Event simulator, and methods of constructing and utilizing same

Abstract

An event simulator which captures a live or recorded event and selectively incorporates simulator participants therewith. The simulator includes a mechanism for generating a computer graphic representation of an environment in which real events occur; a mechanism for determining the position and orientation of one or more movable objects, such as race cars, in the environment; a mechanism for generating a computer graphic representation of the one or more movable objects in the computer graphic representation of the environment based upon the position and orientation of the one or more movable objects at predetermined time intervals as provided by the position determining mechanism; an interface mechanism for providing data from zero or more simulator participants; a mechanism for generating a computer graphic representation of zero or more participants in the computer graphic representation of the environment in response to participant-supplied data from the interface mechanism; and a mechanism for displaying the computer graphic representation of the environment based upon the position determining mechanism for the one or more movable objects, the computer representation generating mechanism for the one of more movable objects and the computer representation generating mechanism for the zero or more participants.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an event simulator, and in particular to a system which captures live or recorded events, generates a computer image of the captured events, selectively incorporates simulator participants therewith and outputs the computer image to simulator participants and/or viewers.

[0003] 2. The Relevant Art

[0004] There are known vehicle simulators. For instance, Barstow U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,479 discloses a system which produces a computer-coded description of a live event and broadcasts a cryptic computer simulation of the live event.

[0005] The above-identified reference, however, fails to disclose a system which incorporates one or more simulator participants with live or recorded events in an interactive environment using computer graphics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention overcomes the above-discussed limitations and shortcomings of known simulators and satisfies a significant need for a simulator which provides a computer graphics representation of a series of actual, real-world events with which the participant may engage in a substantially life-like manner. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the actual events comprise an automobile race and the simulator system allows simulator users to participate in the computer simulation of the actual race.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an event simulator, such as an automobile race simulator, comprising a means for generating a computer graphic representation of an environment in which real events occur; a means for detecting the position and orientation of one or more movable objects, such as race cars, in the environment; a means for selectively generating a computer graphic representation of the one or more movable objects in the computer graphic representation of the environment based upon the position and orientation of the one or more movable objects at predetermined time intervals as recorded by the position detecting means; interface means for providing data from zero or more participants; a means for generating a computer graphic representation of zero or more participants in the computer graphic representation of the environment in response to participant-supplied data from the interface means; and a means for displaying the computer graphic representation of the environment based upon the position detecting means for the one or more movable objects, the computer representation generating means for the one of more movable objects and the computer representation generating means for the zero or more participants.

[0008] A process for simulating an actual event may comprise the steps of generating a computer representation of a real-world environment; generating a computer representation of the one or more movable objects in the computer representation of the environment; generating a computer representation of the zero or more participants; displaying the computer representation of the environment having the initial position and orientation of the one or more movable objects and the zero or more participants therein; sequentially updating the display of the computer representation of the environment every predetermined time interval; and ending the simulation upon completion of the event.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer simulation of an actual event in which one or more users may participate in the simulated event.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulation system in which a live event is captured and represented graphically in real time so that users may participate in the simulated event as the live event is occurring.

[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simulation system in which a recorded event is captured, stored and graphically represented for subsequent simulation for participation by system users.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide such a simulation system in which parameters of the captured actual event are alterable to accommodate a variety of participant skill levels

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulation system which allows viewers and/or simulator participants substantially unlimited views of a simulation of an actual event.

[0014] Other objects, advantages, and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a flow chart for an algorithm used by the central computer of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is disclosed an event simulator according to the present invention, comprising a means for generating a computer graphic representation of an environment in which a series of actual events occur; a means for detecting a position and orientation of one or more movable objects in the environment; a means for generating a computer graphic representation of the one or more movable objects appearing in the environment at predetermined time intervals; interface means for providing participant-supplied data representing movement of at least one participant in the computer representation of the environment; and central computing means for presenting a graphical representation of the event based upon data from the environment generating means, the movable object generating means, the position detecting means and the interface means.

