NASCAR Racing

Papyrus · released 1994 · discussed in 8,911 posts, 1994-2011 · overall tone mixed

Posts per month

Timeline

• 1994-06-27 Papyrus showed an in-development NASCAR simulator with a new engine and detailed damage modelling at SCES. post post
• 1994-07-19 Computer Gaming World previewed Papyrus' NASCAR Racing, followed by other magazine previews. post post post
• 1994-09-19 A NASCAR Racing demo was released on America Online and Papyrus' FTP site. post post
• 1994-11-08 The Internet Winston Cup Championship (IWCC) was revived for NASCAR Racing with a web page and mailing list. post post
• 1994-11-15 Papyrus released NASCAR Racing in North America in floppy and CD-ROM versions. post post post
• 1994-12-06 Papyrus released the NASCAR Racing v1.1 patch, fixing the pole-position bug, pedal calibration and high-IRQ sound support. post post
• 1995-03-08 Papyrus announced IndyCar Racing II, built on the NASCAR Racing engine, for DOS, Windows and Macintosh by Christmas, together with a NASCAR track pack without Daytona or Indianapolis. post post thread
• 1995-03-31 Papyrus released the long-delayed NASCAR Racing v1.2 patch, which did not add multiplayer beyond two players. post post thread
• 1995-04-08 Papyrus said Sega held the Daytona rights and had refused their use, so no Daytona track would come to NASCAR Racing. post post
• 1995-04-17 Papyrus producer Ed Martin announced a 2–32 player dial-in online racing service, starting with NASCAR Racing, and recruited beta testers. post post post
• 1995-05-16 Papyrus released the NASCAR Racing Track Pack with Charlotte, Dover, Pocono, Richmond, Rockingham, Sears Point and North Wilkesboro. post post thread
• 1995-07-26 Papyrus released the NASCAR Racing v1.21 patch, which fixed modem problems. post
• 1995-08-16 A Matrox Millennium-enhanced version of NASCAR Racing shipped to Millennium owners. post post
• 1995-09-18 Diamond announced the NVIDIA NV1-based Edge 3D card with an enhanced NASCAR Racing bundled, and Creative also planned a NASCAR bundle for its 3D Blaster. post post post
• 1995-10-07 Papyrus said there would be no NASCAR 2 and that NASCAR Racing for Windows and Mac was due in Q1 1996, alongside a DOS update. post post
• 1995-12-02 Papyrus dropped its planned Windows 95 version of NASCAR Racing. post post post
• 1996-02-06 IVGA released its freeware FASTLAP 2.0 plug-in for NASCAR Racing. post
• 1996-02-21 IWCCCARS withdrew its converted Brickyard track for NASCAR Racing over Papyrus copyright concerns. post post
• 1996-02-23 Papyrus said IndyCar Racing II for Windows 95 was scheduled for June and that no Windows 95 version of NASCAR Racing was planned. thread post
• 1996-04-22 Papyrus opened the public beta of its multiplayer NASCAR Racing dial-up service, nicknamed 'Hawaii'. thread post
• 1996-05-23 The Pits cancelled its Daytona track conversion for NASCAR Racing after the speedway's licensing director objected. thread post
• 1996-05-29 NASCAR's lawyers told the NASSCAR online league to stop using the NASSCAR name and NASCAR trademarks. thread post
• 1996-10-23 Cheating with hacked setups on the Hawaii service led to a major dispute. Papyrus then added a login notice banning external tools. thread post
• 1996-11-03 Sierra's NASCAR Racing for the PlayStation reached stores. post
• 1997-11-22 Papyrus announced that its free Hawaii online racing service would shut down on 12 December. post

