After reading through every post in this thread, I still went against my better judgment, downloaded it, waited for Steam to update (luckily I had Steam installed because of Half Life 2, but the update still took a long time) and installed it. The menus and music were quite cool, but when I got into the actual game, I'd have to agree that graphics seemed not that great and the driving wasn't very realistic. However, this IS just a demo. I have a feeling that the graphics will be more finished, and the physics will have some final tweaks. Also, I did notice that the Realism options were greyed out, so maybe the physics were set to an arcade type mode or something. I'm not completely setting aside the idea of purchasing Race07, but the demo doesn't help me in my purchasing decision. I would have to agree that the demo itself is god awful. I've raced in GTR2 with the M3 at Anderstorp a lot and thought that was a much better rendition of the track and physics, and can't see why Race07 can't have those same features. I race NR 2003 the most still, and LFS occasionally. After a couple laps of the Race07 demo, I actually jumped into Live for Speed and had a blast on Kyoto Ring National (I hadn't gone on that track before) and had a blast, with both one of the street cars and one of the formula cars. It was damn fun, but still won't replace NR2003 as my fave racing sim. I hope iRacing will blow away the rest of the competition.
Yeah, that the most major thing I noticed about the default set and the partyboy setup. On the default setup, I had to brake hard, but let off almost immediately while downshifting, because I'd start to lose traction. With the partyboy setup, I can mash on the brakes without locking them up. Really cool, and a lot of speed to be found from that. Thanks for the tips
Well, I just downloaded the partyboy setup, and ran it, fastest 1:36:92 after a little more than 20 laps, outta probably 50. So, yeah, I expected this sort of improvement with a fast setup, but I also recognize where I can shave off even some more. I've only run with this setup for about 50 laps, so I'm pretty new to it. I get loose at some places, so I have to learn to control it. Overall, I notice the changes, espcially with the brake bias. I can brake harder without having to nurture the brake to prevent lockup. I'm happy, and I'm gonna keep going at it until I get anywhere in 1:35. I think it's a good goal for me to reach for before i move onto full blown S2
Thanks for the feedback. I still notice a lot of areas where I can improve which will save me another second or two, and I guess a good setup will shave off even more. I was trying to see how far I can get on the default setup before doing any modifications, but I guess I'll start trying out other existing setups. I'm still at 1:38:14, but I haven't been running LFS for a few days now, so I'll probably have to get back into the swing of things. Thanks
I'm rather embarrassed to upload laps of such inconsistency, so just check that one lap that I did the 1:38:14 
. Thanks for any help you guys can give. I'm gonna try that analyzer program as well.
. Thanks for any help you guys can give. I'm gonna try that analyzer program as well.It's been a few days since I played lfs, but in a few days I've been able to get from a rare 1:38:88 to an almost consistent 1:38:14. Thanks for the advice you guys, it's helping. Key things I'm always repeating to myself on the track:
Slow in, Fast out
Drive smooth
Don't apply throttle until you know you'd feel comfortable to apply full throttle
A few notes about my line: I'm slowly improving my line and braking points. Entering T1, I'm still skidding on braking. I have to work on not doing that, and I see how it's fastest to clip the inside curb and swing out and apply full throttle into and through the chicane.
T3 is fun, but I'm taking it easy in that turn for now, until I feel comfortable with applying throttle earlier, to get faster with the exit.
T4 I seem to get a better line entering the turn earlier and easing off the gas until I get to the apex of the first part of the chicane and then I gun it right through there.
The pit turn is pretty much like a shorter tighter T3. I'm feeling comfortable with this.
My most important discovery was in the last set of turns before the hill though. I noticed I've been braking too late and entering the turn too late which makes me slow on the uphill. When I brake earlier and enter earlier, not only can I apply full throttle through the second part of the turn, but the line is much straighter than the way I was entering previously.
1:38:14 may still be pretty slow, but at least I'm learning, and I recognize where my weak points are. Thanks for the help guys.
Slow in, Fast out
Drive smooth
Don't apply throttle until you know you'd feel comfortable to apply full throttle
A few notes about my line: I'm slowly improving my line and braking points. Entering T1, I'm still skidding on braking. I have to work on not doing that, and I see how it's fastest to clip the inside curb and swing out and apply full throttle into and through the chicane.
T3 is fun, but I'm taking it easy in that turn for now, until I feel comfortable with applying throttle earlier, to get faster with the exit.
T4 I seem to get a better line entering the turn earlier and easing off the gas until I get to the apex of the first part of the chicane and then I gun it right through there.
The pit turn is pretty much like a shorter tighter T3. I'm feeling comfortable with this.
