Unofficial testing and discussion for the forthcoming DRM Enduro.

Reference Times:

Arthur:
Lancia Beta : 7:01.323 (Tourist)
Ford Capri : 7:16.268 (Tourist)

Ahmad:
Porsche : 6:53 (Tourist)

Pumbaa:
Porsche: 7.02.1 (Tourist)
Ford Capri: 7.04.8 (Tourist)
BMW 320: 7.15.6 (Tourist)
BMW M1: 7.19.5 (Tourist)

Well first off I think it would be good if the download link to the track that will be used for this race was released as soon as possible so we can all familiarise ourselves with it before the race.

Here's how my plan would go.

1. Start rFactor
2. Start practice, DRM mod, any track
3. Pull out of the garage, hammer down out of the pits, slam into the first wall I see.


Ring practice...complete!

IDK which version of the track we intend to use. It will almost certainly be one of the layouts from the version we used for SCES and Skoda's. I prefer the tourist version (without the GP track) but the full version has much better pits which is vitally important for an enduro, and even more so with driver swaps. You can also start a timed lap without having to do an entire outlap of the Nordschleife which is handy.

At the moment we're all practising the Tourist version, but i'd reccomend the VLN for the event simply because it's less likely to give problems.

I'll try to make timed laps with all cars just so we can make groups of cars with the same performance.

Yes sir !!

6:53 is a decent race lap time in the Porsche

Yeah completely agree there... I'll always drive the tourist version, but the full version might well suit us more for the race itself...

That said there is a decent 70s version with the old pit straight around... I'm pretty sure I've still got it somewhere on my HD, I'll dig it out and compare it, because I'd really like to keep it simple, and with 10-15 cars we aren't really going to need the full pits anyway...

Guys can someone give me a link to the track you guys are using now? I must've lost mine when I changed my OS as I cant find a single copy of it anywhere.
EDIT: Ive just found a folder called Ring_2007 Is that the one you guys are using?

I'm pretty sure it's this one: http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Nordschleife%202007

My folder is: Nordschleife_2007

I'm running the modern 20.8km Tourist layout.

Lancia Beta : 7:01.323
Ford Capri : 7:16.268

I'll keep on updating this post with my best lap times. That f***ing Capri needs setuping :P

Thanks Ahmad. Maybe we could get it loaded onto the server so we can check all is ok?

lol, The race is still over 3 months away and the track/details haven't been finalised yet. There's also a chance we'll be upgrading to 2.0b version of the DRM mod for this. I'm sure Doug will put it up soon as things are ready.

There's still a small matter of three tracks to learn for the F1's in a couple of weeks and that server is not even up yet

Darren, could you put the times we've posted in the first post? Thanks!

If you guys are going to do testing, best to base it on v2.0b (also known as 2.02).

I'll set-up a SimHQ mirror for it, but in the meantime...

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=DRM%20Revival

Track....

Let me root through the inventory, setup a server, and I'll come back here with the info. Stand by.

Oh yeah I forgot about that. When's it going up then ?

I reckon considering the scale of the event (track, cars, endurance race) we'll want to allow people plenty of time to test for it, and offline testing only gets you so far...

I've found the 70s Nordschliefe I was talking about and it's a CSGT version... Once I've finished downloading 2.02 I'll test it out and report any faults... The 2007 version is very good, although there's a couple of slight issues with collision objects, like a launch pad in the grass or armco that you can collide with half a metre away from the wall... I think there's only one of each, but I'd much prefer to race a version that is as close as possible to what was raced back in the 70s...

Here's the CSGT version...

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=70%20Nordschleife

WARNING!!!

The download link on rfcentral to the 70s version has set off some people's security settings and mine has blocked it so it's not working for me...

I've got the version on file and I'm sending it off to Doug to be shared here for others opinions of it...


It's got a few pros and cons when compared to the 2007 version...

