about what's happening to your front wheels and to the overall balance of the car.

If the wheel gets lighter that means most probably you are losing or without any grip and you must get it back (the pad users have an "assist" for this, an auto-correct feature that can be very annoying but that does the same, meaning ... looks for the lost grip straightening the wheels in understeer situations).

When the wheel gets "funky" when coming out of corners (pulling to one side, then the other, then one side again, sometimes lightly, sometimes violently)that just means the game is trying to tell you what's happening with the balance of the car. Oversteer in this game is very violent and difficult to control with a wheel, and you can get very nasty snaps that put you completely off-balance and make you lose a lot of time. Only practise /experience can help you here and some corners are very, very difficult to deal with, especially those that are long and envolve gear changing before the car is already going straight.

btw, one of my "nightmare" corners, is the long opening-radius right hander in Silvertsone just after the very tight left (approximately midlap, don't know the corner number or name). It is very difficult to hold the wheel steady and keep momentum there, something that is crucial because you are entering a "going-up" straight (sorry but my english is basic, I think you know what I mean)

About the pedals ... just keep a light foot, both for throttle and - especially -brakes. Braking is very hazardous and the braking distance depends a lot on how you do the braking (at least without ABS). I suggest, although it's not very "real", that you adopt a "pad" approach to the braking, at least until you get more comfortable and experienced. By "pad" approach I mean braking in successive touches to the "button", some longer, some shorter (blip-blip-blip-blip), the button being, in this case, the brake pedal.

If you use a pad, I lost a few moments of my precious life telling you things you don't need to know and I suggest that you get advice from one of our many top pad drivers

 

[jjaisli]

after a totaly humiliating race on my behalf i decided to have a practice last night on the VIR track with the same car as we used on the race night, i completed 33 laps and my best lap was on lap 22 (1-53-20) i had all the assists turned off but i had the racing/braking line on, i cant seem to get any where near the times you boys are putting in (more practice needed.)

Hi Steve,

All good suggestions made above. And I pretty much agree with everything said.

But I was having a look at your uploaded photos and began to imagine how you feel. Assuming you spend some time on the track with a lithe girl like that, don't let your pace against some of these guys discourage you. I've done a little auto crossing and attended a high performance driving school and always fancied myself a hot shoe, falling well short of having what it takes to be a profession racing driving but certainly quick enough to stay with the sharp end of the pack of amateurs. (I'm sure most of us think that way).

And that may or may not be true. But while there are many similarities between real life racing and what goes on in PS3 land, to me the biggest, most fundamental difference is the complete and utter lack of fear and consequences. During the last track day event I attended some years ago with my Audi A4, the underlying thought going through my mind the entire day was, "This is my one and only road car, my sole form of transportation. If I do something stupid and stuff it, I just signed an insurance waiver and I'm pretty much screwed." So I tried hard to take it easy and avoid any risks.

Granted, within a few laps, the red mist settles in and you start thinking, "I could brake a little later there and I could get on the throttle a bit earlier there and I could probably push a little deeper here, etc". But sitting behind a TV screen, you have no such thoughts to begin with. And while nobody wants to throw their car off the track in real life OR in play, I think that it's a fundamental difference which allows us to push harder in cyberspace than we ever really would when our collective hides are on the line.

 

[steve30b]

thanks hun for the link to your post (very interesting reading) i will with out a doubt give your settings a try tonight. the problem i have is i put the power down too quick and aggresive, thus the back end of the car all over the place and spinning out a lot. trying to learn with all the assists off at the same time is so frustating, before i got scc game i was playing NEED FOR SPEED SHIFT and COLIN MCREA DIRT 2 which are a lot more forgiving on the handling. by the way hun i do use the G-25 AND A WHEEL STAND PRO. what i need is a private lobby with a couple of mates in the room to follow and chase round a circuit (just a bit of tuition) thanks again steve...

 

[bullie77]

what i need is a private lobby with a couple of mates in the room to follow and chase round a circuit (just a bit of tuition) thanks again steve...

If your willing to, I'm available to be your training-buddy, since myself am practicing and getting used to the wheel (DFP + wheelstand pro) also. By the way, did some quite pleasant races last night on the 250 testa rossa with manunza and estadios, around Mugello and later in Spa.

Add me to your friends list (GTP_bullie77)

 

[Alan_G]

i had all the assists turned off but i had the racing/braking line on, i cant seem to get any where near the times you boys are putting in (more practice needed.)

