Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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http://www.racestar.tv/news91.htm
^^ I know this guy through an online racing sim called 'Live For Speed', the learning curve on the game is steap, as it's hailed as being the most realistic racing sim available - it requires a Force Feedback wheel and pedals to drive properly and unlike other games (Forza 2 / GT5 etc) is developed by a 3 man team who's core focus is to make it as realistic as possible, not to please the publishers with large volumes of sale (so it's not dumbed down for the public). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAvj0iY1Zig
Anyway, me and this guy regularly race on this server we both like and over the past few months (when I have a chance) i've seen him on there occasionally battling to get our lap times down and ultimately win the races, usually ends up with me and him near the front. Both recently doing 1 min 05.6 laps which put us top 10 on the server in the world 
but he then told me he'd won the scholarship to clio cup and 1st round was at brands this weekend  
Seriously cool!
I've always wondered if the fast people in that game (As it is solely based on driving skill, not GT4 arcade style, or NFS bumping off walls) could be quick in real racing.
I think quite a few people across the player base compete in real motorsport now, either karting, single seaters or championships like clio cup.
Infact this company http://www.v1racer.com/ < are using the Live For speed sim, to help screen the people for their race team, before putting them in the real cars.
What surprised me most about the guy who just got clio cup scholarship is he's 25!  which when I was about 21 I felt like i was well over the hill for any of these sort of competitions.
I'd love to race clio cup - all cars are equal, and it's the drivers that make the difference!
Anyway, look out for him, he's pretty quick in the game, but in the game there's no fear / or risk of dying to hold you back... That said, he said himself that in some ways this made the game harder, as everyone drives 100% at the limit 100% of the time, where as in reality, you can make up time on someone else, as they may normally brake safely for the corner, you can brake that tiny bit later to make up the time when pushing.
He's gonna be in the 66 car, Rob Boston.
[Edited on 26-03-2008 by Paul_J]
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
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Well done to him, the Clio Cup is fantastic, always very close racing, lots of contact, probably the most entertaining "support" race championship there is.
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VegasPhil
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Jan 05
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: Octavia VRS
User status: Offline
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Jealous! Very entertaining to watch 
Corsa 2.0 16v Vegas - Sold
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Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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Thing is, I know how much i've wanted to race properly all my life... but similarly i've had a realistic view point of gotta get a education, job, and make some money...
Though the only thing I've ever been truely passionate about is racing - problem is it's expensive.
If I won the lottery, I'd be racing in a race series of some sort definately. F1 has never really appealed to me, any sport where it's more about the car / team than the driver annoys me... especially when it becomes who's got the biggest budget (which is even the case in karting... with top teams replacing tyres / engines all the time).
The problem is, I know i'll race one day, once i've earnt money and can afford it, but it'll be too late imo - i'll be old and my reactions will be slowed down a lot etc... and have a lot more commitments - so less likely to want to take life threatening risks etc.
Where as currently I'd not give a shit what i'd have to do to win, would happily die racing if it happened. Although I was thinking the other day, I wonder what race drivers do after their short careers finish? as apart from the top level F1 etc, they don't pay that amazingly.
I think the TOP porsche cup drivers can earn up to 60k? but if you're running near the back I can't see you making much... then once it's over you're stuck doing what?
I just want to get stuck into proper racing for the fun of it, I'm sick of going to track days, getting competitive and people saying 'it's a track day, not a race'
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AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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What do you do Paul? Job-wise?
Likely to be on bigger monies any time soon?
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Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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Worked last year on placement year, but back to finishing my degree.
Depends on what grade I find / luck.
I want to get a job as a Software Developer, seen adverts for graduate positions in london starting 28k + 4k bonus + % profit share + bonuses.
I worked with someone who was working at a company called edenbrook as a software developer who was on 75k + bonus.
but to be honest to afford to go racing properly you need mega £££ / mega sponsership.
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AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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You're only other option is to get into something like Time Attack isn't it.
The next step up from regular track days I would imagine, and with the right car could be done on a limited budget.
Will still cost a fortune, no doubt, but as you say, there is such a small chance of earning any money as a driver, it might be your cheapest option.
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AK
Member
Registered: 5th Jul 00
Location: Aberdeen City
User status: Offline
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One of my good friends from Primary school races a DBR9 in the FIA GT1 series....
He wasnt mega rich but his family supported him up from karting... Scottish champion then onto F Frod, F3, F Renault, WTCC etc
He has a lot of sponsorship, and when racing with Honda in WTCC got free cars etc
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myke
Member
Registered: 7th Feb 01
Location: High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
User status: Offline
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Just watched round 2.
Quite entertainng.
He went pretty wide on the way up to Druids on one lap and got the back end about a foot off the ground
didn't see his final placing.
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Graham88
Member
Registered: 16th Apr 07
Location: South East Kent Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by myke
Just watched round 2.
Quite entertainng.
He went pretty wide on the way up to Druids on one lap and got the back end about a foot off the ground
didn't see his final placing.
Where do you watch it?
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tom_simes
Show Staff
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 12th Jan 05
Location: Undy, Newport Drives: Skoda Octavia vRS estate
User status: Offline
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It was on in between the BTCC on ITV4 Graham, as its a support series.
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
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I watched this too, was a good race, like the rest of them were.
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Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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yeh i noticed him getting a bit off line and put the wheel on the dirt. Seems they only showed the top 10 positions.
Oh well, will speak to him later and find out what his impressions were. Not bad considering he's never raced a car before, and that was his 2nd ever race of clio cup
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
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Had a bit of an off today then 
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