GWJ Forizon Week Saturday 1500 GMT

Ok, time to resurrect some Forza 4 racing! Here is how it will work:

Every Monday, I will post three specific races to be run at the next Saturday session. You will have all week to tweak and practice. I find doing this always produces a more fun and competitive race.

On Saturday, I will host if I am available. Otherwise, I will note that I am not available and someone will need to cover the hosting duties. Feel free to send me your FRs: XBL: Mister Static (with the space)

Post your lap times during the week for people to know where they need to be.

***For Week 2 Forza Horizon (Racing 19 JAN, 1500 GMT)

Note: For Forizon, it seems like the best way to practice is to host your own MP race and race by yourself. Steering Normal is allowed, TC is allowed, but no brake help. Upgrades allowed.

Race 1: Point-to-Point
Track: Carson Run
Car: S-Class

Race 2: 10 laps
Track: Finley Dam Circuit
Car: E-Class

Race 3: Point-to-Point
Track: Red Rock Hill Climb
Car: C-Class

***For Week 3 FORZA 4 (Racing 26 JAN, 1500 GMT)***

RACE 1: 14 laps
Track: Camino Viejo Short Circuit
Car: Stock Lotus 2-Eleven

RACE 2: 8 laps
Track: Laguna Seca
Car: Any Mazda. restricted to D-Class

RACE 3: 12 laps
Track: Sunset Peninsula Club Circuit
Car: Stock 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA

Any chance we have a second choice on the car for race 3? The Fiero is a DLC car apparently. It's not a huge deal though. If everyone else picks it up, I have no problem doing so as well.

Also, are we allowed to tune the cars, as long as we don't purchase upgrades?

fogrob wrote:

Any chance we have a second choice on the car for race 3? The Fiero is a DLC car apparently. It's not a huge deal though. If everyone else picks it up, I have no problem doing so as well.

Also, are we allowed to tune the cars, as long as we don't purchase upgrades?

I'll look at another option for the Fiero...I really wish it would indicate whether the car was DLC or not AFTER purchase; I have a season pass and no idea what is and what isn't.

This week, tuning is only allowed for Race #2 (restricted to D).

I haven't really messed with free play modes. Do we need more information on tracks, like direction and course layout? I guess it's standard direction unless the name has Reverse, but do we just plan on the first layout? Oh, and we're not talking about upgrading with tuning right? Is upgrading allowed for Race 2? I'm not a tuner so I don't mind that there's no custom tuning on the others either.

Thanks for taking lead on this!

LiquidMantis wrote:

I haven't really messed with free play modes. Do we need more information on tracks, like direction and course layout? I guess it's standard direction unless the name has Reverse, but do we just plan on the first layout? Oh, and we're not talking about upgrading with tuning right? Is upgrading allowed for Race 2? I'm not a tuner so I don't mind that there's no custom tuning on the others either.

Thanks for taking lead on this!

Camino Viejo Short Circuit gives a specific layout, as does Sunset Peninsula Club Circuit, I think it is fair to assume default forward direction if either of those tracks has a reverse available. Laguna Seca only has one layout, and as a real track, there is no reverse option.

fogrob wrote:

I'm guessing on race 2 we could upgrade to get the vehicle up to D350. If so, let me know if you need any tune help or testing Liquid. I don't know much, but there's an app for that.

Early testing so far after 5 Laps on race 2 1:53.997 in a Mazda MX-5 Gen 1 with a PI of 350.

That is correct for Race #2. The others I suggest the host-to-be locks to stock config.

LiquidMantis wrote:

I haven't really messed with free play modes. Do we need more information on tracks, like direction and course layout? I guess it's standard direction unless the name has Reverse, but do we just plan on the first layout?

Standard layout unless specified, e.g. No Reverse tracks this week.

As I mentioned in the other thread, I won't be around this week, or possibly next week as well. Hopefully this keeps going, though, I look forward to it.

