- 715
First, a little background to make things relative:
I've been lurking in and out of this forum for some time now taking advantage of the posts to improve my game. I decided it wasn't really right to just take advantage of the posts without putting something back into the pot so here is my first contribution.
Ive been through a few controllers on my first couple of time through the game and this restart I actually sat down to take the time to gold the licenses before starting anything else. (Man what an advantage that gives!)
I had read how some in this forum had started with a Vitz which intrigued me and in spite of having a garage full of options after golding the licenses and time trials, I spent the money on a White Vitz and officially dubbed it "Whitzer".
Knowing the Austin I won was (to me) little more than a looker and basically not a choice I was going to use, it went up on the Auction Block along with sacrificing the Viper Concept.
With the "phatt" pocketbook I now had, I poured myself into the scrubbing bubble "Whitzer" and started the latest adventure with a trip to the parts store to dump a "phatt" 100k.
Whitzer was ready to go and it seemed a waste of good parts to go anywhere but to the vitz races in the pro league. Why? I guess because I could. In the process, I could "phatten" back up the now "Atkinsized" pocketbook. Seemed like a good idea. Besides, I happen to like the Scrubbing Bubbles races.
First thing I did was set up the parts on the new car as follows:
Full Racing Suspension:
SR- 7.2/6/1
RH- 89/89
SB- 8/8
SRB- 8/8
CA- 2.0/1.0
TA- 0.0/0.0
Stab- 6/6
I didn't use any brake controller although I did at the racing brakes.
LSD- 10/40/20
ASM/TCS- 0/2
After some testing, I ended up starting the racing with the stock 5-speed tranny. It just seemed like I was pulling better lap times when I was testing at Rome... I ended up changing that later on as you will read later.
I also went back to the stock muffler after testing just to try to make it a little more competitive.
I loaded up Super Slicks (T2) on the front and Slicks (T3) in the rear, brushed up on my Italian and headed off to Rome:
Rome:
I knew what was going to happen when the bubbles turned into suds at the first corner so I didn't bother qualifying. Instead, I started from the basement (as I have read Der Alta say) of the grid. I hung back enough to cut inside and immediately moved up two spots as the 4th and 5th bubbles cleaned up the guardrail. By the second left into the long sweeping straight, I was in position to under brake and get back on the gas over the rumble at the apex of the corner and pass the third place bubble. I found myself slipping into the quiet spot behind the second place scrubber.
I maxed out the tranny partway down the ensuing straight and was unable to gain the advantage over second place. I dogged the front two just out of range but slowly pulling up on them for the balance of the first lap. About two thirds of the way up the back sweeping straightaway, I slipped streamed tight to the second place bubble. As he entered the easy right turn, I knew he would overshoot just enough that I would be able to duck under him to the right and secure second place. He did and I did.
First place was not far ahead and being faster through the next left and right, I was able to slip by into first place as we turned left between the buildings and he decided the guardrails needed a bit of scrubbing.
That was pretty much the end of the racing at that point and I motivated myself to the finishline by racing against my own time.
Me- 16'39.607
Bitz- +034.295
Gitz- +036.011
Sitz- +036.800
Blitz- +028.755
Ritz- +040.400
Best Lap- 1'37.361
Laguna:
Starting sixth again, the lights staged and the dings donged and we were off! At the first hairpin, I yelled, "LOOKOUT BOYS! PHATTBOY COMIN' THROUGH!" When the bubbles popped, I was in second... for a second. I felt a bonk and the Sitz shot by for second and the Gitz gotz third again. I held fourth through to the corkscrew where I out braked him, dropped off the edge into the corkscrew and gotz third back from Gitz. At the last tight left to the front straight, I shotz by the Sitz and couldn't believe the time the lead guy was puttin on the Ritz. He was passing the start/finish and rounding the bend.
Slowly and steadily I reeled him in. When I finally caught him near the corkscrew, I was on him like a Whitz on a Ritz. I managed a perfect weight shift entering the downforce corner and as we exited the corkscrew, I shot past into first place where I remained for the balance of Laguna. I spent a lot of time debating what I would have to remove to make this a little more competitive. This, of course, being a far cry different than the first time I did this race.
Me (Whitzer)- 15'43.609
Ritz- +30.329
Gitz- ++32.499
Sitz- +34.457
Bitz- +36.047
Blitz- +36.199
Best Lap- 1'32.162
Test Track:
At going on 48 years old I can spot a cruel joke when I see one and this is a cruel joke on the part of the creators of this wonderful game. Needless to say, I didn't take anything off. Instead, I added back on the Racing muffler, tuned the tranny out and put myself through the agony.
Note: By tuning the tranny, I mean to say, start stock, put final all right, auto then all left and return final to 2.95.
