Thought Knocks

On April Fools Day, Super Aguri Number One Driver ...Crystakke has declared himself OUT of the race in Shanghai. Welcome to Round 1 of Season #8 over at rFactor RACERS WORLD FORMULA 1 LEAGUE, and I guess it is up to me to try and score points for our team. I am still around 3 seconds a lap behind the fast guys, unfortunately. A regrettable pace, but at least I am comfortable with the track layout. You know what they say; repetition is the mother of skill, and I have done many laps on this circuit before.

Seriously, my only chance to score points is if this event becomes a race of attrition. Unlikely, as this FS2008 mod has been used by this league before, and league veterans will be familiar with the car and maybe even have some setups saved. For me, I think it is not the car setup but something fundamentally slow in my cornering style. I resist looking at the telemetry and keep trying to solve the problem using the so-called "seat of the pants" feeling. I need better feedback and some instruction.

And I gotta detox, and lose weight, and get fit, and all that shit. I have been here before so I know how it goes: Fast and you will become faster. Empty your mind and focus on the task at hand. A place on the grid is a chance to win. To finish first, first you must finish. See the checkered flag. Bring the car home. Only this must be the goal for all you also-rans, backmarkers, and losers.

I remember when I first tried simulation racing. I couldn't even complete a lap of a circuit without spinning or crashing. My prior video racing experiences was with arcade machines and gaming consoles. I knew nothing about the sublime technique required to be able to win races using simulation cars. Even now, I don't think I would beat any AI at their 100% setting. Maybe someday, I will be quicker.