SimHQ F1 Challenge - March/April Tintop Series



A seven-race weekly event series run consecutive Sundays starting March 16th, 2008.

We all know these cars. We have run them since they have first arrived, but we've never run them as a series by themselves -- until now!

And what better time than as the follow-up event to the SimHQ F1 Series for 2008.

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The Mod

McLaren F1 Challenge v3.00
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=McLaren%20F1%20Challenge

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Skins

Reminder - McLaren LMs are faster than the GTRs

Besides the skins that are included in the mod, you can pick from these. The selected skins will be loaded on the server.

Or create your own skin! McLaren F1 Challenge Template (2048) by maisconha
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/dloader.cf...emplates&res=hi

NOTE: Created skins must be emailed to guod@SimHQ [dot] com by March 13th at the latest!

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Skins Installation

Skin pack released. Zip file is 8MB. All drivers need to download and install the 7 cars in the pack.

http://www.simhq.com/_downloads/motorsports/rfactor/gamedata.zip

To install the car pack:

1) Remove ALL add-on and custom car folders... EVEN YOUR CAR IF ITS AN ADD-ON OR CUSTOM CAR... from C:\Program Files\rFactor\GameData\Vehicles\McLaren F1\LM

2) Be sure you have all the default LM cars. Here is a reference image for the cars that should be included:



3) Add all 7 folders in the zip to the same directory.

4) Make sure you have not picked a GTR class car! GTR will not be available on the server.

Send me an email or PM if you have any problems.

Custom and Add-on skins selection is now closed since the car pack has been released. If you would like to enter the series, please select one of the cars from the LM group.

Thanks.

- Doug

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Tracks

All tracks are pulled from the rFactorCentral Hall of Fame, and are tracks SimHQ has run in previous events.

Two track revisions to the schedule: Biranza has been dropped due to it's narrow width; Paul Ricard has been dropped and a 4 hour Le Mans finale has been added in it's place (3-17-08).

March 16th
Le Mans 1972-1986 v1.10
We will be using the 1977 configuration.
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Le%20Mans%201972%2D1986

March 23rd
Note track change:
Manfeild v1.10
Layout: New Zealand Grand Prix
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Manfeild

March 30th
Birmingham Motorplex v1.55
Layout: Birmingham Club (yes, the real short course)
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Birmingham%20Motorplex

SLN Birmingham Textures (optional)
http://sln.rscsites.org/

Birmingham setup for the McLaren F1 by Dave Purdy
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/setups.cfm?ID=Birmingham%20Motorplex

April 6th
Bathurst ORSM v1.10
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Bathurst%20ORSM

NOTE: Because of the length of the Bathurst track, today's sprint race will be 5 laps.

April 13th
Brands Hatch 2005 v1.01
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Brands%20Hatch%202005

April 20th
Rouen-Les-Essarts 1.01
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Rouen%2DLes%2DEssarts

April 27th
Le Mans 1972-1986 v1.10
Layout: We will be using the 1977 configuration.
Note: This is a 4 hour endurance race with at least 1 driver swap (3-17-08).
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Le%20Mans%201972%2D1986

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Schedule

All times U.S. Eastern

2:00 PM - 15 minutes of practice
2:15 PM - 10 lap sprint with a shotgun start (for Le Mans, 3 laps)
2:45 PM - 10 minute qualifying
2:55 PM - 5 minute warmup
3:00 PM - 1 hour race

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Format

- rFactor v1255 "F" update
- track race time setting: 1 PM - sprint; 1 hour races will have a varied starting track time
- black flags only
- 25% damage
- driving aids: clutch + shifting; traction control (off, low, medium, high settings)
- fuel: normal
- tires: normal
- AI: none
- mechanical damage: normal
- drivers view: open
- start: standing
- maximum of 1 restart
- no switching cars after completion the 1st race

The Entry Grid

Entry 1
Nickname: guod
Car Skin: SimHQ Motorsports (Custom skin)
Car Number: 19

Entry 2
Nickname: Vikz
Car Skin: McLaren F1 LM Valvoline (add-on skin)
Car Number: 13

