Assetto Corsa Competizione | Season 14 Round 6 | GT3 Endurance @ Watkins Glen

[Meers]

Hang on, I would need a passport for the UK now post-Brexit, don't I? I don't have one because I rarely travel outside the EU.

 

Stupid sexy Brexit. 😔

[Shimmyhill]

Console version of this is getting the 1.8 update tomorrow, Ive read it was a big jump on PC so looking forward to trying it - I assume no cross play but looking forward to giving ACC another go.

[Erik]

38 minutes ago, Shimmyhill said:

Console version of this is getting the 1.8 update tomorrow, Ive read it was a big jump on PC so looking forward to trying it - I assume no cross play but looking forward to giving ACC another go.

 

No cross play Im afraid. PC has had about dozen smaller updates after that and console physics are still somewhat different.

[Fretnoise]

40 minutes ago, Shimmyhill said:

Console version of this is getting the 1.8 update tomorrow, Ive read it was a big jump on PC so looking forward to trying it - I assume no cross play but looking forward to giving ACC another go.

 

There may be enough PS5 (*spit ) players willing to give it a bit of a go...  The lobbies can't be any worse than GT7, right?   ...right?

[Meers]

Hello guys! Race day today! Don't forget to register if you haven't already!

[SharkyOB]

20 hours ago, Valver said:

I'd be up for a London meet, or a "racetrack near London" meet.

 

I managed to meet up with @SharkyOB and give him a rllmuk racing sticker recently too, BTW.

 

I'm defo up for a meet-up if you guys are.  No issues getting to London from Liverpool so if we can set a date I'm there!

[winky]

On 22/09/2022 at 11:51, milko said:

I rarely miss a race too, but I do fail the "rarely bin it" check, alas

You shouldn't underestimate the skills behind driving steadily/smoothly/reliably, because it's beyond me and now I've leaned right in by choosing the Porsche.

 

I want to do a roll-call but without it being like a big old desperate chase. Still though, where's @winky we haven't heard from you since the touring cars at Knockhill, everything ok mate?

 

 

Yeah still about. After Knockhill I went to Hungary for holiday. Started a new job (in a new field - mining!) so have just not had the time. Maybe later in the year once I am settled into the job.

[Meers]

55 minutes ago, SharkyOB said:

 

I'm defo up for a meet-up if you guys are.  No issues getting to London from Liverpool so if we can set a date I'm there!

 

Just checked, that's a 4.5h drive! 😅

 

Can you tell I'm living in a small country? 

[SharkyOB]

1 minute ago, Meers said:

 

Just checked, that's a 4.5h drive! 😅

 

Can you tell I'm living in a smaal country? 

 

I'd probably get the train, driving in London is a proper bastard 😅

[Meers]

55 minutes ago, winky said:

Yeah still about. After Knockhill I went to Hungary for holiday. Started a new job (in a new field - mining!) so have just not had the time. Maybe later in the year once I am settled into the job.

 

Congrats on your new job! I hope you can join us soon again!

 

51 minutes ago, SharkyOB said:

 

I'd probably get the train, driving in London is a proper bastard 😅

 

Oh yeah, good idea! 

 

Hmm, I could take the train from Amsterdam to Calais, and then to London, instead of taking the plane...but that will take more time and is probably more expensive as well.

 

Edit:

 

Shit, we're tiny. I knew we were but this illustrates it even better haha!

 

[EuroVapeSim2]

Ah shit I have to pull out of tonight's race again, really annoying I'm missing Watkins Glen, both times I've raced here it's been great racing and just such a fun track to drive. I'm signed up for the rest of the season at least.

 

Tomorrow is the last day I'm officially employed with the current job and the new job is actually part time and a lot of work from home (big change for me) so I will have loads of time now to practice, I've been itching to properly get back into the simracing after an unplanned extended summer break. I know the numbers participating are low at the moment hopefully with winter it picks back up a bit again.

[winky]

49 minutes ago, Meers said:

 

Congrats on your new job! I hope you can join us soon again!

 

 

Oh yeah, good idea! 

 

Hmm, I could take the train from Amsterdam to Calais, and then to London, instead of taking the plane...but that will take more time and is probably more expensive as well.

 

Edit:

 

Shit, we're tiny. I knew we were but this illustrates it even better haha!

 

I might be up for this too. Arguably I would have further to travel from the banks of Loch Lomond than travel from the Netherlands 🙂

[milko]

not practiced this week after one quick session, had a rotton cold instead. Still, last time I raced feeling this bad, nearly everybody in front of me got a drive-through penalty at the start and I won, so everything augurs well. Hooray!

