Sunday 1st April - final pre-season warm-up race at the Indy Road Course

[Nifty1Pound50]

This is the official sign-up thread for the fourth and final weekly pre-season race. By this time, we will have had three 'official' warm-up races and an interim week where hopefully some racing will have occurred in my absence.

By this point, hopefully we will have a good number of drivers. Specifically, I would hope the following will all be involved:

Myself
IronCity
fick
Appswah
Phatmann
abu97
Sminky
muscularmatt
Makavelian
...and others?

Racing aids will be relaxed, however I would recommend where possible that traction control, the driving line, skid recovery force and active steering are turned off (in that order of priority, for those still getting to grips with the game).

For this challenge, we will be heading back over the American shores and will be buckling up with some American monster cars to boot.

Racing Itinerary

Date: Sunday 1st April 2012
Time: 20:00 (GMT)

20:00-20:30 - Q1 (30 minute qualifying/testing session)
20:30-21:30 (approx.) - R1 (20 lap race, grid decided on qualifying times)

Follow-up race to be decided on the evening.

Track - Indy Road Course

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/146/083/117449741_display_image.jpg

Length: 2.61 miles
Straight length: 0.58 miles
Elevation difference: 11.5 ft
Corners: 13

Entry requirements

Car: Chevrolet Camaro Z28 '69

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/8987/chevcamaro.jpg

Power: 322 BHP
Weight: 1085kg
Drivetrain: FR

This car is acquired from the New Car Dealership and should then immediately be race-modified. No other parts are permitted to be purchased for this car, except for Racing Hard tyres (or worse).

Tyres: Racing Hard or worse

As far as racing aids, traction control will be allowed, as will the driving line, skid recovery force, mild active steering and the ABS. This is in the hope that those of you struggling to keep control of your car will have a more enjoyable time and keep things more competitive.

Of course, those who wish to play without are encouraged to do so (I know I won't be using any aids).

--

Some American muscle fun on a really good track.

Compared with what we will have raced as a group beforehand, these Camaros are lightning fast.

Sign-up below. All of you.

[abu97]

I'll definitely be there so you can count me in.

I better come higher than 3rd because it'll be on the same day as my birthday!

[IronCity]

Oh sh*t, I am frightened of FR cars. Good to know ahead of time, as i need much practice with these vehicles. I already have my butternut Camaro in the garage, just need to modify it.

[abu97]

Same, I'm scared of FR cars when they skid and turn. Eventhough I hate them, I won't use traction control as it'll ruin the challenge

[muscularmatt]

You guys do realise that all the drivers in professional racing, up to the highest level, all use cars with traction control and ABS. I don't get why everyone is trying to be so macho and insist on not using it.

[IronCity]

I honestly might have to turn up traction control a few notches for an FR vehicle, but I'll make an honest attempt to understand them better first. I am fine with FF's. Although would traction control help me after someone bumps my back end and I can't get it back under control?

[Makavelian]

Should be interesting this race for the people who don't use aids.

[abu97]

Are you gonna be using them? I might depending if everyone else will use them

[Makavelian]

I think you go faster without aids .
Just need to put more thought into the throttle control coming out of the corners though.

[abu97]

That is the case most of the time however a track with a lot of corners will increase your lap time using no aids. I migth put traction control on 2 but hopefully that'll be the only aid I'll use

[IronCity]

I tried the challenge Mak set out a few weeks back in arcade mode with that FR burner vehicle and I couldn't keep it on the track. After 4 restarts I just shut it down. But the Camaro does handle a little more "boaty".

[abu97]

I'm guessing it's because it weigh's less than most cars as 1080 kg seems pretty light upping up the response of the vehicle

[muscularmatt]

A skilled driver using no aids won't go any faster than a skilled driver using them. They just make things a little easier.

[Makavelian]

I noticed that I was a faster in the top gear intermediate challenge using the lotus without aids. With the aids on I noticed I was much more sluggish going round corners . I've not tested any other cars out but try it if you don't believe me.

[fick]

Just need to put more thought into the throttle control coming out of the corners though.

That's the real key. Steady throttle & only fully open when straight to avoid fish-tail.

I noticed that I was a faster in the top gear intermediate challenge using the lotus without aids. With the aids on I noticed I was much more sluggish going round corners . I've not tested any other cars out but try it if you don't believe me.

The traction/skid controls really reign in the power, both from the grid and through corners. Once you get used to racing without you can find them really frustrating to use.

I'll be aid-free on the night.

[Makavelian]

I don't want aids.

[muscularmatt]

Aids for everyone!

[Makavelian]

Just bought this car then and had a couple of laps on this track and it's bloody awful.
The reason being that you get to your top speed of 125 to quick on the long straight and you just end up chugging along,
Think you really should look at a different track nifty.

[fick]

Just bought this car then and had a couple of laps on this track and it's bloody awful.
The reason being that you get to your top speed of 125 to quick on the long straight and you just end up chugging along,
Think you ready should look st a different track nifty.

