Renewed appreciation for AC's Nordschleife

I just have spent the past hour to use a replay from action at the Nordschleife to enter photo mode. Nothing new in doing that. But while I moved the camera manually around, I started to be captured more and more by the track itself, ending up with moving it all along, a complete lap, with just hiovering closely to the gorund, stopping in places, turning, watching, and being stunned by the many - partially new - details there are. Time of day was 0930, sunny, and DOF was around 20. When you move this way, low above the ground all the time, it is different than driving slow in a flat car, it is something totally different. You may realise for the first time how STEEP the ups and downs on the Nordschleife are, and how much trackside detail and graffiti there is.

I did like this in raceroom, when they had released their version of the Nordschleife, and already back then was stunned by the track. Somehow, in Raceroom you are a bit more aware of the many details while you race, thy still jump more into the eye, than they do in Assetto Corsa. Maybe it is because of the more contrasting colour palette. But the impression that ine can get, that AC's track is significantly more featureless, might prove to your eyes to be less significant than at first glance. Also, several of the places in AC had really something I can only describe at "atmosphere", and a sense of beauty.

If you never have done so, do it: choose photo-mode in a replay, and then walk down the whole track. With a DOF of around 20 and low above the surface of the track, and a lower sun. You will learn a very lot about the track this way that before has completely escaped you. Doing a slow lap in car, does not compensate for this walk. Take your time, stop in places, explore various standing positions, turn and watch around.

For me, it has renewed my appreciation for the track, and the artists who worked on it.

 

We have track walk mode

 

It's even more incredible when you park the car on the track, get out of your car and walk around on the track in VR.

 

In AC? How?

 

Not sure about the walking part but I've parked up on the inside of the carousel, moved to the left then reset VR position so had a bit more room to get out of the car and "sit" on the inside kerb watching cars come passt

 

Your experience sounds similar to the one I've had with VR. Seeing tracks like the Nordschleife in 3D VR gives you a whole new appreciation for every bump, crest, banking, camber, and elevation change. Really cool to just stop the car and step out onto the track and look around.

 

Nice idea, all official tracks are worth doing this, and a lot of mods.

Super pro tip: If you want to fly faster, press ctrl.

Wish: I wish there were more online racing in Nords. Had a blast when ALOOG-1 made Lotus72D vs Ferrari 312T event at Nordschleife. It was a blast to have first four turns clean with full grid ~three times. Also it had only practice session, so it didn't took forever to get racing. Though 6minutes qually would have been better, maybe.

 

I use VR for trackviewing too, both original tracks, mods and my own project. It's such a great tool to get the "real" size experience and 3D view of things.
@Radiantm3, you made me quit rhm and switch to lock to horizon, Nords terrain is incredible compared to when playing on monitors.

 

Thought I missed something or some special VR stuff.

It remembered me of... I don't know if it was a video or gif, but one of the devs posted it where the driver entered the car, while it will not be in the game. Was neat, but I didn't find it anymore.