Any of you cats do iRacing?

[z31maniac]

I'm going to start ordering computer parts for it this weekend.

Going to take our existing HTPC and throw a monster video card in it and updated power supply and go.

Planning on going with Fanatec wheel/pedals, 3 27" monitors, then have to figure out my seat/desk setup. As I'd like to be able to use the desk to occasionally play other games and work from home.

[MX339]

I just ran my first race in a couple of weeks and had a decent time. I've mostly been running in the Ruf C-Spec (GT3 Cup Car) with the Daytona Prototypes. This week was Road Atlanta which I happen to be very familiar with so I was a bit quicker than usual. I didn't have much time this week so I was barely able to squeak in a race tonight, but I managed to get in without qualifying. There were only one split with about 5 or 6 of us in Rufs, so the iRating's were pretty mixed. I'm in C-class with about a 1,900 iRating and the guy on pole was A-class with a 5,000+ iRating; needless to say I was pretty outclassed.

I started 4th and we got the green coming up the hill down to turn 12. I went right by 3rd place (also A-class) and was able to run inside 2nd place through turn 12. We ran away from 3rd place and had a race going on for abit before he picked up the pace and walked away from me. My consistency was awful... So I started losing time and before I knew it I spun in turn 5, backed into the wall, and lost 2nd place. I was faster than the guy, but my damaged rear wing lost about 10MPH on the longer straights. So I made mistakes, but at least I was able to nab a podium position.

Why did I just write all of this out?...

[R3Z3N]

I quite enjoy iRacing, but you have to get out of Rookie to enjoy yourself. For me the structure (racing on the hour depending on class), qualification, and real race lengths as well as real driver changes for the longer races such as 12 hrs of sebring, makes it awesome.

[lcoleman]

I have played the Simbin stuff, and while I liked those games, they feel a lot more "arcade-y" than iRacing. iRacing requires a pretty serious dedication of time and, yes, money to have any real fun with it. BUT, where the free games will often be filled with d-bags who just want to wreck people or dick off, you know everyone else in an iRace paid just like you did, and are far more likely to take the competition aspect seriously. There is no comparison on realism, iRacing wins hands-down.

[agent]

Of the hundreds available, there are really only a handful of rFactor mods with decent vehicle dynamics. The Enduracers mod is/was over hyped and not very good.

rFactor is getting long in the tooth, though despite its physics being 8+ years old there are still tons of active drivers and leagues. rFactor2 should be going gold this year,and I think it has a promising future once the modding groups get up to speed.

Agreed on P&G and the Simbin titles too Gary.

[Gary Horneck]

I've been sim racing for 10 yrs, and I spend more time with Power & Glory v3, than any of the other 8 sims I own. SimBins multi-player system usually has some racing going on, and there are numerous racing communities. I like the AI in SimBin titles, especially in P&G. Running the scary beasts from the 60's & early 70's, on vintage rubber, for a quick 30 lap race is a blast.

[MX339]

My impression of it is exactly the opposite. iRacing is good if you're just looking to hop on and do some laps once in a while and/or the occasional pickup race, though as mentioned it requires deep pockets if you want to purchase an entire season's worth of cars & tracks. For a dedicated league and/or season of racing, there are lots of (better, cheaper) options out there, including a number of the ones Gary mentioned.

I think it really depends on your mindset. It bothers me to go out and race without knowing that I have the capability to get the win, so I tend to spend a lot of time testing. I do disagree with you guys in the physics department though.

I've done my fair share of rFactor and some of its bigger mods like DRM and the Endurance Mod. Now I can't speak for GTL and GTR2 (which I do want to try), but I've found that while iRacing does have some physics issues, rFactor is subpar to iRacing.

The major thing is the tire models. I've never felt like the grip levels in rFactor are up to a realistic standard, they just feel synthetic with very little feedback from the tire and way too much grip. Now I do agree with most people that iRacing's tire model isn't quite right on the limit. Yea, it's pretty hard to catch a car once it starts going around, but it's almost impossible to catch it in iRacing most of the time.

Tire wear and fuel consumption are another aspect that I think iRacing has down a little bit more so than the mods as well. Oh, and the laser scanned tracks. After running many of the tracks in iRacing and then going to the mods, they tend to feel disproportionate. That's still not to say you can't have a lot of fun with the mods though.

Say, anyone know any leagues with the HistorX mod? Or Power & Glory? (I actually hadn't even heard of that one before. It looks good.)

