Calling all iRacers

[Chunkychucky]

Downloaded the newly released Ford GT and HPD ARX-01c sports car - just cannot get a handle on them. Not sure whether it's the NTM playing a part (being the first "road course" cars so equipped), but the Honda/Acura has little or no steering feel, meaning you head into a bend blind as to what the front wheels are doing, meaning you understeer off or spin off, and the Ford GT's front end weights up so unbelievably in bends, it's totally unlike any other car i've driven on the game. Has anyone else that uses iRacing found this?

[SlipStream77]

The ARX has adjustable power steering, try setting that on the lowest setting and maybe increase the FFB a little as well. I've read that the NTM generates less FFB as well so that may be part of the problem.

The ARX is also pretty unforgiving, I've been driving the DP a lot recently and it cannot be slid around the track in the same way at all. The fixed setup is supposed to be pretty fast (Watkins Glen), if you're having problems getting the power down, try changing the power side of the diff'.

The Ford does feel odd to me, but I haven't done many laps, just a few at Laguna and the 'Glen. I think at Laguna it was a case of slow in/fast out and quite a lot of trailbraking to try to get the weight transfer necessary to get the thing to turn in.

[Mister V]

Apparently the GT only has 200 degrees of steering lock. you can calibrate your wheel to get round this, i would post the link but the iRacing forums are down for me at the moment.

It's a tricky car to get your head round and understeers a lot! im buy no means quick. (2.07) best at suzuka but upping the caster helps a bit. it will probably get better with some better sets.

ETA: http://members.iracing.com/jforum/posts/list/14979... linky for better wheel calibration for the GT

Edited by Mister V on Saturday 30th July 12:23

[Chunkychucky]

Thanks for the help guys. I also found a slow in fast out approach necessary in the Ford, however when it did let go I found it was quite controllable oversteer, although there was definitely understeer if I tried to a little too much speed into the bend and did not use trail braking.

As for the Acura, I never knew there was adjustable powersteering on that, thanks. I would agree with the conclusion that the NTM generates less FFB, I back to backed the Impala Class B with the older Impala around Watkins Glen and found the older car, which wasn't running NTM, to be far more communicative at the helm. I shall try adjusting FFB settings to compensate, thanks.

[Ricepilot]

Agreed with these new cars.

I find the Honda pretty good actually and I was topping some of the tests I did last night with around the 1:45-1:48 (Suzuka) mark but the Ford is not fun to drive for me at the moment. Its just like lugging a massive boat around. Not at all what I was expecting.

I love the new depth of field graphics though. Just need a little more detail like tyre smoke and exhaust flames etc.

Whilst we are here should we not use this thread to update with each others names so we can add studied/friends?

I'll start with: Darren Wood2

[Mister V]

Ricepilot said:

Agreed with these new cars.

I find the Honda pretty good actually and I was topping some of the tests I did last night with around the 1:45-1:48 (Suzuka) mark but the Ford is not fun to drive for me at the moment. Its just like lugging a massive boat around. Not at all what I was expecting.

I love the new depth of field graphics though. Just need a little more detail like tyre smoke and exhaust flames etc.

Whilst we are here should we not use this thread to update with each others names so we can add studied/friends?

I'll start with: Darren Wood2

Friend request sent

[Chunkychucky]

Yes I agree i've tried the Acura on some tracks other than Suzuka and with the power steering turned way down have found it quite fun. The Ford on the other hand is very similar to a boat, good spot there. What I read on the forums and what I feel has made it alot less understeery is to full soften the rear ARB and fully stiffen the front.


As for the username idea that's cool, mine is Chuck Norris (the Yanks are mad for it .. )

[Ricepilot]

Chunkychucky said:

Yes I agree i've tried the Acura on some tracks other than Suzuka and with the power steering turned way down have found it quite fun. The Ford on the other hand is very similar to a boat, good spot there. What I read on the forums and what I feel has made it alot less understeery is to full soften the rear ARB and fully stiffen the front.


As for the username idea that's cool, mine is Chuck Norris (the Yanks are mad for it .. )

Good tip for the Ford. Did what you said and immediately I can feel a massive difference, if anything the front is a little too pointy now so have pegged the ARB back a bit on front. Too tired to try again tonight but will test tomorrow!

Cheers!

[totlxtc]

Here you go Chucky. This is that guys rig setup I was talking to you about on XBL.

To start; my very first multi-monitor display bracket with articulating monitor mounts.



