rec.autos.simulators

Has anyone else out there discovered the multi-faceted thrill of 4-lane HO
scale auto racing? (ala Tycho/Lifelike/Aurora sets)

A small group of racers in my area (upstate NY) have plunged headfirst into
building 4-lane,  fully modeled authentic tracks run on DC power.  They're
fully functional,  competitive,  and FAST!!!

I am an owner of one of these tracks:  it's 120ft long,  with all handmade
sponsor billboards and spectator fencing/retainer walls.  We run scale NASCAR,

Indy, and IMSA races.

It's the Mother of All Hobbies.  It's a science.  It's an art.  It's a sport.
It's pretty underground at this point:  there are no national magazines or
newsgroups that cover this...but it seems like every once in a while we run
acrost more people that are doing this,  unaware of others that are into it.

I also am into the Papyrus NASCAR sim.  Trust me:  as mind-blowing as it is,
HO Scale racing is at least its' equal.  Anyone out there have any info?
Got a track of your own?  Curious?  Reply or send E-mail to:

Yeah... it's great fun but it'd be much more exciting if you could
steer the car.  The ones I see at a local track which hosts races
at night are way to fast to control though.  Scale speed is like
400+.   I think it's the human competition that makes the HO scale
cars more exciting for you right now.  Hopefully when Papyrus has
there multiplayer network going, NASCAR will be incredible.
 <snip>
****************************************************************

Hartsdale, NY        "BsOiRgInNaGture"         Cloud 9 Internet
****************************************************************

Ya' know,  we had lots of great conversations in our group of racers about
what it would be like to put a miniature camera inside an HO car w/ a
drivers eye view of a race (scale speeds are actually closer to 900+).
Maybe w/ a VR helmet?!?!  I think making the turns would be somewhat more
problematic at that point...

Real-time comptition/social interaction,  as well a scenery realism and
blinding speed make HO racing a blast.  However,  the Papyrus sims are
the only other form of realistic simulation I've found that are it's equal.
One is not better than the other,  they're just different in execution.

As far as being able to keep the cars on the track:  that's the name of
the game.  It's what separates the leaders from the backmarkers ( as well
as hp/handling issues).  Heats of 5-10 minutes are common.  The idea is
not to lose your line and/or be pressured off the track by the other guy.
And that's racin' at it's best.  

Is there a public HO track in Hartsdale?  Where is that in relation to
Albany,  exactly?.  Wouldn't mind checking that out one of these days
to see what they're doing.

Race on!