ARCA Sim Racing League

Folks,

Curtis and I have long been awaiting the release of the latest racing simulator software. For about a year we have been racing online on an older platform (NASCARRacing 2003). With 8 year old technology, the game was destined for the trash bin. It became expensive to buy (when it was last sold in stores in 2004 it cost $9.99 - when I bought it last year it was over $100 on ebay) and the participation in the online races began to dwindle. The racing itself was incredible. Curtis and I were able to hook up online are race against up to 40 others from all over the world. It satisfied that competitive need, and was a ton of fun. Many of you probably sat in my basement with a bottle of beer and tried your luck at Daytona, and you know you enjoyed it (even if you though I was a little crazy for having a wheel clamped to my desk) I was very sorry to see it go, but....

Now a group has developed the latest and greatest sim, and based it on the ARCA series. Yeah, its not NASCAR based, but its racing. It offers the opportunity to customize just like NR2003, and offers better graphics and gameplay. We'd really like to get a small group of people to try it out so that we can set up a friendly league to race once a week, or even just for pick-up races once in a while. i know, you may have to fight your kids for the computer, or reserve time on the machine when they are not on World of Warcraft or Webkinz, but you will have a blast.

The sim is under $50, which is basically the going rate for any good game software these days. An average computer will run it, so you shouldn't need a new one or a major upgrade unless you are on a TI994A like me. The one thing that I will recommend extremely highly is a wheel and pedals. You can get a decent one (the one Curtis uses, which is light years more advanced than mine) for under $50 on ebay, or you can go higher. My point is that for about $100 you can get started.

Please check it out and ask any questions you may have. Its a blast, but it sort of sucks for Curtis and I as we basically race people we do not know who are often way more serious than us. Think of it as an alternative to your golf league in the winter. I will set up a server that you will have 24/7 access to. You can practice online or offline.

Anyway, here is the much anticipated software: ARCA Sim Racing 2008 pre-order $49.99 http://www.thesimfactory.com/asr.html

Here is the standard controller as sold by a retailer (also available cehaper on Ebay) Logitech Momo - $56.00 http://www.provantage.com/logitech-963282-0403~7LGTC960.htm (I use a 10 year old Microsoft wheel, but I am in the market for a newer one)

Take a minute and check it out and let me know if you are interested. The games start delivery in about 30 days. I think it would kick ass to start a weekly league to follow the Cup series. Maybe a sunday night for an hour or two or something.

Thanks for listening

PT