Things to know about Forza 3 (and racing)

CAR PACKS

If you choose not to purchase/download a specific car pack you should always download the 'Free car" that is included. This will allow you to not only get a free download car but it also includes the code for the other cars so that you can see them on the track. If you do not download the free car when you race with someone who is using a dlc car all you will see is a blue car figure as a marker. So why not get a free car and at least see what your racing up against if you do not want the download.


RACING LINE

The key to dealing with the line is, oddly enough, knowing when to ignore it. It is a usable tool for learning courses, but won't necessarily always apply to your car or driving style, so as you get a feel for how your favorite rides handle, you may find yourself using it more as a guideline than a hard and fast rule, or even turning it off altogether. However, if you really want to learn a track and get faster on it you will not use this line at all. Your brain is an amazing thing and it will commit to memory everything you need to know in a short amount of time if you simply try. Start each track and drive it at maybe 60% just learning the corners and layout. Each lap go a little faster and learn a bit more. There are many ways to find braking points..cones, distance boards, even the track can tell you..how you ask? usually the braking area is much darker then the rest of the track because of all the rubber laid there. Once you start picking up on these small items you will notice how without any effort at all you get a little faster each lap. By 10 laps you should be getting the hang of the track. The thing about the line is that it's a model of the path you follow in a perfect situation, and said situations are unfortunately somewhat rare, especially when dealing with numerous cutthroat A.I. opponents or real racers on track with you.

Tip: disable the "suggested line" assist in career, netting you more cash after each race.


BRAKING AND CORNER ENTRY

The most important thing to remember is to try and brake while you're still travelling in a straight line; braking while turning your car reduces the effectiveness of both actions. The "best" approach to a turn will usually have you braking while you're still approaching, reducing your speed to a manageable amount, and only then starting to turn while accelerating to try and stick to the line. Just remember there is only 100% traction for any combination so if your using 100% for braking there is none for turning and if you try to turn under this state you get understeer or worse a slide right off the track. If you brake early using 70% traction then turn in using 30% traction you are more likely to be faster around the track because you will be able to get on the throttle earlier and your exit speeds out of the corners will be higher making faster lap times. (Never SLAM on the brakes in racing because when you SLAM on the brakes you usually SLAM into something or someone else) Brake smoothly and turn in smoothly and you will be much faster. When you master braking and turning in smoothly to hit your apex you will become a much better and faster racer. Seat time with no racing line is the only way to do this.

I went searching for some links for you guys to click through if you wanted to really learn more about racing, the line, and what it really takes to understand to be faster. Here are a couple of pages I found with some good info.

Slow in Fast out! ---- http://phors.locost7.info/phors18.htm
The Physics of Racing ---- http://phors.locost7.info/contents.htm

Hope these small tidbits of info help.
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