Howdy ya'll! Now that our Chase USA mod is mostly in physics refinement phase, apart from some graphical adjustments and fixes I can talk little about my other personal modding project. So what is Great American Truck Racing, G.A.T.R.? Well, true American semis with huge torque and power... racing on OVALS. That is a recipe for disaster and I love it. It is real world series that lived only few but very intense years back in early 80's, before it turned into smaller dirt track series. This mod tries to capture essentially the early years, when it raced at fast paved ovals such as Atlanta, Pocono and Dover. It ended soon as it resulted trucks crashing through concrete walls. This is something I started 2 years ago, and was actually my first ever vehicle modding project for rFactor 1. Learning the tropes so to say. It got into a point where I had already few dozens of trucks with consisting such makes as Kenworth, Peterbilt, Ford, GMC and Corbitt. But I never released or advertised it as physics were not no way near what it should be. Not to say, this is not the easiest mod to recreate as any information of this series is scarce. But because the pure love for this, I keep diggin'! I am currently remodeling and re-texturing these trucks for to look better, and at the same time looking for options how to work on physics to make these as realistic as possible. So no time frame is set, I just want this to be awesome. Here are some old screenshots from rF1: (note I am rebuilding the models and textures )
Cool idea Johannes. The models look interesting, but the physics model for these beasts will be hard to get right. But on the other hand: While we have a good number of people with car racing experience here, please raise a hand if you ever raced a Peterbilt? Waiting... Still nobody?
It is difficult, but not impossible. We have stock Kenworth as a "rF2 test bed" for semi physics, once we get that as right as possible, it can be fixed into race version. Well that's pretty much what they did in the real world too. Luckily such things as engine data is available, and a lots of driver interviews where they describe how these trucks feel to drive. Anyway, rF2 does not support six axle configurations anyway so there is one major draw back. But we do what we can with this. Better try and be sorry than not try and be sorry.
It will be very interesting to see how the physics engine reacts to 6 contact patches on the road instead of four, indeed. Looking forward to that, sounds like a plan to me to evolve this around stock physics...
yeah, this is nuts! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't watched it for myself on Youtube. They actually raced these things!?!?!
So much for green racing! Did you see the plume of smoke they put up when they started LOL. I hope rF2 can produce the same effect!
Lol. Love it! I'm in y'all. I'll have to get one of those Elvis shirts (sunglasses are already back in style LOL) and drink several beers in advance and then crank the country music during the race along with my space heater to simulate the heat.
Very interesting project ! You wrote that these truck are to made to run on ovals. Did you plan to make them drivable on road tracks ? I ask you this because in Europe, we've got truck championship and as I could see, races are very intense... A few links : http://www.truckrace.org/index.php?Itemid=23 (presentation vid) http://www.lescamions.com/photos.php?path=12alesfran&a=2012&lang= (some pics)
The chassis' are built asymmetrically and skewed to perform better for turning left. But I can take a look if they can be easily converted in symmetrical setup suitable for road courses.
It is pretty much in state of physics refinement and I am personally waiting final shaders for rF2 so that I can finalize the graphics part.
This picture here showing a twin turbo setup of Detroit Diesel 8V92. Also other engine options from Cummins and Caterpillar, with various base engines and turbo configurations.
