This is and updated test scenario with higher gravity (2x9.8) - makes the car handle much nicer, front doesn't lift of anymore now, handles not far off gta or twisted metal black imho.

Download the blender file here

I've made a nicer oval track and am working on a decent skybox both currently as external files.

I'm using the vehicle setup made in a tutorial here:

http://www.tutorialsforblender3d.com/

I basically just expanded the test environment a bit and have been playing with the car physics to try and get the sort of handling I'm aiming for. W/S = forward backwards, left/right cursor for steering and possibly space for handbrake.

I'm stil working on the terrain-generation from google maps...looks promising but noting I'm particularly happy with yet. I'm hoping we can use the original image as a coloured texture over the displaced, desaturated version.

On a side note - I wonder if we can use yahoo pipes to handle some of the realtime data-gathering?