It seems I am cursed. I had maintained a DNF-free record for quite some time here at R2P, but in the last month or so that number is now up to 4. Sadly, only one of them was an honest DNF (a mistake or a result of contact etc) in which I ran myself into the wall one too many times at Bathurst in the overly-delicate Megane cars.
The only series I care about now is Formula 1 and sadly the curse has really hit me in the balls here. My first F1 race ever at Silverstone was going excellent. I was about 2/3rds through the race running in 4th place and looking to finish with a 4th (or at the worst 5th if Heinz really moved his ass) when suddenly Connection to server lost. That dropped me down to a 16th place finish (started 8th) and was nearly the most disappointing race I've ever had.
The second round of the season at Barcelona was a great race for me. I had a smashi [... more]
I have had the Obutto for about 3 weeks now and my feelings are still very positive. I have found that the seat has become much more comfortable and now I can sit in it for several hours without discomfort, which I have been doing much of lately. :) I guess it just needed to be broken in. Everything else has been good. I haven't found using the pedal ramp to be comfortable because of the angle it puts the pedals at, so I just have the ramp sitting on the carpet below with the pedals on it so they are lower and further away. I've been doing loads of F1 testing and the cockpit has helped me with feeling settled in and comfortable so I can turn 20-lap stints all within a second or two because I don't get as easily distracted.
After the Caterhams mishap earlier this week, today's EURO WTCC event was Race 07's critical chance to keep me playing. Qualified 8th or something out of 12 and then after about 5 or 6 laps or something my very first ever disconnect.
I went to the lobby and then the Race2Play server was showing a 5000 ping. Dunno if this was just me or if the R2P server took a dump, but either way, this game is laughably buggy and I'll be saving it for an offline fun game occasionally and not competing with it anymore.
Simbin, shame on you.
Desiring a change to a more serious team effort by Darren and myself, Team Elke has been effectively merged into the new team, Team Infernal. First order of the day is making a good showing in Formula 1 S8 to gain experience in that discipline and then make a serious team attempt in S9.
Being seemingly one of the few resident metal-heads, the theme of the team is black. There will be a foreboding presence on the track once I get my custom paint ready. :)
The team page has been redecorated
I'm so pissed off right now. I practiced for a few days for my first Race 07 event (Euro Caterhams at Puebla). Qualified middle of the field and then when I got to the grid, my throttle didn't respond at all. I couldn't gas the car. The green light came and I wasn't able to move and I got hit from behind. I restarted my car to make sure it was running (it was) but no dice. I exited out without having moved an inch.
Really pissed off about this right now. I even did a test race using these cars at this track earlier today to make sure everything was fine. I've heard various other people complaining about Race screwing them around in multiplayer and for my first time out, I'm reluctant to try again.
For the three weeks of April during which I will be between jobs, I have poured through the R2P calendar and filled almost every day with a day-time euro event (this way I can race during the day and then still be able to show my gf some attention in the evenings).
During the three weeks, I am racing in 5 events per week. Almost a race every day. Several events in cars I don't know and on tracks I don't know, but I will have time each morning to prepare. I picked up Race 07 this weekend so that I'd have more variety available to me for sim racing, so now I have tons of options. Too bad I missed the radical series though. :/
So, I expect my rankings to finally come down to reasonable levels as they have been jacked way up with a few lucky results and some seemingly interesting rank calculation algorithms.
Let the good times roll!
First, I'm sure pictures are in order. Feedback to follow.
So, I got it all setup, as you can see, and I do quite like it. My initial impressions are that it is very clearly worth the price.
That said, I must say that the reviews I have read in the past seem somewhat over enthusiastic in their descriptions of this product. It's not perfect, but other reviews sure made it sound so....
The seat looks more comfortable than it is. I find the back is actually quite stiff and even if you reduce the lumbar as much as you can, I still don't feel like I can get my back in it perfectly. This is something which may resolve over time as it gets worn in, so I will see how it turns out. It's still better than a computer chair, so it's not a problem, but I do hope it gets a bit sof [... more]
The Obutto cockpit arrived at my office today in the morning. I knew the dimensions, but I forgot how big nearly a metre cubed really is...this thing is going to be a bitch to get home, but it will be well worth the toils. I plan to call in a favour from a friend to see if he can help me lug it home in his Cavalier. I'll have to remove all the pieces from the box and pile all the tubeframe parts in the trunk and put the seat in the back seat and hopefully everything will fit that way.
I got the tools in order so tonight is project night. I have to relocate my snake's tank since she currently lives where the cockpit is going to go and then I am setting up the cockpit and computer etc and then I demand to be left alone while I crack out on champcars in this new beast.
I've already booked the whole night off from the girlfriend, so this evening is shaping up to be filled [... more]
I announced my resignation from my current employer, where I am a web programmer, this week. I've already accepted an offer from another company and am going to start there near the end of April. It turns out I am able to get out of here after the first week of April, which means I have 3 weeks of blissful between-jobs vacation!!! There's no better vacation than the one that comes between jobs because you're actually looking forward to what comes after, whereas any other situation you're generally loathing having to go back.
Barring catastrophic luck, my Obutto cockpit will be here by next week and so my 3 weeks off are going to be PACKED with daytime racing and merriment free of anyone around to nag me for not showing her enough attention. I expect to be the laziest useless blob of a human being for this coming period and I am SO looking forward to it.
I finally got details sorted out with the Obutto guys and my cockpit is going to be shipped out tomorrow and I am supposedly going to receive it Tuesday March 25th as long as customs doesn't delay it any absurd amount of time.
This is going to be quite nearly the greatest moment of my 28 years! I wish I had a few days off work to drive this thing until I pass out. And a few days without a girlfriend might be good as well because she's going to go insane with the amount of sim racing time that toy is going to add to what is already enough racing time to cause her to drop a few remarks now and again.
