Asian Career Commentary

[Fit4aking]

I've been updating my car log every day and I've gotten a PM or 2 about the cars and passed experience.  It never occored to me that keeping the topic locked made it seem like I was unreceptive to what you guys think.  Well that's just not the case.  Feel free to comment here on the cars or your cars or anything pertaining to the things in my "new" career tracker.

It was never my intention to exclude the community from my project, I just wanted a solid uninterupted list of my career cars to update as needed.  Looking forward to getting back online for some racing, stupid moving!

Onward and forward........ "turning japanese, I think I'm turning japanese, I really think so......"  

[Ske]

I've got some half decent tunes for a D400 MR-S, C550 MX5 (roadster) and of course the A class evo and 22b. I'll dig them up and post here if you want

[Fit4aking]

I've been having fun with the Roadster stock for now and I just unlocked its Factory Spec race so I hope to have it done and ready for a home real soon.

All the Asian "super" cars have so many versions its hard to keep them straight.  Sparco Evo, HKS Evo, Ings, Amemiya, Tom's, Ab Flug, the tuner list is endless, hell even Endless is s tuner.  I'll have multiple versions here soon.

[Ske]

Here's a couple for you to try out:

D400 Toyota MR-S
Got a few top 300 times in this, very easy to drive with no fuss at all

Stock engine
Street brakes/sport weight, the rest of the platform fully upgraded
Street rear bumper (Abflug), Forza front and rear spoilers
Bridgestone slicks, max width, min diameter, Enkei RP F1 or same weight rims (lightest)

Tires: 28/28
Gears: 4.15; 3.63 - 2.15 - 1.50 - 1.15 - 0.95 - na
Align: -0.7/-0.5; 0.1/-0.3; 5.6
ARB: 15/7
Springs: 200/250; 5.5/5.3
Dampers: 9.0/10.5; 3.0/3.5
Aero: 45/100
Brakes: na
Diff: 40/30


B700 Mugen Integra
Haven't driven this for a while, but I've set a couple top 50 times with this tune.

Stock engine
Stock brakes, race platform
Bridgestone 255/18 slicks on HRE 540R rims
Stock rear wing, Forza front wing and rear bumper

Tires: 28/30
Gears: 4.35; 2.60 - 1.90 - 1.46 - 1.18 - 1.00 - 0.88
Align: -0.7/-0.6; 0.2/0.2; 5.3
ARB: 4/40
Springs: 250/300; 5.8/5.8
Dampers: 7.0/6.0; 3.0/2.5
Aero: 70/na
Brakes: na
Diff: 28/0


C550 Mazda roadster
This was my initial tune for the car but it seems to handle pretty well. Tuned for stability.

Sport exhaust
Stock brakes, sport driveline, race platform
Goodyear 225/17 slicks on the lightest type rims (Enkei RP F1)
Street front and skirts, Forza rear wing and bumper

Tires: 29/29
Gears: 4.27; 3.23 - 1.96 - 1.34 - 1.03 - 0.88 - na (Honda gearbox, my favorite starting point)
Align: -0.8/-0.6; 0.0/-0.3; 5.5
ARB: 20/10
Springs: 300/200; 4.8/4.8
Dampers: 9.0/6.0; 3.0/2.0
Aero: na/100
Brakes: na
Diff: 40/20

[BarbecuePete]

Here's my S988 - Border MR2 tune fit, this was built purely for a high LB position on the MR2 manufacturer race but it is a seriously quick S class car in its own right despite being 10 PI points from the top of the class.. I have my highest LB positions in the game by miles on these races...

