Racing Sims

John Denman · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:03 am Post subject: Racing Sims

No question about it, karting can be the most cost effective way to get on the track in a high performance vehicle and go racing.

Over the last few years Simracing has grown significantly offering an excellent option for those who just don't have the time or financial resources to put their karts (or cars) on the track as often as they like.

As an Indycar and F1 fan I've been running similar cars at the same tracks the series run at a week or so before the event as it adds an incredible dimension to watching the race. You know the track in advance right on down to braking points, shift points and overtaking points. With all the camera coverage, watching the race after taking sim laps almost connects you to the car in action.

Several good simracing platforms to choose from, two of the top-rated platforms are iRacing with 15,000 members, rFactor with over 200,000 copies sold.

How many people here are simracers?
What platform do you run?
What cars do you run?

I'll start out.

I run rFactor and have run iRacing a bit.
I use mostly F1, Indycars, and some vintage racing mods.
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Alan Dove · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:09 am Post subject:

Live For Speed
rFactor
Kartsim - coming soon

G25

Smile

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Doug Fleming · Joined: 04 Dec 2003 Posts: 1996

IRacing

ECCI
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Dennis Gur · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:18 pm Post subject:

lfs with a driving force pro gt

gran turismo 5, not much of a simulator imo but fun.

Kevin Callahan · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:34 pm Post subject:

I literally just got home from a "test drive" in a CXC race simulator.

This thing is flatout amazing. 3 video screens for a 180 degree view. Competition seat mounted to shock absorbers that adjust to simulate centrifugal cornering force. Shoulder harnesses (yeah, you wear belts!) that simulate braking g force.

I raced a Radical around Laguna Seca and an IRL car around Indy.

If you live in So Cal, you should definitely check it out.

http://www.cxcsimulations.com/index.html

TJ Koyen · Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 1453

iRacing is my addiction. I have the most primitive setup though to play it. I have to run Boot Camp on my iMac which is sitting on my dresser. Since it's on a dresser, there's no room for my feet to use pedals so I have to use the shift levers on my Logitech Driving Force ($20 Best Buy wheel?). Oh and I lost the force feedback cable so there's no force feedback.

Since I'm investing so much time in iRacing, I need to get a real wheel soon though. I've seen a few other kart racers on there that I know. Raced Sage Karam in Skip Barber once last season.
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James Wonder · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:34 pm Post subject:

No flame here please, but GP3 is the best out to date. Yes, its like 10 years old, but the physics and "simulation" is much better. It makes you feel like you are really driving a real F1 car with feedback and "feel". I have had a hard time finding a better simulator out that makes you feel like you are really in a car. iRacing is nice, but they put more into the "look" and tracks maps than the physics. iRacing is much better than GP3 in true track feel, but I prefer the older version for driving reality.
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Larry Andrews · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:08 pm Post subject:

I just got F1 Championship Edition for PS3 - a couple years old and sort of weak but I do enjoy the tracks and the view. Plus, I get to be Scott Speed. Very Happy

I really struggle with sims and have learned that I depend really, really heavily on inner ear and backside inputs for my driving feedback. Sims seem a bit like sex with a five gallon bucket as a condom.

John Denman · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:49 pm Post subject:

Not sure if GP3 is the same as Grand Prix Legends. If so, I agree its awesome. No aerodynamics, no sap-sticky slicks, just a big power to weight ratio in a lightweight cigar tube. Slimjim Cassi made a copy of the cars for rFactor, its one of my top 5 favorites.
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James Wonder · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:32 pm Post subject: Grtand Prix Legends

Grand Prix Legends is basically the same as GP3, but without the downforce. The physics cartridge is the same, and the "feel" is very good. I don't really think most of these game manufacturers care about the reality, they are into the look; great graphics, mediocre physics.

I agree GPL is great!
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Makers of RaceWatch available for iPod touch and iPhone devices
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Jim McMahon · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: Grtand Prix Legends

David Ogburn · Joined: 22 Jul 2008 Posts: 73

I had never sim raced until I got into to iRacing thought a friend. The racing is fun and it really helped me learn VIR before I did a track day there.
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Dennis Gur · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: Grtand Prix Legends

Paul Hutt · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:31 pm Post subject:

Just started Iracing. And have not raced karts. Have done several track days with my Miata with an instructor who is one of the top Spec Miata drivers in the NW.

My first impression is that using a smooth technique with the wheel does not provide the speed that a herkie jerkie technique does with the wheel. The same with the brakes.

If I used the faster techniques, I do not think my instructor would be happy.

This is demonstrated in some of the videos I have seen on Iracing.
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Michael Polizzi · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1565

Myself and members of the Batavia kart club are racing online with LFS. Our hosting guru is currently working on a server for rfactor.

Personally I run a sim setup I made with a competition seat and a Logitech G25 wheel and peddles. It is set up in front of our home theaters 100" projection screen with surround sound system or surround sound headphones with boom mic for the talk speak during online play.
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