- 2,354
- Bastrop, TX
HI Guys, here's my first "Write-Up" so please don't be TOO critical. As I stated in the poll "Der Alta's" assault on the Tokyo Rte 246 Enduro piqued my attention. Since I've been driving nothing but Road Cars for about four months I first tried it with a Nismo & then one of my NSXs figuring they were the same type "Base" cars as the Race Cars in this event. After 20 laps in each it was obvious much more "Tuning" would be neccessary. So I decided to use the Stock Nissan "CALSONIC", one of the cars in the game I had never driven before. I made VERY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS to the chassis, kind of a "Starting" point setting I've developed for my Road Cars. Purchased some T2 tires / changed the Oil & then I took it to Arcade Mode "Free Run" to set the Trans. Just blasted the long straight a coupla times to make sure it peaked out in 6th before my braking point. I must say I AM AMAZED at how well this car handles & stops!!! Maybe because I've been fighting overpowered Road Cars for so long, but this thing feels like it's running on RAILS!!!! I won't list the AI Pit Schedule as it is well documented in Der Alta's "Blow by Blow". Off to the Race:
I didn't qualify, because I drive with a wheel & w/the Enduros' "Flying Start" if I'm in front when the "Auto Drive" gives me back control, it's often too close to the first corner (i.e. Cote D' Azure). So I started in 6th, abreast of the "Raybrig" NSX which I figured from Der Alta's summary would be the main competition. I let the AI cars run into each other & stayed to the inside thru turns #1 & 2 picking up a coupla of spots before being hammered into the wall & falling back to sixth. By the last turn before the long straight back towards the Start/Finish was in the first group & the BEST RACING of the whole enduro ensued. The best I can make out from the replay (Which I saved) I swapped the lead w/Raybrig 12 times before the end of Lap #6. Coming onto the main straight he fell back about a second & 1/2 and remained there thru Lap#7 when he pitted. The "Denso/Sard" Supra took over second at that time.
I pitted @ the end of 20Laps:
Total Time: 33'22.883
Front tires: Pale Orange / Rear Tires: Bright Yellow
Lead: 24.7xx over Denso Sard Supra
Best Lap: 1'37.847
Two turns into Lap 24 my Logitech Wheel stuck @ full right turn & slammed me into the wall.
(Unfortunatly an "All too often" occurance, but one I understand others have had as well!!!). By the time I found the pause button, unplugged & replugged my USB Cable, to reset the wheel, I'd lost about 5 seconds. It was actually a blessing in disquise as I had a good race w/Denso Supra for about three Laps.On Lap 30 I lost the Feedback
but not control, so paused on the next straight, reset & continued.Lapped the Loctite Car on Lap 34.
Lapped the Pennzoil Car on Lap 35 & a good race ensued for 1 Lap. It was like he didn't like being lapped & tried to fight back!!
Same scenario much later when they were lapped for the second time.
I pitted @ the end of 40Laps:
Total Time: 66'52.333
Front tires: Pale Orange / Rear Tires: Bright Yellow
Lead: 31.xxx over Denso Sard Supra
Best Lap: 1'37.119
I pitted @ the end of 60Laps: Just after Oil Light came on.
Total Time: 100'29.285
Front tires: Pale Orange / Rear Tires: Bright Yellow
Lead: 49.xxx over Raybrig NSX
Best Lap: 1'37.119 (Set between Laps 30 & 40)
I pitted @ the end of 80Laps:
Total Time: 134'15.066
Front tires: Pale Orange / Rear Tires: Bright Yellow
Lead: 49.xxx over Denso Sard Supra
Best Lap: 1'37.119 (Set between Laps 30 & 40)
Total Time @ Lap #100: 167'43.824
Front tires: Pale Orange / Rear Tires: Bright Yellow
Lead: 46.xxx over Denso Sard Supra
Lead: 59.xxx over Raybrig NSX
Best Lap: 1'37.119 (Set between Laps 30 & 40)
OBSERVATIONS: T2 Tires would probably have lasted at least 2-3 more Laps, possibly all the way to Lap 25, making for 3 pit stops instead of 4. Net effect on time??? I don't know. T3 tires would probably have made for a 5 or 6 stop strategy, again probable outcome??? Unknown.
Now onto EVIDENCE OF AI CHEATING: The Raybrig NSX put up a great battle untill his tires went away, while I was running on BLUE T2s @ about 1'40.xxx per lap. Assumptions: He would continue to post similar Lap Times & NOT taking into consideration that my tires would warm to where I had NO Lap Time over 1'41.000 & most were in the 38s & 39s. We should be in a very tight race, NO???? But he stopped 10 TIMES MORE THAN I DID FOR TIRES!!! If you figure 20 seconds per stop that's over 3 minutes or about 2 Laps he should have been trailing, NOT 59.xxx seconds!!!!!
Almost 3 hours is a long time to "Tail" another car, but w/the right mindset I just might re-run this race and stay in 2nd or 3rd just to see the Lap times the Rybrig NSX & Denso Supra post when they're in front. This doesn't quite measure up to the Viper miraculously making up for a pit stop in LESS THAN ONE LAP @ Grand Valley, but wouldn't it be a lot more fun if the AI Cars ran consistently rather than SLOW when they're in front & UNREALISTICLY FAST when they're behind.??? If you waded through all this, THANX.......UB57