[Meers]

39 minutes ago, winky said:

I might be up for this too. Arguably I would have further to travel from the banks of Loch Lomond than travel from the Netherlands 🙂

 

How about we pick Birmingham instead? I can fly to Brum from Schiphol and it's somewhat in the middle for you guys as well, I'd imagine.

[mrben09]

5 hours ago, Meers said:

 

Congrats on your new job! I hope you can join us soon again!

 

 

Oh yeah, good idea! 

 

Hmm, I could take the train from Amsterdam to Calais, and then to London, instead of taking the plane...but that will take more time and is probably more expensive as well.

 

Edit:

 

Shit, we're tiny. I knew we were but this illustrates it even better haha!

 

 

Eurostar goes from Amsterdam to London now.

[Meers]

26 minutes ago, mrben09 said:

Eurostar goes from Amsterdam to London now.

 

I like the sound of that! Not too expensive either! I'll take the train from Groningen to Amsterdam as well, forget about going there by car these days.

 

[davejm]

Definitely up for a meetup!

 

@davadvice1 you racing tonight?

[davadvice1]

@davejmyeah just about to sign up

[Shimmyhill]

Come to Snetterton, fly into Norwich and bosh! I’ll be there with 15 mins notice  

[Meers]

53 minutes ago, Shimmyhill said:

Come to Snetterton, fly into Norwich and bosh! I’ll be there with 15 mins notice  

 

24-26 June, according to the GT3 race calendar. Sounds good to me! I promise I won't nick your ham and cheese sandwiches. Flying from Amsterdam isn't too expensive either! 

[milko]

sorry for being quiet today, felt like shiiiiiiiit and probably should've unregistered to be honest. Car also felt like shiiiiiit for some reason, never got the hang of it all evening compared to practice at the weekend. Still, quali 7/13 and finish 6 after a rather lonely race where I didn't spin once, I shouldn't grumble.

 

Also had an interesting moment a few laps in when I could still see Meers and Sneaky and dream of catching up, my kid decided to 'pretend to drive' by hitting some keyboard buttons while watching on the monitor. Fortunately it only caused some wacky gearshifts and a glance to the side, but it was a bit offputting as I had no idea what was going on from within the VR hat. We have discussed Not Doing That Again and that a switched off xbox controller might be a better way to do it

 

Thanks as ever for the race. @davadvice1 is getting a bit quicker, shame that this also included the pitlane!

[davejm]

Absolutely loved that.  I nearly bailed as the post Covid tiredness and busy workload is hitting for me six in the evenings, but dragged myself to the rig and really glad that I did.

 

I don't think I've ever felt in such a rhythm whilst lapping in a race.  Had a few fun battles with @Valver and @davadvice1 early on, but after a mega fun overtake on Alexander it was a bit lonely (though fun).

 

Congrats to @Arthisins on another win!

[Valver]

True to the " 'muk motto" I came into the race tonight very rough with almost no practice.   I had a great initial tussle with @mrben09 and @davejm which resulted in a few place swaps over the first few laps - but sadly I then ballsed up by tapping Dave in the boot lid in the braking zone into Turn 1 sending him spinning out.  Sorry mate!

 

Like the good gentleman I am, I then waited for him to adjust the stereo and do his hair in the rear view mirror before deciding to restart his engine and carry on - by which point I was dead last.   Cross with myself for my stupid error, I then didn't pay attention on the next chicane and hit the wall causing front end damage.  So I pitted, repaired, refuelled and headed out 2 laps down.  But the car felt good and I put in consistent clean laps after that.  I could see I was closing in on @mrben09 and managed to overtake him as he exited the pits after his stop, and soon after I caught up and overtook the car in front of him too.  Obviously a few folk retired or got DSQ'ed but amazingly I ended up crossing the line in 8th.

 

I have had a really hard time with work recently and I was also struggling to find the motivation to jump on tonight.  But I had a great time.  2 hours of my brain thinking of something totally different from work (and having fun!)  I feel massively refreshed! 

 

Great close racing by the guys up front.  The replay video shows so much overtaking for the lead.  Nice work!

 

 

[davejm]

My restart was a total cluster fuck, which ruined our race more than the actual incident 😄 sorry you had to wait so long!!

[Ian Paskin]

Great race tonight, had no answer for Ryan’s pace in second half of race… and although pressures were good had a lot of understeer on the 2nd set of tyres, but had good consistency which helped… 

[Meers]

7 hours ago, Ian Paskin said:

Great race tonight, had no answer for Ryan’s pace in second half of race… and although pressures were good had a lot of understeer on the 2nd set of tyres, but had good consistency which helped… 

 

You and I together. I messed up my pressures for the tyre change, so they ended up overinflated (as @SneakyNinja has noticed). 

