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UKiR => UKiR Races => Topic started by: popabawa on July 26, 2010, 09:25:39 AM +0100



Title: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on July 26, 2010, 09:25:39 AM +0100
Car: Star Mazda
Track: VIR (North)
Practice: approx. 18:00 for 150 mins
Qualifying: 20:30 (15 mins)
Race: 29 laps  (approx. 40 minutes)

Start: Standard iRacing double file rolling start
Flags: local only

THERE WILL BE NO RESETS AVAILABLE!

Password: see above (#post_event_password)
(2) Driver lists can be found on the championship standings page (https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=LM2R;group=263;theme=33)


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Ken Murray on July 27, 2010, 01:18:33 PM +0100
What a shame, I will miss this!! Although I'm not sure how the "North" layout compares to the full.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on July 27, 2010, 02:00:40 PM +0100
More mushy peas.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Mike Wrightson on July 27, 2010, 09:50:38 PM +0100
That tightening uphill turn is rather interesting  :o

1:21's at present, but need to do some more tweaking yet.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Burtoner on July 27, 2010, 10:33:34 PM +0100
Guys isnt there new content out soon, with damage models changes etc?, so wouldnt it be better to test after the patch has been performed?


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Mike Wrightson on July 27, 2010, 10:55:44 PM +0100
Tyre model isn't changing yet, though there is a new transmission model.  That won't affect the Mazda much since it's semi-auto.  Just in case something does change, I now have a decent baseline to feel the changes with.  My serious setup work will start tommorrow.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Blunder on July 28, 2010, 07:07:32 AM +0100
Race seat very dusty! :)
Looking forward to getting back in the saddle!  ;)


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Mike Wrightson on July 28, 2010, 11:42:14 PM +0100
Tyre model isn't changing yet, though there is a new transmission model.  That won't affect the Mazda much since it's semi-auto.
Or perhaps it will!  Having to re-learn downshifting in the Mazda and Radical.  It's taken quite a few laps and practicing, but I think I'm getting it fairly reliably now.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Burtoner on July 29, 2010, 12:02:30 AM +0100
I have to admit I like the new mazda now :)

Finished a practice just now at Laguna Seca with 60 drivers, 51 drivers set a time and I was the 15th fastest  ;D

http://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/EventResult.do?&subsessionid=2277010&custid=18351


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Ken Murray on July 29, 2010, 07:44:58 AM +0100
Tyre model isn't changing yet, though there is a new transmission model.  That won't affect the Mazda much since it's semi-auto.
Or perhaps it will!  Having to re-learn downshifting in the Mazda and Radical.  It's taken quite a few laps and practicing, but I think I'm getting it fairly reliably now.

What's different? Do you have to use clutch or lift on up changes?


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Mike Wrightson on July 29, 2010, 09:36:41 AM +0100
It depends on the car.  Mazda and Radical use sequential dog-boxes, so you don't need to use the clutch after the start.  You don't need to lift when upshifting in them either.  But, when downshifting, if you are holding too much throttle on under brakes (or not enough) it won't shift.  You can't simply hold half throttle to keep the car stable while downshifting anymore, you need to blip each gear change.

The Radical was harder to get used to than the Mazda, even engine braking will stop it shifting unless you blip it at the right moment.

The Lotus 79 is now more interesting, you must lift on the upshift and blip the downshift,  but the cars with syncromesh gearboxes (Solstice, Mustang) seem to require that you use the clutch with heel & toe to be successful.  The G25's pedals are not laid out for that, so I have to use auto-clutch in those cars or I can't even drive them.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on July 29, 2010, 10:35:23 AM +0100
I think I'll be leaving the auto-clutch/blip settings on!  :laugh:


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Burtoner on July 29, 2010, 12:14:34 PM +0100
this is what I read in release notes:-

Key points:

- If you are struggling to adapt to shifting with no shift aids, don't be afraid to turn on the auto-clutch shift aid and perhaps even the auto-blip shift aid for important sessions where you need reliable shifting. Like any physical activity you may have been doing for a long time it can take a while to unlearn your old muscle memory habits and learn new ones.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Legzy on July 29, 2010, 12:31:02 PM +0100
Sounds like a step forward in the fun factor department ::)


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on July 29, 2010, 12:42:36 PM +0100
Legzy, if you don't want to use the manual clutch there's really not that much difference, certainly not that affect the fun factor.

