
Lanier SDT for the NASCAR Racing 2003 simulation.

Short Track (0.375 Mile - oval)


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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

[1] HOW TO INSTALL THE TRACK
[2] GENERAL TRACK INFORMATION
[3] CREDITS
[4] KNOWN ISSUES AND NOTES ABOUT THIS TRACK  
[5] TROUBLE REPORTING
[6] DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION
[7] AGREEMENT OF USE

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[1] HOW TO INSTALL THE TRACK
====================================

Unzip the zip file to:  C:\Papyrus\Nascar Racing 2003 Season\tracks\. If you have multiple installation of NR2003S on your PC, you will need to manually select the tracks directory where you wish to install this track.



[2] GENERAL TRACK INFORMATION
====================================

Type: Real track

AI: Yes.  Working pit stalls for 30 total cars (29 opponents)

Mod support: GNS, CTS. (This track was not tested using any other physics other than those.)

Track Information: 0.375 mile progressively banked (5 to 11 degrees) asphalt oval in Braselton, GA. (Now closed and all operations ceased).  Lanier National Speedway, located across from the Road Atlanta Motor Racing Circuit, hosted the NASCAR Busch Grandnational Series from 1988 through 1992, the ARCA Racing Series in 2005 and the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour in 2008 and 2009.  Before the track ceased operations in 2011,  it ran under the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banner and featured Super Late Models, SuperTrucks, Outlaw Late Models, Mini Stocks, Legend and Bandolaro cars as well as other divisions for it's weekly racing program.  In early 2014, Jim Downing, the creator of the HANS Device, purchased Lanier National Speedway.  Downing, a five-time IMSA driving champion, indicated that he has no plans to bring stock car racing back to the three-eighths-mile oval and does not plan to begin development of the track until much later in the year.

This NR2003 version of Lanier National Speedway is an attempt to closely resemble the track as it appeared in 2011, it's final year of operation as a NASCAR track.  It is not, however, an exact replica nor do the limits of NR2003 allow it to be.  


[3] CREDITS:
====================================

The following is a list of the people who contributed to this project:  

1.  Ian Smythe:  Original base track layout done with Butter's Principle, graphic detailing and immersion, custom 3do object modeling and textures, Lps, etc. 

2.  J.R. Franklin:  AI (Artificial Intelligence, i.e. the computer controlled cars), surface grip level, graphic detailing and immersion, texturing, quality assurance, testing and general assistance.


Additional credits:  

3.  Robo19:  open hauler objects

4.  Wayne "Bowtie" Anderson / Mountainman:  Hauler objects.

5.  Ben Althen:  WMT and WSMT Haulers.

6.  Charli Brown:  lots of reference photos

7.  Wayne Faircloth:  Fast and Expert GNS, CTS and Cup setups.

8.  Beta Testing:  Ben Althen, Mike Ehresman, Matt Gilson, Will Goshen, DaveO, Aaron Maynard and Ryan Provost.

9.  To anyone else whom we may have unintentionally neglected to mention but contributed in the creation of objects that have been borrowed from other NR2003 tracks for this project, we sincerely apologize.  Although you were not mentioned individually, your contributions to NR2003 and this track are greatly appreciated.
 

We owe a debt of gratitude to each of you for your contributions, time, support and help.



[4] KNOWN ISSUES AND NOTES ABOUT THIS TRACK
============================================= 

1.  Variable Banking.  This track features real variable banking allowing for 3 distinct racing groves just like the real Lanier National Speedway, so race 'em low or race 'em high.  The AI will go 3-wide (and occasionally 4-wide) to provide an exceptional and exhilarating offline racing experience.  However, passing on this track is pretty difficult.  An AI car beside you (either on your outside or inside) will put up a great fight for several laps and will not relinquish the spot easily...if at all.

2.  Caution Pacing and Pitting.  This track was constructed under "Butter's Rule" to make it capable to run with AI.  However, because of the size of this track at .375 mi., it pushes the NR2003 simulation to beyond the limits of what it was originally intended.  Due to the tight confines of pit entrance, there will be occasions where there will be wrecks by the A.I. when entering the pits in turn 4.