 

Still, had a great race! Phil (whatshisforumname?) spun out in the bus top chicane, unfortunately for him (did he get nudged by someone?). I could keep up with @Ian Paskin, @Arthisins and @OJM CHICKEN together with Sneaky (who had taken my 4th place after a turn 1 wobble early on. We tried to chase the top 3, but they were going faster and faster.

 

After the stop I was in front of Sneaky again, much to my surprise. But at the end of the race my tyre pressures where all over the shop and I started to lose grip due to each tyre having different pressures. Started 5th, finished 5th. Not too bad! Amazing racing, everyone! Pleased to see the new guys joining us, and it was great to hear they had fun. Good to see Alexander join us again, and @mrben09 being back on the track as well. You were doing great out there!

 

I will upload my race over the weekend, was too tired to wait for it last night. Next time I'll be recording from the off (using nVidia's recorder).

[davadvice1]

Cheers for some, albeit short lived racing. I was faster than I expected and was still making gains.

 

Some decent battles with @davejm and I think @Valver in a nice clean 3 way for a few laps then I started to peel away and binned in in the 3rd to last corner (my nemesis on this track) I need to leave that throttle for a wee bit longer. 

 

My wee spin flustered me and limping back to pit lane and forgot to drop from 3rd to 1st only to wait for my DQ

 

 

All in all I was quite happy with my pace after entering with little confidence so a good result for me. 

 

 

Thanks again for the racing 

[SneakyNinja]

Brilliant race. Nice, flowing track.

 

It was great watching the top three battle it out - their massive tussle meant they slowed just enough for me to just about hang on.

 

But again I lost time in the pit stop. I must look into that some more. Came out behind @Meers and with his dodgy tyres and my unpredictable brakes we had a good battle for during the final stages.

 

Like others, I thought I wasn't going to make the race - woke up with massive vertigo and spent ages staggering around like a drunk in the morning. I figured VR racing for a couple of hours wasn't a great idea, but luckily it went away just enough. It's back this morning though!

 

And, who else felt massively old when @OJM CHICKEN said he should really be doing college work instead? I left college.. ooh, 30 odd years ago  

[Meers]

The GTX1070 still doesn't like the rear-view mirrors in ACC, @davejm. 😅 (sorry, another tedious graphics settings post)

 

tl;dr: mirrors are too demanding, so no more mirrors for me! They were smeary in motion anyway (very strange effect, even on the highest setting).  I'll just use a button to look behind me (full-screen mirror ftw!)

 

-----------------------------------

 

I experimented with my graphics again by switching the mirrors off (even the low mirror settings were too taxing). I instantly gained ~25 frames by disabling the mirrors. I made and tried 3 different presets:

 

1440p60 | FSR high Q | epic settings

With FSR (high Q) on I can have everything on epic setting at ~80fps (with v-synch off, which I need on to get a steady 60 and get rid of the tearing). The only downside with FSR is that it looks a bit low res in the distance (jaggy), but the graphical effects are lush.

 

1440p60 | native | epic/high/mid settings

Secondly, I tried FSR off (and mirrors off still), and lowered some settings to high/mid and with render scale set to 105%. Still ~75fps, but everything looks really crisp (especially in the distance) and runs smooth at 60fps. Still really good graphics detail-wise.

 

2160p60 | FSR performance | mid/low settings

Lastly, I tried the 4K option. And believe it or not, the 1070 can handle 4K really well, albeit lowering most of the graphical settings to mid or low (some can stay on high or epic without much performance loss). And with mirrors off, of course. With FSR on performance, I get ~70fps (without v-synch). Smooth and crisp graphics, but with low detail.

 

I tried the first (top) setting last night in our race and was surprised that the framerate didn't drop below 60 at all. Great graphics, albeit a bit jaggy and blurry in the distance.

 

After the race last night, I tried the 2nd preset in an online race with 30 cars (all visible). Solid 60fps all around and very crisp graphics with plenty of effects still. So that's going to be my preset of choice from now on, because...

 

...the 4K preset, although looking (a bit too) crisp, looks too bland to make me prefer it over the native 2K preset.

 

Yes, I need a GPU upgrade. Soon hopefully!

[milko]

8 minutes ago, SneakyNinja said:

And, who else felt massively old when @OJM CHICKEN said he should really be doing college work instead? I left college.. ooh, 30 odd years ago

 

I chose to believe that it was a bit of studying for some work-related qualification, could be any age!