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OXCGN’s Massive Forza 3 Career Help Guide

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – Oxcgn

Welcome to OXCGN’s Forza 3 Racing Tips #1

The afternoon glare stuns your vision

Forza 3 would have to have the biggest selection of races available in any known racing game to date.

With 730 races, (no, I have yet to work out exactly how many laps that is, but I’m working on it…that will be in Tips #2), which are spread over a massive 220 events from 10 different categories or series ranging from 50 different real life race circuits as well as fictional tracks based on real life locations in places such as Italy, Germany, France, Nth America, England, Japan and Spain. I think you’ll need a Tourist Visa!

What we will be doing here is hopefully help you go through and use the Events Listing which you can use to help build your Experience Level (XP) and thus gain more credits (CR), as well as win some more neat cars (Veyron). We will also discuss the various cars to use in the different classes that will give you not only a great chance at working your way through Forza 3, but help you enjoy the experience along the way.

Get all testie on the Benchmark High Speed Test Ring

We will also look at which cars to start off learning how to us “Assists Off” function, as well as the advanced Manual & Clutch gear changes which help gain you more credits.

By having most of the assists off, as some cars actually need them on to be tractable (drivable), you can gain an increase of your points of as much as 75% which certainly helps build those Experience Points (XP) up and also get those credits piling up in your account to start upgrading.

But like all things, you have to start – well – at the beginning, funny that, so let’s start with the different races and progress from there shall we. Naturally we’ll try and get as much stuff as possible in, but this will need to be spread across several postings and pages with updates, tips (OZ’s Forza 3 Tips), guides and general knowledge on the gameplay mechanics, some tuning tips and much more.

Download Image PDF

As you can see from the image above at the start of the page, (click to see full size) there are a great deal of events, and of course races. So I’ve made it easier for you by making a printable PDF available for you.

Simply click the image here on the right to have the PDF downloaded to your desktop, and print it out for further reference.

At the end of this particular information page, you’ll find a word doc that you can also print it out, that will have all the details below available for you. No other site does this for its readers,. But OXCGN is a site for the readers by gamers. And we want the same things you do. Information, help, assistance and above all else, the ability to simply have some fun and get into the games we play.

These printable items will help you check out the different classes and give you some idea of how the system works, and you can tick off the classes as you move ahead, and show your mates rather than have then having to view your stats on the 360, especially if you’re not in front of it right then.

I have found the Events List section very useful in getting races done and moving forward. I’m currently on Driver Experience Level 35/50 and my next is 40/50, yet only completed 15% of the career mode.

OZ’z first Forza 3 main tip – FPV

Close to windscreen view point - okay, but not the best.

First Person Viewpoint. I’ve always played the game, or any real racing game or semi-sim through the in-car view, or, if not available, the closest to the screen view as possible. – Why? – realism!

Many find it difficult, citing inability to see ahead properly (well dahh, have you driven a car), sun-glare (yep, that gives it more real-life effects), poor vision on corners (no, really?!), other cars location to you (you don’t say), and more often than not, the inability to see YOU racing in your nice shinny car (poor didums).

Racing isn’t about seeing what “you look like” – It’s about driving at your best without knocking everyone out of the way to get ahead, or seeing how much damage you can deliver to your car, and others.

The ultimate First Person Viewpoint - FPV the 'only' way to race

Anyone want to race me, and it has to be with in-car view locked, manual gears and most assists off, depending on car being used. while I’m not up at the top of the ladder, and probably never will be. But I am still in the top 1% of the leaderboard in Circuit in Class A, top 2% in Class S with varying % in other classes so far.

This is due mainly due to the fact I feel more in this viewpoint than I do in any other, I “focus” on what lays ahead, which is what a driver should be doing, and I can scope the road and track out behind and ahead of me, and have a better feel for the race in general, especially in longer races and Enduros.

In Drivers view (Cockpit or In-Car-View), the cars actually sound more realistic, the road sounds are more realistic, even down to the gravel crushing under tyres, track poles being clipped, rumble strips picking you up on corners, gauging ‘braking markers’, the sound of witches hats popping as you run over them (by mistake of course), and most importantly, the ability to use the engine and gear sound to determine the moment to change gears and the sense of speed needed in such a game.

The Lolly-Pop Viewpoint - totally 'un-real' - Oh look, lovely trees!

Try it, especially at the beginning with the slower cars so that you get used to it, and you’ll find it becomes much more natural, and much more responsive than in the 3rd person lolly-pop view, which always has a much more artificial feel and responsiveness to it.

Try it in both views, and see and feel the differences, you’ll be surprised.

Plus, think about this for a second – have you EVER driven a car flying on a magic carpet about the car – no – didn’t think so.

The ten classes in Forza 3

All of Forza 3’s ten different classes explained and listed with the number of races and points you can gain per race.

• 1 Testing:

Download Complete article

Designed mainly as an introduction to the various cars and style. You start out of course with the wonderfully responsive Audi R8 Quartro to get your skill level worked out, which the AI helps determine. You can still change this difficulty level, but the AI simply wants to see your skill levels, it then seems to work out the opponent difficulty for you, which helps a great deal. Your first main Test is then back into th “F Class” cars so you can work your way through the pack.

Testing:

1. Asian Open – 3 Races – 6000 points
2. European Open – 3 races – 6,600 points
3. All American Open – 3 races – 6,600 points
4. FWD Open – 3 races – 6,600 points
5. RWD Open – 3 races – 6,600 points
6. AWD Open – 3 races – 6,600 points
7. 2 Door Challenge – 3 races – 6,800 points
8. 3 Door Open – 3 races – 6,800 points
9. 4 Door Open – 3 races – 6,800 points
10. 5 Door Open – 3 races – 6,800 points

• 2 Amateur:

An area where you will build your experience with the different cars, working up the ladder towards the higher end cars. Do not be discouraged with these, or think that they are beneath you as a driver. A great deal of fun and most importantly, experience can be gained through constant playing of these classes.

Amateur 1:

1. FWD Elite Open – 3 races – 12,900 points
2. Asian Elite Open – 3 races – 12,400 points
3. French Elite Open – 3 races – 12,000 points
4. RWD Elite Invitational – 3 races – 12,700
5. Mid-Engine Elite Open – 3 races – 11,600 points
6. Nth American Elite Open – 3 races – 13,100 points
7. German Elite Invitational – 3 races – 14,600 points
8. British Elite Invitational – 3 races – 15,100
9. AWD Elite Open – 3 races – 14,100 points
10. Italian Elite Open – 3 races – 15,800 points

Amateur 2:

1. Super Mini Road Test – 3 races – 11,500 points
2. Coupe Road Test 1 – 3 races – 13,300 points
3. Saloon Road Test 1 – 3 races – 11,700 points
4. Hot Hatch Road Test – 3 races – 13,100 points
5. SUV Road Test – 3 races – 12,200 points
6. Coupe Road Test 2 – 3 races – 13,800 points
7. Saloon Road Test 2 – 3 races – 14,600 points
8. Coupe Road Test 2 – 3 races 13,200 points
9. Supercar Road Test 3 races – 15,400 points
10. Prototype Road Test – 3 races 16,100 points

Amateur 3:

1. American Muscle Showdown – 3 races – 11,100 points
2. Inline 4 Showcase – 3 races – 11,400 points
3. Normal Aspiration Runoff – 3 races – 12,500 points
4. Boosted Proving Grounds – 3 races – 13,500 points
5. Six-Cyl Fast & Furious – 3 races – 12,700 points
6. Ultralight Showdown – 3 races – 13,100 points
7. Executive Car Open – 3 races – 14,300 points
8. Eight-Cyl Supreme GT – 3 races – 13,600 points
9. Ten-Cyl Salute – 3 races – 15,000 points
10. Twelve-Cyl Flagship Trophy – 3 races – 14,300 points

• 3 Manufacturer:

Manufacturer 1:

1. Integra Owners Meeting – 4 races – 22,900 points
2. Hyundi Owners Meeting – 4 races – 21,100 points
3. Mitshubishi Owners Meeting – 4 races – 22,700 points
4. Skyline Owners Meeting – 4 races – 23,400 points
5. Subaru Owners Meeting – 4 races – 21,500 points
6. Honda Acura Owners Meeting – 4 races – 24,100 points
7. Mazda Owners Meeting – 4 races – 23,800 points
8. Fairlady 2 Cup – 4 races – 23,300 points
9. Nissan Infiniti Owners Meeting – 4 races – 24,200 points
10. Toyota Lexus Owners Meeting – 4 races – 23,700 points

Manufacturer 2:

1. Peugeot Racing Club – 4 races – 20,600 points
2. Sweden Racing Club – 4 races – 22,200 points
3. V.Dub Racing Club – 4 races – 22,300 points
4. Vahxall Racing CLub – 4 races – 24,200 points
5. Lotus Racing Club – 4 races- 23,400 points
6. SEAT Racing Club – 4 races – 23,300 points
7. BMW Owners Club – 4 races – 22,900 points
8. Audi Racing Club – 4 races – 25,800 points
9. Mercedes- Benz Racing Club – 4 races – 25,800 points
10. Porsche Racing Club – 4 races – 26,600 points

Manufacturer 3:

1. Firebird T.A. Track Days – 4 races – 22,400 points
2. Focus Track Days – 4 races – 22,000 points
3. Chrysler Track Days – 4 races – 23,300 points
4. Pontiac Track Days – 4 races – 23,500
5. Mustang Track Days – 4 races – 24,100 points
6. Ford Track Days – 4 races – 23,800 points
7. Chevrolet Track Days – 4 races – 26,400 points
8. Corvette Track Days – 4 races – 26,00o points
9. Dodge Track Days – 4 races – 25,900 points
10. Viper Track Days – 4 races – 26,400 points

Manufacturer 4:

1. World Sub-Compact Shoot Out – 4 races – 20,500 points
2. American Muscle Shoot Out – 4 races – 20,100 points
3. Euro Hatch Shoot Out – 4 races – 21,400 points
4. Lightweight Shoot Out – 4 races – 22,500 points
5. German SUV Shoot Out – 4 races – 22,400 points
6. JDM Imports – 990’s Shoot Out – 4 races – 21,800
7. Speedstar Shoot Out – 4 races – 23,500 points
8. Premium Sedan Shoot Out – 4 races – 25,100 points
9. Prestigious Shoot Out – 4 races – 23,800 points
10. Ultimate Speed Shoot Out – 4 races – 26,200 points

Manufacturer 5:

1. Civic V’s Golf – 4 races – 22,100 points
2. Celica V’s Silvia – 4 races – 22,300 points
3. Tarmac Rally – 4 races – 22,300 points
4. Mustang V’s Camaro – 4 races – 22,800 points
5. Supra V’s Fairlady 2 – 4 races – 22,600 points
6. German Sports Line Challenge – 4 races – 25,800 points
7. NSX V’s Skyline – 4 races – 24,900 points
8. Fastest Fleet Shoot Out – 4 races – 27,100 points
9. Ferrari V’s Porsche – 4 races – 25,800 points
10. Lamborginhi V’s Ferrai – 4 races – 26,500 points

• 4 Semi Professional:

Semi Pro 1:

1. Puma 150 BHP Run-Off – 5 races – 42,700 points
2. Recaro 200 BHP Run-Off – 5 races – 44,800 points
3. Bilstein 250 BHP Run-Off – 5 races – 46,500 points
4. Toyo 300 BHP Run-Off – 5 races – 49,300 points
5. Sparco 350 BHP Run-Off – 5 races – 48,900 points
6. BBS 400 BHP Run-Off – 5 races – 54,500 points
7. Stoptech 450 BHP Run-Off – 5 races – 54,900 points
8. Bridgestone 500 BHP Run-Off – 5 races – 50,700 points
9. Motul 600 BHP Run-Off – 5 races – 55,800 points
10. K&N 700 BHP Run-Off – 5 races – 55,800 points

Semi Pro 2:

1. Class F Pre-’00 Asian Tour – 5 races – 41,600 points
2. Class F Post ‘00 Asian Tour – 5 races – 43,400 points
3. Class E Pre ‘03 Asian Tour – 5 races – 45,200 points
4. Class E Post ‘03 Asian Tour – 5 races – 45,800 points
5. Class D Pre ‘00 Asian Tour – 5 races – 46,500 points
6. Class D Post ‘00 Asian Tour – 5 races – 47,400 points
7. Class C Asian Tour – 5 races – 49,400 points
8. Class B Asian Tour – 5 races – 52,000 points
9. C;ass S Asian Tour – 5 races – 58,000 points
10. Class R2 Asian Tour – 5 races – 61,000 points

Semi Pro 3:

1. Class F European Tour – 5 races – 41,000 points
2. Class E European Tour – 5 races – 43,400 points
3. Class D European Tour – 5 races – 45,000 points
4. Class C European Tour – 5 races – 49,200 points
5. Class B European Tour – 5 races – 47,900 points
6. Class A European Tour – 5 races – 53,800 points
7. Class S European Tour – 5 races – 53,700 points
8. Class R3 European Tour – 5 races – 54,800 points
9. Class R2 European Tour – 5 races – 59,000 points
10. Class R1 European Tour – 5 races – 63,000 points

Semi Pro 4:

1. Class F Nth American Your – 5 races – 44,700 points
2. Class E Nth American Your – 5 races – 44,000 points
3. Class D Nth American Your – 5 races – 46,900 points
4. Calss C Nth American Your – 5 races – 47,200 points
5. Class B Nth American Your – 5 races – 53,000 points
6. Class A Nth American Your – 5 races – 56,000 points
7. Class S Nth American Your – 5 races – 58,000 points
8. Class R3 Nth American Your – 5 races – 63,000 points
9. Class R2 Nth American Your – 5 races – 64,000 points
10. Class R1 Nth American Your – 5 races – 66,000 points

• 5 Professional:

Professional 1:

1. Yaris S Trophy – 6 races – 68,800 points
2. MX5 Miata Trophy – 6 races – 72,000 points
3. ABARTH 500 ESSEESES Trophy – 6 races – 79,000 points
4. Mini John Cooper Works Cup – 6 races – 82,000 points
5. Hyundi Geniesis Coupe Tour Trophy – 6 races – 83,000 points
6. F355 Challenge Trophy Trophy – 6 races – 91,000 points
7. Murcielago LP640 Trophy Trophy – 6 races – 65,000 points
8. Porsche 911 GT3 Trophy Trophy – 6 races – 85,000 points
9. Ferrari F430 Trophy Trophy – 6 races – 90,000 points
10. FXX Trophy Trophy – 6 races – 101,000 points

Professional 2:

1. Aussie Touring Car Championship – 6 race – 111,000 points
2. Porsche 911 GT3 Showdown – 6 races – 111,000 points
3. German Racing Car Showdown – 6 races – 110,000 points
4. American GT3 Invitational – 6 races – 109,000 points
5. GT3 Invitational – 6 races – 109,000 points
6. GT2 Invitational – 6 races – 116,000 points
7. Japanese Invitational – 6 races – 119,000 points
8. Dream Machine – 6 races – 117,000 points
9. GT1 Invitational – 6 races – 119,000 points
10. LMP Invitational – 6 races – 116,000 points

Professional 3:

1. Class F World Tour – 6 races – 84,000 points
2. Class E World Tour – 6 races – 88,000 points
3. Class D World Tour – 6 races – 99,000 points
4. Class C World Tour – 6 races – 100,000 points
5. Class B World Tour – 6 races – 110,000 points
6. Class A World Tour – 6 races – 115,000 points
7. Class S World Tour – 6 races – 114,000 points
8. Class R3 World Tour – 6 races – 116,000 points
9. Class R2 World Tour – 6 races – 126,000 points
10. Class R1 World Tour – 6 races – 133,000 points

• 6 Speedway:

Speedway:

1. Class F Speedway Challenge – 6 races – 18,800 points
2. Class E Speedway Challenge – 6 races – 19,400 points
3. Class D Speedway Challenge – 6 races – 20,600 points
4. Class C Speedway Challenge – 6 races – 21,400 points
5. Class B Speedway Challenge – 6 races – 22,500 points
6. Class A Speedway Challenge – 6 races – 23,500 points
7. Class S Speedway Challenge – 6 races – 23,700 points
8. Class R3 Speedway Challenge – 6 races – 25,700 points
9. Class R2 Speedway Challenge – 6 races – 25,900 points
10. Class R1 Speedway Challenge – 6 races – 27,400 points

• 7 Drag Racing Heats:

Drag Races:

1. 250 bhp FWD Shoot Out – 3 races – 1,890 points
2. 300 bhp FWD Shoot Out – 3 races – 1,890 points
3. 350 bhp RWD Shoot Out – 3 races – 1,890 points
4. 400 bhp AWD Shoot Out – 3 races – 2,700 points
5. 450 bhp RWD Shoot Out – 3 races – 2,700 points
6. 500 bhp AWD Shoot Out – 3 races – 2,700 points
7. 550 bhp AWD Shoot Out – 3 races – 2,700 points
8. 600 bhp AWD Shoot Out – 3 races – 2,700 points
9. 650 bhp RWD Shoot Out – 3 races – 2,700 points
10. 700 bhp RWD Shoot Out – 3 races – 2,700 points

• 8 Closed circuit laps & races:

Closed circuit:

1. Fujimi Kaido Class F Series – 4 races – 38,400 points
2. Amalfi Coast Class E Series – 4 races – 29,000 points
3. Nurburgring Class D Series – 4 races – 38,400 points
4. Fujimi Kaido Class C Series – 4 races – 39,300 points
5. Amalfi Coast Class B Series – 4 races – 29,100 points
6. Nurnurgring Class A Series – 4 races – 38,400 points
7. Fujimi Kaido Class S Series – 4 races – 39,000 points
8. Amalfi Coast Class R3 Series – 4 races – 27,900 points
9. Nurburgring Class R2 Series – 4 races – 38,400 points
10. Fujimi Kaido Class R1 Series – 4 races – 38,700 points

Closed circuit – Lap Days:

1. Class F Lap Days – 3 races – 34,400 points
2. Class E Lap Days – 3 races – 34,500 points
3. Class D Lap Days – 3 races – 34,500 points
4. Class C Lap Days – 3 races – 34,400 points
5. Class B Lap Days – 3 races – 34,500 points
6. Class A Lap Days – 3 races – 34,500 points
7. Class S Lap Days – 3 races – 34,400 points
8. Class R3 Lap Days – 3 races – 34,400 points
9. Class R2 Lap Days – 3 races – 34,500 points
10. Class R1 Lap Days – 3 races – 34,400 points

• 9 Full-on Endurance Races:

Endurance:

1. 34 Lap Road Atlanta – 1 race – 72,000 points
2. 130 klm Circuit de Catalunya – 1 race – 74,000 points
3. 134 klm Twin RIng Mojetgi – 1 race – 83,000 points
4. 160 klm Silverstone Gran Prix – 1 race – 88,000 points
5. 32 Lap Mugello – 1 race – 92,000 points
6. 169 klm Suzuka Circuit – 1 race – 92,000 points
7. 31 Lap Sebring International Raceway – 1 race – 99,000 points
8. 128 mil Road America – 1 race – 110,000 points
9. 17 Laps Circuit de la Sarthe – 1 race – 110,000 points
10. 187 klm Nurburgring Nordschleife – 1 race – 110,000 points

• 10 Top of the Ladder Championships:

Championships:

1. Class F World Championships – 3 races – 18,200 points
2. Class E World Championships – 3 races – 23,900 points
3. Class D World Championships – 4 races – 36,600 points
4. Class C World Championships – 5 races – 53,000 points
5. Class B World Championships – 6 races – 82,000 points
6. Class A World Championships – 7 races – 106,000 points
7. Class S World Championships – 8 races – 157,000 points
8. Class R3 World Championships – 9 races – 216,000 points
9. Class R2 World Championships – 11 races – 314,000 points
10. Class R1 World Championships – 13 races – 428,000 points

Download Complete article

Make sure you come back for an even more detailed breakdown soon, we will have a downloadable and printable PDF for each set of races or class, so you can find out, the tracks, number of laps and points gained for each race.

Our next set of Forza 3 details will be dealing with various racing tips for each track, as well as some driving tips for the Novice, Intermediate and Expert drivers. Dealing with such things as Assists, Gears, slight changes to the Optimised Auto-Upgrades and several other great Forza 3 tips-n-tricks.

The main thing is to have fun, but also to hone your skills so that you get the best you can from not only Forza 3, but any decent racing game. Our aim is that you will walk away from the experience much more informed, and also with a greater respect for the game, and the work Turn 10 have put into the game.

Personally I’m looking forward to the next lot of Downloadable Content, and seeing the creations that come from the Forza 3 community. The game has its bugs, all games do. There’s no such thing as the “perfect” game or a game without flaws. They all have them. Forza 3 has its share, but they do not distract from the overall experience of the gameplay or the game in general.

©2009 Grant Smythe – Oxcgn

• Other games in genre at discount $’s for ALL OXCGN readers + Bonus Points

Photo credit: Nicolas Hubert

- Gyro

Where do you park your car when it costs more than an average house (in Holland at least…)? If it were me, these things of beauty would be parked up in a nice heated garage. In Belgium however, they park these beasts on the side of the road… awesome!

