Mending My Angry, Broken Heart in Germany

I’m still not over the disappointment and anger from Sebring, but it’s time to move on anyway. We’re heading back to points racings, this time in Germany at Hockenheimring.

I have to confess to knowing next to nothing about Hockenheimring before doing a couple practice races earlier this week. In my limited experience on the track, I like it. It’s a fun track to drive and it seems to suit my driving style.

Here’s what the folks at Forza have to say about Hockenheimring:

“One of Germany’s premiere racing venues and alternating host to the German Grand Prix, this historic track is located in the scenic Rhine valley in southwestern Germany. The Hockenheimring opened in 1932 as a motorcycle racetrack, where such famous motorcycle brands as DKW and NSU battled for supremacy.

“The early course was packed-dirt, suitable for the rather wild world of two-wheeled racing, but all of that changed in the mid-1930s when a new circuit debuted. Wider throughout and vaguely oval in shape, the track kept this form until 2001. By then, F1 officials asked for a redesigned course, and the result is shorter by 1.25 miles, removing the forest section straights in favor of more numerous tight turns.

“While many legendary areas of the track, like the long, flat-out curve known as the Parabolika, were left intact, the changes allow for more fans to view the improved overtaking. The resulting course is notorious for being unpredictable and relentless in its close action racing.

“As there is virtually no elevation change throughout the flat track, drivers must contend with five long, high-speed straights and several tight corners. Speeds of nearly 200 mph can be reached on the Parabolika before braking into the famed hairpin (“spitzkehre” in German), one of the most exciting passing spots on any circuit. A few turns later, drivers reach the modern and graceful Mercedes grandstands, which loom above a technical, sharp left-hander roughly halfway around the course—another good place for overtaking rivals. Rounding the final Elfkurve and Sudkurve turns through the immense grandstands, nearly every seat has a view of the final straight and the finish line.”

Unfortunately, we only have one sprint race at Hockenheimring. Considering how much I like the track, I’d like to do more.

Here’s what the track layout looks like:

Sebring International Raceway – Season 2: Special Event

Let’s start with the basics. I started 20th and finished 24th. But that only begins to tell the story. At the start, I was hit from behind and knocked off the track, dropping me to 24th. I fought my way back and got as high as 18th, but, while passing the 17th place Porsche on the penultimate lap, he hit me (twice), once again knocking me off the track and once again dropping me to 24th position, which is where I finished.

I was tempted to write about this race right after it happened, but I was so angry, I knew it would come off as nothing but me whining. There are a few things I want to say about Forza Motorsports 7, but I want it to be constructive and logical rather being angry and incoherent.

At the start of many races, it is nearly impossible to get through the first few turns without having contact with another vehicle. After this ill-fated race, I tried to run the race again, hoping to get the bad taste out of my mouth. After six tries, all of which ended with me getting hit and spun on the first lap, I gave up.

What is the point of programming the game like this? Does Turn 10 Studios (creator of Forza Motorsports 7) think players like getting knocked off track at the beginning of every race? And keep in mind, I have drivatar aggression turned off. It could be worse.

I understand that car-to-car contact happens in all forms of racing, and that it isn’t uncommon for that contact to occur at the beginning of the race. What I don’t understand is why that contact so often results in the player being knocked off track (often in ways that are physically impossible), while the offending vehicle carries on. Whenever someone hits me from behind, I get knocked off track. They continue. Whenever I hit someone from behind, I get knocked off track. They continue. Again, does Turn 10 think people who play their games like being knocked off track and put at a disadvantage in the race?

Another problem I have with the game is something that doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, it’s annoying and ruins the game, at least for me. In this race at Sebring, there were drivatars that were lapping 4-5 seconds per lap faster than me. If your reaction is, “You need to go faster,” fair enough, but I’m already lapping faster than several of the drivatars. In other words, some drivatars are five or six seconds per lap faster than other drivatars. How can you have a fair, competitive race when some cars are five seconds per lap faster than other cars? This isn’t a matter of me not being able to compete with the drivatars on “Pro” mode. Obviously, I have been competitive with the drivatars in the past. I’m talking about the one-out-of-fifteen or one-out-of-twenty races where the AI seems to get screwed up and makes some of the drivatars completely unbeatable.

I could go on, but I don’t want this to be just a bitch session. The sad truth is that Forza Motorsports 7 is a decent arcade game, but it’s a deeply flawed race sim. I guess I knew this when I started, but the flaws in the game seem to rear their ugly heads more and more often lately. I plan on finishing out this season, but it will be my last with Forza Motorsports 7. There are several very good race sims (not arcade games) out there, and I’ll be using one of them.

