IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE 2020 SEASON

Dear fellow simracers,

It is with a heavy heart that we, the current moderators and broadcast team at HSO (Alberto, Richard C, Richard W, Juha, Jonatan and Jason) have to announce that we have been unable to reach a satisfactory middle ground with the HSO Founders with regards to the future of the league.

We have been running this league with passion for four years now and had lots of fun, creating what we believe and hope are some signature mods and developing a profound affection and fond memories of it. Sadly, this journey has come to a sudden halt.

However, this doesn't mean the end for the current team. We have decided to revamp our side project, International Simracing Organisation, and continue there with all the projects we already had going on, running our championships and open races that had been originally planned for HSO.

We want you all to share the fun and join us in our new home. The racing program for 2020 is already decided and we know some of you are already registered, so don't hesitate to have a look and keep an eye out for future announcements.

See you soon on track!

I don't understand much at all, but I sure know that I want to continue racing with this core-group of simracers, may it be on HSO or ISO.

To put it very simple: We (Alberto, Richard C & W, Jonatan, Jason and myself) will continue what we did here, but in a different place.

What will happen to HSO is for its founders to decide.

For sure I will keep running with you, I have no reason to do anything other than that.
The copetence and professionalism of your work that I have witnessed for the past 2 ½ years is exemplary.

If you want to look at the bright side of things, all you historic simracing lovers will have two great places to race in next year instead of one !

We are in the process of re-organising the HSO admin team at the moment, things are going well and we already have the basis of a strong team. We are exploring many options as far as events go, but there is still time to cook up something tasty for 2020, no need to rush things.

We will keep you updated in the coming weeks, but meanwhile please continue to enjoy your season of racing. Whatever happened behind the scenes, there is no need for drama. We are not fighting for custody of our members, obviously everybody is free to race where they want and like I said surely there is enough room in this world for two cool historic simracing leagues !

Bruno Chacon wrote:

For sure I will keep running with you, I have no reason to do anything other than that.
The copetence and professionalism of your work that I have witnessed for the past 2 ½ years is exemplary.

100% agree Bruno,

What you guys pull off is second to none! Being admin of a previous league I was in I can safely say your organisation and attention to detail, be it how the league is run to the mod’s you create for us, is simply stunning, and I for one will follow that for sure!

I'll also be moving over to ISO, we have a great team and I want to be part of it.
I've nothing against HSO but I don't think I'll have the time to stay here. But I could maybe do a race or two.

Not really the type of news I wanted to see today (or any day, for that matter)...but ok.

I'm already part of ISO, and will continue to race there with the group I've come to know here at HSO.

I admire the work and efforts of the current admin crew (and modders, and broadcast guys...all of you) and I will continue to support them in their efforts.

There is content that has been given to us by the likes of Alberto, Richard W, David S, Jason, and I'm sure others that I'm not aware of....content that I cannot find elsewhere. Content that doesn't necessarily appeal to those who just want grippy modern cars and quick pick up style racing. Content that only a chosen few will truly see the value and artistry of.

THAT is why I am here. And if it is elsewhere I must go to find it, then there I will go.

No offense at all intended towards HSO as an organization, but I know the works of the current crew. They essentially have my support by default.

Outside of the current crew, I know very little of the behind the scenes stuff here at HSO, so when it comes to races and content that they will host, like all others, it will need to be proven, solid, and I'll make determinations based on that in regards to [potential] future participation here.

I guess change is inevitable, but this one's a bit abrupt and I have to admit I'm a bit saddened by all this.

Oh well, let's see where this goes...

Good Luck with the move, and I hope the "relics/grande framauge" will make it as easy as possible for you all "admin/moderators. (I actually thought they got lost in the wilderness somewhere.....in some Parisian basement Tavern maybe Interested to see what they have up there sleeve......I hope many of the "early" years drivers return too.

Best of luck to you guys at ISO! I am sure it will be a site to watch.

For me, I’ll be busy here.

But what's the problem. why not have 1 league with many drivers, instead of 2 with little drivers?
Simracing world just gets smaler and smaler.iracing retrieves many drivers from other series An incredible number of leagues that have gone down over the years I have been with

Ah, I was getting ready to come back here ... it's sad all these problems.
Another league also in historic meets this kind of problem right now (on A / C)

There is not a lot of 100% historic league, do not destroy it ...
I hope that it will go off without a hitch, if there are 2 that work, it's good, but the participants will be divided ...
Will this continue on AMS? (and the arrival of AMS2 ??)

Of course, I will always prioritize racing, with cars where aerodynamics and electronics are no more important than driving ability.
Traction control, moving wings and others do not attract me.

I understand your fears and frustration, it's only natural and I guess we all have in mind examples of splits in simracing, real racing or rock n' roll that turned out to be destructive and counter productive. But despite the differences of opinion between the founders and the departing team I trust there is no vindicative intent on either side.

The viable solution is to play the complementarity line instead of the competing one. The idea is not to hold similar, let alone identical, series on the same days to see who has the most followers. That would be childish, divisive and an insult to our fine group of enthusiast members. Diversity on the other hand is the way to go. The range of possible events in terms of eras, types of cars and of races is such that it is easy enough to not step on each other's toes in this respect.

Obviously, the mass departure of the entire team of moderators along with all their projects for the next season puts HSO in need for some adjustments to say the least, most importantly on the question of manpower to run the show. Since the announcement was made public, several people have stepped up to offer help to keep HSO alive and not just in surviving mode. As he hinted earlier, former admin Mike Becnel is already committed to coming back full time for instance     .

