TPRA Unofficial Lounge Time Trial - Week 2

[clacksman]

Welcome to TPRA unofficial time trials.

They're labeled 'unofficial' because GT5 replays don't contain enough information to properly run an official (ie: strict) time trial for unmodified cars.

So what this really is, is an exercise in driving for those who wish to attempt to improve their technique under controlled conditions. Anyone registered on the forum is welcome to participate and post their thoughts and results. We'll be using new and unmodified cars for this, as used cars vary in performance. Tracks used will both be from the Course Maker and previously unseen to reduce the experience factor in lap times.

We'll be using "Drive" in a Lounge for this, as that's where to find the same physics as online racing. Drive doesn't add distance to your car therefore horsepower won't increase as you run laps, so make sure to not use the car in any online or offline race or GTLife practice or you will have to buy another new and unused car. The other thing about "Drive" is no draft is available, so you can lap with other cars and still generate real and unassisted lap times.

Replays aren't possible to save from Drive so you'll have to use your best judgment as to whether you kept the required two tires in contact with a hard surface at all times during your lap and made no barrier contact, as described in the third paragraph of the TPRA At-track Code of Conduct. You will also have to write down your lap time somewhere. If you know your best lap was 'dirty' you either have to beat it to get a new 'clean' time to write down or exit and reenter lounge to clear that best lap time. I recommend writing down any clean and satisfying lap time immediately after running it. If the time appears red on-screen the game thinks it was bad and therefore won't use that 'red time' to reset your best.

Getting In the correct car:
If you already own the car:
-It must be showing 0.0 for Distance, if not purchase a new car.
-Remove all parts and compare your tuning screen horsepower and weight to thread-posted horsepower and weight, purchase a new car if there is a difference. -Make sure tires are equal to thread-posted (default) tires.
If you do not own the car:
-Purchase the specified car and Get In it. Do not perform an oil change on it or install any parts.

Downloading the correct track:
Make sure someone with the track set to 'share' is on your friends list, then go to the community section or profile section and select the Course List icon of that person. Most weeks it will be me to start, with others sharing it as the week progresses. If you set the track to share, post that you did so. I have set this track to share and will keep it through the week.
Select the track, and the only option is to download. After this is complete it will be saved in your 'My Courses" list.

Running for a time:
In your Lounge, use these instructions to set it to match all these settings (NA means leave it set to the default setting):

Course Settings:
Course Selection Method: Host Picks
My Courses: Grappa Noir 2
Time: 19:00
Time Progression: 1
Weather: Sunny
Fixed (Weather): Check ON if available
Do not select "Number of Sections", Section Complexity", or "Regenerate Course".
Select OK and press X to confirm changes. Chat log on left will reflect changed settings.
Once you set this up correctly, the displayed track distance and scene should match the distance and scene posted in the forum thread. The track custom name doesn't appear.

Event Settings:
Game Mode: NA
Laps: NA
Start Type: NA
Grid Order: NA
Boost: OFF
Penalty: None
Automatic Race Start Cycle: Disabled
Race Finish Delay: NA
Grip Reduction on wet Track/Track Edge: Real
Mechanical Damage: None
Tire Wear/Fuel Consumption: On
Shuffle Ratio: NA
Select OK and press X to confirm changes. Chat log on left will reflect changed settings.

Regulation Settings:
Car Restrictions: NA
Performance Points: NA
Power: NA
Weight: NA
Tires: NA
No Skid Recovery Force: Check ON
No Active Steering: Check ON (it will incorrectly post "Active steering allowed" in the chat log)
No ASM: Check ON
Driving Line Off: NA
No TCS: Check ON
Select OK and press X to confirm changes. Chat log on left will reflect changed settings.

This event runs until Sunday, 22 May 2011 at 11:59PM Pacific time. Post your best clean lap time in the thread anytime until then.

