Hello everyone!

Well, I've been away from racing for far too long and I've been missing you!

I installed that Ferrari Virtual Academy last night (a few hours before their "48 hour discount" - doh!) and I seem to have gotten the bug again!

I thought I would give this iRacing a shot, so I'm just after some advice and pointers to get me up to speed with it. I have an account but haven't re-subbed yet. I think I will go for a month first, just to test my internet connection is stable with low-ping racing (the main reason I stopped racing in GTL was my constant frustrating d/c's). Can I join a league you are running please?

I'm more interested in running the private leagues with you guys than doing the general official public servers (grappling with Safety Ratings) so just wondering what you would suggest I start with?

What extra cars and tracks do I need to buy? What league would you reccommend I join? I'm not really interested in ovals so wouldn't really want to spend money on any extra tracks like that.

Also, whats this about black boxes and voice commands? Is that something I will just have to deal with or is it 'advanced' stuff I don't need to worry about yet?

Sorry for the noob questions! If there's any more info you need to help you help me, just let me know

I'm very much looking forward to racing again
Cheers, Mark

That went surprisingly well and I'm really satisfied for my 1st race in far too long!
I had a good chunk of practice last night but I was using the slow CSL for that assuming the fast one would not be allowed! Thankfully there was hardly any difference in the gearing and the feel - I just gave it a notch up on the front spring strength to help the front during the turns (understeery beast!) but due to the setup I had sorted yesterday it felt great! (Softest rear anti-roll bar I found helped massively!).

I watched this great vid of Bathurst just before the race today which really got me in the mood. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGGBh9-0lyM 
Note how cautiously he takes it, well... that was the mentality I went into this race with after my many many crashes last night!

It worked! I never thought in a million years I would make the whole race without a wipeout but I found myself in the zone and it felt well under control! I didn't push too hard, concentrated loads and felt relaxed like I haven't felt for a looong time! Think I made about 3 mistakes but all luckily in places that weren't lethal Outbraked myself into last turn quite early on losing about 4 seconds. Ran wide ansd scraped a wall a bit and had a scary moment on the exit kerb of the 2nd fast left hander which could have been really nasty!

I was hating this track last night but really got into it today. I think it has a really nice flow and you really do have to drive every bend. Loved it! Night was interesting too but I bet I wouldn't be saying that if I'd smashed my lights!

So I assume the domain for the official lobby is never going to be renewed? They would have done it by now if they were going to...

See you next week pleeps thanks for the fun & good to see you all again

I voted NO but changing that to YES!

If the blisters on my hands allow, I will see you tomorrow. That track is a killer!

Hi everyone!
I had some time for racing today so thought I would try getting on the server again.

Seems I can get in after a bit of fiddling (removing traces of my last attempt with Antideco) but it's quite random if the game shows up or not... sometimes it's there and sometimes not.

I assume nobody else is practicing tonight becuase the time I did get on I was alone (thinking it is Thursday so I'm a day ahead of myself!) but then when I tried to log back in the game wasn't listed ("no games found").

I'm using the TXT file in the GTL folder option as I had all sorts of fun and games with the other method + Vista.

Hope to see you on track soon!
Cheers,
Baracus

Great track... shame about the driver. I properly haddocked it!

Great last second Q lap from Ade to snatch pole!!

Not sure what happened whilst crossing the line on the first lap though! Was following close behind Steve H in the lead and his car stopped dead so I had an almighty smash.

Next lap I clipped the kerb on the inside of the 2nd part of that fast chicane and spun around.
Lap after that I clipped a lamppost and whilst checking in my mirror to see if I had a puncture I smacked another one full on, killing my engine!

I think my steering was damaged from the NetGlitch but not sure - was just getting into the swing of things!! Might have been the 103 litres of fuel!

It's really hard to see the apexes and kerbs when following someone closely and one slight miss of a turn in or braking point ends in disaster here more so than Monaco even as the speeds are higher at the dangerous parts!

It's like you have to really attack those chicanes otherwise you would lose way too much time, but there's a huge risk. Kind of like a whole lap of the chicane at the top of Imola's hill (after Aqua Minerale)!!!

Nice track though, reminded me of Enna Pergusa in GTR. Very satisfying when it goes right!

Can't wait to see how many "survivors" there are - but you all lasted longer than me so grats!!

OK cheers Ade - I will try that!  

[edit] Next week...

I couldn't get the workaround thingy working! Made a post here if anyone can help? https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6553.120

Unfortunately, after trying all the suggestions here I still can't get it working.

