How did I miss this diamond of a game ?

A few weeks ago I decided that amidst all the flight sims and FPS strategy games in my collection, in anticipation of our January Motorsport Group build what I really missed was a good racing simulator, so after doing a bit of research I stumbled across this game which I promptly ordered from Amazon for a mere £5.

Upon install the game isn't impressive, it is almost 10 years old and was designed to run on steam powered PCs, wobbly and not entirely happy on an XP operating system either. Then you go here and install the patch which transorms the game into something that quite literally knocks you off your seat.

Make no mistake this is a VERY difficult racer, the year is 1967, no downforce, no big sandtraps or run-off areas, traction control, semi-auto gearbox, fireproof overalls or monocoque protected driving positions, just 400 bhp cars weighing 500lbs with narrow treaded tyres and an astonishing degree of driver skill and sheer guts, this literally takes an eon to master - like driving on ice , but god its fun, the car graphics, the engine notes, the physics, I don't actually remember the last time a PC game impressed me so much and gave me such an appreciation of what drivers like Jim Clark and John Surtees had to do in a grand prix car 40 years ago.



And finally, check out this further 3rd party upgrade to the Monaco track, and believe me it actually drives better than it looks

http://www.dixierunners.speedgeezers.net/mrocks/screens.html



Right - I'm off to try and get around the Nurburgring in less than 9 minutes without blowing my engine or somersaulting into a German forest .....

Looks fantastic Skii.

My cousin worked for John Webb throughout the sixties, selling all the advertising for his events, and knew all the British drivers, a completely different world.

IF you can get a quiet day at Brands Hatch, there is nothig nbetter than to walk out the back , around the circuit, some parts still bear resemblance, and certainly did when I started my racing career back in the mid eighties. It's all changed now. I don't think it could ever be brought back to that standard.

Racing used to be about suppressing your fear, while using your talent, having bigger balls and a healthy respect for everybody else out there. You always knew the chances were that you would/could only ever make one big mistake, and also that somebody elses mistake may well be your last.

I thought the pic of Monte Carlo was real at first- that looks terrific!


Enjoy mate, do they do it for Mac?

I've got this stored away somewhere. When I bought it my PC at the time was a bit slow so I had to run it at minimum graphics level. Enjoyed it, but never really played it much... I might just have to dig it out and try those patches, that shot of Monaco looks cool!

Ahhhh, the Nurburgring...

Hmmm, time to have a rummage through the old games box I think!

Cheers,
Karl.

Hi Rich

I've never been to Brands Hatch unfortunately, what a fantastic circuit - although I grew up 2 miles from Oulton Park in little Budworth, Cheshire - you can hear the circuit from our garden , my Dad would often take me along to watch the TVR Tuscans and Formula Ford races, but he vividly remembers watching the likes of Hill, Clark and Surtees at Oulton when he was a young chap.

I don't think its MAC compatable though Rich

at least this review doesn't think so

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6211229/the-as...ends/index.html

I'm actually on my second disc for GPL, I wore the first one out. It still isn't overshadowed by the newer titles and is truly a classic amongst classics. It's hard to believe that it was first published in 1998. Have you tried the Ring yet? Absolutely terrifying.

Theres also another mod which covers 1969 and the first use of the high wings. Adds yet another dimension for the game.

My Logitech G25 gets a right battering because of this sim. (It's no game!)

The GPL community is still very much alive if you go here and here

And remember keep the pedal to the metal.

Nige.

Hehe - I knew you was a man of discerning taste Nige

I use a PS2 gamepad which isn't as ideal as a wheel admittedly but at least the analogue stick gives me a degree of fine control with the linear slider all the way to the right. full damage and car control enabled so I'm learning the hard but necessary way, just got to stop blowing the bloody engine , (remember OFF the gas when changing )

Yeah - I've tried the ring, it was horrible although I've learned the layout of the track on Sportscar GT it might as well be a new track when you are driving one of these monsters !

