Apex can attest to the fact that I cannot make it around that track. We did a 5 lap Hot Hatch race there and I gave up after 4 laps. I think he waited for me to catch up each lap at some point.
Apex can attest to the fact that I cannot make it around that track. We did a 5 lap Hot Hatch race there and I gave up after 4 laps. I think he waited for me to catch up each lap at some point.
Graefin10 wrote: In reply to Grizz: Please whisper when you say that. Brad might hear you. I don't ever want to see another comfort tire. The main thing they need is a trans. because they have no low end torque if stock and the stock trans. is geared way too high.
I think mine is all 240 hp and nothing else. I have two speeds, out of powerband and spinning. 
@T.J. I think I was actually the worst at Deep Forest* before I ran the crap out of it in GT4 till I got better.
*I'm actually the worst at the Nurburgring, but so is pretty much everyone else.
I will say I rank the top gear test track below trial mountain. I try not to get into the lead until the last turn because otherwise I won't know which way to go at the criss crosses unless I am following someone. Other than license tests and the special event races I don't think I've ever really tried to figure it out.
I don't even have the Top Gear track unlocked. I have to run it online, where nobody follows the course and you're dodging supercars trying to run a decent lap.
T.J. wrote: Pitted to fix just minor damage just to get a clean car and get out of the pack. ... but I managed to string together a bunch of decent laps (1:40-1:42) and came from dead last to 4th. (Only cause others pitted I think, but I'll take it).
You made the right decision. I knew it as soon as I saw you come up in my rear view mirror, but by that point I had already made my decision.
Celica and I diced a good bit for a few laps. My car was able to brake later / harder, and handled better, but his car would pull on me a bit on the straights... especially going up the hill. We managed to not hit each other the entire time, but that damn corner got us both. I took damage on lap 4 to the RR, but it was minor so I decided to fight it hoping to be able to maintain enough speed to hold onto my position. I think at that time I was 4th or 5th. A few laps later I failed at controlling the snaking of the car and clipped a wall damaging the FL. That made the car drive great, kinda a S pattern. The rest of the race was a disaster.
MX5, shoulda / coulda been a better race. We were all packed pretty tight going into the last turn of the first lap. I thought I could make a few places by caring a bit of extra speed through the corner, I failed to remember I had cold tires and spun. Hit the inside barrier and damaged the motor... only good thing was that I was right at the pit in, so my second lap started about 30-40 seconds behind everyone else. A couple DNFs in front of me and CAM had an issue, and that settled my final position. I wasn't able to make much impression on graefin, despite chasing him (probably 15 seconds behind) for at least half the race.
Mr. Lear had a rather nice spin / wreck just before he DNF'd out.
Not sure I'll be able to get any pics, this weekend is my anniversary, I'm not sure the wife will be supportive of video games. 
Graefin10 wrote: In the ROC are the Caterhams stock or modified and if modified, how??
In the boredom of the PSN crash, we had talked about doing away with the Caterhams and making the RoC a SBC swap race. Based on points, we would (temporarily) gift our SBC car to another for the race just to see how we would do.
The Caterhams were to be stock-ish, allowing trans / susp / drivetrain components and running on SM tires. Since they are only available used, they could each have slightly different HP so there will be a HP cap
So poll time:
(Quote and vote)
@Brad: I damaged myself on the end of lap 2 on the last turn. So my pit on lap 1 really wasn't a good call. I drove the entire race with damage except for lap 2. A lot later in the race I had another off and damaged the right side of the car. Then I had damage front and rear and the car was a bit of a bear to hold on the straights. My lap times dropped 2-4 seconds or so I think and I was worried I was going to get caught by Graefin and you. If I would've sat at the starting line for 10-15 seconds after the start I would've been way better off. The Marcos has only one way through most of those turns and my brain was unable to make the transition to doing the first half of the course two wide I guess. I should've backed down, but I knew from way back at SS5 that if I let Tom in front of me with that GTI I would have a hard time passing him.
BradLTL wrote:Graefin10 wrote: In the ROC are the Caterhams stock or modified and if modified, how??In the boredom of the PSN crash, we had talked about doing away with the Caterhams and making the RoC a SBC swap race. Based on points, we would (temporarily) gift our SBC car to another for the race just to see how we would do. The Caterhams were to be stock-ish, allowing trans / susp / drivetrain components and running on SM tires. Since they are only available used, they could each have slightly different HP so there will be a HP cap MY VOTE: Caterhams with the above mentioned mods. Those cars will be challenging to drive like that. Since they rely totally on mechanical grip they don't handle all that great if not on R spec, tires . . . in my opinion anyway. They're still fun though. So poll time: - SBC Swap Race - Caterham Fireblades (Quote and vote)
I just had a hard time being consistent. The celica, oddly enough, seemed to be way faster than anyone i was tailing during the turns following the 180 at the end of the main straight.