Great spot by Denniske!

, originally uploaded by Denniske.

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 27th October #16

OXCGN’s Forza 3 Information

All 136 Tracks Available on Release & Loading Hints

Available now - 250 gig Elite Special Forza 3 Unit

Forza 3 ships with 100 tracks out of the box on day one. However, within each box you will find a redeemable XboxLIVE code to load up even more tracks and cars which will give you a total of 136 tracks off the bat.

However, before we get into the details of the tracks, let’s just take a few minutes to make sure your 360 is a happy little vegimite before rushing on XboxLIVE and downloading any DLC etc.

Download Complete article

• Update: More new Tips and HUGE Track Info specs right here.

“

Helpful Hint From Self Confessed Forza Nut XboxOZ:

Hint # 1: 360 Maintenance

While Forza 3 does come with 2 discs, the second disc is the one that holds the various cars and tracks to be uploaded onto your 360’s HDD, requiring 1.6 gig of space.

Before starting, I would seriously recommend clearing out any rubbish gear off your hard-drive BEFORE loading Forza 3, as well as run a normal ‘Xbox 360 System Maintenance’ check through your wee-beasty, which is simply a matter of doing the following sequence of button presses, then clicking okay in the Xbox Dash when the maintenance check comes up. Couldn’t be simpler.

• Some of my Forza 2 toys to check out, you can do these

Just remember, you still own any of the paid pics or theme sets that have downloaded, but that you are no longer using and can get them at anytime off XboxLIVE for free – IF you want them again. Right now they are simply clogging up the works, and taking up valuable space, they can actually be slowing things down a little if you have never done some “housecleaning” in the past.

1. Delete and get rid of all those un-used demos, trials and image/theme packs you no longer want or use.
2. Access the Systems pane in your xbox 360 dashboard
3. Select Memory and then press “A”
4. Highlight Hard Drive or storage device (do NOT hit “A” again)
5. Press Y to view the “Device Options” section
   
6. Press the following sequence “X – X – LB – RB – X – X”
7. The following message will appear “This will perform maintenance on your Xbox 360 storage devices. Do you want to continue?”
8. Press Yes/No
9. Once completed, simply close the system pane and go back to the game and begin your uploading for Forza 3, then redeem your codes for the new tracks and cars or car skin offers.

Note: This will erase all the cache from the storage device chosen, and you may well have to download some updates as you start various games. But that’s a good thing really, as you know that you’re getting the latest update for each game when you need them, plus it removes many of the updates or cache from previous demo, trial and full games that you may no longer have or use.

Effectively freeing up valuable space on you HDD and making a nice clean area for new game such as Forza 3’s DLC and its 1.6 gig install segment. Takes all of a few minutes time, and gives your machine a much better performance rating as well in the long term.

I have found that when this is done on a regular basis, say once every month or so, it helps loading times on all games, plus helps many games run much smoother. As it shifts the files around much the same way as a de-frag does on your PC. Leaving some nice clear space for the next download, and in this case, Forza 3.

The disc 2 upload to your HDD takes exactly 5 mins 20 seconds from start to finish and ejecting the disc. Once that is done, you never need to do it again, unless of course you move to a new machine or bigger HDD on the 360.

Hint #2: Assists – On or Off?

Hit these guys up for a round of Forza 3 on 6th Nov. OZ will be there to.

While many “gamers” say that if you do not race with ALL assists ‘off’ on all cars, then you’re really only a chicken, or worse, a cheat. WRONG! Some cars NEED many of the assists on to be manageable in any way-shape or form.

Next time that you’re in the leaderboards of the top racers in cars such as these super highpowered beasts, check to see if those top stars have assists on – or off, you might be surprised at what you find.

So please do not feel bad about using assists when you need them, you’ll never understand how to manage a car unless you begin with them on at the start, then turn some of them off as the cars and tracks progress, and your abilities and skill sets grow.

• More toys for you – simple, but effective

Just try buckling yourself into any one of the V8 Supercars with all assists off, select manual gear change (like the real cars do) and see just how far you get in the first 30 seconds, let alone 1 – 2 mins of track time.

Yes yes, he beat me, hey, he does this for a living . . .

Believe me, even the real V8 Supercar drivers at a recent Forza 3 bash OXCGN attended had the assists “ON” when driving their respective beasts from the Holden and Ford V8 Supercar teams that are now appearing in Forza 3. (yes we ‘did’ actually asked them if they had assists on or off).

Once you become experienced, then start turning them off one at a time. Otherwise, you could end up extremely frustrated with the game, and ditch it, which is not what Turn 10 have in mind for the ‘average gamer’ or the seasoned racer for that matter.

Now on with the 136 tracks &  game information

Available now - 250 gig Elite Special Forza 3 Unit

Many of these are from Forza 2 (11), but an huge number (13) are also brand new tracks with a smattering of Old-School ones from Forza 1, all beautifully redone from ground up naturally for your racing enjoyment. These are perhaps some of the best known tracks to man and machine.

A few of these will certainly test even the most ardent of racing fans and skilled driver, and that’s no idle threat, that is a promise. Especially the 10 included in Rally di Positano with the full track taking up a whopping 12.4 Kilometers of twisty, winding spaghetti corkscrewy track that is going to have every racers knuckles showing white before they are past the first 2 kilometers.

Not to mention the excellent extensions at Sedona Raceway Park which has almost doubled the amount of road surface, turns, twists and banked corners, hmmm cool.

• Simple colour changes everything – just experiment

We have a total of 13 new race venues to chose from in Forza 3, and a return of 11 tracks from Forza 2, many of which have proved to be the hot favourites of many Forza players around the globe. A total of 24 venues, and 136 tracks in total – so far. With many more to come in the near future. So that track you might be missing out on right now, like my favourite Grand Prix long & short Nurburgring, might well be in a following DLC pack.

What we’ll do here is list all 136 tracks and their distances, history, and specific details pertaining to as many of the tracks as possible. Like number of spectators, track width, longest straight, number or turns – you name it, and we will try and have it here for you to use for future reference. We will also include the actual layouts so you can check them out before you unleash yourself and your rides on them.

We will be working in with the boys over at Forza Racing League who will also be checking out the best cornering techniques for each track over time, and have those available for you as well.

• Expand your garage and simply have fun

But be warned, some of these tracks are going to really test you, and while some might look like a snap to do, however, they are often far from it. As you’ll be working at 1000’s of a second time differences, where the slightest slip or drop in gear change or bank turning position, entry or exit or apex attack will cost you very valuable time.

Time that will most likely either win the race and gain a podium finish, or, have you finish at the back of the pack. It is up to your skill-set as to whether you win – or lose, not how much horsepower you have under the hood, or how wide your wheels and tyres are and how mean the car might look.

Winners are based purely on the person behind the wheel, who then dictates as to how well the car handles and performs, not the other way around, trust me on that one.

• Last, but certainly not least

Here are the new circuits for you to savour over, and remembering that Turn 10 have a bucket load more tracks and cars heading your way, as it was clear in the track selection menu, there was room for several more additional circuits, each with at least 2 or more tacks in them, some with over 5 or even more.

So the likelihood of the games track numbers rising above say 200 could well be on the cards, especially when you know that from day one, there is 136 tracks up for grabs. Not including any of the special Pre-order offers from the likes of GAME, EB Games, GameStop, etc etc etc.

Forza 3 New Tracks as of day one:

1: Amalfi (Italy) – 2 Tracks

• Track: Real Location, fictitious track
  
• Location: Amalfi Coast, Italy
  
• Date opened: n/a
  
• Date modified: n/a
  
• Track length: 1.85 klms
  
• Longest straight: n/a
  
• Number of turns: 14
  
• Track width: n/a
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Full Coastal Circuit = 1.85 klms
2. Full Coastal Circuit reverse = 1.85 klms

2: Rally di Positano (Italy) = 10 tracks

• Track: Real location, fictitious track
  
• Location: Amalfi Coast, Italy
  
• Date opened: n/a
• Date modified: n/a
• Track length: 12.04 klms
  
• Longest straight: 0.350 klms
  
• Number of turns: Way too many to count
  
• Track width: 9 – 12 mtrs
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 12.04 klms
2. Stage A = 2.92
3. Stage B = 2.60 klms
4. Stage C = 3.12 klms
5. Stage D = 5.96 klms
6. Full Circuit Reverse = 12.04 klms
7. Stage A Reverse = 2.92 klms
8. Stage B Reverse = 2.60 klms
9. Stage C reverse = 3.12 klms
10. Stage D reverse = 5.96 klms

3: Road America (USA) – 1 Track

• Track: Real track
  
• Location: Elkhart Lake, WI USA
  
• Date opened: September 1955
• Date modified: 1996
• Track length: 6.52 klm (4.048 miles)
  
• Longest straight: 1266 mtrs
  
• Number of turns: 14
  
• Track width: 11 mtrs
  
• Spectator capacity: 200,000

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 6.52 klms

4: Sedona Raceway (USA) – 10 Tracks

• Track: Real Location, fictitious track
  
• Location: Sedona, Arizona Southwestern USA
• Date opened: n/a
• Date modified: n/a
• Track length #1: 6.65 klms
• Track length #2: 3.25 klms
• Track length #3: 2.43 klms
  
• Longest straight: n/a
  
• Number of turns #1: 19
• Track width: n/a
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 6.65 klms
2. Club Circuit = 3.25 klms
3. Speedway = 2.43 klms
4. Full Circuit Reverse = 6.65 klms
5. Club Circuit Reverse = 3.25 klms
6. Speedway Reverse = 2.43 klms
7. Drag Strip 1/8 mil
8. Drag Strip  1/4 mile
9. Drag  Strip 1/2 mile

5: Benchmark High Speed Ring (California USA El Toro Air Base) – 16 tracks

• Track: Real City, real & fictitious tracks
• Location: El Toro Air base California, USA
• Date opened: 1955
• Date modified: 1999
• Track length: 3.9 miles 6.37 klm
• Longest straight: 0.000 miles
• Number of turns: n/a
  
• Track width: MASSIVE
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Speedway = 6.37 klms
2. Layout A = 2.35 klms
3. Layout B = 1.80 klms
4. Layout C = 1.80 klms
5. Layout D = 1.96 klms
6. Layout E = 1.18 klms
7. Layout F = 2.53 klms
8. Drag 1/4 mile
9. Drag 1/2 mile
10. Speedway reverse = 6.37 klms
11. Layout A reverse = 2.35 klms
12. Layout B reverse = 1.80 klms
13. Layout C reverse = 1.80 klms
14. Layout D reverse = 1.96 klms
15. Layout E reverse = 1.18 klms
16. Layout F reverse = 2.53 klms

1. Drag Strip 1 mile

6: Honda Twin Ring Motegi (Japan) – 4 Tracks

• Track: Real track
  
• Location: Motegi Japan
  
• Date opened: August 1997
  
• Date modified: 2000
  
• Track length: 4.80 klms
• Track length #2: 3.03 klms
• Track length #3: 1-77 klms
• Longest straight: 0.762 klms
  
• Number of turns: 14
  
• Track width: 12 – 15 mtrs
  
• Spectator capacity: 80,000 – 100,000

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 4.80 klms
2. East = 3.03 klms
3. West = 1.77 klms
4. Super Speedway = 2.493 klms

7: Tsukuba Circuit (Japan) – 2 Tracks

• Track: Real track
  
• Location: Shimotsuma, Japan
• Date opened: 1966
  
• Date modified: 1970
  
• Track length: 2.07 klms
  
• Longest straight: 0.437 klms
  
• Number of turns: 12 – 14
  
• Track width: 10 – 15 mtrs
  
• Spectator capacity: 8500
• Official lap record: 51.875 sec = “Keiichi Tsuchiya”

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 2.07 klms
2. Short Circuit = 1.56 klms

8: Fujimi Kaido (Japan) – 14 Tracks

• Track: Real location, fictitious track
  
• Location: n/a
  
• Date opened: n/a
  
• Date modified: n/a
  
• Track length: 16.42 klms
  
• Longest straight: n/a
  
• Number of turns: n/a
  
• Track width: n/a
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 16.42 klms
2. Full circuit reverse = 16.42 klms
3. Stage A = 3.70 klms
4. Stage B = 4.99 klms
5. Stage C = 3.55 klms
6. Stage D = 4.19 klms
7. Stage A reverse = 3.70 klms
8. Stage B reverse = 4.99 klms
9. Stage C reverse = 3.55 klms
10. Stage D reverse = 4.19 klms
11. Old Hill Climb = 7.53 klms
12. Old Hill Down = 7.53 klms
13. New Hill Climb = 8.09 klms
14. New Hill Down = 8.09 klms

9: Ladera Test Track (Spain) – 6 Tracks

• Track: Real location, fictitious track
  
• Location: Camino de Monsterrat, Spain
• Date opened: n/a
  
• Date modified: n/a
  
• Track length: 1.95 klms
• Track length #2: n/a
  
• Track length #3: n/a
  
• Longest straight #1: n/a
  
• Number of turns: n/a
  
• Track width: n/a
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 1.95 klms
2. Short Circuit = 1.24 klms
3. Mini Circuit = 0.90 klms
4. Full Circuit reverse = 1.95 klms
5. Short Circuit reverse = 1.24 klms
6. Mini Circuit reverse = 0.90 klms

10: Iberian International Circuit (Spain) – 6 Tracks

• Track: Real Location, fictitious track
• Location: Camino de Monsterrat, Spain
  
• Date opened: n/a
  
• Date modified: n/a
  
• Track length: 2.40 klms
• Track length #2: 1.84 klms
  
• Track length #3: 1.90 klms
  
• Longest Straight #1: n/a
  
• Number of turns: n/a
  
• Track width: n/a
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit 2.40 klms
2. Short Circuit = 1.84 klms
3. Mini Circuit = 1.09 klms
4. Full Circuit reverse = 2.40 klms
5. Short Circuit reverse = 1.84 klms
6. Mini Circuit reverse = 1.90 klms

11: Camino Viejo de Monsterrat (Spain) – 8 Tracks

• Track: Real location, fictitious track
  
• Location: Camino de Monsterrat, Spain
  
• Date opened: n/a
  
• Date modified: n/a
  
• Track length: 2.90 klms
  
• Longest straight: n/a
  
• Number of turns: n/a
  
• Track width: n/a
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 2.90 klms
2. Short Circuit = 1.74 klms
3. Mini Circuit = 0.90 klms
4. Extreme Circuit = 6.95 klms
5. Full Circuit reverse = 2.90 klms
6. Short Circuit reverse = 1.74 klms
7. Mini Cicuit reverse = 0.90 klms
8. Extreme Circuit reverse = 6.95 klms

12: Circuit de Catalunya (Spain) – 3 Tracks

• Track: Real location, Real track
  
• Location: de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
• Date opened: 1989 – 91
  
• Date modified: 2006
  
• Track length: 4.627 km (2.875 mls)
• Longest straight: 1 047 m (0.651 mls)
• Number of turns: 16,  R= 8, L= 8
  
• Track width: 12 mtrs
  
• Spectator capacity: 104,000
• Lap record: 1:21.670 ( Kimi Räikkönen,  Scuderia Ferrari, 2008)
• Speed & Gears for Corners: F1 Complete

Track versions:

1. Grand Prix Circuit = 4.66 klms
2. Natinoal Circuit = 2.98 klms
3. School Circuit = 1.70 klms

13: Le Mans Circuit de  Sarthe – 24 Heures (France) – 3 Tracks

• Track: Real track
• Location: Germany
  
• Date opened: 1921 – 23
  
• Date modified: 1929 – 32 – 56 – 68 – 84 – 86 – 2006
• Track length: 6 km (3.7 mi) (known as Ligne Droite des Hunaudières)
• Track length #2: 13.59 klms (8.469 mls)
  
• Track length #3: 4.18 klms
  
• Longest straight: 450 m / 0.28 miles
• Number of turns: 10 – 21
  
• Track width: 13 mtrs
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a
• Lap record: 3:19.394 (246.068 km/h) in 2008 – 3:19.394 (246.068 km/h)
• Speed & Gears for Corners: F1 Complete (F1 track only – not in game atm)

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit 13.65 klms
2. Old Mulsanne Circuit 13.59 klms
3. Bugatti Circuit 4.18 klms

Old Forza Tracks Back for more action

1: New York (USA NY – Fictitious Track) – 4 Tracks

• Track: Real City, fictitious track
• Location: New York, NY, USA
• Date opened: n/a
• Date modified: n/a
• Track length: 3.9 miles
• Track length #2: n/a
  
• Longest straight: 0.933 miles
• Longest straight #2: n/a
  
• Number of turns: 13
• Track width: 68 feet
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 2.93 klms
2. Old Circuit = 2.91 klms
3. Full Circuit reverse = 2.93 klms
4. Old Circuit = 2.91 klms

2: Maple Valley (Fictional – USA) – 4 Tracks

• Track Type: Fictitious Track
• Location: New England, USA
• Date opened: 1976
• Date modified: 1995
• Full Track length: 4.83 klms
• Short Track length #2: 1.87 klms
• Longest straight: 0.302 miles
• Longest straight #2: n/a
  
• Number of turns: 12
• Short Track length: 1.15 miles – 1.87 klms
• Longest straight: 0.2492 miles
• Number of turns: 6
• Track width: 48 feet
• Spectator capacity: 12,000

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 4.83 klms
2. Short Circuit = 1.87 klms
3. Full Circuit reverse = 4.85 klms
4. Short Circuit reverse = 1.87 klms

3: Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway ( USA California) – 1 Track

• Track: Real track
• Location: Salinas, (Monterey) Califorina, USA
• Date Opened: 11/9/1957
• Date Modified: 1996
• Length: 3.60 klms (2.238mls)
• Number of Turns: 11
• Longest straight: n/a
• Track Width: 30-50 feet
• Lap record: 1:05.880 (Sebastien Bourdais, , 2007, Champ Car)

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 3.60 klms

4: Sidewinder Proving Grounds (USA?) – 18 Tracks

• Track: Fictitious track
  
• Location: n/a
  
• Date opened: n/a
  
• Date modified: n/a
  
• Track length: 7.74 klms
  
• Longest straight: n/a
  
• Number of turns: n/a
  
• Track width: n/a
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Layout A = 1.01 klms
2. Layout B = 1.32 klms
3. Layout C = 1.35 klms
4. Layout D = 2.03 klms
5. Layout E = 2.22 klms
6. Layout F = 2.30 klms
7. Layout G = 3.30 klms
8. Layout H = 3.61 klms
9. Layout I = 7.74 klms
10. Layout A reverse = 1.01 klms
11. Layout B reverse = 1.32 klms
12. Layout C reverse = 1.35 klms
13. Layout D reverse = 2.03 klms
14. Layout E reverse = 2.22 klms
15. Layout F reverse= 2.30 klms
16. Layout G reverse = 3.30 klms
17. Layout H reverse = 3.61 klms
18. Layout I reverse = 7.74 klms

5: Autodromo International de Mugello (Italy) – 2 Tracks

• Track: Real track
• Location: Scarperi, Italy
  
• Date opened: n/a
  
• Date modified: n/a
  
• Track length: 5.25 klms
• Track length #2: 2.88 klms
  
• Longest straight: n/a
• Longest straight #2: n/a
  
• Number of turns: 18
  
• Track width: 18 – 20 mtrs
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 5.25 klms
2. Short = 2.88 klms

6: Nurburgring Nordschleife (Germany) – 5 Tracks

• Track: Real track
• Location: Nordschleife, Germany
  
• Date opened: 1951
  
• Date modified: n/a
  
• Track length: 20.76 klms
  
• Longest straight: 6 km (3.7 mi) (known as Ligne Droite des Hunaudières)
• Number of turns: 10 – 21
  
• Track width: n/a
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a
• Speed & Gears for Corners: F1 Complete (F1 only – not in game atm)

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 20.76 klms
2. Stage A = 4.99 klms
3. Stage B = 4.99 klms
4. Stage C = 4.99 klms
5. Stage D = 5.96 klms

7: Road Atlanta (USA) – 2 Tracks

• Track: Real track
• Location: Braselton, Georgia, USA
  
• Date opened:1970
  
• Date modified: December 1996
  
• Track length #1: 4.09 klm (2.54 miles)
• Track length#2: 2.85 klm (1.77 miles)
• Longest straight #1: 1.0780 klm
• Longest straight #2: 0.5824 klm
• Number of turns #1: 12
• Number of turns #2: 9
• Track width: 12.1920 mtrs
  
• Spectator capacity: 100,000

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 4.09 klms
2. Short Circuit = 2.85 klms

8: Sunset Peninsula Raceway (USA) – 6 Tracks

• Track: Fictitious track
  
• Location: Florida USA
  
• Date opened: 1973
  
• Date modified: 1996
  
• Track length #1: 4.47 klms
• Track length #2: 3.12 klms
• Track length #3: 3.93 klms
  
• Longest straight #1: 0.6983o klms
• Longest straight #2: 0.69830 klms
• Longest straight #3: 1.04263 klms
• Number of turns #1: 16
• Number of turns #2: 10
• Number of turns #3: 4
• Track width: 21.3360 mtrs
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 4.47 klms
2. Club Circuit = 3.12 klms
3. Speedway = 3.93 klms
4. Full Circuit reverse = 4.47 klms
5. Club Circuit = 3.12 klms
6. Speedway reverse = 3.93 klms

9: Sebring International Raceway (Florida USA) – 3 Tracks

• Track: Real track
• Location: Sebring, Florida, USA
  
• Date opened: 1950
  
• Date modified: 1983/86/91/96
  
• Track length: 5.95 klms
• Track length #2: 3.22 klms
  
• Track length #3: 2.74 klms
  
• Longest straight: n/a
• Number of turns: 17
  
• Track width: n/a
  
• Spectator capacity: n/a
• Lap record: 1:43.274 (Sébastien Bourdais, Peugeot, 2009, LMP1)

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 5.95 klms
2. Short Circuit = 3.22 klms
3. Club Circuit = 2.74 klms

10: Silverstone Racing Circuit (Great Britian) – 3 Tracks

• Track: Real track
• Location: Northamptonshire, UK
  
• Date opened: 1948
  
• Date modified: 1979 – 87 – 92 – 95 – 2010
  
• Track length #1: 5.141 klm
• Track length #2: 3.62 klm
• Track length #3: 2.64 klm
• Longest straight #3: 85 mtrs
  
• Number of turns: 17
  
• Track width: n/a
  
• Spectator capacity: 90,000 gen – 60,000 grandstands
• Lap record: 1″18.739 Michael Schumacher, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 2004
• Speed & Gears for corners: F1 Fanatic – incl areal map

Track versions:

1. Silverstone Grand Prix = 5.13 klms
2. Silverstone International Circuit = 3.62 klms
3. Silverstone National Circuit = 2.64 klms

11: Suzuka Circuit (Japan) – 3 Tracks

• Track: Real track
• Location: Suzuka, Sth West Nagoya, Japan
  
• Date opened: 1962
  
• Date modified: n/a
  
• Track length #1: 5.81 klms (3.609 mls)
• Track length #2: 3.46 klms
• Track length #3: 2.24 klms
  
• Longest straight: 0.900 klms
• Number of turns: 17
  
• Track width: 10  – 14 mtrs
  
• Spectator capacity: 100,000
• Lap record: 1:31.540 ( Kimi Räikkönen, McLaren, 2005)
• Info on gears/speed on corners: F1 Complete

Track versions:

1. Full Circuit = 5.81 klms
2. West Circuit = 3.46 klms
3. East Circuit = 2.24 klms

We will keep you updated on any new tracks and cars of course, and our Forza 3 review is heading your way in the next day or two, and you can be assured that our review will be a very detailed one, not your average one from most gaming sites, especially the major ones who basically take all games with an average amount of enthusiasm . . .

