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:

Quote :

Blackwood is known for its versatility, because it contains a bit of everything.

It would therefore be even more fitting to add a head-to-head drag strip there

EDIT: And just to clarify, it doesn't need to be 1km in length. It could also be 1/2 mile, or 1000 meters, 1/8 mile, 1/4 mile etc. 1km is pretty much the longest possible length with this dragstrip.

I thought this really hard actually and currently all official drag races are set on actual drag strip.

The next question is: Does it need to be like so in LFS?

If yes : Then absolute no. End of discussion

If no: It could be then be a completely custom length. And as it would already be relating on elevation changes, drag session on something else than an actual dragstrip would be born instantly.


My personal view is: "Yes, why not? People like to accelerate their cars anyway rapidly, albeit...hm... usually illegally

Hmm... Definitely the finish line should be set before actual apex starts on a kink.

I really don't understand the point of drag racing, mash your throttle to the flow and shift 5 gears in 9 seconds and it's over, the faster car always wins, basically no driver skill needed

I think it's a waste of time for Scawen

Quote from UnknownMaster21 :

If no: It could be then be a completely custom length. And as it would already be relating on elevation changes, drag session on something else than an actual dragstrip would be born instantly.

Hmm... Definitely the finish line should be set before actual apex starts on a kink.

Yeah, that is one added plus. The 1km is the absolute maximum length for this track. While 1/4 mile (402m) is the most commonly used length on drag strips, it's not the only length available. Drag races are also on held 1/2 mile (804m) tracks (Airship Attack does these for example), as well as 1000-foot (304.8m) and 1/8 mile (201m) long tracks.

So with this Blackwood: devs could add a different drag track compared to AU3 and AU4, as they don't have to use a 1/4 mile length.

Quote from Pukyy :

I think it's a waste of time for Scawen

Remember that devs are updating all the tracks at the moment, so now it would be good time for devs to add more track configurations. It would be more waste of time to do this when Scawen is making an update containing those new tire physics, because adding new track configurations is not really related to updating tire physics.

For Blackwood, you have to wonder, can you add any more track configurations? Well, drag strip would be one candinate for that and it makes more sense because consider this:

1) The track already exists
2) Devs can pretty much just use AU3 as a preset when adding it
3) It is significantly different type of track compared to the other track configurations in Blackwood

It would be much less waste of time for devs than people may think. Devs don't need to start from scratch, because they already know how the game works with dragstrips.

When Blackwood got updated in 2017, even demo users got a new track configuration, but licensed racers got much more (Historic Reverse and that surrounding area). Did the fact that even demo users got a new track configuration cause any harm? No.

Because of the fact that licensed users will get so much content in the updated versions (remember that South City and Kyoto Ring will be massively revamped), I'm perfectly fine if demo users get one new track configuration for the updated Blackwood at the same time. This is exactly what happened in 2017 and no one got angry back then. And this time, it would be a track configuration, that not only is much different to other track configurations, but already exists in the game.

One important point about this suggestion to consider is that this would likely be simple for devs to add, but would bring something new for users as well and allow even more possibilites (like top speed testing)

Does the layout-editor allow for point-to-point races?
If you set it to one lap?
(I know singleplayer autocross is point-to-point but I am not sure about multiple starting grids)

I think layouts are the more flexible solution.
It allows players to create drag-strips whereever they want, with any length they wish.

Unfortunately you can't access the layout editor in demo.

That's also got into my mind: demo users could have access to that drag strip, but options regarding that would be significantly limited compared to licensed users (it would be limited to only up to 2 players as well as always fixed start positions and fixed length)

If demo users would like variety, they would need to have multiple track configutations, which would have different length, like 1/8 mile, 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile configurations

The runways at Bancroft would be best for this