I don't have that Fiero either, but man, that was the second car I ever owned. I might have to pick up one of those whether we use it or not, just to be able to drive one again.

I'm guessing on race 2 we could upgrade to get the vehicle up to D350. If so, let me know if you need any tune help or testing Liquid. I don't know much, but there's an app for that.

Early testing so far after 5 Laps on race 2 1:53.997 in a Mazda MX-5 Gen 1 with a PI of 350.

Stock 2-Eleven after 5 Laps on race 1 50.896

Hey Static, since you're not going to be there, any suggestions on number of laps? I'm partial to longer races, but was curious what you (or anyone else) thought.

My first car was an '85 Pontiac Fiero. I just had the 2M4 though, not the 2M6.

Mine must have been an '85 or and '86, I don't remember. The older body style, but it had the 2M6. I used to get funny looks because a 6'6" dude shouldn't be able to fold himself into a car that small.

fogrob wrote:

Hey Static, since you're not going to be there, any suggestions on number of laps? I'm partial to longer races, but was curious what you (or anyone else) thought.

Updated with recommendations. These are still much shorter than I like, but longer races are only fun when people are tightly competitive and pits are figured in. If there is even only a one second difference in lap times, it can make a less competitive race horribly long with a lot of laps. Practice? We're talking about practice? Yes, indeed. Some day I will sell you all on GTR or iRacing, GTR2 being very affordable.

I intend tracking this thread on the basis that 'one week' the planets align. I'll also friend up anyone I see in here who operates out of the norm incase I can snag a race at other times too. Fogrob for instance

Thanks static. I think those lengths will make it long enough to not just be a shootout. I checked out GTR and iRacing, but both would run about 10 FPS on my laptop. Still working on the Fiero replacement?

Monkey I sent you an invite, let me know anytime you want to do a few laps.

m0nk3yboy wrote:

I intend tracking this thread on the basis that 'one week' the planets align.

Same.

Was this going to alternate with Forizon weekends?

Prepare for ramming speed!

Ugh, you guys are going to force me to re-buy Forizon after I already sold it off. Enablers!!!

Updated Race 3: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA (D288)

Edit: Nice site here

I'm definitely interested in any PC racing that GWJ comes together on. Like I said, I've got a year of iRacing and I'm also closely following all the developing sims. I recently dumped a ton of cash into the PC racing rig, I've just been short on time to get it all buttoned up. But I figure my triple-head 27" monitors on 670 SLI rig will be just a bit better than Forza 4. Don't get me wrong though, I'm glad to race GWJers in FM4, if you can consider my showing as "racing" anyway.

"New" Race 3 after about 15 laps (all I have time for tonight): 1:18.189

Gravey wrote:
m0nk3yboy wrote:

I intend tracking this thread on the basis that 'one week' the planets align.

Same.

Was this going to alternate with Forizon weekends?

Prepare for ramming speed!

I'm all for alternating with Forizon. There are some gems in that track line up, especially the point-to-point races.

fogrob, you'll have to wait until I am home after the Tide win for the Fiero update;-)

Edit: FTFM

Latest times to work against for this Saturday's race:

Race 1: 48.985
Race 2: 1:51.162 (1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE Upgraded to D350)
Race 3: 1:18.189 (still)

I haven't practiced Race 1 or 3 yet, but I am at a

Race 2: 1:47.9 iirc

I used the D350 1st Gen Miata I have in the Club Garage. I will be changing the paint job on the car in the club Garage before this weekend, but I will leave it mechanically the way it is, so if anyone would like to practice with it and use it this weekend you are welcome to, and you won't have any surprises.
Edit:

Race 1:
Race 2: 1:47.906
Race 3: 1:17.262

MisterStatic wrote:
fogrob wrote:

Also, are we allowed to tune the cars, as long as we don't purchase upgrades?

This week, tuning is only allowed for Race #2 (restricted to D).

