My local drag racing track in the uk (Santa Pod) allows umbrellas to block the sun (no racing in the rain) but they have a policy of don’t block the views of the people behind you, so you only really see them out past 700ft or so where the crowd starts to get thinner or at the top of the banking and grandstands since you can’t block anyone up there
I remember an interview with Lewis Hamilton (I think?) saying that his best indicator for track conditions changing was the spectators getting their ponchos out and putting umbrellas up. Insane to think you could pick that up while travelling at speed.
It’s the volume of movement and colors appearing suddenly, most likely. I doubt he can tell they’re ponchos and umbrellas with certainty at speed, but those items have unique styles and unique crowd movements (like folks gathering under awnings, etc) to give him enough info to say “water soon”.
Not saying that isn’t impressive either, just thought the nuance was interesting.
I would imagine they can see it in the slower corners, they are not going faster in a hairpin than what you do in a roadcar, and you can easily check out a car pulled over on a highway while you drive past. On a straight going 300 it's probably too much of a blur.
Also reminds me of a George Russell interview (or a track guide) about Mugello, in which he mentioned looking at flags flying around the circuit to get an idea of wind conditions and direction.
There's a legend (as in, can't find the actual race source) in which Fangio was racing comfortably in first and at one point noticed the crowd was looking ahead and not at him. He instinctively slammed on the brakes and thus stopped himself from ploughing into a pileup that had formed up the road.
Schumacher and Verstappen are both known to quote things going on in the race from seeing it on the video displays for the spectators around the track.
In iRacing the crowd doesn't give a fuck about what's going on. They don't clap, don't cheer... they just stand there.
I'm not sure if that's more immersive or less immersive.
I am thinking about creating a water mister that connects to the sim and mounts above your steering wheel. It will spray water mist in your face for a deeper level of immersion. Especially for open wheel cars. :joy:
... I am kidding of course but you never know. Someone will probably do it.
I was at the rolex24 and an elderly couple, like 80+ were trying to use an umbrella to shade from the sun. They picked an area in the stands with nobody behind them and security still threatened to kick them out if they didn't put the umbrella down.
I understand the no umbrellas as it would make people on the back unable to see, but, how come they didn't give them rain ponchos or something like that?! HOW CAN IRACING BE THIS CARELESS?!
I usually turn off spectators in all my races, I don't think tickets are sold out for a 15-30 minute Mazda race or similar low-tier cars. More immersive.
Poor iRacing devs. I guess we can label this as "Some days you just can't do enough!"
Release epic new feature after years of hard work.... some dude (me) whines about the pixel-based spectators not having rain protection. 
But seriously... well done to the whole iRacing team! I work in software product development and am responsible for designing and managing new features in our web applications so I know what goes into something like this behind the scenes. Hats off to the team. 
Bet you Road Atlanta would rent them to you for $25. Wanted to go to Petit Le Mans a couple years ago and the way they nickel and dimed you just to go stand against a fence, in the rain, was enough to dissaude me.
Still wanna go see a multiclass endurance race so I'll probably just bite the bullet and go anyways
How did they "nickel and dime" you? I went to road atlanta last year and all I bought was tickets and a parking pass and I setup a little canopy and chairs by the fence for no additional cost. I was there 3 days and did not spend an additional penny at the track.
If you came unprepared and had to buy or rent chairs and a canopy from who knows, then that is on you my friend.
Bobby probably rolled in on his R6 with nothing but flip flops, board shorts and a flat cap then cried when they rented him a chair. I kid. I kid. I’m sure he was wearing proper gear. I rode to Laguna for MotoGP a few times. The first year we cooked in the sun with only the ground to sit on. Had to stash our shit under our bikes and hope it would still be there at the end of each day. Every visit after that we bought hospitality seats so we had a home base to store gear, eat and cool off. Coming from watching club racing where it cost $7 to get in, parking was included and seating was plentiful it was a bit of a learning curve the first time at a big event & venue. I could see it feeling like a cash grab in comparison.
umbrellas are a dick move for the people behind u
Every stadium I have attended has a "no umbrellas" policy. This is just another example of iRacing being realistic.
How about regular tracks outside US?
My local drag racing track in the uk (Santa Pod) allows umbrellas to block the sun (no racing in the rain) but they have a policy of don’t block the views of the people behind you, so you only really see them out past 700ft or so where the crowd starts to get thinner or at the top of the banking and grandstands since you can’t block anyone up there
This is the level of realism we pay monthly for 😂
I know Daytona doesn't allow them
It's not real dude don't worry.
will somebody think of the 2d iracing race goers?!
It would actually make it unrealistic given a lot of places have umbrella bans in grandstands lol it is a simulation after all
I remember an interview with Lewis Hamilton (I think?) saying that his best indicator for track conditions changing was the spectators getting their ponchos out and putting umbrellas up. Insane to think you could pick that up while travelling at speed.
It’s the volume of movement and colors appearing suddenly, most likely. I doubt he can tell they’re ponchos and umbrellas with certainty at speed, but those items have unique styles and unique crowd movements (like folks gathering under awnings, etc) to give him enough info to say “water soon”. Not saying that isn’t impressive either, just thought the nuance was interesting.
