Gentle reader,
During the week, I have so little time between getting home and getting to bed (I get up before 0400) so I use my time for things other than racing. If you are new to this blog, by racing, I mean virtual racing. In my case after years on first a PC, then on PS2 with Gran Turismo 4 and other racing simulations, to XBox 360 and Forza 4 plus others.
I do NOT use a controller, that is not how one drives, except once James Bond did it from the back seat, but that was a film. I use a steering wheel and pedals on a custom-made-by-me assembly which holds them and is adjustable. The wheel/pedals is Microsoft's own and it is very nice and works well. I also have to Logitech ones made for PlayStations, but only my grandkids use those. Here is a link showing my setup:
The Robb Collections: Racing simulators XBox 360/Forza 4 and PlayStation 3 (PS3)/GT5
With that out of the way, a quick explanation of Forza 4. It has many stock cars and race cars from around the world. Real-world racing circuits and made-up ones. All physics are incorporated into the simulation. There are several viewpoints for the driver from above and behind, in-car, or at the base of the windshield or nothing but a rear-view mirror floating above. I prefer in-car as that is how one drives. If the car's rear-view mirror is inadequate, I choose the base of the windshield view, it is actually closer to real-world-view and shows a more lifelike angle of view, plus the rear-view mirror has a nice wide view as well.
As you saw in the above link, my wife bought me a nice gaming chair with built-in speakers and it is very comfortable. I found the ideal table to hold the 32" flat screen TV which is quite close to me. It all feels very life-like. The wheel gives great feel for the surfaces and resists movement like a real car and transmits vibrations as well.
Now for the next 30 cars. We left off with my Panoz Esperante LM. Next is a real race car:
As raced in the former ALMS and in a different paint scheme, what is called "livery" in the racing world. I decided to change the look of many of my real racer so that I wouldn't be racing myself. In other words, see the exact same car as mine raced by an AI (artificial intelligence).
Ultima is one of the many small car makers that create unique and expensive cars for the rich enthusiastic driver to acquire.
I continue to marvel at the talent of my fellow Forza users and their ability to "paint" cars with such detail.
One of my many Subarus. This one one of the newest available in Forza 4.
This racer I created from a stock Ford GT. There is a ready-made racing version as well in the sim. I chose the best of the many Gulf liveries for it.
One of my favorites and it really pisses off the AI competitors, they do their best to make it crash. Who knew computer intelligence could be snobs? Yes, of course I chose Herbie's look. Note that it is all-wheel-drive.
Again, one of my many Evolutions. One of the fun things about racing sims, is being able to experience so many cars in locations one may never see or be able to access. All safely from home with no expense.
The one-and-only Ford GT40 available is the Mark II which was the first to finally win Le Mans in 1966, finally breaking Ferrari's hold on world endurance racing. They rate it and similar vintage racers as "S" class. So one has to upgrade them to real racing levels. This is a correct livery, but not one that won any major races. One thing that bothers me in Forza is in the case of older cars, if you choose their front splitter or spoiler, they paint over the headlights!
Again, they offer a real racer Audi R8, but this is a stock one I modified.
See? Modern car, no painted over headlights!
Unbeknownst to most, this car, from Shelby Super Car (a USA company of NO relation to Carroll Shelby) tue Ultimate Aero is FASTER than the Bugatti Veyron.
Another Supercar made in the USA, the Saleen S7.
Next is a version of the Lotus Elise turned evil by Hennessey:
They lengthen and strengthen it and put in a Corvette engine, if I recall correctly.
As I mentioned above, here is the real racing version of the Audi R8, thus the LMS name. Name came from the original R8 Le Mans racer in the top class. This is made for racing in sports car classes here and abroad.
Once the most expensive and fastest sports car made. The McLaren F1 sold for $1,000,000US and went well over 200 MPH. This is the racing version that was limited to 500 horsepower and thus much slower than the stock car. Same story for Vipers, Ford GTs racing Ferraris, etc. All for parity. Plus, they wouldn't allow mere GT cars to be as fast as the top prototypes!
Another of the boutique supercar makers, Pagini.
While Lamborghini makes awesome and fast cars, there is a stigma associated with owning one....
This Lotus is made strictly for racing. Fun, too!
A strange name, but one doesn't get to choose their name, do they? The Gumpert Apollo S. Another small supercar maker.
Below is a real ALMS racer, thanks to those talented Forza 4 painters, I updated the livery to one used last year in the Tudor United series. This livery pays homage to the Team Oreca winner of Le Mans many years ago.
Forza 4 offers two NASCAR racers, a Ford and a Chevy. I chose the former and again, thanks to the painters chose a vintage Richard Petty paint scheme.
Next, the final ten. We are closing in on the end of the list and the fastest cars. Note the Risi Competizione name, but not their red livery. Like I said, I don't like to see myself on track.
Another real race car. The ACR Vipers (there were once ACR Neons too) is technically street legal, but one would be nuts to drive it on the streets.
When Audi entered WRC competition and introduced all-wheel-drive to it, they won everything and changed the face of rallying forever. This is the Group 4 car which were so fast and dangerous that FIA outlawed them.
What is now called "V8 Supercars" was once Australian V8 Supercar racing. But they let other makers join and even came to the USA to race at the Austin, Texas facility on an F1 weekend. There are many teams to choose from. This is what NASCAR should be, built from real cars with real doors and street-based engines. Sadly, Ford of Australia and Holden, GM's OZ company are both ceasing making cars there. Citing high costs.
This is one of the real circuit (verses rally) facing Subarus.
While this WAS the ALMS Flying Lizard car, now it is painted just like the current factory Porsche GT racers, # 911 and 912.
Again, this was the Roberston Racing car, but now it sports European livery as raced at the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring.
Another bespoke Supercar maker, Joss is Japanese, I think.
It has been said that this was to be Porsche's racer-to-be for their return to top level Le Mans racing, but they made it their halo car instead.
Circa 1998 Nissan Le Mans racer. Again, I changed the look.
That's it for this time. The next chapters will close this saga. With the hard drive from the XBox 360 I found for $20 at the thrift store in my XBox, I am now almost level 50. It's fun to start all over again from scratch.
Thanks for looking!
Scott
The Robb Collections: Racing simulators XBox 360/Forza 4 and PlayStation 3 (PS3)/GT5
With that out of the way, a quick explanation of Forza 4. It has many stock cars and race cars from around the world. Real-world racing circuits and made-up ones. All physics are incorporated into the simulation. There are several viewpoints for the driver from above and behind, in-car, or at the base of the windshield or nothing but a rear-view mirror floating above. I prefer in-car as that is how one drives. If the car's rear-view mirror is inadequate, I choose the base of the windshield view, it is actually closer to real-world-view and shows a more lifelike angle of view, plus the rear-view mirror has a nice wide view as well.
As you saw in the above link, my wife bought me a nice gaming chair with built-in speakers and it is very comfortable. I found the ideal table to hold the 32" flat screen TV which is quite close to me. It all feels very life-like. The wheel gives great feel for the surfaces and resists movement like a real car and transmits vibrations as well.
Now for the next 30 cars. We left off with my Panoz Esperante LM. Next is a real race car:
Thanks for looking!
Scott