Seems like a lot of the more 'hardcore' guys who want to do it all manually are finding the new transmission model a lot more realistic and therefore more fun.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Mike Wrightson on July 30, 2010, 12:37:21 AM +0100
Into 1:20's now  8)

The new transmission is not so bad on the Mazda.  For downshifts, brake hard and release all throttle (you can keep a tiny bit on) and it'll downshift fast.  I have found it encourages me to spread the shifts out more during the braking so I don't lock up the rears.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Ken Murray on July 30, 2010, 06:34:46 PM +0100
I have only done a quick two or three laps at Barber to see how different it was. Apart from the clunky sound I seem to be able to drive the same as I always have, mind I always had auto clutch/blip selected. I still found I could use some throttle on downshifts, as much as I normally use anyway.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Mike Wrightson on July 30, 2010, 08:49:26 PM +0100
If what I have read is correct, using the auto-clutch and blip with the sequential gearbox cars will be slightly slower, as the shift takes a little longer.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Ken Murray on July 30, 2010, 10:42:43 PM +0100
If what I have read is correct, using the auto-clutch and blip with the sequential gearbox cars will be slightly slower, as the shift takes a little longer.

Yes Mike, that's what they say. I'll have to do some testing. Won't be until after my hols now though.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Ken Murray on July 30, 2010, 11:54:11 PM +0100
Yep, just managed a short session with auto clutch off. Upchanges are much smoother and faster but down changes are as you describe. Quite tricky. It will need some practice!


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Mike Wrightson on July 31, 2010, 12:36:17 AM +0100
The Mazda is one of the easier ones to downshift, you just need no throttle on (or blip) and it'll shift.  The Radical won't shift unless you blip at the right time.  Too soon and you fail, too late and you fail.  We will definately see overtaking chances coming through missed shifts.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on July 31, 2010, 09:29:42 AM +0100
I'm too much of a wuss to turn auto-clutch off but I've been having a go with auto-blip off, it makes the Mazda even more fun to drive IMHO :)

I'm a few tenths quicker with auto-blip on but I feel like I need to start learning how to drive properly so I'll stick with it for now and see how badly I get blown away on Tuesday! lol

1:22's for me so far (race fuel).


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: spanner on August 01, 2010, 08:55:34 AM +0100
Briefly tried the car last night which seems different from before. Not convinced about shifting now, it behaves very much like the lotus which doesnt feel right but i suppose that car is a manual. I have both clutch and blip on but i thought the mazdas were a sequential flat-shift type of system. Its very un-nerving when changing gear flat to see it pretty much bouncing off the limiter, if briefly and the clutch seems to take longer when watching the bar pulse up. A few people have gone out with blowing the engine up due to over revving it so do i need to lift when changing gear?


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 01, 2010, 09:16:53 AM +0100
I think you can turn auto-clutch off in the Mazda as you only use the clutch at the start of the race. I discovered this after my practice session yesterday ::)

The only time I damaged the engine was by blipping/forcing it into gear at inappropriately high revs which left a pleasing trail of black smoke all the way through turn 1 :)



Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: spanner on August 01, 2010, 12:30:27 PM +0100
Ok thanks just been trying it out some more. I dont have a clutch assigned in game so was interested to see how it handled itself.

 At first i thought there was an element of the jetta in there where it wont downshift when you want but i figured it out a minute ago. trailing the throttle does not work with aids off, it refuses to downshift until your under 4k rpm so you end up in a too high a gear in the corners. You need to be completely off the throttle when braking.

This also comes into play when pulling away as if your over about 4k rpm it wont engage first gear. But engaging first then pressing the throttle doesnt seem a good start at all, felt too slow. Those that use a clutch will win off the startline. Strangely though you kinda have auto clutch still as if you spin and come to a stop it engages the clutch automatically.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Legzy on August 01, 2010, 10:51:48 PM +0100
Legzy, if you don't want to use the manual clutch there's really not that much difference, certainly not that affect the fun factor.
Sorry Pops, only just now seen this reply from you. Thanks & yes I agree.

