Season 21 - mid season review

[BadBlood]

I hadn't realised how bad I was at East London until I saw this. I know the track reasonably well and mixed it well in the first few laps but lost concentration badly in the middle. The handicapping should have two objectives, one to even up the field a little (but let the better drivers show it) and two to improve the driving abaility of the novices.

I do wonder whether a 'school' would be useful. Organised sessions where eager novices are coached. The coach would have to be extraordinarily patient though.

[EvilClive]

I can agree with your intention Paul and I am ( almost but not quite  ) happy to offer my help to anyone desperate enough to take it.


IMHO
The main problem as I see it with coaching in GPL is that, unlike the real world, the fastest way around any circuit for any driver is a combination of ...........
   ability and knowing the best lines through corners. But both of those attributes are dependent upon the setup that they have and are able to drive to its max. It is generally acknowledged that as your experience/ability develops so your setups evolve to maximise that factor.
If you don't adjust your setup as you develop, you will reach a plateau of performance where your ability is actually limited by what the car can be made to do.

I have no doubt that I could give you one of my setups and give you a replay of a fast lap which would prove absolutely useless, as I cannot be show you exactly  how much trailing throttle to use or exactly how much braking to use and when to get off of the brakes to make both the setup and racing lines work for the best.

I think the more experienced drivers can offer advice/schooling on what you should be TRYING to do, but practice and experimentation are your best tools.

[Hristo Itchov]

It's very difficult to teach someone online as opposed to actually being there with the other person. I've given some of my friends (who don't play race sims at all) a go at GPL and although they were clueless at the beginning, they would improve a lot within an hour or so, just by listening to my advice and trying what I tell them to do. The difference is I could observe how they manage the wheel and pedals, where they look and how they react to things, plus I could show them myself how I do things. I'm quite sure that if we have such a live meeting a lot of drivers would learn a whole lot more than from watching replays or online videos, or read someone's explanations.

[maddog]

I am still amazed, at how few drivers, take the time, to take the opportunity to practice races online, before the main event.  Traveling close to competitors, is a good way to learn where you're fast, where you're slow, and where you're clumsy.

[BadBlood]

I have done a couple of online sessions with sympathetic drivers who say 'just follow my lines' and then zoom off and leave me to to bury my nose in a hedge...

I once did a session with Martin where he thought I was mucking around and got a bit cross with me but I really wasn't 

As for where you are slow, fast, clumsy - I can be all three at once.

Sometimes though you just need the benefit of someone else's experience. It wasn't until H told me that you can take the kink at Spa (Massanet, maybe?) flat out in a 65 that I tried it for myself. Immediately took four seconds off.

Not quite sure what I am doing wrong at Mexico but 12 seconds off pole is pretty poor and I don't think that the setup is that bad or that I don't know the track. Clearly I am not 'trusting' the car enough and I feel like I need someone to ride 'in car' and say - turn earlier, go faster and you will make that. That sort of thing.

Did a 'no brakes' session with Geoff at Silvy and although it didn't take ten seconds off my lap, it did open my eyes as to what was possible and where my limits were.

Partly it is finding a setup that is kind when you lose control. Since my reactions are uncommonly slow - that is just a pure physical limitation I have - I need to be able to correct very late. It may be my poor abilities but I just can't 'feel' the setup so I go for a conservative setup that I know will work but is slow. Maybe I have reached Clive's 'plateau'.

Anyway - I am off topic now.

Idea is for a 'driving school of some kind.

[Ronniepeterson]

I am still amazed, at how few drivers, take the time, to take the opportunity to practice races online, before the main event.  Traveling close to competitors, is a good way to learn where you're fast, where you're slow, and where you're clumsy.

Could not agree more!

I have done a couple of online sessions with sympathetic drivers who say 'just follow my lines' and then zoom off and leave me to to bury my nose in a hedge...

I once did a session with Martin where he thought I was mucking around and got a bit cross with me but I really wasn't  

You must have caught him on a bad day. Get back on Paul. The few drivers I see on a regular basis cover all abilities but we always wait for each other after spins and shift-r's etc and group back up for some close racing. The idea is not to hot lap but to get used to the car handling and track in close racing and as a consequence I think your speed can improve. Plus its just fun. Sure if someone is testing something specific and wishes to practice online alone they only need to make that clear in chat.

The real problem is finding time for this practice, now that I cannot help you with.

