iRacing Launches Advanced Motorsport Simulation

Blurring real world and virtual racing in the PET250 model car

The following announcement from iracing is another significant step in the development of the rapidly growing international race simulation world, which gives my career and business opportunities for continued growth. Without the virtual tracks being built and championships being created we’re headed for the bitside junk heap.

So thanks to Henry and John my future is glowing even brighter as another championship winner will be taking on drivers and teams from around the world.

Last night at a business meeting I was chatting over drinks and the comment was made that the person in the discussion had no idea that pro race car drivers regularly practice in simulators rather than the actual track. His comments were interesting in two ways… when one becomes involved having a career as a simulation race car driver you tend to think people would realise, that just like the Boeing, Virgin, Air NZ pilots who constantly train in simulators, that the same equally applies to top end race car drivers who do the same. So the public perception of race car simulation as a training tool is still low on the horizon. With the wwwiracing.com launch it further enhances and promotes our industry. However this is now no game but serious business with dollars, careers and wealth at stake.

 iRacing’s Motorsport Simulation and Internet Racing Service Driver Development Tool Now Available to Auto Racing Community and General Public

BEDFORD, MA. (August 26, 2008) – iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations today announced the general launch of its much-anticipated subscription-based auto racing simulation and internet racing service.  After four years of development and testing, virtually anyone anywhere in the world with a PC, high-speed internet access and a set of automotive-style wheel-and-pedal controls can develop his or her race-driving skills and also compete in the newest form of global motorsport – real-time, online competition, known as internet racing.

The announcement of iRacing’s public launch was made at noon today by iRacing’s co-founders and owners, John Henry, who is also principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, and Dave Kaemmer, a pioneer of motorsport simulation technology with more than 20 years experience in the field. 

“This is a moment that Dave and I have eagerly envisioned, from the day in 2004 when we started iRacing.com,” said Henry, who is also principal owner of Fenway Sports Group, co-owner of NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Racing.  “Development of the simulation and the service and the addition of more cars and tracks is and will be a continual process, but opening the service to all comers is an important milestone in the life of the company.”

iRacing.com was founded in September of 2004 by Dave Kaemmer and John Henry. Kaemmer was co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, developers of award-winning racing simulations including NASCAR Racing: 2003 Season and Grand Prix Legends. Henry is principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group – the co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing – as well as an avid simracer. The iRacing.com team combines more than 100 years of real-world racing experience with more than 50 years of successful racing simulation development.

Motorsports Simulation at the Olympics

Here is a thought worth pondering…should motorsports simulation racing be an Official Olympic Games Competitive Sport.

Here are some aspects to consider:-
– Motorsports is the world most watched sport.
– Computer gaming is the world’s largest entertainment industry
– I don’t have the stats on hand but car driving is one of the most favoured means of transport.
Just try and drive in Mumbai, Central London, Bangkok and you will know what I mean.
– The motorsports girls are some of the most delightful eye candy in any sport.
– Simulation racing is a green sport and the perfect hybrid activity and carbon friendly.
– Should A1GP, Indy 500 and Formula One officiating bodies be required to all sponsor the Motorsports Simulation Olympics?
– How should the simulator race systems for the Olympics be configured? Full featured cars, on 3 DOF platforms with life size daytime display systems.
– The online racing community now has a fully sanctioned and franchised motorsports developed by http://www.iracing.com.

About iRacing.com
iRacing.com was founded in September of 2004 by Dave Kaemmer and John Henry. Kaemmer was co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, developers of award-winning racing simulations including NASCAR Racing: 2003 Season and Grand Prix Legends. Henry is principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group – the co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing – as well as an avid simracer. The iRacing.com team combines more than 100 years of real-world racing experience with more than 50 years of successful racing simulation development.

Add your comments as to whether this is a crazy idea.

Remember though that currently for the Olympics we have sports where adults dance around a green table hitting a tiny white ball, woman dancing in the water, fit young girls jumping around with long ribbons, metal tubes being thrown thru the air, balls being bounced, hit, thrown, tossed and passed on all manner of courts. Then we have nimble young ladies jumping and tossing around on planks (that looks so dangerous), men swing from hoops, people racing on one of the first human powered personal transport machines, athletes pretending to be like the fastest fish, others bouncing on tightened sheets (I use to do this as a kid bouncing on my bed), whilst others keep running around in circles and some in a straight line, some like to test their strength by lifting heavy things, others take to brawling that would have them arrested if it occured in a night club and others really lash out punching so hard it would be classified as assault on the street. Other sports would have a full armed Police response if you played them in the average school field or or backyard and another was the cause of 1,000’s of deaths over the centuries in deadly warfare…. hmmm I thought the Olympics were suppose to be the friendly games. Still others paddle sitting, kneeling on everso narrow boats, whilst others search for a breath of air whilst holding on for Olympic glory. Some jump high backwards and others jump forward whilst others jump over fences. …seems to be alot of jumping and bouncing around in the Olympics don’t you think! Oh and then of course some athletes pretend to be older than they are, others take illegal drugs to go faster, others deny ever taking performance boosting substances and I guess some might secretly wish they had. All in all high speed simulation would seem to fit in well with all this bouncing, running, lifting, jumping and dancing.

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