NR2003 Online Racing Dynasty with Happy29

[Happy29]

Well, it's a change from Happy's Weekly Poll/Rant. This thread is about my Online Racing experience. Yeah, it's a Dynasty, is it great yet ? No, I'm working on that one. Yep, it's boring, but I promise to post up some cool pictures that will appeal to your base instincts. This is from the NASCAR Racing 2003 Season PC Game, Multiplayer on Sierra.com. Well... enjoy. Yes, later today, I'll post the details of my online races so hang tight !

http://members.aol.com/happyharvick2983/images/happy29scar.jpg




Note : If the other racers' cars appear to be only a base metallic design, dont worry. I couldnt download their schemes in time for the race, guess that's what happens if you just pick a race blindfolded.

Oh, and for not-that-close fans of NASCAR, you'll hear the term "drafting" a bunch. No, it isnt the process of picking new players to the vacant ranks of the team, well not in this sport at least. Drafting is when two or more cars are closely following each other where the first car punches a hole through the air and limits the wind resistance of the cars following it thus making the cars go faster. Well, looks like we learn something new everyday !:)

[Happy29]

Pepsi 400 (Races not in sequential order so bear with me here)
Wednesday June 11,2003

This event would take place at the Daytona International Speedway track, which is 2.5 miles long and like it's sister superspeedway Talladega, it has somewhat steep banking in the turns and that is what makes the track so fast. I hadn't qualified so well, 20th out of 24 cars which will be on the track racing. I decided to put 5% more grille tape on the front nose of the car to increase downforce (which in turn increases speed and grip on the track).

Interesting before even the green flag waived. Many cars went to pit row to retire due to Mechanical or Engine failure. However lady luck would soon turn sour on me. Before my car could even complete a single lap (not even the caution lap), the #313 would slow down considerably to avoid jumping the restart. Unfortunately, the front end of my car ended up smashing the 313's rear bumper and causing him to spin as the green flag waived. I was 3/4 of a lap down by the time my car recovered and returned to speed.

http://members.aol.com/happyharvick2983/images/happy29scar12.jpg

Suddenly, The car blew a tire after a collision with the 10 (No, not Johnny Benson's car) 5 laps into the scheduled 24 lap race (note there's a 2x pit frequency here). We are able to pit for four tires and have enough fuel to last to the finish. After those eventful laps of 5 and 6, the #13 is able to cruise to lap 10 until spinning out yet again and yet again another stall on pit road. One more pit road visit reinforced our fuel milage, the 13 however at this point had been 4 laps down but in 13th place out of 24 due to car crashes on the other's part.

I am caught six laps down but in 10th place until the 95 slows down considerably and I slam into him. It's the fourth wreck of the night, and surprisingly I'm still in the top 10. This is the final lap... and tensions are high as the leaders go door-to-door (that is after I've slowed them down.



http://members.aol.com/happyharvick2983/images/happy29scar13.jpg


Despite Four wrecks, significant damage to the car, a blown engine belching smoke and being 6 laps down to the leader. The 13 AOL/GM Goodwrench Chevy piloted by me (yours truly Happy29) crosses the finish line in the top 10 out of 24. Not bad. Not bad for my first race, I am starting to get the hang of online racing.

( To see more shots, visit http://hometown.aol.com/happyharvick2983/happy29firstrace.html)

[Happy29]

Ok, I just had a loadful of races that I did and I accomplished a few Top 5s and Top 10s. But I'm still looking out for that first win! By Tommorrow or Today I should have photos and race summary posted up. Good day and Good luck !

[condors]

enjoyed the writeup, good luck finding that first win

[Superman=#54]

WOW, an interesting dynasty thats not Hattrick. Keep up the good work Happy. I will keep reading this dynasty. Not a fan of NASCAR, but I do enjoy the pictures and the write-up. Good Luck!

[Happy29]

The Daytona 500
"I came, I saw and I conquered"
Friday June 13th, 2003


Daytona... in both virual and real life, it has been the apple of racers eyes from names like Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and Richard Petty but for one day, one would join them in a virtual sense of the word... Happy29. To race on it's surface is a glorious feat in itself, but I found that all you needed to was to click the button on the server to get in... pretty clever, huh? For the past few days I've raced at Daytona, Chicagoland, Michigan, Bristol, Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Phoenix and Talladega to find a win. I was so hell bent on the belief that what this place [Daytona] had done to Earnhardt for 20 years wouldnt do it to me but in multiplayer online racing.

It didnt take a rocket scientist to know that we had a strong car. During practice, I had aced the Top 10 in speed chart at 48.101. It also qualified rather decently at 10th with a time of 47.694.

