Re: Sim Racers 4 Life - Lola T280 Season - Round 6 - Nordschleife

[gorgias1976]

I came to the conclusion that this championship is really not for me anymore. I don't enjoy racing these cars, I am not competitive at all and I'm involved in more accidents than I would like...

Strangely Im in a similar situation Cosimo.
Im with this sim for three years now and I always end up last at races.
Last races I was very frustrated about it, it looked as altough all the rest are getting better, I am getting worse.
Especially before Nords I thought the whole thing is pointless.

Lucky for me, (and this happens to me always in real life), when I get really down, something in me wakes up and throws away bad things and erases bad feelings.
Same happened hours before race at Nords, I said what the hell, why do I care about such things, do I enjoy racing with my friends or not.
The answer was yes, so I came to Nords really cool and I didnt mind even when Tobias covered a difference of 2:00:00 (yes really) in just one lap and passed me at the final lap :S (well actually I would like to kick him in the leg for that).

Did I enjoy it? Very much, the company is always nice, the experience of so much adrenalin flowing is superb and come to think of it I wouldnt have a chance of going around Nords with a Lola 3 years back, I have improved enormously (pitty the rest improve too )

Comeon mate dont let it take you down

That's why I took a brake last year. I was taking things too personal, asking myself the best and finally not enjoying racing.
During my brake I realised that the important thing was having fun when racing. So I decided to take things easy, just practicing when having free time for it and not sacrificing my personal life for simracing.
The result, not having that much tension my racing improved (not laptimes, but lap consistency and most important enjoying being on track even having DjC and Rickard faster ahead of me).
Since then every race is a fun race. Sometimes I take victories, others crash, others ain't fast enough to keep DjC busy ..... but enjoying it anyway.

By the way, Niko, I saw you struggling on your last lap without the rear wing. That must have been really difficult to drive.

P.S.:
For those not enjoying the car, not finding a balanced setup..... (well it was really difficult to get a good balance at Nords) What I always try is to find the proper balance between fast and slow corners, always looking for a neutral car, or at least a not too understeery car (this car likes to be understeery and that's quite annoying).
High speed corners are mainly balanced by adjusting wings and slow corners by adjusting suspensions (mainly anti roll bars). That's the main setup work I take. Also cambers are important, always using the rule "inside of tire hotter than outside" I always try to get around 6-8 degree difference at the front and 4-6 degree difference at the rear tires. And then working on brake balance to avoid locking the fronts and gear ratios.
I don't work much on other aspects of suspensions as my knowledge is very limited. At Nords, by chance, I just found I got a better traction through that bumpy surface by softening rear bumps/rebounds.

Thinking in Montreal (maybe I can get a few laps this afternoon). My theory in a track with slow speed corners joined by straights says I should get front wing at max and try to get the minimun rear wing posible. To compensate that higher wing at the front I should try softening the rear Anti Roll Bar to avoid too much oversteer but still keeping the car alive at those chicanes (remember car likes to be understeery).
I'll try to see wether that works or a high wing config will perform better.
One thing I've found in this car is that a good traction at the exit of corners is a lot more better (compared to other cars we've raced) than corner speed itself and in Montreal we need a good traction.