Ok, the title is misleading, but there are over 50 real US short track ovals available for NR2003 and I was thinking that a league should be set up to utilise these. I realise that servers cost money and so that has to be brought into consideration, but maybe sponsorship or advertising banners could help with that.

Is anyone interested in it? I'll be looking to run it on Friday nights, (no conflict with V8T,) with rules to be decided soon.

I'd be interested, but recommend you do more research before putting too much effort into it.

Find out how you can get a server, costs, how many drivers and teams would be interested etc.

If you want help with a website then let me know, Alan might be prepared to help out as well but I'm not going to vouch for that on his behalf!

Actually this might be a good way for me to debut my new team?

Oh, don't worry, I intend to put a lot of research into it and I don't expect to launch it for at least another 3 months.

Help with a website would be good, my web skills are next to non-existant and the short track league is just part of my plans. What I have in mind is basically a UK version of Masgrafx or nascarnet. Setups available for download, cars and eventually even tracks maybe. People WILL think I'm crazy and they're probably right, but there are many great short ovals out there and I want to create a one stop shop for everything to do with them. This is what I had planned for BDS Tuning originally and I want to reawaken the dream.
Whilst this project will very much be linked to Team Ecosse if you are all interested, I'm hoping it will become larger than just a small team affair.

That's certainly a very ambitious project. You're going to need a server. There are three main options:

1) Set-up your own. There's lots of useful information at http://www.dslwebserver.com.

2) Rent a general server.

3) Rent a gaming server, with NR2003 already installed and rely on shared hosting for your website.

The problem is, whichever route you chose, it's going to be extremely expensive. Finding sponsorship could work. Sadly, using banner adds isn't really an option. You need to be getting similar visitor numbers to Gareth (around 40,000 unique hits per day at the moment!) in order to make any real money. Unfortunately, getting just 10% of that figure isn't realistic for a site based around NR2003.

Anyway, good luck with the project. I hope you're able to find a sponsor. If it does get off the ground, then I'll certainly be interested in joining.

The expense is a consideration, a server can be found for 45 bucks with whatever mods you want installed, I don't know whether to use the Late Model mod which US based leagues use or just to go Busch series which has more power, but I seem to get round better with them. I'm want to get the website up and generate interest before setting up the actual league itself, but I'm willing to pay half the rental costs myself with just the other half to find.
The advantage with renting a server is that we have full use of it for whatever we want, practise, multiple leagues including a banger racing league......... Special monthly events for charity.........the posiblities are endless.

I must admit to not really knowing what kind of tracks you are talking about - I don't tend to download new tracks unless they are being used by V8T.

Isn't there a UK-based short oval magazine? Perhaps approach them for sponsorship, publicity, etc. Obviously if there are UK short track ovals available that might help interest them.

Unfortunately there isn't any UK short ovals available, that I know of.

However, it may be worth looking into getting them on board as I don't think they are UK exclusive and also, if we provide people with the information then I'm sure getting UK circuits built wouldn't be too much of a problem. Folco has shown his track building talents more than once.

As for inspiration, http://www.shorttrackcentral.com/ and http://www.justin9.com/speedwaycreations/ are good places to start for the tracks. http://www.simracingconnection.com/nascar/n2k3ovals.shtml aslo will point you in the right direction, but be warned, some tracks do not have walls all the way round, exactly like the real versions.

Hey Nick
Have just dl'd hialeah just to see what its like to race a 1/3 mile circuit. I'll get backto you :-0
btw Late Model mod ? dunno that 1.

I'll find a link to the Late model mod and post it later on today, it's not essential though to have, I think it just uses truck physics on slightly narrow car bodies.

My best suggestions for short tracks would be South Boston, Cayuga and Kawartha Night, although there are many more excellent real tracks to choose from.

Ok, if anyone's interested in the late model mod, it's available at http://www.shorttrackcentral.com/downloads%20storage/lmsc.zip

Templates and carview files are available at short track central as well.