GRM Assetto Corsa Racing League S17 - Corolla Wagons

Results:

Schedule:  Weekly - Wednesdays 

   6pm Pacific - 7pm Mountain - 8pm Central - 9pm Eastern

Race Server Name: GRM SEASON 17 RACE.... (The password is the three letter acronym of a popular automotive magazine based in Florida, lower case)

Join the Discord channel: Unofficial GRM Forum to allow audio chat.

Race Format:  Each track will be run twice on it's race night.  Each race being 15 min.  First race positions are based on qualifying.  Second race is an inverted grid of the first race results.

Points:  Point are accumulated base on the finishing order of the average of the two races (ties going to the better finisher of the first race).  1st place scores 20 pts, 2nd 18 pts, then 17, 16, 15, 14 etc.

Drops:  One drop per driver will be allowed if the series goes up to 6 races. Lowest point finish(s) for series will not be counted.  If the series has more than 6 races, 2 drops are allowed.

Handicaps: HC will be based on current season points standings.  HC steps can be seen on the current race results.

Restarts and Yellow Flags:  Restarts can be called for with the consensus of the racers when the beginning of the race results in a significant crash.  Yellow flags can be called for with the consensus of the races and will require the lead car to slow until the pack has gathered (in single file), then the leader will initiate the re-start.

Courtesy Waits and Penalties: When a drivers action causes another driver to be forced off the course, or loose positions, it is suggested the offending driver wait for the affected driver, and let them ahead of them.  Penalties may be given out for serious offenses.  Penalties (determined by majority of drivers) will involve a lose of 2 points. 

Car Selection: General rule is only two cars of each type in the series.  First claim have priority (post here or indicate during practice / race). Drivers are allowed to switch cars ONCE, but not after the start of the 3rd race.  Alternate option (must be indicated when they start the series):  A Driver can switch as many times as they like, but car choice will be random and only involve cars driven by fewer then 2 drivers.  Exceptions to the above will certainly be considered on case by case basis (bribes are allowed).

The Car:  Toyota Corolla Wagon BZ Touring

Previous Series:

GT Legends: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/assetto-corsa-on-pc/174453/page72/

One Lap of America: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/assetto-corsa-on-pc/174453/page81/#post3456972

Streetcar Challenge: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/assetto-corsa-on-pc/198768/page93/#post3537026

Spec 944: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/assetto-corsa-on-pc/198768/page106/#post3644496

GT3: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/assetto-corsa-on-pc/198768/page119/#post3684807

MX5: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/assetto-corsa-on-pc/198768/page129/

Classic Touring Cars: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/assetto-corsa-on-pc/198768/page152/#post3796897

Radicals:  https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/assetto-corsa-on-pc/198768/page160/#post3826603

Mustangs: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/grm-assetto-corsa-racing-league-mustangs/260441/page1/

914-6: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/grm-assetto-corsa-racing-league-914s/261606/page1/

GT4:   https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/grm-assetto-corsa-racing-league-gt4/266318/page1/

Fieros: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/grm-assetto-corsa-racing-league-fieros/272156/page1/

Singers: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/grm-assetto-corsa-racing-league-s16-singers/273391/page1/

Download the cars and required track from the link below:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vME9C0pSEoHrops3ol6xEer_0FAp-C54

Archive of some of the non-original cars / track we have used:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UHbJVB_Wvlp1n_-vaZBGW9_WTXlKIc0u?usp=sharing

Logo and Series merchandise is available from here (with near zero, 5 cents, profit built in):

https://gps-shop.fourthwall.com/?

Setup and Getting Started Info

Discord download (for voice chat and info): https://discord.com/download

Content Manager and Shader patch - Highly recommended (CM requires a donation for full function, but WELL worth it):

 https://acstuff.ru/app/  (yes it's from Russia)

 https://acstuff.ru/patch/  (not required by greatly improved graphic / appearance)

Sol graphic mod (not required but greatly improved weather /sky / atmosphere and some other effects): https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/sol.24914/

Suggested add-ons:

Helicorsa (adds nice overview of cars around you):  https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/helicorsa.5199/

FFBClip (adds way to graph and easily adjust force feedback, per car): https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/ffbclip-app.7910/ 

Sidekick (a more detailed "info" bar for speed, gear, tire temps etc.): https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/sidekick.11007/

Shortcut Key: Adds useful keyboard shortcuts, like  Ctrl + B : Teleport to pit position, Ctrl + E : Exit Game             https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YNsvldx4s2nMVtNPHlTTUtBHrcy_TgDU

Getting Started with Discord:

This looks long/complex, but I assure you it goes pretty fast and its very easy to use.