My hosts file is below - but if I try to manually edit it, it won't let me save it. All I get is a "Cannot create C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file
Make sure the path and filename are correct"
 
Then if I click OK (the only button) it asks if I want to save as a TXT file in Documents. Like it wants an extension. So I assume the DOS box cannot write to it either even though it says 1 file copied (or is this referring to the backup?).

This is the DOS script:-

C:\Windows\system32>C:

C:\Windows\system32>CD \GTL

C:\GTL>if exist C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.orig goto end

C:\GTL>copy C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts C:\Windows\system32\drivers\et
c\hosts.orig
        1 file(s) copied.

C:\GTL>echo 127.0.0.1   localhost www.gtl-server.net  1>C:\Windows\system32\driv
ers\etc\hosts

C:\GTL>rem echo 62.140.29.57    www.gtl-server.net >> C:\Windows\system32\driver
s\etc\hosts

C:\GTL>REM taskkill /IM ruby\rubyw.exe /F

C:\GTL>start ruby\bin\rubyw.exe gtl.rbw

C:\GTL>gtl.exe

________________________________________________

I'm on Vista.
I've added the C:   C:\GTL line to the BAT file. (otherwise I got the Cannot find rubyw.exe error).
I have "view extensions for known filetypes" on.
The hosts file is not read only.
I start the desktop icon with a Right click Run as administrator. (if I don't then it says cannot write file - 0 files copied)
I can put the IP address in and it starts searching but says "No games found".
I've tried rebooting
I've also tried the connection through the normal (online) but it says "General Error" which is a new one on me!!
Last thing was trying the manual edit - then got the "cannot save" error.

Any ideas what it could be? Thanks for your help

My new hosts file:-

127.0.0.1    localhost www.gtl-server.net


is localhost needed?

___________________________________________

Original:-

# Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
#      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
#       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host


::1             localhost

That's a shame about letting their domain name lapse! They should be able to get it back fairly quick though in my experience.

I have used Hamachi before for GTL when the lobby was down a few years back (!). It worked great and it's very easy to set up and get going as far as I remember so it shouldn't be a problem for anyone.

If I get the chance I will look into it again and write up a step-by-step and post it here for others to add their comments, refinements, tips etc. to the process.

I'm gonna give P&G a swerver tonight as I don't have it installed yet so don;t want to go in until I have tested it at least.

See you soon

lol I know. Gonna try out my mobile FIA inspection team next week anyway.
You'll see the grumpy looking chap sat in my passenger seat if u look in your mirror on the grid (since ur always infront of me there!). I don't mind the extra weight :p
 

Yeah I know what you mean. My main problem was coming out of corners where it sometimes just wanted to carry on it's trajectory and not responding to straightening the wheel, coming off throttle, blipping or any combination of these which normally gets a reaction of some sort on any other cars I've driven. The moments I had were extremes of this behavior where I had clipped my outside rear on the grass on an exit (thru understeering) and just not had any 'feel' to correct it so it just pendulumed into a full spin or sudden 90 degree lurch!

Laurie - I'm wondering if FIATS also stand for Firing Itself At The Scenery?!
(excuse the extra S - needed it to make my pun work hehe!)    

I must have really made some bad decisions on my setup! That Fiat was undrivable for me pretty much!! Just wants to send me into a tank slapper for daring to try and get around a bend. Sorry to the mclaren that collected me I just couldn't get it straight! Sorry!!

Anyway lap kme went from 9th to last with my 1st 'moment' then got back up to 9th for a bit then a quiet few laps until moment described above, which gave me a puncture so limped around for a stop but I stupidly thought the smoke from my wheels was body/suspension damage so didn't change tyres. Came out still with smoke pouring off my car and almost no steering so thought I best quit rather than get in the way for another lap! Looked a mighty scrap for 2nd to 5th I was watching for a bit! Nice

So, I've done my duty of checking driving standards thru the field :p
I just need to make sure that oily isn't cheating next week
 

So are these the 'official' results? Or is that the quali timesheet? I could have sworn I was infront of Oily when it went to Next Race.

ah... That wasn't quite the situation but it was me! I got side swiped on the exit of the previous bend which sent my wallowy corolla of onto the grass but I was totally new to the handling and it just wouldn't straighten up! ( was my 1st go in the car!) I should have tried and cut into the pits but that wasn't on my mind at the time I was just trying to regain control!! Really sorry bud!

Shame about the first race tho! Was having an almighty duel with Oily!! That was some of the best racing I've had at all! Great introduction back to GTL - thanks!

But man that Toybota is slow!

Oh sorry mate!! What car did you have? Why only me having the problem?

Good to see you though (well, your name anyway, as you had invisible car!). How was flght school?