|
More than just a news portal, vSimRacing is a concept under development, vague for certain, details forthcoming.
In general, we are but a humble group of Sim Racing enthusiasts headed by Scott Walter who hatched the idea for vSim. His story goes something like this. 
Since it’s the obligatory tale to tell, I started my Sim Racing career/addiction on a laptop running with arrows. It sounds rather dangerous I know. It was with, wait for it…… no, it was NOT Indy 500 but NASCAR Racing by Papyrus circa 1994 . My best friend John Hall, the unlikeliest of chefs and having recently finished a work release stint hosted a Daytona 500 culinary extravaganza (Smoked Duck, Oysters Rockefeller) and suggested I try this ‘Game’. Hook line and sinker, thus began my Sim Racing career. Race the AI, search the primitive information superhighway for like-minded fools, find a league, buy a joystick (Only after my cousin was turning faster laps with one), then pedals, then a wheel, then another wheel, a faster PC, a new graphics card, wash, rinse repeat. I worked for a phone company at the time and one might very well say they were my first sponsor, even if they were unaware that being the case:-)!! Needless to say I never ran up the outlandishly behemoth phone bills others ($723.53 S. Ewing) did on that addictively tantalizing service known as Hawaii. Along the way some great stories unfolded and wonderful acquaintance’s made.
After dabbling with other games, consoles and otherwise in an era of rapid gaming development, one thing remained constant, the thrill to find the best line around a racetrack. It was the one game I NEVER grew weary of playing. As it did for so many others, it allowed me to watch the weekly NASCAR races with an entirely new perspective. There was a greater understanding, an intimate knowledge of the track and the driver’s strategy. Admittedly I became a fan at the same time I was learning the game so many nuances of the sport were foreign to me. However, I have no doubt Sim Racers did more than their fair share of helping to grow the sport of NASCAR through it explosion in the early 90’s.
It was a sad day when I found out that Papyrus was getting out of the business due to contractual/licensing negotiations. What was I to do? What I discovered was an eye-opening and overwhelming amount of options, more than I cared to comprehend. I recall thinking, Christmas I’m a veteran to this scene, I can’t imagine where a novice would begin his quest. Innocently and without intention I started keeping track of links, leagues, games, platforms, manufacturers, and distributors, pretty much anything that was in any shape or form related to Sim Racing. I’d ask my confidants, "Have you heard about this or that", usually the reply was no. Sim Racers like to dig in, laying down deep roots in their selected community. In a sense we are running like Sea Biscuit with blinkers on. “Hey, I’m happy here and this group contains the fastest guys on the net”……never heard that one before!!
As my personal database grew, the ideas started infiltrating and churning about my mind. Like a roulette ball tumbling in and out of numbers before coming to a rest, the concept for vSim kept changing. As the wheel slowed, the vision became clearer.
The vSimRacing MO consists of working within the parameters of existing platforms to create a new environment to grow and benefit the Sim Community and ensure that it’s left in better shape than we found it…..stay tuned!
In the meantime, I’ll try to post any interesting news I find….send hot tips my way. Cheers, Scott |
Lodestar Livery
|
