SimRacing.org.uk

Grid/server capacity: 22

Practice: ~19:20 (60 mins)
Qualifying: 20:20 (20 mins)
Race: 20:40 (25 laps, 1 rolling/ 24 racing)

Track: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3356.msg169369#post_yasmarina2011)
Track support files: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54517#post_gtr2TrackSupport)


Cars allowed: Ford Capri Mk3 Turbo Download this (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3358.msg54518#post_capri3t)

Only the following cars are to be selected. CLASS A DIV 1 '81, CLASS B DIV 2 '81, DIV 2 '80 and DIV 2 '79.

Special Notes: Rolling start procedure will be implemented for this race. See below for details.

1) When qualifying ends drivers will join the grid as usual, before the timer countdown ends.

2) At the green light the pole position driver (lead driver) will be responsible for moving off at a slow pace.

3) The remaining drivers will follow the driver in front of them forming a single line formation.

4) The lead driver will increase speed as soon as it is safe to do so. The following drivers will match the speed of the car in front of them, whilst keeping a safe distance between them.

5) The lead driver will maintain slow/average speed for the duration of the lap until approaching the final corner when he will engage the speed limiter.

6) The lead driver will maintain limiter speed (limiter may be switched off) until the start line is reached. Having crossed the start line the lead car will begin race speed.

7) Following drivers may not exceed limiter speed (lead drivers speed) or attempt any overtaking until the start line is crossed.

Car restrictions: NONE

Time of Day Setting: 22:00
Start: ROLLING
Tyre wear: x2
Fuel consumption: Normal

Server: simracing.org.uk Monday
Password: see above (#post_event_password)

Notes:
(1) It's best if all drivers can make sure they are connected before the Qualifying session as drivers on track during qualifying will not see cars that join after they are on track until they go back to the garage.
(2) Please make sure you are fully aware of the SimRacing.org.uk Rules.
(3) The AI control should be turned off so that you have control of the car at all times, including pitting. Your player file should therefore read
Autopit="0"
Force Autopit Off="1" // Forces autopit always off
No AI Control="1" // AI never has control over car
If you still finding pitting problematic, experience tells us that its less to do with positioning and more to do with approach speed. A slow approach to pit crew chief has proved most reliable.

Special Notes: The start lights at this circuit do not show a green for go. Drivers are advised to have their start countdown turned on. This GTR2 track requires this file http://www.mediafire.com/file/05rcnqaz8rl3flr/Yas_Marina.gdb Put in your Track folder and allow to overwrite.

Unfortunately this is the only version, currently available, of the Yas Marina circuit. It has several diffences from the RL circuit, one of the most obvious is that the pit exit does not go under the race track.

Ziu has found a better version of Yas Marina but it's for GTR2  :(

To allow us a chance to convert and test this version I have pushed this event back one week.

A replacement Yas Marina track is now available to download. Please use the installer. This is a GTR2 track so it is essential to also download and install the track support pack. This provides files to GTL to enable the track to run.
If you have the original Yas Marina installed you can keep it on your PC as the two tracks can co-exist.

Ah great, bundles more 1st gear corners...  :censored:

This is beyond doubt the most confusing track I've ever been on.  With all those alternate routes, byways, pit entrances and exits, it takes a miracle just to find your way around it. Would far prefer racing the Capris around Long Beach, instead of this monstrosity..  ;)

Have installed files as per the instructions, but have a weird problem both on- and offline. The sky is (almost) black, and lighting looks strangely artificial, but can't identify the source of it - streetlamps don't appear lit.  Dunno about the server, but my own time was set to the usual 14:00.  Anyone else seeing this, or is it me who's missing something ?

A word of caution: I was mowing down corner distance markers at the end of the long straight, when I discovered that one of them is made from undestrucktium (which my car isn't...).  Track cut warnings seem quite aggressive too.

Cheers,
Erling

The light is artificial because the track was prepared and designed for schedule of F1 so the sky is dark at any time setted, however the visibility is very good and it is not necessary to use the headlights of car.

We have found that the cuts are harsh but fair. But please shout out if anyone finds one that seems over zealous.