Whitzer went wheezing through torture course at 24'22.206 with everyone else darn near two laps down.
Best Lap- A blistering 2'24.298 averaging about 158-159 through the turns and up to a smokin' 162-162 and sometimes even 162 by the end of the straights.
I can tell you I know how many dashed white lane marks there are as well as how many lights in the tunnel. (I said I can tell you I KNOW how many there are... I didn't say I was going to tell you!)
SS 11 (Better known to me as the "How do they do that" race:
I did the usual after loading back up my previous settings replete with the 5-speed stock tranny. I did the usual finally get past them on the 5th lap and finished out the race. Blah Blah Blah.
Decided that wasn't good enough and the challenge was calling me. Reloaded and put in the racing tranny. After playing around and ending up with:
1st- 2.833
2nd- 2.041
3rd- 1.551
4th- 1.231
5th- 1.00
6th- 0.770
Final 4.312
Auto at 20 (I think)
I ran what I thought was a pretty fair lap of 2'09.xxx with medium tires. Deciding that was good enough to give it another go, I reloaded the game, put back on the t2/t3 combo tires, reloaded my new setup and started in the bottom of the bucket 'o' suds.
When the lights went, I hole shot at just under 5k on the tach and picked up two places in the first corner. Even with the bonks I got through the first chicane(?) I exited it still in fourth place. I managed to pass the third and second place bubbles before the end of the second lap. I caught Mr. Bitz by the end of the front straight (thank you very much Mr. 0.770 Sixth Gear) on lap three, dogged him through the first chicane like thingy and having a better line coming off it, I carried enough speed to shift Whitzer over tight to the rail just as Mr. Bitz finished cleaning it and slip by for the lead.
Whitzer- 22'07.821
Sitz- +1'03.814
Gitz- +1'08.260
Blitz- +1'09.395
Bitz- +1'10.705
Ritz- +1'14.331
Best Lap 2'10.207
Grand Valley:
Basically uneventful... Same settings, bottom of the bucket start.
Passed the first place car just out of the tunnel and ended up as follows:
Whitzer- 21'37.469
Gitz- +1'26.185
Ritz- +1'26.322
Blitz- +1'26.546
Bitz- +1'28.244
Sitz- +1'28.334
Best Lap- 2'06.629
I hate this track in any other car but for some reason or another it is actually fun in the Whitzer with this setup.
Out of the hole at just under 5k. Accelerate (as best you can) to the end of the straight. Slip to the left and line up on the apex. Slam the brakes hard in a straight line just before the start of the rumble. Off the brakes and coast for a second to the rumble strip at the apex and gas back on drifting to the opposite rumble strip heading down to the overhanging signs.
Keep the gas and ride the right side rumble all the way to the shadow of the last overhanging sign. Slam the brakes in a straight line, then off, no bump them again. Then off the brakes, down several gears, turn into the first tight left, burp the throttle on and off then on again to the tight right, off the gas, burp the throttle on and off a couple of time to shift the weight in the rear. Then feather back to full power through the turn, upshift and arch back to the outside of the track.
At the shadow of the last Tickford sign, off/on (thats a verb) the gas while you turn left to enter the tunnel feathering the gas back to full throttle in and out of the apex in the middle of the tunnel. Upshift midway under full acceleration through the turn and out of the tunnel. Cop 6th at the bridge and full tilt across.
At the other end of the bridge, hammer the brakes in a straight line at the shadow, then get off them, downshift, turn and feather back on the gas holding tight to the left wall of the tunnel. Brakes, burp the gas and turn right as you exit the tunnel to shift the weight in the rear and ride the rumble from the right to the rumble on the left. Enter the third tunnel under full throttle again holding tight to the left wall.
Just before you exit, hammer the brakes, turn right, downshift and burp the throttle on/off then feather it back on to ride the driftout to the left side of the track. Feather the gas for weight shift through the next left and right. When the green part of the fence is dead center and you peak the apex of the sweeping right, full throttle and upshift completing the arc back to the right side of the track. At the hairpin, hammer the brakes and downshift, turn, bump the brakes again and then feather the throttle out to the right side rumble strip in as gentle an arc as possible to maximize acceleration. Then, its back to the left side of the track.
Early apex the short right then late apex the next gentle left then right. Down the hill to the rumble strip on the right, hammer the brakes, downshift, turn left, feather the gas, feel the weight shift as you just ride the center apex on the left and full throttle, upshifting out to the right side of the track again just catching the end of the rumble there. Round the big right and down the straight and start all over again.
Ten times later, there you have it... Pick up the Tom's and find the save button, the phattboy has sung and you can go home now.
As for me and Whitzer (popper of bubbles) We are off to Seattle for a quick (well maybe not THAT quick) 40 with a Z0-6 in the rearview.
