Re: Season 3 - Starts 30/07/12

[clacksman]

and another win

I better don't get used to it, because this will only happen in low splits on Rookie level

I'm starting to think anyway that I should do more test sessions instead of races, only in test sessions I'll find speed to improve my lap times. It's just so much fun to race (and win )

IF you want to whittle lap times during a race, press the Tab key to bring up timing comparison to session best lap. I tend to do that (and find some speed) when there's no traffic around me.

[vkaifh]

IF you want to whittle lap times during a race, press the Tab key to bring up timing comparison to session best lap. I tend to do that (and find some speed) when there's no traffic around me.

I have already thrown a few races away by doing just that, so for now I stick to playing safe during the race (especially when leading and still having 0 incidents).

[timneyb]

I'm going to try a time trial session once I have time that I know I won't be interrupted and I'm not about to fall asleep, for the first thing that will affect my safety rating. Now that I'm not routinely wrecking the car. Those cold tires are tough. Once I get them warmed in I'm far more consistent.

Last night I was about to ask if there was a prize if your best lap was 1:00.000 exactly, but I beat that before the end of practice.

[vkaifh]

2nd win in a row this morning and the 'Safe Driver Level 1 - Road' award for 2 consecutive races w/o incidents.

Okay, I stop now boring you with my Rookie career updates

[Forgetful]

Good stuff VK. I don't even have my Level 2 safe driver yet.

I run the time delta display most of the time. In races I usually just run session optimal on. I don't usually pay much attention to it. It's just there to keep me on pace. In TTs I chase the optimal for the first few laps then switch to the session best and in Qualifying I'm usually chasing the optimal, sometimes the session best.

Breaking under 1'00 at LRP is decent quick, so you'll have no problem with pace, Ben.

[timneyb]

OK, now I understand. I have been fretting with getting my consistency and confidence to the point where I could feel comfortable racing 20 laps with cars all about and stay completely incident free. Problem is you can't race with decent cars about in Rookie practice, unless you strike it really lucky. Best you can expect in practice is accident avoidance and how to keep control while tailing somebody going 15 mph slower than your accustomed to in a corner. So, now I see that I should just get familiar with doing a decent race distance at a track and try to advance as quickly as I can until I can be reliably be in the company of drivers of my own level of incompetency.

[Wallhugger60]

OK, now I understand. I have been fretting with getting my consistency and confidence to the point where I could feel comfortable racing 20 laps with cars all about and stay completely incident free. Problem is you can't race with decent cars about in Rookie practice, unless you strike it really lucky. Best you can expect in practice is accident avoidance and how to keep control while tailing somebody going 15 mph slower than your accustomed to in a corner. So, now I see that I should just get familiar with doing a decent race distance at a track and try to advance as quickly as I can until I can be reliably be in the company of drivers of my own level of incompetency.

^ Yup

To me this game is a prime example for the saying "run your own race". I don't know where VK runs, but I wish I could find those guys lol. Believe me I still make some mistakes, but I've yet to run a race that I haven't been taken out by someone who prolly isn't ready to be on the track yet. I will say my most success has been what VK said too, which is starting back and letting the worst happen right away (which it does) and go from there.

Wall

[Forgetful]

Splits are sorted by iRating, which is goes up and down in relation to where you finish in official races. If you've not done well early, you'll have a low iRating and you'll be in the lower splits among lower rated drivers. If you're still a rookie you won't see it, but that doesn't mean it's not there.

My suggestion would be to either try to qualify well and drive away from the carnage, like VK has been doing, or to start from the pits to avoid the early carnage. You'll come out about 15 car lengths behind the last car, so you're out of danger but in position to capitalize on the wrecks. Once you're racing, give people a wide berth. Getting out of rookie is 99% accident avoidance.

Once you've got rookie 3.0, ditch the NVIDIA cup for the inRacng News Challenge. I run the Solstice there quite a bit.

[Forgetful]

[SpecMiata-JSW]

^ I remember that Week 13 Event. It was awesome.

SRF's, MX-5's, and Solstice's at Spa..I think there was a 50 car max grid and the races were still splitting since they were "fun events". It was amazing. I love large grids.

I can't remember a Week 13 event that has been that cool since that particular event.