Entry 3
Nickname : Col Kurtz
Car Skin : McLaren F1 LM Blaupunkt (add-on skin)
Car Number : 08

Entry 4
Nickname: David Carney
Car Skin: Tannerdog "speed channel" (add-on skin)
Car Number: 25

Entry 5
Nickname: Weasel Keeper
Car Skin: Lucky Strike LM (Stock skin)
Car Number: 81

Entry 6
Nickname: Ahmad
Car Skin: McLaren PENNZOIL (Stock skin)
Car Number: 51

Entry 7
Nickname: LazyC
Car Skin: Danish McLaren F1 RACING TEAM (Custom skin)
Car Number: 447

Entry 8
Nickname: Striker7
Car Skin: Caterpillar (Stock skin)
Car Number: 26

Entry 9
Nickname: Joe
Car skin: West (Stock skin)
Car number: 17

Entry 10
Nickname: Chipwich
Car skin: Hugo Boss by Viperpainter (add-on skin)
Car number: I'll get back to you

Entry 11
Nickname: SteV8
Car skin: Dewalt Mclaren F1 racing
Car number:

Entry 12
Nickname: AMK
Car skin: Tag Heuer McLaren F1 Racing
Car number:

Entry 13
Nickname: Jenrick
Car Skin: HP Skin
Car Number:

Entry 14
Nickname : ODB_Spectre
Car Skin : Pepsi X McLaren F1 (stock skin)
Car Number : 79

Nickname: guod
Car Skin: SimHQ Motorsports (custom)
Car Number: 19

A great choice of mod for the tin-top series Doug. These cars are fabulous and even better now that the mod has been upgraded to version 3.0. Guys, don't forget, the McLaren GTR is slower than the McLaren LM.

Nickname: Vikz
Car Skin: McLaren F1 LM Valvoline (skin)
Car Number: 13



I'm looking forward to a drive around Bathurst with these cars

Nickname : Col Kurtz
Car Skin : McLaren F1 LM Blaupunkt (skin)
Car Number : 08

*Looks at tracks and smiles

Good choice with the skin Col. I had a hard time deciding between the Blaupunkt and the Valvoline myself

Nickname: David Carney
Car Skin: Tannerdog "speed channel"
Car Number: 25

Weasel Keeper

Lucky Strike LM

#81

(Stock skin)

Nickname: Ahmad
Car Skin: Stock
Car Number: #51 McLaren PENNZOIL

Nickname: LazyC
Car Skin: DEWALT McLaren F1 RACING
Car Number: 17

Remember the hump near the end of the very fast straight at 79 LeMans??? Don't lose your wing and try driving 214mph over it. Scary!

Scary?

looks like fun!

Wow, I thought V8 Supercars were tough. These things don't like to turn at all, and braking is pretty tough too. It's fun to run very low downforce and just haul ass, but I definately need some wing to turn and brake. These cars feel pretty heavy when it's time to get them whoa'd up.

I did match my average time that I ran in the Audi R8 at the SSCA Daytona course...but got into the wall of the speedway in the tri oval (2/4 wing).

Birmingham GP...guess I'm just not used to the speed with these. I love Birmingham but couldn't complete a lap yet (was still 1/2 wing).

Bathurst...a bit easier with some downforce, but get on the rumble strip coming down to the corkscrew and my back end was thrown into the air and spun me hard...puncturing a tire and losing my rear wing (2/6 wing).

I've never run a race at 79 LeMans, and barely ever practiced there yet. I need a lot of work before I complete any laps for time because it's so long.

I'm tempted to run this, I'm somewhat moody:

I rather like the colour scheme FC. The sponsors and logos are a tad scary though

A great mix of tracks, Doug. Should really put these cars through their paces. I will pick a vehicle tonight.

Just thought of something, since I realized my pit crew is still busy fueling my car in the Orchard Lake pits: we'd better make sure pitstops in this mod work properly.