Virginia is probably the most difficult circuit to be thrown into the deep-end in. It would not be a bad idea to select an easier, shorter circuit, such as Silverstone National, or Mugello Sports.

If someone is a complete novice, then maybe using the racing lines and braking zones are useful. But once you understand that, for a right-hand turn for example, you start on the left, move to the right mid-corner, and exit on the left, then it's time to turn them off! A further point is, you need to know the circuit in your head (not just "left here" or "right there", but some idea of the lines you will take).

The lines in this game are wrong. It's pretty ridiculous actually; I can't understand who would have made them. Okay, selection of lines can just be an opinion, but a lot of the time they are far away from the optimal line.

There's no question using a wheel with this game is more difficult to handle than with a pad. But put that aside for the moment. An average corner is broken up into a sequence, braking, steering and throttle. They are all linked together - if you get one wrong, the others may be affected. (e.g. If you brake too late, you have to steer differently, and can't use the throttle as early. If you get on too much throttle while exiting, you have to steer differently).

There are a few key things you need to do. Virginia is a bad example, as it has lots of unusual and unique corners. Take turn 1 from the two circuits mentioned above. You need to brake a bit in a straight line, and then you need to turn into the corner while braking, with somewhat less braking power. For both, as soon as you are on the apex, get on around 20% throttle, and gradually squeeze the throttle as much as possible without running off the racing line, or causing wheelspin.

I recommend trying to avoid coasting too much. The biggest factor for me is throttle. On most corners, around half-way you need to get onto around 20% throttle (maybe more) and gently squeeze. As soon as you can hit 100% throttle without wheelspin or ruining the line, do it. Generally you should never jump straight onto 100% throttle. If this does not produce wheelspin, then it's telling you that you can take the corner in a faster way.

Also, don't slide. Some people think this looks cool or something (especially developers/publishers, which has ruined the sim-racing market). If you have four wheel and tarmac, it is generally not the quickest way. Sliding in a corner may be as quick sometimes, but it's the loss of control which is the biggest problem for me. It changes the lines you can take, and changes how you can use the throttle.

So here's a few things to try:

- Don't slide
- Turn-in & brake together for some suitable corners (start turning at some distance into the braking zone, reducing the braking power)
- Get on around 20-40% throttle mid-corner
- Slowly increase the throttle out of exit
- Drive your lines to give priority to exit-speed (slow in, fast out)

 

[Biggles]

Steve: you may think 30 laps is a lot, but it takes a lot more than that to really get to grips with a track as complex as VIR. Although inherent skill plays a significant role, more important is experience. If you look at the profiles of the fastest SCC drivers, you will see that they have hundreds of hours in-game, & probably hundreds of laps at VIR. Don't worry about trying to match the fastest times, just focus on chipping away at your own time - you'll find you'll gradually knock seconds off.

I would definitely ditch the racing line, you need to develop an "intuitive" feel for the track. Following the racing line & braking zones inhibits that feel.

 

[steve30b]

If your willing to, I'm available to be your training-buddy, since myself am practicing and getting used to the wheel (DFP + wheelstand pro) also. By the way, did some quite pleasant races last night on the 250 testa rossa with manunza and estadios, around Mugello and later in Spa.

Add me to your friends list (GTP_bullie77)[/QUOTE

thanks bullie i will add you when i go the ps3 latter.

 

[steve30b]

all your comments and tips will be taken on board and hopefully in a few more weeks i might be able to be lapped only once per race and not 3..

 

[chilledant]

@steve, bro you can add me 2 no worries,, you can join me anytime also,, @GTP_Bullie,, My dads friend breeds them dogs,, I am more of a big cat person,, i love them lion's,, even more so,, cheatas,, beautiful and fast,, but dont get your fingers in the way you might lose them our a arm for that matter,,, lol....

 

[jjaisli]

...I am more of a big cat person,, i love them lion's,, even more so,, cheatas,, beautiful and fast,, but dont get your fingers in the way you might lose them our a arm for that matter,,, lol....

WTF--where do you live, Cape Town or Kruger National Park.

 

[bullie77]

@GTP_Bullie,, My dads friend breeds them dogs.

Your dad's friend breed bullies? What's his name / or kennel name (afix)?

 

[steve30b]

@steve, bro you can add me 2 no worries,, you can join me anytime also,, @GTP_Bullie,, My dads friend breeds them dogs,, I am more of a big cat person,, i love them lion's,, even more so,, cheatas,, beautiful and fast,, but dont get your fingers in the way you might lose them our a arm for that matter,,, lol....

ok i will add you tonight 👍 on the cats thing my wife is into big cats,we have a bengal cat. he his a right handfull some days.

