Hi!
We know that LFS will have massive graphical update and all tracks, except Fern Bay, will be revamped. This got me thinking, it would probably be simple enough to add a selectable track configuration into the updated Blackwood: Drag Strip.
Using the begin of Historic backstraight, more precisely the first part of the straight, where drivers don't need to turn/correct their steering, and ending just before drivers need to do that slight right-turn at the backstraight, you could have a drag strip there.
I actually measured that, and very conveniently, the track distance would be exactly 1km in length! Not only it would be possible to have head-to-head races, drivers could also test their top speed and see how well they can change gears on straight there.
Because drivers only need to drive straight with no need to turn, adjust steering or brake, it would be much simpler than normally to add this track configuration. And it would be even simpler to add this considering this track alraedy exists, so there would be pretty much no need to do any changes into the updated Blackwood. Heck, we already have the Long Acceleration - Formula BMW FB02 training lesson available, you could probably use that track, but start from little earlier than usual to make sure it would last exactly 1km.
About this track, there would need to be following conditions for it to actually work in the game.
Conditions would be pretty much identical to AU3:
- Only up to 2 players can drive there at the same time (due to track width)
- It wouldn't be possible to set practice or qualifying.
- Race length is always 1 lap
- Hotlapping is not allowed
- Pit stops are not possible by default
- These stats would count towards LFSWorld's drags / wins stat. Wins there would not count towards Races won stat
- Entering to the track would probably done from the pitlane, if someone joins late or after race has finished. After all, that's how it's done for all other Blackwood tracks.
You could probably just copy the style how game behaves at Autocross Drag Strip and paste it there, with of course doing slight modifications to make sure it works properly. Basically, AI would behave exactly the same as it does in AU3/AU4, where when they see a green light, they start driving just straight line for that track length and immediately after finish line, they brake until they've stopped and then turn off their engines
One another reason about this suggestion is that because this graphical update is massive, it would make sense to have something new even for demo users. Demo users would also get to feel like they will get something extra, when these tracks get revamped and graphics get released. Therefore, this update would remind me of 2017 Blackwood update, where even the demo drivers got a new track configuration (Historic), but less content than licensed users, who got that whole surrounding area as well
And for those wondering, doesn't Autocross type of tracks always belong to licensed users? Well, not always: demo users have already gotten taste of Autocross, because Autocross Skid Pad was released on 0.2A, and unlockable S1-content was released when 0.3A was released. Between that time, Skid Pad was a demo track! It wouldn't be first time a test track would be released for demo users
Finally, remember what LFS.net and LFSManual both mention:
It would therefore be even more fitting to add a head-to-head drag strip there
We know that LFS will have massive graphical update and all tracks, except Fern Bay, will be revamped. This got me thinking, it would probably be simple enough to add a selectable track configuration into the updated Blackwood: Drag Strip.
Using the begin of Historic backstraight, more precisely the first part of the straight, where drivers don't need to turn/correct their steering, and ending just before drivers need to do that slight right-turn at the backstraight, you could have a drag strip there.
I actually measured that, and very conveniently, the track distance would be exactly 1km in length! Not only it would be possible to have head-to-head races, drivers could also test their top speed and see how well they can change gears on straight there.
Because drivers only need to drive straight with no need to turn, adjust steering or brake, it would be much simpler than normally to add this track configuration. And it would be even simpler to add this considering this track alraedy exists, so there would be pretty much no need to do any changes into the updated Blackwood. Heck, we already have the Long Acceleration - Formula BMW FB02 training lesson available, you could probably use that track, but start from little earlier than usual to make sure it would last exactly 1km.
About this track, there would need to be following conditions for it to actually work in the game.
Conditions would be pretty much identical to AU3:
- Only up to 2 players can drive there at the same time (due to track width)
- It wouldn't be possible to set practice or qualifying.
- Race length is always 1 lap
- Hotlapping is not allowed
- Pit stops are not possible by default
- These stats would count towards LFSWorld's drags / wins stat. Wins there would not count towards Races won stat
- Entering to the track would probably done from the pitlane, if someone joins late or after race has finished. After all, that's how it's done for all other Blackwood tracks.
You could probably just copy the style how game behaves at Autocross Drag Strip and paste it there, with of course doing slight modifications to make sure it works properly. Basically, AI would behave exactly the same as it does in AU3/AU4, where when they see a green light, they start driving just straight line for that track length and immediately after finish line, they brake until they've stopped and then turn off their engines
One another reason about this suggestion is that because this graphical update is massive, it would make sense to have something new even for demo users. Demo users would also get to feel like they will get something extra, when these tracks get revamped and graphics get released. Therefore, this update would remind me of 2017 Blackwood update, where even the demo drivers got a new track configuration (Historic), but less content than licensed users, who got that whole surrounding area as well
And for those wondering, doesn't Autocross type of tracks always belong to licensed users? Well, not always: demo users have already gotten taste of Autocross, because Autocross Skid Pad was released on 0.2A, and unlockable S1-content was released when 0.3A was released. Between that time, Skid Pad was a demo track! It wouldn't be first time a test track would be released for demo users
Finally, remember what LFS.net and LFSManual both mention:
It would therefore be even more fitting to add a head-to-head drag strip there