Community thoughts

Hi guys.
I've came up with something which isn't found on this forum normally so I thought I would set it up on the "off topics" section.....whether it's the correct place to set this new topic, it probably isn't but nevermind.
Its just basically a section about thoughts on peoples minds about the racing or if they have a concern or opinion on something about TORA.


I would like to kick things off by asking this and then giving my own opinion about it. Then feel free to express yours:

"Is it more difficult to hire drivers in TORA than ever before?"

The reason why I ask this is because we have such teams in TORA as WWR, VVV, PLOW, EZT and M&M, I find it more difficult to ask drivers if they want to enter in a series because they want to drive in one of the above mentioned teams because of their reputation and superior skill. Not just that, but somebody like PLOW or VVV for example would set-up a second string team where they will provide a paint and tune for that second team as well.
I'm not moaning about these teams. Far from it. I am really pleased that we have so many new or returning teams to TORA. I'm just finding it difficult to find anybody who will race in my team. I have placed adverts on here about places in my team but nothings happened. As a result, I have to enter either on my own or link up with another tea instead.
Is the real reason why people aren't interested is because I haven't got WWR, VVV, EZT etc etc on my gamertag or is it another reason?

You know I was thinking the same thing mate! I have advertised aswell quite a lot and got nothing! But there we go!

I'm not sure about the reasoning. In the last StockHatch series of 2010, a teammate of EZT linked up with a teammate of VVV. This guy from EZT was formerly VVV. We also had one where AAR Gashi was offered support during another StockHatch series (if I'm not mistaken, he was not with AAR at that point--not sure, though).

I'd say that PLOW, VVV, EZT teams mainly have these people in them, there is no real impact on the numbers of drivers availble. If anything there are more drivers here than there has been for a while. Maybe there are more teams in general. Mergers and consolidations upcoming!!!

As a courtesy i ask the team what they want to run in, if there isnt sufficent numbers, the seat becomes open and i put it out to the community to see if someone wants a seat. Im trying to work with lots of different people over this year, and once we are further into 2011, I might consider joining another team for a change like i did with m&m in the GT1 series a while ago. apart from that, its great to see lots of new people and im sure more will sign up as the weeks go on.

I'd say the difficulty comes from the TORA communities passion for creativity and motorsport.

The clans such as PLOW, VVV, EZT etc have a unity which brings about creating the teams to race together. Many of the other big players that aren't in such a clan have either drifted from fulltime racing, or like to tune and paint something themselves for their own satisfaction. There are times when people do get hired, but end up not turning up that often for reasons of "its not the car they'd choose to race" or some other reason.

Not in all cases, but in a majority I feel.

I know from my here that I'm in ISCC with two guys that I'm already friends with in VVV and we have 3 more in P1. In MSA GT it was me and bobcat and a mutual friend not in VVV. There really isn't a reason other than racing with your friends. I'm actually a privateer in tomorrow's race.

Welcome to the TORA Suggestion Box....a penny for your thoughts.

I do have a suggestion on qualifying. Would anyone object to spacing us out more than 3 seconds? If someone qualifies and is a couple seconds faster per lap than the people in front of him he's fighting traffic and changing his, or the other racers lines in front of him. Basically wasting a lap. Tenths of a second matter quite a bit when everyone's cars are fairly even. Imagine if PLOW Champion is starting 7th in a qualifying room. He's going to spend two laps warming tires and the next 4-5 potentially fighting through traffic.
I myself, wouldn't object to turning collisions off and leaving simulation damage on, but even a 10 second gap instead of 3 should space it out enough. In the ISCC qualifying cars within their classification would help as well.
Also changing the "compare lap scores" option on would allow everyone to see what the others are running in their respective room. You have this in a real race with a spotter chirping in your ear.
Just offering my suggestion off my limited race experience. Thanks guys!

VVV worm wrote:I do have a suggestion on qualifying. Would anyone object to spacing us out more than 3 seconds? If someone qualifies and is a couple seconds faster per lap than the people in front of him he's fighting traffic and changing his, or the other racers lines in front of him. Basically wasting a lap. Tenths of a second matter quite a bit when everyone's cars are fairly even. Imagine if PLOW Champion is starting 7th in a qualifying room. He's going to spend two laps warming tires and the next 4-5 potentially fighting through traffic.
I myself, wouldn't object to turning collisions off and leaving simulation damage on, but even a 10 second gap instead of 3 should space it out enough. In the ISCC qualifying cars within their classification would help as well.
Also changing the "compare lap scores" option on would allow everyone to see what the others are running in their respective room. You have this in a real race with a spotter chirping in your ear.
Just offering my suggestion off my limited race experience. Thanks guys!

when the lights turn green just let the grap infront of you get bigger

and dan I have the same problem in NGTC I have a spare seat but no one wants it I get more of a response when I ask someone if they want a seat

Re: qualifying Worm - as you hadn't raced in the WGT in Round 1, you were in the qualifying lobby with everyone else who didn't race in Round 1 either. Everyone else was in lobbies based on their finishing position from Round 1, so with people roughly on their pace, as you will be in Round 3.

to me, the brilliance of the TORA team system is that it follows much of the same challenges a real racing team would. after all, what driver wants to go with a privateer when they can work with a factory or factory backed team?

it's the same here. it's hard to create an upstart team because you're up against better known and funded teams that an aspiring driver would much prefer to drive with. you can't pick up a good rookie driver because the teams backed by the big tuning shops are going to seem much more appealing.

good luck finding drivers for your team!

(just don't ask me. I'm merely here as an untalented spectator)

DAN 2605 wrote:Hi guys.
I've came up with something which isn't found on this forum normally so I thought I would set it up on the "off topics" section.....whether it's the correct place to set this new topic, it probably isn't but nevermind.
Its just basically a section about thoughts on peoples minds about the racing or if they have a concern or opinion on something about TORA.


I would like to kick things off by asking this and then giving my own opinion about it. Then feel free to express yours:

"Is it more difficult to hire drivers in TORA than ever before?"

The reason why I ask this is because we have such teams in TORA as WWR, VVV, PLOW, EZT and M&M, I find it more difficult to ask drivers if they want to enter in a series because they want to drive in one of the above mentioned teams because of their reputation and superior skill. Not just that, but somebody like PLOW or VVV for example would set-up a second string team where they will provide a paint and tune for that second team as well.
I'm not moaning about these teams. Far from it. I am really pleased that we have so many new or returning teams to TORA. I'm just finding it difficult to find anybody who will race in my team. I have placed adverts on here about places in my team but nothings happened. As a result, I have to enter either on my own or link up with another tea instead.
Is the real reason why people aren't interested is because I haven't got WWR, VVV, EZT etc etc on my gamertag or is it another reason?

Hey Dan,

Thats no problem at all but you may want to start thinking outside the box.

What I mean is you dont just have to recurit drivers from TORA, why dont you look at Forza.net, actualy racing online in public lobby (like me you and Chris did the other night) you could find and unearth some great drivers else where and give them guidence and turn them into stable raceing drivers.

Cheers dude

Duncan

I almost posted what porsche posted, and then I totally agree with Duncan!

I suppose you guys are right. I'm worrying over nothing and I do like a challenge. Thats why I've stuck to racing independingly instead of going with these other big teams. Its worked.......once when I beat Butcher to the GT3 championship. Doubt it'll happen again! I'll never forget that last race at silverstone as well. It was epic racing between myself and butcher. Thats been my favourite race ever with TORA

Yeah i was in a stock race in public lobbies the other night asked a few ppl but they said no. also I posted up this site on the TDU2 forums.

just flicking through my copy of autosport.. is it worth putting a specific section on the forum for "available drives".

Got to say giving privateers actual team names is good improvement. Like my GT3 privateer "team", i've now expanded into a team with 2 drivers.

I guess as in real life the only way to take on the big teams is via technical partnerships and co-operation. So sharing ideas and tunes.
Which personally i've found the guys here at TORA fantastic at.