This weeks Car:

Mazda - Atenza Sport 25Z '07 - (colour of choice) - Cr 26200

Horsepower (Dealer - Garage): 167 - 163 @ 6000
Torque (lb-ft) (Dealer - Garage): 167.08 - 161 @ 4000
Weight: 1470
Tires: Comfort Soft
Performance Points: 371



This weeks Course:

Scene: Toscana (Tarmac)
Name: Grappa Noir 2
Course Length (km): 4956.2
Online ID: The_Revengel
Straight Length (m): 841.9
Elevation Change (m): 42.2
Turns: 11

Grappa is a sweet wine, and is the name for this week’s course.
As you begin you are travelling downhill on the Grappa straight on your way towards Toledo, a sweeping right hand turn that can be dangerous at high speed without a proper entry. Exiting onto the so-called Pasta Straight you are greeted by the benign Tin-Tin, a subtle left hand turn along flat ground. You continue through an easy right hander named Barilla, placing you on a short path toward Celeste. Celeste is the second of three consecutive right hand turns which become more severe ending with the somewhat sharp Dulcinea. Once through here you must prepare for Aldonza – the sharpest turn to this point – a left hand experience. Exit speed from Aldonza will determine your speed through the slightly uphill right named Poncho.

Poncho exits onto Il Cappello, a straight that crests a hill. As you crest this small hill you’re faced with the twin turns: Vinchenzo a solid left hander which is uphill followed by Soldats – an equally sharp right, but it falls away from you ever so slightly. This determines the exit for speed for the Fiore straight which is only altered by the slight turn Volpe. Lastly you enter Il Drago – the final turn which is a sharp hairpin that puts you back onto the Grappa straight. Be wary of the invisible wall at the left side of the road anywhere across from pit lane on the Grappa straight.

A good and benign car for the first week on Comfort tires with wear set to On.

Special Thanks to RickS95 (accounting department), The_Revengel (Elegant Alacrity Tracks - Official Course Engineer), and HyperKat (writeup assistance)

[clacksman]

Final Standings:

Week 2 --Updated 5/23 @ 10:50 Central
Car: Atenza Sport 25Z '07
Course: Grappa Noir 2
Length: 4.9562 KM

Grappa Noir	Totals   	+ ahead  	+ leader 	Secs/KM  
				
RackAttack 	02:02.679			
Rated-M3   	02:03.714	00:01.035	00:01.035	00:00.209
Rick       	02:03.776	00:00.062	00:01.097	00:00.221
Clacksman  	02:04.013	00:00.237	00:01.334	00:00.269
Revengel   	02:05.759	00:01.746	00:03.080	00:00.621
Larrys4227 	02:06.520	00:00.761	00:03.841	00:00.775
				
Average    	02:04.410	         	         	00:00.419

Week 2 --Updated 5/23 @ 10:50 Central
Car: Atenza Sport 25Z '07
Course: Grappa Noir 2
Length: 4.9562 KM

Grappa Noir	Seconds    	Percent    		
				
RackAttack 	 122.679 			
Rated-M3   	 123.714 	100.84%		
Rick       	 123.776 	100.89%		
Clacksman  	 124.013 	101.09%		
Revengel   	 125.759 	102.51%		
Larrys4227 	 126.520 	103.13%

[The_Revengel]

I now have this track up for share; good luck everyone!

[The_Revengel]

Just a quick attempt or four...and got a 2:07.003.


Still tons of time out there; figured I'd set the bar. Floor. Whatever.

[Rated-M3]

This looks like it'll be fun. More turns to lose or gain time. The comfort tires will be excellent as well, though this is fwd right? I'll get my initial run in tonight, if not, tomorrow.

By the way, will the TTs be cumulative? The summation of overall time at the end of the month (Or a defined period.). That would be cool, as some people may not have luck at some tracks and do better on the others. Just a thought.

[clacksman]

By the way, will the TTs be cumulative? The summation of overall time at the end of the month (Or a defined period.). That would be cool, as some people may not have luck at some tracks and do better on the others. Just a thought.

Not in any official manner, but the stats will accumulate and get posted as such occasionally.

[The_Revengel]

Ok, just hopped out for a bit to tense off (taxes)

Got a 2:05.759.

Sure to be beaten silly, but whatever!

[Rated-M3]

2' 04.803" with more time to spare.

[RackAttack]

~1.5 hours spent lapping

2:02.823

[Rated-M3]

~1.5 hours spent lapping

2:02.823

That's with tire wear on? If so... The best I could have seen tonight was near a 2'04" flat if I put the whole lap together correctly. But a whole other second..