[maddog]

I once did a session with Martin where he thought I was mucking around and got a bit cross with me but I really wasn't 

If I appeared to be annoyed, it's more likely I was bemused.  There is an unspoken rule, which says in order to learn how to race, you must first learn to drive fast enough.  The closer in speed you are, the more time you're likely to spend in serious combat.  Your Server helps all of us, who choose to use it, and I'm happy to be your tour guide, some of the time.

[Hristo Itchov]

Sometimes though you just need the benefit of someone else's experience. It wasn't until H told me that you can take the kink at Spa (Massanet, maybe?) flat out in a 65 that I tried it for myself. Immediately took four seconds off.

It was Masta.   Well, for such things, you can learn them from watching a replay or someone driving online, yeah. It's not really learning though, because what you really want to learn is how to figure out the best lines on your own, not just copy someone else's lines for each track. I admit I fail to figure out the best lines on a new or less known track sometimes, but usually I get it right. It's something you can learn to do while you analyze the track in more detail.

As for Mexico, watching the WR years ago was an eye opener for me and I strongly suggest anyone who hasn't seen that to take a look. The lines are much different than the default groove.

[Ross Neilson]

As for Mexico, watching the WR years ago was an eye opener for me and I strongly suggest anyone who hasn't seen that to take a look. The lines are much different than the default groove.

I've always struggled there and suspect it is to do with my lines as much as anything else. I've got good results in the Brabham on other tracks in Privateers this season.

Next time I might try regrooving.

[s2173]

60 fps patch - my computer can run it. But im entirely against it. 1. It doesnt look better. 2. It doesnt run better. 3. Laptimes are invalid for Gplrank!!!!!!

65 - I think it would be good to have 3 divisions, and with some car variety. Maybe free choice for novices and a point system in intermediate division. In gpl cars arent that diferent form one another, unless you know how to drive them. For novices, the diference btw bt7 and a lotus is nonexistent.

Track choice is good imo, but I learn tracks wery eazely. It wouldnt be bad to have a track repeated in several divisions, 2-3 times maybe.

50 percent rule, if intended to force safer driving, doesnt work imo, because 50 percent as a goal looks too far away, sometimes unreachable. Many drivers would probably say "screw this, i wont reach 50 percent anyway, lets have fun racing while it lasts". 20 or 30 percent would be better imo, and the grid will be spaced enough till then, and it could even be inplemented in more divisions.

10 second pitstop is confusing for Gt's, but the rest is fine. Enforced teams/team restrictions are some things I dont like too much.

[Cookie]

60 fps patch - my computer can run it. But im entirely against it.
1. It doesnt look better.  
2. It doesnt run better.
3. Laptimes are invalid for Gplrank!!!!!!

1. I don't agree. Its a 100% better for my eyes. It looks better if you get it right! 36 versus 60 fps must be better  

2. It runs way smoother, you have better control of your car.

3. No! I upload every lap in GPLrank, if its done with 60 or 36fps, there is no difference in the .ini  
   Maybe with the WR where a rpy is needed but most of us don't do these...

[maddog]

"Roll up, roll up - get your free votes in here!"  I'm doing my Vosblod impersonation - only 2 days remaining, to vote on midseason items listed hereabouts.  Only one vote, per item, per customer.  Hurry up, before the dogma is unleashed!

[vosblod]

"Roll up, roll up - get your free votes in here!"  I'm doing my Vosblod impersonation - only 2 days remaining, to vote on midseason items listed hereabouts.  Only one vote, per item, per customer.  Hurry up, before the dogma is unleashed!

Hadn't released it had gone so quick but yes two days left re voting.

[s2173]

1. I don't agree. Its a 100% better for my eyes. It looks better if you get it right! 36 versus 60 fps must be better  

Well, it runs in 60 fps in training, but in real race it won go over 40 anyway...  And maybe it has something to do with my laptop screen, that doesnt depend on the refresh rate, but i was seriously unable to spot any difference... Also it sometimes it wildly jumps from 20 to 50 and back, and that is allready annoyng...

2. It runs way smoother, you have better control of your car.

3. No! I upload every lap in GPLrank, if its done with 60 or 36fps, there is no difference in the .ini  
   Maybe with the WR where a rpy is needed but most of us don't do these...

Maybe it can be uploaded... but i wasnt able to make any PB's to upload while i was testing... my control sucks anyway, but thats not the point. Not one difference = I dont want it.

[Cookie]

So how can you say its not better, if your Laptop is not able to do it!?
Its ok to say I don't want it cause I can't do it

With the PCs I use there is a max of 1-2 frames difference between 60,14 and 58,95 FPS even on hard tracks like Monza10k.