I think all too often, many of us forget what we're doing and why we do it (whether we play or develop things or both).  Notice the word PLAY. These are computer games.  They should be FUN.  That IMHO, is something we can never lose site of.  Should the patches we hack or the programs we write be put on the net free?  I think so, but also respect the rights of others to charge for their work.

Honestly, the thing that bothers me most over this entire sorted affair, is that someone else will get the idea to charge for their wares now (or their website).  In the end we all end up losing some aspect of sim racing that perhaps we took for granted for so long.  It's partly because of that fear that SC will always remain a free site and never charge for what it makes or distributes.

The only thing I want to add at this point is this.  If anyone feels the need to try and defend my good name or SC's reputation on Gary's message board, please don't.  I'm trying very hard to stay out of this argument and keep SC, our visitors and myself sane, happy and full of fun.  If you can't resist the urge to post something, at least be respectful of someone else's opinion, state your reasons and wish em a nice day.

Longest Running Road Racing Series Coming to the PC and the Motorsims Racing Network(TM)

Irving, TX - December 8, 1999 - Motorsport Simulations (Motorsims), creators of PC racing simulations and the Motorsims Racing Network(TM) online community, today announced the signing of an exclusive license to develop a simulation based on the SCCA's (Sports Car Club of America®) Trans-Am® Championship Series for both stand-alone PC and multiplayer online racing.

Scheduled for release in the summer of 2000, Motorsims' SCCA® Trans-Am simulation will feature official US tracks and manufacturer racecars from the actual Trans-Am Series. The SCCA Trans-Am simulation will be available for PC CD-ROM through traditional retail channels. With this agreement, Motorsims now holds the exclusive interactive entertainment rights to develop Trans-Am Championship Series simulations.

"The SCCA has recognized our commitment to building a bridge between the world of motorsport racing and interactive entertainment, and the SCCA Trans-Am simulation makes a great addition to the Motorsims Racing Network," said Bob McCarthy, founder and CEO of Motorsims. "With Motorsims' SCCA Trans-Am simulation, AMA Superbike and additional titles to come, Motorsims is continuing to build the largest, most diverse interactive racing network the Internet has to offer."

Developed in-house, Motorsims' SCCA Trans-Am simulation will feature manufacturer cars racing on noted US tracks, including Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, Lime Rock and many more. Motorsims plans to incorporate three present-day and three vintage Trans-Am racecars into the simulation. The game's 'present-day' cars will be modeled after the same 650-plus hp, V8 powerhouses as seen in nationwide Trans-Am Series races.

As with actual Trans-Am Series races, Motorsims' SCCA Trans-Am simulation will follow a sprint race format, that includes no scheduled pit stops. The virtual races will be based on the actual rules laid down by SCCA Pro Racing®, the sanctioning body for the real-world series. Without pit stops, driver strategy during the sprints will differ from other series. Drivers must more closely scrutinize factors such as tire wear, tire pressure, car weight, gasoline volume and miles per gallons to successfully cross the finish line.

Motorsims is developing the SCCA Trans-Am simulation with the same proprietary technology used to create Motorsims' recently released AMA Superbike title. The existing AMA Superbike game engine will be modified to support four wheel-racing models.

"Now entering its 35th year, the Trans-Am Championship Series is ramping up to be more exciting than ever," said Scott Rittinger, general manager of the Trans-Am Series. "We know that the Trans-Am brand of racing is the most exciting road racing around and we're always looking for ways to show more fans. That's one reason why we are looking forward to working with Motorsims to bring the intense competition of the Trans-Am Series to PC and Internet racers."

Motorsims plans to release a series of games building on the SCCA License and is currently working with noted team racing leader and Motorsims columnist, Carroll Smith along with present SCCA race car driver, Bobby Archer.

"Since its inception in 1966, Trans-Am Racing has been a truly American series, featuring a variety of America's favorite performance cars," said Dennis Dean, vice president of the SCCA. "Trans-Am racing appeals to a wide segment of the population and we feel that Motorsims is best suited to develop a true-to-life Trans-Am simulation in the same tradition and quality of the series."

About motorsport simulations

Headquartered in Irving, TX, Motorsport Simulations was founded by Bob McCarthy. The company offers motorsport enthusiasts the opportunity to experience authentic competitive motorsport racing through first-class computer simulations for multi-player Internet and stand-alone PC racing. Motorsport Simulations has alliances with a number of leading personalities in the racing world.

These alliances include Pat Patterson, publisher of the authoritative facts-and-figures guidebook Pat Patterson's Guide To Racing; Dave Despain, a noted racing analyst and Speedvision broadcaster; Chet Burks, Executive Producer of Chet Burks productions, which produces popular motorsport racing events for a number of media outlets; David Sadowski, a current racing analyst and former AMA champion; and Lance Holst, former AMA race team manager and current Roadracing Editor at Motorcycle Performance magazine and riding instructor at the STAR Motorcycle School and Carroll Smith. More information on Motorsport Simulations can be found on their Web site at http://www.motorsims.com.