One final note: I figured out how to record races more than an hour long. The fix was so simple I hesitate to share it (I just restarted recording when it turns off after one hour and splice the two recordings together. Easy peasy.). As you watch the video, notice that I didn’t pass a car on track for the first hour or so, then, just as I was about to make the pass, the recording stopped. When I got it restarted just a few seconds later, I was already by the car, so the pass wasn’t even recorded. It’s crazy how things turn out sometimes.

Since this was a non-points race, no new update on the points standings.

Next race: Hockinheimring (Germany)

Changing Things Up at Sebring

We’re going to Sebring for a 90-minute race. Unfortunately, Forza Motorsports 7 doesn’t do timed races very well. They end at the 90-minute mark (or however long the race is) rather than at the finish line. It doesn’t matter where on the track you are at the 90-minute mark. When the race is over, it’s over. You can’t race someone to the line. The race just ends.

Also, when you do a timed race, the game tracks the distance you’re going rather than tracking your lap times. I find the lap times very helpful when I’m trying to improve, so I like to see the lap times on the screen.

So, what I’m going to do is do the number of laps that can be completed in 90 minutes. For instance, it takes about 90-minutes to run 40 laps. So, instead of this being a 90-minute race, it will be a 40-lap race. It doesn’t change things much, but it makes the race a more enjoyable experience.

As for the race itself, I’m not particularly good in the BMW M8 GTE at Sebring. I’m not sure why that is. In the practice races, I’ve been middle of the pack most races. I particularly struggle in the hairpin and coming through turn 17 onto the front straight. I’m slow through both, but haven’t figured how to come through either faster without going off track. I’ve practiced a lot, but the time for practice is over. It’s time to race.

As a reminder, this is a non-points race. That allows me to be a little more aggressive, not having to worry about points. Of course, that didn’t work out so well at Daytona. I’m hoping for a better finish at Sebring.

In case you forgot, here’s what the track at Sebring looks like:

Circuit de Catalunya – Season 2 Race #7

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the race at Circuit de Catalunya. As I ran practice races, my finishes were very inconsistent. Often, I’d start back in the pack and maybe gain one or two spots, but in the next race, I’d pass a bunch of cars. I’d finish one race outside the top ten, and the next race I’d win. There just was no consistency to how I ran.

This race was inconsistent from start to finish. My times were inconsistent, my tires were inconsistent, and my driving was inconsistent. I started 3rd on the grid and fell back to fourth before the first turn. A lap or two later, a competitor hit me from behind in turn 10 and nearly turned me. I was able to save it, but I lost two positions in the process, falling to 6th. It was a struggle to stay in 6th, but I managed to hang on until the checkered flag.

I dropped one place in the points standings, falling to 7th place with 61 points. The top five in points are:

  1. Conor Clingschmidt (98 pts)
  2. Derek Brightly (84 pts)
  3. Andy Fairnight (81 pts)
  4. Antoine Gil (80 pts)
  5. (tie) Tobias Van Elferen(65 pts)
  6. (tie) Yohan Krill (65 pts)

The next race is a non-points special event at Sebring International Raceway in the BMW M8 GTE. The last 90-minute race I did at Daytona didn’t turn out so well, so I’m hoping for a better result at Sebring.

Here is the video of the sprint race at Circuit de Catalunya:

I’ve Never Been to Spain

“Well, I’ve never been to Spain,

But I kind of like the music.”

–Three Dog Night

You’re probably not old enough to remember this song lyric, but it’s what came to mind as I was thinking about writing my introduction to Circuit de Catalunya, also known as Circuit de Barcelona. The song lyric has nothing to do with the track, but I’m thinking about it just the same.

Having run several practices races at the facility, I have to admit that I like it. It’s very much a flowing, rhythm track, with lots of high-speed corners. Unlike Brands Hatch, which also was made up primarily of high-speed corners, at Circuit de Catlunya, it’s a little easier to pass, which is good because it gives me the opportunity to start further back on the grid and still have the possibility of a good finish.

Here’s what the folks at iRacing have to say about Circuit de Catalunya:

“Located just outside of Barcelona, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was built in 1991 and took over the Spanish Grand Prix the very same year. Many of the world’s top race drivers have found themselves atop the podium at the unique circuit, including Michael Schumacher, who won the race a record six times, including four in a row from 2001-2004.

“The track requires drivers and teams to be on their A game at all times, as wind and weather can dramatically affect the strength of a given setup or tire compound. Barcelona mixes a long, fast front straightaway with flowing curves early in the lap and a number of heavy braking and even blind corners before heading back to the finish line.”

I’ve fallen out of the top five in points after my less than stellar performance at Brands Hatch, so I really need a good finish. It’s off to Barcelona for round 7 at Circuit de Catalunya.

Brands Hatch – Season 2 Races #5 & #6

It seems only right that the Brands Hatch double took place on Halloween, because the weekend turned out to be a nightmare for me. Both races were bad. Race #2 was horrible.