1) Read the Discord thread, if you wish: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/simulation-central/grm-discord-channel/177517/page1/

2)  Download Discord from https://discord.com/

3) Once you get it up and running, send me a message on there.  My name is prodarwin#1538.  Put it in the upper left box.    Just let me know you want a GRM invite and your forum name if I don't have any way of identifying you.

4) Make sure your mic works.  I suggest you go to user settings (bottom left of screen):

Click voice and video, adjust your volumes, and your devices if necessary.  You can select push to talk or 'voice activity'.  Discord is actually very good at deciding when you are talking, so it works pretty well and saves you the need to bind a button.

5) Once you are in the forum, if a bunch of stuff has a locked symbol, PM one of the mods.  They will need to add you to the GRM group so you have access to the sub-channels.  

6)  When you are in the discord, you'll see this bar on the left, with all the channels you can join.

The important thing to note here is, when it comes time to play AC, look for the Assetto Corsa channel, if it shows some people below it, they are currently in the channel, which probably means we are racing.  Just click to join.

If you are in a text channel and want to get someone's attention you can @ them and it will display a notification, or send a push notification to their phone.

Finding you Discord User ID (which will be needed when joining the online room):

 - In the lower left of the Discord screen, click on your name/icon.  In the screen the pops up, roll over the # icon in the upper right (it will likely be similar to your Discord name with a number added)

Logitech Wheel setup Info:

  Logitech Profiler Settings (a good starting point at least):

In game Wheel settings (a good starting point at least):  

  (The 107% Gain is a bit of a secret best setting to reduce the center dead zone apparently)

Assetto Corsa / Shader Patch suggested settings changes (from base):

Remove windshield glare (Settings - Assetto Corsa - Video):

Set readings to 'murican units:

Content Links:

https://www.racedepartment.com/  primary source (use Google to search)

http://assettomods.com/   nice cars and car packs (seems to be Australian focused)  

https://mabimotors.com/forum/assetto-corsa/sites-de-mod-pour-assetto-corsa/  List of sources for cars / tracks

https://tarnhoerner.de/   car packs for various classic racer series

 https://vrc-modding-team.net/  Formula 1 cars and tracks

Here is a link to my Google drive with some resources that will be a lot easier to get here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YNsvldx4s2nMVtNPHlTTUtBHrcy_TgDU?usp=sharing

Currently up there:

 - 7zip installer (use this to decompress car and tracks).  The default Windows decompress seems to work fine though.

 - Logitech Profiler (essential for setting up a Logitech Wheel)

 - Logitech GHub (needed for Logitech G29 wheel)

Note: the NVIDEA tools are not needed if you have the Content Manager. I could not get the plug in to install in the latest version of PS anyway.

Here is a good link for how to setup a Logitech G27 wheel (G29 should be the same):

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=276305371

G27 (and maybe G29) should work best with gain set to 107%.

Some Tracks that might be of interest:

Track Database (of actual tracks not AC tracks): https://www.racingcircuits.info/

Bridgehampton:  https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/bridgehampton-race-circuit.6604/

Trial Mountain (for GT fans):  https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/trial-mountain.2348/

Riverside: https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/riverside-international-raceway.9492/

Bathhurst: https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/bathurst.8677/

Spa (update): https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/spa-francorchamps-the-real.31068/

Deep Forrest (visuals not done): https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/deep-forest-raceway.32848/

Mid Ohio (not at RD): https://assettocorsa.club/mods/tracks/mid-ohio.html

VIR: https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/virginia-international-raceway.11892/

Summit Point: https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/summit-point-raceway.29502/

NJMSP:  https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/new-jersey-motorsports-park-lightning.14212/

I think this is going to be a fun series... and unfortunately I have to miss out on opening night tomorrow.  6 hour round trip to the airport to pick up my wife... ugh.

We are starting tomorrow?

