FH5, Series 55, Week 2

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Treasure hunt. Five jumps anywhere in the Datsun 510. Again, the treasure was in the stadium, but not too difficult to track down.

The weekly. 1971 Plymouth Cuda. What, game, is a Hard Charger skill? I’ve had many down the years, but couldn’t define one even if I was the OED’s chief lexicographer. Had to six-star an ST or two. For the Street Scene race, I went to my usual go-to – Jungle Descent, but as this is the season of fog, I switched to Granjas de Tapalpa.

Eventlab (1). Circuit des Reines. Good layout, cartoony props, terrible road surface. It’s easy to get beached on the kerbs, but it’d be nice if this could be done properly in the game as a proper motorsport track. Rubbish SWS.

Eventlab (2). Close and Technical. Marks on for props. Marks off for night, rain, glare from the lights, and silly layout. One-third excellent SWS.

I just managed to one-shot the DS for a one-third good SWS. The ST took several attempts, but required the right car (2015 Corvette Z06) and a bit longer run-up. The SWS was something different – one-third good, one-third very good, and one-third excellent, which has never happened before.

The HW PR stunt took several attempts as I tried to find the right car for the job, which was the Supra RZ, which was probably the Supra RZ the last time. Rubbish SWS.

The RA PR stunt was familiar, but it was a case of finding the right Toyota. I tried the AT38, but it was too ponderous, and switched to the Toyota Baja Truck. One-third excellent SWS.

I ended up doing History Lesson for the points, and to fill in the time because I was on the lookout for an HA, but didn’t want to waste time waiting for one to start. I used the Escort Mk I while the drivatars mostly used the wrong cars for the job.

The Trial was Japanese cars and Street Scene (ugh). I went with the 1969 Fairlady Z, which turned out to have the best PWR even though it felt a slug, and I wasn’t expecting great things. I started Cañón Run in third and… understeered over the edge of the second bridge as I tried to get round players flying off in all directions. I quit and restarted, this time in fifth, and watched players zooming off madly into the distance. So long as I’m supporting my team, that’s fine, I thought. But then I caught up and appear to have passed the rest of the field because neither the humans nor the drivatars were driving competently. I managed to win the race without any incidents. Jungle Descent is the most familiar Street Scene race because it’s the one I normally use for Street Scene events. Again, off everyone went, and again, I caught up and passed them all. The driving was clean, although I did use a drivatar as a lateral brake to take the lead. Nothing egregious, though [Tell it to the judge. –ed.], and the little bugger was all over my rear bumper at the end. I won, we won, job done.

I see the BMWs won the Backstage Pass vote. In truth, I thought the Subarus were a bit bland. This week, mostly one shrug vs. another, but my eyes drifted in the direction of the Elantra racing car.

The hysterical reactionaries, who undoubtedly got the accolades the first time, are still banging on about Explore the Horizon being the correct and only choice because of the accolades. I suspect that the decision is being made on Chinese and other Far Eastern Horizon forums, although even there, Explore the Horizon may be winning in the Court of Public Opinion. My vote remains for Neither of the Above.

I tried last week’s promoted tune and took the Lancer Evo III down Montaña. Fast (engine swap), but rubbish brakes and, I suspect, overinflated tyres, which made the race somewhat sketchy. I rebuilt the car myself to the top of A class. It was about 20kmh slower than the other version, but I was faster down Montaña because I had way better handling. You see, kids, decent handling counts. It probably counted for me in this week’s Trial.

I also tried this week’s promoted tune on the Rossion. Like the tune two weeks ago, I have no idea what the car is supposed to be. Engine swapped and on rally tyres (which again, are probably overinflated). I tried it round Los Jardines, where it kept thudding into walls because the build entirely lacked adequate handling. Perhaps on a controller it’s easier to driver. I built my original one to the top of S1 class, but kept it RWD. I expected to switch to AWD after a race, but it was all right off the line. The one change I did make to my version was a seven-speed gearbox because it was sluggish with a six-speed one. It’d get to 5th gear and decide that that was enough.

We should actually see something of Horizon 6 in a bit over two weeks. Are we going to see game play or “game play”? Are we going to get details or “details”? I expect the YouTubers will have plenty of lengthy idle speculation videos afterwards. Reality: FH6 as FH5 as FH4 as FH3. [Too cynical. I’m sure FH6 will be full of exciting new innovations. –ed.]

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