Region: SW Division
Car #: 32
Year : 1999 Posts: 194
Status: Offline
posted
Started last month. Bought Playseat and G25. Just installed Nixim compressible rubber pad on brake pedal - far better. I am still 6 seconds slower than Fossy around Laguna and have no idea how the heck to catch up. Need time, lessons and probably DNA.
The Solstice is, for me, not fun to drive. The Skippy car is great (feels really quite similar to the real thing) as is the FA. I found the Legends much more fun than I anticipated. Wonder what it is like to drive in RL?
Laguna is fun as is Road America. The NASCAR tracks with infield tracks are less fun. Oval racing confuses me.
This is my first experience in online racing and I have been bemused to find this whole sub culture with its own heroes, protocol and language.
I'm 100% addicted. Running Skip Barber and Star Mazda right now. Will move up to Radical and Daytona Prototype when I get more seat time in and jump up to the B license.
The oval racing is also incredibly fun. Boogidy, boogidy, boogidy!
I'm amazed by its realism and immersion. Seeing there are many professional drivers on there it seems pretty clear it's a useful tool. The tracks are completely spot-on. Once you get through the initial rookie phases the racing is tight, clean and very rewarding.
-------------------- Colin MacLean Flyin' MacLean Motorsports
Unfortunately we can only get satelite internet at the house so I can't play IR due to the latency. Otherwise I would be on there in a minute. I guess I am going to have to get it at work so I can come kick some virtual ass!
I know my son, Devin Cates, started playing IR about a month ago, says he has won about 4 races so far. He's trying to stay sharp in the off season to be ready for VW TDI Cup this year.
I used to play Indy-Car Racing by Papyrus years ago on an IBM 286!!! Graphics sucked compared to today's games but the driving dynamics were spot on. I was a second faster than Paul Tracy at Laguna.
I would play that game for about an hour every night until my eyes couldn't focus anymore.
Ever played Grand Prix Legends? Mid 1960's Formula One cars. No aero, crap tires and brakes and tons of power. Way hard! Another Papyrus game that they used to help develop I-Racing.
These games are great at keeping your focus sharp. Plus you can experiment with suspension setings and try different lines and really learn how important it is to get on the power early.
Devin said he raced Marcos Ambrose on line a few weeks ago and has seen Dale Jr. playing online.
The hardest thing to get used to is the braking, just no feel.
Since you only have visual and audio it really helps to have a good subwoofer to feel what the car is doing. I play Gran Turismo 5 at home with a 100" projector screen with full surround sound and a 15" Subwoofer and it's a blast. Of course you can always use headphones but it's just not the same without the sub.
Region: WDC
Car #: 05
Year : 91 Posts: 265
Status: Offline
posted
Brian Cates, I'm in the same boat and believe it or not Dial-up works fine if you have a clean connection. I experience very little warping and am having a blast. I finished second in my division for the 13th week series. I have also played EVERYTHING that has come down the pike as far as Simulators go- IndyCar Racing 1 & 2, GPL ('67 Formula 1),GTR 1&2, GTL and now iRacing!
I'm one of the DC that Travis is talking about, him and I have raced together several times!
My only issue is price! On top of my monthly fee now I have to drop $175 more just to join the Star Mazda (need the car $20 and 6 tracks at $20-$25 a pop). Joining any of the other series is $100 or more for each one depending on the tracks needed and one could drop close to a $750 to just buy all the content available. I know they give quanity discounts and they spent ALOT of time and money to scan the tracks and cars but damn that just puts it out of reach for all but the hardcore and wealthy. GEE just like the real world uh!
Besides the price it is absolutly the best I've driven in the 11 years and dozens of simulators I've played with!!!
A side note, when I used AOL, their service was WAY to iffy to play well (lots of warping and disconnects) and iRacing customer service noticed my difficulties and contacted me to offer help!!! They were spectacular at getting me straightened out and it works great now!
-------------------- Mike Monaghan #05 SSM "BUELL" The Original STREETFIGHTER
J.D.
Guest
Status: Offline
posted
Wont find me in the Solstice, go figure
Skippy car though, shall we try for a practice time tonight? I'm only 3.5 D right now both license but will be C next update.
Region: SFR & CalClub
Car #: Various
Year : 1994 Posts: 131
Status: Offline
posted
I'm in! Pick a time...I can make most any.
Haven't done much Skippy. Tried it at Sears (hated it) and VIR (was okay). Tried it last night at Lime Rock and actually enjoyed it...probably more to do with being sick of so many Solstice laps there.
I'll email you some setups I've downloaded from various sources.
Region: WDC
Car #: 05
Year : 91 Posts: 265
Status: Offline
posted
Man you guys are hard on the poor Solstice! I've grown to like it! Doesn't quite stick like the SM but it has more horsepower and is tossable. I can run a little faster at Summit Point in it than my SSM!
-------------------- Mike Monaghan #05 SSM "BUELL" The Original STREETFIGHTER
J.D.