IMPORTANT

When leaving the pits and re-joining the track do not cross the white line on your right. Likewise when on the track and approaching the pit exit stay clear of the same line please. Just to avoid any  :'( :'( :'(

I've been doing some testing, and with some wheels up kerbs I have had no cuts yet
best so far is 2:17   (Div B)

What Erling said, Reminds me of navigating myself through the road works on the way to work. It has a temporary feel to it, like they can't make up there mind what layout is best. Not saying it's wrong, just very confusing until you have been around it a few times.

Much prefer the original version which in my eyes has a more "classic" feel.

Which one is the most authentic layout? Other than the obvious pit exit.

Although the corners all go the same way and are roughly where you would expect to find them I've had to adjust my gearing a bit as they are very different regarding the distance between some of them.

No cuts yet apart from when I've completely cocked it up.

TTFN
John.

The layout is fine for me, but it seems very heavy graphic load. I am getting a lot of fllickering
at some parts of the track, very off putting.
I would prefer the old simpler version.
I have never liked tracks that people with slower systems can't run smoothly.

The version of this track for GTL it s totally wronged, layout, kerbs, pitlane all wronged. The only thing right is the track name Yas Marina but we can take this name and put it on a fictional track and say that we are driving on real track. It s like say that if a donkey is flying is a bird, we calling he bird but in the realty he remains a donkey and mostly the donkeys cannot fly, at least i never saw a donkey flying, if one of you have seen never a donkey flyng please say to me !
The version of Yas Marina that we are using is of GTR2 and it was the best that we found, however you can watch this video and after compare both version.....and here cannot be any doubt !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuV23vQYe60 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuV23vQYe60)

(https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/phspok1/flying_donkey.jpg)

 :lol: :lol: :lol:

This is a mule not a donkey !

Nope, it has no horse in it, it is not the son of Pegasus  :laugh:

If you want to see him flying my advice it is to make him lose weight, need a diet and after administer to him suppositories for constipation  ;D

Div2 80 2:13, 639 I lost 0,5 second on turn17 because i did a mistake braking

This started at around 9:30 on Sunday evening.

OK, as if driving these crazy machines is not torture enough...... ::)
I thought "oh Abu Dhabi, we have raced there before I have that track already...I might not like it, but I have it!"
"duh?, but what's this about GTR2 files??" ???

Then I read some of the posts and I discover that I probably don't have the track, there is an updated version.  :-\

Ok, I will download and install the new track file.....simples  ;D

Go to the downloads and hit the correct key for the track file and the extra GTR" bits........................."download failed error".......................wtf??! try again and d/load starts. The same thing happens with both files?? bizarre!!
Once the downloads are complete it is just a case of hitting the "Install" button as usual for the track isn't it?. You might have thought that, and I most certainly expected it to be straightforward and simple like 50 times before. :no:
A pop up window informs me that AVG thinks this file is suspicious and has blocked its use??? :dots:
It is around this point that I discover that my AV and auto maintenance software has been updated by those nice friendly people at AVG :P A further pop up informs me that I have discovered a very unusual file and they have ( AUTOMATICALLY!!) submitted the file to their cyber security lab for cracking and should have an answer in 72 minutes??!! :blink:

"bugger that!" I'm installing it anyway" I thought. But no, AVG has inhibited access to this file ( as yet another pop up window informs me!), so I dig around for "advanced settings" and discover a little button that allows me to decide if an intercepted file is safe or not......simples  ;)  Nope! yet another pop up window tells me that "the file is being processed and that it is beginning to crack" and when they have actually checked it they will let me know!! It appears that once they have started this "checking" process it is an automated procedure :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:

Hmmmmm,

So I download again and change the file name...I can be sneaky and devious sometimes  :shifty: And now with the manual option for safe files operational, I am able to install the track file ( there is still yet another pop up, but it comes with a " not recommended but go ahead anyway" button, which gets somewhat pounded!!!.................. and the install works "Woohoo!!!! cracked it!!!".

or so I thought......... >:(

Please tell me where I need to place the GTR2 .dll file  ??? ??? ??? because I copied it to the new Abu Dhabi folder and the track doesn't load.  :taz: :taz: :taz: :taz: :taz: :taz:

I have dispatched Arnold on a mission to AVG headquarters equipped with a large amount of Semtex and fertiliser, and Mabel to the drinks cabinet for my medicinal bottle of single malt whiskey and a LARGE glass. I intend to test the Big Bang theory and see if it is the restart of everything.

it is now 10:40 and I am going to lie down in a darkened room with my nishe bokkle ov medizine........................