Current LB positions and times for the MR2 races (S-Class LB HL Pos)

Maple Valley Shrt Rev - 64th - 3:54.578      Fastest Lap - 37.592  (1247)
Suzuka East             - 50th - 4:06.896       Fastest Lap - 47.750  (2222)
Tsukuba Short          - 59th - 4:52.331       Fastest Lap - 40.685  (3692)

Build - All Race parts, Max width std size Avon Race tyres, Full Aero, Full WR, Volk TE37 Wheels

Stats

Speed - 6.7         2,269lbs                       0-60 3.478s
Accel - 7.7          486bhp @ 7000rpm          0-100 6.596s
Brake - 6.3          430lb/ft @3500rpm         G's @ 60mph - 1.18
Hand - 6.0          Top Speed - 189.8mph    G's @ 120mph - 1.22

Toon (all front / rear unless stated)

Tyres - 28/29
Gears - FD - 3.30 - 1st - 2.89 \ 1.99 \ 1.51 \ 1.20 \ 1.00 \ 0.85 - 6th
Camber -1.0 / -0.8
Toe - -0.1 / -.0.3
Caster - std - 5.0
ARB's - 20.56 / 13.71
Springs - 308.0 / 462.1
Ride - 3.9 / 3.9
Rbound - 6.6 / 9.9
Bump - 3.3 / 5.0
Aero - Max - 125 / 150
Brakes - 55% Front 110% Pressure
Diff  - Acc 40 / 25 Decel

To be honest I really don't know how this car is so fast, I did use traction control with this car as it will spin its rear tyres if you are even a fraction of a second too early applying the throtle...  I noticed though on my friends LB that Blooze is about 8-10 seconds behind me on each race in an S987 Border MR2 and didn't use traction control, I have to say that I probably wouldn't have made it round the first lap without it.  Maybe its the gearing as the acceleration this car has is unbeliveable it just keeps going all the way up to 170+ and even with traction control it will still swap ends if your not gentle with the throttle in the slower corners.. Saying that though it does corner really well, turn in is sharp and as long as you are gentle with the throttle the back end really sticks to the road..

Im not sure how well it would adapt to a C-class buld, the rear toe angle would probably be the first change as it is quite high on this car to help keep the back end stable with all the power..

[Fit4aking]

An amazing thing happened the other day in the King household.  My daughter was visiting a friend for the evening, both of my sons were asleep, AND the wife decided to run out for an hour or so.  What's a guy to do!!  I had to stay pretty quiet and I was still on call, hmmm, lets see.  I decided to wire up the xbox to the TV in the living room (the good one) and try to get up to speed after several weeks off.  I managed to make a coupel hundred grand in career before the youngest woke up but I definately needed the practice. 

I officially stink at:
-Braking, at all speeds
-Launching RWD cars with no TCS
-Consistancy, my one saving grace in a long race
AND
-Painting, I have lost all drive to really lay down a good job on any of my Asian career cars.

I hope to be able to hop into a challenge here soon I may have enough spare CR's to buy a Muscle Inc car on this account 

[Fit4aking]

Bad new guys, last Wednsday I was laid off.  Just one month after the birth of my youngest son and 3 days after the first mortgage payment went out on the new place.  Timing couldn't be worse.  But, I'm a trooper and I ran two tanks of premium diesel through the truck dropping off resume's and sitting thorugh interviews.  I believe I'll be employed within the week.

Good news, I got to spend a few mornings with my kids and wife.  Something I haven't done in years as I normally sneak out while everyone is asleep.  I also had the opportunity to have a nice long lunch with just the wife and newborn, another simple pleasure.  Lastly and certainly not that important was that I had a little time to play some Forza as stress relief from my hectic few days.

Asia has been good to me.  I just cleared 1.6 mil and I've only had to buy 3 cars so far.  A Ford Focus and Honda NSX-R for the factory spec races, and an Eclipse for the Celica vs Eclipse Rivalry race.  Does anyone have a good build/tune for a C-class Gen2 Eclipse??  I have a non-aero mostly grip build that just isn't cutting it, I'll post the build as I get time to tweek it.

I've almost got my mojo back in the driving department as I rarely lock up the brakes anymore and I can get off the line much much better now.  Time will tell if I can get back online but that's pretty low on my priority list right now. 

