Post Menu and Details.
- Ways to Set Up a Home Racing Simulator
- 6 Things to Consider When Setting Up a Racing Simulator
- Before setting up a racing simulator at home, here are the main things you need to consider.
- Final Words
Words: 1184
Reading time: ~5 minutes
Two factors prevent many of us from becoming race car drivers: a large sum of money and natural talent. Racing is perhaps the only game in which an enormous amount of the former can help compensate for the lack of the latter.
With Esports getting far more popular by the day, it’s no wonder that racing simulators are becoming more popular. Racing simulators are used by professional racers all the way up to Formula 1 to rehearse driving and gain knowledge on tracks.
There are also professional online multiplayer racing leagues such as the F1 Esports Series. With truly gifted sim racers being recruited into real-world racing, you may also want to invest in a wheel and pedals to participate in this thrilling and relatively new hobby.
Ways to Set Up a Home Racing Simulator
There are two options for you. First, there is a wide variety of racing simulation rigs available in the market that you can choose from. Trak Racer offers some of the best racing rigs out there, and depending on your budget and your needs, and they can be a good one-stop solution for you to start living your racecar-driver days.
If you’re not a beginner, and you want to do the setup yourself, you can start by doing some research. It will make you feel more engaged with the sport and help you understand the mechanism better.
6 Things to Consider When Setting Up a Racing Simulator
Before setting up a racing simulator at home, here are the main things you need to consider.
-
Components of a Racing Simulator Setup
There is no such thing as a universal racing simulator console. When the phrase “home race simulator” comes up, it normally refers to the following:
- A computer with the necessary specs (more on that later).
- A steering wheel, a gear shifter, and pedals.
- A racing simulation box, also known as a cockpit.
- One or more displays.
- A simulator for motion (optional and high-end).
You are not required to purchase everything at once. As previously stated, you can begin with just a PC and a gamepad. Then, simply mount a wheel and pedals on your workstation. You can move that gear once you’re prepared to order a frame (or cabin).
If you go with the components approach, you can make sure that you are acquiring the proper sub-components of your racing simulator structure instead of buying poor components which will need to be replaced later.
However, if you just want to plunge your toes in, this is a good option on a budget.
-
Configuring Your Computer
Regardless of how sophisticated the machine is, the PC you are using to operate the race simulation is vital in deciding how precise the experience will be. People frequently make the mistake of pointing out GPU power to their sim computers. This is a rational and reasonable approach when it comes to conventional video games.
Simulation software, on the other hand, is very different from video game software. Video games give the effect of reality, but simulations, as the name implies, attempt to accurately simulate reality. This means that physical simulation and artificial intelligence get prioritized.
As a result, your race sim PC should prioritize RAM and Processor Cores over all other factors. You should use the suggested specifications for the particular racing simulation software you’re interested in as your primary guide. But whenever you spend on your setup, prioritize processor power and memory.
-
Types of Wheels Available
The racing wheel is at the heart of any decent simulator setup. There is a wide range of wheels available at various price points, so you will be able to find what you are looking for by spending the required amount.
Often these racing wheels use a belt drive system to generate “force feedback,” that gives the wheel resistance to steering inputs. Higher-end wheels will get more force feedback and thus provide a more lifelike driving experience. Whilst some entry-level wheels may have less torque and will not feel as interacting. The cost of wheels like these ranges between $150 and $600.
If you really want to spend a lot of money on a simulator setup, you can get a direct drive wheel. These wheels feature a powerful electronic servomotor and a removable steering wheel with a quick release aligned with a genuine racecar. This allows players to switch in a variety of wheels of various shapes and sizes. These wheels provide the most realistic force feedback strength, but they typically cost $1,000 or more.
-
What About Pedals and a Shift Knob?
Many consumer wheels come in a “bundle” that includes both the wheel and a pedal set. Lower-priced wheels (under $150) will typically have plastic pedals with only gas and a brake.
However, as you move up the price scale, the pedals may be crafted of a blend of plastic and metal for a superior quality vibe, or they may be entirely made of metal.
These pedal sets may include a third clutch pedal, which can be used in conjunction with a manual shifter to increase immersion. A manual shifter is not always included in a bundle, so it must be bought separately.
-
The Frame is Vital
The frame or cockpit is the center of a home racing simulation. Racing simulation charts are the most basic solution. They serve as mounting points for the steering wheel, shifter, and pedals. They may well have a showcase stand in certain cases, but the concept behind such frames is to unveil them when you really need them and store them when you don’t.
You will continue to use your current television or monitor and chair. This is an excellent tradeoff between having a dedicated floor space for your racing simulator and being ready to share it with your regular gaming or computer workspace.
A simulated racing cockpit adds an entirely new level of immersion. For a more interactive experience, you must select an ideal location. Some facilities may encompass a computer monitor mount, but you’ll need to purchase an additional monitor mount for that specific booth.
-
Use Motion Simulation to Accomplish Everything
If you truly want to experience the best home racing simulation experience, you should think about investing in a motion simulator, also known as a motion rig. They can, however, be a bit costly.
Also, if you want to be prepared for a future motion platform, you need to invest in an interoperable cab from the start.
So, what are these moving platforms up to? The exact capabilities vary from model to model, but they are all meticulously recreated:
- Movement of the body
- Road texture and vibration
- Speed, acceleration, and breaking changes
- Collisions
The illusion these mechanisms can create is similar to digital voodoo, but when combined with proper cockpit and software, it can be totally immersive.
Final Words
A large percentage of sim racing rigs are modular, with individual pieces, parts, and components that can be swapped or upgraded as long as they are compatible.
If you want to dip your toes into the world of sim racing without spending a fortune, we suggest buying a more reasonably priced rig that can be upgraded over time as your enthusiasm for this sport grows.
Hope you’ll have fun setting up and configuring a racing simulator at home.
Thank you for reading!