AC Ford Escort RS1600 @ Vallelunga - Mon 18 May 2020

[hape]

hi @Denis Betty
i don't find the practice server. Is he really up?
hape

 

[Kek700]

Posting times.....

Difficult one that, I do not think it is purely a logical argument that you can entre into.
I use other means to find out the times, have a record of most Racedepartment races I have attended over the last 3 years.
Even that's flawed, but that would open up another few sheets of A4.
It is mainly because race department caters for everyone.
If you are lapping 6 seconds off the posted times; also that will end up being a completion on its own, can be very off putting.
Having to explain to those who do put a comment on the forum that it is a 30 lap race not one lap race and race department cater for everyone, this does not take into account all those who just disappear.
It is not only a race, it is a learning curve for every one.
It is not a weekly/monthly league race.

 

[Denis Betty]

I have read all of the introduction to this thread, the club racing rules, and the message to all drivers, and yet I can't find anywhere that states that we shouldn't mention laptimes.

Although I understand your viewpoint, I don't agree with it. The practice server keeps track of everyone's names and laptimes. Anyone who joins (which should be everyone who plans on running the race because no one should join a race without at least a few laps of practice) will know where they stack up. Anyone can also go the RSR live timing board and check out what other people have run for laptimes. So if everyone already knows what the laptimes are before the race, what is the point of not discussing laptimes?

The point of racing is to finish first. The best way to do that is to run consistently faster laps than your competitors. The best way to do that is to have the optimal setup for your driving style. Therefore, setups and laptimes need to be discussed in relation to each other because setups are a balance between speed and stability. How much stability do I give up in order to gain time? How much time is available by changing the setup? I wonder what setup that person is using to set their time? How do I change my setup to make the car do what I want it to? These are questions people are asking themselves when they are practicing by themselves.

As far as I am concerned it takes a lot less time to learn from the experience of other more knowledgeable people than it does to personally go through all the trial and error to gain that knowledge by yourself.




You are correct, my setup and laptime that I posted are for the full track, but don't worry I won't discuss my laptime for the classic version. My intentions were to support and provide any help/insight I can for people who want to get faster and I certainly don't want to discourage enrollment.

Hey buddy, I didn't mean to upset anybody. In fact I was trying to fulfil my obligation to RD whilst trying not to make a big deal of it.

I agree with most of what you say, but as an event host I am asked by the site owner to discourage talk of lap times and instead guide the focus toward a social event, where participation and having fun are encouraged above competition. These are not my words (paraphrasing) but my instruction. You are quite correct however, it is not a written rule. It comes up every so often and it's part of my job to discourage posting about times and that's just how it is.

Of course, sharing setups is encouraged and applauded. It's a selfless act - especially from somebody fast, such as yourself or Ronnie - which encourages a sense of togetherness and camaraderie. That's exactly the spirit and atmosphere That I look to foster in the club.

So, if my tone was wrong and perhaps made you feel that I was chastising you, I'm honestly sorry and I apologise. That was not my intention.

Cheers.

 

[Neilski]

You are quite correct however, it is not a written rule.

Indeed. I'm not a big fan of unwritten rules (to put it mildly) but it is what it is.
And while I personally love it when people post times (so I can get a feel for how much more practice I need!! ) it's also true that this rule was created because beginners have a habit of being put off when aliens post fast times... Apart from anything else, they can misjudge how much they will improve over the course of a practice session, particularly when they have the option to spectate the really quick people now and then (I do that a lot and invariably learn how to improve).
The other hugely important factor for our club races is that it doesn't matter if you are several seconds off the pace - if you are having a close race with a few other drivers of similar pace, it's fun irrespective of lap time.

 

[Denis Betty]

beginners have a habit of being put off when aliens post fast times

I don't wanna get into a big discussion about this in a race thread, but @Neilski sums it up. The thinking is, that we don't want to do anything that might give people (especially those new to online racing) any semblance of a reason to give up before they've given it a shot. Agree or disagree, that's the reasoning and that's why we're (politely) requested to avoid posting times. Again, unwritten rules are a nightmare, but that's where we are with it unfortunately.

 

[Denis Betty]

hi @Denis Betty
i don't find the practice server. Is he really up?
hape

Hmmm, the server was indeed no longer up. Maybe it crashed. One of life's great mysteries.
Anyway, it's back up now. Thanks for posting that it was down.

 

[GEO147]

Sign me up please Denis

 

[Denis Betty]

Sign me up please Denis

Welcome buddy.

 

[steen skov Laursen]

im in

 

[Denis Betty]

im in

Hi Steen, you're always welcome.

 

[Aksu]

In!

 

[Denis Betty]

In!

Woohoo!

 

[DeanRacing]

Can I jump in please?

 

[Denis Betty]

Can I jump in please?

Of course mate.

 

[joeymac]

I'll give this Escort race a shot Denis.

Being able to mix more traditional racing like yesterday's GT race with interesting combos/challenges like this one makes sim racing so enjoyable.

 

[Denis Betty]

I'll give this Escort race a shot Denis.

Being able to mix more traditional racing like yesterday's GT race with interesting combos/challenges like this one makes sim racing so enjoyable.

Glad you are enjoying the older cars mate. It's a different challenge, which sometimes puts people off, but it seem to me that when people actually give it a proper try, quite a few of them find that they enjoy it.

 

[jemmari]

in

 

[Denis Betty]

in

Great.

 

[Redvaliant]

I'm in

 

[Denis Betty]

I'm in

Nice one.