iRacing.com Reinvents Simulated Racing

iRacing.com is a new pay service with subscriptions ranging from $13 to $20. What is iRacing you say? A Good question indeed. iRacing is developed by David Kaemmer (of NASCAR Racing fame)and a team seemingly bursting with talent.

You will need a decent Wheel and pedals to play. There are no chase cams or fancy camera angles like in other racers. This one is serious. In car cam only and in my eyes that's the way it should be. When I play a racing game I want to crank up the surround and feel like I'm actually in that car, driving that track.

This game is especially exciting for me. Mosport International Speedway, or my home track as I like to call it, is included. Although Mosport is not finished and ready for use, it is still exciting that I will be able to be driving the legendary Canadian road course digitally once again. The last time it was digitally rendered was in the PC Game "Sports Car GT"(1999), to my best recollection.

Mosport International Raceway: Canada's Best Road Course?

I Challenge anyone who disagrees to discuss this openly. I believe that Mosport International Raceway, in the small town of Bowmanville, Ontario, is in fact Canada's Finest Road Course.

This 3.96 Kilometre, or 2.45 Mile, Road Course has been exciting crowds since 1961. They broke ground only one year earlier, with architect Alan Bunting at the helm of the operation. There are no capacity limitations or designated areas to watch from at Mosport. If you can walk there, you can pretty much watch from there. Of course only if it is safe to be there, for the most part. I've heard people talk about how they went to the Molson Indy years back and were amazed by it. If they had ever been to Mosport, the Indy would have been a joke.

They currently accommodate 2 major events which are the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and the ALMS Grand Prix of Mosport

Formula 1 also Raced on the track 8 times between 1967 and 1977 with Jackie Stewart winning 2 of those in '71 and '72 respectively.

So if you ever have the opportunity to travel there to see any racing, whether it be the Spectacular ALMS GP of Mosport or just some free to watch regional racing, never pass it up. Hear the roar of a C6.R as it accelerates down the backstretch after exiting turn 5. Watch as the tires rip up the pavement.

photos and words © Ben Bailey 2008.