Crap, guess I should run a couple of laps and figure the car and track out. Thought we'd try a few variations of the car's setup first.

Are we starting tonight?

If so, I need to get the version of the car with the custom liveries uploaded.

In reply to aircooled :

I thought that was the plan... ??

So, should we start the season or have one more week of messing around? I am on the fence due to the upcoming holidays. I guess I would like to get things started. We can get three races in if we start this week and two if we start next week.

I put the updated car with liveries in the current season folder.  The server will need to be updated.

Where did we end up with handicap calculations?

Seen the results posted on discord but didn't seem like an easy formula to decipher. 

Piguin said:

Where did we end up with handicap calculations?

 

Seen the results posted on discord but didn't seem like an easy formula to decipher. 

We are going to try a fixed HC based on your position in the points. It will not be a cumulative system like we have had in the past. Just a fixed HC for your position in the points that gets adjusted if your position in the points changes. This way we will not end up with everyone ending up with big weight at the end of the series. 

No risk of the cars becoming undrivable, and meaningful balast from the second race on.

Seeing how close things are, 50kg will probably make a lot of difference. Good plan.

In reply to dean1484 :

That sounds like it could work well.  Is the plan to make it pretty big jumps in HC between positions so it's noticeable?

Results.  The HC as noted is fixed per current standings (not race results, though the first race is the same for the first race).  The concept is to make it slightly exponential (not an even increase) to hit the higher places harder since the number isn't really that important, it's the difference (delta) between the numbers that's important.

It's certainly possible (maybe likely?) that we adjust this a bit to either make the number higher, lower, or more "curved".

Here is the concept of the difference in HC levels graphed.  The red line would be a simple linear (same delta between steps) difference in HC's while the green and blue is more what we are trying now. Currently it's a bit like the blue, but we are only (currently) simulating it in the first two places.  Making it a bit more like the graph would not be too difficult (heck, we could just change the values on the y axis of this chart and use it!)

I did a quick update on the liveries, to fix 914's (shown below) and to add the GP Simports logo (preliminary).  I also added in the Max Speeding rods one I previously missed and fixed Gameboys to reflect the proper product..

Dean will probably want to update his, but it's optional for every one else.  You just won't see the updates, but they will still show in the replays.

Super nice. Great fun and inspiring. @aircooled 

Those are looking awesome,

Air I sent you a text but in case you see this first the Voice over for the intro is in the MS One Drive for you.

You know seeing the logos on the cars I really like that!!!!!

I think I figured out what is wrong with the steering - in order to have the visual steering follow the actual wheel, steering scale in AC settings needs to be set at around 60%.

Is this better/faster? No idea, but it makes it feel a bit more like a normal car. YMMV

Highlights from the first race.  Dean is playing with a new microphone, so the intro is a bit longer than usual.

Wanted to give a bit of history on the car so it got a little long.  Will try and pull it back a bit.  I think the new mic is so much better than either my gaming mic or the studio mic I have. My studio mic needs a powered mixing board. 

In reply to aircooled :

The cars feel so much faster than they look. 

dean1484 said:

Wanted to give a bit of history on the car so it got a little long.  Will try and pull it back a bit. 

The history part, both for the track and the car, was really enjoyable. I don't see the reason in pulling back, especially since the car intro makes a lot of sense in the first race of the series.

Piguin said:

dean1484 said:

Wanted to give a bit of history on the car so it got a little long.  Will try and pull it back a bit. 

The history part, both for the track and the car, was really enjoyable. I don't see the reason in pulling back, especially since the car intro makes a lot of sense in the first race of the series.

The funny part is I did it in one take and then just went back and made some minor edits cleaning up a couple of small things.  I was trying to be quick about it due to me realizing that the mic I got yesterday was much better acoustically than the one I had used originally for this.  

I think my voice is good for intros and outros.  When I listen to myself I keep hearing Carl Sagen. LOL.    I don't know if that is good or bad but it makes me laugh.

It would be cool to then hand off to someone that has the voice for actual announcing of the events as they happen.  That would be exponentially more work for air but would be really cool.  Maybe try it for the season final or something.  

When I was making and editing video productions I found that for every minute of the final product, you will on average spend between 30-60 minutes producing it to get it to a level that is broadcast quality (not YouTube quality).

Results and Standings: