NASCAR Simulator

I happened to be in Charlotte, NC this week, and happened upon something called "NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway" at the Concord Mills Mall. Basically, it was a NASCAR simulator with perhaps a dozen full size (or almost) cars that you sit in, each equipped with large video screens in front and on either side. Races are 7 minutes long and you race against other drivers and the AI. The car you sit in moves in accordance with what's happening on the "track". There were 4 tracks to choose from - Daytona (with and without restrictor plates), Atlanta, Charlotte and Richmond. I'm sure that "non-PC simmers" find this to be a great experience. While I'm no hotshot at N4 or NR2002 (I race GPL mostly), I found that after 4 races (1 at each track), I wasn't real impressed with this simulator. I think that N4 and NR2002 overall are a lot tougher to drive well, and the FF offered in PC software was superior to what this simulator offers. The only advantage to this simulator was the large displays. I would think that these simulators can be found in other locations, as a non-simmer friend of mine raced at one in Michigan (and loved it). If there are any serious NR2002, N4 (or other) simmer's here who have tried this simulator, I'd be curious to hear your opinions of how it compares to PC racing. I wasn't too impressed overall, but maybe I missed something. Bert

I happened to be in C***te, NC this week, and happened upon something called "NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway" at the Concord Mills Mall. Basically, it was a NASCAR simulator with perhaps a dozen full size (or almost) cars that you sit in, each equipped with large video screens in front and on either side. Races are 7 minutes long and you race against other drivers and the AI. The car you sit in moves in accordance with what's happening on the "track". There were 4 tracks to choose from - Daytona (with and without restrictor plates), Atlanta, C***te and Richmond. I'm sure that "non-PC simmers" find this to be a great experience. While I'm no hotshot at N4 or NR2002 (I race GPL mostly), I found that after 4 races (1 at each track), I wasn't real impressed with this simulator. I think that N4 and NR2002 overall are a lot tougher to drive well, and the FF offered in PC software was superior to what this simulator offers. The only advantage to this simulator was the large displays. I would think that these simulators can be found in other locations, as a non-simmer friend of mine raced at one in Michigan (and loved it). If there are any serious NR2002, N4 (or other) simmer's here who have tried this simulator, I'd be curious to hear your opinions of how it compares to PC racing. I wasn't too impressed overall, but maybe I missed something. Bert

I tried the one up in Albany, I thought it sucked. My 3 year old enjoyed riding shotgun though. -- Kevin Anderson [email hidden] "BRH @attbi.com>" <"bertrh<no-spam> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > I happened to be in Charlotte, NC this week, and happened upon something > called "NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway" at the Concord Mills Mall. > Basically, it was a NASCAR simulator with perhaps a dozen full size (or > almost) cars that you sit in, each equipped with large video screens in > front and on either side. Races are 7 minutes long and you race > against other drivers and the AI. The car you sit in moves in > accordance with what's happening on the "track". There were 4 tracks > to choose from - Daytona (with and without restrictor plates), Atlanta, > Charlotte and Richmond. > > I'm sure that "non-PC simmers" find this to be a great experience. > While I'm no hotshot at N4 or NR2002 (I race GPL mostly), I found that > after 4 races (1 at each track), I wasn't real impressed with this > simulator. I think that N4 and NR2002 overall are a lot tougher to > drive well, and the FF offered in PC software was superior to what this > simulator offers. The only advantage to this simulator was the large > displays. > > I would think that these simulators can be found in other locations, as > a non-simmer friend of mine raced at one in Michigan (and loved it). > > If there are any serious NR2002, N4 (or other) simmer's here who have > tried this simulator, I'd be curious to hear your opinions of how it > compares to PC racing. I wasn't too impressed overall, but maybe I > missed something. > > Bert >

I live in the Charlotte area and I have tried the simulator that you are talking about. I have been racing Papyrus Nascar series games since Nascar1 and the simulators you tried at Concord Mills is a joke compared to todays simulators. Not the same at all. On Thu, 14 Mar 2002 22:37:37 GMT, BRH <"bertrh<no-spam>"@attbi.com> wrote:

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>I happened to be in Charlotte, NC this week, and happened upon something >called "NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway" at the Concord Mills Mall. >Basically, it was a NASCAR simulator with perhaps a dozen full size (or >almost) cars that you sit in, each equipped with large video screens in >front and on either side. Races are 7 minutes long and you race >against other drivers and the AI. The car you sit in moves in >accordance with what's happening on the "track". There were 4 tracks >to choose from - Daytona (with and without restrictor plates), Atlanta, >Charlotte and Richmond. > >I'm sure that "non-PC simmers" find this to be a great experience. >While I'm no hotshot at N4 or NR2002 (I race GPL mostly), I found that >after 4 races (1 at each track), I wasn't real impressed with this >simulator. I think that N4 and NR2002 overall are a lot tougher to >drive well, and the FF offered in PC software was superior to what this >simulator offers. The only advantage to this simulator was the large >displays. > >I would think that these simulators can be found in other locations, as >a non-simmer friend of mine raced at one in Michigan (and loved it). > >If there are any serious NR2002, N4 (or other) simmer's here who have >tried this simulator, I'd be curious to hear your opinions of how it >compares to PC racing. I wasn't too impressed overall, but maybe I >missed something. > >Bert

I bet their not as crappy as the ones at the NA$CAR Cafe in Vegas!!!! Intrepid wrote: > > I live in the Charlotte area and I have tried the simulator that you > are talking about. I have been racing Papyrus Nascar series games > since Nascar1 and the simulators you tried at Concord Mills is a joke > compared to todays simulators. Not the same at all. >

I bet their not as crappy as the ones at the NA$CAR Cafe in Vegas!!!! Intrepid wrote: > > I live in the Charlotte area and I have tried the simulator that you > are talking about. I have been racing Papyrus Nascar series games > since Nascar1 and the simulators you tried at Concord Mills is a joke > compared to todays simulators. Not the same at all. >

I live about a mile from the one at Mall of America in MN, and really love it, although it's been a long time since I've played. The thing that got me was how the car would be somewhat neutral steer through one track's corner, then go oversteer with some throttle, then understeer with full throttle. I swear I could feel it squirm in a way that haven't seen anywhere else yet, but then again, I've haven't played the latest Papy Nascar sims.. Very nice tire model I thought anyway :-) Todd Wasson --- Performance Simulations Drag Racing and Top Speed Prediction Software http://PerformanceSimulations.Com My little car sim screenshots: http://performancesimulations.com/scnshot4.htm

there used to be one in chicago (schaumberg) is it still there? always at least wanted to try it... **** "Here we are on a planet moving and spinning though space at 500 miles per second...and look...my beer stays right there in the glass! Ain't that just the neatest thing?" -- Bob 'Spaceman' Lee interviewed by Dick Schaap (quote approximate)

The biggest problem with them is the same online sim racing. If you don't join a league you end up in a wreck fest. I have ran it three times and every time I end up getting taken out by some kid that thinks wrecking is cool. Its about like racing on a Papy loop server. I do feel that the PC games are more advanced, but the nice part of the simulator is you get more of a natural feel because of the true seat of the pants feel. MadDAWG

These are pretty much "junk".....about like an "arcade ride".....rather than a simulator. I was given "unlimited" driving privileges at the Vegas facility last year at the SEMA show (as their for 3-days)....and spent a total of about three minutes in one car....got out in the middle of the run and never went back the entire stay in Vegas....and I could have run as much as I wanted for free....the entire trip (I was staying in the hotel above the NASCAR Cafe). It was a waste of time......IMHO. TP "BRH @attbi.com>" <"bertrh<no-spam> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> I happened to be in Charlotte, NC this week, and happened upon something > called "NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway" at the Concord Mills Mall. > Basically, it was a NASCAR simulator with perhaps a dozen full size (or > almost) cars that you sit in, each equipped with large video screens in > front and on either side. Races are 7 minutes long and you race > against other drivers and the AI. The car you sit in moves in > accordance with what's happening on the "track". There were 4 tracks > to choose from - Daytona (with and without restrictor plates), Atlanta, > Charlotte and Richmond. > > I'm sure that "non-PC simmers" find this to be a great experience. > While I'm no hotshot at N4 or NR2002 (I race GPL mostly), I found that > after 4 races (1 at each track), I wasn't real impressed with this > simulator. I think that N4 and NR2002 overall are a lot tougher to > drive well, and the FF offered in PC software was superior to what this > simulator offers. The only advantage to this simulator was the large > displays. > > I would think that these simulators can be found in other locations, as > a non-simmer friend of mine raced at one in Michigan (and loved it). > > If there are any serious NR2002, N4 (or other) simmer's here who have > tried this simulator, I'd be curious to hear your opinions of how it > compares to PC racing. I wasn't too impressed overall, but maybe I > missed something. > > Bert >