Should have a customisable gearbox Mak, change your gear ratios through the tuning menu to suit the the track. You'll be ideally looking to hit your top speed just before you need to brake at the end of the straight...

[muscularmatt]

Yeah, I'm not going to be able to raise this car in time. I'm still on a low A spec level, and 200,000 credits is still a fricking fortune to me.

If any kind, rich soul wants to help me out, then I'll love you forever.

[abu97]

Just do seasonal events if your finding it hard to rack up lots of cash. It doesm't even matter if you come last

[abu97]

Sorry, won't be available as I'm going Southampton on Saturday which is the day before the race. I'll be staying for 5 days as I have to attend this wedding with my family on Tuesday meaning unless I take my PS3 and GT5 I cannot take part. I'm really sorry and I hope this won't happen again

[Nifty1Pound50]

What'd I miss?

[abu97]

No one was on last night

[IronCity]

I lingered for awhile with PES hoping the crew would arrive but I only saw abu playing the same. Nifty is the glue obviously.

[Michu]

What can I say about GT5, tried, failed and didn't enjoy. I'm afraid I'll nay be involving myself in the GT soirée's. I like my driving unrealistic, arcadey and distinctly hand brake heavy. If this was Sonic racing I'd be there. As its not, I'll stick to my crochet.

[Makavelian]

Have you never played GT before?

[fick]

He's a ham-fisted OAP with poor reactions and a side order of ADHD.

The game is irrelevant.

[Michu]

Have you never played GT before?

Prologue was guff, driving was too rigid and that's what I'm finding, to a lesser degree with GT5. I'd only ever finish last such is my shitness so I'd rather be old and doddery doing something else.

[IronCity]

Prologue was guff, driving was too rigid and that's what I'm finding, to a lesser degree with GT5. I'd only ever finish last such is my shitness so I'd rather be old and doddery doing something else.

my guess is you would finish second to last.

[fick]

Phats isn't that bad... :erm:

[Michu]

Phats isn't that bad... :erm:

Smoothly done old boy

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lihjjjgSbd1qg1naao1_250 .gif

[IronCity]

so what's going on here; is this dying on the vine?

[pategato]

Just got hands on a copy of GT5, is this still going on?

[muscularmatt]

Not much at the moment, but I think there's a few people, myself included, that would be interested in getting back into it. Particularly after Christmas when we're all bored again.

[IronCity]

Just got hands on a copy of GT5, is this still going on?

i would race you from time to time; your freshness at the game might equal my shittiness with it.

[muscularmatt]

I haven't played it for ages either, so I'd probably be okay as an opponent. Plus, I want my chance to be the good one before Nifty notices and spoils my fun.

[Nifty1Pound50]

We definitely need to get this up-and-running again.
The Christmas Pudding
IronCity
pategato
Mak
Appswah
abu97
Phatmann

[Makavelian]

Set up a race thread fr this Sunday and the people will flock;)

[Appswah]

Would love to but I work Sundays.

[Dragonfly]

I think I might have GT5. My brother's girlfriend gave me a bunch of promotional PS3 games (i.e. in jewel cases, not proper cases) and certain this is amongst them. Undoubtedly, there will be a lanky update download, like there was with Kill Zone 3 and Twisted Metal. I might be interested in this. I probably won't play it until Friday, though.

[IronCity]

i will be out all day on sunday so my absence will one of conflict of schedule rather than lack of interest

[Makavelian]

Dragonfly
There will be monstrous updates awaiting you, the likes you have never seen.

[IronCity]

Dragonfly
There will be monstrous updates awaiting you, the likes you have never seen.

he aint kidding. Have some long porn surfing scheduled or maybe a jigsaw puzzle handy while this game updates.

[muscularmatt]

Has there been anything massive in the past month or so? If so, I need to leave the PS3 on overnight.

[Dragonfly]

he aint kidding. Have some long porn surfing scheduled or maybe a jigsaw puzzle handy while this game updates.

Is it really that big? It's a good thing I've been practicing tantric masturbation.

[Nifty1Pound50]

It's an accumulation of a LOT of updates.

If it is a first boot, you're looking at approximately 6 hours, I reckon. If not more.
matt, I'm wondering the same. I've not booted my PS3 in a long time, let alone got GT5 in there.

Might do it now and report back.

Will also aim for a thread about Sunday tomorrow.

[Makavelian]

You and your shitty internet pudding.
I've not been on since I last raced online with you Matt. Think I might switch it on later to see. Knowing GT5, there'll be a 5gig download.

[Nifty1Pound50]

I've got two updates; 227mb and 102mb respectively.

Not too bad.

Fair play to them that they continue to release updates; although the flip-side of the coin is that they clearly released an unfinished game!

[IronCity]

amazing that the game came out 2years ago and they are still updating. most companies would have walked away by now, and this is a Sony sub we are writing about.