 

[Hun200kmh]

I'm also a big cat person, I like Jaguars ...

oh, and when I played Panzer General, back in the day, I very much liked to have my panzerdivisions filled with Tigers and Panthers ...

 

[jjaisli]

Cats, dogs, lions...

I think I may have you all beat. This fellow wandered into my back yard two years ago.

And his brethren are out and about more often lately. Last spring I was lugging my trash up the hill on garbage day and came face to face with a large male ~ 300+ kgs. The risks one takes when living in 'their' territory I suppose, having settled in the dark and deadly, Ramapo Mountains.

Of course there was that one time when Biggles came to visit and we were savagely attacked by a trio of ravenous wild chickens....

(This is ALMOST a true story).

So "bear" in mind when I'm racing, I'm often distracted by keeping a watchful eye out for predators.

 

[Alan_G]

I am more of a big cat person,, i love them lion's,, even more so,, cheatas,, beautiful and fast,, but dont get your fingers in the way you might lose them our a arm for that matter,,, lol....

How about my sprinting kitten!

<-----------------------

Approach with care.

 

[bullie77]

LOL @ Jeff

Nice bear! I'll instead keep up with these instead...

South Africa Ch. Bonaparte of the French Border at Kingstonia

UK Ch. Ghabar the Admiral

These two fellows date from the early 80's and were possibly the last two males that can be considered as 'milestones' in the history of the breed. They are so important that it is estimated that you can find one of them, or even both, and quite some often more than one time, at the pedigree of almost any Bull Terrier in the world today.

Speaking of bears, the breed on which Bull Terriers were mainly bred-off, the Bull-And-Terrier, was used in England in fights with several kinds of different animals, such as Bulls and Bears! This was back way before the UK government banned dog fighting back in 1836. However they bravery was most cherished and pursued, and even today you can see it in Bull Terriers (amongst other breeds derived from them). The standard of the breed used to describe them, until its last revision in 2008, as the gladiator of the canine race, and that it should be fearless in any circumstances. I've seen personally young bull terriers "happily" jumping around wild bulls to play.

Sorry for the off-topic but these guys have this effect on me...

 

[arvore]

Since everyone is showing off their pets LOL-Jeff defenetly wins the most scary's prize (man how can you sleep!!!)- i leave a photo of my beloved BIANCA,hope you like it...👍

 

[chilledant]

lol guys,, jeff i stay in cape town,, been to the kruger park, but its far from here,, bears dont got them here,, @GTP_Bullie,, i will find out whats his kennels for you,, your bullie has got a great stamina,, @Alan, your kitten has got style,, what do they say,, dynamite comes in small packages,, @GTP_Hun,, i dont exactly no were jaguars come from,, i think its south america our asia they more a jungle cat like tygers,, tygers are mainly found in the indian frosts our dense jungle,, our 3 main cat are lions, cheatas and lepords,, thanks for your imput on our lastest episode of SCC IN THE WILD.. ha ha haa,, i had good laughs now,, brilliant... your all great,,

 

[Biggles]

The risks one takes when living in 'their' territory I suppose, having settled in the dark and deadly, Ramapo Mountains.

Yeah, the Ramapo Mountains resemble Deadwood, & Jeff's a regular Al Swearengen.

The wild chickens didn't scare me none.

 

[jjaisli]

Yeah, the Ramapo Mountains resemble Deadwood, & Jeff's a regular Al Swearengen.

The wild chickens didn't scare me none.

Yeah, right now I'm forcing the local chipmunk population into prostitution and collecting a generous share of their acorn stores.

Anyway, before we drag this TOO far off topic, if that's even possible, I'm considering a 512M event on the 31st of January, usual time, but I need another day or two to be sure I can work it in. I'll keep you all advised.

For the record, this vista is about a 45 minute hike from my house, proving that with broadband, you can live anywhere.

 

[Biggles]

Lake Simcoe midwinter. Keep an eye out for Polar Bears.

 

[bullie77]

@ chilli: Thank you although these none are mine (I wish!) - Just the avatar picture is from my bitch.

@ Jeff: Lovely view! You know, I would like some day to visit the US for 2 reasons; 1) Do all Route 66 from Chicago to LA. 2) travel across the northern part of the country PRECISELY for those images. Beautiful!