Key threads

• Papyrus opens beta of multiplayer NASCAR Racing (Hawaii) 1996-04-22 · 174 posts
  Papyrus announced the open beta of multiplayer NASCAR Racing, the Papyrus Network client nicknamed 'Hawaii'. The HAWAII.EXE client was downloaded from Sierra's site and BBS and connected by long-distance dial-up to a Boston server. Beta testers praised racing against people, while others raised long-distance costs, latency, modem trouble and wreckers. Ed Martin said Papyrus wanted to cut costs, and Rick Genter explained why typical internet latency made TCP/IP racing impractical at the time.
• Papyrus on 2D physics, curbs and features in IndyCar Racing II 1995-09-06 · 51 posts
  Asked why cars could not flip, Rick Genter of Papyrus explained that the physics model was essentially two-dimensional and would remain so in IndyCar Racing II and NASCAR for Windows/Mac, and confirmed ICR II would have no curbs. He also described wide-angle mirrors, a much simpler Windows garage interface, a Q1 1996 date for NASCAR for Mac/Windows, and why a 320x400 mode would be costly. Players expressed disappointment about the lack of curbs and LAN multiplayer and compared it with the forthcoming F1GP II.
• Cheating and hacked setups on Papyrus's Hawaii online service 1996-10-23 · 97 posts
  Players complained of cheating on Papyrus's Hawaii online racing prototype, such as impossible qualifying speeds at Talladega. A major dispute arose when IVGA member Julian Data defended using hex-edited setups, such as altered rear camber and tiny fuel loads, as a legitimate 'grey area'. Most posters called this cheating, and David Sparks noted that Papyrus was quietly collecting information on cheating methods during the test.
• IVGA head says Papyrus asked him to sit out the NRL 1996-11-18 · 73 posts
  Don Wilshere posted that Papyrus had asked IVGA staff not to take part in the NASCAR Racing League because their fast-lap software captured members' setups, and he questioned why beta testers could race. Adam Levesque defended the beta testers. Tony Johnson and others laid out the evidence, opinions split on whether banning anyone was fair, and the thread later drifted into NASCAR 2's lack of arcade mode in multiplayer.
• The Pits abandons its Daytona conversion after licensing call 1996-05-23 · 47 posts
  Jed of The Pits announced that the Daytona track conversion for NASCAR Racing would not be released. The licensing director for Daytona and Talladega had called the US mirror's operator on 13 May to object. Readers called the track owners jerks, proposed renaming the track, and debated trademark law. Rick Genter noted that Sega held an exclusive, worldwide licence to Daytona's likeness. Later posts suggested passing the patch around privately, while others told people to accept that it was dead.
• Papyrus confirms Win95 ICR2 for June, no NASCAR upgrade 1996-02-22 · 39 posts
  Asked about Windows 95 versions, Papyrus technical lead Rick Genter said IndyCar Racing II for Windows 95 was scheduled for June, and that there were no plans for a Windows 95 version or other upgrades of NASCAR Racing. He said the decision was Papyrus's own, and that not upgrading NASCAR Racing was different from never making another NASCAR product. Readers took this as a hint of NASCAR 2 and posted long wish lists covering AI, spotters, pit speeds, network play and post-race analysis.
• NASCAR lawyers force NASSCAR sim league to drop name 1996-06-02 · 34 posts
  Tim Wortman posted a letter from NASCAR's lawyers asking his online league NASSCAR to stop using the name and NASCAR's trademarks. Many argued that NASCAR was legally obliged to protect its marks, while others called it bullying. Ed Martin of Papyrus explained the official 'NASCAR Racing League' plans and the industry's rules on liquor and tobacco names. Rick Genter recounted being forced to drop the fake sponsor name 'Enerjuice' on the day ICR2 went gold.
• IndyCar 2 announcement and NASCAR 1.2 patch bug complaints 1995-03-09 · 28 posts
  Paul Hodgetts relayed news that Papyrus was working on IndyCar Racing 2 using the NASCAR engine, while league organiser Tony Johns voiced frustration over the long-delayed NASCAR patch and listed bugs such as yellow-flag cars driving through walls and phantom stay-behind black flags. Others defended Papyrus as a small company under business pressure. Rich from Papyrus clarified that the 1.2 patch did not add multiplayer for more than two players, and a later post reported that the NASCAR 1.2 update had been released.
• NASCAR Racing Track Pack release and Talladega accuracy 1995-05-08 · 26 posts
  Posters announced that the NASCAR Racing track expansion would ship on May 16, 1995 with Charlotte, Sears Point, Dover, Richmond, Rockingham and North Wilkesboro, while Daytona and Indianapolis were excluded for licensing reasons. Rick Genter, IndyCar Racing 2.0 technical lead at Papyrus, said ICR 2.0 would use the NASCAR engine and be Papyrus's first cross-platform game. Buyers reported the pack included the 1.2 patch, that Sears Point was hard, that the UK release would slip to late summer, and criticised the Talladega tri-oval and curved pit roads.