3.  Pit Stops.  We have intentionally set the caution pace speed very slow at 35 mph. Routine 4-tire and gas pit stops can be made without losing a lap.  However in some instances, depending on where you are in the running order and how close behind the pace car you are during the caution laps, you may not have enough time to complete a full 4-tire stop with gas and still remain on the lead lap.  So plan your pit work accordingly.   

4.  Realiging After A Caution.  As is the case with most short tracks under 0.5 mi. in length, the A.I. can get confused as to where they belong in the restart lineup and it may take a few laps for them to get sorted out and re-aligned properly. Sometimes, the game will wave off the re-start and other times it'll just throw the green flag even if the field has not closed up properly so be ready to go at all times.  

5.  It is highly recommended that this track ONLY be run with "Pit Stop Frequency" set at 1X.  Higher Pit Stop Frequency" settings of 2X, 3X or 4X will introduce problems, cause confusion with the AI and should not ever be used.

6.  AI cars will often stack up and wreck upon entering the pits at the conclusion of races.

7.  AI cars will sometimes exhibit other odd behaviors that are unfortunately inherent in short tracks made for NR2003.  

8.  A slow draw-in of trees and some objects is observed in the rear view mirror.

9. This track was not tested with CUP or PTA physics.  All testing and track.ini settings are for the GNS and CTS physics only, which the author of the track feels are best suited to racing at Lanier SDT.  The CUP physics will work, but the AI has not been tested or balanced for CUP.

The A.I. for this track were constructed using the following:

     a.  A default papy_ai.ini
     b.  The default fast setups for each physics (GNS and CTS) 
     c.  The opponent strength set at 97%. 
     d.  Ratings for the car sets used in testing and in developing the A.I. for this track are from the NRatings program using the MasGrafx Full Season V3.1 formulas. 

We went to great efforts to make the A.I. and racing as realistic as possible. At the same time, we also took some liberties with the A.I. tools available in the track.ini to enhance the "fun" factor. We're confident that you'll enjoy the offline racing experience against the A.I. the way we have set them up for you. 

To enjoy the best results, we recommend that you use the default fast setups provided with the track and car sets containing ratings as described above. Your results and A.I. behavior, however, may vary depending on the type of mod used, the ratings of your specific car set, different setups used, driving style, skill level and countless other variables that make it practically impossible to predict the results that you will achieve while racing on this track.

We hope that you will enjoy the racing at this track as much as we have building  and bringing it to you.

The track also includes our first attempt at reworking the NASCAR officials and their actions, the flagger.ini must remain in the track directory and unchanged for them to work correctly.

J.R Franklin & Ian Smythe



[5] TROUBLE REPORTING 
====================================

This track is not supported by or affiliated with Vivendi Universal Games, Sierra Online, or Papyrus Racing Games so please do not call or email.

You may use the forums at www.SimRacingDesign.com, www.NR2k3Tracks.com or www.GroundPounderDesigns.com for questions regarding the track.



[6] DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION 
====================================

Autorized Distributing Websites:

www.smiffsden.com
www.groundpounderdesigns.com

THIS TRACK SHALL NOT BE POSTED AT ANY WEBSITES, OTHER THAN THE ONE(S) PROVIDED, WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM Ian Smythe or J.R. Franklin.

[7] AGREEMENT OF USE
=====================================

Use of this track by installation into a racing simulator constitutes agreement with this and the following statements:

1) This track shall not be sold or distributed for commercial purposes, or money exchanged for this track or any part thereof.

2) This track shall not be redistributed without written consent of the author(s) as listed above. 

3) This track cannot be modified without written consent of the author(s) as listed above.

4) This track, or any parts thereof, shall not be converted to rFactor or any other simulation without the written consent of the author(s) as listed above.

5) This track must always maintain an unmodified copy of this CREDITS_README in whatever form it is distributed.

6) This track is covered by implied intellectual property laws, in that it is the property of the author(s).

7) This track is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.