Just been having my 1st post new build test & with all cheats turned on, I can confirm that the car drives just the same as it did really. panic over :thumbup1:

We did this north track version in an ORO race with the Late Model's, quite like it, but boy do those twisty bits come thick & fast by comparison in this Mazda! :sweatdrop: :laugh:


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 02, 2010, 09:20:51 AM +0100
...with all cheats turned on...

LOL ;D


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 02, 2010, 04:20:50 PM +0100
Looks like this might affect the ability to Host a practice server tonight;

http://members.iracing.com/iforum/thread.jspa?threadID=95848&messageID=1294575#1294575


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 02, 2010, 06:35:07 PM +0100
Yup... the site will be in maintenance mode most of the evening so there will be no online practice session tonight.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: spanner on August 02, 2010, 08:02:24 PM +0100
Really enjoying this configuration. Ended up going alot quicker with auto clutch on though you dont get the engine braking so much. Could have also been due to the setup tweaks as well! Best so far a 22.4 but that uphill corner that takes you off the normal track is very tricky, you can carry alot of speed but its easy to lose it.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Mark J on August 02, 2010, 08:28:33 PM +0100
is there a 107% rule for qualifying for these IR races?...maybe there should be. :-[

Debating not attending as not driven it since Brands last season, only doing 1:25s & 26 with race fuel and that feels like im hanging on for dear life  :P

Pops your a sadist picking this config for race 1 ! Hotlapping is one thing but how the hell would you overtake someone on this undulating blind crested narrow track?


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 02, 2010, 08:48:53 PM +0100
With those times I don't think you'll need to worry too much about overtaking! :D ;)


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Darren Seal on August 02, 2010, 09:40:12 PM +0100
 :lol: :notworthy:


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Legzy on August 02, 2010, 10:21:09 PM +0100
With those times I don't think you'll need to worry too much about overtaking! :D ;)
Thanks Pops, that really did make me laugh! :laugh:


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: mr_oily on August 03, 2010, 12:58:18 PM +0100
Had a quick spin out last night to check out this new transmission business and found it really tricky under braking.

There was never any issue as to whether it would actually change gear, as naturally I don't use the throttle right at that point in the corner anyway, but I lost count of the amount of times the back snapped away on me as I came down through the gears, presumably because I was changing down too quickly/ early.

I understand I probably just need to space my changes out a bit more as a couple of you have already mentioned but it's really zapped my confidence for the time being :(. Any hard braking zone I feel like I'm just waiting to find out whether I happen to have changed down at the right time or a fraction too early in which case it's a trip to the barriers - hopefully it's just a case of getting more laps in to develop a better feel for it.

Although I might sound negative - I'm quite looking forward to the challenge, if the way I've been driving isn't how it's done in real life, I want to learn the right way, I'm just hoping I will eventually suss it! I am a bit worried about the other cars now though if this is supposed to be the easy one. Looks like I'll probably have to return to right foot braking too for some which should be very interesting indeed!

I know I know, I could turn the blip on but man does it feel unsatisfying (and slow!) once you've tried it without - plus it will undoubtedly eat away at me knowing I'm driving around handicapped in some way. It felt to me like it was enough of a difference to lose most drag races.

Anyway, really enjoying the layout - not tried this one before but it's pretty cool, requires plenty of commitment! Down to a 1:21.2 but I think it's largely irrelevant at the moment given I can barely put in a clean lap!


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: spanner on August 03, 2010, 01:12:32 PM +0100
Just have the auto clutch on then and not the auto blip.

Lol Oily, The amount of moaning going on there i was thinkin you might be doing 24-25's. Then your time is one of the fastest posted lol. Never happy unless your fastest, you've changed ;)


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 03, 2010, 01:29:34 PM +0100
If it helps, I'm feeling like a complete noob as well! I'm reasonably consistent, just a bit slow :D

Some consolation is that I posted my fastest laps with all the aids off but only managed a 1:22.003. I've never been a realism fanatic but driving with them off is a lot of fun.