• Papyrus warns against pirated Indianapolis track pack 1996-04-12 · 26 posts
  Ed Martin of Papyrus warned that posting or downloading the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Track Pack, which had been uploaded to a binaries group, was illegal. Some posters at first confused this with the community track converters and argued that hackers helped sales. Martin replied that Papyrus valued user-made cars and utilities but would protect its copyrighted software, and Rick Genter gave the order number for the pack.
• NASCAR Racing League statement on the IVGA setup controversy 1996-11-12 · 24 posts
  Papyrus's Ed Martin posted an official NRL clarification about the IVGA, whose fast-lap software had captured members' car setups. He stated that anyone with access to information giving an unfair advantage would not be allowed to compete in sanctioned NRL events. IVGA head Don Wilshere disputed the account, and many members asked to be removed from the IVGA.
• Argument over sharing car setups in Papyrus sims 1995-06-18 · 78 posts
  A player complained that fast drivers refused to share setups. Ralf Southard and league racers argued setups take great effort and often do not transfer between drivers because of differing styles, citing tests where borrowed setups were slower. Grant Aldrich insisted driving style was irrelevant and responded with insults and abusive messages, prompting a hostile exchange. The thread later produced practical advice, setup postings and Dover setup discussion, plus jokes about 'racing SIMMs'.
• Does a faster PC or VGA mode make you faster? 1997-07-20 · 59 posts
  Don Wilsher claimed that running NASCAR in VGA instead of SVGA was a speed secret and demanded that Papyrus level the playing field between fast and slow PCs. Jim Sokoloff explained that higher frame rates let a good driver go faster and that the field cannot be perfectly levelled, and Eric Busch and many others agreed that frame rate, not resolution, was what mattered. Most posters rejected the idea of slowing down fast machines.
• Diamond Edge 3D accelerator launch and NASCAR bundle 1995-09-18 · 59 posts
  Diamond's Edge 3D card, based on Nvidia's NV1 chip and bundled with an enhanced NASCAR Racing, Virtua Fighter Remix and other titles, prompted discussion of DRAM versus VRAM versions, API support, Sega Saturn controller ports and whether it replaced existing video and sound cards. Representatives of Creative Labs and 3Dlabs chimed in about competing cards, and an AWE32 sound-quality argument broke out. Some early reports said accelerated NASCAR showed no clear frame-rate gain, and the thread ended with hostility toward a poster who teased information without details.
• Replay speeds, cheating suspicions and blocking on Hawaii 1997-04-24 · 47 posts
  Don Wilsher argued that Hawaii replays show speeds 2–3 mph higher than actual, countering cheating accusations based on replay data, which David Sparks disputed. The thread became a debate over whether bumping a blocking driver is acceptable online, with John Wallace arguing that it is unfair given netcode lag. A personal feud between Wilsher and Paul Carillon flared before others asked them to take it to e-mail.
• Proposal for a Hawaii racers' convention in Boston 1996-07-08 · 43 posts
  A Hawaii racer joked that it might be cheaper to travel to Boston, Papyrus's local dial-in, than pay long distance bills, which grew into enthusiastic plans for a sim racing convention with LAN stations and NASCAR drivers. Ed Martin replied that they did sound a little nuts. Later posts compared long-distance calling plans.
• Is Hawaii racer Robert Huggins cheating? 1997-04-02 · 38 posts
  A thread asking about Robert Huggins, one of the fastest drivers on Papyrus's Hawaii online NASCAR system, became a debate over whether he cheated. Several racers said replays showed impossible acceleration bursts and damage-free cars, and some claimed he had admitted hacking, while others vouched for his clean driving. Posters criticised the lack of anti-cheat measures on Hawaii and hoped NASCAR Racing Online would fix them.
• Fan-made Daytona conversion and track copyright law 1997-03-26 · 38 posts
  Alex Santantonio previewed a Daytona track for NASCAR Racing converted from Talladega, which drew both praise and doubts. A long debate on copyright followed: Jim Sokoloff mocked 'amateur Usenet lawyer' arguments and explained copyright in expressions, and Jed of The Pits described consulting lawyers and Papyrus over their abandoned Daytona project. One poster mentioned Sokoloff leaving Papyrus, but this was not confirmed in the thread.
• Hawaii racing etiquette on starts and holding lines 1996-07-10 · 37 posts
  After being flamed in chat for jumping a start, a Hawaii racer asked for more tolerance of honest mistakes. The discussion covered whether the leader or the green flag starts the race, NASCAR rules on passing before the start/finish line and below the white line, and who should yield in side-by-side situations. Charlie Heath noted Papyrus was investigating a missing green flag packet bug.