Aircooled got in front of me before the straight, and i had to go through that section a good 15mph slower than normal to avoid punting him off the track.
My SBC race was doomed from the time that i drifted into the pits accidentally on the 1st or second lap, and then i got STUCK in the pits on the last lap.
Otherwise, Brad and i had some GREAT racing, as did Graefin and I. It was loads of fun, especially once i loosened up and embraced the drift. 
I bet there's some pretty epic pictures of my car from that race.
The MX5 race was just infuriating. I got damage on the first lap, then spent the next 5 laps inching back up on Brad. Once i had him in my sights, i spun again, and decided that was it for the night.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: The celica, oddly enough, seemed to be way faster than anyone i was tailing during the turns following the 180 at the end of the main straight.
Maybe not 100% correct. I had you in every turn, that is before I decided to meet the wall on the outside of the last corner. I just would lay back and follow you through those sections, trying not to force it. The Celica was tail happy and I didn't want to stick my nose in just as you got traction and have you end up collecting me for being a bit ambitious.
The Mini seems to have it's advantage under braking and in tight to medium corners. The high speed corners and straights is where the Mini gives it back, and then some. Really any where you are at full throttle. Hell, my shift point is 5800-6000rpm.
BradLTL wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: The celica, oddly enough, seemed to be way faster than anyone i was tailing during the turns following the 180 at the end of the main straight.Maybe not 100% correct. I had you in every turn, that is before I decided to meet the wall on the outside of the last corner. I just would lay back and follow you through those sections, trying not to force it. The Celica was tail happy and I didn't want to stick my nose in just as you got traction and have you end up collecting me for being a bit ambitious. The Mini seems to have it's advantage under braking and in tight to medium corners. The high speed corners and straights is where the Mini gives it back, and then some. Really any where you are at full throttle. Hell, my shift point is 5800-6000rpm.
Ah true... i was never right behind you in that section, so i shouldn't say that it was faster than everybody, but i can say for sure it was faster than Aircooled (unless he was REALLY loafing), Graefin, and M10Psi.
I also didn't hit my stride until almost halfway through the race.
Medium corners in that Celica with an on/off throttle controller are a BEAR. 
Kinda came together for me at the last minute, I had to dig up the GT5 disc from a pile and throw it in about 20 mins before the race was to start. Good thing no updates were needed!
Got into the swing with the Golf in a hurry--Golf? Swing? HA! Anyone?--it was actually very well suited to that track. Was running a surprisingly stout second place, I think challenged for the lead at one point but the push was all it took to put Apex in angry fast mode. Around the halfway point I had to scratch my nose, and of course that resulted in a completely stupid crash that broke the suspension and engine. Came out in third and was reeling in Apex steadily, finally figured out the line by my last lap and got into the 39s, but too late. Still not ashamed considering lack of prep.
MX-5 was also going OK, but I had a stupid spin that sent me into the pits against my will, that cost dearly. Then the cold tires and I never could come to terms, and I had two inanely painful laps before another over-driven spin and crash. Painting some stuff for the nursery then rose to the top of the to-do list ahead of two more laps of stupidity. :)
Was fun to get back into it though, good racing!
Is that Share1t site down for everyone? Where does the points list live?
Can anyone else log into the Gran Turismo website? I'm trying to get some remote grinding done today, but the server says it's down for maintainence. Worked at home, though. 
Scott Lear wrote: Is that Share1t site down for everyone? Where does the points list live?
I'll update it with last night's results and add it to Google Docs. Seems easier that way.
Scott Lear wrote: Is that Share1t site down for everyone? Where does the points list live?
I couldn't get on it either.
I thought that was funny when you mentioned your nose itch. I've had the same problem a few times. The worst of it though is for both of my hands to go to sleep. I'm sure I grip the controller too hard sometimes as well as almost falling out of my chair trying to put some "english" on my car.
I had an interesting couple of races. SBC: That started out a bit scary. I have been playing with more powerful (and much more stable) cars, so I was out of practice. When I showed up for the race, I must have spun 3 times just trying to get around the track!