I am a little bit concerned about how this will pan out whilst in traffic so I'll be taking a cautious approach tonight  :wheelchair:


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: mr_oily on August 03, 2010, 01:40:14 PM +0100
Hahaha Mr. Meldrew Spanner I'm after your mantle mate..bah humbug LOL

I am a little bit concerned about how this will pan out whilst in traffic so I'll be taking a cautious approach tonight  :wheelchair:

Subtle hint received  ;D. If the practice session tonight doesn't help I may well start from the back!

How are you changing your technique with both aids off Pops? I get the blip but the clutch isn't needed in these anyway is it? Am I literally just supposed to be matching revs?


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Kerr on August 03, 2010, 01:53:28 PM +0100
Not sure Ican make it tonight. By the time I get home from work I will not have much needed practice time.

Put in 30mins last night and on the odd occasion of finishing a lap my times were okish.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 03, 2010, 02:21:20 PM +0100
How are you changing your technique with both aids off Pops? I get the blip but the clutch isn't needed in these anyway is it? Am I literally just supposed to be matching revs?

I'm probably least qualified person to be offering advice but what the heck...  ;D

You don't seem to need to use the clutch at all. Even from a standing start as long as you're off the accelerator you can slot it into gear and go, it doesn't stall as you'd expect a road car to do.

You can flat shift up through the gears, whether it's any quicker to come off the throttle momentarily I have no idea. I doubt it though.

Going down the gearbox you can either come off the throttle entirely to shift, which is largely what I'm doing. Or, you can blip it into gear, matching revs. Again, I have no idea if this is quicker if done correctly. If done badly, I can confirm it is a highly effective at blowing the engine up ;D

The only real problem I've had is the odd missed shift coming down. I've got too used in iRacing to staying on the throttle whilst braking I'm having a spot of trouble un-learning it ::) In addition, I tend the unthinkingly hammer the downshift button so when I do disengage the throttle I'm coming down 2 gears and spinning :o

BTW, if you're turning the auto-blip off then you may as well turn the auto-clutch off as well, there's no difference in technique and it should mean a tad faster shifting.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: mr_oily on August 03, 2010, 03:44:47 PM +0100
Hmmmn cheers for that Pops - all makes sense but that sounds more or less like what I'm doing - it's just with auto-blip off when I'm off the throttle and on the brakes, coming down through the gears before turn in, the back violently steps out as I lock the wheels. Unless I imagined it, the effect is worsened with the auto-clutch off too!

Anyway I think I'm hijacking the thread here a bit - thanks for the help, I'll try it again tonight without and see if I can spot where I'm going wrong! Watch this space for more moaning :)


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 03, 2010, 03:47:20 PM +0100
My perception is that it's a bit easier to lock up under heavy braking in this build, whether I've got the aids on or not.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: spanner on August 03, 2010, 05:16:42 PM +0100
I've definately felt that with clutch off  you can lock the rears but switching it on i dont feel it at all.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 03, 2010, 06:09:17 PM +0100
Server's up!


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 03, 2010, 07:33:45 PM +0100
Looks like there's some maintenance at short notice, it should be back for 8, hopefully with the session still in tact  :-\


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: ross.mcw on August 03, 2010, 07:43:13 PM +0100
oh dear, I'm going to be so off the pace tonight....was relying on a bit of last minute practice!


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Blunder on August 03, 2010, 07:46:31 PM +0100
Whole site just gone down for maintenance!
A few are still in the session.
Lets hope it is up soon!? :(


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Truetom on August 03, 2010, 07:48:34 PM +0100
It's ridiculous. >:(


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 03, 2010, 07:54:42 PM +0100
Aaaaaaand we're back


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Legzy on August 03, 2010, 09:14:53 PM +0100
Only managed to put in a few laps on Sunday for this before tonight & it showed.
Gave up after numerous off track excursions.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 03, 2010, 09:37:22 PM +0100
Dave, looks like something has changed in the results export, the Greasemonkey script doesn't seem to be working.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer on August 03, 2010, 09:38:46 PM +0100
Dave, looks like something has changed in the results export, the Greasemonkey script doesn't seem to be working.

