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If you're a world-class driver (ranked on Schubi's Hotlaps page, for example, or running at Pro or Elite level in the GPLWS or SRM Challenge) or you find yourself running alone way out front, please use a slower car. The BRM, Honda, and Cooper are great fun in F2, and their extra weight gives more of a handicap in the F2 cars because all have the same horsepower. Champion drivers know there's no honor in blowing away a newbie. Choosing a car that will help level the playing field will help make the racing more fun for everyone.
This is an open club, which anyone can join. If someone misbehaves, then we'll boot them out. We'll have several administrators with Boss permission who'll lurk on the club's servers. They'll be responsible for making sure no one behaves inappropriately or abusively.
Remember, the aim is learning for the newer drivers, and fun for all!
We schedule times when a club member runs a server, and members get together and race informally. Using the club's Calendar facility, we schedule non-points races at specific tracks. Club members also host impromptu races any time they can.
Although eventually we'll start up a series, the informal events will continue.
If you've got a good, fast link to the Internet and can host races, start hosting! Hosting is easy. In WinVROC (formerly known as GPL Spy Boy) or JavaVROC, just click on Host.
When you host, put something to the effect of "VROC F2 Club" in the comment field so other club members will know you're running a club server.
Since this is a club for learning, we suggest you host most races in Novice or Intermediate mode. The more forgiving damage models, and the ability to repair the car, will help keep the frustration factor down as people climb the learning curve.
We don't recommend using a latency cap. If you must set a latency cap, we suggest you use a number in the 800 ms range or higher. GPL 1.2 is quite good at coping with latencies below 1 second, far better than earlier versions. Many good races are had with players running with latencies near 1000 ms.
If you can host at regular times, post a notice on the club's mailing list, so the club's administrators can include you in their schedule. Or post an event on the club's Calendar yourself.
For more information about hosting, see the Bandwidth and Advanced Servers pages.
Typically we meet before and after races in the VROC chat room in WinVROC. This allows us to chat separately from the hordes in the GPL chat in WinVROC.
We eventually plan to run a series for F2 cars. This series will be an entry-level series that will be intended to function as a "feeder" for other series and clubs. The real hotshoes already have a number of series where they can compete; what this club provides is a place where new drivers can come in and play, without feeling like they'll get blown off or get in the way of some superstar driver.
We have in mind a handicap points structure that would allow slower drivers to drive any car, and would restrict successful drivers to the slower cars. This would keep the competition closer, and would also encourage everyone to get experience in all the chassis. And if you win the championship in a BRM, you know you're ready to move up to another series!
To join the VROC Formula 2 Club, you need to join a mailing list on eGroups. Simply send an email to:
Or visit the Web site at:
It's free, and you needn't give any personal information if you don't want to.
At the Web site, you'll find a calendar of events, links, a database and data storage vault, and several other useful facilities. You can also adjust your mailing list options; you can have mailing list postings sent to your email inbox, or you can read them on the Web site.
See you at the track!
Here are some resources to get you started with F2.
Many people are intimidated by the F2 cars because they don't know where to get setups for them, or how to create setups themselves. Others don't like the engine sound of the F2 cars in GPL. Still others aren't sure how to go about selecting the F2 cars in GPL or VROC.
Well, there's no longer a reason not to try the F2 cars!