League Race #5 - Video Evidence!

NASCAR replay time.

Let's not mention the Leguna Seca race again eh. To reproduce that race I let the water out of the bath once the kids had finished and scooted the soap around it - actually I had more control of the soap.

Still, we were all in the same boat if you'll pardon the pun, so it wasn't a bad race for all that.

But that wasn't the most spectacular race. Oh no, that was the Indy Speedway (you know the one we actually had to slow down on). Spectacular for two reasons:

1. Five up high boost racing was actually good fun, and quite the close nit challenge.
2. Luke had a magic car.

Magic thanks to the wonders of the Internet (Somewhat ironic given what he does too!). Not only did we have the smash/spin/lightspeed cycle, and thanks for the 'tap' chap, but we also had the mystery of the finish - Luke was placed first, in front of Chris, but his finish time was slower - madness!

So this replay is a little bit special, the last corner/straight is replayed from above car from both car's points of view. See what you think...

Drift club - Lesson III - Group Drift.

First rule of Drift Club... learn to drift.

Anyway, George got online for a spell the other night when I was online so we naturally drifted into err, drifting. And much fun was had.

I used my skyline, not because it's a good drift car but because I can drive it sideways - which isn't drift as I'm finding out, just a lot of smoke. And here's a four lap session:

The one thing I'm noticing in my style, and this is bad for drift but I like it, is that I'm not using the handbrake at all - every sideways action is a Scandinavian flick and power on. This is why it works so well with a 4wd and makes me useless with a 2WD - practice on making the car steer using the rear is something I need to do.

Guest racer

I don't know if you know, but I know that if you're in the know you can download the replay from top scorers on online seasonal events. And an engaging viewing that can make.

So, I contacted RB_Firooz, who was and possibly still is the top scorer in the High Speed Ring drift trial with a score in excess of 27,000. That's: Twenty Seven Thousand.

By contrast I mange something the wrong side of 4000. That's: The Wrong Side.

Anyway, they've kindly let me publish to youtube, so here it is. Enjoy...

Slight issue with League Points...

I left them at work, I'll upload the league update on Tuesday.

Apologies to those that think they might have climbed up the rankings a place or two...

If anyone (seriously) has the results email me and I'll do the update over the weekend.

Cheers

Americana League Race Update

Important News

Since the NASCARs are such tubs (no not about to ditch them) and they don't allow tuning as such we'll be running with ASM and TCR turned on for the races.

We'll have none of that nonsense

What does this mean?

ASM - Active Stability Management. Stops the car going too far out of control when it starts to slide. This is an on/off setting. Recommendation is ON.

TCR - (not Total Control Racing, which was Scalectrix's abject failure to move the game on) - Traction Control. It is what it says. Recommendation is setting 2.

ABS remains on and I've left mine at 1, no need to change that.

Of course if you're a hardcore gamer/winner feel free to race with it all turned off. Go on I dare you (in the race with more than four bends of course).

Learning to Drift - Part II

So I've been having fun with a Skyline, lots of sideways action, but never seeming to score much in the drift trials - I need to be RWD to any decent score I think.

Anyway, I have a funky merc monster and a very nice looking S13 that I had set up for drift, but then Evan gifted me a race spec Supra... Some time later, following a de-tune and a new snappy paint job I have a drift Supra, an old one. Probably in keeping with my ability really.

And this was run #2 if I recall, tweaking needed, and a lot more practice:

Interlude

Say hello to the official FCT GT5 hill climb circuit. Official mostly as I couldn't get my old one to open in the lounge - this is the better track any how.

It's three clips of the same lap, of around 1:07.

Let me know if you want this to a race night near you soon?

League Race #5 - Americana - Nascar Racing

Boring oval racing yeah yeah yeah.

To celebrate all that is motorsport, we're going to have a go at racing the Nascars that are available in the online garage (you don't need to own one).

Which one are you (dibs on the one facing the wrong way)?

And, although one of the races will indeed be around the iconic Indy Speedway, one of the races will be around Laguna Seca, so some right hand bends. woohoo.

And, rather than have a million yellow flags (we don't need add breaks) we'll run boost at max, so in both races we should have some fun and close racing!

Finally, unusual for arrive and drive racing - I'll allow tuning - so get in early on the night.

Here is a handy link for tuning tips.

The Cars:

Not sure which one we get, but they're all much the same eh...

The tracks:

We all know and love Laguna Seca - but here's the map in any case. And...

If anyone says they forgot the course layout they're banned.

Official details:

Host: Andrew

Date: 07-June-2012

Start time: 9:00 PM

Race starts: 9:15 PM

Lounge: FCT GT5 Andrew

Track: Laguna Seca / Indy Speedway

Laps: 4 / 8

Cars: NASCAR (arrive and drive) - Tuning open.

Tyres: Open

Boost: High

Notes:

Do note that all assists other than ABS will be turned off - this is to simulate the NASCAR class which is essentially wheelbarrow racing in any case. To add realism you may also want to invest in some chewing tobacco for the night.

Be tough...

GT Academy 2012

Something I've been messing about with recently is GT Academy.  There's not a lot to it, kind of like the licence tests in GT4 with a variety of different Nissan's...starting with the electric powered Leaf (excitement plus).  The difficulty level does increase through the challenges and become more stimulating.  I've been persisting with it for one main reason, the rumor of a new circuit - Twin Ring Montegi which should be downloadable after the competition ends along with a bunch of Nissan's used along the way for those who've golded the rounds, GTR35 Black Edition anyone?  The first 6  rounds of the competition is already open with another couple of weeks until the final 2 rounds are released.  Round 8 being the grand final which is set to be a time trial at Motegi.

But GT Academy is not available in Australia?  To download you'll need to create a new user account with your, *ahem* alternate home address in the UK/USA.  Go to users in the Main PS3 menu bar, select Create New User and follow the prompts through.  Sign into your new account and you can download from the online store.  After you've downloaded it you can sign in with your everyday account to run.  You can even see times from other Australian users even though we're not eligible for the competition.  Another bonus, having access to a foreign account is kinda nice to access other games/demo's that may not be available in the local market yet.

MechWarrior - Oh dear, GT5 - your days are numbered...

One link...

MechWarrior

It's on it's way, and this is going to eat all my time (move over Skyrim in fact).