Questioned about his sources of funding, Epic Fail team leader FC had this to say:
"We have a great bunch of partners and sponsors, which we have carefully selected to be in line with the team objectives and predictable performance. I don't think they'll be dissapointed with our performance (or lack of thereof)."

FC, I'm stunned that you weren't offered large sums by Yugo for their transmissions.

Overheard at the Autozone parts counter:

Owner: "I'd like a windshield wiper for my Yugo."
Parts chap: "Sorry, cash or check only."




(DVD Rewinder <snerk!>)

IŽd Like to change my car selection to this car:



and just to make it a bit official:
Nickname:LazyC
Car Skin:Danish McLaren F1 RACING TEAM (skin)
Car Number:447

FC, i like your text: "Powered by LADA!"

Do you need a team mate?

OMG FC is that "we_own_unix" SCO LOL

Nickname: Striker7
Car Skin: Caterpillar
Car Number: 26

Where do I put the skin? or is there going to be a skin pack?

Which Le Man version are we running, Doug?

1977

Yes, there will be a skin pack released on Thursday evening.

Nickname: Joe
Car skin: West (stock)
Car number: 17

Ran this car at 1977 Le Mans last night. Wow - I have never geared a car so tall before. 228 mph at the end of the straight, and it's one hell of a long braking zone...\

Even hard rear tires seem to be seriously overheating just from the run down the Mulsanne straight.

Suddenly realised I'm going to miss the Lemans McLaren race too as I'm off on holiday. Thought I was just missing the F1's

I got to 237mph using max gearing and a rad 1, though I'm not sure this is the most suitable way to get a hotlap.

237mph is faster than we were going at Indy.

I noticed the AI at 120% were doing only 205mph and were still beating my times.

Messed about with Photoshop and came up with this

Very nice skin Ktel, I especially like the way it goes from one colour to the next. It almost makes mine look amateurish(almost )
Anyway hereŽs my new and revised skin after I decided that it could be quite a bit better:

btw why buy Photoshop when Gimp can do the same

A reminder I need to receive all custom skins no later than 24 hours from right now.

Nickname: Chipwich
Car skin: Hugo Boss by Viperpainter
Car number: I'll get back to you

NOT SURE WHAT A GOOD TIME IS around here with these cars as I've never driven them. I was using a 1/2 wing got a top speed of 353 km/ph did'nt complete a decent lap but love the circuit though.

SteV8
Dewalt Mclaren F1 racing
#17

I've signed up for 2 series, don't tell my missus

Skins Installation

Skin pack released. Zip file is 8MB. All drivers need to download and install the 7 cars in the pack.

http://www.simhq.com/_downloads/motorsports/rfactor/gamedata.zip

To install the car pack:

1) Remove ALL add-on and custom car folders... EVEN YOUR CAR... from C:\Program Files\rFactor\GameData\Vehicles\McLaren F1\LM

2) Add all 7 folders in the zip to the same directory.

3) Make sure you have not picked a GTR class car! GTR will not be available on the server.

Send me an email or PM if you have any problems.

Custom and Add-on skins selection is now closed since the car pack has been released. If you would like to enter the series, please select one of the cars from the LM group.

Thanks.

- Doug

SimHQ Motorsports server will be running the McLaren F1 mod at Le Mans for the next 24 hours to give drivers time to install and test the car pack on the server.

We will switch back to the F1 practice this time tomorrow.

Anyone have setups yet for Le Mans?

Send them to me and I'll add them to the downloads.

Thanks.

With minor tweaks to the default setup I ran a 3:32. That was my first timed lap in the mod, though. Hope to go faster when someone shows me how to set up this car...

Edit: After a short on-line session with Weasel, I knocked my lap time down to a 3:26.6. But suddenly, the SimHQ server disconnected at around 11PM eastern time. It's no longer on the games list.

Smooth is Fast is up now with the SimHQ skin pack.

d/l now will check it out before the Q

Check that. Doug has it on the SimHQ server, so I'll load the MMG F1 07 mod.

I'm getting booted from SiF server with "Server does not recognize vehicle"
I'm sure I have LM class though.

MMG F1s are on the SimHQ server for practice.