[0018] Although the present invention is applicable to simulate participant involvement in virtually any actual spectator event, the present invention will be described within the context of automobile racing for exemplary purposes. In this scenario, the environment comprises an actual race track and the movable objects comprise actual race cars appearing on the race track during an automobile race.

[0019] Accordingly, the means for generating a computer graphic representation of the environment generates a digital representation of an actual automobile race track. As shown in FIG. 1, the environment generating means preferably but not necessarily receives specification data pertaining to an automobile race and generates a 3-D polygonal rendition of the actual race track and each actual race car appearing in the automobile race. The environment generating means preferably generates the graphic representation in an off-line manner prior to the simulation of the actual race. After the graphical representation of the actual race track and race cars is complete, the data is available as input to central computer 1.

[0020] In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the simulator system captures a previously recorded automobile race and integrates the captured race with computer simulator participants. In this embodiment, the means for detecting the positions and orientations of the movable objects may preferably comprise any of a number of mechanisms which monitor vehicular position and orientation. For example, the detecting means may comprise “scouts” which chart race cars throughout the course of the race, videotape equipment, GPS devices, on-board computers/sensing equipment, or low altitude radar. As shown in FIG. 1, the position detecting means provides data to the means for generating a computer graphic representation of the race cars.

[0021] According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the means for generating a computer graphic representation of the actual race cars in the simulated environment places the positioning and orientation of each actual race car at every predetermined time interval throughout the race according to input data. In order to provide a substantially accurate simulation of the actual race, the race car positioning means preferably determines the three dimensional spatial coordinates of each actual race car as well as its orientation relative to the simulated race track. Orientation information may include yaw, pitch and roll data. The frequency at which the race car positioning and orientation determinations are made is optimally greater than approximately 15 Hz. The race car positioning means preferably performs data reduction, extrapolation and filtering to provide the position and orientation data for each actual race car at each time interval Because these determinations may be made off-line in advance of the simulation, the resulting data is preferably stored in memory within central computer 1.

[0022] In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the simulator system captures a live automobile race and integrates the captured race with computer simulated participants in real time. In this way, the simulator participants experience the feel of the live race. Although the data reduction, extrapolation and filtering operations performed in this embodiment are substantially the same as in the first preferred embodiment, the means for detecting the position and orientation of the actual race cars preferably comprises mechanisms having sufficient bandwidth to perform the position and orientation determinations in an on-line, real time manner. For example, the detecting means may include on-board sensing devices or radar. As shown in FIG. 1, the captured data is preferably fed directly to central computer 1 for processing instead of first being stored in computer memory.

[0023] The present invention preferably includes interface means for providing participant-supplied data representing movement of zero or more participants in the simulated environment The interface means may preferably comprise one or more driving stations 3, each of which emulates a compartment of the type of vehicle that is featured in the actual race. Each driving station 3 may include a driver's seat, dashboard having gauges and other instrumentation, and input control devices which simulate the controls of the vehicle, such as a steering wheel, accelerator, brake, clutch, gear shift, etc. As shown in FIG. 1, the input control devices are preferably electronically connected to central computer 1 for use thereby in integrating a participant-operated simulated vehicle into the computer representation of the actual race.

[0024] Central computer 1 preferably presents the simulation of the actual automobile race having therein the computer representations of the actual race cars and the simulated, participant-operated race cars. Central computer 1 preferably presents the automobile race to the participants and viewers of the simulation based upon data pertaining to the captured race track and race car specifications, the captured position and orientation of the actual race cars, and the data from each driving station 3

[0025] Specifically, the simulation begins by initiating and synchronizing the actual race cars and the simulated, participant-operated race cars. Referring to FIG. 2, central computer 1 preferably initializes vehicle position and orientation of each actual race car as well as the lap counter. A time counter may be set to the desired time period during which the simulation is to run. Thereafter, a computer-generated image (CGI) of the actual race cars appearing on the simulated race track is presented to the participants and viewers. The starting positions and orientations of the participant-controlled, simulator race cars are then assigned using a prioritization algorithm, after which the CGI of the simulator race cars are presented with the actual race cars to the participants and the viewers

[0026] Next, the simulation is incremented by one predetermined time interval. The position and orientation of each actual race car is updated according to the captured data of the recorded race stored in computer memory, or the captured data of the live race fed to central computer 1 in real-time. In addition, the position and orientation of each participant-controlled, simulator race car is updated based upon data generated by each participant via driving stations 3.