Yeah, the format of the results page has changed again. :(
For now, here are the results (http://members.iracing.com/membersite/member/EventResult.do?subsessionid=2292254).


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Adam Parle on August 03, 2010, 09:40:08 PM +0100
After being away on holiday for all last week I was looking forward to getting some practice .... but after my son severed his finger this weekends praccy was out.  Little man finally had sugery on his finger this morning, and I got a green light for the race.

30 mins of practice didn't iron out the creases the new build put in for me, and I was happy to qualify infront of the back row of the grid.

The race started well enough, but I was never threatening to overtake anyone.  A few silly errors let folk by, and with about 7 to go I got 3 red bars, and was expecting a disco .... it never happened, but it screwed my FFB.  As a result I was even slower, and span a couple of times.  A missed braked point on the penultimate lap led to a big excursion, and autocrossing doesn't suit the Mazda.  Totally knackered the steering, so I parked up in the pits.

Not fun,  and a lot of hard work.  Hopefully practice will sort that out, but I'm a bit worried about my connection ... there were numerous instances where I was fearing a disco ....

Ho hum, after the last couple of days I wasn't expecting to race, so I guess it's a bonus I managed it at all.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Ben "Welling" Summers on August 03, 2010, 09:50:18 PM +0100
Hi Guys,   after a long lay off with house g/f + time = wife =< Money and a new job  I am back in the cyber race world

Ben "Welling" Summers and Ian Bassi will be back practicing in the Mazda in the next few days.  Maybe we should start with Daytona Road :)

Do we have to apply, or are we magically still in the championships ? :)  I think I still see passwords ;)

Guys guys   hope to she you on a track very soon


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: picnic on August 03, 2010, 09:52:48 PM +0100
That was disappointing for me. Not used to being almost competitive! Martin got me at the start simply by keeping up and being on the inside row. Followed him for lap after lap but only once thought I had a chance to pass. Sadly the rubbish netcode in iR meant I wasn't always sure where his car was and I really should have known better while negotiating the final downhill corners. At best I'm only barely in control and sadly I reacted badly to a swerve Martin's car made about my turn in point and that put me off line, I then spun out by taking too much exit curb. If I had kept my distance I probably wouldn't have made that mistake, but then that's not racing is it  :-\

Great driving my Martin, sadly not by me in the end.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Simon Gymer on August 03, 2010, 09:56:35 PM +0100
After wolfing down my dinner to make it in time for qually and having done about 3 laps with the game at all since the new build I wasn't exactly prepared. However, with another 2 laps before qually I wasn't liking the feeling of aids on or off so it wasn't looking good at all.

With the aids on having to lift on upshifts doesn't making any sense, but anyway, ok fine, have to lift, used to that from GPL. With aids on the downshifts seemed even more odd than with aids off. Ok it at least shifted when you press the button everytime, but it seemed to clunk into gear rather than just slot into gear. Will have to try and find time to try it with aids on again to see what's what there.

So anyway, I raced with the aids off as I thought I would at least benefit from not having to lift to shift up, so one less new thing to remember. Downshifting was hit and miss though, sometimes it would change and sometimes not and when it wouldn't it then didn't seem to want to do it at all so I ended up in 4th when I should have been in 2nd etc. Blipping on downshift didn't seem to help and even just letting the throttle off completely didn't always make it shift down. In the end I sort of drove around it driving higher gears than I wanted in some places. What I couldn't get a grip on also was when I downshifted sometimes it would be perfectly stable and then others sudden snap, but you can't feel any of it whilst your shifting like a real car.

Anyway, off the start I couldn't find 1st, sorry about that, I was desperately hoping it was in there somewhere. Ended up using the clutch pedal to get it going after getting flustered. Soon went off at the last corner as I just caught the edge of the grass, but managed to avoid the barrier and spent another 15-20 seconds getting back on the track as I'd slid quite a long way. After that it was just trying to work out how to drive the thing, passing people as they crashed out in general. Got lapped by Brian and Mike with a couple to go so that put me out of my misery preventing me from doing another lap I didn't want to do.