So, like I said, chips are still falling into place these days, but already a few things are certain. HSO will continue in 2020. It will be run by people with vast amounts of experience in administrating a simracing league and will be true to its original spirit in both form and content. Our priorities remain the same as ever : accurate races and championships, with cars more akin to beasts than machines, on challenging tracks and in a spirit of conviviality, fair competition and enjoyment for all.

As far as content goes it is too early to get into specifics yet, but the immersive features of rFactor2 (dynamic weather yummy) are a very attractive proposition indeed, while AMS will of course also continue to be used one way or another. As far as cars and races are concerned, Group A touring cars are at the top of the shortlist of wannados for instance, but several other options are considered including some 1960s stuff.

Anyways, stay tuned, enjoy your end of season, we will keep you posted.

D'un coté ou de l'autre, je pense que nous avons tous hâte de voir ce qu'il en ressortira...
Des nouvelles, vite

Frank Verplanken wrote:

...As far as content goes it is too early to get into specifics yet, but the immersive features of rFactor2 (dynamic weather yummy) are a very attractive proposition indeed...

So I have had several people contact me, and besides I have readed all messages here expressing certain concerns like those from Bruno, Oyvind and Christian, hence I guess I should step in and clarify some things.

First of all, thanks to all who expressed their support, but it's fair to say that we are not drawing a red line in the floor to see who picks one side or the other, Christ no, not at all!

Many people here race also in other leagues, and there is nothing wrong with that, we are not pretending to force people into this or that. You see, HSO was started by four talented guys who also raced previously elewhere, and at some point decided to create a league themselves according to what they thought was the ideal. We, the team who took over after real life got in the way for the founding admins, just have developed a similar desire and while balancing a middle ground has been possible during some time, in the end the logical thing for us not owners was to take the same route. What we have been doing here was not completely to the liking of some founding admins, which is fair enough as they built this place to start with and apparently want to be active again managing it, so us being in the way was not reasonable.

Frank Verplanken wrote:

The viable solution is to play the complementarity line instead of the competing one. The idea is not to hold similar, let alone identical, series on the same days to see who has the most followers

Well this is the first notice I get about what HSO's intentions for the future are, but of course such attitude is more than welcomed and applauded   , and it could not have been timed better since we just published our 2020 racing program (Which the HSO admins already knew from the private forum here anyway), so indeed the new team that runs this league has a good chance of organizing their events accordingly and not in competition   .

Whether that happens or not of course depends on the new HSO team that forms and not on us, who are already out of the equation. All the best to you all, see you on track here or elsewhere Enjoy the rest of the season

Nice to hear that you all important guys at HSO and now also ISO are able to live side by side. I hope this will continue. I am not around so much last few years, so quite logicaly I tend more to stay with HSO, as I was "full time member" those old days. If I remember well I entered HSO as first one from CZ and it was 2008 or 2009.

I was always keeping an eye on HSO no matter if I actively race here and I know that at any time there was always great racing and great group of admins! I am really looking forward to HSO 2020 calendar and I have to say that ISO 2020 season looks very good.

I wish you guys with ISO all good and I will never say that I won´t join some of your races, but for now I would wait for HSO 2020 season announcment and hopefully I will be able to join few races

Good luck to all

Frank, is there a possibility we might see you behind the wheel next year?

Jukka Maattanen wrote:

Frank, is there a possibility we might see you behind the wheel next year?

I have hired a guy in France with a pair of pliers and a blow torch to insure this happens.

Thanks Alberto for taking the time to publicly respond to the members' questions and fears for the future, I know too well how busy you are these days .

I hope Alberto's wise and kind words will have finished to convice you all that this split is being handled in the most responsible and gentle way possible. All of us behind the scenes have always had our members' satisfaction at heart, and this will always remain our priority whether at HSO or at ISO. Best proof of that is the fact that this all was done in a timely fashion, and without any drama or bad blood being spilled in public - which is more than the vast majority of splits in the history of splits can say I think !

In many respects this split is like the end of a love story. Of course what brought us together is so much bigger than what tore us apart. But the thing is that all of it was and still is fueled by passion, and I guess you all know how passion can be a destructive agent in any relationship (especially when some mediterranean type guys are involved in the relationship I guess !).

So yes, it is a divorce, but all divorces don't necessarily have to be ugly. Furthermore, you guys are not children anyway and are not put in a position where you have to chose between mommy HSO and daddy ISO . People come to race in races they like, not because they like the people who organize them. So, again, we will make sure the 2020 HSO programme is complementary to that of ISO, not competing with it, and hopefully all current active members, many former active members and even more new members will be able to stem their thirst for historic simracing between the two leagues.

It goes without saying that I wish ISO all the best, the 2020 programme looks great indeed .

Karel Marciniszyn wrote:

hopefully I will be able to join few races  

I certainly hope you will, buddy   !

Jukka Maattanen wrote:

Frank, is there a possibility we might see you behind the wheel next year?

I think it's fair to say it is a certainty yes . Looking forward to some good old on track action with you, old f(r)iend   !

Mike Becnel wrote:

I have hired a guy in France with a pair of pliers and a blow torch to insure this happens.

You know me so well ! Truly he was not needed for that, but still had a little work to be done around the house so he came in handy, thanks !

Quote :

So yes, it is a divorce, but all divorces don't necessarily have to be ugly

I'd rather say it's an emancipation from the parent's home    after all, sex was never involved  

Though some other practices were

LMAO ! Yes emancipation is a much more fitting image indeed ! As for the "alternative" practices, well I guess the important thing is that it was all consensual, eh !

I hope the HSO will bring back the ENDURANCE races as well as the single seats from the 30s to 60s.