  **********************************************************************
  *                                                                    *
  *     P97CS28.ZIP - Pieter's Grandprix 2 1997 Carset Version 2.8     *
  *                          March 15, 1997                            *
  *                                                                    *
  *  1996, 1997 PK Arnall, Pieter van Dieren, All Rights Reserved.    *
  *                                                                    *
  *    This carset is completely original artwork and may be freely    *
  *  copied and distributed as long as it is not modified in any way,  *
  *       no fee is charged, and this file is always included.         *
  *                                                                    *
  *            All cars are created by PK Arnall and can not           *
  *                   be used in any other carset.                     *
  *     Distributed on Pieter's GP2 Homepage: www.volftp.vol.it/GP2    *
  *                                                                    *
  **********************************************************************


PIETER'S GRANDPRIX 2 1997 CARSET v2.8


What's new?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compared to carset 2.7 we changed the following things:

 * Updated Arrows, Benetton, Ferrari, McLaren, Prost & Williams
 * Updated Helmets
 * Updated patchfile
 * New BBS wheels, made by James Ariz
 

About the Carset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pieter's 1997 Carset 2.8 will update the ultimate formula one
simulator Grandprix 2 from Microprose fully to the 1997 season.

It contains:
1997 cars, drivers, helmets, numbers, performance patch that supports
all versions of GP2, pitbox order patch, changed cockpit colors to
match the colors of the cars, new pitcrew colors, new wheels, new
marshals and an installation file to make the installation as easy
as possible.

NOTE:
This carset uses the default BHP and weight values for the player's
car, so it should be no problem to use it with a racing league.

To install the carset read the installation section below.

The newest version of this carset can be found on
Pieter's GP2 Homepage: http://www.volftp.vol.it/GP2
or on Blue Hotel BBS: +31-(0)35-6032066


About the cars
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Normally GP2 uses 14 teams to drive with. However, in the 1997
season, only 12 teams are participating. Because GP2 has to handle
at least 13 teams, we added a fictious Pieter's GP2 team.
One team will be left out of the game.
So after the installation, there will remain 13 teams driving
instead of the normal 14. We've done this to come as close to
the real thing as possible.

So if you want to add your own personal car, you will need the editor
to change this.


About the patch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The patch that's used in this carset (P97CS28.GPE), is created with
Slobodan Blanusa's GP2Editor v2.12b for Windows.
So if you want to adjust some settings, you need the GP2Editor v2.12b
which you can find on Pieter's Homepage.


About the wheels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The wheels were created by James Ariz, specifically for Pieter's
carsets.
The default installation uses the gold wheels with the writing on the
tyre. However, if you prefer the silver wheels without the writing,
you can easily change them by running the batch file WHEELS.BAT.


Installation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT: This carset will change your original GP2.EXE, F1GSTATE.SAV
           and JAM files!
           Make sure you have a backup of these files in case
           something goes wrong.

           You can only use this carset if you used the maximum
           installation of GP2.

This is what you have to do:

  1. Make a backup of the .JAM files and GP2.EXE if you want to reset
     the game later.

  2. Create a new 97CARSET directory in the GP2 directory.
     (Example: C:\GAMES\GP2\97CARSET)

  3. Unzip this file to the directory: GP2\97CARSET
     Don't unzip it to another directory!
     Or if you have already unzipped it, copy *all* files
     to this directory.

  4. Now go to the GP2\97CARSET directory and run
     the batch file 97.BAT.

  This will install the complete set and will make the necessary changes
  to GP2.EXE.

  The first time you start GP2 after the installation, you will
  probably have to change some things again. E.g. your steering
  device setup, graphics options etc.


Trouble Shooting
------------------------------------------------------------------------
During installation you will see a remark about the changed palette.
You can ignore this one, it will cause no problems.

Before changes can be made to GP2.EXE, the file F1GSTATE.SAV has to
exist. To make sure this file exists, just run GP2 once and save the
changes while closing.

If you are experiencing some troubles, try to patch the game again
using the original unaltered GP2.EXE and F1GSTATE.SAV.

When you load a previously saved game, the names, numbers and cockpit
colors will change to their original values. Remember this!
If you did load a saved game by accident and you saved the changes,
you can reset the game to the 1997 season by simply loading the 
saved game P97CS28.QRL that's in the GP2\97CARSET directory.
Then exit GP2 with saving the changes activated.

If GP2 crashes after the installation of the set, simply delete the
file F1GSTATE.SAV from your GP2 directory, then start the game again
and load the saved game P97CS28.QRL that's in the GP2\96CARSET
directory. Next exit GP2 with saving the changes activated.

The helmets in the menu cannot be changed yet.
But within the game they are ok.

If you are using Windows 3.xx and GP2JAM doesn't convert the BMP
files, then probably the file WINDPMI.386 is missing in your 
WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. More information on this can be found on
Pieter's FAQ page.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

That's all!

If you have any questions/suggestions you can contact:

Name  :  Pieter van Dieren      or        PK Arnall
E-mail:  pidi@xs4all.nl                   zimbabel@pobox.co.uk
Fido  :  2:286/700.7 


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Special thanks go to:

- James Ariz (moebius@netcom.ca) for creating the BBS wheels,
  and alowing us to use some elements from his batch file.
- Trevor Kellaway for creating the JAM to BMP converter GP2JAM.
  http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tkellaway/gp2.htm
- Slobodan Blanusa (sblanusa@gradst.hr) for creating
  GP2 Editor v2.12b for Windows and the Dos Exporter.
- Antonio J. Rebelo for supplying us with photo's of the latest cars.


---------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER

This carset may be freely copied and distributed, as long as it is
not modified in any way, no fee is charged and this file is always
included.
This software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either 
expressed or implied. The authors will not be held responsible for any
losses incurred, either directly or indirectly by the use of this carset.
This is not a Microprose product.


1996, 1997 PK Arnall & Pieter van Dieren. All Rights Reserved.