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Information – All 136 tracks & Loading Tips
  
• Forza 3 October Special – Lets Go Drag Racing, Forza Style
• Forza 3 October Info #13 2002 Firebird Ram Air – The Last ‘Bird
• Forza 3 October Info #12 Remington #8 Cadillac CTS-V Razor Sharp
  
• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
  
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle 79 Z28 Camaro
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

[Zibri] found a very simple method for using brain waves as a controller via a DB9 serial port. He’s using Uncle Milton’s Force Trainer which we saw yesterday in the brain controlled Arduino. In that project the Arduino tapped into the LEDs and interfaced those signals with a computer via USB. This time the connection was made using an RS-232 transceiver to pass data from the programming header inside of the toy’s base unit to a computer over the serial port. Tapping into the programming header has a lot more potential and should be more reliable than sniffing logic out of LED connections. [Zibri] has written an application to display the received data but it doesn’t look like he’s made the code available for download.

Apparently he tipped us off about a week ago. We recall seeing this submission but as you can tell it’s a little bit light on the detail. So if you want your tips to be at the front of the line, make sure you do what you can to fill us in on all the details of your project. At our request [Zibri] provided a picture of the PCB from the Force Trainer’s base unit. See it after the break.

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 21st October #15

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #15 – Daily Vehicle News

‘90 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z, Last of a Breed.

Well it’s almost there for us bods Downunder (Australia, the great southern isle for the uneducated) when Forza 3 will be unleashed onto our shelves and market of retailers throughout our great fair land on October 23rd. Some of us have been lucky enough to nab a copy for reviewing so far, and we managed to pull one of the Forza 3 Limited Collectors Editions apart for you as well yesterday.

We will hopefully be following that un-boxing up with another even bigger un-boxing! Yes, the un-boxing of the Forza 3 250 gig Super Elite Bundle which we hope to have in our hot little sticky hands in the very close future thanks to GameBasement. So make sure that you are around for that soon as we have it arrive.

And while this isn’t the last you’ll see of OXCGN’s Forza 3 news & Updates, they will start take a twists and turns, and start delivering a different style of reporting and news, the OXCGN Forza 3 Community News.

We’ll be teaming up with the guys over at Forza Racing League to help readers get into and enjoy racing on any level within Forza 3. as well as Forza 2 if you are so inclined. The guys over there have some huge plans ahead for their sites, and when you see them, you’ll wonder why someone hasn’t done these great ideas beforehand.

[Ed: Update:]

One of our intrepid readers, and lovers of the old but faithful Camaro, Tom Svetlak sent me some info re the IROC:

“although the 91-92 production year Camaros were third generation… they were never badged as IROC. the lease for IROC expired on December 31, 1989 and was then used by Dodge for the Daytona. the 1991 and 1992 Camaros simply went back to Z28.”

But right now, let’s take a look at one of the most celebrated Chevy Camaros, the famous Chevy Camaro IROC-Z  350, that first made its appearance in 1982. While the Camaro had been around since the mid 60’s, the car that became the one of faces for the International Racer Of Champions (IROC) which first made its appearance in 1985 and reach its highest peak of fame in 1992, based on a series of races that pitted champions from all types of motorsports from around the world in equally matched cars.

The only difference being the various liveries set up for each driver and team, and then down to the fine art of tuning both engine and suspension. Basically what you can do in Forza 3, and which will mean the difference between winning, or losing . . And please, this is NOT a dodgem-cars-racer. Start doing that online and you’ll find yourself in the banned book from many tournaments and erased from Friends Lists left right and center.

Try “racing and doing things within the limits allowed to you, brake when you’re supposed to, don’t shunt on purpose to make room for yourself. Sure, there are such things as accidents, we all have them, but doing it on purpose is basically “very bad form” in the racing world.

1992 was the last year to ever see the IROC-Z badging and moniker of the famed Camaros, which was a sad day indeed, as these cars made an impression on anyone when they rumbled down the pavement or rolled backwards out of a garage then spun off into the distance. It was an end that was necessary  however, especially when high powered gas guzzlers were being scrutinized by both the public and environmentalist world-wide. The IROC-Z was not the only big-broad-muscle-car to suffer from this time, but that is as they say, another story.

It was the third generation of Camaros and with that came some amazing advancements in technology, not to mention obtaining brute horsepower that could be squeezed from the humble but solid Chevy Small Blocks (ie; 303, 327 and 350’s) It was one of the highest sold vehicles on the sales charts during the period from ‘85 – ‘92, but like all things in life, it had to end, and 1990 was its time.

The car featured the famous L98 350 cu-in small block and pupped out a decent 245 bhp which either ran through a Turbo-Hydramatic 700R4 four-speed auto, or were available fitted out with an optional five speed manual transmissions – of course. This pushed the ponies through to the standard LSD (limited slip differential) and unleashed those wild hooves onto the tarmac, and usually at an expense of a lot of rubber I might add. These were also the first Camaros to offer modern fuel injection

The cars were nearly 500 pounds lighter than the long running second generation model. The legendary IROC-Z was introduced in 1985. In 1987, the potent L98 5.7 V-8 engine was available in the Z28, paired with an automatic transmission. The “20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition” was offered in 1987 and a “25th Anniversary Heritage Package” in 1992. Beginning in 1989, the famed 1LE performance package was introduced, for the street models and for showroom stock racing in the U.S. and Canada. The B4C or “police” package was made available beginning in 1991. This basically created a Z28 in more subtle RS styling.

In Forza 3 you will be able to tweak, twitch and preen your IROC-Z to perfection, paint it in whatever colour combinations you wish, or simply choose to leave it stock and in true American Muscle Car trim, which any self respecting purist would do of course. You will be able to find races that fit into that class of course, as well any classes you build the beast into, or take it onto the Forza 3 Drag Strip at the Benchmark High Speed Ring.

That is one thing about Forza 3 that no other games have. That being. A huge community base that is expanding rapidly on a daily basis, and in all avenues and genre’s or racing to I might add. So no matter what your taste, be it for the Japanese Zappers, American Muscle, European sleek sallons, there will be cars there for you to play with.

Our next Forza 3 feature will be our Forza 3 Media Extravaganza . . with all our 700 plus images, and copious amounts of videos all in one big huge page just for you to spend time looking through. We’ll be opening the lines and having a Show-Us-Your-Ride page where you can send up your cars, which we will then upload tof all to see and admire.

So hang around, stay ‘tuned’ – yes, another racing pun – sorry, and see what else OXCGN has in store for other games.

Hmmm. . . . let me see . . . . Splinter Cell sounds nice . . . yep, our next port of call on OXCGN Game Series will be . . . . the great Ubisoft franchise – Splinter Cell: The History Of Sam Fisher.

IROC never died though, here’s a IROC Inspired VW Concept street racer that really turned some heads, I’d have one at the drop of a hat., and it’s green to, the only colour that it was available in. Much Like Henry Ford’s T Model, which was available in any colour you wanted, so long as it was – black.

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Info #15
  
• Forza 3 October Special – Lets Go Drag Racing, Forza Style
• Forza 3 October Info #14 Test Track, Gymkhana, Drag Racing Delights
• Forza 3 October Info #13 2002 Firebird Ram Air – The Last ‘Bird
• Forza 3 October Info #12 Remington #8 Cadillac CTS-V Razor Sharp
  
• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 17th October #12

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #12 – Daily Vehicle News

Remington #8 Cadillac CTS-V Is Razor Sharp

We could use all the terrible clichés with Remington, but hey, why try and Steel everyone elses thunder . . wink wink.

The Cadillac is in it’s second generation of cars now, and through the extremely short period of time the Vehicles have been competitive, they have smashed records left-right-and-center.

Up until recently, the out of the box Cadillac CTS-V is a screamer, and was the fastest, commercially available  4 dooir production car on the planet, setting a blistering time at the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife of 7:59.32, and was beaten only by a recent attempt by a V8 powered Porsche.

What Forza 3 digital drivers have here is the Remington #8 Cadillac CTS-V Race Equipted version. A bare bones pure breed race car just for you to throw around any one of the 400 plus tracks in Forza 3. Even in street trim these are pure beasts, delivering 559BHP right off the production line and a massive 551 lb-ft of pure torque that is unleashed through a 6 speed auto or 6 speed sequencial gearbox.

Times for the CTS-V off the showroom floor, are staggeringly quick, with an official 0-60 mph time for the 2nd-generation CTS-V is 3.9 seconds, while the quarter mile is run at 12.0 seconds at 118 mph (190 km/h). Now that is quick when you consider, it’s a huge 4 door luxury sedan which is packed to the rafters with as many luxury items a Cadillac should be.

Even the United States Police Force think these “Tin-Tops” are super slick, and they are super patriotic as well . . . “Please – please – I did it officer, honest I did, just lock me up, take me away in your car – PLEASE….“

While we will have access to the un-race equipt models with higher 556 bhp models, the 515 bhp Remington Racing version however is certainly no slug, and while the motor is basically as is off the showroom floor, it has been tweaked and honed to near perfection. Blueprinted (taking a motor to the exact design ie; blueprinting, specifications).

This involves  removing any burs, moulding or forging imprints, polishing every inner chamber, matching inlet and exhaust ports to each individual inlet and exhaust tube. As if it were one seamless tube allowing the high octane fuel in, and forcing out the burnt and un-burt fuel out the extractors as fast as possible without creating any ‘unwanted’ turbulence.

Making sure every item that is spinning off that crankshaft is balanced and each are the ‘exact’ same weight as each other, so as not to create an imbalance during spinning at extraordinary high revs. The CTS-V is powered by General Motors famed supercharged 6.2 liter LSA V-8, based on the LS9 V-8 from the recently released Corvette ZR1. It produces 556 hp (415 kW) and 551 lb·ft (747 N·m) of torque. The LSA engine has a bore and stroke of 4.06 x 3.62 inches (103.25 x 92.0 mm).

The #8 Remington Shaving CTS-Vis one of Team Cadillac’s flagship which has led the luxury marque to the World Speed Challenge GT Manufacturer’s Championship in early in 2005 and 2007. Snatching up 12 out of 41 races during one segment of the championships. Forza 3 drivers will have the chance to be in the driving seat that Andy Pilgrim has lumped his backside in to win many races and set new records with the Remington Razor Sharp Ride. He won the driver’s title in 2005.

Yes, there is a discrepancy with the Horsepower on the production model of the CTS-V 556 bhp when compared to the restricted 515 bhp that the class restrictions and racing rules require for the Remington CTS-V to compete. So basically, they had to down grade the power from stock, now there’s a switch.

But by using the aforementioned blueprinting and expert spanner work by the guys at Katech, the LS2 V* still pumps out enough torque to make your eye water coming out of the apex’s. This huge muscular heart thumping LS2 V8 is shoehorned into a super rigid race chassis that has been fitted out with leading edge suspension technology.

The car feels at home in race trim on short tracks like the Amalfi Coast, Ladera and Tsukuba’s very technical demanding course, as it does on the long straight featured courses like Le Mans, Catalunya, Nürburgring Nordschleife and Mugello.

Those back straights and blinding corners at The ‘Ring are enough to scare the pants off any real driver, so expect the same here. Especially knowing that even great race drivers can pull their same track times on Forza 3 as they can in real life on the very same tracks.

You’ll have the chance to see if you can come close to those times in real-world races, knowing that the physics involved match up to real life as close as possible. With Real-World drivers using the same markers, brake and apex points, exits and know where the flaws in a goven track need being avoided at high speeds.

Now that is something, knowing that what you’ll be playing represents as close as possible to real life as technology allows at this present day and age. Imagine what you can do with the Producytion model that thumps out 559 bhp, you could buiold a monster . . . I will be, and covering it in the OXCGN/Fantec Livery.

Anyone want to come ride with us . . ?

Real World Counterpart History

First generation (2004-2007)

The CTS sedan is enhanced with GM performance parts like a GM LS engine V8 from the C5-generation Chevrolet Corvette Z06, as well as the Corvette Z06’s six-speed Tremec manual transmission.

From 2006-2007, the previous LS6 engine was superseded by the new LS2 engine as used in the base 2006 Chevrolet Corvette. The 2006-2007 update also included a stronger rear differential and half shaft design.

Unique front and rear treatments also included mesh grilles over the front openings, a track-ready suspension, and eighteen-inch wheels inside of Z-rated Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar run-flat tires. In addition, GM badges were added on 2006 models.

There is some controversy surrounding the rear differential and half-shafts of the 2004-2005 models. In addition to many internet forum postings from unhappy owners, one can find reference to the “whine” problem in Road & Track’s November 2006 issue.

There are also numerous complaints with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) for both the 2004 and 2005 models. On page 6 of the November 2006 issue of GM High Tech Performance, author Rick Jensen claims to have an internal GM document indicating that some engineers within GM and Delphi realized the torque load from the engine could exceed the half shafts capabilities.

Cadillac/GM have not released anything official, though some dealers have replaced the units under warranty. The upgraded differential starting in 2006 is seen by some as a silent admission of the problem. This problem has not affected the reliability of the non-V series version of the car, which is given a 5 out of 5 reliability rating on autos.msn.com

Second generation (2009-)

A supercharged 6.2 liter LSA V-8, based on the LS9 V-8 from the recently released Corvette ZR1, is the powerplant in the 2009 CTS-V. It produces 556 hp (415 kW) and 551 lb·ft (747 N·m) of torque. The LSA engine has a bore and stroke of 4.06 x 3.62 inches (103.25 x 92.0 mm).

There are manual and automatic transmission choices, a six speed transmission with a short-throw shifter and dual clutch surface flywheel, or a paddle shift conventional (planetary gearing and torque converter-based) automatic six speed. There will also be LED flash tracers to tell the driver when to shift.

For the first time, Cadillac will offer 14-way adjustable performance Recaro seats. To improve the handling and comfort, the 2009 CTS-V uses Delphi Corporation’s MagneRide technology. The dampers, filled with magnetorheological fluid, are adjusted based on sensor readings that happen at 1ms intervals.

The 2009 CTS-V has a base price of US$59,995, and is available for purchase as of November 1 2008.

Official 0-60 mph time for the 2nd-generation CTS-V is 3.9 seconds, while the quarter mile is run at 12.0 seconds at 118 mph (190 km/h).

Coinciding with the release of General Motors’ Viability Plan, the automaker has disbanded its High Performance Vehicle Operations team, the crew responsible for the line V-series Cadillacs, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, HHR SS and the V8 version of the Colorado. According to Vince Muniga, a spokesman for the General, “All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold.

The engineers are moving into different areas of the organization, and they will work on Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs.” Muniga went on to say that there are no plans for high-performance versions of upcoming plans, but once GM is in a better financial position, the team could be reinstated.

CTS-V coupe

In a 2009 interview, General Motors Chief Executive Officer Bob Lutz mentioned the production of CTS-V coupe had been planned.

Speed attempt

The CTS-V sedan achieved a lap time of 7:59.32 at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife, which is the fastest documented time for a production sedan on factory tires. The vehicle was driven by John Heinricy in Nurburgring, Germany during the attempt.

The record breaking vehicle was sold in 2009 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction for $60000 (before buyer premium).

The record was recently broken however, when the Porsche Panamera Turbo fitted with a 4.8 litre 493BHP V8 completed the Nordschleife in 7:56.29. Three seconds faster than the CTS-V.

Forza 3 again tops the bill for great gaming and also providing one of the biggest online driving communities on the planet, one where you and your team can build, paint, create, test and then race.

It’s a time in video game racing history that will set standards above many other games of similar quality. So if this is great, then what youcan expect from Forza 4 (yes, I said Forza 4, they have most likely begun work on that by now, which is the usual process in game development) will be a huge leap forward, especially considering how far it has come since its launch in 2002 on the 1st-gen Xbox.

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Special – Lets Go Drag Racing, Forza Style
• Forza 3 October Info #14 Test Track, Gymkhana, Drag Racing Delights
• Forza 3 October Info #13 2002 Firebird Ram Air – The Last ‘Bird
• Forza 3 October Info #12 Remington #8 Cadillac CTS-V Razor Sharp
  
• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
  
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle 79 Z28 Camaro
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Speical Offer

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – oxcgn

Well Forza nuts, it’s now official, these great bundles are now available for Pre-order, and OXCGN has struck a deal with a online store to offer all OXCGN readers the chance to grab one of these great newly announced Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundles.

OXCGN was right yet again, predicting back on the 19th September that the unit ‘would’ come out, even though everything went exceptionally quiet when word leaked a few weeks ago on a South African site showing details of the bundle, it has come to fruition, and speculation can be put aside, and they are now available to buy.

The bundle is now available for pre-order, and available in PAL and NTSC of course. I know I’ll be saving my pennies to nab one of these babies, that’s a ‘given’, but if you are interested, and want something to chat with the guys/gals about, then check it out now.

All OXCGN readers will get Double the normal Loyalty points, and an Additional 1000 points thrown in, all of which could knock the delivery costs down substantially. We may try and work other deals out for our loyal Forza 3 readers, but for now, slip over to GamesBasement and check it out, register your interest and while you’re there, check out the other LE and CE items they have up for pre-order on the 360.

These guys still have the Forza 3 Limited Edition available as well

Don’t forget, on release, you’ll also have the chance to grab the very first special Launch Day Legendary DLC Pack off XboxLive MarketPlace which will have 18 additional tracks including several of the old favs’ from Forza 2 ( I just want Maple Leaf Full circuit and I’ll be happy as larry) , and 20 more great cars, many of them Legendary Classics. The second DLC available in the holidays will be the Ferrari Pack will contain 20 more wonderful prancing horses, and I believe a few more tracks.

So the 250 gig HDD on this bundle is going to come in mighty handy I can tell you. Don’t forget, if you can’t afford or want the Bundle, there’s always the Forza 3 Limited Edition Set that comes with a special Vehicle Pack as well.

Information on the bundle

This product contains:

• Xbox 360 Elite console
• Forza Motorsport 3 Standard Edition
• HDMI Cable
• 250GB Hard Drive
• 2x Wireless Black Controller
• Xbox Live Wired Headset

Elite Console

Introducing Xbox 360™ Elite, the premier Xbox 360 console package that includes a massive 250GB hard drive, a HDMI port, and HDMI cable, all wrapped up with a premium black finish.

