That was fun, last night. I'm glad I joined in...I almost didn't because I had just turned iRacing on for the first time since last winter. I was just watching TV when I thought to myself "F*ck it...it's a non-points event and I love Spa". I went downstairs, logged in and there was only a minute of practice left!

The first race was a train wreck. I started by accidentally spinning someone on the rolling start approach through the last turn (side by side). Then I believe Ken and I attempted to go through Eau Rouge side by side. I had the inside and he didn't lift (LOL). The tow to pits was extra long. When it was repaired, I left the pits 'unsafely' and was black flagged. I came in for my stop and go, but couldn't see the jack man. My second attempt found him. After re-joining the race, I lost it in Rivage.

The second race went pretty well. I knew I had to stop pushing too hard, and focused on clean, mistake-free laps. As such, I qualified 2nd last (11th?). Although I didn't set the fastest lap (LOL), I did manage to string together some good laps and gained places from the misfortunes of others. I finished 5th.

The Indycar was much better than I thought it would be. The tire model seems to be better now in iRacing. I liked having the same setup as everyone else. Easy.

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Jay Barthelotte

I like fixed setups as well, much prefer this over open setups, at least you know there is lap time to be had if you are off pace.

I had to go after the 1st race, but it was fun, I liked the car/track combo.
I likely won't join the majority of league races this winter, its basically the same as last year, I was kinda hoping for something different.

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Paul

What kind of different would you like, Paul? If we can whip up enough interest I'm sure we could start nudging the rest of the league towards a different direction.

Nothing in particular to be honest. I understand why the series remains mostly the same, due to cost of adding extra cars/tracks. the sim is very GT3 centric these days too.
I generally like difficult/oddball car/track combos, these don't usually make for good racing though.

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Paul

I think Paul is saying he wants to run the McLaren Honda MP4-30 @ Irwindale Figure 8 configuration.

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1997 Talon TSi AWD
2008 EVO X MR

I don't enjoy the GT3 cars that much. Initially, I enjoyed the challenge...but I never really figured them out or got the best out of them. It's funny how I can say the same about real GT cars (sedans)! I do enjoy the formula cars (Star Mazda and (now) the Indycar). I'm looking forward to the release of the Formula Renault. How were the Skip Barber formula cars?

I enjoy the classic (drivers') tracks...which is something that the Regulars league has been hosting quite regularly (ha!).

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Jay Barthelotte

The skippy's were fun when in a group but not very exciting if you were running by yourself. The slower cars are generally that way but it's hard to generate interest with them.

Good to have the feedback. I liked the fixed setup as well with the Indycar. Was nice just to jump in it and drive and not have to wonder if had the right setup or not. According to the release notes the Star mazda has been given a bit of a makeover, but not sure if it would be much different. Could possibly be convinced to give an Indycar fixed setup a season a try, especially if just have to choose from one of the iracing setups. Looking forward to the Renault's coming out as well, and usually a new car is a good draw.

I like the GT3s but we have been running them for a few seasons now, and there were grumblings about setup/car handling changes from track to track last season.

If we held an entire season at the Ring and just changed the car every week who'd be ok with that?

I'd be cool with the ring and different cars.

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Paul

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1997 Talon TSi AWD
2008 EVO X MR

Ok, will put the ideas out to the rest of the group.

PS Jay, you can say "F* it" for any race and jump in, points or no. Wouldn't be the first time someone used the first race for practice, and we don't take ourselves that seriously.

Don't think I've ever seen anyone in the Regulars get mad over an accident.

I'll be honest, my computer sucks sh!t these days and my frame rates have dropped over the years from 80 in a race down to 40-50 in practice mode by myself. If I even think about entering a race my frame rate drops to 30 and page filing starts up with just adds to more jitters. I think a upgrade is in order but at the same time I'm feeling cheap, time to start looking.

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Brian
VP, AMP
#51 Vantage Motorsports

Yeah, you can't race at 30 FPS. I can handle brief dips into the 50's, but that's the limit.

Have you tried re-running the graphics configuration wizard? It's recommended this be done with each new build.
Or you can go to your Documents/iRacing folder and delete the renderer.ini file. The next time you load a session the graphics auto config will run.