(Hope I did this right)
I've been lurking in and out of this forum for some time now taking advantage of the posts to improve my game. I decided it wasn't really right to just take advantage of the posts without putting something back into the pot so here is my first contribution.
Ive been through a few controllers on my first couple of time through the game and this restart I actually sat down to take the time to gold the licenses before starting anything else. (Man what an advantage that gives!)
I had read how some in this forum had started with a Vitz which intrigued me and in spite of having a garage full of options after golding the licenses and time trials, I spent the money on a White Vitz and officially dubbed it "Whitzer".
Knowing the Austin I won was (to me) little more than a looker and basically not a choice I was going to use, it went up on the Auction Block along with sacrificing the Viper Concept.
With the "phatt" pocketbook I now had, I poured myself into the scrubbing bubble "Whitzer" and started the latest adventure with a trip to the parts store to dump a "phatt" 100k.
Whitzer was ready to go and it seemed a waste of good parts to go anywhere but to the vitz races in the pro league. Why? I guess because I could. In the process, I could "phatten" back up the now "Atkinsized" pocketbook. Seemed like a good idea. Besides, I happen to like the Scrubbing Bubbles races.
First thing I did was set up the parts on the new car as follows:
Full Racing Suspension:
SR- 7.2/6/1
RH- 89/89
SB- 8/8
SRB- 8/8
CA- 2.0/1.0
TA- 0.0/0.0
Stab- 6/6
I didn't use any brake controller although I did at the racing brakes.
LSD- 10/40/20
ASM/TCS- 0/2
After some testing, I ended up starting the racing with the stock 5-speed tranny. It just seemed like I was pulling better lap times when I was testing at Rome... I ended up changing that later on as you will read later.
I also went back to the stock muffler after testing just to try to make it a little more competitive.
I loaded up Super Slicks (T2) on the front and Slicks (T3) in the rear, brushed up on my Italian and headed off to Rome:
Rome:
I knew what was going to happen when the bubbles turned into suds at the first corner so I didn't bother qualifying. Instead, I started from the basement (as I have read Der Alta say) of the grid. I hung back enough to cut inside and immediately moved up two spots as the 4th and 5th bubbles cleaned up the guardrail. By the second left into the long sweeping straight, I was in position to under brake and get back on the gas over the rumble at the apex of the corner and pass the third place bubble. I found myself slipping into the quiet spot behind the second place scrubber.
I maxed out the tranny partway down the ensuing straight and was unable to gain the advantage over second place. I dogged the front two just out of range but slowly pulling up on them for the balance of the first lap. About two thirds of the way up the back sweeping straightaway, I slipped streamed tight to the second place bubble. As he entered the easy right turn, I knew he would overshoot just enough that I would be able to duck under him to the right and secure second place. He did and I did.
First place was not far ahead and being faster through the next left and right, I was able to slip by into first place as we turned left between the buildings and he decided the guardrails needed a bit of scrubbing.
That was pretty much the end of the racing at that point and I motivated myself to the finishline by racing against my own time.
Me- 16'39.607
Bitz- +034.295
Gitz- +036.011
Sitz- +036.800
Blitz- +028.755
Ritz- +040.400
Best Lap- 1'37.361
Laguna:
Starting sixth again, the lights staged and the dings donged and we were off! At the first hairpin, I yelled, "LOOKOUT BOYS! PHATTBOY COMIN' THROUGH!" When the bubbles popped, I was in second... for a second. I felt a bonk and the Sitz shot by for second and the Gitz gotz third again. I held fourth through to the corkscrew where I out braked him, dropped off the edge into the corkscrew and gotz third back from Gitz. At the last tight left to the front straight, I shotz by the Sitz and couldn't believe the time the lead guy was puttin on the Ritz. He was passing the start/finish and rounding the bend.
Slowly and steadily I reeled him in. When I finally caught him near the corkscrew, I was on him like a Whitz on a Ritz. I managed a perfect weight shift entering the downforce corner and as we exited the corkscrew, I shot past into first place where I remained for the balance of Laguna. I spent a lot of time debating what I would have to remove to make this a little more competitive. This, of course, being a far cry different than the first time I did this race.
Me (Whitzer)- 15'43.609
Ritz- +30.329
Gitz- ++32.499
Sitz- +34.457
Bitz- +36.047
Blitz- +36.199
Best Lap- 1'32.162
Test Track:
At going on 48 years old I can spot a cruel joke when I see one and this is a cruel joke on the part of the creators of this wonderful game. Needless to say, I didn't take anything off. Instead, I added back on the Racing muffler, tuned the tranny out and put myself through the agony.
Note: By tuning the tranny, I mean to say, start stock, put final all right, auto then all left and return final to 2.95.
Whitzer went wheezing through torture course at 24'22.206 with everyone else darn near two laps down.