Xbox 360 Elite also includes a 2 black wireless controllers and black Xbox LIVE® headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a whole library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows, movies, music, and all the other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

• Xbox 360 Elite console: The console is equipped with an HDMI port, HDMI cable, a black wireless controller and black Xbox LIVE® headset. It also comes with three powerful core processors, 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right outof the box.
• Xbox 360 120GB hard drive: The huge 120GB detachable hard drive allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, extra game levels, demos and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Also sold separatley.
• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black): The sleek black finish of this high-performance wireless controller matches the style of the Elite Console. It has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries. Also sold separatley.
• Xbox 360 headset (black): Now available in black, the headset lets you strategize while playing together online or trade taunts with your opponents. You can also send voice messages to friends on Xbox LIVE.
• Xbox 360 HDMI cable: New to Xbox 360, HDMI lets you get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.
• Xbox LIVE Silver Membership: With this, gamers can chat with friends online, collect achievements and gamerscores, send and receive voice and text messages, and access Xbox LIVE Marketplace content such as game demos, HD movies and TV, as well as the best in downloadable games from Xbox LIVE Arcade.
• One-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold: An Xbox LIVE Gold Membership provides a complete online entertainment experience. Subscribe to this premium service and engage in competitive online multiplayer matches, tailor your matchmaking via feedback and accomplishments, chat with more than one person at a time, and take advantage of unique privileges in Xbox LIVE Marketplace and Xbox LIVE Arcade.

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Information – All 136 tracks & Loading Tips
• Forza 3 October Special – Lets Go Drag Racing, Forza Style
• Forza 3 October Info #14 Test Track, Gymkhana, Drag Racing Delights
• Forza 3 October Info #12 Remington #8 Cadillac CTS-V Razor Sharp
• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
  
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle 79 Z28 Camaro
  
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

Please share us around

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 13th October #10

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #10 – Classic American Muscle 1979 Z28 Camaro Rocks-N-Rolls

I can remember sitting my backside in one of these beauties . .the seats are no-fuss slimline things, unlike the lovely ex-lounge chairs modern day cars call seats. And racing these things ment making sure the whole things stayed in one line.

Not the most powerfullest cars in standard trim by any means, with just a tad over 175 BHP coming out at the rear wheels. An enthusiast however, can spin them out to incredible amounts of horsepower. But we need to remember that these were the days of loud V8’s, tyre smoke and Cannon Ball Runs. These lovelies just fitted straight in.

So much so, that sales in the first year tipped 282,582, which is a sizable number of specific model vehicles for their time. Of that number, there were only 84,877 that were turned out as Z28’s, making them somewhat of a real rarity, rather than just another car run off the production lot.

A somewhat funny look high perched nose, completely different to modern standards greated you as they approached. But you could hear them coming from a mile away.

The Z28’s were all trimmed out in the ‘classic’ two-tone GT strip styles that were becoming so popular at that item. They became its signature colour code, and purists wouldn’t have it any other way. Some considering it blasphemous if you dared turn a real Z28 into a single toned unit . . .

The Z28 was fitted out with a whopping LM-1 350 Cu-in V8, and while it only churned out rather low horsepower, the torque was twisting in at 270 lbs-ft. Which is sizable when you consider the low horsepower.

Showing than not all high horsepower cars have good grunt. The Z28 could use that torque well, and was a staple ride for many a race driver in the US.

Most were fitted with 4 slots or Turbo Hydo 350/400 Automatics. The Turbo 400’s were/are one of the most respected modifers auto-trans on the market, and often sit behind many huge horsepower rigs, so it was right at home in the Z28.

Forza 3 fans will grab these and keep their classic lines and colours and have at least one bone stock Z28 in their garage. Well, I know I will, but I’ll also grab one and trick it out with some typical Custom Paint work suitable for the times.

These great rides also saw their fair share of fun on the quarter mile, as the high nose attitude lent its self to power on the rear wheels realy quickly, doing away with spring windup common in a lot of lower cars that lifted the front before delivering the full power to the rear wheels.

Modern Street Machiners still love the classic lines of the early Camaros, and the early 70’s were and still are some of the most sought after models for the Car-Tinkerer, Which Forza 3 will bring out in all of us, hopefully.

Treat these babies with the respect they deserve, remembering that they are true classics and need to be given the accolades they so richly deserve and have gained over the years.

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle 79 Z28 Camaro
  
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 13th October #9

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #9 – Daily Vehicle News

Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab

With just TEN DAYS TO GO, here we have more hot cars from Forza 3. While we know all 400 of the cars that will ship on launch day, I’m wondering just how many we will eventually see over the course of the next 18 months in Forza 3.

Forza 2 had Car Packs being release upp to 12 months after its release, and Forza 3 seems to be following that trend, right from the get-go, with the Launch DLC pack that supplys a total of 20 new tracks to the already 100 on off out off the box, and also around 20 cars that get added to the current 400.

Using some basic math, one would assume Forza 3 will top the 500 – 600 mark by the time the DLC finish in about 12 months time. That is of course, if Turn 10 stop the packs.

But come release day, we do get to get all dirty with Saleen’s S331 F-150 4 door Supercab. Saleen are well known for their ability to turn just about any vehicle into something quite remarkable, not only visually, but performance wise as well.

Never underestimate the sedate looks of any of the Saleen conversions. If you do, you’ll be the one in the rear-view mirror looking forward, not back.

Ford fans are going to go bannannas over this one, as Saleen have been doing the F-100’s since 1988 which at the time was a Ford Ranger. It won the 1991 SCCA Race Truck Championship and from then on, have not looked back with their range of Saleen kitted Ford Trucks, not to mention their Mustangs which began life in 1983/4.

It all began when racing driver Steve Saleen decided to change a few things and turn from your average race driver, to a Driver come manufacturer, starting a world of great new vehicles specially build for specific purposes – to win.

Steve started out racing the Mustangs in early 1980’s, winning various events including the Escort Endurance Championships. Saleen Autosports was then created in 1983 and produced its very first production Saleen, the Saleen 1984 Mustang.

An odd mix then occurred when tinkerer extrordinare, and comedian Tim Allen joined forces to form what is now known as the Saleen/Allen ‘RRR’ Speedlab Team.

We can all remember the images of Tim’s Hot Rod sitting in the Home Improvements garage and him tinkering away either under or inside it.

One of Tim's Tinkering oys

Merging his real world love of cars into his comedian life and work. They looked great and he actually knew what he was doing, so teaming up with Steve Saleen seemed like a logical and fortuitous idea, especially since they knew each other so well, and shared such a passion for cars as well as comedy. Car enthusiasts often ribald each other, so these two probably felt right at home.

Establishing a relationship that has obviously worked well for both of them. ALthough, Steve has now branched out and creates his new company SMS, which debut’s it’s frist toy, the 2010 Dodge Challenger soon. We’ll do a feature on that in a special Saleen GameBanter article in the near future, so stay tuned for that.

They won the very final race in a tricked out S281 ‘Stang. It pushed onward through 96, 97 taking out the SCCA World Challenge manufacturers championship in the S2 class and the Le Mans in 97, the secure the SCCA World Challenge T1 prize.

Here we are in the 21st century, and the winning has not stopped. They have worked on several of the Ford line of cars and trucks while continuing the evolve the S281 Mustang line of vehicles. The fleet included cars such as the Ford Explorer and Ford Focus Sports Coupe.

What many might not know is, that we saw several of Steve and ALlen’s handy work in the Transformer movie/s, as they lent their combined talents to create the now infamous Bumblebee Camaro and the Barricade Car characters which stared in the shows.

In 2007 the Saleen Truck racing scene saw the birth of the 1000 bhp twin turbo’d S331 and sales rocketed during 2006/07 boosted by the appearance of the aforementioned cars in the Transformer movie.

Click for specs

This time, Saleen takes the shape of the four-door F-150 pickup which is loaded up with the typical Saleen powerplant and body changes to create something quite distinctive, and exceptionally quick.

Designed to work well on the street racing raw horsepower had to make way for sensiblity, with this beast being powered by one of Ford’s 5.4 ltr V8’s.

This time has Saleen’s twin VI Superchargers residing ontop of the huge 5.4 ltr block which churns out a solid 450 bhp, which is a solid 150-horsepower boost over the standard F150 Crew-Cab (US Supercab) that you’ll nab of any Ford local car lot.

It has all the other trappings going for it as well of course.

Such as highly performance enhanced and tuned suspension, 15-inch brakes (you have to make sure this dog stops once you get it going) and rides on a set of huge 23-inch wheels and tyres (yes, that’s how we spell it here in English speaking countries).

Now just picture this. Just the image on someones face as this thing flys off from the lights while your backside is firmly stuck in the seat of you labouring sports car  wondering WTF was that picture – priceless. One thing is for sure, the Saleen moto whhich has always been – “Power in the Hands of a Few” makes sense now, and it has never been so appropriate as in this case.

Real World Counterparts

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle ‘79 Z28
  
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 11th October #8

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #8 – Daily Vehicle News

Build Your Own Ford-Dodge-Chevy & get all Ovally

You either love-em, or hate-em. Oval racers, or so often called “Stock Cars” . . . Actually there are several classes of Stock Cars that could all fit under that one moniker, but we’re talking today more about NASCAR and specifically, the Late Model Series Stock Cars.

For many video game racers, these things sound boring. Round-n-round you go, where you stop, everyone knows – the wall or infield, time and time again.

Well, actually, that in fact says a lot about just how difficult it is to keep over 600bhp stable enough to reach speeds of in excess of 150 mph while negotiating a full pack of vehicles all hell-bent on getting to the front, just like you are.

The trick with these beauties is, consistency and ‘keeping the line’, using the banks and the cars momentum to sling you out of the banks, behind another car and use him to snatch you past him using his slip stream. It takes skill, nerves and exacting precision to pull these moves off, and the slightest bump, nudge or fence/wall clip, will have devastating effects. Not only for you, but a whole lot of the driver behind you. Not good for the rep’, that’s for sure.

Sound easy enough, but it sure as hell aint, that’s for sure.

Well Forza 3 fans are in for a huge treat. You’ll have the basic to create your very own livery and stable of cars. Create your own race team with unique colours and paint jobs, as well as modifications allowable in the classes.

Forza 3’s superb physics model will allow you to also play the role of crew chief as you manipulate tire pressures, swap springs, adjust shock performance and add sway bars to these Monte Carlo SS; Dodge Charger and Ford Fusion stock cars then evaluate the changes at speed on the track.

Test the changes at oval or oval-based circuits like Sedona, Sunset Peninsula and Twin Ring Motegi or go the road racing route at exotic venues such as Le Mans, the Nurburgring and Silverstone.

Each of the Ford, Chey and Dodge stock cars come equipped the same as far as specific and horsepower are concerned, with national standards being used as these cars are fitted out so that everyone starts out the same. It’s then up to you and your team to fine tune the beast and make it into the winners circle.

Be it the Chevy, Dodge or Ford, you have the ability to adjust on the fly and you can take these onto the very quick ovals, or even trim them out for various circuits if you like like the ones mentioned above. Forza 3 is offering the virtual racer much more than any other game has, or will do in the foreseeable future when it comes to choice of how you drive and race your cars.

You think you’ve been having fun so far, well you haven’t, not by a long 1/4 mile (pun intended). Speaking of which, OXCGN will be doing an interview with one of the nets best Forza Drag Racing sites and tournament organisers very soon.

So if you want to drop your latest Dodge Vortex Challenger, Ford 2010 Mustang or Chevy Camaro up against others, and want to know how to use that clutch for magic starts, then hang around and we’ll keep you posted on that one as well.

OXCGN will be forming its own racing team, aptly called Team OXCGN Racing (well dahh) and we’ll be after some very talented people to help manage, drive, paint and tune vehicles in various classes and disciplines. From Drag racing, stock cars through to the various circuit classes as well as all out open “U” Class cars where anything goes.

So if you think you’d like to help make a team up, become part of a team, them make sure you email us . . . but let’s take a very small peek at what Stock Car Racing is about.

Real World Stock Cars

“A stock car, in the original sense of the term, described an automobile that has not been modified from its original factory configuration. Later the term stock car came to mean any production-based automobile used in racing. This term is used to differentiate such a car from a race car, a special, custom-built car designed only for racing purposes.

Today most stock cars may superficially resemble standard American family sedans, but are in fact purpose-built racing machines built to a strict set of regulations governing the car design ensuring that the chassis, suspension, engine, etc. are architecturally identical on all vehicles.

Ironically, these regulations ensure that stock car racers are in many ways technologically less sophisticated than standard cars on the road. For example, NASCAR (the largest stock car organization in the U.S.) requires carbureted engines in all of its racing series, while fuel injection is now universal in standard passenger cars.

The closest European equivalent to stock car racing is probably touring car racing, though these are raced exclusively on road courses rather than ovals.

Classes:

There are several classes of stock car racing, each with slightly different rules, but the key intention of cars that look like production cars, but with near-identical specifications underneath, remains true.

Street Stock

‘True’ stock car racing, which consists of only street vehicles that can be bought by general public, is sometimes now called Street Stock, Pure Stock, Showroom Stock, or U-Car racing. In 1972, SCCA started its first showroom stock racing series, with a price ceiling on the cars of $3,000. Some modern showroom stock racing allows safety modifications done on showroom stock cars.

Super Stock

Super Stock classes are similar to street stock, but allow for more modifications to the engine. Power output is usually in the range of 500-550 horsepower (373-410 kilowatts). Tire width is usually limited to 8 in (200 mm).

Late Model

Late Models are usually the highest class of stock cars in local racing.[1] There may be subcategories of Late Models such as Super Late Models and Limited Late Models. A Late Model may be a custom built machine, or a heavily modified street car.

Early stock car racing

In the 1920s and 1930s, Daytona Beach became known as the place to set world land speed records, supplanting France and Belgium as the preferred location for land speed records, with 8 consecutive world records set between 1927 and 1935.

After a historic race between Ransom Olds and Alexander Winton in 1903, the beach became a mecca for racing enthusiasts and fifteen records were set on what became the Daytona Beach road course between 1905 and 1935. By the time the Bonneville Salt Flats became the premier location for pursuit of land speed records, in 1936, Daytona beach had become synonymous with fast cars.

Drivers raced on a 4.1-mile (6.6 km) course, consisting of a 1.5 to 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch of beach as one straightaway, and a narrow blacktop beachfront highway, A1A, as the other. The two straights were connected by 2 tight, deeply rutted and sand covered turns at each end.

Stock car racing in the United States has its origins in bootlegging during Prohibition, when drivers ran bootleg whiskey made primarily in the Appalachian region of the United States. Bootleggers needed to distribute their illicit products, and they typically used small, fast vehicles to better evade the police. Many of the drivers would modify their cars for speed and handling, as well as increased cargo capacity, and some of them came to love the fast-paced driving down twisty mountain roads.

The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 dried up some of their business, but by then Southerners had developed a taste for moonshine, and a number of the drivers continued “runnin’ shine,” this time evading the “revenuers” who were attempting to tax their operations.

The cars continued to improve, and by the late 1940s, races featuring these cars were being run for pride and profit. These races were popular entertainment in the rural Southern United States, and they are most closely associated with the Wilkes County region of North Carolina. Most races in those days were of modified cars. Street vehicles were lightened and reinforced.

So let’s enjoy some of the great innovations Turn 10 are giving us in this 3rd iteration of Forza Motorsports . . . I know I will be . .how about you?

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle ‘79 Z28
  
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Viper R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 9th October #7

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #7 – Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco GT

Forza 3 fans will just love this, especially those in Europe. This little beast will only see  “real world” sales in Europe and not in North America . . .making it a very desirable European sports coupe, not just because of its style and sleek designs but because it’s one car that won’t see itself being thrown around US streets – unless!?

Any solid ‘Dub supporters in North America that want this car, or any of its 3 variants, will either have to move house to the European shores or look at importing it themselves, which would prove a costly venture no matter which way you looked at it.

But not if you play Forza 3.

It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, this car, as well as every other car is available to you right out of the box in virtual form in Forza 3, with DLC supplying you with many more great cars which are on their way after launch.

The 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco GT is one such car. Sleek, oh so sexy and definitely swift, not to mention”smooth-as”, this coupe will have you spending hours in the livery editor creating something unique to show off to the rest of the world. I know it’s one of the cars I’ll be using to put the OXCGN/Fantec Livery on once I have the game in my hot little hands.

You only have to look at the pics to see just how great it look, the styling is there, the lines are there, and above all, the performance is there straight out of the box (or showroom floor if you plan on buying a real-world one after playing with this virtual beauty).

It resembles the rather ordinary looking circuit, but with much more sleekness and style. The 2.0 ltr Turbo-enhanced TSI 4 pot delivers 197bhp and a solid 207 lbs-ft of touque, which is a lot in anyone’s books.

Tuners, drifters and even the circuit boys will love this one, as Forza 3 is offering the top of the line model in the game which sports super tight suspension, huge sports wheels fitted with low profiles, 6 speed paddle gears and great looking interior.

There is another style of the Scirocco which is the GT24. Again, with the 2 ltr 16 valve Direct Injection Turbocharged/Intercooled 4 cylinder, but this sleek slinky VW delivers a rock solid 320.55 bhp and tops out at 250.77 lgs-ft or torque. Now that has got to turn a few gamers’ and drivers’ headlights on, if not, then I’d suggest that you’re dead and don’t know it yet.

Some history on the Scirocco.

Ever since the 70ties, VW Scirocco, has been a two-seat sport coupe big hit that slowly became a cult for sports car enthusiasts worldwide; the latest edition promises to follow this tradition and be, just as its 70ties predecessor, a champion.

VW Scirocco GT24, built to resist the 24 Hours Nurburgring Race – considered one of the most demanding in the world – the 11th placed overall and first in its class, Scirocco GT24 is not only an eye-catching model that looks and runs fast but a high performance and high endurance sports car.

Scirocco GT24 has upgraded racing dimensions – VW engineers added 227mm extra length to the Scirocco series model in order to gain aero-stability also 61 mm of width for the coverage of 18’’ racing rimes, moreover they reduced height with 75mm.

The interior has been stripped of 178 kg and also carefully prepared for the race: full roll cage, Recaro 5-points of harnesses seats, fire extinguisher, electronic racing instrumentation, and competition designed steering wheel.

Powered by a 4 cylinder 2.0 liter direct injection 16 valve turbocharged engine that can produce over 320 horsepower, with a 6-speed dual clutch gearbox, the racing version of Scirocco GT24 comes with an upgraded sporty style, combining mere power and elegance in order to provide adrenalin-overflowing drive excitement and even the most skeptical won’t be able to admit that that Scirocco hasn’t already won the hearts of all VW’s fans.

With embedded racing design touches, blue-white exterior, and just a wider, lower and longer sports coupe, Scirocco maintains the distinctive design lines, edges and angles that made it an icon for more than 38 years after its launch.

A success story, Scirocco is representing more than the concept of affordable dream sports ride, for some it has become a religion. The Scirocco GT24 agile, fast, high performance car is designed not only to compete but also to win.

More Real World Counterparts

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle ‘79 Z28
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Viper R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

О КОМПАНИИ:

AUTOCAR

Нет мнения

AUTOEXPRESS

Нет мнения

CAR:

Если бы фирма была музыкантом: Bros (все участники выглядят одинаково)
Продажи в 2008 году: 1656 (падение на 29%)
Рейтинг надежности: В списке не числится.
Гарантия: 3 года без ограничения километража.

TOPGEAR

Общее описание: Пожалуй, одна из самых крутых марок в Англии. Фирма сейчас переживает свой Ренессанс, поскольку новые модели действительно хорошие.
Рейтинг надежности: В списках не значится
Награды: DB9 получила нашу награду “Лучший GT 2005 года”. Мы просто фигеем с этой тачки…

WHATCAR

Нет мнения

POFIGIST

Арабы продолжают развивать Aston Martin по плану, заложенному еще Фордом.

Кстати, я честно не понимаю, отчего все наши журналы просто сходят с ума от того, как Aston Martin выглядит?  За исключением One-77, на мой взгляд, ничего особенного. В смысле, что да, симпатично и не отталкивающе, но петь дифирамбы в стиле “офигительно”, “крышесносяще” или “если ты это не хочешь, ты труп” я бы не стал. Ибо в моем понимании – офигительно и крышесносяще это, например Citroen GT. Или Mazda Furai. Но никак не зализанное купе с пастью, которым вдохновлялись дизайнеры Пежо.

One-77

AUTOCAR

Наше мнение: Идеальный суперкар
Результаты тестов: Не тестировали

AUTOEXPRESS

Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке

CAR

О модели: Нет мнения
Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Секрет фирмы: Нет мнения
Вердикт: Нет мнения
Конкуренты: Нет мнения
Результаты тестов : Нет мнения
Одним словом: Нет мнения

TOPGEAR

О модели: Нет мнения
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке
Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Не обманывайся насчет: Нет мнения
Конкуренты:Нет мнения

WHATCAR

За: Нет мнения
Против : Нет мнения
Вердикт: Нет мнения
Рейтинг для лучшей модификации: Нет мнения
Рейтинг модели по версии читателей журнала: Нет мнения
Наш выбор: Нет мнения

POFIGIST

Cуперкар для супербогатых. Название означает, что их будет сделано всего 77 штук и каждый автомобиль будет уникален. Стоимость тоже уникальна – 1 миллион двести тысяч фунтов за базовую спецификацию.