I would like to revisit this. All stock cars in the game allow tire pressure changes, and the stock lotus 2-Eleven has many additional settings that can be changed (All alignment, Anti-roll bar, spring, damping, and Aero settings can be changed on it without adding parts). I feel that we should allow tuning, just not modification. I believe this is what is enforced by the host setting to "force stock upgrades" too.

ElectricPi wrote:
MisterStatic wrote:
fogrob wrote:

Also, are we allowed to tune the cars, as long as we don't purchase upgrades?

This week, tuning is only allowed for Race #2 (restricted to D).

I would like to revisit this. All stock cars in the game allow tire pressure changes, and the stock lotus 2-Eleven has many additional settings that can be changed (All alignment, Anti-roll bar, spring, damping, and Aero settings can be changed on it without adding parts). I feel that we should allow tuning, just not modification. I believe this is what is enforced by the host setting to "force stock upgrades" too.

I'll take input on it. It looks like I can't enforce it but I don't want to create a time demand on people during the week such that participating is prohibitive.

I would rather just have a gents agreement that we race exactly "as is" if I can't enforce in race. This isn't about competition as it is about creating a tight race. Otherwise you may as well be off doing hot laps.

MisterStatic wrote:
ElectricPi wrote:
MisterStatic wrote:
fogrob wrote:

Also, are we allowed to tune the cars, as long as we don't purchase upgrades?

This week, tuning is only allowed for Race #2 (restricted to D).

I would like to revisit this. All stock cars in the game allow tire pressure changes, and the stock lotus 2-Eleven has many additional settings that can be changed (All alignment, Anti-roll bar, spring, damping, and Aero settings can be changed on it without adding parts). I feel that we should allow tuning, just not modification. I believe this is what is enforced by the host setting to "force stock upgrades" too.

I'll take input on it. It looks like I can't enforce it but I don't want to create a time demand on people during the week such that participating is prohibitive.

I would rather just have a gents agreement that we race exactly "as is" if I can't enforce in race. This isn't about competition as it is about creating a tight race. Otherwise you may as well be off doing hot laps.

Good points. I'm game for a gentleman's agreement. The camber settings I settled on are very close to stock anyway, I just enjoy playing with tunes. Unfortunately it turns out I will not be available this weekend either, so for me it is a moot point. Are we doing Forizon next week?

Yes, Forizon next week. I'll publish details Sunday night, Monday at the latest.

New race 2 time with the club car:

1:47.793 clean
1:47.071 with very small dirty

Some pics from my lapping session (clickable):
IMAGE(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8371544418_c3b7b14d92_z.jpg)
IMAGE(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8361/8371544362_e961426237_z.jpg)

I hope you guys have fun tomorrow.

So how many do we have racing today?

I saw you guys hitting the dash, but I just couldn't stay up. Massive shift at work, so off to bed

Hung out for an hour, but didn't see anyone. I guess we can go with the same format in two weeks?

MisterStatic wrote:

Yes, Forizon next week. I'll publish details Sunday night, Monday at the latest.

Since I have Forizon, I may jump in on this. I'm not a good driver, at all, but this could be fun. I gave up Forza awhile back because it was just more sim than I wanted.

I'd suggest, and this may be more than necessary, but two weeks notice on these races if you plan on keeping a rotation. I'm not going to do the Forza stuff, but I might have plugged in Forizon this week to prepare for next weeks races.

I will admit, though, that I am falling a bit out of love with Forizon. I'm hoping some social gaming will make it a bit more fun. But I've considered just going back to Shift 2 which introduced the autolog, where I pick a race and do that. the club culture and driving from race to race and haphazardly hitting other races and challenges has kind of gotten old. And even using fast travel doesn't help. One, I don't want to waste my credits on it, because that limits my upgrades and the cars I can buy. Two, it is still way more of a pain than picking a race from a list in a menu and doing that.