Racing Simulator

[Paragon]

Kid’s boyfriend is wanting to get a racing simulator setup. I might also want one.

anybody have one or have experience on where/who to get something from

he already has a computer for it, but I don’t and will likely get him to build me one

 

[Lawless]

This is the only one that's serious. Like the professional racers use it.

Iracing

 

[westracing01]

That's what I run. As for an actual rig, they can be as modest or insane as your budget allows.

 

[Donk]

I've got a cheap setup consisting of a logitech g920 and assetto corsa.
The G920/G29 series wheel and pedals is about as cheap as I'd go for a sim setup.
This website is a handy place to start Get into sim racing at SIMRACINGCOCKPIT.com
The rigidity of your rig frame and pedal feel are the 2 of biggest things in getting consistent laptimes. Also learning how to correctly set up the force feedback system is a must.
I personally prefer driving in VR compared to using a screen (although tbf I've not yet tried a large 3 screen setup) as it gives you back some of the seat of the pants feel compared to a screen and is definitely easier to get started for someone who already drives.

My mate testing my rig out

 

[Jscwerve]

Here is my former setup. Logitech G920 whee/pedals/etc. Joystick used for handbrake as I mainly played rally sims.

I did VR for a bit, but the card I had in that PC was just not quite good enough to satisfy my need for realism in VR space. The three curved monitor setup provided a very good substitute and feel of immersion. Especially with a surround sound headset.

The base setup is a PVC build, the seat was out of a focus or something like that I grabbed at a junkyard. It was positioned properly for rally racing. If you are going to be doing F1 or other types, the seat setup can make or break the immersion. The plans I started with are called simul8r mkII PVC rig. If you go that route I highly suggest a minimum schedule 20 PVC fully cemented, sch40 even better. The biggest thing is stability. I've seen people put these together with that cheap drain pipe sch10 **** and screws and they fall apart. Mine was solid as a rock.

 

[Jscwerve]

Oh. Almost forgot. I had amps hooked to bass shakers under the pedals and seat as well for some real feel feedback. That made a world of difference for immersion.

 

[woods]

If you're looking to build a system, good luck. There are no GPUs available. And there zero light at the end of that tunnel.

 

[Paragon]

That's what I run. As for an actual rig, they can be as modest or insane as your budget allows.

Rig is what he’s looking at now. He saw a base frame for like $500

 

[unstoppable778]

I've built 5 sim rigs out of wood at this point. Something along the base design shown below. This one was the first I ever made, so it looks a little hack - I've gotten better. I've added cross braces that aren't in this picture, as well as my new designs come apart just in front of the seat to make them easier to move. This is the only picture I have on my phone. I like using mustang seats out of SN95s. The frame is square and level, so you don't need to deal with the mounts being at different heights. Passenger seats are usually in nicer shape for the junkyard scrounger. The seat adjusts forwards and back, the pedals adjust for angle. I sell mine for $250 to friends, they cost about $100 to make.

Wheel is a G27. Got it used from a friend.

Don't know a dang thing about computers, paid a buddy to put one together that will do what I told him I wanted.

Pro drivers use iracing. Can be frustrating at times, so i just stick to racing the trophy trucks on dirt. Impossible to not have fun slinging mud sideways while going off jumps.

 

[Donk]

80/20 T slot aluminium extrusion also seems to be a popular choice for the diyer due to rigidity and ease of assembly. If mine didn't need to fold up I'd probably weld one up out box section.
It's also worth bearing in mind that the decent (load cell) pedal setups will let you run 150lb+ brake pedal pressure and the direct drive wheels throw out 50ft/lbs of torque so if you're going with higher end kit a very rigid setup is a must.

 

[87manche]

I've built 5 sim rigs out of wood at this point. Something along the base design shown below. This one was the first I ever made, so it looks a little hack - I've gotten better. I've added cross braces that aren't in this picture, as well as my new designs come apart just in front of the seat to make them easier to move. This is the only picture I have on my phone. I like using mustang seats out of SN95s. The frame is square and level, so you don't need to deal with the mounts being at different heights. Passenger seats are usually in nicer shape for the junkyard scrounger. The seat adjusts forwards and back, the pedals adjust for angle. I sell mine for $250 to friends, they cost about $100 to make.

