I finally broke down and bought rFactor a couple of nights ago.

I've downloaded a few mods/tracks, are there any current "must have" add-ons that I should look for?

I picked up the stockcar mod from The Pits, an IRL styled mod (X open wheel? can't remember), the Sports Car Challenge mod (always liked the F1C version), and a few tracks...2004 Le Mans, VLM Lemans 71/79, Daytona 24hr.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated There's a lot out there to sort through.

Go to rFactor Central (http://www.rfactorcentral.com) and visit the Hall of Fame (HOF). Most of those cars and tracks are great.

A newer release that I'm very fond of is the E30 BMW. FOR SURE the 79F1 mod. (GPC79 I think it's called) CDTP 2005 F1 is still a great drive. As far as tracks go, there are a ridiculous number of great ones. Nordschleife of course. Rouenn is a great new one. Try Livet Glen for some nice club length layouts. Just depends what you're into. All at rfcentral

Man, I am stupid, I admit it. Computers don't make much sense to me and I'm probably making a simple mistake but whenever I download a mod for rFactor it never works. All I want is the IRL mod and the chance to race at Indy. To this point, I'm willing to PAY someone to come to my house one weekend and download some mods and configure them so that I can have fun racing what I want to race!
Any takers? Any one willing to give me a guiding hand?

Honestly the only "must have" on your list is the SCC(ALMS) mod.

Here is my list of "must haves" for rF:

1)iDT's 2006 Champ Car Mod. - Quite literally the best mod out there for open wheel
2)Gp79 mod
3)SCC(ALMS)
4)iDT's Toyota Atlantic Mod
5)MMG F1 2007
6)PCC 07
7)Lexus ISF

For tracks here is my recommendation:

1) Nordschleife(the mother)
2) iDT's Long Beach
3) Estoril 88
4) Road America
5) Cleveland Burke Lakefront
6) Vanport(portland) international raceway
7) Spa(with bus stop)
8) Denver
9) Detroit
10) Autopolis

As far as having fun, well for one...don't race the IRL mod.

Mods are not that hard to install...just put the files in the folders that they need to be in...thats all.

Any one willing to give me a guiding hand?

A bit too far of a drive for me!
Short version is-
-Download the mod to somewhere other than your rfactor folder
-If it is a zip extract the contents
-For vehicle mods, usually, right click on the "Game Data" folder and choose cut.
-Now find your rfactor folder. Open it. In a blank space, right click and choose paste. When it asks something like 'There is already a folder named Game Data blah blah' click yes to all.

If you downloaded an exe. just double click and it should take care of itself. Although I reccomend telling it to install to a temp folder other than your rf folder just in case it isn't constructed correctly. Then follow the same steps as above.

For tracks-
-Unzip
-If there is a Game Data folder same as a above.
-If there is just a "Indianapolis" or something named folder
-right click
-cut
- Go to rfactor/Game Data/Locations
- right click in an open area and click paste.

Hopefully that helps. I can send screenshots if you don't get it figured

BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING -
MAKE A COPY OF YOUR RFACTOR FOLDER AND SAVE IT SOMEWHERE
That way if all goes to screwey you can just copy and paste it instead of re-installing
Have fun

Auslander,

Just got back from a trip abroad and followed your instructions. I am now happily driving 1960-era roadsters around Indy and loving every minute of it! I also downloaded the 1955 F1 mod but haven't been able to get it to work right yet. Thanks!

Andrettifan

Glad you're getting it sorted. Have fun! That 55 is a squirrelly beast!