In either case, make sure to turn off Shadow Maps. They're an inefficient resource hog.

Just keep turning settings off / low detail until you get an acceptable frame rate.

Also, keep in mind that the Nürburgring has some very graphic intensive sections, which kill FPS even for those with modern high-end hardware.

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1997 Talon TSi AWD
2008 EVO X MR

I realize that I can turn a few things down more than I have but at the same time I have never really had a high end computer so I have always run the minimum. It does get to a point where a certain amount of eye candy keeps the sim looking fun and if I go much lower on graphic settings I simply will start to hate it. Christmas gift to me...new computer!

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Brian
VP, AMP
#51 Vantage Motorsports

My computer was great in 2011, but at the moment even I am feeling the pinch. I need to get a new video card, but thankfully that is in the road map.

I can't imagine what trying to run the Nordschliefe is going to be like for me prior to an upgrade.

Yeah, I built mine in 2012 and it's starting to fall behind (i5-3570K, 8GB RAM, Radeon HD 7970 3GB). I figure I may get another year out of it before I'll need to upgrade again, especially with all the new eye candy iRacing has coming down the pipe.

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1997 Talon TSi AWD
2008 EVO X MR

Processors and RAM haven't changed much in the last few years, so you don't need to upgrade those as much as the video card.

Everything in games run through the video card and it is easily the hardest working component of the computer when gaming. It only ever uses a single core from the processor, and barely and RAM (since it uses the vRAM in the video card.)

Just an FYI for anyone who doesn't want to buy everything at one go.

Funny Scott, what you think is getting old is what I am planning to upgrade to...lol

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Brian
VP, AMP
#51 Vantage Motorsports

Ha! I was thinking the same thing Brian...I have the same specs as he does! I run the Game Booster program before starting iRacing. I think I usually have 84 fps. I only have one monitor...is three that much better?

Thanks Ken...that's the nice thing about this series...it's a gentlemen's league with no hard feelings.

A series at the 'ring would be fun. It's one place I haven't memorized, so it would be beneficial to run there consistently.

I was thinking that the Australian V8 cars might be fun to try on some Aussie tracks...and on some traditional tracks.

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Jay Barthelotte

Aussie V8 eh, ever drive it? Hang the F on!
One of the more challenging cars in the sim.

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Paul

Interesting. No, I haven't...I think I'll have to now!

Last night, I downloaded the 'ring tracks and the McLaren F1 car. At certain points on the track, the McLaren looked like a pin ball...hitting curbs and barriers. Not a good combo...initially anyway.

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Jay Barthelotte

The V8 Supercars are a beast, and I'll agree with Paul that they are some of the hardest cars to get in to in the sim.

If you hate the 'sedan' nature of the GT3 cars, imagine driving a car that can brake, turn and accelerate....but only one at a time ever.

That said, they are an amazing piece of kit to drive in the sim, and I would love the challenge. Just saying that most probably wouldn't, considering the massive learning curve.

It's all relative. I run triple monitors (well, four actually) and like to run all the eye candy. Lately I can no longer do that and need to turn some things down / off with my current hardware to maintain > 60 FPS.

Last night I tried using the graphic settings this guy posted in the iRacing forums: http://members.iracing.com/jforum/posts ... ge#9435425 With his settings I was able to peak 200+ FPS at times on my triples. So the performance is there if needed. Although I was still getting occasional screen stutters. Not sure what that's about.

Jay, yes triple monitors are the bomb. They allow you to see so much more of the track as you round corners, which helps your driving line and give you earlier warning of incidents up ahead. Also they are very beneficial in wheel-to-wheel combat when you can see your opponent next to you in your peripheral vision.

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1997 Talon TSi AWD
2008 EVO X MR

Thanks guys.

Interesting Scott...I think I might ask Santa for a couple of monitors. I guess there must be a special video card for that, eh? (Three ports).

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Jay Barthelotte

Yes, you need a video card that has up to 3 ports.

My Radeon 7970 has 2 x DVI, 1 x HDMI, and 2 x Mini DisplayPort. I also have onboard video on my motherboard, which has a VGA, DVI, and HDMI port. I use the onboard video for my fourth monitor to display iSpeed while I'm racing.

