Test Watkins Glen Long for me....

[TimCollier]

It's a Work in Progress, but I want some feedback...download from:

http://rapidshare.de/files/15951361/...sGlen.rar.html

I know there's a few things out of whack, such as some trees hanging in the air in the "boot" section....but please point out anything that needs to be removed, or added, or whatever....

Also, I know the jumbotrons and stuff look odd, and I'll be updating and/or deleting them as I compare it to the real track....so while you tell me about things change, I don't mind you telling me anything and everything, because i'd rather be told something I may already know than to not hear about something that I should have.

Thanks guys....

[davidan]

Tim

I downloaded the track and took a few laps this morning and watched the AI cars. Overall it looks really good and it is coming together very nicely. Of course I noticed the floating trees, and a few of the signs seem like they could use a resolution enhancement. Other than that my frame rates are good which is a plus!!!

I did notice a couple of flashing reflections coming off of one of the motor homes and again off another fence. I can point you to where I am seeing those when I see you on ventrilo next.

I would love to see us add this and Sebring to the schedule at VOR! Have you talked with Kevin and Mike Tyler yet about which tracks for us to add into a couple of the open slots later on in the season?

[TimCollier]

I know where the trees are now....



So with this...I should be able to make the tree layout more accurate...

[jrowland96]

Cool pic!

[TimCollier]

I have some good news regarding Watkins Glen.

Some of you may have seen my crazy post over at VOR where I was intending on doing this track from scratch because, and most of all, the banking and elevation changes of the conversion you tested above were off considerably (you were spot on John!).

Last night, took apart the track pieces and spent approximately 7-8 hours re-working each piece to change the banking and/or elevation to match the actual track's description for each turn's banking and elevation (which incidentally, each turn at WG is banked at 6 degrees, with the exception being Turns 8 and 9, the big carousel right hander that occurs after the inner loop, with that banked at 10 degrees). So now, the track is a helluva lot closer to the actual track's feel, and should really decrease the lap times. The two biggest changes occured in T1, where the track was modeled at a 12 degree banking, and I re-adjusted to 6 degrees, and the other being the 180 turn in the boot, where it was modeled at 10.5 degrees and I have changed it to 6 as well.

Hopefully this evening I can post a very plain jane version of this for testing and get some feedback from you guys....one thing i'd really like to make sure of before I add any trackside objects is that the lap times are more accurate. I think the best laps in a GT3 car should be closer to 1:50-1:55 than the curent 1:40 or so that is possible.

I have a few "honey-do's" to take care of today, so unfortunately I can't pick back up on getting the track ready until this evening...but just wanted to keep all of you in the loop. You're my buddies, AND my testers

I trust and appreciate the feedback from each of you....thanks guys.

[davidan]

That is totally awesome Tim!!! Great stuff. Can't wait to test this one when we get back home. Having a great time on the trip by the way!!!

[TimCollier]

I did a little more work on WG last night and I almost have the track, pit road and surrounding grass areas ready to import into the sim to test lap times. Tonight, I will add the sand run-offs and make a Beta WG for everyone here to check out....

Also, I found someone on RSC who said they had pictures of WG they took during an open track day, and so I PM'd him and asked if he would send me his pics.....11MB+ worth!! They stopped in so many different places around the track touring the facility, and he took tons of pictures....I now have so much information on this place, I have a great idea on so many things to change at this track.

Remember the comment you made John about the Inner Loop and how it was easy to drive straight thru? Several pics he sent me were in the Inner Loop and it was definitely different from the track we were testing that night, and I will be adjusting it so that the offset and angle is closer to actual than it is now....what a difference that will make to lap times!

Then, when all is said and done, there will be three versions of the track released in one package....WG_Short, WG_Long and WG_Long w/o Inner Loop.

I can't wait to get started on it again tonight....it's really coming together!!

[jrowland96]

cool info Tim!! Sounds like it's coming together. If you need help with anything easy (or relatively easy, but a lot of it to do), let me know...

[davidan]

Very cool Tim!!! Can't wait to see what you come up with and help do some testing for you buddy!!! Watkins will be a great track for sure.

[TimCollier]

Well, I figure between all of you here...and that definitely includes Joe since he has been there (right John?)...then Kevin Cinnamon, Mike Tyler, Alex Ulleri, and the guy that sent me the pictures last night who has been there.

Between all of you, I should get all the feedback I could ever want!