Ok, so I don't have a GTR2.dll file so god only knows where you got that from.

This is what the Yas Marina folder should have in it

(http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w324/wiltshire_tony/Locations_zpskzabjcoh.png)

And this is what your Locations/Shared folder should have in it

(http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w324/wiltshire_tony/Shared_zpsvplklmtq.png)

No probs here. Linux is a great pleasure for working online - except the circumstance that GTL still doesn't run on this platform  :-\ . And no antivir protection necessary.
Downloading all files needed under Linux - then switching to Windows XP and installing the files. Of course a bit complicated, but secure.

Thanks Tony for providing these addon files. So GTR2-tracks can be used in GTL without conversion. :thumbup1:

But I'm still around 2:30  :P and I don't feel to be able to further improvements.

Can't remember what i did, but I put the files somewhere that looked reaonable, and everything worked.
I think it's where to put the GTR2 conversion files that may be the issue? I wil have alook when I get home
later.

I think the issue is that the AV system looks for a valid Certification Certificate and if there isn't one it give the warning.  I find it's a fairly common thing and I just check where I'm loading from and if I'm, happy (as with the SROU site) I carry on. Also my All singing and dancing AV and maintenance system only gives safe sites and asks if you want to see all sited when browsing..

I feel your pain Clive. AVG did the same to me this weekend. Fortunately I already had the new track installed.

I though now have a different problem. After about 10 minutes my GTL is minimised. This only affects GTL so far. (All GTL instals).

GPL runs fine up to now although AVG did refuse to launch it initially, insisting on checking it out. I've  used AVG since W98 but am currently considering a move elsewhere.

I'll try disabling it for tonight's  race but I'm not sure it will help.

TTFN
John

What! Are you saying that your anti-virus software minimises software that's in use?

If you do I would be binning it so quick it's feet wouldn't touch. I use Kaspersky and never had a reason to regret buying it. They also offer a 30 day free trial.

This is not a challenge, but I have never had any AV permanently installed on any of my systems
It gets in the way too much on games machines. If your AV is screwing up you games, then there
is a simple answer.  :death:

Unfortunately no AV is not really an option for me as although it's "my" system I'm not the only user and Christ knows what others get up to on it.

I've generally had very few issues with avg until now but the new interface is about as user friendly as a cornered rat. Previous options such as "gaming mode" now seem to have either disappeared or been renamed so as to be almost impossible to do find.

AVG seems to be heading the same way as Norton.

TTFN
John

Is there a game mode available with AVG?

I've been quite happy with Norton for a number of years now.  It has a discrete mode, which I engaged manually before starting GTL or other games, only to discover in its logfiles that it does this automatically, when it detects a program running in fullscreen mode (games typically).  My impression is that it's unjustly maligned.

Cheers,
Erling

Norton used to be great (I had it for years) but it seemed to become bloated with useless stuff so I switched to Kaspersky.

There always used to be. But not anymore that I can find. :(

Yes Erling, Tony I agree, Norton used to be great, and I had it running on a laptop for years but eventually bought it in line with my desktop when I started to notice a significant slow down. Installing AVG seemed to restore some performance so I put my issues at the time down to Norton being too intrusive.

I'll see how tonight goes. If I go straight on at a turn assume I'm suddenly staring at my desktop.

TTFN
John

OK!.................well maybe  ::)  Thanks for all the comments guys. Just a little miffed with AVG as I only recently renewed my annual subscription for their services. :-\  My bank offers Kapersky for free...I have just discovered!!! Why is it always AFTER you cough up some cash that you find the free deals????

had a busy day and was not able to get at this problem until 20mins ago.

In answer to Tony " I have no idea what generated that .dll file!!??" but it was definitely part of what downloaded from the link last night?? However, tonight's download of the GTR2 support files had no such crap and although AVG attempted to steal the file and despatch it to their lab, I was ready and slapped their wrists!!  I have a sneaky suspicion that the .dll file was linked to the action of the AVG software, but I have no idea why or how!

Used the auto install for the new download of the GTR2 bits and it worked fine. Thus far I have only fired up the circuit offline and driven a car out into the pitlane.