Nice to see Porsche sign up. We have a Forza.net legend in our midst!

it depends on how you look at it. do you want to get the fastest driver or a workable team.
thats why myself and chucky have joined forces so many times in races.
neither of us may be the fastest but we both compete regularly and know each other in the real world. the coca cola racers will continue to fight for improvements and last year we took on a rookie in theform of stonewall who proved to be very fast and reliable and the relationship we developed means that now conner is part of the team and can join a growing number of drivers that will increase the longevity and size of the brand. in the p2 series GTR Evoluzione joined chucky and chucky has continued this alliance in his no fear racing team.

for me its all about building up proper real relationships. if you don't know who your racing with then you feel no loyalty.

Since when did we ''hire'' drivers? C'mon, its an Xbox game.

i dont think ever to be honest and i like the fact we have established teams within TORA as it gives it a BTCC feel with the Manufacturers and Privateers i like it

Its just cars that race against each other. Anything that has that rules.

Re what Dan started off with, let's take THR as an example. The team is a founding team along with CCR. It is actually really quite interesting how these teams show cyclical form much like real life race teams. We have periods where we are prosperous, the results come in and there's drivers fielding full three or two man teams in all series we can. Then we have a year such as this whereby we are fielding much reduced entries and border on Independant entries.
CCR perhaps is reaching its crest, it has strong entries in a range of series and classes, a good number of drivers and opportunities to win races and series outright.
THR has had it's 'Brawn moment' when it won the GT Championship two seasons ago. Since that period, driver numbers have waned, series entries have reduced and there is a refocus for the future.
Then you have the sort of 'works' teams if you will, the VVV,EZT and PLOW who have the funds, resources and driver base to overcome any rise or fall in the 'market', much in the same way as the Ferraris and McLarens are able to do.
The way the virtual motorsport world we have created itself simulates real life financial contraints and trends is quite remarkable. It woudl be interesting to see what budget the top teams use in comparison to the smaller squads out there. Adding up time for tuning costs, testing, car builds and so on. I bet the virtual monetary amount is not dissimilar to a real motorsport team's spend.
In essence we have, as has been mentioned previously, the existence of teams who can offer essentially fully paid 'works drives' where the cars, tunes and so on are provided to them. All they have to do is turn up and drive. The second tier then consists of teams who are able to provide technical feedback and support including additional development but requires the driver to have purchased their own car (essentially a pay driver).
The third tier would then be the independant entries who run and operate the whole team, car and entrie by themselves. The bugetary constraints may not seem realistic in this virtual scenario but to compare the performance available to the works squads with their limitless budgets and the independants operating on a budget of say 1 million and the difference would speak for itself.
Interesting stuff

Well, I came into TORA with Chad at the end of '08, and ever since then Its just been me painting the cars and asking around for drivers. The drivers that have raced for me have often had success with other teams while I trundle along on my own, which is why my team probably isn't taken as seriously as most of the others, which I am totally fine with. No matter how many times I have tried to step up the teams game, my drivers often drop out and form their own teams.. which did get annoying in the past.

There have been occasions where my team has run autonomously without any of my input (which is going on just now), so I never really claim their success either. Its really all to do with the driving and tuning talent within the team, not ''budget'' or organisation.

At the end of the day, its who can get to the finish line the quickest, eh?

We, EZT, have a balance in excess of 50 million CR (myself, I'm nearly at 22 million CR). However, the series in which we have participated, we have bought our own cars and upgraded them. Fortunately, most of the events either don't require high-priced cars or do not require a major amount of expensive upgrades.

We do have a few guys who are really good tuners and they share with the team. We have one guy who is a monster when it comes to liveries. Many times, when there are a number of us in any one event running the same car, we have livery contests/polls to see who has the most popular one.

So, is there a benefit to the team situation? I'd say yes. However, I don't have much to compare it against because I have been with EZT since July of 2009.

Not exactly the fastest guy on the team, but participated in a number of series (nine of 12 in 2010).