First Look at Okayama & Skippy

iRacing released a video today of the completely overhauled Skip Barber Formula 2000 running around Japan's Okayama Circuit.

Big News From iRacing

They've officially announced iRacing 2.0. A dramatic overhaul of the current build which is based on architecture that's 9 years old.

Here's more:

Highlights of iRacing 2.0

May 2011

• Early preview of Dave Kaemmer’s new tire model available on the new NASCAR Nationwide car.
• Launch of in-game awards program – over 50 different participation awards members can earn.
• Night racing on road courses using headlights beginning with Sebring International Raceway and the V8 Supercar, Mazda MX5 Cup & Roadster, Corvette C6.R, Riley Daytona Prototype, Pontiac Solstice, VW Jetta TDI Cup and Mustang Challenge race cars.
• New NASCAR “Nationwide” stock car – race the car you watch on Saturdays.
• Okayama International Circuit (Japan) – the first of several tracks from the island nation.
• New telemetry output for the data hungry racers.
• Private league racing enhancements including: reduced pricing, advanced scheduling, new race session options and additional grid spots to virtually every track.
• Graphic and shader upgrades in-game for more lifelike visuals.
• Complete graphical overhaul of the Skip Barber FSB2000 race car – updating our first car to current standards.
• Opening practice sessions to all license levels (excluding Pro Series).
• Enhanced pitting and damage repair for all cars.
• Preferred/custom car numbers.
• Improved accuracy of the modeled physical track surface to match the laser scanned data better than ever before.

August 2011

• New Tire Model for all cars.
• Enhanced aero model for improved drafting and more realistic downforce characteristics.
• Heat/Tournament racing for private leagues/sessions.
• Driver aids available for private leagues and Rookie series (ABS brakes, traction control, driving line, steering aids, etc.).
• Enhancements of new sound system.
• Endurance racing and driver swaps.
• Suzuka Circuit (Japan).
• Iowa Speedway (USA).
• Ford GT race car
• Honda LMP ARX-01C race car
• Live pop-up chat on member site.

Video of the Week

iRacer Patrick Spence shows off incredible video editing skills with this iRacing short called, "Slow It Down..."

iRacing 2011 Season 2 Schedule Posted

iRacing released the schedule for season 2 of 2011 today. Okayama, the new base content track is on many of the road racing schedules so we can look forward to receiving it during next week most likely

Here's a link to the schedule:
2011 Season 2 Schedule

iRacing Announces Annual Bonus

From iRacing:

We want to thank those of you who have been racing with us for a while so we are introducing our Member Anniversary Credit Program. Here’s how it works: Members who reach 12 months of continual membership (12 consecutive months of membership) will receive $5 bonus credits as a thank you for being a loyal customer. The program is set to automatically run at the end of every month so you will be receiving your Anniversary Credits at the end of your 12th month. The program will continue to reward multiple years by issuing you another $5 credit when you get to 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, etc.

Thanks to all of you who have been racing over the years!

A few things to keep in mind:

Your ‘Anniversary Month’ is not necessarily the month you first joined iRacing. We are looking for 12 months of continuous membership so if you let your membership lapse at any time we start counting when you join again.

Anniversary Credits can be used just like regular iRacing credits – you can purchase cars, tracks, hosted sessions or renew your membership with them.

If you let your membership lapse, even for a day or two, the clock gets reset. The best way to make sure you qualify for the Anniversary Credits is to turn auto-renew on. We are aware that this doesn’t work for those of you who utilize PayPal but you can just make sure to renew a day or two early to keep your streak going.

Your membership must be active to qualify.

We are not going back in time to calculate who may have earned this previously. The program starts looking back from May 2011.


I personally think they could've done better than this offer, but hey...it is free money!!!

Thanks....Thanks Alot

We've all had that moment during a race where we're driving as hard as we can, running a good clean race...and then some no talent ass-clown comes out of nowhere to take us out. I got to experience that yesterday at Bristol in the Late Model Series.

I'm battling this guy hard for 5 or 6 laps, he's hanging tough on the outside and I'm trying to complete the pass on the inside. I finally clear him and he immediately switches to the bottom side and dumps me. He's lucky we weren't in real cars or this is what I would've done:

2011 Season 1 Draws To Close

Tonight begins the final week of Season 1 for all official iRacing FIRST sanctioned series. It's been an interesting season filled with ups and down for nearly everyone at Maximum Motorsport Alliance and SimRacing Nation as well as a few of our friends from across the iRacing universe.


Drivers battling for Division Championships:

1. MMA's Greg Shafer has positioned himself for a shot at the Late Model Title in Division 6. Going into the final week at California's Irwindale Speedway, Shafer enjoys a 28 point lead over Glenn Cray. Shafer also sits in 8th in the NASCAR Truck Series.
   
2. Independent Racer Dean Heck is sitting in 2nd place in the Division 3 of the NASCAR Truck Series. Cameron Higgins enjoys a 70 point lead, but anything can happen.

Other Items of Note

1. Ian Boyd and Greg Shafer are enjoying a spirited battle in the Grand Am Sports Car Series. Both are in the Top 10 in Division 10 and are separated by only 5 points.
2. David Miller is in position to secure a Top 5 for the season in the Dallara Indy Car Road Series.
3. Brett Van Horn and Ian Boyd are 2nd and 4th in Division 10 of the Dallara Indy Car Road Series. Van Horn trails Boyd by 36 points.
4. Greg Shafer and Ian Boyd are both in the Top 10 in their Division of the Grand Touring Cup in the Mazda MX-5.
5. And finally, yours truly is in 4th in Division 8 of the Grand Touring Cup driving a VW Jetta TDI.

Come out and help us get Greg prepared for Irwindale! We'll be practicing alot over the next couple of nights.

You Got One Job!!!

Maybe Milka Duno has discovered a new career as a pace car driver.


Our friends at SimRacing Nation were kind enough to post this video of the start of Le Mans Series race at Le Castellet. The pace car brings the field on to the front stretch and then forgets to pull in to the pits when the green lights come on to start the race. Pure idiocy at it's finest. Follow the link for the video.

http://simracingnation.com/index.php/my-nation/myvideos/65-resident-elvis/video/184-Start+Chaos+2011+Le+Mans+Series+at+Le+Castellet

MMA & SRN To Team Up

Troy Anderson (#4) and Greg Shafer (#8) of Maximum Motorsport Alliance finished 3rd and 5th respectively at Bristol on Sunday, April 17, 2011.

Members of Maximum Motorsport Alliance and SimRacing Nation will begin collaborating during the next iRacing season to help improve their tuning and racing skills. The 2011 Season 2 schedule will see them focusing on the Late Model Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS. They will also be focusing on a road racing vehicle but no decision has been made yet as to which vehicle that will be.

If you'd like to participate, please visit either site and sign up today!

Welcome to Checkers or Wreckers!!

This will be a work in progress for the time being, but I intend for this to be my little corner of the web to offer you opinions, analysis and news in all facets of motorsport. From the real life high banks of Talladega Superspeedway to the virtual iRacing version of the bullring at Bristol, I will attempt to inform, entertain and share my opinions.

I invite you to come along and participate in the conversation!