Not a fan of that circuit anyway (in any configuration), so to drive a car that felt pretty unfamiliar with a shifting model that I couldn't get to grips with unfortunately for me was not fun at all. I just hope I can get to grips with the new transmission model as I didn't feel particularly safe tonight either and I hate that feeling. Looks like a lot of you have worked out how to drive it though.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Kerr on August 03, 2010, 10:21:58 PM +0100
I'm the opposite of Simon, I think VIR is a great circuit in nearly all layouts.

I did not have much time to practice, 30 mins last night and I think 50 tonight and to be honest I was struggling to get to grips with the car.

The odd fast lap followed by a crash was happening all too often in practice.

Qualifying went well enough. Back into the 19s although not as quick as practice and that was good enough for pole.

The opening few laps of the race I was quicker getting up to race pace than Michael and pulled out a gap. The gap then was remaining fairly consistent until I caught up with a few cars to lap and that allowed Michael to catch up a bit.

Followed MJ for part of the lap to wait until the main straight to outrun him thinking that Michael would lose about the 3secs I did trying to find somewhere suitable to pass.

I was a little unsighted to where MJ was when I went up the inside, but I've watched the replay now! That allowed Michael to keep the gap down a little.

Maintained a steady pace for the rest of the race to get off to a great start to the season with a win.

Good race all


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Mike Wrightson on August 03, 2010, 10:35:17 PM +0100
Dashed home from work and straight on to the server to get my eye in.  As usual, the car feels slightly different online and I made one setup tweak to help the front end.

Qualifying went OK, managing to put in a 20.5 although I was expecting better than that TBH, I had run that fast in race practice offline  :-\

Still, 2nd was all I was hoping for against Brian's 19's, and sure enough that's where I lined up.  Held off James into T1 and set about getting everything up to temperature and into a good pace.  Now I wished I had not added a click more fuel, the car felt different again, but I kept into the low 21's and it felt better as some fuel burned off.  Brian pulled a 5 sec gap at one point but as we hit the backmarkers it came down to only 3s and I finished 2nd only 3.5s behind.  I'm pleased with that, a good start to the season :)

The laptimes were consistent though I did have the odd missed shift when old habits had me holding some throttle.

Now, Daytona Road  :o


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer on August 03, 2010, 11:12:14 PM +0100
Importer fiddled and results now up.

Sadly the rubbish netcode in iR meant I wasn't always sure where his car

I wonder if your connection was struggling a tiny bit - when you spun your car blinked out and back giving me a nervous moment.

I did about 2 laps earlier just to see if the car had changed in this build and it had so I thought I'd give it a go. Took Mike's setup which felt a bit odd - higher at the front than the rear wasn't helping - so I tweaked it a bit but still never really felt comfortable.

Race was 'interesting' - grid was a bit of a concertina job at the start but we all seemed to make it through the first few turns without incident. After that I settled down and just ran at a relatively conservative pace, letting people spin off in front and watching the battle between Blunder and Picnic.

Thanks to everyone who spun for standing on the anchors - it really does make it a lot easier to dodge you. ;)

5th was far more than I deserved for just driving round at nine tenths and staying on the track. ::)

but it seemed to clunk into gear rather than just slot into gear.

They've put that noise in deliberately so you know it's gone in. Stupidly you can't hear it in some cars. ::)

Blipping on downshift didn't seem to help and even just letting the throttle off completely didn't always make it shift down.

I was only really having to blip into a couple of corners where the downshift was mid-bend, just to stop the rear breaking away. Most of the time it was shifting down quite happily without a blip or the clutch - quite different from the Radical which needs a blip most of the time.