• Wish list for NASCAR Racing 2 1995-09-18 · 33 posts
  Players proposed features for NASCAR Racing 2 such as tow trucks, a spotter, more pit and timing information, realistic damage, running for points after repairs and a track designer. Rick Genter of Papyrus explained that Sega held exclusive rights to Daytona and Papyrus lacked a license for Indianapolis beyond the original IndyCar Racing. Others complained the yellow-flag trigger was too sensitive and noted pit road shapes were limited by Papyrus's track tools.
• Hawaii crashes and Papyrus's 'no Windows 95' stance 1996-04-27 · 31 posts
  A user reported crashes in the Hawaii multiplayer client while running it under Windows. Ed Martin of Papyrus replied in capitals that the beta did not support Windows 95 and must be run in DOS. Some posters criticised his tone and others defended him, and the thread also discussed letting drivers pick permanent car numbers, which Martin said involved technical and licensing issues.
• Naming a deliberate wrecker on the Hawaii network 1996-05-07 · 30 posts
  Eric Busch described being deliberately taken out at Talladega on Hawaii by a lapped driver who had threatened him, and named the driver. Some posters thought publicly naming people was childish, while others welcomed knowing whom to avoid. One reported that the accused was confronted in the online chat. The thread discussed blocking etiquette, whether Papyrus should monitor chat, and the limits of public shaming.
• Hawaii long-distance costs and skill-level race restrictions 1996-06-19 · 30 posts
  A user asked why Papyrus could not offer an 800 number for the Hawaii online racing prototype to cut phone bills. Charlie Heath and Ed Martin explained that 800 numbers are billed per minute and would cost about the same, and that networks like INN had too much latency for racing above 250 ms. The thread then turned to complaints that higher-skill drivers excluded low-level racers from pickup races and how the skill point system worked.
• Old-timers remember Papyrus's Hawaii online racing service 2005-03-10 · 29 posts
  Tim Y asked who had raced on Hawaii, Papyrus's dial-up online racing service from about ten years earlier. Veterans recalled their handles, leagues such as Late Night with Dave, and huge long-distance phone bills. Several said the online community had been closer then and that online racing had not progressed much since.
• Why Hawaii draws only a few cars ahead 1996-06-14 · 29 posts
  Racers noticed that Hawaii displayed only five to seven cars ahead whatever their settings. Ed Martin and Charlie Heath of Papyrus explained that modem bandwidth limits how many cars' data can be sent, and that reliable connections came before more cars until something like ISDN was available. Posters blamed the limited view, along with impatient drivers, for first-lap pileups, and debated holding back at the start and using the apron at Talladega.
• NRL schedule and Hawaii prototype reliability complaints 1996-07-05 · 28 posts
  Ed Martin said the NASCAR Racing League would launch sometime in 1997 and explained that Hawaii was only an unbilled prototype, separate from the NRL code base. A user complained about server drops, lost skill points and tech support; Martin and Hawaii tech lead Charlie Heath responded that testing was extensive and line quality was often the cause, and the exchange became testy.
• Pirated Indianapolis track posted, and kill-file arguments 1996-08-12 · 28 posts
  An anonymous poster uploaded a pirated Indianapolis track for NASCAR and IndyCar Racing II. Regulars condemned it as harmful to the group's relationship with Papyrus. Papyrus's Ed Martin added Tom Wardell to his kill file, which led to arguments over whether Tom was being blamed unfairly and a long side spat about the spelling of 'criticise'.
• Will NASCAR 2 include all tracks, Daytona and Indy? 1996-05-14 · 27 posts
  With NASCAR 2 confirmed as in development, posters debated whether the Track Pack would carry over or all tracks would be included, as with ICR2. They also argued over pricing and Papyrus's right to make money. Others explained that Daytona's likeness was licensed exclusively elsewhere and that Indianapolis would need the speedway's approval. Posters reported that NASCAR 2 car sets would be incompatible and that the press release mentioned 16 tracks.
• How Hawaii multiplayer skill levels are calculated 1996-04-24 · 26 posts
  Hawaii racers asked how skill levels were calculated. Ed Martin of Papyrus explained that ratings were based on the 10 most recent races, with the two worst results dropped, that missing races counted as zero, that practice did not count, and that ratings were recalculated each weekday morning. Experienced drivers advised that finishing races cleanly mattered more than winning, because fewer than half of starters finished.
• Don Wilsher removed from anti-cheating group CRAC 1997-05-30 · 24 posts
  Don Wilsher of IVGA complained that Alex Koziol had dropped him from Computer Racers Against Cheating after accusations that he cheated on Hawaii. Others pointed out that Wilsher had admitted cheating to demonstrate flaws, and debated whether teams sharing setups or extracting setups were unfair. Tom Eckel noted the news that Ed Martin had left Papyrus.
