PCA Sim Racing: Equipment

by Robert Walton and Jason Brodigan, Region Sim Racing Co-Chairs

Hopefully you saw our introduction to Sim Racing in the March Online Slipstream and, just maybe, we have started to pique your interest. You should be interested, it’s fun! Typically, the next question asked is, “What do I need to get started?” That is the subject of this month’s Sim Racing article.

Computer

PCA Sim Racing is hosted on iRacing, a computer software subscription service, accessed over the Internet. To begin, you need a computer and a reliable wired Internet connection. A Wi-Fi connection can be used but may lead to latency issues. Most current-generation PCs will perform effectively on iRacing. In the event you own an older computer, an upgraded graphics card could potentially be all that is required to enable iRacing to operate successfully. Intel-based Mac users can run iRacing using Windows on Bootcamp. A quick visit to https://www.iracing.com/membership/systemrequirements/ should answer most questions. iRacing provides a System Requirements Checker so you can test whether your current system is ready to go racing.

TV or Monitor

Next, you need to see where you’re going! Your computer needs to be connected to a TV or standalone monitor; a laptop screen is not going to be sufficient. A screen size of 27” is probably the bare minimum, but don’t we all have these lovely large TVs in our homes now? Those will work! Robert began his Sim Racing career driving on an older plasma screen mounted on the wall. So, dig out that old TV you put in the guest roomit’s now your windshield to the world of Sim Racing.

Sound

You are also going to want to hear your car, tires, and other cars. TV speakers work fine for this; however, you may also want to be able to communicate with other drivers and coaches. For this reason, we recommend a gaming headset with microphone. There are plenty of options available at your favorite online retailer.

Controller (i.e., Steering Wheel and Pedals)

According to iRacing, all you need to control your virtual race car is an “Analog game pad, joystick, mouse, or touch screen.” That may be true, but it is not going to be a good experience for you or your fellow competitors. To truly enjoy what Sim Racing has to offer, you are going to need to connect a steering wheel and pedals to your computer. This is where this hobby gets fun: the toys!

The range of options for steering wheels and pedals to go Sim Racing can be overwhelming and comes with a wide range of costs. This might be a good time to start thinking about a budget. How much you spend initially might depend on how much you think you will enjoy Sim Racing. We are here to help you navigate the choices to fit within a budget that ranges from a set of brake pads to a set of tires, or more if you know you are ready to fully dive in. Most entry level options will clamp to a desk, or you can purchase a small wheel stand. Jason entered the hobby exactly this way - about $600 for wheel and (upgraded) pedals and then a series of upgrades from there. Whatever your budget dictates, we can help. We have included some entry level options and pricing here, but feel free to contact us and we can talk through the options which are best for you.

That’s all it takes to get started. If you have questions, or you just want to try it out, contact us at simracing@mavpca.org, and we can work out a time for you to give it a try on one of our setups.

Next month, we’ll dive into how iRacing and PCA Sim Racing work.