I started 6th on the grid for race #1, which was a relief because track position is so important at Brands Hatch. By lap 4 I had moved up into 3rd place, and was in good position to get a good points finish. On lap 6 I moved up into P2 and started thinking that I might have a chance to win the race. At this point, I was really liking Brands Hatch. But on lap 7, it all went wrong. I went into turn 1 too fast, went off track driver’s left, and fell back to 8th position. I was able to gather it up and not lose more positions, but the damage was done. I finished 8th.

Throughout race #1, I noticed that the tires felt strange. Early in the race, they didn’t want to turn right, but were fine on left-hand turns. After a few laps, they seemed to equalize, but they were never really good.

Race # 2 started bad, got better for a little while, then completely fell apart. I started 22nd, but move up to P14 by the end of lap 1. I gained another spot on lap 3, and was in good position for a possible top 10 finish. But that dream vanished on lap 5. I went off track drivers right in turn 9, known as Sheene Curve, and I fell to the very back of the pack.

To that point in the race, my tires felt horrible. They never did hook up the way you would expect, and after my off, they got even worse. I was already at the tail-end of the field, so I ducked into the pits for new tires. I knew it probably wouldn’t make any difference in my finishing position, but thought new tires might help me pick off one or two competitors. Unfortunately, the new tires weren’t much better than the old ones. I had another off (maybe two), and I never did catch the field, finishing P24.

Despite my poor finishes, I have to admit that I liked Brands Hatch. It was a fun circuit to race on, and I wouldn’t mind giving it a go again someday.

After my horrendous weekend, I’ve fallen to 6th in the points standing with 53 points. The top five are:

  1. Conor Clingschmidt (80 pts)
  2. Antoine Gil (79 pts)
  3. Andy Fairnight (71 pts)
  4. Tobias Van Elferen (61 pts)
  5. Derek Brightly (58 pts)

Here’s the video for race #1 at Brands Hatch:

Here’s the video of Race #2:

A Two’fer at Brands Hatch

This week, we’re heading to England for a double-sprint weekend at Brands Hatch. I first became familiar with Brands Hatch back in the 1990s watching delayed broadcasts of British Touring Car races. I even bought VHS tapes of the races and highlights of past seasons. I loved that series. It was the most exciting racing I had ever seen. It’s not quite as good now as it used to be, but I still love tuning in on the rare occasion it’s on TV in the United States.

Having run several practice sessions at Brands Hatch, I can tell you that, to be successful, you have to be super aggressive. Passing is at a premium because the track is made up primarily of high-speed corners. You can’t afford to be too patient, which can lead to some hero passes or unfortunate crashes. Grid position will also be key. It’s not quite as bad as Suzuka, but if you don’t start in the top half of the field, a points-paying finish will be very difficult to achieve.

Here’s how Forza Motorsports 7 describes Brands Hatch:

“Originally a dirt track in 1926, the historic Brands Hatch is one of the few British circuits to stage Grand Prix, IndyCar, and NASCAR races. Nearly every famous race driver from the last 50 years has raced the unique combination of dips, cambers, fearsome corners, and hills. Turn 1, Paddock Hill Bend, is a fine example; a tricky right-hander running downhill that can quickly go from bad to worse for the inattentive driver. The entire IndyCar circuit, measuring 1.1 miles long, can be viewed by spectators thanks to the natural amphitheater of the grounds. Only a select group of events are scheduled yearly due to sound restrictions since neighboring residents are in close proximity to the 2.3-mile Grand Prix layout. In its infancy, Brands Hatch was just a gathering place for motorcyclists who had permission from the farm owner to practice and sometimes race in the grassy hollow. It wasn’t until after World War II that cars began racing there. None other than a young Stirling Moss was among the first to race half-liter Formula III cars in a demonstration race before the 7,000 fans who gathered. Since then it has flourished and has even been referred to as “the best circuit in the world” by many drivers.

Located in West Kingsdown, England, the highly acclaimed historic Brands Hatch held its inaugural race in 1926. Since then, incremental changes has been made to the circuit’s format; keeping true to its classic layout and natural contours.

Throughout the years, regular continued up-keeping and upgrades have kept it world class facility; with the permanent course currently categorized as FIA Grade 2, ensuring the iconic venue continues to be visited by many championships of every caliber, local and abroad, two wheeled and four, tarmac and gravel, virtual and real.

I’m excited about racing at such a historic, well-regarded track, but I honestly don’t know what to expect. A lot will depend on my qualifying position. Thankfully, I get two cracks at it this weekend.

Here’s a look at the layout at Brands Hatch:

Bathurst (Mount Panorama Circuit) 100 – S2R4

This race could have been a disaster. I started 10th, and after a couple of laps worked my way up to 7th. Everyone settled into the race, and I rode around for a while without challenging anyone and no one challenged me.

