FORZA MOTORSPORTS' PREMIER FAN BASED MAGAZINE
BACK
BACK
TO
BASICS
THIS SECTION OF THE LEADERBOARD IS INTENDED TO BEGIN TEACHING THE NOVICE, REFRESH THE INTERMEDIATE AND PREPARE THE FUTURE PROFESSIONAL SIMULATION DRIVERS OF THE FORZA MOTORSPORT WORLD.
THIS FIRST ARTICLE IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER I KNOW. MOST ARTICLES ON HOW TO DRIVE SIMULATORS OR EVEN REAL VEHICLES FOCUS FIRST ON GEAR CHANGING THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY INTO HOW TO TAKE AN APEX AND THE BASICS OF WEIGHT TRANSFER.
I INTEND TO FOCUS ON WHAT I BELIEVE ARE THE NUANCES TO DRIVING, WHETHER IN REAL LIFE OR ON A SIMULATOR, THERE IS ONE GOOD STARTING PLACE TO BUILD THE HABITS ANY PROFESSIONAL DRIVER MUST HAVE TO TRULY PUT DOWN THE BEST TIMES.
TODAY, BRIEFLY, WE WILL COVER TRACTION CONTROL. WE ALL HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A VEHICLE AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES WHETHER VIRTUAL OR SIMULATED. THE FIRST THING ANYONE WANTS TO DO IS HIT THE GAS AND GO TO TOWN. AS YOU PROGRESS THROUGH THE RANKS OF DRIVING YOU WILL LEARN THAT CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE AND ACCELERATION PAYS THE BIGGEST DIVIDENDS.
STARTING FROM A STOP, AS MOST SIMULATORS DO, IS A CRITICAL TIME TO BEGIN TO GET A FEEL FOR A CAR. THE TIRES WILL BE AT THEIR COLDEST AND MOST OFTEN AT THEIR LOWEST TRACTION RATING. LEARNING TO FEATHER THE THROTTLE IS AN INTERMEDIATE SKILL THAT CAN BE PRACTICED ON FORZA MOTORSPORT AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY RACE.
GENTLY RELEASE PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR AS TRACTION IS LOST UNTIL THE TIRES HOOK BACK UP. THEN GENTLY BUT STEADILY RE-APPLY THE POWER UNLESS YOU FEEL, SEE OR HEAR TRACTION BEING LOST AT THE DRIVE WHEELS. AS SPEED INCREASES AND YOU PERFORM GEAR CHANGES THE TORQUE EFFECT ON THE DRIVELINE WILL LESSEN TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE CONTROL (I.E. IN 6TH GEAR YOU WILL NOT LIKELY BREAK THE DRIVE TYRES LOOSE!).
IF THE SKILL OF ACCELERATION VS TRACTION IS A STRONG SUIT OR YOU THINK YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LEARN FROM THIS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BEGIN USING THE CLUTCH IN FORZA MOTORSPORT 4 AND PRACTICE LAUNCHING WITHOUT LETTING THE WHEELS SPIN. IF YOU CAN MASTER THAT SKILL THEN YOU WILL MOST LIKELY POST THE FASTEST 0-60 TIMES AND YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A CAREER AS A DRAG RACER!