Just amazed how good this game is.

In the eighties, I worked for a while with a guy who had apprenticed at BRM at Bourne in Lincs. HE was an engine builder and worked on the Lotus Cortina Mk1's. Well it was the Gold Cup at Oulton, and Jim Clark was driving, (like you would get that nowadays) and after the practice sessions both engines were shagged, so they made ne engine out of the two bitzas, and jimmy one the race the next day...

Right, that's it! I'm off into the garage to get the GPL disc out, and also the wheel and pedals!!!!

Karl.

One Lotus Climax if I'm not mistaken. My fav driver of all time, the late great Jim Clark drove these. Looks a great game too

he'd have won the race without an engine, he was that good Rich

I think its a Lotus 49 Gary , although the Cooper Climax is modelled in the game

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Prix_Legends

Oh yeah! just installed it and it's great! Have to have a look at the other 3rd party stuff now.

Just took a Lotus 49 out for 7 laps of Monaco, not the easiest circuit to start with, but one I know well. Managed a 1:55.72 as best... a long way to go yet!

Did they forget to program any brakes into this game!!!!

Karl.

Have you installed Monaco rocks yet ?

http://www.dixierunners.speedgeezers.net/mrocks/

Not yet, I'll give it a go!

Karl.

Got to echo your comments there. Although I only had VERY limited success racing at Brands it will rate as my favorite track thats for sure. I only raced on the full GP circuit twice most club races using the indy circuit, but to experience pilgrims drop and dingle dell (before they arsed around with it) was awesome.

I've just loaded my original GPL copy and downloaded the patch so I will let you know how I get on with it. When it was originally released I found it a hard one to master and eventually gave in to the 'easier' Microprose grand prix series 1,2,3 and 4. If I recall Watkins Glen was not a bad track so I'll give that a try first.

Cheers

Doc

Hi Doc

After a little practice and adjustment I'm finding this a lot more driveable than my first impressions - I use a gamepad with a little analogue thumbstick - this was a nightmare at first but now with the linearity slider all the way to the right and the steering ratio (in car setup) to 1:20 I can hold the car at full chat on the straights and I'm confidently building up my power sliding technique in each bend, sure the accidents come thick and fast still, but I'm managing around 1:35 around Silverstone on a good run

I guess the beauty of it is the sense of achievement you get when you are finally putting complete and moderately quick laps together, I have to say i'm having a bloody ball with it

I'm using a gamepad too at the moment, the wheel and pedals are in the loft. I'm finding that the steering is too sensitive on the sticks... I've popped the linearity slider to the right and it's helped a bit... does changing the steering ratio help this along some more?? I'm finding that the lock is only half the stick movement...

I was managing some reasonable laps around Monza in the GP trainer mode, 1:38.99 was my best last night, but I feel there's a bit more to come off there yet! Lots of spectacular crashes along the way as well!

Put the Monaco Rocks 2 scenery update on and it's fantastic isn't it! Seems almost realistic...

Karl.

Yep - the steering ratio is crucial too - the higher the ratio the less sensivite it is (I think)

Hi,

If you download the Le Mans add-on for GPL, you will see that I helped with the track layout ditto the GT40 cars if you can still get them.

And I never, ever got round the 'Ring, I always fell off somewhere!

Regards,

wow - yes that sounds like a must have - are we talking the full Mulsanne 3.4 miles !?!

Hi Skii,

Yes, the full mashing. The guy who did it also did the Le Mans Bugatti circuit but it's nowhere near as good.

The full circuit is very, very good although the corners at White House aren't quite correct. This is the pre-Ford chicane Le Mans of 67-68. If you can't find it, let me know.