[0027] Central computer 1 then determines whether any of the simulator race cars has crashed. This determination may, for example, compare the updated location of the simulator race cars with each other and with the updated location of each actual race car, and, if any car locations overlap, a crash is found to have occurred. It is understood that other algorithms may be utilized to determine whether a simulator race car has crashed. If a participant-controlled, simulator race car is found to have crashed, the simulator car is removed from the remainder of the simulation.

[0028] If one or more participant-controlled, simulator race cars still remain in the simulated race, then central computer 1 presents to the participants and viewers an updated CGI of the actual and simulated race cars, with the locations of the race cars corresponding to their new, updated locations on the simulated race track.

[0029] Still referring to FIG. 2, central computer 1 may present statistics of the simulated race to the participants and viewers. The statistics may comprise statistics for each race car in the race, such as average speed, laps completed or remaining, etc Alternatively, each participant may be provided only with those statistics pertaining to their simulated race car which an actual race car typically provides to its driver, such as fuel level, vehicle speed, etc.

[0030] Next, if the time counter has not yet elapsed and the race has not yet completed, central computer 1 increments the simulation by another predetermined time interval, updates the location of each race car, determines if any simulator race car has crashed, and outputs an updated CGI of the simulated race, as described above. These steps are repeated until all the simulator cars have crashed, the time counter has elapsed or the actual race ends

[0031] The present invention may include a means for changing the performance of the actual race cars and/or the simulated race cars to accommodate participants having little experience in operating a race car. For instance, the speed of the computer representation of the actual race cars may be selectively scaled, and the positions and orientations of the actual race cars and the size of the simulated race track may be alterable.

[0032] In order to provide a simulation which substantially resembles an actual automobile race, the present invention may include a means for providing audio from the live or recorded race to the participants and viewers.

[0033] The present system preferably provides a visual presentation of the simulated car race to the simulator participants and viewers. It is understood that the participants may engage in the simulation race and the viewers view the simulation presentation from remote locations relative to central computer 1. For instance, the central computer 1 may communicate with the viewers and with the participants over a wide area network, using a satellite, cable or internet medium.

[0034] Concerning the presentation of the simulated event, the central computer 1 preferably includes a means for providing a plurality of views of the simulated event to the participants and the viewers. The view providing means may provide a substantially unlimited number of views of the simulated event, such as a top plan view of the simulated race track, a view from any race car, a race official's view, a view from the pit area, etc.

[0035] Relatedly, the present invention may be utilized to merely view a computer representation of an actual race from a substantially unlimited number of views. In this configuration, the present simulator system would not use data provided by any simulator participant via the interface means. Instead, central computer 1 would only present the computer graphic representation of the actual race cars in the simulated environment to the simulator viewers.

[0036] The present invention may further include a means for allowing a simulator participant to take over the control of an actual race car at any point in the race. The take over means preferably interrupts captured data pertaining to an actual race car which would otherwise be supplied to central computer 1 and supplants the captured data with data supplied by a participant using a driver station 3.

[0037] In addition, the present invention may allow a participant to choose the desired type of race car from a variety of race car types. Central computer 1 may store data pertaining to a number of different race cars in its memory, including graphic data as well as performance data. When central computer 1 begins the simulation, the data corresponding to the race car chosen by a participant would then be accessed for inclusion in the simulation.