I started the race planning to do two stops, one after lap 9 and one after lap 18, but after several laps, my tires felt good and I started thinking about switching to a one stop strategy. However, even though my tires felt decent, my laps times were bad and getting worse. So I stuck to the two stop strategy.

My first stint was fairly uneventful. I pitted from 7th position and exited the pits in 16th position. With fresh tires, I knew I’d start picking up positions on track and with people ahead of me pitting. What I didn’t expect was that I’d have two off-track excursions during my second stint.

The first off happened on lap 13 in turn 21, in an area known as “The Chase.” I caught a slower car in the wrong spot, missed my braking point, and went sliding off the track. I managed to keep the car out of the wall, but I went way off track and lost a lot of time. Luckily, I didn’t lose a position.

Then two laps later, in the exact same corner, the same thing happened. This time, I tried to go inside a slower car, side-swipped him, again missed my braking point, and went off track into a tire wall. I lost a couple of positions, falling to 10th place, but fortunately didn’t hurt the car.

After that incident, I re-focused and was able to pick up a few positions before making my second pit stop. My third stint went fairly smoothly, and I worked my way up to 3rd place before running out of laps.

Unfortunately, I still haven’t figured out how to record more than an hour of the race. I’ll continue to work on that. I know there’s a way to do it. I just haven’t figured it out yet.

After four races, the top five in points are:

  1. Andy Fairnight (65 pts)
  2. Antoine Gil (61 pts)
  3. Lou Mindar (49 pts)
  4. Tobias Van Elferen (45 pts)
  5. Yohan Krill (40 pts)

Next Race: Brands Hatch (England – Double Sprints)

Racing in the Land Down Under

I’ve been looking forward to this upcoming race in Australia at Bathurst. The track is really call Mount Panorama Circuit, but it’s in Bathurst, and everyone refers to it as Bathurst. Technically, Bathurst isn’t a race track. It’s a street circuit, and the roads are used by the locals when it’s not being used for racing.

The reason I’m looking forward to the race is not only that Bathurst is a historic, bucket list track, but it will be my first 100-mile race. I’ve done a couple of practice races, and I can already tell that I really like these longer races. Rather than just running flat out all race, there is some strategy involved. Can you make the tires last? One stop or two? It should be interesting.

Here’s more about Bathurst, courtesy of iRacing.com:

“One of the world’s legendary motor racing circuits, Australia’s Mount Panorama (aka Bathurst) is a throwback to an era when most motorsports events were staged on public roads. Located outside of Bathurst, New South Wales, the 4 mile (6.213 km) Mount Panorama Circuit serves as public roadways when not being used for racing: indeed many adjacent business and residential properties can only be accessed using the roads comprising the circuit.

“The circuit embodies many of the characteristics of history’s great open road courses, including steep grades and substantial elevation changes (there is a 570 ft/174 meter vertical difference between its high and low points), flowing sequences of challenging, distinctively-named bends like Hell Corner, The Dipper and Forrest’s Elbow, and dramatic vistas for spectators.

“Mount Panorama was originally carved out of the hills around Bathurst in the 1930s. Through a national employment relief effort during The Depression, local and federal government developed what had been a dirt-track/tourist drive into a race track. Mount Panorama’s first event was staged in April 1938 and – apart from the years during World War II – the circuit has been in regular use ever since. Historically, the race track has been used for a wide variety of racing categories, including everything from open-wheel racers to motorcycles. In recent years Mount Panorama has been best known as home of the Bathurst 12 Hour sports car race and the Bathurst 1000, a signature event in the V8 Supercar Series.”

It’s time to go racing in the land down under. Up next: Bathurst!

Suzuka Circuit (Season 2 Race#3)

Let’s start with the positive first. I started the race in 6th position and gained a spot on lap one when a car ahead of me went off course. After that, I drove around in 5th place the rest of the race. No one passed me and I didn’t pass anyone. I finished in 5th position.

Not much else good I can say about the race. I made several stupid mistakes, but thankfully, it didn’t cost me too badly. For instance, twice in 10 laps I went through the turn 13-14 complex in the wrong gear. Twice! Twenty percent of the laps. In a dozen or so practice races, I probably only made that mistake twice in 120 or more laps. Today, I did it twice in 10 laps.

As happens so often in Forza Motorsports 7, the tires never really came in. That’s frustrating because it’s really hard to get aggressive when the tires are squirming and sliding around the track. The odd thing is that, late in the race, the tires really didn’t go off. They were never very good, but they didn’t get worse as they wore out. I suppose I should be thankful for small miracles.

After three races, the top five in points are:

  1. Antoine Gil (43 pts)
  2. Andy Fairnight (40 pts)
  3. (tie) Derek Brightly (37 pts)
  4. (tie) Tobias Van Elferen (37 pts)
  5. Lou Mindar (34 pts)

Next race: Bathurst – Mount Panorama – Season 2, Race #4