McLaren F1 tintops are on Smooth is Fast for practice.

Both the F1s and the McLarens will run from SimHQ tomorrow. SiF will not be used for either of these race events.

SiF will be the host server for any RACE07 events.

It'll remain that way from now on unless Dan or I post a change in the schedule. Sorry for any confusion, but it was necessary to run the McLarens on SimHQ to do a server/client check with the mod and skins.

Thanks guys.

Well, I won't have time to make it for tomorrow's race, but I should be around for the 23rd's.




The Jedi Master

Yea thats happening to me to, i tried to get in with WK's car aswell and still got booted.

When I applied the skin package as per instructions, ALL of the standard cars were missing. I replaced the directory tree, loaded the skins pack and had no issues getting on the server *last night*.

This evening, I have no idea yet. Missing a few hundred YPUs due to wife's back trouble and a pass by Mattress World...

Edit: Same issue as SteV8 with SiF server. I'm sure this wasn't the case with SHQ; after I loaded the newer version of VLM-LeMans, got on with no problems.

Waiting for the Aussie GP coverage to start on SpeedTV, I tried joining on SiF.

Same thing: Booted - Server does not recognize your vehicle.

I was using one of the standard LM cars.

Doug had me unload all of the standard LM cars. I'll get clarification Sat morning.

Smooth is Fast should be okay now guys. I just ran it and didn't get any errors.

Be sure you have all the default LM cars in the LM folder, and the ones from the car skins download. To be sure, here is a visual for you to check against to be sure all the correct cars are loaded:

Just to confirm that everything works as it should now.But I didn't touch my system at all - must have been some server glitch ...

EDIT:

Nick: AMK
Car: Tag Heuer McLaren F1 Racing

Sorry I could not make the race today. Once again this weekend, my ISP lost service to most of my town. Saturday was hit-or-miss all day, and on Sunday morning we awoke to no service that lasted until well after the race was over.

I am not happy with our ISP, but they are the only broad-band in town. I sure hope someday they actually upgrade their equipment to something a little more reliable. The past two weekends I feel a little 'robbed' by them and their poor service.

FWIW, I did a little off-line practice at LeMans '77 this morning. My PB is now a 3:23.5 in the MF1. Gradually working it down in the #53 BASF car.

Sorry for the shunt at the first start today,my TrackIr suddenly went bonkers and while panicking and thinking whether to hit F12 or just try to get to the straight with skewed vision I totaly missed braking point.In the second start I decided to take it easy - lost few positions,and in the third turn hit someone that suddenly spun and got in the way,didn't have chance to react.So that meant last place and had to drive race with seriously damaged suspension.In the end 4th place - not so bad.
Have to apologise to Doug as well as my pass in the beginning in the race was maybe litlle "rough"

Don't know if Ahmad is going to cover this series too,but in the meantime you can see the results at http://tinyurl.com/39rhcb

Had a good couple of races today.

I got rammed from behind leading into T1 during the sprint race and ended up facing the wrong way with the field driving by. Damage wasnt too bad and I managed to get by everyone again and take the win.

The second race was harder. I spun going into T3 on the first lap leaving me in the path of oncomming cars, apologies to anyone who hit me, especially AMK. Damage was all yellow, the car handled like a GP79 on a bad day... but the rear wing was still attached and the car was fast.

I began picking my way back through the field and after the mid race pitstops I was in 2nd and closing on David Carney. By the time I caught up with him a few laps later, the rear tyres were overheated and half worn while the fronts were still fresh, giving me oversteer which got worse with each lap.

The last two or three laps were a bit on the wild side as David and myself were battling for the lead. On the final lap, going down Mulsanne side by side, we both braked as late as possible for the 90 degree turn and just about made the corner, DC comming out slightly ahead, only to loose the lead again at the Indianapolis turn. Then I made an error in the Porsche curves trying to correct some oversteer, DC drove by and took the win.

Good race and nice driving by DC

Thanks for the results AMK

Funny how close our lap times were AMK. This morning when i joined the server after the real F1 race we were that close then aswell.