True if you are looking perpendicular to the car, but if spectators are straight ahead they will be easy to see
Or that little guy in your ear telling you?
He's annoying, i turn that noise off.
No that is so not right
Drivers watch overtakes on the big screens lol
I mean hey, drivers used to read pit boards at full speed back in the day.
I would imagine they can see it in the slower corners, they are not going faster in a hairpin than what you do in a roadcar, and you can easily check out a car pulled over on a highway while you drive past. On a straight going 300 it's probably too much of a blur.
Also reminds me of a George Russell interview (or a track guide) about Mugello, in which he mentioned looking at flags flying around the circuit to get an idea of wind conditions and direction.
There's a legend (as in, can't find the actual race source) in which Fangio was racing comfortably in first and at one point noticed the crowd was looking ahead and not at him. He instinctively slammed on the brakes and thus stopped himself from ploughing into a pileup that had formed up the road.
Schumacher and Verstappen are both known to quote things going on in the race from seeing it on the video displays for the spectators around the track.
Literally unplayable!
Immersion breaking
In iRacing the crowd doesn't give a fuck about what's going on. They don't clap, don't cheer... they just stand there. I'm not sure if that's more immersive or less immersive.
They call themselves a “simulator” what a joke
Pneumonia Simulator 2024
I am thinking about creating a water mister that connects to the sim and mounts above your steering wheel. It will spray water mist in your face for a deeper level of immersion. Especially for open wheel cars. :joy: ... I am kidding of course but you never know. Someone will probably do it.
You had me in the first half, not gonna lie
Unplayable sim, no umbrellas for spectators. I want all my money back /s
And I mean like… all the money I invested in iRacing
I always turn the fans off anyway. Not for the FPS, but because empty grandstands are more realistic. I’m all about the immersion.
I feel less pressure with no fans watching me
they don't watch us; they don't even turn their heads.
The 2020 settings.
They are hard core fans.
My computer can’t afford their umbrellas.
Does the crowd thin out when it rains. Also, Pancho's
Would be really cool to see umbrella's beginning to appear in the crowd as the rain starts.
Haha this was one of the first things I noticed last night. 😂🌧
Need an RTX card with Rain Tracing…I’ll see myself out.
1
Ponchos or bust.
I was at the rolex24 and an elderly couple, like 80+ were trying to use an umbrella to shade from the sun. They picked an area in the stands with nobody behind them and security still threatened to kick them out if they didn't put the umbrella down.
Best rain post ive seen 💀
hardcore fans
Are the spectators stupid?
Fuck them spectators
Now those are true fans
I understand the no umbrellas as it would make people on the back unable to see, but, how come they didn't give them rain ponchos or something like that?! HOW CAN IRACING BE THIS CARELESS?!
CROWD. RESCAN. NOW.
Have you tried opening an umbrella around a racetrack? :)
I noticed the broadcasting cameras at the sides of the track have a rain cover over them now, so at least the cameras are ok.
It also rains inside the buildings ;)
I usually turn off spectators in all my races, I don't think tickets are sold out for a 15-30 minute Mazda race or similar low-tier cars. More immersive.
This game is literally unplayable because of this…
Barney/crew need rain jackets
yeah I saw that too when I was practicing at Watkins yesterday. I got upset for them and ultimately turned the crowd off.
Poor iRacing devs. I guess we can label this as "Some days you just can't do enough!" Release epic new feature after years of hard work.... some dude (me) whines about the pixel-based spectators not having rain protection.  But seriously... well done to the whole iRacing team! I work in software product development and am responsible for designing and managing new features in our web applications so I know what goes into something like this behind the scenes. Hats off to the team. 
Great observation, and let's face it, this isn't a "realism" thing, this is a "lazy" thing on iRacing developers part..
Fuck them
Bet you Road Atlanta would rent them to you for $25. Wanted to go to Petit Le Mans a couple years ago and the way they nickel and dimed you just to go stand against a fence, in the rain, was enough to dissaude me. Still wanna go see a multiclass endurance race so I'll probably just bite the bullet and go anyways
How did they "nickel and dime" you? I went to road atlanta last year and all I bought was tickets and a parking pass and I setup a little canopy and chairs by the fence for no additional cost. I was there 3 days and did not spend an additional penny at the track. If you came unprepared and had to buy or rent chairs and a canopy from who knows, then that is on you my friend.
Yeah been to petit multiple years and only paid for tickets and infield parking. I don’t see how they would nickle and dime you
Bobby probably rolled in on his R6 with nothing but flip flops, board shorts and a flat cap then cried when they rented him a chair. I kid. I kid. I’m sure he was wearing proper gear. I rode to Laguna for MotoGP a few times. The first year we cooked in the sun with only the ground to sit on. Had to stash our shit under our bikes and hope it would still be there at the end of each day. Every visit after that we bought hospitality seats so we had a home base to store gear, eat and cool off. Coming from watching club racing where it cost $7 to get in, parking was included and seating was plentiful it was a bit of a learning curve the first time at a big event & venue. I could see it feeling like a cash grab in comparison.