[0038] Although there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof The described embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all aspects as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A computer program product for a race simulator that provides a computer graphic representation of an actual vehicular race, the computer program product including instructions stored on a medium which, when executed by a processor of the simulator, operate to: generate a computer graphic representation of a race track in which the vehicular race is to occur; receive positioning information of one or more race vehicles participating in the vehicular race; generate a computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles in the computer graphic representation of the race track based upon the received positioning information of the one or more race vehicles; receive positioning information from at least one simulator participant relating to positioning thereof within the computer graphic representation of the race track; generate a computer graphic representation of the simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track; and display the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein: the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles and the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant comprises positioning information of the one or more race vehicles and the at least one simulator participant at predetermined time intervals; and the displayed computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track is regularly updated.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein display of the computer representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track is updated substantially in real time.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: determine if the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant overlaps the computer graphic representation of any of the one or more race vehicles in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

5. The computer program product of claim 4, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: remove the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant upon an affirmative determination that the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant overlaps the computer graphic representation of any of the one or more race vehicles in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: send information corresponding to the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track for display to at least one location geographically remote from the processor.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the information corresponding to the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track is sent over the Internet for display.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant is received from a location that is geographically remote relative to the processor

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant is received from transmission over the Internet.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: selectively alter the size of the computer graphic representation of the race track, relative to the size of the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the size of the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: selectively modify the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles so that the display of the computer graphic representation thereof on the computer graphic representation of the race track appears to scale the speed of the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles on the computer graphic representation of the race track.

12. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: selectively replace positioning information of at least one of the one or more race vehicles with positioning information of at least one of the at least one simulator participants so that the computer graphic representation of the at least one of the one or more race vehicles is thereafter based upon the positioning information of the at least one of the at least one simulator participants.

13. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the display is from substantially any perspective on the race track

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein at least one of the perspectives is from the position of the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the display is selected by the at least one simulator participant.

16. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the display is from any of a plurality of perspectives on the race track.

17. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: determine a plurality of statistics of the computer graphic representation of one or more of the at least one simulator participant and the one or more race vehicles, and display the statistics of the simulation of the actual vehicular race.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the statistics comprise, for the at least one simulator participant, at least one of average speed and laps completed.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the statistics comprise, for the at least one simulator participant, at least one of fuel level and vehicle speed.

20. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: determine at least one statistic of the computer graphic representation of each of the at least one simulator participant and each of the one or more race vehicles, and display the at least one statistic of the simulation of the actual vehicular race.

21. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant comprise three dimensional polygonal renditions of actual race vehicles.

22. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles comprise orientation information of the one or more race vehicles during the actual vehicular race.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the orientation information includes at least one of pitch, roll and yaw of the one or more race vehicles during the actual vehicular race.

24. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant comprises acceleration information and steering information.

25. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: send information corresponding to the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track for display to a plurality of locations geographically remote from the processor.

26. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: selectively modify the positioning information of at least one of the one or more race vehicles

27. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: selectively scale the speed of at least one of the one or more race vehicles on the computer graphic representation of the race track.

28. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles comprise orientation information of the one or more race vehicles during the actual vehicular race, and the computer program product further comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to selectively modify the orientation information of at least one of the one or more race vehicles.

29. The computer program product of claim 1, further including instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: change a performance of at least one of the one or more race vehicles.

30. A method for presenting a computer graphic representation of an actual race involving one or more race vehicles, comprising: generating a computer graphic representation of a race track in which the vehicular race is to occur; receiving positioning information of one or more race vehicles participating in the vehicular race, generating a computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles in the computer graphic representation of the race track based upon the received positioning information of the one or more race vehicles; receiving positioning information from at least one simulator participant relating to positioning thereof within the computer graphic representation of the race track; generating a computer graphic representation of the simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track; and displaying the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein: the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles and the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant comprises positioning information of the one or more race vehicles and the at least one simulator participant at predetermined time intervals; and the displayed computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track is regularly updated.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein display of the computer representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track is updated substantially in real time.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising: determining if the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant overlaps the computer graphic representation of any of the one or more race vehicles in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising: removing the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant upon an affirmative determination that the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant overlaps the computer graphic representation of any of the one or more race vehicles in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising: sending information corresponding to the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track for display to at least one location geographically remote from the processor.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the information corresponding to the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track is sent over the Internet for display.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant is received from a location that is geographically remote relative to the processor.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant is received from transmission over the Internet.

