After a weekend of trials and tribulations, OverTake writer Angus has found some remarkable similarities between sim racing and real life car ownership that stretch beyond three pedals and a wheel.
Okay, let's kick this off right away and explain that title. No, I am not calling the sim racing or automotive industries toxic environments. Instead, after a few troublesome events over the last week, I am equating both the love for virtual racing and for one's own car to that relationship you probably should not put up with, but instead fall deeper in love with.
Here is the story of my weekend and how I came to that conclusion.
As a result, for almost a year now, I have been the proud owner of a gorgeous five-cylinder, turbocharged Italian beauty of Chris Bangle design. Sounds like an odd recipe, right? Well, this is my 1997 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo.
Is there anything better than photoshoots with your own car?
Well, it turns out that anywhere would have been better. Roughly two hours into the drive, and well into 'middle of nowhere' territory, the instrument cluster lit up like a Christmas tree. ABS light, Airbag warning shining in my face, "turn round and get home safely," I thought to myself. But no, instead of getting home safely, the Italian decided to show its hilarious character and come to a juddering halt on the side of a mountain. The cause? Most probably a faulty alternator telling me it was ready to die.
Hours of asking for jump leads from passers-by, getting a few dozen kilometres from a hastily charged battery and scrolling on Google Maps to find the nearest auto parts store later, and stranded still I was. It was time to get the tow truck out who, after parting ways with my finest 300€, dropped me off at a shop selling car batteries - the wrong size for my glamorously unique Fiat, I might add.
This isn't the fastest my car has ever looked, I'll say that!
So six hours after my originally-planned home time, I finally arrived home at 8 pm on Saturday evening, having had little to eat, but a drop a water and devoured more Vitamin D than my fair, now deeply red, skin could handle. What a day.
Deciding I wanted to make myself feel better from the day prior, I loaded up a 4-hour race at 6x Time Acceleration at Le Mans aboard the 2023-specification Peugeot. Yep, my very own Le Mans 24 Hours mixing strategy, traffic, day-night transitions and most importantly, exhaustion.
Peugeot 9X8 in 2023 spec at Le Mans. Image: Studio 397
But if you have given the Early Access title a chance yourself, you will also know that it has its fair share of quirks, frustrations and all-out irritations. And it would not take long for the early access nature of the game began to show itself. Right from the first few attempts to start the race, an endless stream of speeding offences on the rolling start, despite locking the 60 kph speed limiter on until the green meant restart after restart was necessary.
After a while, disabling flag rules finally sprung to mind. Though at this point, an hour after my first attempt, the day was getting on. Hit the track session once more and, surprise, surprise, suddenly incessant framerate drops and input lag required a full game reboot, another 30 minutes lost. Would I ever get to run my immersive Le Mans race?
Come the next attempt, it seemed like everything had fallen into place. A clean start off the line and good pace in amongst the AI pack made for a brilliant first stint of constant slipstreaming. But then, the pitstops arrived. Despite having run more races in LMU than I care to admit during my near-100 hours played since February, I had never seen the AI pile up at pit entry. So of course, the game chose that weekend to let me witness the fun. What a shambles of a weekend.
Beware of AI in the pitlane in Le Mans Ultimate. Image credit: Studio 397
Well, it is exactly for that reason. Despite the headaches - both metaphorical in the case of LMU and real thanks to heat stroke following a day walking around a broken down car - I still adore both the Fiat and Le Mans Ultimate.
When the game works well, the immersion on offer from brilliant AI battles, fantastic lighting systems and intricate strategy calls all make for a fantastic experience. Even as the title was distributing its unlawful rolling start speeding penalties, I could not help but drop my jaw at the fabulous sounds as Porsche 911 RSRs screamed past my stricken 9X8.
In addition, with the sun beating down on my balding blonde hair and tourists passing by whilst pointing and laughing at the idiot in his old Fiat, the only emotion coursing through my brain was a sense of romanticism appreciating the stunning setting. Better yet, the fantastically sharp-looking lover that is my Fiat Coupe made the location even more gorgeous.
In either case, how could you be upset at the constant mental abuse, abandonment and physical pain when a passion envelops you and puts such a wide smile on your face? Despite what was one of my worst weekends in recent memory, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will jump straight back into LMU as soon as I have the chance, and the Fiat is still my lock screen on pretty much every device I own. Oh, and yes, I did persist through to completing the Le Mans race - for a measly lap-down points-less finish.
Are you stuck in a toxic relationship with sim racing? If so, why not share your stories in the comments below?
Okay, let's kick this off right away and explain that title. No, I am not calling the sim racing or automotive industries toxic environments. Instead, after a few troublesome events over the last week, I am equating both the love for virtual racing and for one's own car to that relationship you probably should not put up with, but instead fall deeper in love with.
Here is the story of my weekend and how I came to that conclusion.
