| Posted by Michael Kolar at 03:21 PM on Jun 25, 2009 | Post #16 |
Dijon and Le Mans events are posted.
Last time we tried to run Le Mans we had big problems. I plan to run a test grid at least a week in advance to make sure it's all clear. If not we will revert to Spa as a backup location.
| Posted by John Bodin at 10:56 AM on Jun 26, 2009 | Post #17 |
Any thoughts on car choices, Hutch?
I posted portions of this in the "pre-race" thread for St. Jovite, but it's worth repeating here as we begin to think about S13 preparations:
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I'm in a HUGE "discovery" period at this point in S12, it seems -- feels like I'm learning a lot about the intricacies of the PnG mod and un-learning a lot of previous stuff from GPL and other sims. I thought I was pretty familiar with the intricacies of ISI-based sims, but the PnG mod brings a lot of nuances to the table that just don't line-up exactly with what I know from GPL and previous F1 sims. It's a good learning curve, but I find I'm having to do MORE than I've had to do in the past. Fun overall, especially now that I feel like it's starting to "click."
I think some of this has to do with the fact that we had been running the rental points system, which meant I never had a chance to spend as much time with a car as I have the 289 Shelby Coupe this season -- it was more of a "grab a setup and go"-type situation, but now I feel like I'm REALLY learning what the car's all about. I'm really liking the "intimate" relationship that's been developing and I'd like to see us go with fixed models again next season if possible. I like the variety of the rental points system a lot, but I also like the feeling of finally "mastering" a car.
That said, I wouldn't be opposed to a "rental points" approach, but I would probably prefer a fixed model.
Maybe there's room for something in-between, something new -- maybe a "career mode" approach that starts with everyone choosing a fixed model based on existing points as a handicap system (like we did for S12), and then use some type of handicapped "earnings" system that would allow everyone to earn points in order to "buy up" to a better ride as the season progresses. Come up with an earnings system based on points earned in each race but modified by your starting handicap rating -- faster guys with a better handicap would potentially earn at a lower rate even when finishing up-front, and lower-ranked drivers (who would start with more advanced cars anyway) would potentially earn at a slightly higher rate.
This kind of approach would allow for some changes during the season, but you would have to choose wisely. The prospect of a better ride would have to be weighed against the trade-off of moving from a familiar ride to something that would be less familiar to you, and could thus affect your consistency.
Instead of a fixed season like we've had in S12 or a season of constant change as we've had during the seasons where we've used rental points, this approach would give us a stable start with the option for changes as the season progresses.
If this type of system was in-place this season, I would have been hard-pressed to switch from my 289 Shelby Cobra Coupe, but this type of approach might have benefitted others.
Maybe too complex of a suggestion from an administrative perspective, but I just thought I'd toss it out there.
| Posted by Michael Kolar at 11:32 AM on Jun 26, 2009 | Post #18 |
...moving this discussion to the S14 Plans Thread.
S13 (this summer) isn't a points series, there will only be two events (one in July, one in August).