Learning the ring

[riwiho]

Having never visited the ring in real life and having only lapped it 3 or 4 times since getting Forza2 a couple of weeks ago how long do you believe it would take a competent racer to learn the ring?

After 10 laps of a standard course you have a rough idea of which way each corner bends. 20 laps you know where you are going and by 30 you can competently race on the track (my opinion). Obviously this gets better with time.

So how long?

[Gun]

I would say by the time you've done 50 laps you'd know pretty much where you are on the track and whats coming next, although I did countless laps on GT4 and I still make mistakes when playing it on Forza.

[Baldylocks]

Gun said:

although I did countless laps on GT4 and I still make mistakes when playing it on Forza.

Same as but I knew it inside out on PGR2. The car dynamics are a lot more difficult to master on Forza.

[riwiho]

Baldylocks said:

Gun said:

although I did countless laps on GT4 and I still make mistakes when playing it on Forza.

Same as but I knew it inside out on PGR2. The car dynamics are a lot more difficult to master on Forza.

In your opinion what is the best car to use for the task of learning ?

[anonymous-user]

You can learn it in under 20 laps imo , possibly 10 , its getting its right is where it counts , into your 100's of laps im afriad , its good to learn it on the likes of forza but if you try the stuff you do there in real life you will end up dead , taking Schwedenkreuz flat for example , impossible.

Paul

[Baldylocks]

riwiho said:

Baldylocks said:

Gun said:

although I did countless laps on GT4 and I still make mistakes when playing it on Forza.

Same as but I knew it inside out on PGR2. The car dynamics are a lot more difficult to master on Forza.

In your opinion what is the best car to use for the task of learning ?

Anything RWD of 4WD that is not too quick or too slow that suits your driving style. TBH you can't really go wrong as long as you're enjoying yourself.

I expect it will take a long time to master the track in lots of different cars. But thats part of the fun

[Rob P]

After about 30 laps IMO its more a case of "shite, could have gone faster through there", that goes on for months until you become Sir Mekon

[Gun]

riwiho said:

Baldylocks said:

Gun said:

although I did countless laps on GT4 and I still make mistakes when playing it on Forza.

Same as but I knew it inside out on PGR2. The car dynamics are a lot more difficult to master on Forza.

In your opinion what is the best car to use for the task of learning ?

I'd go for something like an Impreza or Mitsu Evo, fast but easy to handle and control if it goes a bit wrong. As for race car, I've always found that Porsche 911 GT1 easy to drive fast, which is good for a beginner.

[wtt]

riwiho said:

In your opinion what is the best car to use for the task of learning ?

When choosing between rwd/fwd/4wd i would choose the car you enjoy driving the most as they all differ slightly depending on driving style.

I would recommend starting out in class D with a slightly loose rwd car like a Dino. I find the key to speed at the ring is knowing when to go flat out and when to take it easy so a class d will let you find the limit of the car without going over 130mph.

Some corners can be taken just by lifting off slightly putting the car into a gentle slide.

Perhaps take it in sections at a time then string it together in the end.

[Fidgits]

Okay.

GT4 - I did, well easily 10's of laps (say somewhere up to 50) of the ring.
PGR3 - probably in the region of 10-20
Forza 2 - easily in the 100-200 range.

I went to the ring for the first time last week.

Forza definatley gave me the 'general layout', however, a game is a game, not 100% perfect, and simply cannot be a perfectly replica, and as such, while in some sections I was fully comfortable where I was and what was coming, others I was lost.

There are some significant differences between the Forza 2 and the real thing - for instance the straights appear shorter, the cambers arent always fully represented, and the trackside can alter the view.

The simple fact is, if you want to learn to drive the ring 'proper', you need to invest in one of the expert guide books that shows you photos on the entries/exits of bends and how best to do it. Games are great as an idea of the layout and length (though it seems much shorter on the real thing), but it wont prepare you for the real thing.

[foreright]

Fidgits said:

There are some significant differences between the Forza 2 and the real thing - for instance the straights appear shorter, the cambers arent always fully represented, and the trackside can alter the view.

I would have thought that things like elevation changes and bumps in the track are much more noticable in real life - also you don't have a little map in the corner showing you which way the track is about to bend in a few hundred yards time!

[Fidgits]

foreright said:

Fidgits said:

There are some significant differences between the Forza 2 and the real thing - for instance the straights appear shorter, the cambers arent always fully represented, and the trackside can alter the view.

I would have thought that things like elevation changes and bumps in the track are much more noticable in real life - also you don't have a little map in the corner showing you which way the track is about to bend in a few hundred yards time!

I should have added 'all in my humble opinion'..

But what I mean is, there are parts of the track that look compeltley different - I imagine the basic layout is the same as the game, but due to huge camber/elevation changes I didnt recognise it at all.

but then, thats me, Mekon'd probably hit 8 minutes first time out

[foreright]

Fidgits said:

but then, thats me, Mekon'd probably hit 8 minutes first time out

In a class-B scooby probably yes

[Steve Evil]

I always thought GT4 had the best representation of the real thing, certainly replicates it the best for me.

[Fidgits]

Steve Evil said:

I always thought GT4 had the best representation of the real thing, certainly replicates it the best for me.

The problem I have is it's been a long time since I played the GT4 version..

[alextgreen]

I've done 60-70 laps in Forza easily but my lack of short term memory makes it feel like a new one every time :s

[Mekon]

I played it on Gran Prix Legend < 30 laps
I played it on GT4 > 200 laps
I played it on Tourist Trophy <100 laps
I play it on Forza 2 < 200 laps

Unlike some people, I don't find the gt4/forza2 representations very different. I guess Schwedenkreuz has less of a lhs mid corner hump, but other than that, I could pick up where I left off in GT4/TT. FWIW, I feel like I learn things about the track on most laps - thing is, with 8 minutes odd between goes, stringing new corner to corner lines together is labourious.

As for R/L, I suspect I would be on friendly terms with a representative from ADAC before the first lap was complete.

[Dr Mattt]

Bit off tpoic.. but for those of you who can remember, has the Ring changed much between Forza 1 and Forza 2? I ask because at the moment on Forza 1 I am VERY uncompetitve!!

FWIW, most of my ring laps have been on GT4. I find that on Forza it is much wider and many of the bends seem less severe. Also the rumble strip!! In GT4 this could be used.. in Forza 1 they appear to be about 4ft high and send the car leaping well off line!

Edited by Dr Mattt on Friday 10th August 16:49