Did DJ win this race aswell, good work. I had more crashes in this race than i've ever had before, i ended making a mistake going into the final chicane and slid into the pits, drove through the pits at about 160mph and got a stop go, before i had a chance to serve it my computer decided to restart. I have these disastrous race weekend from time to time.

hair raising stuff indeed. I had alls orts of damage aswell bumping rails and what not.. great racing at the end 2 badly handling cars sliding all ver the place I saw you underteer in that sweeper near the end and I managed to hold the corner to get by.

That DJ and Colonel Show was something else! Try and catch the last 15 minute slugfest on replay between these two gentlemen. Some fun racing to watch!

These cars are fantastic to drive, especially on this track. My race was pretty bunch a bang up affair, knocking the splitter off twice. The second time I decided to not fix it, and drove the last 4 or 5 laps without sans the aero device. I think that it was actually a couple of KPH faster on the top end, but really loose everywhere, especially the hump. Therefore, I'm very happy to pull out a somewhat miraculous P3.

AMK and I had a pretty good fight most of the hour, swapping positions 5 times according to the race report. He must have suffered damage as well, because he was clearly faster.

Sorry about your net problems Chunx. I knew that you would not have wanted to miss Le Mans. We must do it again.

Cheers to DJ and the Col, who really were the class of the field.

You're right about that. Darn ISP!

I did get to do some laps with amk on the server this evening. I tried his setup, and got down to a new PB of a 3:17.2 in race trim with full tank of gas (as in, 95L, which I learned is too much). What kind of quali and lap times were being run by the group?

I'll be unable to drive next weekend, either, due to family commitments. Darn it!

where's the replay I did'nt record it.?

I occasionally lose my mind and forget to set things ... right. It is my humble humor to find I recorded this in it's entirety.

Sunday's McLaren F1 Feature

Just overheard my chief mechanic talking with a team boss.It seems some nut was loose on the wheel,or something like that.Yeah,I seem to remember that car was little strange ...Hope they sort it in time for the next race...
BTW do we now what layout we will be racing at at Brianza - GP layout?

EDIT - Just saw that track has been changed.

New Zealand looks fun! Fairly short course with lots of drifting.

Just ran about 10 laps there to get a feel and learn the track, PB after 10 laps is 0:59.242.

Stock setup...

(Just for hotlaps)

Changed tires to soft
10 laps of fuel
lowered final gearing one click
2/6 wing
3 radiator
3 brake duct
3 engine braking
lowered springs by about 10
medium TC

Felt good to me, will be cool to see how the fast guys run.

I grabbed the new Manfeild track and that layout because of it's "swoopyness".

Poor Brianza is too narrow for these cars IMO. I'd remembered it wider, and not quite as bumpy.

A few of us on the server last night running low 1:28s and a couple 1:27s. Very fun track, but it can bite you.

The 4 hour endurance race on the 27th is on the same weekend as the Spanish GP... I don't know if I can do a 1.5 hour race and then a team 4 hour race.. bit of a drainer.. anyone else feel the same?

Yeah, IMO that's a really bad idea. The F1 race is tough enough without a mini enduro thrown in afterwards. There's no way I can race for 6+ hours in one day, not to mention the fact that a 6PM eastern ending time for a race makes it rather untenable for European drivers on a Sunday night.

We must do a 4 hour Le Manns at some stage though, I love the cars and the track too much to see that one disappear.

Maybe extend the McLaren F1 championship a week, or drop an existing race and replace it with the Le Manns?

Or just swap the schedule around a bit so that the 4 hours take place on a non F1 weekend.

4 hours without a driver swap??? My bladder strugles to last 2.5+/- hours so the pit stop had better be a long one.

I'm really starting to dig the Mansfield track in the McLarens. Lots of swoopies and sliding, but not too uncontrollable. I ran my PB tonight with a 0:57.200, and can run low to mid 0:58s if I can keep a clear head. A lot of concentration needed here!

Guys... we can always change the finale to Saturday. As for driving 4 hours, why do you think they call them pit stops? The car can get loaded while you get "un"loaded.