[timneyb]

I was 5 minutes from starting my first race when Owen spiked a fever that eventually hit 107. A visit to a surprisingly efficient and approachable Emergency room instead.

All is well.

[timneyb]

Does sliding off after the checkered count?

[Forgetful]

Yes. SR is in effect all the time. Exiting the track safely is important.

[clacksman]

Yes. SR is in effect all the time. Exiting the track safely is important.

Either stop out of the way and 'Escape' out, or do the cooldown lap and pit in before you 'Escape' for a few more corners without incident to pad the SR. Bonus to doing the cooldown lap, by the time you're done everyone else has left except maybe some super-ticked guys chatting away.

[HWKII]

Warmup and cooldown laps are scored at a very low multiplier, so it's an incident if you do something horrific, but it won't impact your SR like it would during a race lap, as far as I have ever been able to tell.

[timneyb]

Yes. SR is in effect all the time. Exiting the track safely is important.

Either stop out of the way and 'Escape' out, or do the cooldown lap and pit in before you 'Escape' for a few more corners without incident to pad the SR. Bonus to doing the cooldown lap, by the time you're done everyone else has left except maybe some super-ticked guys chatting away.

Typical error once adrenalin starts to fade. I've always tended to screw up about 2 turns after passing someone for the same reason. Slipped off wide into a safe enough spot after crossing the line and wondering what I was supposed to do next.

Top 3 guys didn't suck and top 6 weren't a hot mess, like I'd experienced in most practice sessions. Started from the back. I'll try Qing next time to see what I prefer (I've always preferred running from the front vs chasing, since I tend to watch the mirror too much).

[clacksman]

Yes. SR is in effect all the time. Exiting the track safely is important.

Either stop out of the way and 'Escape' out, or do the cooldown lap and pit in before you 'Escape' for a few more corners without incident to pad the SR. Bonus to doing the cooldown lap, by the time you're done everyone else has left except maybe some super-ticked guys chatting away.

Typical error once adrenalin starts to fade. I've always tended to screw up about 2 turns after passing someone for the same reason. Slipped off wide into a safe enough spot after crossing the line and wondering what I was supposed to do next.

Top 3 guys didn't suck and top 6 weren't a hot mess, like I'd experienced in most practice sessions. Started from the back. I'll try Qing next time to see what I prefer (I've always preferred running from the front vs chasing, since I tend to watch the mirror too much).

'Grid" will start you on iRating even if you don't Q, how close that is to the front depends on how many other guys Q and what split you're in. Basically any Q time is good for a near-front start if you haven't been an iRating donator in too many races.

Also a Q time lasts until the events change Monday night. I don't often bother with them as iRating puts me in split 1 in all the low stuff I can run.

[timneyb]

Does "warm up" actually do any warming up?

[clacksman]

Does "warm up" actually do any warming up?

I don't think so, but it's good to get in the groove IMO. SR counts a bit too.

[timneyb]

Does "warm up" actually do any warming up?

I don't think so, but it's good to get in the groove IMO. SR counts a bit too.

Yeah, somehow I looped it doing this too.

I though the grip felt like stone cold tires, but with the very slow driving into traffic, it was hard to feel.

[clacksman]

I can loop it anytime anyplace, yo. I don't always warm up, but I do when it's my first race (make sure wheel correct etc.).

[SpecMiata-JSW]

I was 5 minutes from starting my first race when Owen spiked a fever that eventually hit 107. A visit to a surprisingly efficient and approachable Emergency room instead.

All is well.

Glad to hear Owen is safe and sound. 107 is scary high for anybody, but especially a little guy.

[group44]

Ran the Solstice at Oky International last night for the first time. That ride is growing on me. Once Rooster pointed out I was braking too late, it doesn't understeer that bad at all.
Good group of DSOers on last night btw. Got to watch timney take the win at LRP

[SpecMiata-JSW]

Sweet! I like the Slowstice, it's always been good to me.

I guess I've always been a slow car guy, that fast stuff...it's just too fast for me. I'm not smart enough to pilot it without certain virtual death.

[Forgetful]

Been abusing my Pontiac this season in the iNRC and Grand Touring Cup (100% GT Free). Iz gud. I'm in contention for top 3 in division in one of em.

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