For a small project like us - even to be noticed by the software giants such as Microsoft is something of a major event. In fact we had been followed for some time by Bruce Lynn, Microsoft's Internet Evangelism Manager, who saw the site's potential, the need for upgrading of the graphics and the enhancement that ActiveX and the use of the Internet Explorer 3 browser could bring to our site.

At the same time we had started negotiations with Davie Robertson of Artewisdom who wanted to help us upgrade our graphics. Artewisdom's VR work for the Emirates airline and the Trocadero Centre in Piccadilly London is the best we have ever seen. There is a particular scene in the VR ad where you gaze around the inside of an Emirates Airbus and the clouds pass by the windows outside - not just pass by, but in direct relationship to your angle of vision!

It is important to understand that the Microsoft relationship is not one of those classic deals where a major software manufacturer provides short term assistance in order to enhance a showcase site for a project launch. Microsoft has entered into a partnership contract with us, and for the first time in their history have bought an advertising slot on a race vehicle - ThrustSSC. Good money has changed hands and for a company like Microsoft to make such a counter-culture move means that they see the future too!

Both sides believe that this could the the start of a highly valuable relationship. Put simply we have agreed to develop the ThrustSSC site using the latest Microsoft technology and, together with Artewisdom's expertise we plan to bring you very special graphics and technology to enhance what we believe is a rather unusual story.

So to make the best of all this - please make the gesture and shift to Microsoft Internet Explorer 3 as your default browser! The change does not cost you anything , but it will improve your perception!!

The author of this article, Richard_Noble, is the ThrustSSC's Project Leader and held the World Land Speed Record from 1983 to 1997.

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