Weas, the first post lists one driver swap required for the 4-hour finale.

Doug, I would much prefer the race be on Saturday, and moved up to start at 1PM at the latest for our European drivers. I would also like to see the driver swap become optional.

Yes -

One of following is required:

a) Driver swap
b) Toilet Stop

Ok, I'll take Team KT #99 if I can manage to make any races!




The Jedi Master

For all those racing, race is on Smooth is Fast server

Sorry I was late today...I wiped my HD last night and had to reinstal everything because I couldn't beat the trojan stuff my daughter picked up last weekend. When I'd try to drive before I cleaned it up I'd get stutters every once in awhile because something (evil) was doing stuff in the background. I got everything installed right at race time...but I forgot to install my Momo FFB drivers so I had no FFB.

Man, what a blast today was! I really dig these cars and it was a great track. There was a lot of close racing especially for the first half of the race, and even when we got strung out there were still some great battles. DJ and I kept trading positions for a lot of the race. He'd slip up and I'd get by, then later I'd slip up and he'd go around. I thought I had a chance to get him at the end and was right on his back bumper but my left front tire caught the curb in one of the esses and I spun. DOH!

Col Kurtz gave us all a schooling on how to drive these by putting down a blistering pace and never letting up. Congrats on the win!

I'm happy with 1st and 2nd in todays races.Second race was realy good,lots of position changes,and close racing.I started well enough from 2nd place and kept in touch with Col_Kurtz until LC touched me under braking for T1 which caused him to spin and I went offroad but kept my position.Later on there was some bumper to bumper and door to door racing with DJCarney which lasted for a few laps but then he spun in front of me and I hit his car.I managed to slow down just a bit so it didn't cause too much damage,at least on my car.Otherwise there were WeaselKeaper,DBR9 and LC that kept me on my toes and vice versa On lap 11 I did big mistake,lost 15-16 seconds and ended in P8.LazyC got really good run and we were side by side into last righthand corner before sf straight.I wanted to keep left side and make that corner on the outside but had too much speed and went off.Luckily,I managed not to hit the wall.After pitstops I found myself right behind LC in third place and noticed that he was sliding and locking wheels a lot,and finaly I passed him after one of the slides - probably didn't change tires at pitstop huh LC?I think Col_Kurtz too didn't change tires since the gap between us shrunk to 3,5 seconds at the end of the race.
Thanks to all who raced today and cu next time.Oh,and thanks Ahmad for the results

PS: - Isn't that Birmingham Club layout too short?

AMK, I did change tyres at the pitstop but you still managed to close the gap.

I was putting the hammer down in the first stint and got a 25-30sec lead. In the second stint I was going a little quicker but this time, instead of dropping back, you somehow got to within 3 seconds of me towards the final laps. The history graph shows it pretty well. I didn't make any mistakes so I don't know why you were so much quicker in your second stint. Anyway, good driving

These cars feel great at first but then get really loose for me towards the end of my stints, it happened in the Le Mans race and now this one.

Birmingham club is short, but looks like it could be a fun race. Laptimes should be around 0.26 - 0.27

I ran a few laps last night and was steady at :28s. Could be fun, or could be a mess with the spiders and barriers everywhere!

That hairpin is going to get ugly. Pick a braking point that isn't dependent on the signs being there...

Managed somehow to do a "Banzai!"(*) hot-lap of .28 even, carrying wayyy too much gas for a ten lap sprint. Must learn better braking technique.




(* To those who think all my laps are this style, you may be right! )

I was'nt going into this race with any expectations and did very little practice. I used LC's set up and it was great I just added an extra rear wing.

anyway I Qualified near the back which was fine. this twisty circuit is a handful.

I made a few spots up after turn 1 with a few going wide. I then made a few spins here and there but had some great close racing with amk and weasel @ 1 point I think I had a train of cars behind me.

Weasel Keeper and I had some great scraps and both of us trading positions until the last few minutes when weasel spun he was faster than me and I was doing all i could to try and keep him behind.

taking 3rd was a great surprise and pleasure considering my lack of practice and general dislike of the track but as the race went on I enjoyed it more and more.

