New Member Guide

If you've decided to join the league, please follow these instructions, and you'll be on track with us in no time.  If you need assistance with any particular step, please don't hesitate to ask.

1. Submit the new member application

   • Fill out and submit the application for league membership.

   • Within a couple days one of the league admins will process the application and provide you with a website account and further membership information.

2. Install rFactor

   • Install rFactor, and patch to the latest version (v1255F).

3. Install the Grid Motorsports software

   • Install the GridMotorsports client application.

4. Install and configure Mumble

   • Install, and configure Mumble, the voice chat software used by the league.

5. Read the league rules and regulations

   • You are expected to be familiar with the league's rules and regulations, and should read them prior to your first event.  If you have any questions or need clarification, don't hesitate to ask.

   • One of the league rules is that your rFactor driver profile and your mumble username both must be your full name: '<first> <last>'.  You can use the Grid Motorsports manager software to easily change the rFactor profile name (just click on the 'Driver' tab in the program).

   • It's also recommended that you review the full discussion of the Grid Motorsports philosophy.

6. Refer to the schedule and install the track for the upcoming event

   • The schedule for the current season will indicate the date, time and track for each event.

7. Get online!

   • You're now ready to get online and join the Grid Motorsports community.

   • To join the main league game server, just point rFactor at rfactor.gridmotorsports.com.  Information for all active league servers can be viewed in the 'Live Server Status' box on the right hand side of the page.

   • Our practice servers are available 24/7, and we generally host at least one official event per week. You're welcome and encouraged to participate as soon as you're comfortable.

8. Communicate!

   • Use the forums to introduce yourself and ask questions.

   • Use the support resources if you're having problems.

   • Use the voice chat server to bridge the distance.

   • Email the admins: help@gridmotorsports.com.

   • See the communications section for more details.

9. Choose your role and your ride

   • The league is usually in the midst of multiple championship series at any given time, but the primary focus each season is the competitive series involving the grid-gp class of vehicles.  This class uses a unique formula system that allows for a lot of vehicle component customization, and presents league members with interesting choices about how to invest themselves.
     
     What do you want to be?

     Independent Driver

     Fancy doing everything yourself?  Going 'independent' affords you the opportunity to design your own GP car, do the setup for each race, and take it from green light to checkered flag.  That's a lot of responsibility, but also a lot of glory for anyone up to this multi-skill challenge.

     Team Driver

     Just want to zip up, grip the wheel and show everyone what the car can do?  Then shop around, find a team that suits you, and join a group effort to find the promised land.

     Team Principal

     Got dreams of leadership?  Can you keep a bunch of big-headed hot shoes focused on the prize?  Or perhaps you just want to collect some friends under one garage and have fun.  Anyone can form their own team, but it's recommended that you spend a season or two in the league before hoisting your own flag.

     Chief Engineer

     Have a knack for balancing the design trade-offs between raw power and handling?  Try your hand as a vehicle designer, either for a team or by yourself, and see if you can make the hard and uncertain choices needed to put a car on the grid that can tame the most demanding tracks.
     

   • Once you're comfortable and familiar with how the league is structured, you can start to make some of these choices, and tailor the league experience to your own preferences.

   • None of these choices are permanent. The transition period between seasons represents an opportunity to make completely different choices.

   • The details associated with teams and vehicles are not suited to this guide, but are available elsewhere on the website.  The typical approach, however, is to just browse the teams, test drive their factory cars, and then either pick one or blaze your own trail.  The important thing to remember is that the choice is yours.