Best Lap- A blistering 2'24.298 averaging about 158-159 through the turns and up to a smokin' 162-162 and sometimes even 162 by the end of the straights.
I can tell you I know how many dashed white lane marks there are as well as how many lights in the tunnel. (I said I can tell you I KNOW how many there are... I didn't say I was going to tell you!)
SS 11 (Better known to me as the "How do they do that" race:
I did the usual after loading back up my previous settings replete with the 5-speed stock tranny. I did the usual finally get past them on the 5th lap and finished out the race. Blah Blah Blah.
Decided that wasn't good enough and the challenge was calling me. Reloaded and put in the racing tranny. After playing around and ending up with:
1st- 2.833
2nd- 2.041
3rd- 1.551
4th- 1.231
5th- 1.00
6th- 0.770
Final 4.312
Auto at 20 (I think)
I ran what I thought was a pretty fair lap of 2'09.xxx with medium tires. Deciding that was good enough to give it another go, I reloaded the game, put back on the t2/t3 combo tires, reloaded my new setup and started in the bottom of the bucket 'o' suds.
When the lights went, I hole shot at just under 5k on the tach and picked up two places in the first corner. Even with the bonks I got through the first chicane(?) I exited it still in fourth place. I managed to pass the third and second place bubbles before the end of the second lap. I caught Mr. Bitz by the end of the front straight (thank you very much Mr. 0.770 Sixth Gear) on lap three, dogged him through the first chicane like thingy and having a better line coming off it, I carried enough speed to shift Whitzer over tight to the rail just as Mr. Bitz finished cleaning it and slip by for the lead.
Whitzer- 22'07.821
Sitz- +1'03.814
Gitz- +1'08.260
Blitz- +1'09.395
Bitz- +1'10.705
Ritz- +1'14.331
Best Lap 2'10.207
Grand Valley:
Basically uneventful... Same settings, bottom of the bucket start.
Passed the first place car just out of the tunnel and ended up as follows:
Whitzer- 21'37.469
Gitz- +1'26.185
Ritz- +1'26.322
Blitz- +1'26.546
Bitz- +1'28.244
Sitz- +1'28.334
Best Lap- 2'06.629
I hate this track in any other car but for some reason or another it is actually fun in the Whitzer with this setup.
Out of the hole at just under 5k. Accelerate (as best you can) to the end of the straight. Slip to the left and line up on the apex. Slam the brakes hard in a straight line just before the start of the rumble. Off the brakes and coast for a second to the rumble strip at the apex and gas back on drifting to the opposite rumble strip heading down to the overhanging signs.
Keep the gas and ride the right side rumble all the way to the shadow of the last overhanging sign. Slam the brakes in a straight line, then off, no bump them again. Then off the brakes, down several gears, turn into the first tight left, burp the throttle on and off then on again to the tight right, off the gas, burp the throttle on and off a couple of time to shift the weight in the rear. Then feather back to full power through the turn, upshift and arch back to the outside of the track.
At the shadow of the last Tickford sign, off/on (thats a verb) the gas while you turn left to enter the tunnel feathering the gas back to full throttle in and out of the apex in the middle of the tunnel. Upshift midway under full acceleration through the turn and out of the tunnel. Cop 6th at the bridge and full tilt across.
At the other end of the bridge, hammer the brakes in a straight line at the shadow, then get off them, downshift, turn and feather back on the gas holding tight to the left wall of the tunnel. Brakes, burp the gas and turn right as you exit the tunnel to shift the weight in the rear and ride the rumble from the right to the rumble on the left. Enter the third tunnel under full throttle again holding tight to the left wall.
Just before you exit, hammer the brakes, turn right, downshift and burp the throttle on/off then feather it back on to ride the driftout to the left side of the track. Feather the gas for weight shift through the next left and right. When the green part of the fence is dead center and you peak the apex of the sweeping right, full throttle and upshift completing the arc back to the right side of the track. At the hairpin, hammer the brakes and downshift, turn, bump the brakes again and then feather the throttle out to the right side rumble strip in as gentle an arc as possible to maximize acceleration. Then, its back to the left side of the track.
Early apex the short right then late apex the next gentle left then right. Down the hill to the rumble strip on the right, hammer the brakes, downshift, turn left, feather the gas, feel the weight shift as you just ride the center apex on the left and full throttle, upshifting out to the right side of the track again just catching the end of the rumble there. Round the big right and down the straight and start all over again.
Ten times later, there you have it... Pick up the Tom's and find the save button, the phattboy has sung and you can go home now.
As for me and Whitzer (popper of bubbles) We are off to Seattle for a quick (well maybe not THAT quick) 40 with a Z0-6 in the rearview.
(Hope I did this right)
Keep 'em coming & Welcome to the GTP Forums!...UB57 
