Anyone watching the virtual races?

[downtowndeco]

NASCAR, Indycar, and I saw they had a MotoGP race too. The actual drivers, live commentary, and the graphics are so good I had to look twice to make sure I wasn't watching the real thing.

[slothead]

I've watched a few virtual races so far. They've shown sprint cars and late model races too. I've watched them online in the past too, specifically dirt modified races on virtual replicas of popular northeast tracks I've attended. The part where you get to crash 7 times and still compete for a win bores me but a gamer reminded me computer stuff is more about being able to get away with what you normally can't than it is about honoring reality.

Now that races from the 'good old days' are being shown I'm watching that more. Watched some Daytona 500's from the 90's and 2000's this past week and really enjoyed it. Loved the cars when they actually looked like 'stock' cars and rooting for drivers I actually cared about - Waltrip, Kyle Petty, Bill Elliott, etc. Long enough ago that I can watch a race and have no idea who the winner will be even though I must have watched it live.

[Zcarfan]

I’ve watched two of the INDYCAR events and the NASCAR ever that was on today.
oversll I liked it, I have raced iRacing before and it looks like things have gotten better.
it beats a sharp stick in the eye. 😁

[Dave Kennedy]

Yeah I've watched a few, not a bad way to kill some time.

[mattb]

Is the Nascar racing any better than the real thing?

[BIG E]

I've watched a few, and I prefer the IndyCar races, but I would rather get together with my slot car buddies and race...
Hopefully, in another couple of months or so. Be smart, be well, be safe. -- Ernie

[slothead]

I don't plan to watch, but if I'm channel surfing and come across a virtual race I'll watch it. I'm a big race fan but admit the longer actual races aren't cutting it with today's shorter attention span audiences. The shorter virtual races may point toward shorter regular races when next season or other seasons are planned. It's not a major accomplishment to see cars race for 500 miles these days, so shorter length races may do better. Go with smaller fuel cells to keep the same number of pit stops in a race for strategy and condense the action.

[mattb]

I think they were at Talledega and I thought that might be worth watching. . When I switched to that channel to watch,, they were pacing laps under a caution, , Mike Waltrip was running his mouth and then Larry Mac added his 2 cents. . After about 5 minutes,, I gave up andf went back to whatever was on the other channel,, I couldn't believe that they couldn't run a simulated race and cut out endless yellow flag laps and edit out waltrip and macreynolds. . I guess you have to still be a big fan to enjoy it..I was really into it in the 80's and 90's, but not so much anymore.

[slothead]

I'm thinking the reason they have long caution periods is to give the commentators time to talk. I've never understood how NASCAR decides how many laps to stay under caution before a restart. Obviously long enough to get some commercial breaks in but besides that they do seem to take longer than needed. At Saturday night short tracks they'll sometimes extend a caution period so a contender can complete a stop and rejoin a race - though there can be a lot of booing if it's done for the wrong driver (one who wins too much). A difference is many short tracks don't count caution laps for regular feature races, which might only be 25 - 35 laps in length.

[ra7c7er]

I've been watching e-sport racing for a few years. And competitive online racing for longer. I used to log into Saturday Night Speedway servers just to spectate when a bunch of top guys would be racing.

As others have said I don't like that they can crash nearly all day and be just fine. But it is what it is. Virtual racing is better then nothing.

[Modlerbob]

I guess nobody noticed the thread I started on this subject. Not the first time threads I started basically got ignored. Anyway, I watched the virtual race at Dover today. I think Jimmy Johnson has lost the touch. All the cars were identically set up and the best position he got during the race was fourth before getting caught up in a pileup. With no life and limb at stake I would have thought he would do better as in real racing he won at Dover 11 times. The kid William Byron has won three of the five virtual NASCAR races.

[mattb]

It's not real racing Bob, it's a computer game. You might beat those guys if you had an expensive console and some practice..I bet there are a lot of 8-10 year olds that live on game playing all day and they could beat those guys week in and week out. ,I did try watching a few minutes one week,. but all I got was a bunch of yellow flag laps, , Michael Waltrip and Larry Mac. They were about 60% of the reason I quit watching NASCAR a couple years ago.

[Brumos RSR]

I racing is a true simulation, from bumps in the track, temperature changes, tire degradation to body work and suspension damage having an affect on car performance and handling. My son ran Sebring on a sim using I racing prior to actually racing on the track and ran within 2/10ths of his time in real life. The key is having a processor and a video card that can process the game at 80 or more frames a second, the steering and braking hardware will only become important if you are attempting to get the true feel of what it's like in car. You can win with a X box controller if you choose to use that. I'd say there are young adults to 70 somethings using IRacing, my son typically races individuals who are older and even ran against Townsend Bell one night.

[mattb]

I just got back from my nightly walk. .Turned on tv and found the 94 Brickyard being shown on one of the channels...Had 30 laps to go.. Ernie Irvin and Jeff Gordon battling back and forth until Ernie had a flat with a couple laps to go.. Jeff wins for his second win in Cup (Winston Cup)..drivers-- Jeff, Brett Bodine, Rusty Wallace, Earnhardt, Waltrip, Mark Martin, Kenny Shrader, Bill Elliot, Trickle, Spencer, Bobby Lebonte, I guess rooster, . The race announcers were Bob Jenkins, Benny and Ned. It was fun to watch racing like I used to watch.

This is FS2 and now they are showing a Busch Grand National Racer from Daytona with Shrader on the pole. Buddy Baker, Bob Arrute, Dick Bergeron, some great annoncers. . This race is old enough that Adam Petty is in it.

This was all the racing I used to be hooked on every week.

[Kevan]

No.

[War Eagle River]

Watched a few. Cant get into them. Nothing beats the real thing.