Will be looking to join the server early this evening if I can and test that all is OK.

Shame that, was quite enjoying the track.

The problem with the race ending early is because of the line below in red. It needs removing from the .gdb file, it will run fine then.
 
 RaceDay = Sunday
  RaceStart = 11:30
  RaceLaps = 55
  RaceTime = 120
  RaceTimeScaled = 120

  Attrition = 15
  Pit Board Location = Left

Is the server back up? I only ask because Ziu is showing as being on the server from the lobby on my end.  ??? But no UKGTL sever listed for me. :(

TTFN
John.

nope servr not up

Ah ok, Thanks, Probably just an orphan process lurking in my lobby view.

Replay and results now posted.

What can I say. I was thrilled when Ziu told me that we could race on a better version of the Yas Marina circuit. We had no idea that there was a time setting that required removal.

A huge sorry to all drivers who spent a lot of time practicing this track.

No problem for me.  Its raining a little here and thats puts a halt to most racing in this country.  Just cover the cars, look at the RADAR and say thats all folks!!!!  On to Gellenson........

Bob M.

Grats to the podium..

Taking onboard what Geoffers has said...............please put this file http://www.mediafire.com/file/05rcnqaz8rl3flr/Yas_Marina.gdb into your Yas Marina track folder and allow to overwrite.

Well, I have to question the results, i started 4th, No one went past me and I ended up 8th?

You were moving all over the XD display. I thought you had had an incident cos it showed you behind me. I'll check the replay.

I ask apologize to all, I m a big donkey if I controlled gdb file all this not happened but i not could imagine, sorry again guys  :(

Well, Really weird, My replay shows nothing amiss, I can move forwards and backwards through the field and it all shows me in the correct position relative to the other cars as far as I can tell right up until the end. (And I could still see Erling ahead both in my replay and also during the session after I had apparently exited the race according to the server). But my race position seemed to change as those behind passed the SF line after the server decided I was no longer racing.

The server replay shows me back in the garage the instant I cross the SF line to start a new lap at exactly 807.00s into the race.

Disappointed if the result stands regardless as no one got past 25% distance.

Just my personal view, but I think it should be re run at the end of the season

TTFN
John.
 

Don't worry Ziu and all organizers. Difficult track/car combo for me. Only one single clean lap in qualy  :P

Not only the game, also my pc froze so I had to restart my machine and voted for going to bed instead  ;D

I'll move you back to 4th place leter today John, no worries.

After the attempts of AVG to scupper my participation, I suppose the sudden end of the race was not a huge surprise  :-\

It was only about 90minutes before the event started that I got the track installed along with the GTR2 files. So with no practice, any thoughts of maybe dipping my toe into the cockpit of a Div 1 car for this race were shelved and I rolled out the same Div2 car and setup I had used for the other races.

I think there is still some residual effect of the AVG screwup, because I would lose the video feed on every second lap for about 5 seconds, whilst the game continued on sound only. This did nothing to help post a decent qually time. I only completed one flying lap without a view of my desktop!! Even in this shortened race I had at least 3 chances to admire the icons on my desktop before hearing a horrible crunching sound as car and barrier met unseen!!

John suggested in chat that I should turn off my AV for future races, so I might have to do a few offline/online tests. Also it might have a similar impact on GPL events, so this needs serious investigating!!!

I don't blame anyone for last night's problem, it's only by use we find the limitations of the installed track. It was a pity the race was cut short, I was just beginning to feel a bit of confidence driving these cars and was running 50 or so yards nearer the two corners on the long straights. Also was getting the line and speed on the long left hander just after the pit exit right as well. These faster cars are really testing my ability and reactions.  ???  :oops: :rockon:

Will download and incorporate the identified fix, thanks all concerned. :thumbup1:

Results adjusted to show Jeep in 4th place

Someone asked if we could re-run this event.

Please visit this poll https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=14349.msg259889#msg259889

Please guys vote yes, I don't like win so. After six laps not possible have a podium on a race with pitstop and tires wear x2.

You'll win anyway - it's just a question of delaying the inevitable  ;)

Still, would like to have another chance of stealing 2nd from Geoff, so will probably vote for rematch.  Will take a look a the track we're sacrificing first though, as I really hate Yas Marina, so might like the other one better.