39. The method of claim 30, further comprising: selectively altering the size of the computer graphic representation of the race track, relative to the size of the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the size of the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant.

40. The method of claim 30, further comprising: selectively modifying the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles so that the display of the computer graphic representation thereof on the computer graphic representation of the race track appears to scale the speed of the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles on the computer graphic representation of the race track.

41. The method of claim 30, further comprising: selectively replacing positioning information of at least one of the one or more race vehicles with positioning information of at least one of the at least one simulator participants so that the computer graphic representation of the at least one of the one or more race vehicles is thereafter based upon the positioning information of the at least one of the at least one simulator participants.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein the display is from substantially any perspective on the race track.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein at least one of the perspectives is from the position of the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the display is selected by the at least one simulator participant.

45. The method of claim 30, wherein the display is from any of a plurality of perspectives on the race track.

46. The method of claim 30, further comprising: determining a plurality of statistics of the computer graphic representation of one or more of the at least one simulator participant and the one or more race vehicles, and displaying the statistics of the simulation of the actual vehicular race.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the statistics comprise, for the at least one simulator participant, at least one of average speed and laps completed.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the statistics comprise, for the at least one simulator participant, at least one of fuel level and vehicle speed

49. The method of claim 30, further comprising: determining at least one statistic of the computer graphic representation of each of the at least one simulator participant and each of the one or more race vehicles, and displaying the at least one statistic of the simulation of the actual vehicular race.

50. The method of claim 30, wherein the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant comprise three dimensional polygonal renditions of actual race vehicles.

51. The method of claim 30, wherein the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles comprise orientation information of the one or more race vehicles during the actual vehicular race.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the orientation information includes at least one of pitch, roll and yaw of the one or more race vehicles during the actual vehicular race.

53. The method of claim 30, wherein the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant comprises acceleration information and steering information.

54. The method of claim 30, further comprising: sending information corresponding to the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track for display to a plurality of locations geographically remote from the processor.

55. The method of claim 30, further comprising: selectively modifying the positioning information of at least one of the one or more race vehicles.

56. The method of claim 30, further comprising: selectively scaling the speed of at least one of the one or more race vehicles on the computer graphic representation of the race track.

57. The method of claim 30, wherein the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles comprise orientation information of the one or more race vehicles during the actual vehicular race, and the computer program product further comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to selectively modify the orientation information of at least one of the one or more race vehicles.

58. The method of claim 30, further including: changing a performance of at least one of the one or more race vehicles

59. The method of claim 30, further comprising, prior to the step of detecting the position information of the one or more race vehicles, including performing at least one of data reduction, extrapolation and filtering.

60. The method of claim 30, wherein the one or more race vehicles comprise one or more race cars.

61. A simulation system that provides a computer graphic representation of an actual vehicular race, comprising: at least one memory device having computer software instructions stored therein; at least one computing device, coupled to the at least one memory device and adapted to execute the computer software instructions stored on the at least one memory device so as to be operable to: obtain a computer graphic representation of a race track in which the vehicular race is to occur, receive positioning information of one or more race vehicles participating in the vehicular race, generate a computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles in the computer graphic representation of the race track based upon the received positioning information of the one or more race vehicles; receive positioning information from at least one simulator participant relating to positioning thereof within the computer graphic representation of the race track; and generate a computer graphic representation of the simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track; and at least one monitor device, coupled to the at least one computing device, for displaying the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

62. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein: the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles and the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant comprises positioning information of the one or more race vehicles and the at least one simulator participant at predetermined time intervals; and the displayed computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track is regularly updated.

63. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein display of the computer representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track is updated substantially in real time.

64. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: determine if the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant overlaps the computer graphic representation of any of the one or more race vehicles in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

65. The simulation system of claim 64, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: remove the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant upon an affirmative determination that the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant overlaps the computer graphic representation of any of the one or more race vehicles in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

66. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: send information corresponding to the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track for display to at least one location geographically remote from the processor.

67. The simulation system of claim 66, wherein the information corresponding to the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track is sent over the Internet for display.

68. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant is received from a location that is geographically remote relative to the processor.

69. The simulation system of claim 68, wherein the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant is received from transmission over the Internet.

70. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: selectively alter the size of the computer graphic representation of the race track, relative to the size of the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the size of the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant.

71. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: selectively modify the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles so that the display of the computer graphic representation thereof on the computer graphic representation of the race track appears to scale the speed of the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles on the computer graphic representation of the race track.

72. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: selectively replace positioning information of at least one of the one or more race vehicles with positioning information of at least one of the at least one simulator participants so that the computer graphic representation of the at least one of the one or more race vehicles is thereafter based upon the positioning information of the at least one of the at least one simulator participants.

73. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the display is from substantially any perspective on the race track.

74. The simulation system of claim 73, wherein at least one of the perspectives is from the position of the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track.

75. The simulation system of claim 73, wherein the display is selected by the at least one simulator participant.

76. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the display is from any of a plurality of perspectives on the race track.

77. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: determine a plurality of statistics of the computer graphic representation of one or more of the at least one simulator participant and the one or more race vehicles, and display the statistics of the simulation of the actual vehicular race.

78. The simulation system of claim 76, wherein the statistics comprise, for the at least one simulator participant, at least one of average speed and laps completed.

79. The simulation system of claim 76, wherein the statistics comprise, for the at least one simulator participant, at least one of fuel level and vehicle speed.

80. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: determine at least one statistic of the computer graphic representation of each of the at least one simulator participant and each of the one or more race vehicles, and display the at least one statistic of the simulation of the actual vehicular race.

81. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant comprise three dimensional polygonal renditions of actual race vehicles.

82. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles comprise orientation information of the one or more race vehicles during the actual vehicular race.

83. The simulation system of claim 60, wherein the orientation information includes at least one of pitch, roll and yaw of the one or more race vehicles during the actual vehicular race

84. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the positioning information of the at least one simulator participant comprises acceleration information and steering information.

85. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: send information corresponding to the computer graphic representation of the one or more race vehicles and the computer graphic representation of the at least one simulator participant in the computer graphic representation of the race track for display to a plurality of locations geographically remote from the processor.

86. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: selectively modify the positioning information of at least one of the one or more race vehicles.

87. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to: selectively scale the speed of at least one of the one or more race vehicles on the computer graphic representation of the race track.

88. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles comprise orientation information of the one or more race vehicles during the actual vehicular race, and the computer program product further comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to selectively modify the orientation information of at least one of the one or more race vehicles.

89. The simulation system of claim 61, further including instructions which, when executed by the processor, operate to: change a performance of at least one of the one or more race vehicles.

90. The simulation system of claim 61, further comprising one or more detection devices for sensing the position of the one or more race vehicles on the race track, generating the positioning information of the race vehicles and sending the positioning information to the at least one computing device.

91. The simulation system of claim 90, wherein the one or more detection devices comprises at least one of the following an on-board sensor and radar.

92. The simulation system of claim 61, further comprising at least one driver station manipulated by the at least one simulator participant, comprising at least one of a steering device, an acceleration device, and a deceleration device

93. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the at least one computing device, when executing the computer software instructions, is further operable to perform at least one of data reduction, filtering and extrapolation on the positioning information of the one or more race vehicles.

94. The simulation system of claim 61, wherein the one or more race vehicles comprise one or more race cars.