Wheel is a G27. Got it used from a friend.

Don't know a dang thing about computers, paid a buddy to put one together that will do what I told him I wanted.

Pro drivers use iracing. Can be frustrating at times, so i just stick to racing the trophy trucks on dirt. Impossible to not have fun slinging mud sideways while going off jumps.

I slapped together something similar for my buddy and his playstation VR deal.

it works. Random old used seat and an hour with a saw.

 

[westracing01]

Just for comparison, this is what I run...

Computer: i7-9700K @3.6Ghz (Stock for now), ASUS ROG Maximus XI Code ATX, Corsair H110i, 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3200, EVGA RTX 2080Ti, 1TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (x2), Corsair RMX1000 PSU, Triple Dell S2716DGR

Rig: Sim Lab P1-X w/integrated Triple Mount, Accuforce Pro V2 w/Ascher-Racing F64-USB w/Q1R, HE PRO 3 Pedal, Sparco Grid II Seat, 4 Buttkicker LFE Mini's in Chassis mode connected to a BAS-X A-700 amp, HyperX Cloud II Headset

I would say that rig (with computer) is on the upper end of pretty decent. I built it over time and have upgraded the computer 3 times to get where it is, including the last full rebuild a year and a half ago. I built my own chassis at first (good welding practice) and it worked well, but when I went to 80/20 that was a game changer as far as customization is concerned. You want a rigid seat if you get higher end pedals. You'd be surprised at how hard you can push the brakes and I'm glad I got a bucket seat. I climbed in my buddies BB Modified and since I fit in his seat well, I measured that to figure out what size I needed.

Now, I've been beat by guys with rigs that cost 1/4 of what mine did, so equipment isn't the end-all/be-all, but it helps. Also bear in mind that I could've bought a decent track car for what that rig cost me to build, but I probably couldn't fix it if I crashed it so there's that.

The level of competition on iRacing can get ridiculous. I almost exclusively road race and I've had my ass handed to me on more than one occasion by a current F1 driver.

 

[87manche]

Just for comparison, this is what I run...

Computer: i7-9700K @3.6Ghz (Stock for now), ASUS ROG Maximus XI Code ATX, Corsair H110i, 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3200, EVGA RTX 2080Ti, 1TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (x2), Corsair RMX1000 PSU, Triple Dell S2716DGR

Rig: Sim Lab P1-X w/integrated Triple Mount, Accuforce Pro V2 w/Ascher-Racing F64-USB w/Q1R, HE PRO 3 Pedal, Sparco Grid II Seat, 4 Buttkicker LFE Mini's in Chassis mode connected to a BAS-X A-700 amp, HyperX Cloud II Headset

I would say that rig (with computer) is on the upper end of pretty decent. I built it over time and have upgraded the computer 3 times to get where it is, including the last full rebuild a year and a half ago. I built my own chassis at first (good welding practice) and it worked well, but when I went to 80/20 that was a game changer as far as customization is concerned. You want a rigid seat if you get higher end pedals. You'd be surprised at how hard you can push the brakes and I'm glad I got a bucket seat. I climbed in my buddies BB Modified and since I fit in his seat well, I measured that to figure out what size I needed.

Now, I've been beat by guys with rigs that cost 1/4 of what mine did, so equipment isn't the end-all/be-all, but it helps. Also bear in mind that I could've bought a decent track car for what that rig cost me to build, but I probably couldn't fix it if I crashed it so there's that.

The level of competition on iRacing can get ridiculous. I almost exclusively road race and I've had my ass handed to me on more than one occasion by a current F1 driver.

I think the justification for sim racing money is that you can use it all the time, whenever you want and it doesn't cost you a grand to take it to the track for a weekend in tires and brakes.

at this point I think we can all realize that sim racing can make you a better driver.

 

[posford]

at this point I think we can all realize that sim racing can make you a better driver.

And a fleshlight can make you better at sex

I have a few gaming acquaintances that do the iRacing thing, typically dirt track cars I believe. They all rant and rave about it

 

[woods]

I need to stop reading about this stuff. I've got a full system I can get into this with.