Tom Pabst wrote:

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> > These are pretty much "junk".....about like an "arcade ride".....rather than > a simulator. I was given "unlimited" driving privileges at the Vegas > facility last year at the SEMA show (as their for 3-days)....and spent a > total of about three minutes in one car....got out in the middle of the run > and never went back the entire stay in Vegas....and I could have run as much > as I wanted for free....the entire trip (I was staying in the hotel above > the NASCAR Cafe). It was a waste of time......IMHO. > > TP > > "BRH @attbi.com>" <"bertrh<no-spam> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > I happened to be in Charlotte, NC this week, and happened upon something > > called "NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway" at the Concord Mills Mall. > > Basically, it was a NASCAR simulator with perhaps a dozen full size (or > > almost) cars that you sit in, each equipped with large video screens in > > front and on either side. Races are 7 minutes long and you race > > against other drivers and the AI. The car you sit in moves in > > accordance with what's happening on the "track". There were 4 tracks > > to choose from - Daytona (with and without restrictor plates), Atlanta, > > Charlotte and Richmond. > > > > I'm sure that "non-PC simmers" find this to be a great experience. > > While I'm no hotshot at N4 or NR2002 (I race GPL mostly), I found that > > after 4 races (1 at each track), I wasn't real impressed with this > > simulator. I think that N4 and NR2002 overall are a lot tougher to > > drive well, and the FF offered in PC software was superior to what this > > simulator offers. The only advantage to this simulator was the large > > displays. > > > > I would think that these simulators can be found in other locations, as > > a non-simmer friend of mine raced at one in Michigan (and loved it). > > > > If there are any serious NR2002, N4 (or other) simmer's here who have > > tried this simulator, I'd be curious to hear your opinions of how it > > compares to PC racing. I wasn't too impressed overall, but maybe I > > missed something. > > > > Bert > >

I used to do this at the Mall of America (Minneapolis, MN). As Tom and others have said, it's an arcade ride. As such, it's pretty fun. As a simulator, well, you may want to save your money. I wish they could use a "sim" setup for leagues and competitions, and keep the arcade setup for the drop-in players. They certainly couldn't stay in business with strictly a sim setup. Can you imagine the average joe paying $8.50 to get in and just spin the car in the pits? Wait, don't answer that. ;^) Reminds me of the time I tried to play one of those shoot-em-up games at the arcade (Donkey Kong is more my speed): there's no instructions on how to play, first of all; I put my money in and push 'Start', you'redead/you'redead/you'redead/game over. I didn't play that game again.

BRH wrote:

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> I happened to be in Charlotte, NC this week, and happened upon something > called "NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway" at the Concord Mills Mall. > Basically, it was a NASCAR simulator with perhaps a dozen full size (or > almost) cars that you sit in, each equipped with large video screens in > front and on either side. Races are 7 minutes long and you race > against other drivers and the AI. The car you sit in moves in > accordance with what's happening on the "track". There were 4 tracks > to choose from - Daytona (with and without restrictor plates), Atlanta, > Charlotte and Richmond. > > I'm sure that "non-PC simmers" find this to be a great experience. > While I'm no hotshot at N4 or NR2002 (I race GPL mostly), I found that > after 4 races (1 at each track), I wasn't real impressed with this > simulator. I think that N4 and NR2002 overall are a lot tougher to > drive well, and the FF offered in PC software was superior to what this > simulator offers. The only advantage to this simulator was the large > displays. > > I would think that these simulators can be found in other locations, as > a non-simmer friend of mine raced at one in Michigan (and loved it). > > If there are any serious NR2002, N4 (or other) simmer's here who have > tried this simulator, I'd be curious to hear your opinions of how it > compares to PC racing. I wasn't too impressed overall, but maybe I > missed something. > > Bert