Vantage

AUTOCAR

Наше мнение: Британский автомобиль класса GT, который хорошо выглядит и ездит.
Результаты тестов: Хорошо

AUTOEXPRESS

Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке

CAR

О модели: С улучшенным движком 4.7л и переделанными шасси и подвеской, Vantage наконец-то стал той машиной, которой ему полагалось быть с самого начала. Быстрый, отлично сбалансированный и зажигающий, этот автомобиль станет отличным развлечением для владельца.
Наш выбор: Coupe
Секрет фирмы: Коробка Sportshift не хуже и не лучше, чем “ручник”.
Вердикт: Ездит настолько же хорошо, как и выглядит.
Конкуренты: Porsche 911
Результаты тестов : Хорошо
Одним словом: Хорошо.

TOPGEAR

О модели: Машина недавно пережила рестайлинг, но не переживай – она выглядит так же хорошо, как и предыдущая модель. А теперь она еще и ездит хорошо, благодаря более мощному двигателю и переделанной подвеске. Даже мы бы купили такую игрушку.
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке
Наш выбор: Выбирай любую, мы не мелочимся.
Не обманывайся насчет: кузова типа хэтчбек. Багажника тут, можно сказать, и нету.
Конкуренты: Porsche 911, BMW M6, Mercedes Benz SL, Jaguar XKR

WHATCAR

За: Выглядит отлично, а ездит еще лучше. Звук движка V8 явно не повредил бы любому голливудскому блокбастеру.
Против : Видимость из низкой машины на перекрестках довольно плохая, и тебе, к тому же, придется поддерживать приличный баланс на банковском счету, чтобы заправлять эту бестию.
Вердикт: Обалденный, превосходно ездящий Vantage V8 это реальная альтернатива Porsche 911.
Рейтинг для лучшей модификации: Хорошо
Рейтинг модели по версии читателей журнала: Хорошо
Наш выбор: Нет мнения

POFIGIST

Без понятия.

Vantage Roadster

AUTOCAR

Наше мнение: Выглядит классно. А звук двигателя -просто песня.
Результаты тестов: Хорошо

AUTOEXPRESS

Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке

CAR

О модели: Нет мнения
Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Секрет фирмы: Нет мнения
Вердикт: Нет мнения
Конкуренты: Нет мнения
Результаты тестов : Нет мнения
Одним словом: Хорошо.

TOPGEAR

О модели: Нет мнения
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке
Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Не обманывайся насчет: Нет мнения
Конкуренты:Нет мнения

WHATCAR

За: Выглядит отлично, а ездит еще лучше. Звук движка V8 явно не повредил бы любому голливудскому блокбастеру.
Против : Видимость из низкой машины на перекрестках довольно плохая, и тебе, к тому же, придется поддерживать приличный баланс на банковском счету, чтобы заправлять эту бестию.
Вердикт: Возможно, Porsche 911 управляется лучше, но звук двигателя у Aston Martin просто бесподобный. Кроме того, спрос на эту машину не падает даже в кризис. По нашему мнению, это хорошая замена немецкому автомобилю.
Рейтинг для лучшей модификации: Хорошо
Рейтинг модели по версии читателей журнала: Нет мнения
Наш выбор: Нет мнения

POFIGIST

Без понятия.

Vantage V12

AUTOCAR

Наше мнение: Нет мнения
Результаты тестов: Нет мнения

AUTOEXPRESS

Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке

CAR

О модели: Большой двигатель в маленькой машине. Этому трюку уже сто лет в обед, но он до сих пор срабатывает. Отличить эту модель можно по выемкам на капоте.
Наш выбор: V12 естественно
Секрет фирмы: Коробка Speedshift с этой моделью не поставляется.
Вердикт: Настоящий хот-род.
Конкуренты: Mercedes SL65
Результаты тестов : Хорошо
Одним словом: Хорошо.

TOPGEAR

О модели: Нет мнения
Позиция в рейтинге : Нет мнения
Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Не обманывайся насчет: Нет мнения
Конкуренты:Нет мнения

WHATCAR

За: Нет мнения
Против : Нет мнения
Вердикт: Нет мнения
Рейтинг для лучшей модификации: Нет мнения
Рейтинг модели по версии читателей журнала: Нет мнения
Наш выбор: Нет мнения

POFIGIST

Без понятия.

DB9 Volante

AUTOCAR

Наше мнение: Кроме внешнего вида – ничего выдающегося.
Результаты тестов: Ниже среднего

AUTOEXPRESS

Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке

CAR

О модели: Нет мнения
Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Секрет фирмы: Нет мнения
Вердикт: Нет мнения
Конкуренты: Нет мнения
Результаты тестов : Нет мнения
Одним словом: Нет мнения

TOPGEAR

О модели: См DB9
Позиция в рейтинге : См DB9
Наш выбор: См DB9
Не обманывайся насчет: См DB9
Конкуренты:См DB9

WHATCAR

За: Если ты думаешь, что DB9 хорошо выглядит, то посмотри на DB9 Volante. Когда Aston Martin срезали крышу, то была создана одна из самых красивых машин на дороге, красоту которой оттеняет благородный рык двигателя V12.
Против : Отрезанная крыша не сделала шасси более мягким и гибким, так что все неровности на дороге ты прочувствуешь позвоночником.
Вердикт: Люди покупают DB9 Volante из-за внешнего вида и двигателя. Но попробуй заехать на нем на извилистую узкую деревенскую дорогу (асфальтированную, конечно) и ты сразу поймешь, что машина не оправдывает ожиданий.
Рейтинг для лучшей модификации: Средне
Рейтинг модели по версии читателей журнала: Нет мнения
Наш выбор: Нет мнения

POFIGIST

Без понятия.

DB9

AUTOCAR

Наше мнение: Стильный автомобиль. Лучше всего взять вариант с ручной коробкой передач.
Результаты тестов: Неплохо

AUTOEXPRESS

Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке

CAR

О модели: Лучший из семейства DB9. Внешний вид просто поразительный, звук двигателя – как оркестр. Почти идеальный автомобиль класса GT, но его портят задняя подвеска, устаревшая навигация и очень средненькая передняя панель.
Наш выбор: DB9
Секрет фирмы: Пакет Sport Pack полностью преображает то, как эта машина держится на дороге.
Вердикт: Красиво и офигительно.
Конкуренты: Bentley Continental GT
Результаты тестов : Хорошо
Одним словом: Хорошо.

TOPGEAR

О модели: Красивый, чувственный и просто классный. DB9 – это первый автомобиль от Aston Martin, который тебя не разочарует ни в чем. Если ты его уже не хочешь, значит, ты труп.
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке
Наш выбор: Сам выбирай – обычный DB9 или Volante.
Не обманывайся насчет: воспоминаний о красивом, но отвратительном DB7.
Конкуренты: Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley Continental GT.

WHATCAR

За: Великолепно выглядящая машина. А если прибавить к этому еще и мощь двигателя V12, превосходное качество исполнения салона и суперкомфортабельные сидения…
Против : Забудь о задних сидениях. DB9 – это, на самом-то деле, двухместная машина. Неровности на дорогах могут сбросить машину с пути, рулевое управление слишком тяжелое на низких скоростях, а при парковке машина двигается рывками и трясется.
Вердикт: Превосходный внешний вид и мощнейший двигатель. некоторым этого достаточно, но нам не понравились жесткая подвеска, тяжелый руль и шум дороги.
Рейтинг для лучшей модификации: Средне
Рейтинг модели по версии читателей журнала: Средне
Наш выбор: Нет мнения

POFIGIST

Без понятия.

DBS

AUTOCAR

Наше мнение: Великолепный автомобиль класса GT, но цена у него…
Результаты тестов: Очень хорошо

AUTOEXPRESS

Наш выбор: Нет мнения
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке

CAR

О модели: Автомобиль Джеймса Бонда слишком нецивилизован, чтобы сойти за люксовый GT и в то же время, слишком комофортабелен для жесткого спорта. Но все равно, выглядит классно и двигатель у него – просто закачаешься.
Наш выбор: Coupe
Секрет фирмы: Теперь можно заказать автоматическую коробку.
Вердикт: DB9 – это все, что тебе нужно, да и стоит он на 46 тысяч фунтов дешевле.
Конкуренты: Ferrari 599 GTB
Результаты тестов : Средне
Одним словом: Хорошо.

TOPGEAR

О модели: Наше беспокойство насчет того, что плохое родство с Vanquish может сказаться в генах этой машины, оказалось безосновательным. DBS ездит и управляется намного лучше, чем старая модель. Модульное шасси намного более прочное и жесткое.
Позиция в рейтинге : нет в списке
Наш выбор: Он всего один, но очень хорош!
Не обманывайся насчет: слухами. Это намного больше, чем DB9 с обвесами.
Конкуренты: Ferrari 599, Lamborghini Murcielago – вот и все, пожалуй.
Комментарий Кларксона: У этой тачки задница из углепластика и пердит она очень даже в тему. Но все равно, машина не настолько красива, как DB9, а ведь тебе

за это надо еще и доплатить 50 килофунтов!

WHATCAR

За: Стань Джеймсом Бондом! Панели из углепластика уменьшают вес машины, а форсированный V12 позволит выиграть драгоценные секунды в гонке за агентом 007.
Против : Некоторые утверждают, что DBS – это просто навороченный DB9. Конечно, надо пристально вглядываться, чтобы увидеть разницу, но когда вглядишься, то

увидишь, что у DBS только две воздушые подушки в качестве стандартного оборудования.
Вердикт: Когда мы подумали, что Aston Martin уже не сможет сделать ничего лучше, они выпустили DBS. Эта машина изумительно быстра, да и ездит и управляется

лучше, чем DB9. И в смысле внешности все в порядке.
Рейтинг для лучшей модификации: Отлично
Рейтинг модели по версии читателей журнала: Нет мнения
Наш выбор: Нет мнения

POFIGIST

Без понятия.

По материалам AutoCar, AutoExpress, Car, TopGear и WhatCar. Фотки утащены с WhatCar

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 8th October #6

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #6 – Daily Vehicle News

Complete Car List – all 400 vehicles named

Only available in Launch Day Legendary DLC Pack

Well finally we have what we have been dying to hear, or read as the case might be. The complete listing of all vehicles for Forza 3 available on release, the complete release listing.

Naturally the listing won’t stop here,. As we already know, the first DLC (downloadable content) will be the Ferrari Pack which will include 20 of the “worlds finest” machines belong to the prancing horses stable. No news as to costs for the DLC packs just yet, but my educated guess would be around the 800MSP mark. I could be wrong (which I very rarely am – jk btw), but that’s my guess at this time.

• Forza 3 Where Dreams Are Made 3

Well in fact, it’s not, the very first DLC pack – Motorsports Legends Car Pack come on launch day and also has extra tracks and gear waiting t o go. The list is mentioned below prior to the full car listing, check it out.

There’s plenty of cars for everyone to enjoy, and personally, I found it difficult to customise and or paint all 340  odd cars in Forza 2. I owned them all, and some more than one, but I find it difficult to believe anyone could build and race competitively all of the cars.

Which is why having over 1000 cars in a game, and more after release such as in Grand Turismo 5, is simply overkill to the extreme. But that’s just me, some want more simply to say they have more, me, I prefer more specific cars than simply any and every car available.

Enough prattling on, here is the ‘complete Forza 3 Vehicle list to enjoy, discuss, comment and even complain about, as I’m sure many will. “Where’s my such-n-such make of car” …. “How dare they not include so-n-so brand” …. or “why did they include that model, and not the other’s – that sucks”, or versions thereof etc etc etc.

So a little word for the wise, – get over it, and enjoy what you are being given rather than complaining about it. You have no idea what is in store for you via DLC in the following 12 months or more. Expect many more vehicles, tracks and other goodies coming your way for Forza 3.

Forza 3 Car (vehicle) List

Featuring the latest and greatest production offerings as well as the world’s fastest and most exotic street cars, “Forza Motorsport 3″ offers more than 400 fully customizable and tunable cars from over 50 of the world’s leading manufacturers. Whether your passion is classic American muscle cars, European roadsters, purpose-built race cars or high-tech Asian imports, “Forza Motorsport 3″ puts you in the cockpit of the cars you love. Now, at long last, we can finally reveal the entire car list for Forza Motorsport 3.

Special Launch Day DLC Pack

Racing fans and car lovers the world over are counting down the days until the much anticipated release of “Forza Motorsport 3” on Oct. 27 , exclusively for Xbox 360. With the finish line in sight, Turn 10 and Microsoft are looking toward the winner’s circle as they officially release the game’s full list of cars and tracks on Forzamotorsport.net .

On launch day, that list will grow even larger with the release of a free Game Add-on car and track pack, available exclusively by way of a one-time-use token card included in every new copy of “Forza Motorsport 3.”

To celebrate these announcements, the team has also released the game’s official online trailer, featuring never-before-seen gameplay footage.

Putting the speculation amongst the buzzing Forza community to rest, Turn 10 has lifted the curtain on the more than 400 cars and 100 tracks to be featured in “Forza Motorsport 3.”

The garage roster includes 30 Ferraris, 28 iconic Porsches, as well as cars not previously available in any racing game, such as the new Aston Martin DBS, Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR, and the 2009 Acura ARX ALMS race car.

“Forza Motorsport 3” players will be the first to fully paint, customize, and tune these incredible cars and more.

Additionally, the Motorsports Legends Car Pack gives players another great reason to be excited about picking up “Forza Motorsport 3” on launch day, delivering 10 classic race cars and roadsters, on top of two extra tracks: the brand new Benchmark High Speed Ring and the returning circuit Sidewinder Proving Grounds.

On Oct. 23rd/27th, this pack will be exclusively available via a one-time-use token card included in every new copy of “Forza Motorsport 3.”

The Benchmark High Speed Ring is best described as an old airfield and hangar converted into a race track and automotive playground, perfect for all manner of creative “Forza Motorsport” hoonage and multiplayer mayhem.

The track is characterized by 3.96 miles of rough surfaces and huge open areas, featuring a massive oval, an 8-lane drag strip, and an airplane hangar that players can drive (or drift) through.

• ’65 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA
• ’64 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage
• ’81 BMW M1
• ’60 Chevrolet Corvette
• ’69 Dodge Charger
• ’57 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
• ’80 Fiat 131 Abarth
• ’67 Lamborghini Miura P400
• ’71 Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R
• ’65 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

THE CARS OF DISC 1:

• 2008     Acura     #15 Lowe’s Fernandez ARX-01b
• 2008     Acura     #26 Andretti-Green Racing ARX-01b
• 2002     Acura     #42 Realtime Racing NSX
• 2008     Acura     #66 de Ferran Mortorsports ARX-01b
• 2009     Acura     #66 de Ferran Mortorsports ARX-02a
• 2005     Acura     NSX
• 2002     Acura     RSX Type-S
• 2007     Alfa Romeo     8C Competizione
• 2009     Alfa Romeo     Brera Italia Independent
• 2008     Alfa Romeo     Mito
• 2006     Aston Martin     #007 Aston Martin Racing DBR9
• 2008     Aston Martin     #008 Bell Motorsports DBR9
• 2008     Aston Martin     #009 Aston Martin Racing DBR9
• 2005     Aston Martin     DB9 Coupe
• 2003     Audi     #1 Champion RS 6
• 2008     Audi     #2 Audi Sport North America R10 TDI
• 2006     Audi     #2 FSI Champion Racing R8
• 2006     Audi     #8 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI
• 2008     Audi     A4 Touring Car
• 2009     Audi     Q7 V12 TDI
• 2010     Audi     R8 5.2 FSI quattro
• 2006     Audi     RS 4
• 2003     Audi     RS 6
• 2000     Audi     S4
• 2004     Audi     S4
• 2007     Audi     S5
• 1983     Audi     Sport Quattro
• 2004     Audi     TT Coupe 3.2 quattro
• 2007     Audi     TT Coupe S-Line
• 2004     Bentley     Continental GT
• 2009     BMW Motorsport     135i Coupe
• 1971     BMW Motorsport     3.0 CSL
• 2001     BMW Motorsport     #6 Prototype Technology Group M3-GTR
• 2009     BMW Motorsport     #92 Rahal Letterman Racing M3 GT2
• 1997     BMW Motorsport     M3 E36
• 2005     BMW Motorsport     M3 E46 Coupe
• 1991     BMW Motorsport     M3 E30
• 2008     BMW Motorsport     M3 E92
• 2002     BMW Motorsport     M3-GTR
• 2009     BMW Motorsport     M5 E60
• 2009     BMW Motorsport     X5 xDrive48i
• 2008     BMW Motorsport     Z4 M Coupe
• 2009     Bugatti     Veyron 16.4
• 2008     Cadillac     #8 Remington Shaving CTS-V
• 2009     Cadillac     CTS-V
• 2004     Chevrolet     #3 Corvette Racing C5.R
• 2005     Chevrolet     #31 Whelen Engineering Corvette Z06
• 2006     Chevrolet     #4 Corvette Racing C6.R
• 2007     Chevrolet     #4 Corvette Racing C6.R
• 2003     Chevrolet     #50 Corvette Racing C5.R
• 2003     Chevrolet     #73 3R-Racing Corvette Z06
• 2005     Chevrolet     #99 Tiger Racing Corvette Z06
• 2009     Chevrolet     Aveo5 LT
• 2002     Chevrolet     Camaro 35th Anniversary SS
• 1990     Chevrolet     Camaro IROC-Z
• 2010     Chevrolet     Camaro SS
• 1969     Chevrolet     Camaro SS Coupe
• 1969     Chevrolet     Camaro Z28
• 1979     Chevrolet     Camaro Z28
• 1970     Chevrolet     Chevelle SS-454
• 2005     Chevrolet     Cobalt SS Coupe
• 2002     Chevrolet     Corvette Z06
• 2006     Chevrolet     Corvette Z06
• 2008     Chevrolet     Monte Carlo SS Stock Car
• 2008     Chrysler     300C SRT-8
• 2006     Chrysler     Crossfire SRT6
• 2009     Citroen     C4 VTS
• 2002     Dodge     #1 Team Zakspeed Viper GTS-R
• 2008     Dodge     #11 Primetime Racing Group Viper Competition Coupe
• 2008     Dodge     #2 Mopar Viper Competition Coupe
• 2004     Dodge     #22 3R-Racing Viper Competition Coupe
• 2003     Dodge     #23 Magellan Financial Viper Competition Coupe
• 1970     Dodge     Challenger R/T Hemi
• 2009     Dodge     Challenger SRT-8
• 1969     Dodge     Charger R/T
• 2006     Dodge     Charger SRT8
• 2008     Dodge     Charger Stock Car
• 2006     Dodge     Ram SRT-10
• 2003     Dodge     Viper Competition Coupe
• 2003     Dodge     Viper SRT10
• 2008     Dodge     Viper SRT10 ACR
• 2005     Ferrari     #11 Larbre Competition 550 Maranello GTS
• 1964     Ferrari     250 GTO
• 1998     Ferrari     #30 MOMO Doran Racing F333 SP
• 1967     Ferrari     330 P4
• 1994     Ferrari     F355 Berlinetta
• 1995     Ferrari     F355 Challenge
• 1999     Ferrari     360 Modena
• 2003     Ferrari     Challenge Stradale
• 1991     Ferrari     512 TR
• 2002     Ferrari     575M Maranello
• 2006     Ferrari     599 GTB Fiorano
• 2004     Ferrari     612 Scaglietti
• 2006     Ferrari     #62 Risi Competizione F430GT
• 2008     Ferrari     #71 Tafel Racing F430GT
• 2003     Ferrari     #88 Veloqx / Prodrive Racing 550 Maranello
• 2008     Ferrari     #90 Farnbacher Racing F430GT
• 2009     Ferrari     California
• 1969     Ferrari     Dino 246 GT
• 2002     Ferrari     Enzo Ferrari
• 1987     Ferrari     F40
• 1989     Ferrari     F40 Competizione
• 2004     Ferrari     F430
• 1995     Ferrari     F50
• 1996     Ferrari     F50 GT
• 2005     Ferrari     FXX
• 1984     Ferrari     GTO
• 2010     Fiat     500 Abarth SS
• 2009     Ford     #1 TeamVodafone FG Falcon
• 2004     Ford     #10 Tiger Racing Mustang
• 2009     Ford     #25 Britek Motorsport FG Falcon
• 2009     Ford     #5 Ford Performance Racing FG Falcon
• 2009     Ford     #9 Stone Brothers Racing FG Falcon
• 2009     Ford     Fiesta Zetec S
• 2009     Ford     Focus RS
• 2006     Ford     Focus ST
• 2003     Ford     Focus SVT
• 2008     Ford     Fusion Stock Car
• 2005     Ford     Ford GT
• 1970     Ford     Mustang Boss 429
• 2000     Ford     Mustang Cobra R
• 1993     Ford     Mustang SVT Cobra R
• 1985     Ford     RS200 Evolution
• 2009     Holden     #2 Toll Holden Racing Team Commodore VE
• 2009     Holden     #33 Garry Rogers Team Commodore VE
• 2009     Holden     #39 Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore VE
• 2009     Holden     #51 Sprint Gas Racing Commodore VE
• 2005     Honda     #18 TAKATA DOME NSX
• 2005     Honda     #8 ARTA NSX
• 2004     Honda     Mugen Civic Type-R
• 2006     Honda     Civic Si Coupe
• 2007     Honda     Civic Type-R
• 1991     Honda     CR-X SiR
• 2009     Honda     Fit Sport
• 2002     Honda     Mugen Integra Type-R
• 2000     Honda     Integra Type-R
• 2002     Honda     Integra Type-R
• 1992     Honda     NSX-R
• 2005     Honda     NSX-R GT
• 2003     Honda     S2000
• 2010     Hyundai     Genesis Coupe
• 2003     Hyundai     Tuscani Elisa
• 2008     Infiniti     G37 Coupe Sport
• 2009     Jaguar     XKR-S
• 2008     Koenigsegg     CCGT
• 1988     Lamborghini     Countach LP5000 QV
• 1999     Lamborghini     Diablo GTR
• 1997     Lamborghini     Diablo SV
• 2005     Lamborghini     Gallardo
• 2006     Lamborghini     Miura Concept
• 2005     Lamborghini     Murcielago
• 2007     Lamborghini     Murcielago LP640
• 2008     Lamborghini     Reventon
• 2003     Lexus     IS300
• 2006     Lexus     IS350
• 2009     Lexus     IS F
• 2002     Lexus     SC430
• 2005     Lotus     Elise 111S
• 2009     Lotus     Evora
• 2006     Lotus     Exige Cup 240
• 2008     Land Rover     Range Rover Supercharged
• 2005     Maserati     #15 JMB Racing MC12
• 2008     Maserati     GranTurismo
• 2004     Maserati     MC12
• 2009     Mazda     #16 Dyson Racing B09/86
• 2009     Mazda     Mazdaspeed 3
• 1994     Mazda     Miata
• 2007     Mazda     MX-5 Roadster Coupe
• 2001     Mazda     Mazdaspeed Roadster
• 1997     Mazda     RX-7
• 2002     Mazda     RX-7 Spirit R Type-A
• 2004     Mazda     RX-8 Mazdaspeed
• 1997     McLaren     #43 Team BMW Motorsport McLaren F1 GTR
• 1997     McLaren     F1 GT
• 2009     Mercedes     A200 Turbo Coupe
• 2004     Mercedes     C32 AMG
• 2009     Mercedes     C-Class Touring Car
• 2009     Mercedes     ML 63 AMG
• 2009     Mercedes     SL 65 AMG Black Series
• 2005     Mercedes     SLR
• 2003     MINI     Cooper S
• 2009     MINI     John Cooper Works
• 2006     Mitsubishi     Eclipse GT
• 2006     Mitsubishi     HKS Time Attack Evolution
• 2006     Mitsubishi     Lancer Evolution IX MR
• 1999     Mitsubishi     Lancer Evolution VI GSR
• 2004     Mitsubishi     Lancer Evolution VIII MR
• 2008     Mitsubishi     Lancer Evolution X GSR
• 2008     Nissan     #12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R
• 2003     Nissan     #12 CALSONIC SKYLINE
• 2008     Nissan     #23 XANAVI NISMO GT-R
• 2008     Nissan     #24 WOODONE ADVAN Clarion GT-R
• 2008     Nissan     #3 YellowHat YMS TOMICA GT-R
• 2010     Nissan     370Z
• 1970     Nissan     Datsun 510
• 2003     Nissan     Fairlady Z
• 1994     Nissan     Fairlady Z Version S Twin Turbo
• 2007     Nissan     Sentra SE-R Spec V
• 1992     Nissan     Silvia CLUB K’s
• 1994     Nissan     Silvia K’s
• 2000     Nissan     Silvia Spec-R
• 1993     Nissan     Skyline GT-R V-Spec
• 1997     Nissan     Skyline GT-R V-Spec
• 2002     Nissan     Skyline GT-R V-Spec II
• 2002     Nissan     MINE’S R34 Skyline GT-R
• 2000     Nissan     Top Secret D1-Spec S15
• 2009     Nissan     Versa SL
• 2004     Opel     Speedster Turbo
• 2003     Pagani     #17 Carsport America Zonda GR
• 1999     Pagani     Zonda C12
• 2002     Panoz     #50 Panoz Motor Sports LMP-01
• 2005     Panoz     #51 Panoz Esperante GTLM
• 2005     Panoz     Esperante GTLM
• 2004     Peugeot     206 RC
• 2007     Peugeot     207 RC
• 2007     Peugeot     207 Super 2000
• 2007     Peugeot     #8 Peugeot Sport 908
• 2009     Peugeot     #9 Peugeot Sport Total 908
• 1968     Chrysler     Plymouth Barracuda Formula-S
• 2009     Pontiac     G8 GXP
• 2006     Pontiac     Solstice
• 2002     Pontiac     Firebird Trans Am Ram Air
• 1973     Pontiac     Firebird Trans Am SD-455
• 1987     Pontiac     Firebird Trans Am GTA
• 2008     Porsche     #16 Dyson Racing RS Spyder Evo
• 1987     Porsche     #17 Racing Porsche AG 962c
• 2008     Porsche     #2 Gruppe Orange Racing 911 GT3 Cup
• 1998     Porsche     #26 Porsche AG 911 GT1-98
• 2005     Porsche     #31 Peterson-White Lightning 911 GT3-RSR
• 2008     Porsche     #45 Flying Lizard 911 GT3-RSR
• 2005     Porsche     #5 XBOX 360 911 GT3-RSR
• 2005     Porsche     #55 Applied Materials 911 GT3 Cup
• 2005     Porsche     #66 AXA Racing 911 GT3 Cup
• 2008     Porsche     #7 Penske Racing RS Spyder Evo
• 2007     Porsche     #80 Flying Lizard 911 GT3-RSR
• 2006     Porsche     #82 Red Bull 911 GT3 Cup
• 1995     Porsche     911 GT2
• 1982     Porsche     911 Turbo 3.3
• 1970     Porsche     914/6
• 1989     Porsche     944 Turbo
• 1987     Porsche     959
• 1998     Porsche     911 GT1
• 2004     Porsche     911 GT3 (996)
• 2008     Porsche     911 GT2 (997)
• 2007     Porsche     911 GT3 (997)
• 2007     Porsche     911 Turbo (997)
• 2003     Porsche     Boxster S
• 2003     Porsche     Carrera GT
• 1973     Porsche     911 Carrera RS
• 2009     Porsche     Cayenne Turbo S
• 2006     Porsche     Cayman S
• 1980     Renault     5 Turbo
• 2003     Renault     Sport Clio V6 RS
• 2007     Renault     Clio Renaultsport 197
• 2009     Renault     Twingo Renault Sport Cup
• 2008     Saab     9-3 Turbo X
• 2002     Saleen     #11 Graham Nash Motorsport S7R
• 2003     Saleen     #2 Konrad Motorsports S7R
• 2006     Saleen     S281 E
• 2008     Saleen     S331 Supercab
• 2004     Saleen     S7
• 2006     Saturn     ION Red Line
• 2007     Saturn     Sky Red Line
• 2005     Scion     tC
• 2009     Scion     xD
• 2009     SEAT     Ibiza Cupra
• 2007     SEAT     Leon Cupra
• 2007     SEAT     Leon Supercup
• 2007     Ford     Shelby GT500
• 1968     Shelby     Mustang GT-500KR
• 2003     Subaru     #77 CUSCO SUBARU ADVAN IMPREZA
• 2006     Subaru     Impreza S204
• 2004     Subaru     Impreza WRX STi
• 2005     Subaru     Impreza WRX STI
• 2008     Subaru     Impreza WRX STi
• 2008     Lexus     #25 ECLIPSE ADVAN SC430
• 2008     Lexus     #36 PETRONAS TOM’S SC430
• 2008     Lexus     #6 ENEOS SC430
• 2004     Toyota     Altezza RS200
• 2003     Toyota     Celica SS-I
• 1994     Toyota     Celica GT-Four ST205
• 1984     Toyota     Celica Supra
• 2002     Toyota     MR-S
• 1985     Toyota     Sprinter Trueno GT Apex
• 1998     Toyota     Supra RZ
• 2008     Toyota     Yaris S
• 2005     TVR     Sagaris
• 2006     Vauxhall     Astra VXR
• 2009     Vauxhall     Corsa VXR
• 2004     Vauxhall     VX220 Turbo
• 2009     Volvo     C30 R-Design
• 2004     Volvo     S60 R
• 2003     Volkswagen     Bora VR6
• 1995     Volkswagen     Corrado VR6
• 2006     Volkswagen     Golf GTi
• 2010     Volkswagen     Golf GTI Mk6
• 1992     Volkswagen     Golf Gti 16v Mk2
• 2003     Volkswagen     Golf R32
• 1984     Volkswagen     Rabbit GTI
• 2008     Volkswagen     Scirocco GT
• 2008     Volkswagen     Touareg R50

THE CARS OF DISC 2:

• 2003     Honda    #16 G’ZOX NSX
• 2004     Honda     Civic Type-R
• 1999     Honda     Civic Si Coupe
• 1994     Honda     Civic 1.5 VTi
• 1995     Honda     CR-X Del Sol SiR
• 2005     Honda     NSX-R
• 2000     Honda     Prelude SiR
• 2005     Mazda     Axela Sport 23S
• 2001     Mazda     Mazdaspeed Familia
• 1990     Mazda     Savanna RX-7
• 1995     Mitsubishi     Eclipse GSX
• 2003     Mitsubishi     Eclipse GTS
• 1998     Mitsubishi     FTO GP Version R
• 1997     Mitsubishi     GTO
• 2003     Nissan     #23 XANAVI NISMO GT-R
• 1997     Nissan     #23 Nissan Motorsports R390
• 2003     Nissan     #3 HASEMISPORT ENDLESS Z
• 1998     Nissan     #32 NISSAN R390 GT1
• 2005     Nissan     #46 Dream Cube’s ADVAN Z
• 1969     Nissan     Fairlady Z 432
• 1998     Nissan     R390
• 2003     Nissan     Skyline Coupe 350GT
• 1993     Nissan     MINE’S R32 Skyline GT-R
• 1998     Subaru     Impreza 22B STi
• 2005     Subaru     Legacy B4 2.0 GT
• 1969     Toyota     2000GT
• 2006     Toyota     #25 ECLIPSE ADVAN SUPRA
• 1999     Toyota     #3 Toyota Motorsports GT-ONE TS020
• 2004     Toyota     #35 Yellow Hat YMS Supra
• 2005     Toyota     #36 OPEN INTERFACE TOM’S SUPRA
• 2005     Toyota     #6 EXXON Superflo Supra
• 1995     Toyota     MR2 GT
• 1995     Toyota     Tom’s T020 MR2
• 2002     Toyota     Tom’s W123 MR-S
• 2002     Toyota     Soarer 430SCV
• 1992     Toyota     Supra 2.0 GT Twin Turbo
• 1998     Toyota     Top Secret 0-300 Supra
• 2001     Aston Martin     V12 Vanquish
• 2002     Audi     #1 Champion S4 Competition
• 2001     Audi     #4 Johansson Motorsport R8
• 2004     Audi     #5 Audi Sport Japan Team Goh R8
• 2004     Audi     #8 Audi ABT TT-R
• 2008     Audi     R8
• 2003     Bentley     #7 Team Bentley Speed 8
• 1999     BMW Motorsport     #15 BMW Motorsport V12 LMR
• 2005     BMW Motorsport     #2 BMW Motorsport M3-GTR
• 1998     Ferrari     #12 Risi Competizione F333 SP
• 2003     Ferrari     #72 Team Alphand Aventures 550 Maranello GTS
• 1961     Jaguar     E-type S1
• 1993     Jaguar     XJ220
• 2002     Koenigsegg     CC8S
• 1992     Lancia     Delta Integrale EVO
• 1974     Lancia     Stratos HF Stradale
• 1989     Lotus     Carlton
• 1972     Lotus     Elan Sprint
• 2002     Lotus     Esprit V8
• 2005     Maserati     #35 Risi Competizione MC12
• 2005     Maserati     #9 Vitaphone Racing Team MC12
• 2006     Maserati     GranSport
• 1997     McLaren     #41 Team McLaren F1 GTR
• 1998     McLaren     #41 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren F1 GTR
• 1954     Mercedes     300SL Gullwing Coupe
• 2003     Mercedes     CLK55 AMG Coupe
• 1998     Mercedes     AMG Mercedes CLK GTR
• 2003     Opel     #5 OPC Team Phoenix Astra V8
• 2007     Peugeot     #1 Peugeot 207 Super 2000
• 1993     Peugeot     #3 Peugeot Talbot Sport 905 EVO 1C
• 2005     Porsche     #3 Lechner Racing School Team 1 911 GT3 Cup
• 1998     Porsche     #5 Zakspeed Racing 911 GT1-98
• 2002     Saab     9-3 Aero
• 2003     SEAT     Leon Cupra R
• 1998     TVR     Cerbera Speed 12
• 2001     TVR     Tuscan S
• 2005     Vauxhall     Monaro VXR
• 2004     Volvo     #24 At-Speed S60 R
• 2004     Volkswagen     Beetle
• 2001     Acura     Integra Type-R
• 1997     Acura     NSX
• 1987     Buick     Regal GNX
• 2004     Cadillac     #16 Team Cadillac CTS-V
• 2002     Cadillac     #6 Team Cadillac Northstar LMP-02
• 2004     Cadillac     CTS-V
• 1996     Chevrolet     Corvette Grand Sport
• 1967     Chevrolet     Corvette Stingray 427
• 1970     Chevrolet     Corvette ZR-1
• 2004     Chrysler     PT Cruiser GT
• 2003     Dodge     #126 Team Zakspeed Viper GTS-R
• 2000     Dodge     #57 Carsport Holland Viper GTS-R
• 2000     Dodge     #91 Viper Team Oreca GTS-R
• 2003     Dodge     SRT4
• 1996     Dodge     Stealth R/T Turbo
• 1999     Dodge     Viper GTS ACR
• 1998     Chrysler     Eagle Talon TSi Turbo
• 1966     Ford     GT40 MkII
• 2005     Ford     Mustang GT
• 2003     Infiniti     G35 Coupe
• 2003     Panoz     #11 JML Team Panoz LMP-01
• 2006     Panoz     #81 Team LNT Panoz Esperante GTLM
• 2004     Pontiac     GTO
• 1968     Pontiac     GTO Hardtop
• 2001     Saleen     #26 Konrad Motorsports S7R
• 2000     Saleen     S281
• 1965     Shelby     Cobra 427 S/C
• 1999     Shelby     Series 1

EXCLUSIVE CARS LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION CARS:

• 2005     Acura     Forza Motorsport NSX
• 2005     Aston Martin     Forza Motorsport DB9 Coupe
• 2010     Audi     Forza Motorsport R8 5.2 FSI quattro
• 2008     Dodge     Xbox 360 Charger Stock Car
• 2003     Nissan     Forza Motorsport Fairlady Z

FORZA MOTORSPORT VIP MEMBERSHIP CAR PACK:

• 2008     Aston Martin     DBS
• 2009     Chevrolet     Corvette ZR1
• 2007     Ferrari     430 Scuderia
• 2007     Lamborghini     Gallardo Superleggera
• 2007     Porsche     911 GT3 RS (997)

EXCLUSIVE PREORDER CARS:

• 2009     BMW Motorsport     Walmart M5 E60
• 2009     BMW Motorsport     GameStop M5 E60
• 2009     BMW Motorsport     GAME M3 E92
• 2009     BMW Motorsport     MicroMania M5 E60
• 2008     Mitsubishi     GameStation Lancer Evolution X GSR
• 2010     Audi     R8 5.2 Community Edition

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 8th October #6

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #6 – Daily Vehicle News

#11 Primetime Racing Group Viper slithers to the front

Dodge fans everywhere will be jumping in their seats with this one. One of the best performing Dodge Viper Competition Coupes to roll around any of the Le Mans and Lite Le Mans tracks is of course the #11 Primetime Team’s GT2 – R Dodge Viper Competition Coupe.

Drivers in Forza 3 will have at their disposal a pure breed racing car that is purpose built, but done so at a price that allows many privateers to enter, or ‘Weekend Warriors” to compete on an even field.  It’s a semi-production vehicle, built specifically for racing, but at a price that will not have the racing enthusiast having to sell of their left lung and kidney.

At a beginning price of just $US140k – which is cheap in racing terms, the teams can then goo about decking out their pride and joy in whatever manner they choose so long as it fits within their class specifications and rules in the AMLS, the SPEED World Championships and other sanctioning bodies such as IMSA Lites for Le Mans.

This is a Forza 3 R3 Class car, and popping in with a solid PI of 714 which with the right suspension tuning, will have any Forza 3 fan circulating in top form after several laps to bed the tyres in and get the full feel of the car’s handling and setting.

Remembering, each car will handle differently, and what suits one, will not suit another, be that driver or car and for each track.

Set the car up for Le Mans, and the expect to take on the ‘Ring’, and you’ll only come to grief against one of the barriers that line the famous track. You tune it to suit you, test, re-tune, test, re tune, honing it in like a fine piece of machinery, which it is.

It’s like a watch, an expensive one. It requires fine adjustment to gain the maximum out of it, that’s your job, not the game developers.

Some History on the Dodge GT2 Competition Coupe

The philosophy behind the building of the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe started with the first Viper RTT/10 that rolled off the production line in 1992. Once these vehicles (and the subsequent Viper GTS Coupes) started getting into the hands of owners, an addiction to racing began.

Soon, Viper were competing not only in the U.S., but all over the world. A high mark was established for Viper’s racing legacy by the GTS-R which claimed five international championships including the 1999 FIA GT2 Class Championships.

The Real World Counterpart

Included in these series championships were two spectacular individual performances. First, in 1998, it took the GT2 class victory at the legendary 24 hour Le Mans, The Dodge Viper followed that up with an unprecedented victory at the 2000 Rolex 24 at Daytona where it not only won its class, but finished first overall for the race.

Daimler-Chrysler followed up this success by introducing another entry into the Viper stable of race vehicles.

The GTS-R Concept Race Car rattled the race world when it was unveiled at the 2000 North American International Auto  Show in Detroit.

Nothing like it had ever been seen before and the Le Mans endurance race-inspired concept set the stage for what was to follow – the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe.

How your car come from Dodge Motorsport when purchased from their Competition Racing section - for a cool $US140,000

But Dodge Motorsports had real-world ideas for the Competition Coupe. First it had to be safe and durable. Then, of course, the race car would also have to have outstanding performance advantages for competition in selected race series. And, least but not least, it would have to be an affordable, working-class club racer.

The Dodge Viper Competition Coupe accomplished these objectives and then some. With an FIA approved roll cage, fire suppression system, fuel cell, and supportive race seat, the Competition Coupe is well stocked with racing safety equipment. In addition, the V-10 engine that powers the coupe has proven to be a reliable and durable racing workhorse.

As for performance, the Competition Coupe estimates put a 0-60 mph acceleration time at 3.8 seconds: 0-100 mph at 9.2 seconds: 0-1/4 mile times at 11.8 seconds at 123 mph with a top speed of 192 mph, braking from 60-0 in 90 feet and lateral acceleration of over 1.25g’s.

To make it affordable to even weekend warriors, the Competition Coupe utilizes a combination of high-volume production parts and state-of-the-art race car equipment to deliver blazing performance at an excellent price.

In short, the philosophy of the Viper Competition Coupe is a commitment to safety, durability, performance, and value. The Competition Coupe is a prime example of Dodge Motorsports striving for excellence on the track, and off.  Source Chrysler LLC

Your Dodge GT2 Competition Specs New

The Primetime Race Group.

Primetime Race Group debuted in the American Le Mans Series in 2007 with a Dodge Viper Competition Coupe in the highly competitive GT2 class at the Detroit Sports Car Challenge presented by BOSCH.

The team, with drivers Joel Feinberg and Chapman Ducote, also competed at Petit Le Mans and the Monterey Sports Car Championships in preparation for a full championship schedule in 2008.

Primetime, owned by Feinberg, also has competed in SPEED World Challenge and IMSA Lites, finishing third in the L1 class in 2007.

Primetime are struggling a little in getting their GT3 class car into performing well in the GT2 class, but they are getting there.

“It’s like turning a tractor and making it into a race car,” Feinberg said of converting a GT3-spec Viper into GT2.

“Unfortunately with the way the ALMS [rules] are, you have to start with a street car. And if you look at the cars in the series, the Porsche and Ferraris are the front running cars because on the street, they’re the better street cars. If you’re not a top-notch street car, you’re not going to be a top-notch racecar.”

• Primetimes #11 in Action

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle ‘79 Z28
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Media Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe

Forza 3 Update 6th October #4

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #4 – Daily Vehicle News

Slippery Evos – 2006 HKS Time-Attack & IX Mitsubishis

Forza 3 drift lovers will just go berko with this one.

