On the points, there are 4 key factors: Pace; Position; Size of field; Race length. If all are good you will score good points, although the 1st tier will never yield huge rewards, but you can get quite a lot of points when you are both fast relative to your cars record AND place well.
It's a point to realise, the current races are shorter than the old system and this is effecting how points distribution is perceived because longer races yield more points.
In reality the points spread has not changed very much, we've shifted the distribution a little - but not very much. It's almost the same algorythm but with a slight shift toward the top end of the field, but the shorter races means points aren't going so deep down the field because those 1's and 2's are rounding down in relation to the shorter time.
We'll lengthen the races soon, but you still need to earn a CTRA licence - not expect it. As Sam and the site says, it is NOT a rite of passage. Holding a top level CTRA licence should mean something.
Never more so is this true on the single seater licence, here we have a chance to create an all new licence that will mean something.
On the B&J server, it is perfectly within the rules to spin another car - what isnt acceptable is ramming people into barriers or wrecking them. We ellected not to call it banger racing because most of LFS sees the word banger and reads the word wreckfest and starts driving like idiots. It's actually a lot more fun, and usually gives better results, to try to drive properly - but we've no problem with contact on the bump and jump server, that's what the bump part of the name is.
When I was on the B&J server earlier it was being driven properly as far as I could see, and it was a lot of fun.
On driving standards: I've watched a lot of races over the last few days and I have to say I have seen some exceptional driving. Sure accidents happen, they happen on all servers. I even made a few muppet moves myself periodically over the last few days. That happens in racing. I have seen for the most part positions returned and not many arguments - overall i'd say the standard has been high.
However, we have the same drivers that are on every other server, there's no magic, just a reporting system. We do have some reports in queue granted, but we'll deal with them all and unlike before you can call up old reports and check what is happening/has happened with them. You'll even get email notification. We cant cast a magic wand and make human beings into something they are not though - we need help to help you, so we know who to give instruction to.