My most important discovery was in the last set of turns before the hill though. I noticed I've been braking too late and entering the turn too late which makes me slow on the uphill. When I brake earlier and enter earlier, not only can I apply full throttle through the second part of the turn, but the line is much straighter than the way I was entering previously.
1:38:14 may still be pretty slow, but at least I'm learning, and I recognize where my weak points are. Thanks for the help guys.
F*ck it. I'm gonna end up buying an S2 License before I hit 1:35, so I might as well buy it sooner than I think.
This thread has some really good beginner advice. I personally am still running 1:38:88 on default setup. There's a lot of things here I need to try that will potentially get my laptimes lower. One thing I learned yesterday was "trailbraking." It's gained me almost 2 seconds on my laptime, but is this something you'd recommend for beginners considering this sort of thing forces me to brake hard and late into turns? (Though, it's allowed me to get on the gas earlier out of the turns, so it CAN'T be bad.)
Also, I'd like to "illustrate" how my normal BL lap goes (considering I'm not at home to upload my laps):
into T1, I seem to brake hard at about the 100m marker (but smooth I hope) while downshifting to 2nd. By the time I'm at the apex of that turn, I hit it to 50% - 80% throttle, and by the time I touch the left side curb, I'm at 100% throttle, and shifting to 3rd through the first part of the chicane making slight wheel adjustments to get through it.
At the end of the straight I start braking hard and downshift to 3rd (but hopefully smooth again) at about 200 - 150m marker. I do the trailbraking thing into the turn, and by the time I get to the apex, I'm 100% throttle. I swing out to the grass part of the curb, then lift off the throttle going into T4 I guess it is.
I'm at 100% throttle halfway through this turn so that I swing out near the wall at the second split time. I shift it into 4th right at the split time.
Coming to the pit turn, I brake hard again at the 50m marker, downshift back to 3rd. And 100% throttle onto the grassy part of the curb by the pit entrance.
I shift up to 4th coming into the left turn before the uphill climb, then back to 3rd again when I get there. This seems to be a difficult turn for me. I lift off the throttle, and kind of feather it until I get through the left turn and floor it to the right turn and straight. It feels like I'm going too slow uphill in 3rd. Maybe I'm not applying throttle early enough, something I'll try when I get home.
Where can I make improvements from this? (Or would it have just been easier to upload a lap)
Also, I'd like to "illustrate" how my normal BL lap goes (considering I'm not at home to upload my laps):
into T1, I seem to brake hard at about the 100m marker (but smooth I hope) while downshifting to 2nd. By the time I'm at the apex of that turn, I hit it to 50% - 80% throttle, and by the time I touch the left side curb, I'm at 100% throttle, and shifting to 3rd through the first part of the chicane making slight wheel adjustments to get through it.
At the end of the straight I start braking hard and downshift to 3rd (but hopefully smooth again) at about 200 - 150m marker. I do the trailbraking thing into the turn, and by the time I get to the apex, I'm 100% throttle. I swing out to the grass part of the curb, then lift off the throttle going into T4 I guess it is.
I'm at 100% throttle halfway through this turn so that I swing out near the wall at the second split time. I shift it into 4th right at the split time.
Coming to the pit turn, I brake hard again at the 50m marker, downshift back to 3rd. And 100% throttle onto the grassy part of the curb by the pit entrance.
I shift up to 4th coming into the left turn before the uphill climb, then back to 3rd again when I get there. This seems to be a difficult turn for me. I lift off the throttle, and kind of feather it until I get through the left turn and floor it to the right turn and straight. It feels like I'm going too slow uphill in 3rd. Maybe I'm not applying throttle early enough, something I'll try when I get home.
Where can I make improvements from this? (Or would it have just been easier to upload a lap)
Sorry, I wasn't referring to an active F1 driver. Max Papis will be starting at the Glen this year.
Bullrings are the best! I definitely would not mind either. Third mile tracks are awesome.
Yes, it is rather interesting that 2 F1 drivers are moving to NASCAR. A few weeks ago, it was rumored that Danica Patrick was also taking interest, but ultimately, she's not moving so long as she has unfinished business in IndyCar to handle.
Also keep in mind that Tony Stewart, last year's Cup champion also ran IndyCar, not to mention other series. He can pretty much drive anything, yet he's still sticking with NASCAR.