The Time-Attack world record holder, Taniguchi’s ever so slippery  CT230R. In Forza 3 you’ll be able to take this slippery-sucker around the 100 odd tracks and see if you can match some of Taniguchi’s own times, as well as set some Forza 3 World Records on the huge Drift Leaderboard which will be set up.

Forza 3 aims to supply the digital racer with several major disciplines, as not everyone likes tail-chasing around the world’s biggest circuits or trying to get across the quarter mile in the least amount of time. Some simply want the thrill of getting from point A to point B in the shortest time possible, while laying down an endless line of rubber and becoming enveloped in billowing tyre smoke. Not my cup of tea, but it certainly is to many of the Tuners around the world, that is for sure.

• Drifting Madness

Some History on HKS’s Time Attack Machine

The HKS’ Racing Performer CT230R Circuit Time Attack Car driven by Nobuteru Taniguchi (NOB) shattered both the Super Lap Battle Track Record and the Overall Single Lap Track Record at Buttonwillow Raceway during the Superstreet and Eurotuner Super Lap Battle Competition. Competing in the Group A (Unlimited AWD) category, the HKS Racing Performer CT230R Circuit Time Attack Car broke the previous record held by Sun Automotive (1:48.906) in the first session of the competition, posting a 1:44.668.

However, it did not always appear in its striking Stringer Red livery. Due to an accident, the once Grey Ghost was fully rebuilt, and the Stringer Red and striking graphics were applied.

• Oppssy, Crash after setting World record in Grey Livery

This livery certainly looks 10 times better than the original Grey that they used first. Perhaps you might be able to make your own livery up using the base 2006 Evo and doing the mods yourself through Forza 3’s excellent mod section and livery painter.

This wasn’t the only record HKS broke; the 1:44.668 time also made history beating the overall track record of 1:48.766 set by Team JIC/Hancook Tire earlier in 2007. The history making didn’t stop there…the HKS Racing Performer CT230R Circuit Time Attack Car piloted by Taniguchi then went on to break the HKS record posted at 1:44.610 in Session 2, with a record of 1:43.523 in Session 3. In total, HKS broke three records during the one day competition.

“Outside the United States, HKS is recognized as a premier motorsports developer that engineers, fabricates and manufactures record-breaking, pure race cars. Our purpose in bringing the HKS CT230R to this competition was to demonstrate HKS unique capabilities to North America motorsports fans and car enthusiasts,” said Rick Lafferty, president, HKS USA.

“The HKS CT230R proves that horsepower is not enough to be a winner, to achieve such a decisive win it takes all the resources of a bona fide performance engineering company to develop a balanced package combined with the expertise of an exceptional race driver. We at HKS USA are proud of our engineering team for developing this winning car and to Nob for bringing the full potential of the HKS CT230R. With this irrefutable performance, HKS has verified its unique capabilities in delivering driving performance on the track and the street.”

The Superstreet and Eurotuner Super Lap Battle competition was a special invite competition that brought together many of the world’s most successful Super Lap Battle competitors.

Taniguchi making sure followers get a good view

Taniguchi is no stranger to winning as he is one of the most widely recognized Japanese motor sports figures ever to get behind the wheel of a race car. He is best known for his versatile driving ability and composure behind the wheel.

Motor sports competitions, like the Super Lap Battle, are more than just venues for HKS to showcase its motor sports capabilities; they are opportunities for HKS to advance development of products for street applications. The HKS Racing Performer CT230R represents leading edge motor sports engineering.

Constructed by HKS engineers from the tires up on Mitsubishi’s Evo VIII platform, the car showcases motorsports technology and HKS’ products many of which are available in the market.

HKS and Taniguchi have teamed up since 2001, when Taniguchi piloted the HKS D1 Silvia, and won the D1 Grand Prix Series Championship. Taniguchi continued to pilot HKS D1 machines through 2005, but the HKS and Taniguchi tandem did not stop with drifting.

In 2005, Taniguchi’s grip driving skills placed him behind the wheel of the HKS TRB-02 and CT230R Time Attack Mitsubishi Evolutions. Taniguchi’s driving skills and HKS’ technical prowess combined for an unmatched force in Time Attack.

• Real World Counterpart – Real shots

Taniguchi raced the HKS CT230R into the Time Attack record books running a 53′589, which made it the first car ever to run in the 53 second range at Tsukuba Circuit, Japan. The HKS – Taniguchi association has not been limited to Japan events and competitions. Taniguchi drove an HKS USA developed Mitsubishi Evolution RS in the Car and Driver Super Tuner Challenge.

Racing against top US aftermarket manufacturers and tuners, Taniguchi and HKS once again found themselves on top, besting the nearest competitor by three seconds, and setting the day’s fasted ¼ mile, 0-60, and road course time.

In 2006, Taniguchi piloted the HKS-sponsored Speed Source RX-8 in the Grand Am Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. Taniguchi qualified at the top of all the other RX-8s competing, including David Haskell’s #70 Speed Source RX-8; Haskell was the 2005 and 2004 Grand AM ST class champion and in ‘05 he won and qualified P1 at Phoenix.

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle ‘79 Z28
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

Please share us around

What do you get when you drape an Aston Martin in carbon fiber? The Mansory Cyrus.

I usually have a love-hate relationship with the German tuner’s work but with this project, Mansory managed to make the Aston DB9 even more beautiful. 95% (if not more) of the exterior is made out of aerospace quality, pre-preg carbon fiber. They were also able to squeeze an additional approx. 30 horses from its engine.

Not so sure of the price but all I can say is it will definitely cost a fortune! Likey or no likey people?

[Source: Autoblog]

Steve Sutcliffe and Chris Harris, de la revista Autocar, han reunido cinco de los coches más veloces del mundo. Además de destacar por sus prestaciones, también lo hacen por su belleza. ¿Quién no ha soñado alguna vez con tener un aren de este tipo?

by Shadow Wave

©2009 Ben Cadwaladder:

These guys still have the Forza 3 Limited Edition available as well

October 23rd is going to be a big day for any racing fan, and as Friday approaches, many people will be revving their engines on the drive home, cranking up the bass, and maybe doing a burnout in a safe area. All just for the anticipation of Forza 3’s imminent release.

Well OXCGN has got their hands on a Limited Collectors Edition of Forza 3 already and we thought we would share the un-boxing love with everyone.

NB: OXCGN’s Main Forza 3 Page:- Leads to over 40 pages of Forza 3 information, news and images/vids

Are optional extras worth it on this ride?

…Let’s just ignore that little yellow sticker that says “DO NOT PLACE ON SHELVES UNTIL OCTOBER 23rd” for the time being shall we… So where were we . . . oh yeah, moving right along.

Pull off the slip cover to discover this . . . . looks nice satiny and very sleek. Hmmmm, it opens up very nicely, very good so far. What, not metal! Yep, however it sure feels nice and solid for a cardboard box.

And there it is, the Forza 3 Limited Collectors Edition open in front of me. Yep its got some nice furry stuff on the inside. Mmm. The Furry stuff seems to get over everything inside the box, but where is my nice 360 logo on the spine . . . bugger.

Ahhh . . Australian racing pride rises, the wonderful sight of the back of the box, Pure V8 Supercar Aussie pride shining through! They are awesome creatures those Commodors. Oooo . . . Lots of paperwork, nice – I think?

So what do I think?

Well the Keyring and 2gb USB stick are there in all their glory…. Keyring feels pretty solidly made for what it is. Although it does look somewhat basic for a car keyring and USB holder.  The USB stick . . . is well . . . it pretty much looks like a stock standard usb with the Forza 3 logo on.

Yep, that was quite disappointing really – sadly.

The DVD case has a Halo 3: Legendary edition feel about it.  The front of it looks nice, the back of the case has nothing printed on it besides the colour black. I miss the ‘Xbox 360′ logo that should be on the spine of the DVD case… Now its going to look so damn funny on my shelf next to all my other Xbox 360 game logos.

Available now - 250 gig Elite Special Forza 3 Unit

Booklets Galore! The Manual is quite small, but has colour pages which is nice. The bonus Limited Edition DLC feels kinda lame when compared to the Add on Pack that every version of Forza 3 gets as it seems better.

Well people, that’s all I can say on this one folks. No major Collectors Edition goodies to be found here,even after looking under every conceivable crevice. Still, I can say I have one if someone asks.

In my opinion, and speaking from an overall point of view, the Forza 3 Collectors Edition is NOT worth the extra $20 (or more depending on sales etc).  To be honest, the best thing about this CE is opening the box up, it felt really good to open.  But the big reveal was very anticlimactic.

The USB stick is a basic dull grey colour and while 2gb was the ’standard’ a year or two ago, it seems to be more of a gimmick than anything else now that much large sized USB sticks are easily obtainable.  The Keyring does feel really good, but it is very basic in design. And finally the prospect of getting 5 bonus cars in the CE is not really that tempting considering that there are over 400 cars in the game already.

What really would have finished this CE off would have been a tin case, and maybe a small model of an Audi R8 or maybe for us Australians a Holden or a Ford.

That being said, it isn’t an overly expensive Collectors Edition so if you are a fan of Forza you might find it to be a worthwhile Collectors Edition in some way or another.

NB: OXCGN’s Main Forza 3 Page:- Leads to over 40 pages of Forza 3 information, news and images/vids

©2009 Ben Cadwaladder:

Please share us around

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Special Feature

OXCGN Forza 3 October Special – Lets Go Drag Racing, Forza style

Real World Car With Forza 2 Paintwork

One of the biggest things many Forza fans loved in Forza 2 was Drag Racing at the excellent track called Copper Head.

Well this time, we have 8 lanes of drag racing in Forza 3 and it will be at the ex-Marine Corps El Toro Air Base in California, “The Benchmark High Speed Ring”.

Available now - 250 gig Elite Special Forza 3 Unit

Yes yes, I know, Drag Racing is typically one-on-one tyre smokin’, big screamin’ motor mayhem, but to give everyone a fair go, and not have waiting queues as long as the eye can see.

However, Turn 10 have made it so you can have as many as 8 cars racing the Magic Quarter Mile to see just who can pip the cherry and arrive at the other end first.

Whether or not this is a good, or bad thing is up to time to tell. My personal view is that drag racing has always been between two people, with their reaction time to the Christmas Tree being the golden rule of Launch Mechanics.

One site that has been leading the way in that area is Forza Drag Racing Association and the Forza Racing League. These guys have been successfully running daily events for the last several months, running different divisions, bracket racing and high power rig events within the world of Forza 2.

Now that Forza 3 is right around the corner, we are wondering what the change to clutch and Christmas tree will make to the game. With that in mind, we set about asking the owner of the site, Aaron Nelson some questions around his experience with racing, both on, and off the track, and of course, within the virtual world of digital racing.

You’ll find our Q&A at the end of this article, make sure you read it, as it is very informative indeed. Something every Forza 3 racer will want to check out at some stage. Seeing that Turn 10 have made generous allowances for both Drag Racing, NASCAR and Drifting car set ups, where you the player, can design the cars specifically for those purposes.

I wouldn’t doubt that they have something in store for the Drag Racing fraternity that might be a little different. As it certainly isn’t just a small number of individuals who play every now and then.

This is a well organized and well presented genre that can stand on its own two feet and bring heaps of fun to those who love clipping the old quarter mile. We have many a car that will fit the bill of being a typical Drag Racing setup, especially now with the inclusion of the All Classic and Modern American Muscle Cars.

Such as the Dodge Challenger, Saleen Mustangs, S331 Supercab, Corvette IROC-Z, Pontiac Ram Air, and dare I say, even the Ford, Chevy and Dodge Tin-Tops Turn 10 have provided for NASCAR would make great base cars for Super Sedan, or even something akin to Funny Cars or Pro-Street. Now wouldn’t that be nice.

The guys at Forza Drag Racing Association help those who would love to do it, but aren’t quite sure how to go about it. As 90% of winning is getting off the line (pipping the cherry) without any tyre spin, or as least as possible, and “hookin’ up” as quickly as possible, making those shifts at the crucial moments, and even if your top-end speed is less, you can actually get across the line before your opponent if you do your launch properly.

• Forza racing At its finest

Have just a few seconds delay, a redline flutter at a critical gear change, and the chances or winning have just flown right out the door.

It might sound dead simple. Pull up to the line, watch the lights, turn green, power on, get there first. But it is far from being that simple, and there’s many a digital racer that can attest to that, as they sit at the ‘tree’ watching their opponent slingshot away to the finish lane.

Drag racing has been a part of racing history since – well – since cars were invented, some of the old classics were excellent pieces of craftsmanship. No high-tech computer systems or intercoolers and in-car tweaking. These things are raw horsepower being unleashed onto the tarmac.

Seeing that Forza 2 and now Forza 3 do have tyre heat involved in the dynamics, Burnouts are a definite must to get those slicks nice and sticky, and, if the physics are as good as they say, then following the other cars run line (trye tracks) is vital, as you’ll get 50% more traction from the sticky surface left by other cars before you. I’ve walked on the drag strip in my younger days, as well as raced on it, and I can tell you this.

Trick your in-game Mopar out like one of these Real-World Beauties

The smell of nitro, burning rubber and super stick slicks is something that sort of stays with you for – well – forever. Engines un-capped that break your eardrums with raw power, and flames stretching out pipes for several feet in the AA Fuelers and AA Funny cars and Super Pro Streeters.

If Forza 3 proves to be even 50% as good as they say it is in the physics department, then drag racing Forza style will become a huge success, and world wide tournaments will become common fair for gamers everywhere.

OXCGN Drag Racing Interview with Forza Drag Racing/Forza Racing League

OXCGN Interviews Aaron Nelson (aka soadieman) of Forza Drag Racing Association and the owner of Forza Drag Racing and Forza Racing League. Here’s what he had to say over some questions we posed to him recently.

Grant Smythe: Many people often wonder how anyone can really “drag race” in a computer game that is NOT aimed solely at Drag Racing, like the NHRA games popular in Nth America can be done in games such as Forza 2, how have you been able to do it so successfully?

Aaron Nelson: Drag Racing is a sport that is longed for developers attention. We did not have a Christmas Trees(lights) to go off of and therefore we needed a way to start the race. So we went for the old street racing format but instead of a pretty lady dropping a shirt to start the race we substituted it with for a middle aged man saying “GO” .

This format has proven its self time and time again to be the best way to run an online drag race but only with the restrictions that we have applied has it become the best way to run. There are many different formats to use with in Forza but to minimize lag and have a set a rules for everyone to abide was when www.forzadragracing.com was born..

Let your imagination run wild, just like your car

GS: What type of tournaments can racers expect in Forza 3 Drag Racing through your site (www.forzadragracing.com)?

AN: We run many different types of tournaments though our site. For Drag Racing we have Spec Racing Formats which the racers have to meet a car spec to run, we have High Roller tournaments “Run what you have” where Racers can race for big dollars / pinks.

We have instant challenges for people to challenge other racers and teams to a race for position through the website and last but not least we now have a RANKED championship where all racers start out as amateurs and work their way up to pro through a series of races.

The Reason for the Ranked championship is to separate competition and make it a little more even for the new racers who want to experience tournament style racing.

Perhaps turn one of the Chevy, Dodge or Ford Stock Cars into a Drag Racer?

GS: What classes are there currently, and will these expand, and if so, what to.

AN: We currently run all classes and Drives. We will continue to do this and as the game progresses we will implement a more aggressive Class approach for each event.

GS: Is cheating on any level tolerated on the site, how do you deal with it when it does occur?

AN: We have a ZERO tolerance policy for cheating. We will give someone the benefit of the doubt the first time and ban them from the current season. If the same racer is caught a second time then he is permanently banned from all tournaments and website functions.

How about a Camaro or Chevy Sedan for a Classic Ride

GS: How has the site grown over the time you’ve had it, I believe it has changed names a few times, why is that . . . ?

AN: Well the site www.forzadragracing.com has grown in 8 months to almost 800 members with a steady 4 to 5 member increase each day. We have never really changed names of the site but added to it. We recently added www.forzaracingleague.com and the reason for this was we saw a need in the community to unite Circuit Racers and Drag Racers so they would have a place for to come to and trust.

A lot of the time racers do not want to race in these Online based tournaments because of the inconsistency of the events. Knowing this we are proud to fill the gap and will continue to grow with a drifting format later this year.

GS: Will the site stay primarily aimed at Drag Racing, or will it expand, as no doubt if it does, it will sure as hell increase one persons workload ten fold . .

AN: HAHAHA well yes the work load is insane and doing this as a hobby has defiantly gave me a run for my money.. I do have some help from my friends Joe, Tyler and Fernando.

It’s funny because when we started this we were maybe putting in a couple hours a night and now with the additions we are now putting in at least an additional 5 – 6hrs a night. We are dedicated to this and our aspiration is to become be the PREMIERE online racing site for Forza.

There’s no substitute for a good looking engine under the hood

GS: I know we (OXCGN) will be forming a Racing Team, not only for Forza 3, but we’ll carry the Team Name across to other games, such as Grid, DiRT 2 and Race Pro etc wherever possible . . will your site be doing the same, or simply being the host to racing events?

AN: We actually like running in tournaments but when we started this site our main goal was to mediate events and not to conflict with them. We have actually talked about it but always comeback to the point of being a mediator and feel that this is the best way to operate a tournament site.

GS: Have you had any real-world experience in Drag Racing or racing in general, if so, what was it and where/when.

AN: Yes absolutely .. I have drag raced many time on street and track. I actually prefer the track and have countless hours doing it. The places I have been to are Irwindale speedway and Infineon Raceway. I have also done some open track racing at Mazda Laguna Seca in Montery, CA.

Perfect launches are everything in Drag Racing – Now we have a clutch !

GS: What was the style of drag racing in Forza 2, how did you and the racers manage good starts without a clutch?

AN: So in FM2 there are many different ways to launching a car which is very important to winning a race.  In FM2 we had to find a way to reducing wheel spin as much as possible.

In most drives (RWD, FWD) we would accomplish this by doing a drop launch.  A drop launch is where a racer has tuned a car to where he/she set the car in a higher gear holds e-brake and set RPM’s to a certain level.  When the racers are ready to race the driver punches the gas releasing the e-brake and shifting down to first gear.

This sounds complicated but it works very well and about 90% of the community launches this way, formally this is known as a 2 to1 / 3 to1 launch.  In AWD usually you will tune the car again to apply the e-brake and set it in first gear and hold a certain RPM the release and punch it.  AWD’s by far are the best way for a beginner to start Drag Racing.

For DETAILED information then go to our Drag Racing Tuning Garage Section on our site to read more about tuning drag cars.

Tyre heat and grip are everything in Drag Racing – Get it right

GS: So how will Forza 3 change things, now that the clutch is involved, and by the looks of it, the great Fantec Porsche Turbo Wheel which comes with an excellent adjustable pedal set up. This should change the playing style?

AN: With The Clutch now being implemented this is going to add another level to the drag launch and more than likely you will apply it rather than the e-brake so when you release it you will achieve instant power.

I have tried this in the demo with minimal recourses and have succeeded but in order to be a viable option it will need to be scrutinized to the max for a full understanding of its advantages if there will be any.

GS: Will there be any prizes awarded or will it be entirely in-game prizes. Is there a global leader board planed for the drag racing event?

These guys still have the Forza 3 Limited Edition available as well

AN: Real World Prizes – this has always been the goal and we are constantly talking to companies to achieve this for our racers and teams.

This next year we will secure a main sponsor and real world prizes will be given out. For now we will continue to give out in game prizes. “HEY TURN 10 *wink wink* haha

A Global leader board is currently active for drag racing and we will be making another one for circuit and Drift racing when Fm3 comes out.

GS: What are your thoughts on the 8 lane drags at the new test track, Benchmark? Do you think this will help, or hinder real competitiveness or distract from the real aim of drag racing?

AN: I think it adds an interesting element for sure but in the spirit of traditional drag racing it will distract people from it. The other problem is that the drag tree does not work with staging and in place of it uses a 3-2-1 countdown thus enabling the racer to react robotically. To compare it to track racing it would be like taking the road markers away.

The purpose of a tree, staging, etc is it is part of the race and by taking away true reaction time they have taken away a key element to drag racing. When implementing a racing format it is such to capture the entire essence and not to just throw something in the game to add another element..

Benchmark is a good idea but it will have to be specifically for drag racing and not just for track racing. Each format is very different and Turn 10 need to recognize this.

GS: There are a lot of disciplines in racing, is there room for more and still keep the game fun . . .

AN: I think there is always room for more. Turn 10 has done a wonderful job to introduce people to racing and to give them the opportunity to become a true SIM racing fan, I am a big fan of SIM and if they could make it so everything was tunable on a car I would love it even more, but im sure my wife would have a heart attack hahaha. All in all I am very happy with Turn 10 and will continue to be a big supporter for Forza’s to come.

Thanks for your time mate, look forward to seeing you on the track at some stage, ideally in my rear-vision mirror hehehehe. Do you have a team , want to be part of one? Can you tune, paint, manage, drive, either one of those disciplines exceptionally well? Well then, if so, then why not join forces with a few others and form your own Racing Team, or join pre-existing ones, such as Team OXCGN Racing.