I have to say I still don't really 'get' the single seaters. I've got next to no feel for them, and once the car starts to break away if I don't react absolutely instantly I can't save it, which ends up with me unable to push at all in races. :-\



Do we have to apply, or are we magically still in the championships ? :)  I think I still see passwords ;)

There's no registration required beyond the forums, just turn up. :)


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: picnic on August 04, 2010, 07:12:16 AM +0100
I wonder if your connection was struggling a tiny bit - when you spun your car blinked out and back giving me a nervous moment.

Perhaps it was me  :-\ Nobody was blinking to me but the cars wander across the track, sometimes quicker than at other times, and cars obviously don't follow what any normal person would call the racing line. Done it since day one. I suspect local European servers would help heaps.

As for the new build I'm still struggling to see the problems you guys are having. The only problem I've had is when I've made a haddock of a corner and come out slowly in to high a gear and you can't change down with the throttle on. I've never been any good a holding the throttle on while braking so downshifts were not a problem for me at all. I haven't even tried the new build with the aids off yet. Suspect without the sequential I'll really struggle.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Truetom on August 04, 2010, 07:16:45 AM +0100
Nothing to write about, really. Just held to the track, trying to make a few mistakes as possible and was by myself most of the time. Which is fine for me as I get a bad feeling whenever there's a car nearby i iR.  Managed with only two slight offs - which is an improvement for me. :) Lost some places at the start, was mostly scared to touch anyone, so I let people by. They fell off anyways, later. :P Even Pops did that twice and I was able to stay in front then.

Mazda is great, can't see any real difference other than slower shifting. Seems like a car would spet at you any time you change a gear. :D I have all the cheats on (I always do in arcade games ;) ) and it feels ok for me. Don't know about other cars, we'll see.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Mark J on August 04, 2010, 08:01:11 AM +0100
Had a reasonably good race on my return to IR after a few months. Had two goals, not be last on the grid and also to finish the race...Tick !  :)

Was glad to see familiar sparring partners around me on track like spanner, Legz and some bloke called Adam  ;)

Was a bit dispirited at lap 1 when had to gallantly fly off onto the grass to avoid rear ending Ad when 2 cars ahead came together in the fast top hill twisties. Dropped two places and had to play catch up for several laps to the pack  :(

Got past people having off's and had reasonable pace througout race, if not exactly stellar. Had a second wind towards end of race and pumped in some faster laptimes to catch Adam who promptly outbraked himself at the top of the hill and i gained another place to finish 12th with only 4 incident points. :)
Bravo, i hear the voice inside my head say  ;D

Love the on the edge karting feel you get with the mazda, with brilliant ffs through my setup. Still find overtaking a lottery in IR though with the 'darting' rear view of cars behind and fear of contact.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: spanner on August 04, 2010, 08:30:56 AM +0100
Was reasonably pleased to put in my fastest time in qually and was in the top half to start with so didnt really want to go out again but that quickly changed to normal service at the rear once everyone got there laps in.

It seemd the green came on quite late at the start and the pack was starting to bunch alot but spent too much watching everyone else try to have an accident on the first lap trying not to trip up but misjudged the edge of the track going through the middle twisty section and got a wheel on the grass and spun right back down the order again! After that it was just about trying to catch up to those in front and just try and finsh as i think this might be one of few finishes! Not sure why but have felt comfortable around here, in the mazda and for much of that i felt i was on autopilot, concentrating so much! couldnt even talk on TS. Just happy to get to the end.

Oh, has the radical changed as well.. grr


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: popabawa on August 04, 2010, 08:44:32 AM +0100
A mixed race for me really.

I was really pleased to find some pace from somewhere in qualifying, I took a second off my PB in that session, and ending up 5th on the grid.

I got a great start at the green and accidentally whizzed past Darren :D But I decided not to contest him braking late into T1. Oily (clearly faster) cot me a couple of laps later.

Martin and Pete were a couple of seconds back but I was slowly edging away when I span into the uphill right-hander when I messed up the entry :-[ That dropped me 3 places.

Pete and Martin dropped off and I was left a couple of seconds behind Dave when I span it in the same place, I have to put that down to just chasing too hard, a stupid mistake >:(

The other bright note is that I had all the aids turned off and I avoided major disaster from that point of view.