[gtdragon980]

The main thing you get from iRacing is the actual racing. There's no other simulator, game, etc that's like it. You have to be fairly dedicated or it really won't be enjoyable. For example, if I decide I want to run a race in a series that certain week, I'll be practicing all week until I feel confident enough that I've got the speed and consistency to be competitive. You've got to develop your setup and learn the nuances of the track.

What I'm trying to get at is that if you're looking for an actual racing experience, iRacing can't be beat. Now if you're just looking to hop on and do some laps every once and awhile, there are much better and cheaper examples out there.

My personal favorites are Assetto Corsa, rFactor mods and F1 2013. I've found that I've actually been playing those more so than iRacing as of late because I either don't have, or don't want to put in the time for iRacing.

+1 and I also play Assetto every once in a while. The AI is terrible though...

I thought they only recently added league support...? There are lots of other options out there.

It's possible. I only started playing summer 2013, I thought I had seen the feature back then.

[agent]

if you are planning on racing in leagues, then this is definitely the sim for it.

I thought they only recently added league support...? There are lots of other options out there.

The handling to me sucks, and its expensive.

My last actual seat time with it was a couple of years ago, though that was my impression then as well.

if you're looking for an actual racing experience, iRacing can't be beat. Now if you're just looking to hop on and do some laps every once and awhile, there are much better and cheaper examples out there.

My impression of it is exactly the opposite. iRacing is good if you're just looking to hop on and do some laps once in a while and/or the occasional pickup race, though as mentioned it requires deep pockets if you want to purchase an entire season's worth of cars & tracks. For a dedicated league and/or season of racing, there are lots of (better, cheaper) options out there, including a number of the ones Gary mentioned.

[tinkerputzer]

I'm looking to do the same thing as you OP. I'm not hell bent on racing other people at this point just looking for unlimited seat time. Let us know what set up you go with and how you like it.

Assetto Corsa looks like a freekin blast! I need this in my life.

[z31maniac]

Once you get near the limits of adhesion, its all over.

You mean like real life? I've played it before and yes it takes some getting used. It's difficult to find the limit with only your vision vs being the car.

Buddy, if you sign up let me know and I'll e-race your ass.

Just no spec Miatas. :p

The MX-5 cars around Lime Rock are a blast......and damn hard to cut a good lap.

The main thing you get from iRacing is the actual racing. There's no other simulator, game, etc that's like it. You have to be fairly dedicated or it really won't be enjoyable. For example, if I decide I want to run a race in a series that certain week, I'll be practicing all week until I feel confident enough that I've got the speed and consistency to be competitive. You've got to develop your setup and learn the nuances of the track.

What I'm trying to get at is that if you're looking for an actual racing experience, iRacing can't be beat. Now if you're just looking to hop on and do some laps every once and awhile, there are much better and cheaper examples out there.

My personal favorites are Assetto Corsa, rFactor mods and F1 2013. I've found that I've actually been playing those more so than iRacing as of late because I either don't have, or don't want to put in the time for iRacing.

Yep that's what I'm after.

[MX339]

The main thing you get from iRacing is the actual racing. There's no other simulator, game, etc that's like it. You have to be fairly dedicated or it really won't be enjoyable. For example, if I decide I want to run a race in a series that certain week, I'll be practicing all week until I feel confident enough that I've got the speed and consistency to be competitive. You've got to develop your setup and learn the nuances of the track.

What I'm trying to get at is that if you're looking for an actual racing experience, iRacing can't be beat. Now if you're just looking to hop on and do some laps every once and awhile, there are much better and cheaper examples out there.

My personal favorites are Assetto Corsa, rFactor mods and F1 2013. I've found that I've actually been playing those more so than iRacing as of late because I either don't have, or don't want to put in the time for iRacing.

[Wh33lhop]

Buddy, if you sign up let me know and I'll e-race your ass.

Just no spec Miatas. :p

[Gary Horneck]

I used iRacing for a couple months. The handling to me sucks, and its expensive. Once you get near the limits of adhesion, its all over. Everything snap oversteers way too much. I went back to SimBin titles, GTR2 (and the fantastic free Power & Glory mod), and the bargain of the century, the Race07 series on sale for dirt cheap. There is every track in the world available for both titles, for free. Also every mod and car livery, which there are thousands, also free. The handling is much more accurate (Fanatec wheel), and there is always a race online you can join, or you can start your own.

[z31maniac]

PM me your setup, all the details, etc.

I could take the wife for a weekend in Hot Springs and maybe pick up your stuff from you.