ENDURANCE - CRL GROUP PLC

ENDURANCE

In front of a packed grandstand twenty bikes and riders are lined up
waiting for the last few minutes before the start to tick away. There
lays before them a solid twenty four hours of racing through the
afternoon and evening on into the darkness of the night and the chill
of dawn. Even then the race will barely be half run, continuing until
the afternoon of the following day.

Your own team of two bikes is out there with the rest. For the next
day your only concern will be the welfare of your riders and the
maintenance of your machines.

Endurance motorcycle racing is a real team effort where success
depends as much on the maintenance of the bikes during the many pit
stops as on the racing ability of the riders. Re-fuelling is necessary
about every hour, sometimes more frequently, and tyres and brakes will
need replacing. Even a crash may not be terminal. If your rider can
ride or push the bike back to the pits repairs can be carried out and
lost time made up. Endurance gives you the chance to compete in the
hard world of long distance bike racing, either on an individual race
basis or for a full championship season which includes four shorter
races and two full twenty four hour events and where points are
allocated to each team and to the riders individually.

One to six players can compete in the races which are run at twenty
five times real time. All control keys are re-definable or a Kempston
joystick can be used. Games can be saved to cassette at any stage of
the race for re-loading later.

INSTRUCTIONS

Selection of race and level of play is made by moving the arrow to the
correct line using the up and down movement keys or joystick and
pressing Enter or fire. A new game can only be selected by moving up
so it is not chosen by mistake.

During Race Preparation the engine or chassis characteristics must be
set. Move the arrow to the required line and press "M" or use the
joystick. The bar-graph will increase showing an increase of power,
m.p.g. etc. However at a certain level an increase in one element will
decrease the others. It's up to you to find a race winning formula.
There is a selection of three different tyre types with different
speed and wear characteristics and finally the first rider is
selected. Pressing the up or down keys or using the joystick will
enable you to alternate between the two riders so that you can decide
which one to use first.

Throughout the race the first six bikes are displayed on the
score-board and the order of the first sixteen bikes are shown from
left to right in front of the grandstand. The team name of the leader
and the distance he has covered are also displayed. If your bike
number turns red it shows that something is amiss. It may be that just
a fuel stop is needed but it could be tyre or brake wear. More serious
problems are reported by scrolling messages. If a number goes white it
means that the bike is still in the pits and red ink on white paper
shows retired bikes. If you are not in the first sixteen places you
will have to rely on your memory or screen messages to decide when a
stop is due.

During the race, instructions can be given to your riders by pressing
"I" and entering the bike number. All riders start off riding normally
but they can be instructed to take things easy (if protecting a good
lead) or ride as fast as possible. The last option is useful for
making up lost ground but there is a price to pay in increased wear
and tear and higher fuel consumption. If riding flat out, pit stops
will have to be anticipated otherwise the fuel is likely to run out on
the circuit and valuable time lost. Fresh instructions must be given
after each stop.

Major problems force a pit stop but normal wear or shortage of fuel
will not necessarily cause an immediate pit stop and one should be
requested as soon as possible. On entering the pits you have the
choice to change the rider. As before pressing the selected up or down
key or using the joystick will alternate the two riders showing their
strengths or weaknesses. Enter or fire makes the selection.

Crashes or a headlamp failure must be dealt with before any other
work. To replace a headlamp move the crew member to face the front of
the bike, pick up the new unit from the second member who appears and
replace it. To repair crash damage first move to the front wheel which
will be removed, then the rear wheel and finally remove the fairing.
Work can then be carried out on the engine or frame as required. When
finished the fairing will be replaced. Move towards the right of the
screen select front tyre type then move left and replace the rear
wheel. The stop then continues as usual.

In a normal pit stop once the rider has been selected the pit crew is
free to move backwards or forwards across the bike. When he is in
certain positions messages will appear below the bike. If Enter or
fire is pressed while the message is up that option can be carried
out.

With tyres and brakes the first display is on their status. If no
change is required Enter or fire enables the crew to move on. If a
change of tyres is required the type must be selected and the tyre
will change. To replace front or rear pads you must collect the new
pads from the second crew member and return to the wheel causing the
new pads to be fitted.

Engine tuning takes time and it is wise to get the correct balance
before the race. If however adjustments are essential such as when you
have an oil leak, ignition, gearbox or engine problems move the crew
until the message appears and press Enter or fire. The fairing will be
removed and tuning can take place in the same way as the bike was
prepared for the race, only against the clock. Chassis adjustment is
only possible following a crash.

Refuelling is something that you will do more often than anything
else. When the message appears press Enter or fire and use the right
movement key or joystick to fill as required. Enter or fire ends
refuelling.

When in the pits the distance behind the leader is displayed alongside
the Team name.

To return the bike to the race the crew must be moved behind the bike,
facing right. When the message "Return rider to bike" appears press
Enter or fire and the pit stop will end.

A final option when in the pits is the ability to retire one of your
bikes. To do this the pit crew must be moved well behind the bike on
the line below it and the message to retire appears. Press Enter or
fire and follow screen instructions to remove that bike from the race.

One thing to note is that the clock runs at different speeds when in
the pits and that delays in carrying out your work when in the wrong
place can cost you dearly.

Control Keys (all redefinable)

Move pit crew or arrow up               A or joystick 
Move pit crew or arrow down             Z or joystick
Move pit crew left                      N or joystick
Move pit crew right, improve engine 
or chassis element or refuel            M or joystick
Select options, commence or
finish pit work                         Enter or fire p
Request pit stop                        P
Request rider instructions              I

Other functions available on redefinable keys are as follows:-

1. Halt game. (key H) While halted the current status of the race is
   displayed.

2. Quit race or season. (key 0) Enables you to return to the race
   selection menu.

3. Save Game. (key S) All instructions are screen prompted and you
   have the ability to name the data saved for future reference.

The authors would like to thank Team Bike and especially Howard Lees
for the background information supplied which was invaluable in
writing this program. Also Picturesque for producing such an excellent
assembler/monitor.

G. B. MUNDAY & B. P. WHEELHOUSE