It's not "that" uncommon to hear open wheel racers coming to NASCAR, but in this case, this is an international situation. Lots of NASCAR fans are kind of questioning this move (yes, the redneck fanbase I suppose) but I for one am all for it, and it seems NASCAR is for it too. Not to mention, Toyota will be entering Nextel Cup next year as well. It's an exciting time for stock car racing. (Either that, or I've been reading a LOT of news on it) =)
This has also been the 2nd or 3rd year that NASCAR has held one of its season races in Mexico City (Busch, not Nextel Cup). I believe they (used to) run an exhibition race in Japan as well, though I could be mistaken.
Yes, it is rather interesting that 2 F1 drivers are moving to NASCAR. A few weeks ago, it was rumored that Danica Patrick was also taking interest, but ultimately, she's not moving so long as she has unfinished business in IndyCar to handle.
Also keep in mind that Tony Stewart, last year's Cup champion also ran IndyCar, not to mention other series. He can pretty much drive anything, yet he's still sticking with NASCAR.
It's not "that" uncommon to hear open wheel racers coming to NASCAR, but in this case, this is an international situation. Lots of NASCAR fans are kind of questioning this move (yes, the redneck fanbase I suppose) but I for one am all for it, and it seems NASCAR is for it too. Not to mention, Toyota will be entering Nextel Cup next year as well. It's an exciting time for stock car racing. (Either that, or I've been reading a LOT of news on it) =)
This has also been the 2nd or 3rd year that NASCAR has held one of its season races in Mexico City (Busch, not Nextel Cup). I believe they (used to) run an exhibition race in Japan as well, though I could be mistaken.
Please forgive me if I'm digging back up a really old thread, but I stumbled upon this thread since it was titled Champ Car, which I had just finished watching the San Jose Grand Prix, and have just learned that Champ Car had spawned from the CART series from the olden days. (This is my first post on the LFS forums btw.)
I'd just like to respond to the whole "oval racing is shallow" argument. I'll respect the opinions of those that think this, but I'd like to give my opinion from another die-hard NASCAR fan as to why oval racing is so exciting. The NASCAR series tends to emphasize that its different from other racing in that the drivers don't race against the track or race against other cars, they race against other drivers. With an equal playing field, you're pitting driver vs. driver. But just watching a race, take for example Daytona. Superspeedway, lots of room to maneuver, not much turning. But, if you ever watch a start to this race, you'll notice the entire field racing 3-wide for several laps. How'd you like to be caught up in traffic at 190 mph like that? Sometimes, you can't even make a move till traffic frees up several laps later, you just have to hold the damn thing together until you can make any sort of move. That's where the strategy comes in. Which line is going to move faster? Sure, the inside, you'd think, but if the outside has a longer freight train, you'd bet the drafting and bumpdrafting is going to shoot you up through the field which would make this line much faster. I'd liken NASCAR to "baseball at 200mph." Well, you may think baseball is boring, then, probably you'll think NASCAR is boring too. But I just love the fact that those races are so long so that someone who's 2 laps down over halfway past the race can STILL come back and win it.
Now, with Live for Speed, I'm starting to explore other forms of racing, and Champ Car seems to be the series I'll probably start paying attention to next. Just thought I'd throw out my two cents as to why people think NASCAR is not shallow.
Either way, racing's racing. Have fun and strive to be number one.
I'd just like to respond to the whole "oval racing is shallow" argument. I'll respect the opinions of those that think this, but I'd like to give my opinion from another die-hard NASCAR fan as to why oval racing is so exciting. The NASCAR series tends to emphasize that its different from other racing in that the drivers don't race against the track or race against other cars, they race against other drivers. With an equal playing field, you're pitting driver vs. driver. But just watching a race, take for example Daytona. Superspeedway, lots of room to maneuver, not much turning. But, if you ever watch a start to this race, you'll notice the entire field racing 3-wide for several laps. How'd you like to be caught up in traffic at 190 mph like that? Sometimes, you can't even make a move till traffic frees up several laps later, you just have to hold the damn thing together until you can make any sort of move. That's where the strategy comes in. Which line is going to move faster? Sure, the inside, you'd think, but if the outside has a longer freight train, you'd bet the drafting and bumpdrafting is going to shoot you up through the field which would make this line much faster. I'd liken NASCAR to "baseball at 200mph." Well, you may think baseball is boring, then, probably you'll think NASCAR is boring too. But I just love the fact that those races are so long so that someone who's 2 laps down over halfway past the race can STILL come back and win it.
Now, with Live for Speed, I'm starting to explore other forms of racing, and Champ Car seems to be the series I'll probably start paying attention to next. Just thought I'd throw out my two cents as to why people think NASCAR is not shallow.
Either way, racing's racing. Have fun and strive to be number one.
FGED GREDG RDFGDR GSFDG