A Difficult and Long Weekend
As some may know from previous articles I have written here at OverTake, I am not just a passionate sim racer, loving to recreate my favourite racing series. I am also an avid petrol head with a passion for anything that sounds cool, looks cooler, and burns more carbon into the atmosphere than your local cow farm. Politically incorrect, but let's pass through that, shall we?As a result, for almost a year now, I have been the proud owner of a gorgeous five-cylinder, turbocharged Italian beauty of Chris Bangle design. Sounds like an odd recipe, right? Well, this is my 1997 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo.
Is there anything better than photoshoots with your own car?
Saturdays Are For Driving
With the sun in the sky, an empty apartment with my girlfriend away on a girls' trip and nothing to do, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to take the car out for a spin. Just an hour south of my home in Toulouse, France, is the Pyrenees mountains with their glorious ribbons of tarmac, so where better to stretch the old girl's legs?Well, it turns out that anywhere would have been better. Roughly two hours into the drive, and well into 'middle of nowhere' territory, the instrument cluster lit up like a Christmas tree. ABS light, Airbag warning shining in my face, "turn round and get home safely," I thought to myself. But no, instead of getting home safely, the Italian decided to show its hilarious character and come to a juddering halt on the side of a mountain. The cause? Most probably a faulty alternator telling me it was ready to die.
Hours of asking for jump leads from passers-by, getting a few dozen kilometres from a hastily charged battery and scrolling on Google Maps to find the nearest auto parts store later, and stranded still I was. It was time to get the tow truck out who, after parting ways with my finest 300€, dropped me off at a shop selling car batteries - the wrong size for my glamorously unique Fiat, I might add.
This isn't the fastest my car has ever looked, I'll say that!
So six hours after my originally-planned home time, I finally arrived home at 8 pm on Saturday evening, having had little to eat, but a drop a water and devoured more Vitamin D than my fair, now deeply red, skin could handle. What a day.
Sim Racing Sunday
After what was a deeply upsetting experience the day before, it was time for a more sedate Sunday of sitting behind my screen and fake wheel and pedals for a day of sim racing. As you may also deduce from reading recent articles of mine, I am very much in a committed relationship with Le Mans Ultimate, a title brilliantly replicating my favourite racing series this year, the FIA World Endurance Championship.Deciding I wanted to make myself feel better from the day prior, I loaded up a 4-hour race at 6x Time Acceleration at Le Mans aboard the 2023-specification Peugeot. Yep, my very own Le Mans 24 Hours mixing strategy, traffic, day-night transitions and most importantly, exhaustion.
Peugeot 9X8 in 2023 spec at Le Mans. Image: Studio 397
But if you have given the Early Access title a chance yourself, you will also know that it has its fair share of quirks, frustrations and all-out irritations. And it would not take long for the early access nature of the game began to show itself. Right from the first few attempts to start the race, an endless stream of speeding offences on the rolling start, despite locking the 60 kph speed limiter on until the green meant restart after restart was necessary.
After a while, disabling flag rules finally sprung to mind. Though at this point, an hour after my first attempt, the day was getting on. Hit the track session once more and, surprise, surprise, suddenly incessant framerate drops and input lag required a full game reboot, another 30 minutes lost. Would I ever get to run my immersive Le Mans race?
Come the next attempt, it seemed like everything had fallen into place. A clean start off the line and good pace in amongst the AI pack made for a brilliant first stint of constant slipstreaming. But then, the pitstops arrived. Despite having run more races in LMU than I care to admit during my near-100 hours played since February, I had never seen the AI pile up at pit entry. So of course, the game chose that weekend to let me witness the fun. What a shambles of a weekend.
Beware of AI in the pitlane in Le Mans Ultimate. Image credit: Studio 397
Cars And Racing: Toxic Relationships
So after all this explanation that you most probably skipped, why am I equating two of my biggest passions to a relationship with a partner that undermines and hurts you, yet you keep coming back for more?Well, it is exactly for that reason. Despite the headaches - both metaphorical in the case of LMU and real thanks to heat stroke following a day walking around a broken down car - I still adore both the Fiat and Le Mans Ultimate.
When the game works well, the immersion on offer from brilliant AI battles, fantastic lighting systems and intricate strategy calls all make for a fantastic experience. Even as the title was distributing its unlawful rolling start speeding penalties, I could not help but drop my jaw at the fabulous sounds as Porsche 911 RSRs screamed past my stricken 9X8.
In addition, with the sun beating down on my balding blonde hair and tourists passing by whilst pointing and laughing at the idiot in his old Fiat, the only emotion coursing through my brain was a sense of romanticism appreciating the stunning setting. Better yet, the fantastically sharp-looking lover that is my Fiat Coupe made the location even more gorgeous.
In either case, how could you be upset at the constant mental abuse, abandonment and physical pain when a passion envelops you and puts such a wide smile on your face? Despite what was one of my worst weekends in recent memory, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will jump straight back into LMU as soon as I have the chance, and the Fiat is still my lock screen on pretty much every device I own. Oh, and yes, I did persist through to completing the Le Mans race - for a measly lap-down points-less finish.
Are you stuck in a toxic relationship with sim racing? If so, why not share your stories in the comments below?
