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ERIK'S EXPOSE'
One Million Served...
TheUSPits.com- One Million. The number itself no longer brings about much reaction in a world presently housing 5.2 billion people, multi-trillion dollar governmental budget deficits, million dollar STREET cars and hundred million dollar annual racing budgets. McDonald's served up a million grease patties ages ago, Bill Gates sneezes a million dollars away on paper clips and toilet tissue, it seems a million is no more than a minor number, a mere stepping stone en route to billions and beyond. Start talking one million visitors to a niche market website however, and you're talking the stuff of internet legend!
"It all began with one man, one utility, and a dream." ::) Neil 'Jed' Jedrzejewski brought the the original Pits.com online the 25th of November, 1995. Begun as a means of delivering his ICR2 demo editor to the sim-racing world, he soon formed a friendship with American Jan Kohl and so began the journey. The two setup a US mirror site, continued accepting, creating and tweaking utilities. Even as Jed decided to step away from the everyday running of the site, making the US mirror The Pits primary URL, other crew members joined the team; Jim Getzen, Goy Larsen, Sean Staples, Dave Noonan, Gilles Benoit, Jim Dunphy, Dave Turman, Ken Shropshire, yours truly, Stan Allen and our newest addition Stuart Brown. Our numbers continue to grow as simulated racing seems to take leaps and bounds in popularity. Each of us found the site as an enthusiast, somehow or another joined the ranks and have been rolling onward as one ever since. We bring together our various talents and a genuine love for racing, real or simulated, in hopes of giving our fellow fans what we know they want; a better simulated racing experience. Hence the creation of The Pits Touring Car Championship conversion for NASCAR Racing 2, followed some months later by the N@50 retro-patch. All the while the site has helped make available just about any user created file we have received. Without the steady influx of YOUR software creations to supplement those created by The Pits' Crew, we might not ever have reached a half-million hits, let alone the seven digit plateau we are now going to scale.
Speaking for every member of The Pits, I would like to thank each and every visitor, contributor, supporter who has ever passed through The Pits' URL. Without so many generous contributions, collaborations, submissions and support, this site and its creators' ambitions would have faded into oblivion long ago. As members of the sim-racing community, we need only look to each other for assistance and advice, that is what allowed The Pits to become sim-racing's most expansive effort. This kinship is what makes simulated racing so much fun as both a hobby and a passion. So, as we celebrate one of the simulated racing world's biggest milestones, let it be known that we are just getting started on this ride and don't plan on getting off for a long time to come. Here's to a million more visits from our friends throughout the net, both new and old!
-Erik
ON WITH THE PARTY!
We've got quite a bit in store for you for this 1,000,000 party, everything from new products, to cleaning out The Pits lockers and letting out with some old stuff that's been lying around on our desktops too long. As well, we thought it fit to throw in a few humorous quotes...they have nothing to do with racing, but may make you enjoy reading this more!
I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know... - Mark Twain
First off, a little bit of retro...here is a great desktop (800x600) with some old and new pictures that used to be on The Pits. Just right-click after it loads, and select 'Set as Wallpaper'. And here's one in 640x480...
Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. - Mark Twain
Found...an neat Mini body done by Gilles Benoit for N2/N99. Ooops...and since we're at it, here's the logos for the 1999 Brickyard 400...for N99. Just unzip to your indy track folder and make sure your calendar has the right logo names in it..
All my life, I always wanted to be somebody. Now I see that I should have been more specific. - Lily Tomlin
Here's a great utility by Dave Noonan that will edit any of the 3dos in NASCAR Racing and Indycar Racing by Papyrus. Cars, tracks, buildings...nothing can stop you with this little toy!
Everyday I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've stayed alive. - George Carlin
Here's something that has been requested forever and a day...the original Mantorp Park from TPTCC2, in a separate download! Enjoy!
"Remember: 'i' before 'e', except in Budweiser." -Anon
And, speaking of tracks how about a brand new track for GPL? Youbetcha! Here's David Noonan's own creation, Dubai! We went digging through our lockers, and pulled this out and dusted it off...it's Laguna Seca, reversed, for ICR2! We never released it as a track, because there are some inherent problems with it, but you can still drive on it.
"Murphy's Law only fails when you try to demonstrate it." -Anon
But we're not done yet! Nope...for all you who've been wanting the Aussie V8 Supercars, Stan the Man-down-Under has put together a Aussie V8 patch for N99, with all the current 1999 paintschemes! Phil Whiteman helped him get the carset done in time for the party, and they did a great job! As well, Stan did a Viper carset for his Viper GT patch.
"Change is inevitable, except from vending machines." -Anon
Hmmmm...what else do we have here...aaaah, yes. Something alot of people may have been looking for...the GPL>N2 converter for Watkins Glen! Yep, now you can enjoy this great track in N2 (again). As well, Dave has a little something else...like a ICR2&N2>GPL converter! And last, but not least, we have 3 new reviews for you here, TOCA2 and NHRA Drag Racing, and a review (a bit late) on GPL. Ooops! Almost forgot something...here's our GPL Superpatch, we hope you enjoy it!
"The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard." -Anon
We hope you have enjoyed The Pits 1M Party as much as we've enjoyed doing it! Thanks to all the people who have come to visit us over the years, and we will continue to do our best to do what we do best...be a racer's site for racers!
Cheers!