I started the race in 3rd, but my traction got me into Turn 1 ahead of the heard (the rear view mirror is pretty scary in moments like that). I managed to get around that without any rear end rudeness, but had Apex and the Rascally Rabbit on my butt. Apex overshot Turn 1 on the second lap I believe but Looney Tunes was still right on top of me. The fancy Polo kept pushing and actually got beside me a couple of time, but I am in very marginal control in some of those bumpy corners and I think I gave him a bit of body check (sorry) at Turn 11 (the rock wall corner) . He started dropping back (must have found a carrot or something) and I finally got my rhythm back and started pulling a good lead (1:40-41 ish laps).
I did not try cutting Turn 5 (with the big concrete pad) until later, and found that there is no penalty and I could cut a good second off doing that (best lap was in the 1:39s). I did eventually catch up to a wildly sliding Celica, which was rather entertaining to watch. He was actually quite quick around most of the course, but I could see him hit the NOZ switch at some points (which of course he didn't have). I would think "to early man, to early" and watch him execute some wacky 90 deg slide screaming something about being Vin Diesels love child.
At that point Apex got the clue that I was slowing down to watch the GRM drift championships and started cranking it up. I then left the tire burner behind and kept ahead of Apex for the rest of the race. Turn 15 was pretty scary in the Europa. It was a very fine line going through there. Hanging the wheels on the inside of the corner resulted in a noticeable reduction in traction, so that was an iffy tactic.
MX5: That turned into another cattle call at the first corner so I tried to go deep, and got a little too deep, ended up in 4th. I followed that pack around and they dropped off a few after a few laps and I ended up behind Apex. So... how to get around Apex... I had about 14 laps to figure that out. I poked around a few times (not wanting to mess myself up). I passed him briefly in the straight at least once, but his position advantage in Turn 1 always got me. So I figured I would settle in for the show... as CLOSELY as possible. Waiting for him to break... right on his butt... wherever he goes, I go. I could see I rattled him a few time (touching the wall in 11 and generally being squirrely in that turn), but nothing major. So I was going to go for the "last turn gambit", draft him off the last turn for the line.
In the times I passed him on the straight, doing it before the line was pretty marginal so I certainly wasn't a sure bet. What made is so difficult was that he seemed to take 15 (the last turn) a fair amount faster then I did. So, comes down to the last lap, and am all set to "give it a go" in 15 and coming through the tunnel into 13, Apex does something goofy and goes wide, putting me right next to him going into 14! Now, being stuck on the inside is NOT a good position going into 15, but what to do (I know, "back off stupid"). Blood lust got the better of me and I tried to cut into 15 a bit early (no cut penalty), but he was right on my door. The early cut resulted in the predictable swing wide, which of course took Apex with me. That slide body slammed Apex into the outer wall and he spun. If I was thinking more clearly, I would have stopped at that point and let him go by for the win, but unfortunately I didn't.
So, I would like to formally penalize myself for overly aggressive driving and give Apex the win. He had position going into the last corner, and there was no way I was going to make that corner clean with out using him as bumper.
aircooled wrote: I did not try cutting Turn 5 (with the big concrete pad) until later, and found that there is no penalty and I could cut a good second off doing that (best lap was in the 1:39s). I did eventually catch up to a wildly sliding Celica, which was rather entertaining to watch. He was actually quite quick around most of the course, but I could see him hit the NOZ switch at some points (which of course he didn't have). I would think "to early man, to early" and watch him execute some wacky 90 deg slide screaming something about being Vin Diesels love child.
That's the nicest thing i think anyone has ever said about me.
I think that car is a lost cause without a wheel.
I hope someone can post pictures of that, i think i accounted for at least 80% of the deep tire marks all over the track.
SBC--- I knew from the beginning that it was going to be a fight for me in SBC. I think the best I could manage was a 1:41.xx lap with the Elan. It has been too long and getting used to the squirrely nature of the SBC car was a challenge. I kept as even as I could, but just did not have the pace. When the Rabbit pitted, it was a godsend, I dont know if I could have gotten second otherwise. After that it was a steady keep up the pace grind.