Onwards and upwards, Daytona should be a good race :)


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: lazlow on August 04, 2010, 10:21:04 AM +0100
I was a little disappointed with my drive last night.....qualified 3rd on the grid and for the first 12 or so laps felt quite comfortable driving around in 3rd, with a 3 sec gap in front and a 2 sec gap behind.
As the race went on though, I started to loose concentration and began making silly mistakes with a few offs here and there...then on lap 20 (I think) I snatched a gear while changing down at the left hander at turn 3, sending me backwards into the tyre wall and damaging my rear wing. From then on it was just a matter of trying to stay on track....which was nightmare!! Ended up finishing 10th....but at least I finished.

I had no issues with the new transmission system, apart from my one off where I think I just changed down to quick. I was even able to trail my throttle (just a little) into turn one.

I'm loving driving the Mazda at the moment, and I'm looking forward to the next race, where I hope I can drive with a bit more consitency.

Laters
Laz


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: fozzmeister on August 04, 2010, 01:23:36 PM +0100
First UKGTR race for ages.

I've not driven the Mazda for ages and I don't think ever at this track. I've never driven that config full stop. Having said that, I've never not lifted/blipped for a long time so I can't blame anything on that, because I never had any issues at all.

After just plain forgetting to brake and spearing off into the wall, I had a few laps around Road America, which was OK and not-terrible-slow, but more importantly fun, so I may come back for other races. It's the Radical's I'm more interested in.

Foz

PS. Picnic, I've never experienced any warp what-so-ever in iR. It must be something local.



Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Burtoner on August 04, 2010, 02:38:54 PM +0100
Was working till 8pm, then went down the pub till 11pm :)


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Blunder on August 04, 2010, 10:24:02 PM +0100
Wow that was fun!
Made a great start and made up 2 places before the first corner!
Picnic was right behind me for what seemed like forever!
Good pressure buddy, was dissappointed you had a moment and dropped back!
Tyres were going off very quickly and was understeering everywhere!
Made a stupid half spin unforced error and saw 3 people go by! Very frustrating!  ;)
Made up a few places and brought it home 6th!
Quite pleased with that and really enjoyed it!
Very intense!

I hate bringing this up as I know we all have strong feelings on the subject but the start last night was so slow we might as well have been doing a standing start!
Are we not all now ready for that!?
Not a prompt for discussion, just a prompt for the admins!!!  ;)

Race seat was thick with dust before last nights race!
Great to be back racing!

Thanks all

M.



Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Kerr on August 04, 2010, 11:30:16 PM +0100
Not sure if the slow start was my fault.

Looking in my mirrors there was a fair amount of second guessing when I was going to go.

I waited a few seconds for the green to come out and by that time the field had bunched up and went together.

I still really like standing starts though and would prefer them to come back.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Blunder on August 05, 2010, 06:58:52 AM +0100
I don't think we were ready for them in the past... but it's season 4 now... we have all now got some experience, especially with the Mazda!?

Gets my vote!  ;)


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer on August 05, 2010, 07:22:21 AM +0100
Looking in my mirrors there was a fair amount of second guessing when I was going to go.
I waited a few seconds for the green to come out and by that time the field had bunched up and went together.

In the DP last season we ended up with a sort of unwritten agreement that the leader would go as soon as the pace car got out of the way. This prevents the back half of the field ending up in a concertina whilst the field attempts to reform out of the last corner with a lot of itchy trigger throttles.


Title: Re: iRacing Season 4 Mazda - VIR (North) - Aug 3
Post by: Kerr on August 05, 2010, 09:18:27 AM +0100
Looking in my mirrors there was a fair amount of second guessing when I was going to go.
I waited a few seconds for the green to come out and by that time the field had bunched up and went together.

In the DP last season we ended up with a sort of unwritten agreement that the leader would go as soon as the pace car got out of the way. This prevents the back half of the field ending up in a concertina whilst the field attempts to reform out of the last corner with a lof itchy trigger throttles.

Last season I usually went as soon as pace car went.

A few people were getting wise to that and were attempting to be that little bit quicker off the mark.

I'm still for standing starts.