The past night, I've been desperately looking for a win only to find myself in the lead for most of the race but only to be crashed by some punk kids probably fresh out of grade school. But, people can only screw with me in real life, not on the computer and this was a belief I was vehemently ready to reinforce.

Yet again, it was a field of 24 cars in a race of 20 laps I had to duel with [each I'm assuming had properly graduated from high school or it's jr. counterpart at least.] It was going to be a fast paced fight to the finish, but it would turn out to be a demolition derby on the pace lap, again, BUT I WASNT IN IT (HOORAY !). The 188 and the 18 would trade some paint, delaying their runs to the green flag, but not me and the Top 10.... it was according to FOX's Darrell Waltrip "Boogity Boogity Boogity !" otherwise known as the green flag signaling the start of the race.

http://members.aol.com/happyharvick2983/images/happy29scar8.jpg

I stayed with the Top 5 as we sped away from the hell-bent-on-wrecking-because-our-balls-havent-dropped-yet pack. Each of the top 5 cars wondered: "Could this be my day looking down on the others ?!", I pondered it also. Suddenly, the hypnotic circling around this 2.5 mile monster came to a near halt when I spun the #326 out (I'll get a cool pic later) That spin out didnt affect me in our little draft chain gang and we continued on as we encountered lapped car after another. Six laps later, Me and the 191 rocketed by the leader, the #320 and were in a 4 car duel.

I inched ever closer to the lead, second, and I thought to myself "Could this be my day?". The 191 became my pathfinder as we passed lapped car or just simply "hazardous waste" after another. Finally, came lap 10, it would prove to be an eventful lap indeed.


http://members.aol.com/happyharvick2983/images/happy29scar9.jpg

I know what you're thinking. Did I pull a Dale Earnhardt on him or did the 191 just simply get loose exiting the turn? A little bit of both I'd say on my part. We were exiting Turn 2 and the 191 got loose, maybe a tire blew ? Maybe he was going too fast for his car setup to handle? I'll never know, but I had no time to simply counterreact, unfortunately, I tapped his left front fender [as he tried to save it] and he went sideways. The result: he spun, went airborne, nearly took out the 2 cars behind me in 2nd and 3rd and I took the lead. From then on, the race was mine to lose, I blocked the 314 and 320 as they kept making assaults on the lead. Lap-by-lap it was like that, at one time the 320 and I were nearly racing side-by-side. But we never did....

With 7 laps remaining, the 191 (Yes, the same 191 who was leading) was exiting from pit road, on the apron (the lower side of the track) and I guess he tried to rejoin the drafting pack (either that or wanted to hit me in retalliation) until he found the rear fender of the 320. All hell broke loose again as he hit the 320 (who was in second) and got him nearly sideways, and the 314 found the 191's rear fender. The 320 fortunately was able to get away with only cosmetic damage while leaving me as the undisputed leader having an astounding 14 second lead on them.

As the laps winded down, and with no trouble in sight, I just took the race in stride. However, I kept my eye on the 320 as he was chopping that time between us and him by a second a lap with drafting help from both contending and lapped cars. Finally, it was like a water bottle in the Sahara desert as I found the lapped 01 car. I let him have a lap back and I used him as my drafting partner until the final lap when I let him go.


http://members.aol.com/happyharvick2983/images/happy29scar10.jpg

There was no stopping me now ! I rocketed through turn 4 and took the checkered flag for my first online race win ever! I slowed her down through turns 1 and 2 to receive congratulations from many who couldnt be in the same position I was in. I did it ! Did I tear up? No, it's just a game, right ? I got my car to the backstretch where I tried my best at a burnout and it easily settled to performing donuts in the grass. I could say this isnt bad for my 17th start, next... it's on to the high banks of Talladega !

[Happy29]

Oh and here are the results of that race !

http://members.aol.com/happyharvick2983/images/happy29scarresultwin1.jpg

[Happy29]

Hey, guys I wanna thank you for all your support. I'm really workin hard, and I'll keep on putting my online races here. Keep watchin for the next race.

[NAIWF]

Congrats on the victory. Hopefully it's the first of many.

[Happy29]

For any watchers for this thread... I'll have Talladega up tomorrow !

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Hey Happy sorry about the suspension .....some people are just ass holes lik that man . Dont worry theyll get their dues someday .

[illinifan999]

Chemical, he deserved it. He was obviously trolling to try to get a flame war started. :(

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Well at least Congratulations on the win .

[DaleJrFan81599]

He didnt deserve it, WE WAS DEFENDING OUR FAVORITE SPORT. Godspeed Happy29 and Good job !

[illinifan999]

:rolleyes:

[Foothill Falcon]

Great win Happy, hopefully you'll get alot more !