Given that the reviews have been mostly negative, why doesn't Papy try their hand at this kind of thing? Or market a NASCAR game for the coin-op arcades? Or are arcades pretty much dormant anymore? [Judging by my visit to my local Dave & Busters, which contains no racing games less than 2 years old, I'd say so...] John DiFool

I was at the same facility in Vegas a few months back and tried the open wheeler, and it was pretty bad experience. I had to switch two cars, before I got into something working, and after that the projection on the wall was so bad (almost everything was white) with no contrast, that it was like driving with your eyes closed. Waste of money (but hey, it is Vegas, you are supposed to waste money there 8-). "Tom Pabst" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<tTok8.43626$Yv2.19960@rwcrnsc54>...

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> These are pretty much "junk".....about like an "arcade ride".....rather than > a simulator. I was given "unlimited" driving privileges at the Vegas > facility last year at the SEMA show (as their for 3-days)....and spent a > total of about three minutes in one car....got out in the middle of the run > and never went back the entire stay in Vegas....and I could have run as much > as I wanted for free....the entire trip (I was staying in the hotel above > the NASCAR Cafe). It was a waste of time......IMHO. > > TP > > > "BRH @attbi.com>" <"bertrh<no-spam> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > I happened to be in Charlotte, NC this week, and happened upon something > > called "NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway" at the Concord Mills Mall. > > Basically, it was a NASCAR simulator with perhaps a dozen full size (or > > almost) cars that you sit in, each equipped with large video screens in > > front and on either side. Races are 7 minutes long and you race > > against other drivers and the AI. The car you sit in moves in > > accordance with what's happening on the "track". There were 4 tracks > > to choose from - Daytona (with and without restrictor plates), Atlanta, > > Charlotte and Richmond. > > > > I'm sure that "non-PC simmers" find this to be a great experience. > > While I'm no hotshot at N4 or NR2002 (I race GPL mostly), I found that > > after 4 races (1 at each track), I wasn't real impressed with this > > simulator. I think that N4 and NR2002 overall are a lot tougher to > > drive well, and the FF offered in PC software was superior to what this > > simulator offers. The only advantage to this simulator was the large > > displays. > > > > I would think that these simulators can be found in other locations, as > > a non-simmer friend of mine raced at one in Michigan (and loved it). > > > > If there are any serious NR2002, N4 (or other) simmer's here who have > > tried this simulator, I'd be curious to hear your opinions of how it > > compares to PC racing. I wasn't too impressed overall, but maybe I > > missed something. > > > > Bert > >

The original owner (and developer) of NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway (SMS), was named Silicon Entertainment--and they went dot-bomb last year. About 1/2 the original sites are back running under new owners, "Perfect Line". <www.smsonline.com> No idea how well the sites are being maintained by the new owners, I don't think that they have done any further development on the game (at least not yet). "NASCAR Cafe" may be something completely different?? There isn't a permanent SMS site in Las Vegas...or was the one you mention below set up just for the show? On Fri, 15 Mar 2002, Tom Pabst wrote:

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> These are pretty much "junk".....about like an "arcade ride".....rather than > a simulator. I was given "unlimited" driving privileges at the Vegas > facility last year at the SEMA show (as their for 3-days)....and spent a > total of about three minutes in one car....got out in the middle of the run > and never went back the entire stay in Vegas....and I could have run as much > as I wanted for free....the entire trip (I was staying in the hotel above > the NASCAR Cafe). It was a waste of time......IMHO. > > TP > > > "BRH @attbi.com>" <"bertrh<no-spam> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > I happened to be in Charlotte, NC this week, and happened upon something > > called "NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway" at the Concord Mills Mall. > > Basically, it was a NASCAR simulator with perhaps a dozen full size (or > > almost) cars that you sit in, each equipped with large video screens in > > front and on either side. Races are 7 minutes long and you race > > against other drivers and the AI. The car you sit in moves in > > accordance with what's happening on the "track". There were 4 tracks > > to choose from - Daytona (with and without restrictor plates), Atlanta, > > Charlotte and Richmond. > > > > I'm sure that "non-PC simmers" find this to be a great experience. > > While I'm no hotshot at N4 or NR2002 (I race GPL mostly), I found that > > after 4 races (1 at each track), I wasn't real impressed with this > > simulator. I think that N4 and NR2002 overall are a lot tougher to > > drive well, and the FF offered in PC software was superior to what this > > simulator offers. The only advantage to this simulator was the large > > displays. > > > > I would think that these simulators can be found in other locations, as > > a non-simmer friend of mine raced at one in Michigan (and loved it). > > > > If there are any serious NR2002, N4 (or other) simmer's here who have > > tried this simulator, I'd be curious to hear your opinions of how it > > compares to PC racing. I wasn't too impressed overall, but maybe I > > missed something. > > > > Bert > > > > > >

