MTM2 — For pure unadulterated, uncomplicated fun this is hard to beat! There is quite an international community of players on the internet and the camraderie is amazing. For the most part, it is a bunch of good people — men, women, boys & girls of all ages — with no particular agenda except to have a good time relaxing with other good people.

The unpretentiousness and selflessness that runs through this community, if emulated in the “real world”, could make this planet a better place to live. Lest you think this is an overstatement, consider the countless hundreds of thousands of hours and dollars people have spent, and continue to spend, building tracks and trucks and utility applications; they purchase, build and maintain websites dedicated to the game, they spend countless hours teaching others the game as well as how to build various components. And this all done with no expectation of financial gain.

There is a spirit on unpretentious generosity about what they do. They build their tracks and trucks and utilities and pieces and parts and then just put them out here for the whole world to use and enjoy. Want to learn how to build tracks or trucks? There is an online school where you can learn for free. Need pieces and parts? They are out there by the thousands for the taking. The most I’ve ever seen anyone ask for is that you give them credit for their work. That’s certainly not unreasonable. Occaisionally someone will want you to get permission to use their stuff. That’s not bad either. I’ve got no problem with that.

It is obvious that this community is about much more than playing a game. It starts, to be sure with the game but, when you become involved you soon find out that there is a lot more to it. I’ve been impressed with the creativity of the members on many levels. Many of the tracks and trucks and utilities are works of art. The abilities of some of the creators is mind boggling. I don’t understand the track making at all. The people that do build them have a knack for getting better and better. Some have perfected the balance of technology and artistry which combine to make the game so much more enjoyable for the rest of us.

If a person is interested in joining this group, there is a lot of help to be had. I was pleasantly surprised at the willingness and patience that the veterans demonstrated when I was first learning the game. This community welcomes “newbies” with open arms. We like perpetuating interest in the game. Show some interest, a willingness to learn and a pleasant attitude and there will be more help forthcoming than you can possibly assimilate at first.

I had one guy in particular who spent many hours trying to teach me first the basics and then has tried to teach me the finer points of the game. I’m sure “Hotshoe” had high hopes for this “student” but alas I never will be the caliber of racer that many of these guys ‘n gals are. I think it’s about 58 year old eye to hand coordination. But guess what! It doesn’t matter. I’m just as welcome as the talented folks. In fact, Les (Hotshoe) put my name in the hat for consideration of the honor of joining team SLO. Hope I haven’t disappointed him.

And then there is the aspects of the community which have nothing to do with the game. It’s about the friendships and bonding together in a way I would not have thought possible in a “virtual world.” You get to know about each other’s families, ambitions and other interests, — and trust me, there is an amazing gamut of “other interests.” We find out when somebody’s Mother is ill, when a daughter does well in school etc.

There is a spirit of generosity and helpfulness that you don’t expect from people you never have, and for the most part, never will meet face to face. Somehow that doesn’t seem to matter. I am surprised at how often people do make a point of meeting other members as they travel around the country and the world. I understand it though. There are any number of people I’ve met racing that I know I would immediately feel comfortable with in person. Hopefully I will be able to meet some of them face to face.

Anyhow, this site isn’t going to be about the technical side of the game. There are lots of qualified folks with great sites for that. (I will post links to them.) I may have a couple little tricks up my sleeve that I will share but they are not of a game related technical nature. I am more interested in the human side of the community and hope to be able to present it in a way that will do justice to the men and women, boys and girls who make this all possible.

I will be soliciting and gathering information from my online friends and others who would like to honor members of the MTM community with a little tribute here.

Oh man! I just realized something. All this rambling is going to make “Cope” seem direct and to the point! (That’s a little inside story that we may or may not share later.)

Enough already!

Gentlemen and Gentleladies
Start Your Engines!