• Does PC speed affect lap times besides setup and line? 1996-05-20 · 24 posts
  A Hawaii racer argued that hardware was a third factor in speed alongside setup and racing line. Others pointed to smoothness of inputs, driver skill and forced-setup races. Several agreed that higher frame rates help, especially on short tracks. The thread also covered whether driving backwards during qualifying was cheating, and doubts about a claim of 200 mph qualifying at Talladega on a 486.
• NASCAR SuperTrucks add-on joke and track licensing for Daytona and Indy 1995-08-07 · 23 posts
  A joke subject about a SuperTrucks add-on led to discussion of whether trucks could be simulated and why Daytona and Indianapolis were absent from NASCAR Racing. Rick Genter of Papyrus explained that its Indianapolis rights covered only the original IndyCar Racing and gave reasons beyond names for omitting sponsored race titles; others noted alcohol and tobacco sponsorship restrictions. Genter also agreed to pass on a complaint about AI lines at Watkins Glen.
• Thrustmaster T2 shared brake/throttle axis explained 1996-05-12 · 23 posts
  A question about whether the Formula T2 needs one or two joystick ports led to a discussion of its pedals. Rick Genter of Papyrus confirmed that on the T2 the brake and throttle share a single axis, with each taking half the range, so the two cannot really be applied at once. Owners argued about whether left-foot braking still worked. One owner found the wheel cheap-feeling, and Walt Otten pointed readers to his guide to building a homemade wheel, pedals and motion chair.
• Converting tracks between NASCAR Racing and IndyCar Racing II 1996-02-11 · 22 posts
  Toby Branford enjoyed racing touring-car-style cars at Laguna Seca using community converters that moved tracks and cars between NASCAR Racing and IndyCar Racing II. Posters credited Gerhard Lingenberg's utilities, discussed how hard it would be to build new tracks or a BTCC-style sim, and asked about engine sounds and handling quirks. The thread later drifted into an explanation of British Touring Car Championship rules and cars.
• IVGA setup capture and the upcoming NASCAR Racing League 1996-11-12 · 22 posts
  Members argued over whether IVGA leaders' access to setups captured by their fast-lap software gave an unfair advantage in the coming NASCAR Racing League. Some saw a witch-hunt, while others argued that seeing top setups is a real advantage. Posters also noted that Hawaii driver ratings would carry over to the NRL.
• Why there is no track editor for Papyrus sims 1996-02-14 · 22 posts
  A reader asked Jed of The Pits why nobody had made a track editor for NASCAR Racing or IndyCar Racing II. Jed said the file formats were very hard to work out without specifications from Papyrus. Others argued that user-made tracks would extend the games' lives, as Doom levels and Need for Speed tracks had done. Sceptics replied that making tracks is complex and that extra tracks don't make money.
• NASCAR Racing Online wishes: rejoining races and incident counts 1997-03-11 · 20 posts
  A Hawaii (NASCAR Racing online) racer asked about NRO beta testing and suggested letting disconnected drivers rejoin races and limiting how incidents are counted per wreck. Jim Sokoloff replied to several ideas and warned that players using illegal setup tweaks would eventually be caught. Others discussed lap/incident ratios, the high groove at Atlanta and fair incident assignment.
• Keyboard versus analogue throttle control in Papyrus sims 1996-01-11 · 20 posts
  A keyboard driver asked whether on/off throttle input was hurting him in NASCAR and ICR II. Rick Genter of Papyrus said real IndyCar telemetry from Long Beach showed progressive throttle and frequent simultaneous brake and throttle use, and that the sims ramp digital inputs rather than jumping to full throttle. Others discussed left-foot braking and clutch use, and the original poster later found a CH Flightstick Pro much better.
• Frustrated beta tester calls Hawaii a waste of time 1996-05-11 · 20 posts
  Kirn Cromer quit the Hawaii multiplayer beta, citing server instability and crashes at the start of races. Ed Martin of Papyrus reminded him that it was a free beta and that people need to learn to race other humans. Regulars advised avoiding Talladega pickup races and no-pace-lap starts and building a skill rating. Papyrus's Charlie Heath said demand had grown from at most 64 simultaneous users before the open beta to more than that every evening.
• Daytona patch preview pulled from The Pits 1996-05-22 · 20 posts
  Readers noticed that the Daytona track preview had disappeared from The Pits. Posters relayed that Daytona's owners had asked for it to be withdrawn, and others pointed to Sega's exclusive Daytona licence. Papyrus associate producer Steven Travers asked what the patch did, and was told it rebuilt Talladega to resemble Daytona with modified AI. The thread drifted into ideas for reversed tracks and a debate about trademark protection.

