Interview: eRacing Driven by Compassion

Steven Carlile, a passionate sim-racer and ethical vegan, brings his unique blend of technical expertise and personal values to the ETHiX Racing Team. Born and raised in the picturesque Florida Keys, Steven’s love for sim-racing is matched only by his commitment to ethical living, shaping both his lifestyle and his approach to competition. Now residing just outside of Orlando, Florida, Steven works as a VoIP engineer while dedicating his free time to sim-racing, gaming, and spending time with his rescue dogs, O’Malley and Kylo. With a background in business, computer information systems, and plant-based nutrition, he channels his multifaceted skills and ethics into leading ETHiX Racing, a team built on principles of integrity, respect, and high performance.

In this exclusive interview with Steven, we learn more about ETHiX Racing and his unwavering advocacy for the animals and other social justice causes.

 

1 Please share your vegan story. Did you encounter any challenges along the way?

Growing up as an “animal lover”, there were many instances where I would question if harming and killing animals was actually necessary. My entire family rescued and homed stray cats, kept their homes full of dogs and birds, and always treated them well. But, being from the Florida Keys, fishing was a big part of our lives. I would always ask my parents if we’re hurting the fish we catch, or if they felt pain when my dad would filet them. The response was always “No, they are fine.” This wasn’t because they were trying to intentionally deceive me, but rather it was just another lie they were taught to believe when they were growing up. It’s our culture and societal norms that dictate how we see things when it comes to animal exploitation, but sometimes we can break free when we are allowed to question them.

I always felt some level of guilt when fishing, even though I was reassured constantly that everything we did was acceptable. But as I got older (into my late teens), I began to distance myself from it and focus on other hobbies such as music, art, and gaming. It wasn’t until 2009 when I met someone who was vegan, and I was intrigued. We talked, and I spouted off the usual weak arguments against veganism – “canine teeth”, “lions”, “ancestors”, and even “plants feel pain” (embarrassing). But after they sat me down to watch the documentary “Food Inc.”, I knew I couldn’t continue supporting animal agriculture. It was at that point, with the help of my new friend, that I would commit to a vegan lifestyle.

Making the change wasn’t nearly as difficult as I had imagined, but I really owe that to having someone around to guide me. After a short time, I was able to fly on my own, and started to flourish. I had always loved cooking, and this lifestyle change made me try new foods that I wouldn’t have considered otherwise. Tofu, tempeh, exotic fruits and vegetables, new flavor combinations, recipes from various regions around the world… I truly loved the experience of re-developing my palate as a vegan.

But veganism is more than just about the food we eat. It’s a justice movement for animal liberation. And after a few years vegan, I decided it was time for me to get involved with activism. I started off trying to convince my family to go vegan, as they had experienced my transition first hand. My enthusiasm soon turned to frustration however, as everyone was reluctant to make even the smallest of concessions. This created tension at the dinner table, especially around the holidays when I was supposed to pretend that the “food” on others’ plates wasn’t the result of someone’s suffering and death. No matter what I said, it was never enough to sway their minds, and a rift started to form. To me, this was the most difficult part of going vegan – experiencing the disappointment and heartbreak related to my family rejecting the notion of showing compassion towards all animals, regardless of species.

As more years passed, I learned more about activism from people such as Gary Francione, Earthling Ed, and Seb Alex. I did attend some protests of circuses and zoos, but refrained from most street activism as it really didn’t fit my personality. I settled for using social media as my primary method of spreading awareness of animal suffering and promoting veganism, and that seeped into my sim-racing hobby starting in 2014.

 

2 Tell us about sim-racing eSports, how did you get into e-racing and how long have you been doing it?

My interest in auto racing stemmed from my step-father who was a big NASCAR fan. As a kid, I went to many races at Daytona International Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway, and would watch races on TV every weekend. I was hooked on the sport, but it was never something I had the opportunity to take part in other than as a spectator. But in 1996, we got our first computer, and with it came my first taste of sim-racing. NASCAR Racing by Papyrus allowed me to experience the thrill of racing without leaving my home. Back then, everything was very basic, and calling it a “simulation” isn’t very accurate. It was a computer game. Nevertheless, it scratched an itch. Over time, the graphics and simulation aspects improved rapidly (as tech tends to do). By 2010, the iRacing.com Motorsports Simulation was pushing the limits and creating a premier service that allowed people from all around the world to compete against each other in a variety of racing disciplines, simulating car and track physics using laser scanned data from their real-life counterparts. It was at this point when I was able to put the “games” aside and dive into the world of competitive eSports through sim-racing.

