ZCT83 - Parabolic

[CTG]

Comments...

I think this one is finally a very good track, fitting to Lancia and Audi. And maybe Corvette too.

[BonzaiJoe]

I think unless the Corvette, ACURA or Ferrari can enter power gear, which I don't really see happening, this is a 100% Audi track. But a nice one definitely. I like the corkscrew-jump-hill-chicane-downhill-sharpcorner-banked road part

[CTG]

I like the corkscrew-jump-hill-chicane-downhill-sharpcorner-banked road part

Yes, that's the best track element combo of the year so far.

[Mark L. Rivers]

Sure, my Indy replay (click below this comment to watch it) is not perfect and it can be improved (above all in last elevated corner, even if not so much), but... are we sure that current coefficient for Indy doesn't penalize it too much...? Considering that all my race, except for last 8 seconds, is with a full, continuous and quite essential powergear, and considering that best Indy time is far more than 8 seconds from the first absolute time, maybe -9% is really much... I'm agree not to offer to Indy an easy win, but it seems that with current coefficient Indy can't absolutely fight even for the first 5 positions...   

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=7QsjEbKFgHo

[zaqrack]

It might be a bit strong at the moment, but no exceptional Indy penalties were applied. We had that extra -20% on the first track, but it was deleted right after the track. The system works as it should work: If a car has won a track, you better not use it for a while again (and convince others too, not to use it as well )

[BonzaiJoe]

That is a fantastic replay, Mark...

I wanted to Max out my Audi replay and win, but

1. Maxing out my Audi replay will not be enough to win

2. I am missing the time/concentration/motivation to max out my Audi replay (or start over with the Corvette).


It's just the same story as every other month since 2003 

[zaqrack]

I applied a new rule effective since this new track in order to speed up the balancing of the cars:

quoting the news:
"In order to further improve car balance, if a car received the "non used" +2pts bonus on the previous track as well, it'll receive +3 on the actual track. If it still won't be used, it'll get +4 on the upcoming track and so on..."

Of course when the car is re-used, it all goes back to normal.

[Duplode]

OK, time for general comments...

Race: I had two possible goals set after the initial weeks - either lower from 0:50 or reach a podium step. Mission accomplished, and it was positive too that the gap from me and the rest of us to Ayrton was rather smaller - this time even Ayrton himself couldn't beat his sub-50s time    Ayrton's lap also reminds me I definitively need to learn how to drive the Corvette with some efficiency, so I don't lose motivation and quit the trial lap before reaching the interesting parts... And too bad Darkie lost it by 0.05s, I'd love to be in a South American podium!
(Observation: Sorry, but I can't resist commenting CTG's post about "many surprising things" on the news. If that was intended as veiled criticism, I fail to see the point. Maybe I shouldn't mind much, as even the driver who CTG supports at this point, BJ, does not seem to mind much either... )

Competition: This was a nice race for balancing the scores, and the battle for the title on the Non-Ayrton pipsqueaks category promises to become fierce over the following months...
(Corollary: The top step on the podium seems set unless for some reason Ayrton misses half of the following races. He is unstoppable right now...)

Mark L. Rivers: Congratulations, that was a wonderful ride! I haven't tried Z84 yet, but maybe we'll get to have a real go with Indy this month... which brings me to the next point:

New rule: Good idea Zak, seven races can be too little for refreshing some cars. The only point I'm not so confident on is the "so on..." - even +4 looks almost dangerous to the balance to me. Nevertheless, it will be an improvement anyway, so let's keep going  .

[CTG]

Critics? No. I just watched those replays and all the tricks were evident: easier and harder ones too.

[BonzaiJoe]

In 2001, Fdzierva wins the first two races, finishes 5th
In 2002, Roy Wiegerinck wins the first three races and the fifth race, finishes 3rd
In 2003, Bonzai Joe wins three of the first five races, finishes 2nd
In 2004, Argammon wins first two races, finishes 10th
In 2005, the winners of the first five races are: Rotoi-CTG-CTG-Alain-Gutix. But the winner appears at the sixth track: Ayrton!
In 2006, the first four tracks are won by Ayrton-Argammon-Ayrton-BJ. But the winner appears at the fifth track: Renato Biker!
In 2007, Ayrton wins first two tracks, but finishes 11th


All in all, even though Ayrton's performance is a bit stronger than all of the above, I don't think it's a good idea to predict seasonal standings in Zakstunts from the results of the early races   

[Mark L. Rivers]

Some comments from to (Duplode's format, all rights reserved...  ):

Race: When the race was marked as "Audi race" I thought not to have chances to climb on the podium. If I'm not wrong, I raced seriously with Audi only 2 times, one of them in Eliminatory round of ISM2008. While Duplode showed a great Audi skill just in ISM 2008, Dark Chaser seemed (I don't know exactly his skill with Audi) very strong, BJ was leading with Audi and then there was great possibilities for Chulk, Zak and other ones. So I tried with Audi just after my Indy trial, but I had abandoned it at half race, after I saw it was very difficult manage it to cut in a good way the tunnels-hill. But four days ago, I tried a last time succeding to find a good angle and a good rebound. So I tried to finish the race without engagement: 1.18,50... "Mhmm..", I thought, "maybe, maybe...". And then I tried to maxout my final in last days (1 second in last day), with good result, it seems...   

Competition: We have to try to stop Ayrton not being ressigned. Independing from his immense skill (always I admired it), maybe he has more time to spend than all us in this period, but the things could change, and if there will be some tracks where Indy will be able to come back to fly... 

Duplode: Congratulations, great race, above all in the middle! Fantastic speed in the bank-road lead him with more than 1 second after the main cut. I rescued 0,40, but... against "his" Audi it was really hard made a better result 

Dark Chaser: I thought he arrived ahead me, and easily he could: he had the same time of Duplode after the main cut (more than a second on me), and a driver who arrives there with that time, can't lose so much in last 20 seconds... Watching is final 10 seconds, he sure could leave at least 0,50... A pity for him and better for me...  Anyway congratulations even to him! 

New Rule: Let's see it works, I hope it permits to see more frequently Indy on the tracks...    But I have a suggestion too: one point more at winner (13 points) and one point more to the first driver with every car! With this rule the points in Z83: Ayrton 13 points, Duplode 12 points (11+1, first with Audi),...., Krys TOFF 4 (3+1, first with Countach),...., and Antii 1,1 (0,1+1, first with Jaguar). What do you think? 

[Duplode]

About Mark's suggestion: although maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to change the score system mid-season (but that should be Zak's decision anyway), the idea is really nice, and should stimulate further car choice diversity.

[Chulk]

Hi guys. Had a bussy month again. Now,  about Mark's new idea. It sounds good, and maybe it could be implemented from now on... of course depending on Zak's decision.

[zaqrack]

I'd rather not mess with the scoresystem during an active season unless absolutely necessary - from next year I'm OK with it (and with more cars of course, I want to wait a bit, wtaxhing how stressed will result in several new cars...)