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1997 Talon TSi AWD
2008 EVO X MR

Most video cards now and days come with a minimum of two outputs, either DVI-D, HDMI or Displayport. Using a combination of them you can usually get three monitors connected easily. Triple Monitor gaming is a lot more common now than it was even three years ago.

The biggest thing is getting a video card with enough oomph to be able to handle that level of resolution, because you're essentially asking your computer to run 5760x3240 resolution (overdramaticising, but correct for concept)

AMD/ATI still have the best bang for buck video cards for pulling this off on a single card, and if that is the case you're looking at the ATI R9 280/290 or 380/390 series. They have between 4-8GB worth of graphic RAM, which is what helps you be able to project over three monitors. Nvidia's 970/980 series video cards are also capable, though I have a grudge with them at the moment and they don't have the same level of graphic RAM.

Biggest thing if you're going that way is making sure you have a motherboard and power supply that can handle those things. That information you can find on the website for the motherboard and video card respectively, though usually the minimum is 650-750W for the power supply.

/end informationOverload

So that's looking like 2-3 votes for a round of Aussie V8s at the Ring.

My stuff is so old you can't by it anymore. A LGA 775 quad core (circa 2007), DDR2, etc. The quad core cpu is a bit tweaked though, runs at 3.6 GHz with water cooling. I just keep throwing a new-to-me video card in it every couple years... now a R9 270x. though I did upgrade the power suppy in there somewhere. It is getting marginal now though running 3 screens, but haven't tried adjusting graphics settings since the last couple updates.

Single screen is like driving a real car with the side windows and the right half of the windshield covered over if you have a reasonable FOV set. It you have the FOV set so you can see out the sides then it's like you are sitting in the back seat/trunk while driving. Both can be done but it's not the best way to do it, and probably takes some time for you to adjust to driving that way.

Most high end video cards will handle 3 screens these days (the AMD ones for sure). At most you'll need some adapters depending on the card and monitor connections (HDMI, DVI, display port, etc.). BTW if you are getting monitors they don't have to be identical, but they should all at least be the same resolution and refresh rates, and of course size (eg 24" 1920x1080 at 60 Hz). The three monitors are basically treated as one display. You can, like Scott, add more displays of different size/resolutions, but they will be treated as a second display (i.e the driving view won't show on the secondaries).

Cool. Thanks guys...very helpful.

My wife will say again "That's what you want for Christmas? Another weird Christmas present for Jay...". I've already asked for a larger master cylinder for the P car...just imagine that under the Christmas tree...

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Jay Barthelotte

Proposed schedule for upcoming season. Question, comments and concerns always welcome.

One division for the old IRL Dallara with fixed setups (likely the medium downforce everywhere but Monza?)

And the One-Ring-to-Rule-Them-All division where the track remains the same but the cars progressively get meaner. We've grouped several cars of similar speeds on the same event so most people should find one they own (or want to own). Admittedly the Lotii aren't that similar but they’re both too good to ignore. We might have to adjust the start times a few minutes either side of traditional due to the vagaries of session times given the lap length.

Jan 5 Ring MX5, Solstice, Jetta, SRF

Jan 12 IRL Leguna

Jan 19 Ring GT3s

Jan 26 IRL Silverstone

Feb 2 Ring GT1s, Caddy, Ford GT

Feb 9 IRL Montreal

Feb 16 Ring GT1s, Caddy, Ford GT

Feb 23 IRL Watkins Glen Boot

Mar 1 Ring Nascar Impala 2011, 2013, Ford Falcon, RUF AWD

Mar 8 IRL Mosport

Mar 15 Ring Nascar Impala 2011, 2013, Ford Falcon, RUF AWD

Mar 22 IRL Zandy

Mar 29 Ring Radical, Riley, Vette DP, HPD

Apr 5 IRL Road Atlanta

Apr 12 Ring Radical, Riley, Vette DP, HPD

Apr 19 IRL Road America

Apr 26 Ring Dallara (old & new), Mclaren & Williams F1

May 3 IRL Interlagos

May 17 Ring Dallara (old & new), Mclaren & Williams F1

May 24 IRL Suzuka

May 31 Ring Lotus 49 & 79