Realism of Papy tracks vs. more recent creations

  • You DO NOT need an account in order to download the content that we host....ONLY make an account if you plan to be an ACTIVE member.
  • We DO NOT Allow Multiple Accounts, those people found to have more than one linked to their IP address Will be Banned.

mjqt

Active Member
Hot Pass Member
Mar 25, 2020
34
18
I recently discovered the Bristol 2003 track created by Ranchaero hosted at Smiffsden. It says that it includes "a more accurate layout than the original in shape and end-to-end dimension", "more accurate transitions and corner radius", "characteristic bumps", and "a more realistic grip level".

This got me thinking, and led me to two questions. Feel free to answer to whichever you like (or both)! Interested to know your thoughts.

1. Which of the default tracks made by Papyrus are most realistic or are noticeably unrealistic for the 2002-2003 era? Especially in terms of the actual track dimensions, banking, transitions, bumps, and trackside objects. EDIT: and also number of potential racing grooves.

2. If you wanted to run a 2002 or 2003 season in NR2003 in 2022, which tracks would you choose (whether default, modified default like BR or Thunder98, or scratch-built) for maximum realism for the time period?
 
Last edited:

wech

Member
VIP
Cold Pass Member
Jan 28, 2021
8
3
Excellent questions. I’ve often wondered the same thing. Hopefully this will get some responses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nascarfan15

JNorton (WKC)

Well-Known Member
VIP
Hot Pass Member
Sep 28, 2016
736
93
The original tracks were pretty basic. Seriously.. This sim is 19 years old. Think about what games from 19 years ago looked like. As for grooves on those tracks.. Forget about it. All were single groove tracks. The extra grooves were created after the fact by 3rd party track builders.
 

mjqt

Active Member
Hot Pass Member
Mar 25, 2020
34
18
The original tracks were pretty basic. Seriously.. This sim is 19 years old. Think about what games from 19 years ago looked like.
Yes. I mean, that's exactly why I wanted to ask my questions. Maybe we should leave aside the issue of grooves. Which default Papy tracks seem visually most inaccurate compared to 2002-2003 reality? And if you know of 2000s era versions that are better, which would you recommend? The sort of stuff I have in mind is what the blurb says about the Bristol 2003 mod: track dimensions, banking, transitions, bumps... (things that can't be fixed by a simple billboard or texture update). I personally don't have a keen enough eye to think up those inaccuracies on the spot, but perhaps others who've spent more time around the sim for longer do.
 

mjqt

Active Member
Hot Pass Member
Mar 25, 2020
34
18
I think The Glen was off in a few places IIRC.
I think I've heard the same, now that you mention it. Elevation and banking issues, I think? Anyway, are there any versions of the Glen (ideally with 2000s-era signage) that are more 'correct' for NR2003 that you'd recommend?

Also, on that note, what are people's thoughts on the accuracy of the Papyrus version of Infineon/Sonoma/Sears Point?


NOTE: obviously, albeit for Assetto Corsa and rFactor 2, there's the wonderful LIDAR Watkins Glen by LilSki and co. If it hasn't happened already, maybe one day a group like BBMC could get permission to borrow that track's basic layout from the 3D model in Blender (after eliminating boatloads of polygons) and then populate it with NR2003-appropriate objects and textures? That'd be amazing. Anyway, I'll stop dreaming off-topic.:p
 

mjqt

Active Member
Hot Pass Member
Mar 25, 2020
34
18
Just wanted to come back to this post after finding track mods using LIDAR data for increased accuracy from @Torch-1 - Dover is done, and Texas is apparently in progress.



This is fantastic. Glad to see modders continuing to work on more accurate track geometry (dimensions, banking, and so on). Anyone have other examples of mods like TE Dover and Bristol 2003, where the mod has noticeably more correct geometry than the default Papy version (as well as mods visually altering Papy tracks)? Leaving aside tracks that have had major reconfigurations like Las Vegas, naturally :)
 
  • Love
Reactions: Torch-1

Hot Links