[Spiny Anteater]

Sorry to hear about that Fit - I guess it's the credit crunch and all, but if you have the same attitude in rea life as you've shown here (and I've no reason to believe that you don't) then I'm sure you'll be back in the ranks of the gainfully employed before you know it.

Good luck with the job hunting - I'm sure you'll come good before long.

[BarbecuePete]

Yeah good luck Fit, All the best with the job hunt..

[Drift2XL]

Damn Fit, that stinks man.

I hope that this is just a temporary set back and that it works out for you in the end.

[Fit4aking]

Thanks for all the encouragement guys.  A little build up goes a long ways when your in the dumps.

This afternoon I graced the Forza world with my presents and had another go at the Celica vs Eclipse Rivalry.  I ended up shifting the center diff to the front instead of the rear and then started driving the car through the turn instead of trying to utilize the AWD to power out of the turns.  A small adjustment, a change of driving style and the front end is firmly planted now, no aero needed. 

On to the 400hp Series.  After some deliberation I decided that the Lexus IS430 was the best bet given that the competition was pretty stout.  I knew going in the the Tuscan S and the Bimmer GTR would be tough and I was going to be out-classed by at least 30 PI points and over 50 with the TVR.  I took my B700 IS and went to work anyway.  I wasn't a runaway winner by any stretch but it was actually nice to "race" the AI for a few laps before taking over the lead and chasing the clock.  I really should balance the suspension out and bias the damn thing but I'm not chasing hotlaps yet just podium finishes.

Next on tap is the American Regional Series.  I've decided to keep it Japanese and I'll be trying my hand at the Acura NSX in hopes of dethroning the finest that the Big 3 can throw at me.  While it doesn't scream big block or night at the drags I hope it can run down the high displacement with high rpm's.  If I can pry my wallet open I'll be buying car #4 in the near future.

[Fit4aking]

Scooped up an NSX for the American Series as predicted and I was a bis scared right off the start.  I was staring at taillights and watching the back of the pack fly by long before the first turn.  It was very obvious that I really should have taken the time to bias and SWR this thing before hopping in the ring.  All I changed before the green dropped was tire pressure and the final drive.  There was no rear wing for this monster with adjustable downforce so I was fighting traffic along with a tai-happy MR car.  So far that has been my biggest challenge to date in the new career.  I was behind after the first 2 laps on each and every race, fighting for position, trying to fend off the AI and all that implies.

While I was in the car buying mood I planned and followed through with my next purchase.  I have a Rivalry race on the horizon as well as a Factory-spec race looming.  Only one car fits the build for both races and I think I can minimize cost.  I'll be doing the insane, leaving it completely stock.  That's right no upgrades, only a paintjob.  My next purchase was a Ferrari F430 and I took a gander at the upgrade shop and walked out empty handed.  Not even wheels, nothing.  Fortunately it has a few adjustable features from the factory so I was able to fine tune it a smidge.  The overall plan was to win enough money with the car to break even after the sale of the car.  Its not Asian so its not stayin.  Two series later and enough money back in the bank to cover the expenses of buying a car out of region the F430 hit the used car lot.  I really like that car, it handles well.  Is very predictable and sounds awesome wide open.  Maybe I'll buy another one if money allows after level 50 rolls around.

On a personal note, I've weeded through a few job offers and I'll be going back to wrenchin.  I'll be working a whopping 2 miles closer to home but the commute is a bit more congested.  I'll be following the rollback with my out-of-retirement toolbox to an Audi dealer in Annapolis, MD.  The old stompng ground as I was raised not too far from there.  The pay is less than I was makin before but its better than the zero I'm pullin down now.  I'm exicted but nervous all at the same time, I hate changing jobs.

[BarbecuePete]

Good luck with the new job Fit...

[fndrbndr]

Congrats, Fit!  Enjoy the new job.

[Drift2XL]

Good luck on the new job Fit. I hope you didn't take too much of a hit on the pay.

At least the DC metro area is big enough for two Audi dealers. The closest dealer where I live in an hour away and the next would be another hour and a half from there.