And here you see it complete, along with the base structure (the part in black under the monitors) which also serves as a PC storage area...you can just see it peeking out). I also made adjustable telescoping speaker mounts and you can see the speakers too.



Here is the 'front clip' that I built to house my Todd Cannon pedals...if you've never heard of them look 'em up...sometimes called CST pedals too. They are the best I've found, very very adjustable with a nice stiff brake option.




Here's a pic of the CST pedals during a trial fit as I was fabbing the front clip



I wore out my first wheel (GT3RS), so I decided to fabricate my own steering column that would be up to the task. Since I was going to use a Driving Force unit for FFB, I took a pic comparing the DF wheel to the Grant wheel that I would eventually use. Quite a difference!



Steering colmn parts, all made in-house except the shaft which is from a real car.



Assembled column with tilt/telescopic function.



Switch plate, which will bolt to the Grant wheel, complete with Leo Bodnar's SLI-Pro shift light indicator and many knitter switches; primarily for iRacing.



And the finished wheel:



wiring up the 'dash'





Finally, my sim-rig as it was just before I decided that I required many changes; hence the idea of a 'backup car' was born. Since I wanted to change the dash, wheel, and many other items I decided to simply move the 'old' parts to another unit...that way I would always have a backup rig if I wanted to make changes to the primary or had some sort of component failure as well as a rig for head-to-head racing if a buddy was visiting. I'll post more soon, so stay posted and thanks for looking!

[/QUOTE]

[Chunkychucky]

Cannon Sim Technologies pedals...

That looks absolutely awesome, i'd love a go.. Not quite sure how he broke a GT3 RS though..?

Bit of news for you Dan on the Fanatec Forza wheel, it's likely going to be 360/PS3/PC compatible, and the "Elite" model, the more expensive, features a worm-drive mechanism as used in Frex and ECCI wheels, which is supposedly more accurate, quieter and provides a nicer feel than the gear mechanisms used in most other wheels. Check here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-xDHdOHt44


ETA: there's also a couple of pictures of Fanatec's forthcoming Clubsport shifter, looks a right piece of kit..

[Ricepilot]

totlxtc said:

Showed lots of pictures...

Blimey.

[tim-b]

Chunkychucky said:

As for the username idea that's cool, mine is Chuck Norris (the Yanks are mad for it .. )

Lol, in that case I read a thread about you on the iRacing forum the other day...something along the lines of "I just got my ass kicked by Chuck Norris" It's a small world! My username is Tim Brown btw.

[Chunkychucky]

lol!! Couldn't have been me, I very rarely win

Waiting to get promoted from rookie today as it's promotion day, but damn the Yanks for being so bloomin' far behind! Looking forward to see what level i'm promoted to! What wheels are you guys using? I'm just running a Logitech DFGT, a great wheel but I feel the pedals are atrocious, hence i'm considering upgrading...

[Mister V]

Chunkychucky said:

lol!! Couldn't have been me, I very rarely win

Waiting to get promoted from rookie today as it's promotion day, but damn the Yanks for being so bloomin' far behind! Looking forward to see what level i'm promoted to! What wheels are you guys using? I'm just running a Logitech DFGT, a great wheel but I feel the pedals are atrocious, hence i'm considering upgrading...

You will be promoted to class D.

As for what I'm running I have a t500rs wheel with Fanatac clubsport pedals. If you want to upgrade go for a good set of pedals (clubsports are very good) you will gain more from a good set of pedals than a new wheel. And DFGT's are pretty decent wheels.

[tim-b]

Ricepilot said:

totlxtc said:

Showed lots of pictures...

Blimey.

Blimey +1....I did wonder why he decided to use a DFP unit for the FFB....seems a little under-specced for such a rig?

Chucky, DFGT is a decent wheel, I had a DFP (older version) for years. Now I have a G25 which is a big step up in just about every respect. Would love to try a Fanatec and Thrustmaster one sometime, but until the G25 breaks I'm perfectly happy with it.

[Chunkychucky]

Yeah, having just had a run at Suzuka in the Acura, one thing that's really annoying me about my wheel is the fact that if you want to downshift several gears quickly, the left shift button does not recognise all the commands, meaning you go straight on under braking because the car's in 4th, when you actually shifted down to 2nd on the wheel which would have given you the engine braking to make the corner. It's frustrating as it means that some decent laps are ruined by going off or wide under braking, and that when shifting down you have to play a guessing game of how many times to press the button as you don't know how many gears it's going to change . Other than that i'm well impressed with the ffb and also the plug and play, superb for the price.