MX5---- hung back a bit off the start line and watched some people really overcook T1. a bit of dicing through the beginning of the race, then it settled down into Allaircooled and I dicing. That was a hell of a race. I was having occasional problems with T6. I have my MX5 set up loose (oversteer) with aero on the tail. It gives rotation at lower speeds and very even balance at high. When pushed too hard the car oversteers rather then understeers. (decision for tire management). Into T6 I could just about spin if I wasnt careful. (had a few ut-oh's there). Allaircooled could consistently pull me in by drafting on the straight, but would loose time by trying to carry too much speed in T1, so I could generally come through under him. My strategy was "PACE PACE PACE and make him work for the pass" I knew the race would be decided more by who made less mistakes then anything else. We all make some mistakes in a race this long, I think I did a good job of managing them.
Then on the last lap, I am trying to remain as calm as possible, chanting "dont mess up" over and over. I make a mistake on T13. A small one, but it gives Allaircooled the leap forward to really contest me. We go in pretty even, he takes an earlier apex, I take a later trying for the outside. Contact.. I spin into the wall, engine damage, suspension damage. Limp it home.
I blame the contact more on the lack of peripheral vision in GT5 then anything else. The Red Mist had descended on both of us and we were both gonna go for it. Thankfully its just a game, because that wall hit would have HURT
aircooled, I got behind you for a while during practice for the SBC cars and saw you had your hands full keeping the Europa pointed in a straight line. Didn't take long for you to pull up the correct file and off you went into the distance. That sucker sure is quick in the straights.
I couldn't believe that for a few brief seconds I was actually in second place in the MX5 race. I wish the cars had side mirrors so you could see where everyone else is. That was my downfall on lap three I was so conscious of where MX?? (in the orange car) was that I braked too late and went straight off in turn one. That dropped me back to 6th, I think. I got so shook up trying to pull you guys back in sight that I hit the rock wall and then spun out coming out of the last turn and hit the pit wall. I drove backward on the pit wall to enter the pits because I assumed that required repair. From there on on I drove fairly conseratively till the end.
hmmmph
BUT Trial Mountain is one of my favs!
On the last lap of the MX5 race, I was running about 20 seconds behind Apex and Aircooled and had a fairly large gap over 4th so I decided to go for broke on the final turn and let 'er rip. I ended up in a heap and collided with the pit entrance wall. Since I was stopped right there I just went on into the pits figuring the autodrive would take over and get me across the line. Apparently, once the race is over and the timer is counting down there is no more pit autodrive, but the view still changes as if you were on autopilot. So I see my car from about 50 feet up in the air as I am sitting nose to the wall at the pit entrance. After a short pause I realize the autodrive hasn't taken over yet, but since by my view I am no longer in my car it took a sec or two to realize I still had control of it. I think I backed down pit road a bit and then concluded that there was to be no auto drive. At this point I began to really wonder how much time I had over 4th place. I had visions of taking my 3rd place finish and throwing all away. I ended up just driving down pit road until I crossed the line from my bird's eye perspective. Lost about 20 seconds or so. Should've just taken it easy on the last corner and finished without the scare. I have learned throughout this series that I am a better GT5 driver than I am a GT5 racer. I guess I just need to practice more close wheel to wheel racing with real people. I'm ok when I have a clear track, but in a pack I don't do so well typically.
Trail Mountain is going to be a beast in the Europa. Off camber and jumps.... argh! I am still not sure I understand that chicane going into the front straight, realistically a very stupid design. I might be able to setup a double drift around it, we'll see. I have a feeling we are going to see a lot of flying cars.
For the Race of Champions: I still vote for the car swap in SBC. I think it will be quite entertaining, although it might be nice to use a course that is a bit more forgiving then the Ring. We can still do the Cathrams, just do it for the MX5 class.
Does everyone even have a Cathram? I bought one when it showed up, but I have not seen one since.
I've got two Caterhams, one maxed out and another dead stock. I bought the stock one after joining the race series because I was hoping to get enough points to get an invite into the ROC and didn't know if they could be modified or not. So I'm ready either way.
TJ, I have the same problem when I'm racing with a group. I'm afraid I'll ruin someones' race and it normally causes me to be too cautious. That first few laps in MX5 I was driving "over my head" but it sure was fun. One thing's for sure, I am slowly beginning to learn a few things.
If we trade SBC cars will we just have a drawing of some sort to see who gets what or how will that work? Will we have time to adjust the settings and test drive them? Would that race decide the champion? Just wondering.
Anyone wanting some practice tonight, I'm more than willing to grab a random SBC qualifier from my Garage and give you an easy target.
My poor E36 M3fire doesn't handle at all.
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