Smooth Is Fast is open for practice at Birmingham Club.

Birmingham Club in these cars is like Monaco in F1 cars, only there's a bit of runoff. I had to switch from my sequential shifter to paddles because 20 gear changes every 28 seconds was destroying my right shoulder.

My fastest time was 1:27.500. Not sure how Col. Kurtz is predicting race laptimes in the 26s and 27s, since I can't figure out how to get much faster. My pace for the one-hour race will probably be in the 27.8-28.2 range in an attempt to avoid punting myself into the tire barriers and damaging the car. Is everyone running max wing here? (i.e. 3/12) Or is there any advantage to be gained by cutting down on that?

I'm struggling with rear tire overheating, especially the left rear. It seems a fast lap requires a bit of rear end sliding around the hairpin, but if I do that a few laps in a row the temperature starts to climb too high. I plan on running hard rear tires in the 1-hour race to keep it under control. If people are behind me hopefully they will stay there even if I'm being slightly conservative. If I'm trying catch up, though, it's going to take some restraint to not push through the hairpin every lap.

There's no real place to overtake here except for the hairpin, and the preceding chicane makes getting alongside someone there an iffy proposition; there's really only one fast line on the run to the hairpin, and that's on the outside of the turn. The straights are too short for drafting, the corkscrew is full of deathly tire barriers. Barring mistakes from anyone in front, it will be really hard to get by anyone on this track in these cars. I think I'll sit back and wait for the carnage.

Pit entry and pit exit are extremely dangerous at the speeds we will be running. Look out. 130+ laps of turning right...

Cripes, Joe, why don't you give it all away?


Hard tires, check! Fastest laps I've run were with hard on all four corners, this track rewards a good drifting turn, and anything less than hard melts to puddles in twenty laps. As for the cold right rear, maybe a bit of wedge ala NASCAR, but I've yet to try it.

Lots of rear wing, check! Gotta keep the backside planted on braking and the Turn 1-2 chicane.

Heavy brake bias forward? Mandatory for this fool! (edit: NOT, 65/35 working)

Drop the final gearing a LOT from defaults, not just a little. This is two quick drag races with quirky launches. Rev limiter should be flashing in 5th at the braking point for the corkscrew. I tried setting ratios for 6 gears, just too danged much shifting for too little gain.

"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast". I accidentally did this, turned two 27.5 and small change laps. Startled me so much I spun clockwise through the corkscrew next pass...

Why do I see this car as a perfect match for Adelaide and/or Surfer's Paradise?

I just tried this car/track combo. Did a little setup tweaking, using a 2/7 wing, and gearing to work 2nd through 5th gear. My best was a 27.51, but lots of 27.7s. Soft tires up front, Mediums in back. Just playing around, though...

dont think I can make it.

That made me laugh for real! I find myself also startled at a great lap at times and do about the same thing...crash into something because I lose all concentration and just say "yippee!".

Ran a few laps and got to :27.7. My prediction...pure carnage. A Lupo race with high performance McLarens...lol. There's a way to carry speed going into the esses, but if someone hits a barrier there's no avoiding them. Yikes!

Also...is the server set on a very short practice period...or maybe a continuation with the AIs running the show? I joined up vs 3 AIs and the practice timer was at around 2:00s.

*edit* yeah, 5 minute practice. Not much time to get a setup working, and if you go into a race with 3 AIs then nobody else can get on to practice.

Yeah, a longer practice would be appreciated during the week, Chip. Maybe an hour.

Sorry. Meant to change that. Set to 1 hour now.

BTW, please don't shoot the messenger. I didn't pick this track!

I like the track. I'm a masochist like that.

Could you also change the voting option. It's really nice to be able to control the server sessions yourself during the week, if you are on solo. It should be changed back to 50% or higher for the race weekend, though, so no one can accidentally end a session.

2nd vote for the track. I thought I'd hate it, turns out it grows on you.

And your fenders.

And your tire bill.

<-- Could be a webcam, the timing is just about dead on.

