Author Topic: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT  (Read 1167 times)

BarbecuePete

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Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« on: November 19, 2008, 08:41:26 AM »
Just wanted to post this up ahead of this weeks races to remind everyone that this track has NO PITS...

I have run testing here and tyres and fuel will easily last the distance of the feature race, but I am asking everyone to please be especially careful with passing this week as there are a lot of walls and tyre barriers close to the track that will ruin yours and others races if you hit them... and also please take it easy through the switchbacks from the start.

As my FM.net sig says... "You can't win the race in the first corner... But you sure can lose it..."

IMO the best place for passing here is at the hairpin leading on to the long straight.


Also the start line is very tight, so we may have to do random grids for both races or run in Career mode so we can select 'Reverse Lobby Points' for the grid order.. as I do not feel there is enough room for our usual grid shuffle...



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Spiny Anteater

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2008, 01:35:51 PM »
I'm sure we can do the grid shuffle, but it might be a good idea for everyone to pull forwards, then turn around and drive forwards to the back if things are that tight. If people are driving forwards, the potential for accidental collisions is much reduced.
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fndrbndr

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2008, 01:45:37 PM »
The issue is going to be keeping clean in the sawteeth.  They're basically an autocross section, not a race track section. 
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fndrbndr

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2008, 05:34:28 PM »
OK, so "Team America" had a test session. 

The bad news is that you can't pass.  Seriously, don't try.  There are spots where you'll be behind someone and think you can pass them, but you're wrong.  Your skill will not get you past another driver.

The good news is that the other driver's lack of skill will get the job done.  There are lots of places where it's easy to make a mistake on this track.  I think everyone should remember just to be patient and let the driver in front make the mistake.
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Spiny Anteater

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2008, 05:49:02 PM »
The issue is going to be keeping clean in the sawteeth.  They're basically an autocross section, not a race track section. 

If it leads to half the field going off track in a cloud of smoke at the first corner, then we know we have a pretty accurate representation of racing at Croft ;D

As for passing, this could be interesting. I think at the front of the field at least grid position will have a big impact.
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fndrbndr

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2008, 08:35:04 AM »
Well....I'm not so sure.  Bimmer and I follow each other as closely and cleanly as about any two drivers in Forza, a function of the amount of time we've spent racing together.  Our races are almost always close and hard-fought, assuming we're bringing roughly equal builds to the track.  I'm not sure there was a clean pass in our three or four races on DB yesterday.  However, part of the problem is the braking zones.  Long story short, the braking zones can be a bit deceptive, especially if you usually use DB as a test track for RWD cars (I do).  It's easy to brake much later than is optimal for an FF.  I tend to pitch a car into the sawteeth with a little oversteer and some pretty late braking, or at least use throttle oversteer to get through that section.  In a FF configuration, though, that doesn't work.  I suspect someone, through muscle memory or whatever, will brake late, tapping the next driver up, who will then tap the next one up, and so on. 

Also, if #2 gets any kind of a run on #1 off the line, there will be problems.  I've taken the sawteeth two wide ONE time, and it was with Fit in the S^4's.  We bumped each other around a bit, but since the cars are basically tanks, it was cool. These cars are much less tank-like. As the odd-numbered cars try to set up for turn 1 and even-numbered cars try to get in line (or vice versa, can't remember how the grid is set), there's going to be contact.  I can see #2 pushing it, with some very bad results for #1.  Of course, all of this may be true further back in the order, too.

At least no one's getting a Corvette enima this time around.
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BarbecuePete

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2008, 08:43:39 AM »
One place on this track which can also cause problems is that tricky little switchback over the crest, there's sticky dirt very close to the kerb on the inside and I've been in a huge pile up there before where the leading car hit the sticky dirt and stopped dead and the rest of the field ploughed straight into the back of them...

I'm gonna say that if there is an accident that takes out 3 or more cars early on in either the sprint or the Feature race there is a call for a restart... Especially as there have been some odd lag issues of late... Like the invisible 10 foot pole I seemed to have had attached to the front of my car at Sebring which span Fndr round...  :-\


As for passing I had a good pre-season race here, mainly passing into and out of the hairpin, its quite wide so you can go off line quite easily and cut back inside... or run around the outside.


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fndrbndr

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2008, 09:06:22 AM »
I don't know about the 3-car restart rule.  I'd say, guessing from the conversations during the main races, there are usually at least two cars damaged every weekend.  I wonder whether we'd ever finish the race under that rule.
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BarbecuePete

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #8 on: November 21, 2008, 10:42:14 AM »
We'll only call the restart if the cars are totalled... Engine's etc... and if it happens in the first few laps... Say up to lap 3 for the Sprint, lap 5 for the Feature...

Hopefully we won't need to restart anyway... but at least we have a contingancy if something does happen... I just don't see much point in one person going round by themselves if everyone else's car got totalled on the first lap by a bit of lag or someone just catching the sticky dirt a bit and everyone else runnning into the back of them...

Luckily this is the only track in the season which doesn't have pits...
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fndrbndr

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #9 on: November 21, 2008, 10:45:37 AM »
Fair enough then.  I was imagining something more comprehensive.
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Spiny Anteater

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #10 on: November 21, 2008, 01:22:36 PM »
I would definitely say that the restart rule is worth applying provided the damage is caused before the end of the switchbacks on the 2nd lap. That should also get everyone past the superdirt on the first lap when everyone is nose to tail and the mass pile-up there is most likely to occur.

Of course, if it's me that gets clear and everyone else gets taken out I think we should just keep racing ;D
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fndrbndr

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #11 on: November 22, 2008, 04:51:04 PM »
Well, that was far less painful than I would have expected.
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PzR maxster59

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #12 on: November 23, 2008, 04:17:56 AM »
That was a good race, First race planted the car in the barrier end into the first corner taking avoiding action as the cars bunched, major engine damage >:(.
Second race got away with 350m with top times of 1.10.2 lapping within .3 each lap and pushing pushing finding the line etc. Spinny makes it into second through the pack and hunts me down lap by lap until lap 24 when hes on my tail with the indicator down to -3 at points I just managed to keep the place with an eye on the mirror all the lap.  Well done spinny you mastered the track. Hard race.

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #13 on: November 23, 2008, 04:26:03 AM »
Thanks Maxster, I do like the snakes but I have to say you did a good job both races. First race I know you were really struggling with the car (judging by the way i was catching you on the straights) but kudos to you, scamp and bazza for the way you all let the leaders through when they came to lap you.

As for the second race, you deserved that one. I was running at about the limit of my ability trying to put you under as much pressure as I could, but you didn't crack. Well done :)
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BarbecuePete

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Re: Rounds 15 & 16 Diamondback TT
« Reply #14 on: November 23, 2008, 07:18:18 AM »
Yeah I just couldn't keep up with Spiny in the first race so had to settle for second, in the feature I tried my best too keep him behind me despite a little damage but I over cooked it on the last corner on about lap 5 and Spiny snuck past... I kept in touch for a couple of laps but didn't have the pace to keep up... in both races though I couldn't afford to just cruise around to the finish as Fndr was fast closing in..

I remembered to save the replays this week so i'll try and get some photo's up later...

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