Do you have a team , want to be part of one?,

Can you tune, paint, manage, drive, either one of those disciplines exceptionally well? Well then, if so, then why not join forces with a few others and form your own Racing Team, or join pre-existing ones, such as OXCGN Team Racing.

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Information – All 136 tracks & Loading Tips
  
• Forza 3 October Special – Lets Go Drag Racing, Forza Style
• Forza 3 October Info #14 Test Track, Gymkhana, Drag Racing Delights
• Forza 3 October Info #13 2002 Firebird Ram Air – The Last ‘Bird
• Forza 3 October Info #12 Remington #8 Cadillac CTS-V Razor Sharp
  
• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
  
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle 79 Z28 Camaro
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 19th October #14

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #14 – Daily Vehicle News

Test Track – Gymkahana Madness – Drag Racing Delights

Well it’s not that far away now, just a few days away here in Australia, and several car updates from OXCGN until Forza 3 is unleashed onto the gaming public in Europe, Australia and Asia. Followed 5 days later in Nth America.

OXCGN will still be bringing you heaps of news on the game once it is released. Such as tournaments, the formation of various Racing Teams, such as Team OXCGN Racing  (slip us an email if you want to join up), User Created Videos from the excellent Video Editor in Forza 3.

• Ken Brock Goes All Gymkhana on us . . The inspiration behind Benchmark

We will also be looking at how to tune your Forza 3 cars for the various classes and tracks/condition. Such as what works, and what doesn’t work on the various tracks with each class, how to go Drag Racing – and win (see feature in next day or two). Or how to set up your NASCAR – Stockcar for the various classes they are eligible for, as well as making some Drag Vehicles out of those monsters as well.

But right now, we are going to look at the newest test track that has been made for us by the guys at Turn 10, using an existing US Airfield where many racers have been using the facility for all manner of racing, testing, filming and movie making for vehicle stunts and the like.

Available now - 250 gig Elite Special Forza 3 Unit

You will be able to join in the fun from day one with this free Day 1 Downloadable Content available off XboxLIVE Marketplace.

Seeing that the place lent its self to such a variety of uses, the guys at Turn 10 decided to take it one step further, and make it the “Benchmark” on testing facilities within Forza 3 which they have aptly named – “Benchmark High Speed Ring”. It offers vast areas where Tuners, Drifters, Drag Racers could compete without the worry of using a normal track that was not designed for such purposes.

With 16 purpose designed in-game tracks to help every discipline get to grips (pun intended) with the various classes and styles of driving, as well as compete in such things as Gymkhana’s, Drag Racing, Drifting etc. It comprises one of the biggest High Banked Oval Test track measuring 3.96 miles long. A total of seven dedicated tracks in both forward and reverse, plus 2 Drag Strips for the In-Line Racers.

The track will certainly cater heavily for the online Forza community by providing an excellent venue on which to run a huge number of speciality race styles using the 16 different layouts. This is what makes Forza the best designed racing simulator on the market today. It is built for the gamer, by racers and gamers with pure racing and fun all tied in together in one huge package. Joining together a multitude of racing disciplines, classes, styles and also somewhere where you can basically “Run-What-You-Brung” if that takes your fancy.

Speaking of Drifters, and I don’t mean the homeless people that wander from town to town . . . but this guy who would arguably be “The King Of Drifters” (you just have to love him in DiRT 2, sorry Turn 10 team, I just had to mention that, it’s an awesomely fun game – different caliber, but still fun)

• Forza racing At its finest

Otherwise known by the United States Armed Forces as the El Toro Marine Corp Airforce Base – California. The the airfield was decommissioned on July 22 1999 and all other operations were transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.  after which it saw very little use.

That was until an enterprising man decided to buy the place and use it to do some vehicle testing of his own. What followed was something of a flash of brilliance. It now act as as one of the best areas to do various testing on several disciplines of racing, even Pilots use the area for their own purposes, but naturally, not all at the same time . . well one would hope so anyway.

Ken Broke made the place a little more infamous by doing his excellent Gymkhana experiences there not too long ago, where he literally set the place up in smoke and did some amazing slides, turns, spins and just about every maneuver possible, and then some, that any car could possible make. Just take a look at the video above to see what I mean. The man is insane.

But the idea also rubbed off on one the guys at Turn 10, namely Terrance Newell who is a community member and he wanted top design some new tracks. He approached Turn 10 about his idea, who in-turn approached Microsoft’s Dan Greewawalt, who then gave Terrance the “all clear” to build the various tracks for Forza 3’s new Test Track.

This is what Forza is about. Users creating content that is used not only in the game, but also in the real world of racing. Allowing the community to contribute to the overall depth and growth of the game. You will not find that level of cooperation between users and development teams in any other racing game on the planet.

As I mentioned at the beginning, so here’s what they had to say about the transformation of the site for Forza 3.

Turn 10’s Benchmark Dream Turns Real

These guys still have the Forza 3 Limited Edition available as well

“Terrance Newell, a Forza community member an avid player saw the open space inside the super speedway as an opportunity to think outside the box. The genesis was Ken Block’s Gymkhana video.

“We watched those Ken Block videos like every other day,” says Newell. “When I saw the Gymkhana Practice video I was like, wow, I want that. I want to be able to do that in our game.” Turn 10s Rhett Mathis and Dan Greenawalt supported the project early in development as it spread its wings.

“I have these two big open areas I am trying to make sense of visually and that’s tough” explains Newell.

“We got a directive make this thing wide open without anything on it but make it awesome. Visually how do I make a big flat plane not look like a big flat plane? I talked with Turn 10’s Landin Williams whose also part of Project Blackjack about what would take it to the next level. I came away with the idea that tracks had drift zones that always limited the possibilities.

Benchmark was limitless, opening up the door to a pure style of drifting. I decided to take simple elements like tires and cones etc. and make them objects not obstacles. These elements are interacted with…not avoided. It’s a freestyle playground and drift scoring is not the emphasis of this track. Benchmark breaks the rules of track design; it’s a venue where player can go mess around and experiment without the constraint of a lap timer.”

One of the coolest aspects of the track are the numerous inconspicuously placed drift obstacle/challenges Newell cleverly sprinkled throughout the facility for players to explore and utilize as they see fit. Further with the strategic placement of replay cameras Newell expects to see some wicked ‘Forzakhana’ videos come from Benchmark.

Benchmark’s dragstrip venue also goes one step beyond. Newell, who was collaborating with the Forza design team heavily to develop the tracks layouts, was approached by Greenawalt with the idea of drawing from the raw ‘run what you brung’ attitude of the “Pinks” TV show. The strip at Benchmark is eight lanes wide with four sets of Christmas trees and no excuses.

Benchmark has an immediate vibe; un-kept yet unbridled, idling yet ready to rock. The buildings and the overall environment hint at the El Toro air base where Gymkhana Practice was filmed but there is a much more substantial aura to Benchmark. The facility was built to test race cars and their drivers at the ragged edge.

But the teams soon built their own test facilities and time took its toll on the place. Enter a forward thinking former racer who is developing a revolutionary tire compound. He buys the place for cheap and hires his own drivers to fine tune his compound. The drivers love the place and it becomes a viral phenomenon in their tight knit circle; a sort of invitation only proposition.

Some history on the El Toro Air Base California.

In May 1942, Lieutenant Colonel William Fox was directed to select the sites for all of the Marine Corps’ West Coast air stations. Fox sought the most expeditious and low cost option and thus chose the already existing airports of El Centro, Mojave and Santa Barbara. For the fourth station he chose land that had previously been looked at by the Navy for a blimp base.

The Marine Corps gave the owner of the land, a farmer named James Irvine Sr., $100,000 for 4,000 acres including 1,600 acres designated for a blimp base.

Construction of MCAS El Toro began on August 3, 1942 on land previously owned by the Irvine Company. The company greatly resisted the station’s construction at this site, which at the time contained the largest lima bean field in North America, which was the company’s prime source of revenue. The name El Toro came from the nearby small community which in 1940 only had a population of 130 people.

The base headquarters was established on November 4, 1942 and the first landing occurred in late November when a Major Micheal Carmichael, flying from Camp Kearney, was forced to make an emergency landing amongst the construction equipment. January 1943 saw the first operational units arriving at MCAS El Toro. First aboard were Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 41 and VMF-113. They were followed later in the month by VMF-224, VMSB-231 and VMSB-232 who were returning from fighting during the Battle of Guadalcanal in order to re-organize, re-equip and train.

Soon after its opening El Toro was handling the largest tactical aerodrome traffic on the Pacific Coast. Already the largest Marine air station on the West Coast, in 1944, funds were approved to double its size and operations. By the end of 1944, the base would be home to 1,248 officers and 6,831 enlisted personnel.

In 1950, El Toro was selected as a permanent Master Jet Station for the Fleet Marine Forces, Pacific. To support this new role, the aviation infrastructure at El Toro was again expanded significantly. For most of the ensuing years, El Toro served as the primary base for Marine Corps west coast fighter squadrons. In 1958, Marine Corps Air Station Miami was closed which brought the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing to El Toro.

The land originally surrounding the base was mostly at agricultural use when it first opened, but it the late 1980s and early 90s, resedential development started to begin in the area: most of it being directly in the path of the base’s runways which proved to be a major problem as the constant loud noise produced by jets and choppers passing overhead was very irritating to those living in the area. Few desired to move there because of this, causing the new neighboorhoods to struggle.

In 1993, MCAS El Toro was designated for closing by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission and all of its activities were to be transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The station officially closed on July 2, 1999.

Full details here on Wiki for those interested further.

So there you have it. It may be rather long, but it gives you, the digital racer in Forza 3 a full idea of just how YOU, the community have been forming this game from the onset. No doubt Forza 4, which is already on the drawing boards at Turn 10, will have even more User Generated Content and ideas.

My suggestion is a simple one, Think outside the box, and always ask the question youthink you shouldn’t ask . . it probably is the right one to ask, and isn’t as dumb as you may think, Terrance did, and has found himself an excellent position on the Forza team at Turn 10.. What else could a racing nut ask for.

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Information – All 136 tracks & Loading Tips
• Forza 3 October Special – Lets Go Drag Racing, Forza Style
• Forza 3 October Info #14 Test Track, Gymkhana, Drag Racing Delights
• Forza 3 October Info #13 2002 Firebird Ram Air – The Last ‘Bird
• Forza 3 October Info #12 Remington #8 Cadillac CTS-V Razor Sharp
• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle 79 Z28 Camaro
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Update 18th October #13

OXCGN Forza 3 October Update #13 – 2002 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air – The Last of the ‘Birds

Forza gamers are basically ’spoilt for choice’ this time around. Sure, some games can tout a higher number of cars, but we must remember, that while Forza 3 ships with 400 cars initially, it already has 2 major DLC  waiting for eager owners, which will take the tally up to around 440, and an additional 20 odd tracks to ad to the already huge number out on day one, 100.

Forza 3 has the largest number of racing tracks in any video game todate, with many more heading to the gamers over the next 12 – 18 months while Turn 10 work diligently on Forza 4, after a wee holiday of course.

What we have here today is one Muscle car that made an impression on many a car enthusiast, and also with many film and TV series fanatics as well.

We all remember “Knight Rider” with the Firebird playing the role of “KIT” who often out-played David Hasselhoff who was the main human character. But the king of the show was the 3rd gen 1992 Firebird that basically ran by its self and shot the Pontiac to TV Fame and fortune . . . well, sort of..

• Click for full 2002 Ram Air Specs

However, here we are discussing the sad tale of the 2002 Ram AIr Pontiac Trams AM Firebird, which was the last of its kind to run off the production line as GM. Not much of a send off either, with some basic cosmetic changes, and a tweak here and there, but it was snappped up by the eager enthusiast, knowing that it would be the last of its kind. There were a few versions made available to make it stand out, which it certainly did.

In Forza 3 you’ll be able to trick your virtual Pony out in any way you see fit, and while it did produce a solid amount of horsepower in its later life, you may be able to squeeze a few more out of it by making some modifications in the engine department in Forza 3.

Basically 2002 would prove to be the last year for the Firebird, and Pontiac decided to issue a special 35th anniversary Firebird (as opposed to Anniversary of the Trans Am). This special model was a Trans Am which featured yellow paint, black wheels, and special graphics. Not really much of a send off for one of only two vehicles (the Chevrolet Corvette is the other) that survived from the muscle car days to the modern era without interruption.

The Oakland Car Company was founded in 1907 which was then gobbled up two years later by General Motors. Vehicle history shows us that the name Pontiac was taken from an 18th century Ottawa Indian chief, it was added as a line of five-passenger coach’s that GM debuted at the 1926 New York Auto Show.

What followed during the period 1930 – 1950’s was a successful time for the Pontiac brand name. With General Motors pumping out various model with hip names like The Torpedo 8, Chieftain and Bonneville. But their real success didn’t really start until the beginning of the “American Muscle Car Era”, and for Pontiac, that was 1964 when it popped the Pontiac GTO out. Many gamers might remember Vin Deisel in XXX when his pride and joy which was in the show was a ‘64 Goat, the nick mname given to the Pontiac GTO at the time.

The car’s optional package which was called The Tempest, included a big-block chevy 389-cubic inch V8 which proved to be one of the greatest stump-puller motors for many a hot rodder and muscle car builder the world over. There was another, the 396 Rat motor, which I can attest to its powers. Riding a ‘55 Chevy Tudor, we could pull the passengers front wheel off the ground without too much trouble, in full street trim and all-steel body. Those tings were not light either.

A mere three years later, the Pontiac Firebird was born having a another chevy powerplant shoehorned into an even smaller body than the Tempest, proving to be a formidable opponent on track and street.

We will all have our hands full in Forza3 simply trying to chose which of the American Muscle cars will get our attention the most. My recommendation would be to include the TA in amongst your rides in Forza 3, and take it around the various tracks. Be warned, to the uninitiated, the American Muscle Car can seem somewhat skittish or loose.

Which to the uneducated racing gamers could seem like bad design on the developers part, which it is not. The thing is, you’re looking at cars with a simply leaf spring suspension hanging off the rear and double wishbone front suspension. Hardly the type to set race tracks on fire, so they can feel somewhat light and frisky. So please don’t go blaming Forza 3 (or the great team at Turn 10) for the cars handling ‘characteristics’ . .

Go and grab one of these beauties in real life, and you’ll find they can often handle in must the same way. Like trying to drive a car on a greased track, and turn while someone is pushing you sideways at a great rate of knots . . not fun, but certainly challenging.

So in the end, it’s up to you to tame them and learn how to drive them, not have them drive you – into a wall.

Pontiac Firebird History

First Generation 1967 – 1969 The Beginning of an Era.

Introduction: Having watched first the Ford Mustang and then the Chevrolet Camaro enter into the pony car market, Pontiac finally got into the act in the middle of 1967. The Firebird was offered with both six and eight cylinder engines, like the Mustang and Camaro, and was based heavily on the Chevrolet Camaro chassis.

Pontiac did try to make it their own and would create a European styled and mannered pony car that could hold its own against its more experienced competition.

The Pontiac Firebird was released five months after the Chevrolet Camaro, and offered buyers choices of six and eight cylinder engines. Pontiac was able to use that additional time to create a unique identity for the Firebird, despite having to use the Camaro chassis and some body panels. Despite using the same front fenders, doors, and rear fenders as the Camaro, the Firebird’s styled split front grille, beaked hood, and GTO-slitted taillights gave it a distinctly Pontiac appearance.

But the key differentiator was under the hood, where the Firebird offered a range of Pontiac engines. Initially, five different Firebirds were available, named after their respective engine choices. At the bottom was the lowly 230 cubic inch OHC six cylinder engine with a single 1bbl carb, rated at a measily 165 bhp. Stepping up to the “Sprint” version got the buyer a 230 I6 with a 4bbl carb rated at 215bhp.

Either six cylinder was linked to either a three or four speed manual or two-speed automatic transmission. Although the six cylinder engines were more powerful than Chevy’s offerings, most buyers wisely opted for one of the available V8 engines. At the bottom was Pontiac’s 326 V8 with a two barrel carb that was rated at 250 bhp. A special “H.O.” (High Output) version of the 326 V8 fitted with a four barrel carb was rated at 285bhp.

At the top was the 400 V8 borrowed from the GTO. This engine was rated at 325 bhp, and was available with or without Ram Air (which suspiciously didn’t affect the engine rating, hmm.) The Ram Air engine included a hotter cam, stronger valve springs, and made use of the otherwise decorative hood scoops.

With no publicized power increase and a hefty $600 price tag, the Ram Air option was rarely ordered. All V8s came with a standard heavy-duty three speed manual transmission; a four speed manual and three speed automatic were optional. Performance axle ratios up to 4.33:1 were available as well as front disk brakes. Firebird prices were roughly $200 more than comparable Camaros and the Camaro outsold it two to one. But Pontiac’s pony car had arrived.

1st Gen sourced and continued from TransAmWorld.

Second Generation 1970 – 1982

Introduction: An all new Pontiac Firebird was introduced for 1970 and represented a new high for Pontiac styling. The front bumper and grille were molded out of Endura rubber and were painted the same color as the car to give it a bumperless appearance.

The sides sported rounded full wheel cut outs without any extra trim (the Camaro had more squared off wheel cut outs). The suspension was revised and a rear stabilizer bar was added. The Firebird lineup was reduced from six to four, and the convertible was eliminated. At the bottom of the line up was the Base Firebird, whose Pontiac 250 I6 was replaced by a Chevy built 250 I6 rated at a meager 155bhp.

Next up was the Espirit, which featured the Pontiac 350 V8 rated at 255 bhp. The Formula 400 featured a unique twin-scooped hood with a 400 V8 rated at 335 bhp.

At the top was the Trans Am, which was fitted with air dams across the bottom of the front and in front of the wheels. A large decklid spoiler and small spoilers in front of the rear wheels completed the package. These aero pieces were claimed to generate 50 pounds of downforce on the front and rear of the car at highway speeds.

Trans Ams also received a rear facing shaker hood scope to feed the standard Ram Air II engine. Optional on the Trans Am was the Ram Air IV engine, whose output had increased to 370 bhp due to bigger ports, better heads, swirl-polished valves, and an aluminum intake manifold.

2nd Gen sourced and continued from TransAmWorld

Third Generation 1983 – 1992

Introduction: The third generation Firebird was all new in many ways from the previous generation. A full unibody hatchback body replaced the subframe construction of the second generation and the Firebird received all new sheetmetal that greatly differentiated it from the Camaro.

However, under the skin, the Firebird was now even more like the Camaro, and would use GM corporate engines (which were really Chevy engines) instead of the previous Pontiac engines. A large part of its uniqueness was gone.

The third generation Firebird was introduced in 1982 featuring all new sheetmetal. The front end sported hidden headlights and sleak styling. The model lineup was simplified to Base, luxury-oriented S/E and Trans Am. Base cars started with the obnoxiously loud, rough, and underpowered “Iron Duke” 2.5 liter OHV inline four cylinder engine rated at a truly pathetic 90 bhp.

Most buyers wisely opted for either the S/E’s standard 2.8 liter OHV V6 rated at a still-pathetic 105 bhp or one of the V8s. Optional in the Base and S/E models and standard in the Trans Am was a 5.0 liter (305 cid) V8 with four barrel carb rated at 145 bhp and which could be matched up to either a four-speed manual transmission or three-speed automatic.

Optional in the Trans Am was the trouble-plagued “Cross-Fire Injection” version of the engine which used Throttle Body Injection to crank out 165 bhp, but it was only available with the automatic transmission. But the big news for Firebird fans was the debut of “Kitt”, a talking Black Trans Am that could out-act David Hasselhoff on the hit TV show “Kight Ridder”, which further increased the Firebird’s popularity.

3rd Gen sourced and continued from TransAmWorld.

Forth & Final Generation 1993 – 2002

Introduction: Pontiac saved the best for last with its Fourth Generation Firebird. Although these Firebirds would be the fastest and most powerful Firebirds since the glory days of old, the overall decline in the sport coupe market and the changing taste of young performance buyers to newer, more refined imports, sealed the fate of the Firebird. At least it went out on top.

The Firebird was substantially revised for 1993, the beginning of its fourth generation. The exterior styling was dramatically aerodynamic, and incorporated plastic front fenders, although much of the floorplan and rear suspension was carried over from the third generation.

The front suspension was new, and incorporated a new short/long-arm design and incorporated rack-and-pinion steering for the first time. The Firebird lineup was reduced to three models, Base, Formula, and Trans Am, the convertible was eliminated and engine choices were now just two. The base engine was a new 3.4 liter V6, based on the previous 3.1, rated at a decent 160 bhp.

But the big news was the new LT1 version of the classic 5.7 liter small-block V8 rated at a stout 275 bhp. Furthermore, the LT1 could be ordered with a six-speed manual transmission and was standard in both the Formula and Trans Am models.

4th & last Gen sourced and continued from TransAmWorld.

Real World Counterparts

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Info #13 2002 Firebird Ram Air – The Last ‘Bird
  
• Forza 3 October Info #12 Remington #8 Cadillac CTS-V Razor Sharp
  
• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
  
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle 79 Z28 Camaro
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Please share us around