As crappy at SMS was, they were pretty expensive to setup. These guys seem to have more to offer but dont seem to be real aggressive about it... http://www.racecarsims.com -- Tim White INTRAC Motorsports www.birds-i-view.com/intrac "John DiFool" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > BRH wrote: > > > I happened to be in Charlotte, NC this week, and happened upon something > > called "NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway" at the Concord Mills Mall. > > Basically, it was a NASCAR simulator with perhaps a dozen full size (or > > almost) cars that you sit in, each equipped with large video screens in > > front and on either side. Races are 7 minutes long and you race > > against other drivers and the AI. The car you sit in moves in > > accordance with what's happening on the "track". There were 4 tracks > > to choose from - Daytona (with and without restrictor plates), Atlanta, > > Charlotte and Richmond. > > > > I'm sure that "non-PC simmers" find this to be a great experience. > > While I'm no hotshot at N4 or NR2002 (I race GPL mostly), I found that > > after 4 races (1 at each track), I wasn't real impressed with this > > simulator. I think that N4 and NR2002 overall are a lot tougher to > > drive well, and the FF offered in PC software was superior to what this > > simulator offers. The only advantage to this simulator was the large > > displays. > > > > I would think that these simulators can be found in other locations, as > > a non-simmer friend of mine raced at one in Michigan (and loved it). > > > > If there are any serious NR2002, N4 (or other) simmer's here who have > > tried this simulator, I'd be curious to hear your opinions of how it > > compares to PC racing. I wasn't too impressed overall, but maybe I > > missed something. > > > > Bert > > Given that the reviews have been mostly negative, why doesn't Papy > try their hand at this kind of thing? Or market a NASCAR game for the > coin-op arcades? Or are arcades pretty much dormant anymore? > [Judging by my visit to my local Dave & Busters, which contains no > racing games less than 2 years old, I'd say so...] > > John DiFool > >

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> >I was at the same facility in Vegas a few months back and tried >the open wheeler, and it was pretty bad experience. I had to >switch two cars, before I got into something working, >and after that the projection on the wall was so bad (almost >everything was white) with no contrast, that it was like driving >with your eyes closed. Waste of money (but hey, it is Vegas, you >are supposed to waste money there 8-).

I tried the open wheel one in Vegas too. What a waste. On the very first lap, someone got out of control under me and tagged my rear end. I lost control and slammed head-on into the wall, flying up into the air and absolutely destroying my suspension. The car was so heavily damaged, it took me AT LEAST 3 full minutes to ever get into my pitstall and get the car fixed. After I repaired the car, I went back up onto the racetrack and spun the very next corner--the low amount of polygons used in the track meant that the apron wasn't always a constant distance from your left side tires, so you might just barely clip the apron and it'd kick you into a wild spin. Absolutely atrocious. ----------------------------------------- Dan Belcher Webmaster, http://www.gplworld.racesim.net/simcrash

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>These are pretty much "junk".....about like an "arcade ride".....rather than >a simulator. I was given "unlimited" driving privileges at the Vegas >facility last year at the SEMA show (as their for 3-days)....and spent a >total of about three minutes in one car....got out in the middle of the run >and never went back the entire stay in Vegas....and I could have run as much >as I wanted for free....the entire trip (I was staying in the hotel above >the NASCAR Cafe). It was a waste of time......IMHO. >

Nascar Cafe and Silicon Motor Speedway are two very different things from what I've heard. SMS is supposedly MUCH better. Todd Wasson --- Performance Simulations Drag Racing and Top Speed Prediction Software http://PerformanceSimulations.Com My little car sim screenshots: http://performancesimulations.com/scnshot4.htm