A bit of history.

The first release was circa 1993 on the 8-bit version of PAsystems, at the corner of what’s now Tractor Supply Co.

It featured the East Lauridsen-Lincoln barrier-with-merge feature, innovative for its time.

To many players delight it confused longtime residents for quite awhile.

PAsystems users begged for a new release, but it wasn’t until the 2018 64-bit Garmin version, which featured, once again, East Lauridsen, when residents sounded the applause.

This release brought limitless new obstacles and unnecessary maneuvers, creating havoc and confusion for even the most experienced players.

With rave reviews, the city released a 2022 upgrade titled “Curves, Concrete and Confusion: South Lincoln.”

The South Lincoln release was truly unparalleled with the introduction of bike lanes and center concrete, an enormous speed bump, and green paint.

To promote the iPhone version, iPASystems released in late 2023 the aptly titled, “Race Street Deluxe,” with even higher concrete walls and car-scraping barriers, adorned with Aspen-style lights and rock work. Ten thousand residents experienced the excitement within minutes of its release.

But progress is progress for progress sake.

The Big 2025 version is now out on 128-bit Super-PAsystems. It features plastic yellow bumper barriers. Reroutes on unheard of roads, detour signs to nowhere, all designed for eco-friendly audiences, which features fish barrier removal to help with greenhouse gas reduction.

And this one we all pay for at the pump and get to play for free.

David Zelenka

Port Angeles