My start on Trackmania arose when I was 7 years old. That's back in 2006! (please forgive me if my math is wrong xD)
That was playing the demo of Trackmania Sunrise on this website called Download.com (where I'd go and just download games and try them out). When I played it, it was the game I've spent the most time on, out of all the games on that website. (just saying download.com is now CNET).
(STORY TIME!) One day I didn't want to go to school, (keep in mind I was like 8 at the time), so my mom said she'd get me a game...so I agreed being the big gamer I was. When I got picked up from school she had Trackmania Sunrise in her hand and I was like AWWWWW YEAHHHHH. So I got home I immediately installed and played it. Best year of my life until I discovered united like 1-2 years later. I finally got TMU and played it. That's where I found out about freestyle and how the concept of that works (it's also how I fell in love with the Bay environment...when in TMS it was Island.) After TMU I stuck with it and even through the TMUF update. Now I'm here on TM2 and I like it and all...but I wish freestyle could have made some return...and kept it's return...if you didn't know there was one freestyle cup and that ended quickly. I understand why, though. All-in-all I like Trackmania and will be loyal to it until the day I die! I'm so happy this game existed and the memories I shared back in TMUF will never be forgotten!