Regarding the problem yesterday, are we certain it was caused by the parameter mentioned by Geoffers?  I'm wondering if Clive's problems might have had a hand in it.  In one of our previous seasons, I had a very similar problem in a race (Zeltweg 2014), seemingly caused by a Citrix client still running in my tray, after working from home earlier.  Once during qualy, and again in the race, I was yanked to the desktop. Shortly after, the server barfed in very similar fashion as yesterday.  I wouldn't expect things happening on a client to be able to tilt the server, but do think it's quite a coincidence that it has happened twice, and in both cases someone had problems with GTL minimizing during the race.

Cheers,
Erling

I want remind to you that also at Istanbul the race was on my hands until the pitstop, i wronged it and you win the race. That could happen also at Yas Marina

True about Istanbul, but here you were so much quicker that you could screw up your pitstop twice and still win..  ;)

Cheers,
Erling

And if I take Stop & Go penalty ? Or if i hit the guard rail on turn19 ? You try to hit it and watch what happen, the race it s finished !!! And i pass very very closed here.

True, there's always possibilities  :)  However, you were 2.5 secs faster than Geoffers, and 3.4 secs faster than me, so it seems no one could put you under any pressure, so you'd really have to be a donkey to wreck your car..  ;D

Cheers,
Erling

Oh no! not him again....   ;D


(https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/phspok1/flying_donkey.jpg)

Hehe, at least he could fly over the guard rail instead of hitting it..  ;D

Cheers,
Erling

He is your friend (http://www.vocinelweb.it/faccine/biggrin/pag2/43.gif)

Hi All,
I was having a dig through the Yas track files.

I think there are other parameters which may need removing.. Not sure if these could cause problems, I'm just going on info I received from Hmmguy over at Evo Modding when I converted his Laguna67 track to GTL.

.AIW File

[GRID] Section
Remove...
GridIndex=103
Pos=(-115.604,-1.084,-21.626)
Ori=(-0.014,-0.449,-0.026)

[PITS] Section
Remove...
TeamIndex=51
PitPos=(-57.427,-0.650,-187.933)
PitOri=(-0.012,-0.572,-0.007)

.TRK File
Find Parameter Instance=skyboxi
Remove...
  Instance=dayR
  {
    Moveable=True
    MeshFile=dayR.gmt CollTarget=False HATTarget=False
  }
  Instance=nightR
  {
    Moveable=True
    MeshFile=nightR.gmt CollTarget=False HATTarget=False
  }
  Instance=sunriseR
  {
    Moveable=True
    MeshFile=sunriseR.gmt CollTarget=False HATTarget=False
  }
  Instance=sunsetR
  {
    Moveable=True
    MeshFile=sunsetR.gmt CollTarget=False HATTarget=False
  }

Be careful and take note of the {} pairs.

As I said I've only converted a few tracks and these were always part of the changes I made from the original GTR2 track.

TTFN
John.

Thanks for that John. I'm hoping to get time to test on the server sometime soon. I'll do the suggested changes and try to complete a full race session.

Please install these files in to your Yas Marina 2011 folder and allow to overwrite

http://www.mediafire.com/file/r3oycf52f42922f/Yas_Marina.AIW

http://www.mediafire.com/file/tt0umgz9aesldz1/Yas_Marina.trk

These files incorporate the changes flagged up by Jeep

Guy's, I have just finished a test race session on the server using the modified track files and regretably the race still gets terminated at around lap 6/7 (do not remember exactly when).

This, I think, is the final straw with this version of Yas Marina.

Disappointing. :( I've run a few races up to 20 laps off line with no problems but it seems there is something fundamentally wrong with this track on line.

Did you have a trace running?

Guess I had better start learning Sentul.

TTFN
John.

No I didn't. I will test again but this time I will set one up.

Just finished online testing again, this time with a trace file in place. Went up to 20 laps and no problems.

I will try to run another test soon and see if I can repeat that.

Hi Tony,
 When you said earlier that the race got terminated, did it "finish early" or just dump you back in the garage? Did it happen at the SF line or somewhere else? I've been through the files I know to check and just can't see anything which jumps out at me. (Not that I in anyway  know what I'm looking for). :(

Very weird, it's a shame as I'm beginning to appreciate the track the more I drive it, it's just a shame it doesn't have more elevation.

TTFN
John.