Where Are We Going?
And How Long Is It Gonna Take?
All right, I'm probably starting to repeat myself pretty frequently now. Now that the madcow is kicking in. Or is that the alzy's? I forget. But this domecile that I'm building is in a constant state of flux, a continuous flurry of change orders and delays and reworks. I told you at the beginning that it would be and I've lived up to my word.
My problem is I don't know how to ask for help--I've always been bad at that. And if the reception has been luke-warm it sure hasn't deterred me. This site, of all my littered jots and notes and abandoned websites and scattered dreams and half-ass projects may yet be my legacy. And damn it I'm proud! It's not visual and it sure isn't commercial and when I look at the first writings and drawings I posted I cringe. But I think it's turning into something. If nothing else it's a sort of maze that I'm fond of doing: there is a lot of content here but it's not always evident where it is. I like to create something where a person can get lost for a time... and hopefully find something to have made it all worthwhile.
If you want to see where I'm trying to go with this you might check some of the latest tracks that I've included on the Tracks List page. In addition to (finally) getting the author information with tracks I'm just beginning to cover alternate versions of real speedways. Ace is the first track where I've gone back and tried to account for different versions of the same speedway. Actually, looking back I see that Grundy County was the first and now I'm attempting to go back and update alphabetically. Atlanta is the first Cup track that I've upgraded, adding versions and their authors. The Dakota Dirt page represents what I feel is a nearly complete page. As does the Point 375 page. Beyond all that, I believe the artwork is starting to mature. Or call it graphics if you want--it's still changing and it may make some more turns yet. Check Ransomville or Sanair or Altoona. Or maybe Lemon Seed Speedway. I also like Albany and El Cajon, Hialeah, Jefferson, and Motor Mile. As you can see, I am no longer sticking to a specific format. I'm trying to individualize tracks, maybe even theme them sometimes. And I may miss badly but that's what I do. These tracks have not been featured yet and some of them aren't even annotated at all. But that's where you come in...
Time For Some Real Talent To Step Up
I debated on putting up a forum. But if I did I would divide it up by track anyway--kind of like Setup Gurus I guess. I think I'd rather just keep everything on the track individual pages. But I still invite response. As well, I can use original artwork, screenshots, evaluations, fact and fiction. Material on the most obscure or even for tracks already included in a feature. You want to run comparisons of the twenty versions of Daytona? Go for it. But don't just say "I like Daytona NV better than OV because OV sucks"; give us something to back it up. Actually I would rather hear what's right about a track. Did you ever hear that from your mom? "If you can't say something good about someone, don't say nothing at all". Of all the tracks I've driven I can remember only a few with no redeeming value. A speedway has lousy graphics but drives well. Or the AI are way off but the track races great online. I'm not crazy about every track that comes out but I'd rather hold my tongue than discourage one of those who still creates tracks for a game that isn't even commercially available anymore.
So contribute. Become a partner. Very few enterprises last without help from some quarter and I'm no exception. Unless someone wanted to pay me for doing this--if that were the case I'd be unstoppable. As it is I'm only incorrigible. And if the interest isn't there, there's very little reason to continue. I do this for me but I also do it to give just a little bit back... to the people who have kept this game vital and relavant so many years after its release and even its 'official' demise.