Sim Racing Revisited

[[AK]Hylander]

I know a couple of you were asking for info about racing sims, and possibly getting into it, so now that I'm no longer under an NDA from the Beta Test, I thought I would post some info about iRacing. It's by far the most intense simulation I've ever run.

iRacing was started by Dave Kaemmer (Sierra/Papyrus - Indy Car, NASCAR Racing series, Grand Prix Legends, etc) and John Henry (Part owner of the Boston Red Sox.) However, it's not for the 'casual' gamer or *clears throat* Console racer, and only driving view available is in cockpit. No roof riders. The physics are very advanced and you need to develop and learn about setting up a car properly and the basics of car dynamics. iRacing is not about a particular car, as it's completely modular, and it's not inexpensive. It's a racing "system" if you will. You have to pay for a subscription which gets you started (I paid $156 for the year but you can get monthly, 3 months, 6months as well), but as you advance you will have to purchase additional vehicles and tracks which have all been laser scanned and modeled. They run $15 - $25 each depending on the car and track. Many tracks have multiple configuration - For example, Daytona you get the Oval, Road Course, etc. You have everything from the entry cars, Legends for ovals and Pontiac Solstice (Swae!) for your road course license. But there are also currently Late Model stocks, Skip Barber RT2000, Formula Mazda, Radicals, SK Modifieds, USAC Silver Crown, with Sprint Cars and Spec Racer Fords coming soon and many others on the way. In the video below, you can see Dave Kaemmer working on what looks like a Craftsman Truck.

On any given night during the BETA, I was racing with Dale Earnhardt Jr, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr, and Michael McDowell from NASCAR along with Justin Wilson from the Champcar and now Indy Car series, along with John Henry. There were also some European racers and motorcycle racers involved in the beta. I raced and voice chatted with John Henry quite a bit and is a hell of a nice guy / down to earth for being worth about $860 million. (I know Beast doesn't want to hear that being a Yankees fan ) He's put about $18mill into the development so far.

Anyways, if interested - you can PM me or email me. We just left BETA yesterday, and it's a staggered roll-out meaning that new customers are by invite only. At this time I am all out of invites (We were given 10 each and I had a waiting list) but I'm sure there will be more in the coming weeks.

Here is a very good intro to the service from Sim Racing Tonight

And a few others:

Late Model in car at South Boston

Radical at Virginia (VIR)

SK Modified at Stafford - Great watch if you want to see how the physics are and the dynamic interaction.

Solstice Race at Limerock - I personally hate the in car steering wheel and turn it off. I have one in front of me, don't need one on the screen.

USAC Silver Crown