Busiest threads

• Papyrus opens beta of multiplayer NASCAR Racing (Hawaii) (43 posts about it)
• Papyrus on 2D physics, curbs and features in IndyCar Racing II (21 posts about it)
• Cheating and hacked setups on Papyrus's Hawaii online service (17 posts about it)
• Wish list for NASCAR Racing 2 (16 posts about it)
• Argument over sharing car setups in Papyrus sims (15 posts about it)
• F1GP versus IndyCar Racing: game or simulation? (15 posts about it)
• Hawaii crashes and Papyrus's 'no Windows 95' stance (15 posts about it)
• Nascar 1 in bargin bins? (14 posts about it)
• IndyCar 2 announcement and NASCAR 1.2 patch bug complaints (13 posts about it)
• NASCAR SuperTrucks add-on joke and track licensing for Daytona and Indy (13 posts about it)
• Papyrus confirms Win95 ICR2 for June, no NASCAR upgrade (13 posts about it)
• Proposal to create rec.autos.simulators.nascar (13 posts about it)
• Debate over a NASCAR-only newsgroup (13 posts about it)
• Wish list for NASCAR Racing 2 (12 posts about it)
• IVGA head says Papyrus asked him to sit out the NRL (12 posts about it)

Sentiment by year

Each post that discussed the sim was rated from −2 (very negative) to +2 (very positive).

Who talked about it most

Michael E. Carver · 250 ymenard · 139 George Lewis · 132 Ed Martin · 121 David Spark · 117 RickGent · 112 Eric Busch · 95 Jim Sokolo · 72 John Wallace · 60 Tony Joh · 58 David Marti · 54 Don Wilshe · 50 Stuart Boo · 47 Charlie Heat · 45 Jeff Vincent · 41 Je · 41 Chasma · 41 Number 6 · 38 Dave Henrie · 37 Tom Hansen · 37

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