Pitstop II

Formula One racing game for Commodore 64, 1984

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Use Control Port 1 and 2.

INTRODUCTION

Pitstop II is the first racing game that brings you the thrill of battling an
opponent, the excitement of fighting for the lead out on the track and the
suspense of struggling to be the first out of the pits. Realistic
first-person graphics and a split-screen display allow you and another player
to experience the challenge of auto racing head-to-head. The challenge of
true competitive action. This is racing. The way it´s supposed to be. You
can´t relax when you take the lead, becouse you know he´s right there behind
you. Will he try to pass you in the hairpin turn? Or do you think he´ll wait
for the next straightway? Six of the world´s toughest race tracks are
waiting, from Brands Hatch and its hairpin turns to the mile-long
straightaway of Vallelunga. You can practice against the computer... but
nothing will compare to the fun of racing against another person. That´s the
whole story behind Pitstop II. It´s simple - auto racing was never meant to
be a solo sport.

OBJECTIVE

Winning each race requires strategy, determination and guts. Drive as hards as
you can, but keep an eye on your tires and the fuel gauge. You may find that
you can build a lead by wearing out your tires, then lose the race because
you have to make an extra pit stop. Your objective is to balance speed
against fuel consumpiton and tire wear - to spend as much time on the track
and as little time as you can in the pits. The player who makes the fastest
pit stops usually has an edge in winning the race.

STARTING PLAY

After the game has started, a menu screen will appear, displaying the options
available in PITSTOP II. You can select the number of laps, change the level
difficulty, choose any single race track or try your skill at the grand
circuit.

* Push the joystick up or down to move up or down the menu.
* Push the joystick right or left to change an option.
* When you are satisfied with your choices, select "START THE RACE" and press 
the fire button.

CONTROLS

PITSTOP II can be played over both joystick ports, even when
you´re playing only a one player game.

1. STEERING:
Use the joystick to steer your car while on the track.
2. SPEED:
To accelerate, push forward on the joystick. To apply the brakes,
pull back on the joystick. For additional acceleration, press fire button
to engage to "turbo boost".
3. PIT CREW:
Use your joystick to move the steering wheel cursor to the crew member you
wish to control. Press the fire button to activate the crew member, then move
him with the joystick. To use another crew member press the fire button to
disengage cursor, then reposition the cursor with your joystick. Press the
fire button again to engage the other crew member. To leave the pits,
position the cursor over your driver and press the fire button.

RACING

When it´s racing time, PITSTOP II changes to a split screen display, with two
views of the race track. The upper half of the screen is player one´s
display. Player two (or the computer) uses the lower half of the screen.

THE MAP

Out on the race track, it´s important to keep track of three things - you,
your opponent and the pits. Use the course map, located at the right of the
screen, to determine your position and the distance to the pit. You can see
your opponent´s position on his course map.

TIRES AND FUEL

Keep an eye on your fuel supply and tire wear, becouse you´ll need to amke a
pit stop when your fuel is low or when your tires are worn. Your fuel
indicator is located at the bottom of your half of the screen. You will use
more fuel at higher speeds - so if you want to make fewer pit stops, try a
slower pace. Tire wear is indicated by the color of your tires: they start
black and change to lighter colors as tire wear accumulates- they finally
turn white at the last stage before a blowout. Tire wear is caused by taking
corners at high speed, bumping into other cars and hitting the side of the
road. Once a tire turns white, even the slightest bump can cause a blowout
and put you out of the race. 

THE PITS

The entrance will appear on the LEFT side of the track as you approach the
pits. To enter the pits, steer your car into the entrance. Races can be won
or lost in the pits, so don´t waste a second- To refuel, move the crew
memeber with the hose to the gas intake at the side of your car. Watch your
fuel indicator - if you overfill, the tank will empty and you´ll have to
start over again! To chabge tires, move your second crew member to a worn
tire - after he grabs it, hurry to the correct stack of new tires. The stack
near the rear of your car has rear tires, and the stack near the front of
your car has front tires. Once you pick up a new tire, move back to the car
and mount it. To leave the pits, mope the cursor over your driver and press
the fire button. Be sure crew members are away from your car.

GRAND CIRCUIT

For an additional challenge, select the GRAND CIRCUIT on the game menu. Here
you will race all of the tracks in succession, building points according to
how you finish each race. After the last race, the driver with the highest
point total is considered the World Driving Champion.

SORING

After each race, the final standings list the order of finish, laps completed
and racing times. Also listed is the number of points awarded to each driver,
according to the order of finish. When you race the GRAND CIRCUIT, the
championship will go to the driver with the highest point total for all six
races on the circuit.

CONTINUING PLAY

When a race is over, press the fire button to play again.
In addition, you can restart the game at any time during play
by pressing the [RESTORE] key.

RACE TRACKS

Brands Hatch:
Farmingham, England. The 2,65-mile road course is one of the sites
of the British Grand Prix, and is located 20 miles northwest of London.

Hockenheim:
Hockenheim, Germany. A 4,8-mile road circuit which serves as one of the
sites of the German Grand Prix. It is located nine miles southwest of Heidelberg.

Sebring:
Sebring, Florida. The 5,2-mile road circuit is the site of the
Sebring 12 Hour Grand Prix of Endurance.
The course is on a fomer airfield located nine miles south
of the town of Sebring.

Watking Glen:
Watkins Glen, New York. Site of the United States Grand Prix.
A 3,38-mile course in a picturesque, wooded setting four miles southwest
of the town of Watkins Glen.

Rouen Les Essarts:
Rouen les essarts, Elbeuf, France. One of the sites of the French Grand Prix.
This 4,36-mile circuit on public roads ius 75 miles northest of Paris.

Vallelunga:
Rome, Italy. A 1,65-mile road circuit located 23 miles from Rome,
the Autodromo Vallelunga hosts formula and prototype races.
 

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Some useful keyboard shortcuts
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       [PAUSE] - stop/continue game
          [F9] - quick load game state
         [F12] - quick save game state (still stored after leaving the site)
         [F10] - toggle performance meter
         [F11] - toggle fullscreen mode
  [ScrollLock] - quick switch control ports
    [PageDown] - make a screenshot (320x200)