Yeah blame me for the Club track. Go ahead and biatch. I can take it.

Hi guys. I finally got my wheel and pedals out of storage, and have started to get back into racing. Would it be possible to join the series in mid-season? It seems like a very good group to race with, and I'll give you guys someone to lap on a regular basis If not no worries, I'll just get in on the next series.

-Jenrick

Got the downloads for the car and tracks? Teamspeak figured out? Member of SimHQ? Jump right in!

Welcome Jenrick! Downloads info on page 1 of this thread.

SimHQ Multiplayer Server Reference is here:
http://www.simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=115

Since only a few people got the chance to run the Birmingham Club track this past weekend, I thought it would be cool to make a 2 hour enduro on it with 24x time compression? We can run it right after the F1 race this coming Sunday. What do you think?

-snicker-

LOL! I'm all for it Doug, I brought home the win yesterday

That track is the work of the devil. Giant spiders are proof!



The Jedi Master

All right I've got all the add ons downloaded and installed. Is teamspeak a requirement or just an options (as I'll need to go acquire it if it's the first)?

I guess you can put me down as

Nickname: Jenrick
Car Skin: HP Skin
Car Number:

-Jenrick

TeamSpeak is required, at the very least just so you can hear race control announcements.

Teamspeak2 client, free program here:

http://www.goteamspeak.com/?page=downloads

Setting it up here:

http://www.simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2278891#Post2278891

Okay so I can just install team speak and use it to monitor, and don't need a microphone per se?

-Jenrick

Prefer for everyone to have 2-way, but if that's not possible, at least have receive functioning. As WK said, if we restart a race or there is a problem, it's communicated via TeamSpeak. Without it a driver will wonder what is going on.

Gotcha, I'll dig out my head set. The wife will apreciate that me using that rather then 5.1 speakers for the race anyway

-Jenrick

What a disaster at Birmingham club this weekend. As predicted the 22-lapper (we changed it from 10 laps) was absolute carnage. 3 or 4 laps in I smacked the tire pylons in the corkscrew and lost my front splitter. The next time through I went to pit, found myself on the wrong side of the track because I was off-line in an attempt to let a fast car through, and braked for the entrance. I missed the entrance and before I could even think about going around again I was pummeled from behind. While still spinning I was hit repeatedly by other cars in a mass carnage event. So sorry for the crashfest, guys; I knew that dangerous pit entry was going to be a problem.

Instead of trying to limp around again, and cause more problems, I simply retired. How embarrassing. I blame the track, though.

Amen, Brother Joe!

I made it through the sprint, and I have to say I'm really getting tired of pit penalties. Slow to a crawl, get the beggar fixed and on the way out get those damned red arrows for a "pass through" penalty. Finished five laps down, but I finished!

The attempt at Jacksonville was a washout as far as my temper went. One extreme to another, crowded mayhem to no one in sight, add to it my lovely spouse nagging at me about something or another and there went any attempt at regaining my equanimity. End of weekend. Sigh.

I shall try to get in enough practice at Bathurst so I don't make a total hash of it for others. So far this week, it's been more time spent "lapping the lawn" than driving the sim tracks.

Wow, the tracks for this series are just crazy! But still in a fun way!

Just ran an hour an a half practice at Bathurst and got my PB of 1:57.7 I think. Of course this was one of the very few laps I actually completed during the entire practice...

Most of the time I was trying to shovel out of the kitty litter or pick up spare parts I'd left in the chicanes and corkscrew.

A couple times I'd wreck at the same place and my car parts were still sitting there from my previous wreck...lol.

Should be a lot of fun!

Nickname : ODB_Spectre
Car Skin : Pepsi X McLaren F1 (stock skin)
Car Number : 79

I'm gonna be right there with you Weasel_Keeper. I think I've gotten through maybe a total of 10 laps over the last week. Haven't broken 2 mins on my PB either. So everyone please just honk and I'll move over when you get to lapping me

-Jenrick

Hey Spectre, good to see you back!

Because of the length of the Bathurst track, today's sprint race will be 5 laps.