 

3 What inspired you to create the ETHiX Racing Team?

In 2014, I wanted to incorporate animal rights and veganism into my sim-racing hobby. I was able to find a few other members on iRacing that were also vegan, and we formed the first iteration of our team, “Pulse Autosport”. We used the team to promote vegan brands. Things went well, but our personal lives were changing and the team disbanded after two years. I took a break myself, and then revived the project in 2020 as “Positive Movement Racing”, then rebranding just recently to “ETHiX Racing Team”. The goal is still the same – to promote veganism, vegan organizations, and help people make compassionate lifestyle choices. Whenever our cars are on track, there’s a vegan message for all competitors and spectators to see, and sometimes that’s all it takes to spark a change for someone.

 

4 How does ETHiX Racing advocate for the animals?

Through our sim-racing events and social media, we promote vegan organizations, advocate for compassionate lifestyle choices, and donate to various animal rights and vegan organizations. We love donating to Little Bear Sanctuary in Punta Gorda, Florida, and partnering with Vegan Easy allows us to sponsor giveaways, encouraging others to participate in the Vegan Easy Challenge and switch to a vegan lifestyle. The more exposure we can provide for our partnered organizations and causes, the higher the chance of helping someone switch to veganism.

 

5 Have you had any online interactions regarding your vegan advocacy through ETHiX Racing?

As much as I’d like to provide a positive story here, I don’t have any. Most of the interactions I’ve had in the sim-racing world regarding veganism have been typical troll responses. All online communities have their share of anti-vegans, and it’s no different here as the culture surrounding auto racing tends to lean that way. Almost every other car out on track has some sponsor of a hunting, fishing, or fast food brand promoting animal exploitation, and we definitely stand out in that sense. However, I don’t see this as a deterrent. It’s disheartening, sure. But veganism is needed in every space, and if ETHiX Racing has to be the only one in the sim-racing space, then so be it.

 

6 Which events do you compete in and where can we watch you race?

At the moment, we participate in the Team Conti Sim Performance Cup Series hosted by Crown Jewel Racing. Our races are held weekly every Wednesday night starting at 8pm ET (Thursday at 10am AEST). This season ends in November, but we are anticipating continuing in the series next year in February. You can check out the latest news, race results, and standings at the Crown Jewel Racing website. All races are currently broadcast on Twitch.tv.

 

7 What advice would you give to someone who is interested in starting esport racing?

If you enjoy the competition and have a gaming PC, getting started in sim-racing is easy! iRacing.com is our preferred platform, but there are others out there as well such as Assetto Corsa and RFactor. Each brings their own unique features to the table, but iRacing tends to be the most well rounded and versatile. And remember – you will struggle when you first start out. Don’t try to get in too deep too early. Follow the logical progression system and learn racecraft before jumping into a ranked race in a difficult to handle car. Use the tools available to you and take your time.

ETHiX Racing Team is on the lookout for passionate vegan sim-racers, so if you’re interested, feel free to reach out and we will be glad to help you get started.

Steven’s quick-fire questions

What’s your favourite track/event to race on?

For stock car oval racing, I would say Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. It’s a unique track that keeps you on the edge every lap.

For sportscar road racing, I love the 12 Hours of Sebring event at Sebring International Raceway in Florida. It’s a multi-class team event that requires careful planning and skill to handle all of the bumps around the track.

 

What is your favourite vegan food to eat?

I fall somewhere between a health food vegan and a junk food vegan. I enjoy my fruit smoothies just as much as a vegan pizza topped with faux meats and cheese. But if I had to pick a dish to have every day, it would be vegan Thai Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) with fried tofu and a lot of Thai basil.

 

What is your favourite vegan meal to make?

Traditional pizza napoletana. Veganized of course, using an artisan vegan mozzarella alternative, or omitting the cheese altogether (pizza marinara). Making pizza by hand is like therapy for me.

image credit: vegan pizza by Red Sparrow

Connect with ETHiX Racing Team

Website: ethixracing.team

Mastodon (social platform): veganism.social/@ethixracing & veganism.social/@carlile

Thank you Steven and ETHiX Racing Team for sharing your unique advocacy for the animals. Go team! May many other sim-racers and gamers be inspired to give vegan a go!