Regards,

Hi Graham

I think I've found it -

http://gpltd.bcsims.com/?dis=L

will check it out tonight - thanks !


john

When I was marshalling I remember watching Jim Clark drive a Cortina in the British round of the European Saloon Car Championship at Snetterton, awsome, fantastic driver. I also remember him about the same time driving a Cortina in the RAC Rally, however there was a sharp corner just after a hump back bridge and he went off big time, when he was asked what happened , he said " It's hard to turn a car through 90 degrees when it's five feet off the ground".

Hi Skii,

That's the one. Have a look in the readme, my name's in there somewhere - oh gosh - fame and fortune at last

Regards,

Racing games aren't my thang, but I remember the fuss when this came out amongst hard-core petrol heads

That John Webb? wow. And a different world, indeed.
It is impossible to imagine today's drivers staying around even for a prize-giving ceremony (much less the proceedings being interrupted by Graham Hill -With trousers- Upbraiding Jackie Stewart-"Stand up when you're talking to people!"; Stewart-"I'm standing on my tiptoes...").


I, alas never managed that- Rarely getting past the Octagon (the bar) due to my compatriots, honestly. The one year I actually raced instead of drinking, bats as far away as Swanley had their eardrums ruptured by my squeals of terror when arriving at Paddock- If I'd had any wit at all, I'd have driven the circuit wearing Shuttle flight diapers.
Nice marshals though- The only ones known to give you sweets while they retrieve you from gravel traps- In my case, almost all of 'em. I think I went through several bags...
The place has a feel of real history about it, all right- I can remember thinking back to watching Grand Prix while in short trousers, after having driven (badly) over the same tarmac twenty years later and thinking how priveliged I was.



As opposed to '90's-era thugs like myself- A generation of aggressive sociopaths who would think nothing of driving tactics that would horrify BTCC drivers, while dishing out such atrocities on each other while in open-wheel single-seaters. Sadly ironic then, that the reason for such degenerate conduct- And the reason I've emerged intact, except of course for the quarter-ounce thing between my ears- Might be the stance taken by the diminuitive Scotsman mentioned above. Even though he was, and is, absolutely right.


Even though they don't, I have a cunning and subtle plan... Actually not. If you have an Intel Mac, there are programs- Like VMware Fusion- That let you run Windows. I've got this, but to install on to the laptop. Alas, this beast- Its cooling fans currently doing their 747 impression- Is too old for that. Moore's Law bites me again.
Still, it's a thought.

Here is a high quality clip I've found of a hot lap at Monaco

http://www.bittimonttu.net/files/monaco_with_ghuttu.mp4

'Sadly ironic then, that the reason for such degenerate conduct- And the reason I've emerged intact, except of course for the quarter-ounce thing between my ears- Might be the stance taken by the diminuitive Scotsman mentioned above.'

degenerate conduct? how do you mean?

as for GPL, it's bloody superb isnt it? tjn senior used to have a team with his brother back in the sixties - my dad did bikes and rallying for the most part, while his brother did single seaters and rallying - even he was impressed with it.

I just downloaded the Targa Florio track along the patch for the 65 mod that allows you to run a Ferrari Dino skin on the 65 Ferrari, wow what a track. My copy of GPL is now patched seven ways from Sunday but well worth it.

What's the Targa Florio track like? Anything like the real thing? I know a few people who would like to give that one a blast.

Regards,

Its absolutely mental, few good vids in youtube but I struggle to hit 3rd almost anywhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmzi966Was4

Driver is quite clearly not human....

Right then been trying this game as the demo....however when trying to mod it to 65 (for a laugh) i realised that i wasnt going to work due to it being the demo . so i went to delete it but then inn a flurry of stupidity deleted the 67 season ini file. any ideas on where i could get this back (strangely not in recycle bin) as i do not want to buy the game and commit to a steering wheel....

Could you not down load the demo file and get it from there?

Yeah that has been done now. staring me in the face

Glad to be of service, do you have any of the extra tracks?

http://gpltd.bcsims.com/?ir=Whatsnew

Legion is great, all the best bits of the original tracks.