Guest
Status: Offline
posted
Solstice for me is a real life issue, not the game
Region: Central Florida
Car #: 3
Year : 1992 Posts: 1304
Status: Offline
posted
I am using a G25 wheel and pedals. I keep practicing, but I have a hard time trying to get the brake pressure right without the feedback. I signed up at PRI because they offered the annual membership at half price.
This is what I am using http://www.playseats.com/ with a Logitech G25 wheel and the Playseats Gear Shift add-on ...would belts and a helmet be too much???
My hard wired phone connection is pretty bad. Could not go more then a few minutes without a drop. I traced the wire down and it's supposed to be burried but just outside my propety line the cable is sitting on the ground and when it rains, well you get the picture.
I thought about trying Verizon Wireless. Anybody had any luck with that?
My 12 year old wants to play X-Box Live but same deal, too much latency. Have yet to figure out how to hook the X-Box to the Verizon Wireless.
Now I know why my credit card keeps showing new charges to I-Racing. Alright Devin, give me that card back now!
J.D.
Guest
Status: Offline
posted
It is sturdy, well for what it is. 6 cst all join, Skip LRP practice.
Region: SW Division
Car #: 32
Year : 1999 Posts: 194
Status: Offline
posted
Sorry I missed it. Can't get home from work by 6.
I see that a few are having problems with the G25 braking. I found the braking on the G25 really tricky and so ordered a simple little rubber pad from Nixim in the UK and installed it this weekend. The difference is dramatic. Way easier to modulate braking. My driving still pretty much sucks but I can't continue to blame the pedal.
Region: Metro NY
Car #: 09
Year : 1991 Posts: 423
Status: Offline
posted
I am running this exact set-up. I joined iracing just last night. So far it's awesome.
Anyone wanna share their LRP laptimes in the solstice?
quote:Originally posted by Trussell17t: This is what I am using http://www.playseats.com/ with a Logitech G25 wheel and the Playseats Gear Shift add-on ...would belts and a helmet be too much???
I can get in nightly most days, call it Eric, you're the guy to beat.
I assume that mod lowers the pedal tension? My biggest complaint. I don't care about real car feel, I care about computer car speed LOL
It was a Mach something but since I spun in front of y'all spinning, I won.
FWIW, stay track oposite of anyone who's name rymes with 'Draino".
J.D.
Guest
Status: Offline
posted
Eric, we need setups, will you post here for us? You can have tire psi if you want to hold back anything?
EFoss28
2008 SM and MX-5 Cup Champion 2009 SWC Rookie of the Year
Region: Texas
Car #: 28
Year : 99/06/10 Posts: 105
Status: Offline
posted
Skip setup I try to run as close to stock as possible with around 27 hot pressure... at LRP ended up -4 on front perches and 55-56 on Brake Bias. I must say skip is my least favorite car. On the advanced solstice I like 35-36 for hot pressures and max camber rear less in front... remember front camber relates to caster and I like putting some caster in the car. also front toe 0 to -1 and rear is +1 to +3 depending on track. Hope this helps
I don't know what I don't like. But, I have not even driven the Solstice (used Legends to advance). I will try but it is a "red" car to me (watch Used Cars the movie).
We need not discount Legends, makes for some interesting races and sounds good.
Region: 27
Car #: 77
Year : 1990 Posts: 37
Status: Offline
posted
when we gonna actually do some practice seasons:) and what car? just rookie solstice? that car i liked, still do but a big difference between that and the mazda, and eric i also do not like the skippy. you should remember me we raced once, then i remembered your name the next day and pm,ed you lol.
J.D.
Guest
Status: Offline
posted
we were there past two nights, several hours, just off.
Region: Wash DC
Car #: 23
Year : 1999 Posts: 28
Status: Offline
posted
I didn't like the solstice at first but now that i have gotten used to it, it is a lot of fun. The skips just slide and aren't too fun to drive to me, but the DP's are awesome!
quote: February 18,2009 - Texas Motor Speedway Coming Soon! Everything is bigger in Texas – and that includes race tracks. Texas Motor Speedway, the 1.5-mile quad-oval home to everything from NASCAR’s top three classes to the open-wheelers of the IndyCar Series to Legends Cars, is in the final stages of modeling and will be available to iRacing members in early March.
A total of six configurations will be included, from the big 24-degree-banked quad oval to the pit-lane-and-front stretch short oval that plays host to Legends Car races. For road racers, iRacing’s TMS will include a total of four road-course layouts: the 2.324-mile primary circuit that includes most of the big oval and three smaller infield-only courses of 1.07, .7 and .5 miles.
Region: National
Car #: 29 Posts: 3
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Mark Drennan: Me! Other than me, I've seen Eric Foss, Robert Huffmaster, Sean Yepez, Brett Smrz (not sure if he's still a member).
How do you like it? Tracks, cars, format?
See you at the (virtual) track!
-MD
I am still a member. I am just not home enough to play!