Pros
Layout much closer to the time frame of the DRMs
no where near as many things to crash into eg. armco
no GP layout
The old pits and Sud Kurve
the main straight still has it's dips and jumps
the pits supports 47 cars
It's a converted GPL tack

Cons
Not as graphically awesome as the 2007 version
There's a few glitches if you stray too far off track and flip it (eg. rear wheel under the grass)
Less collision objects, as most of the hedges and trees can just be driven through
a couple of the corners feel very different from the 2007 and look different from footage I've seen


I'm kinda torn between the 2, although I'm still leaning towards the 70s version simply because it's closer to what these cars ran on and it will allow drivers to make mistakes without crunching the armco...

Are you guys running this with all assists off? I love this mod but I suspect my pace would be a tad slow. I think I'd gain a second or two on most tracks by left foot braking and paddle shifting but it just feels wrong in these cars . . heel and toe feels more rewarding but slower in my case.

I fully expect some runners to use TC as there were a few in the DRM series that just finished...

I'm not really sure as to what aids were available other than auto clutch and TC as I haven't run with driver aids since the 1985 F1 race here... I'm sure Doug or someone can clear that up for us...

Not sure as i didn't use any either but i *think* we had all three levels of TC and low SC available.

Thanks Pumbba, i'll put this through scruteneering

Most importantly it has to stand up from a technical standpoint. The other version has the advantage of being pretty well tested and we can be confident it will work. But i like the sound of this on grounds of realism.

^ The graphics also can't be too rubbish...

Here's a quicker link to DRM 2.02

http://www.drivingitalia.net/forum/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=3327

There is also a 1975 version by motorfx that might be worth a look? Its available here.
http://www.nogripracing.com/details.php?filenr=35466

That's basically just the 70's version with extra Armco, kerbing and advertisements for the mid/late 70's era. I quite like it actually, and having the old school start/finish loop is awesome.

I personally don't run any assist, even clutch and auto-blip/lift, and use a manual H-shifter with the three pedals and heel-and-toe. Not slower if you deal well with your feet. Don't forget you can brake with your left foot when you don't have to shift down

Awesome it looks to have a couple of fixes that were problematic for the 1970 version... Awesome Stew... Will try it out tomorrow...

Ok guys. I had a go into DRM's .HDV and engine files and changed a few settings here and there. Around Catalunya and driving a fast but not flying lap, I got all cars in the same tenth.



List of changes :

M1 : weight -
935 : weight +
Capri : /
Celica : weight +
Beta : power ++, weight -, downforce +
320 : power ++, weight +, downforce +, drag +

Nice work Arthur!!!

It does look like the M1 relies on it's power a lot still.. But that still leaves a bit of a difference between the cars... I wouldn't mind seeing a similar demo from a more flowing track with a longer straight, but you aren't far off at all by the looks of that vid... well done...

I tried out the 75 version of the Nordschleife and although it had more armco and is a little closer to the actual track raced, there were a few too many occasions that I was left bush bashing for a couple of kilometres on the wrong side of the armco thanks to a flip over it, or sliding through a gap in the armco... I think most of us would find the gap or flip over it... So unfortunately our resident track doctor has some work to do on either 70s version to make it up to scratch for a enduro race...

I reckon stick with the modern version... a lot of work went into that and it looks fantastic.

I'm not sure about the changes to the cars, I think we should leave them be and instead get a good variety of tracks to race on. Plus, if you pick for example the 320, you know what you're in for, if you really want to win then you should master one of the faster and harder cars to drive.

Precisely. But I didn't want to learn a harder and faster car to drive, I wanted to race just for fun, and may do so again in DRM.

In order to be really competitive I need practice. And I simply do not have the necessary time nor real desire to do that nowadays, as usually the stronger my efforts are the bigger the disappointment gets if Murphy strikes again.

+1

The very different cars in this mod is what makes it so great. Getting the cars to close together makes it more a league edition like the F1-71 LE mod.

They are different, but they now run the same pace, with easier car being a little slower. I just tried to make something considering what all of you said a couple of weeks ago

I thought one of the strengths of this short series was indeed the disparity between the various cars. It would be a shame to lose that in my opinion.

Here is a preview of our race.

Love the clown in the Citroen 2CV.
Music is horrible so lose the audio.
Advance it 2 minutes to get past the cheesy opening.

Thanks Doug for making my breakfast funny

Still frightening how easily these cars roll !

That looks exactly like my first lap with Porsche.