www.laspeedgarage.com

medical expenses are sucking up all of the spare cash. I need to practice ang see if i can even drive on a screen much less on a track.
I will connect to my 55 inch tv I guess. I want to steer, brake, shift. If I can't drive well in a game no way will I try areal track. not findingmuch for the Surface.

Thoughts?

I have a Logitech G-something steering wheel with feedback, and paddle shifters, and three proper pedals, and a shift lever (should you wish to shift instead of using paddle shifters. This allows me to play GTR2, and I suppose other games, should the urge hit me. I can't remember what I paid for it at Fry's, years ago, but it was not super expensive and it sort of works. By that I mean, it is not the same as actually driving because there are no g-forces and you can't really crash and wreak and get injured or die. It seems that it would be best for learning a track's layout, if the track has been faithfully captured for the game. I personally seldom deploy it as I decided that it was not that interesting a toy compared to riding a motorcycle on real roads, and I also get motion sickness when I play the game. Funny, I can watch someone else play the game and I am fine, but, if I try to drive, after a short while, I have to stop as I get sea sick big time.

I should set it up again one of these days to see how it looks on my giant monitor and with my current upgraded hardware (since the last time I used it), including surround sound with better speakers. But, that would take some effort, and, I am pretty lazy in my old age, and, it has no drag strip for some reason, so only road racing is possible. Too bad it has no drag strip with a Christmas tree, as that would be worth playing with to get those RT's sharp. You could go to NewEgg and see what they show to get ideas of what is out there and what things cost.

thanks.

I've also used a logitech steering wheel with force feedback. It has throttle and brake levers but the shift knob doesn't require a clutch. I used it on the PS3 with Gran Turismo 5.

Generally, I agree with Tetge that virtual racing is best for learning a track and the appropriate lines. I used mine to practice and study the Nurburgring Nordschlieffe before driving it in real life and it made a huge difference. I was able to plug in the car, tires, and hp of the track car I planned to rent in real life. Though when it comes to learning car control skills I found it to be a very poor substitute for the real thing. Cars spin out stupid easy in the game and you lack all of the car feel transmitted through a good fixed back seat.

I've never tried it but the most hardcore virtual race car guys all use iRacing and I've heard it is the best simulator on the market. They actually hold real races on it and stream them live online and whatnot. I think there are real money prizes for some of the races too.

Chad-1stgen wrote:I've also used a logitech steering wheel with force feedback. It has throttle and brake levers but the shift knob doesn't require a clutch. I used it on the PS3 with Gran Turismo 5.

Generally, I agree with Tetge that virtual racing is best for learning a track and the appropriate lines. I used mine to practice and study the Nurburgring Nordschlieffe before driving it in real life and it made a huge difference. I was able to plug in the car, tires, and hp of the track car I planned to rent in real life. Though when it comes to learning car control skills I found it to be a very poor substitute for the real thing. Cars spin out stupid easy in the game and you lack all of the car feel transmitted through a good fixed back seat.

I've never tried it but the most hardcore virtual race car guys all use iRacing and I've heard it is the best simulator on the market. They actually hold real races on it and stream them live online and whatnot. I think there are real money prizes for some of the races too.

The Nurburgring is a fun simulation, and, it jives well with video of the actual track that I have seen, not that I would ever look at road racing stuff. It helps if you really pretend that you are actually driving as it is easy to go crazy since no harm can happen to you. They have some really nice simulators, but, they are not at all inexpensive. If they would add a drag strip to GT-R, the Logitech unit would be just fine.

But, if you really agreed with me, you'd lose that Chevy and get a proper car (eg a Ford).

I have spent a good bit of time on a variety of tracks in several different cars -- I'm just want to try to use a vvideo setup to see how my eyes, reactions,and memory are after the 2 recent strokes. and after rehab. The SPF has recent mods addressing stock handling issues (mainly bumpsteer) but it also has a bunch more power than before (600+ rwhp in a 2800 lb setup). If I struggle with a video game, I will not have high expectations for the week at the Hastings track in the car.














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jhwalker wrote:I have spent a good bit of time on a variety of tracks in several different cars --

I hear you, and, I understand. But, it is still refreshing to see you admit that you had slow times, since, you would not have spent "a good bit of time", had you been fast. Naturally, it depends also on the track, for, at a drag strip, fractions of seconds can be the difference between spending a lot of time and being fast. Don't feel bad because I have seen the fast guys, and they are special people, so not all can ever hope to achieve their amazing heights of performance..........

Signed by the new owner of this thread, KTM, Ready to Race.

jhwalker wrote:I have spent a good bit of time on a variety of tracks in several different cars -- I'm just want to try to use a vvideo setup to see how my eyes, reactions,and memory are after the 2 recent strokes. and after rehab. The SPF has recent mods addressing stock handling issues (mainly bumpsteer) but it also has a bunch more power than before (600+ rwhp in a 2800 lb setup). If I struggle with a video game, I will not have high expectations for the week at the Hastings track in the car.

I would suggest an alternative solution may be available. If you are worried about tracking your beloved SPF due to some hidden impairment from the stroke then why not try some autocross? You will learn far more about your current car control capabilities from autocross in your SPF than trying an unfamiliar driving simulation. Generally, autocross is pretty safe since if you make a mistake or react poorly you just knock over a few cones.

Tetge wrote:But, if you really agreed with me, you'd lose that Chevy and get a proper car (eg a Ford).

I tried. I'm still heart broken and depressed that i missed the counter offer by 10 minutes last Thursday on a 67 Mustang fully dedicated track car / race car. Best deal I've seen for such a car ever and I let it slip away. Apparently, I'm not meant to own a Ford.

Chad-1stgen wrote:

jhwalker wrote:I have spent a good bit of time on a variety of tracks in several different cars -- I'm just want to try to use a vvideo setup to see how my eyes, reactions,and memory are after the 2 recent strokes. and after rehab. The SPF has recent mods addressing stock handling issues (mainly bumpsteer) but it also has a bunch more power than before (600+ rwhp in a 2800 lb setup). If I struggle with a video game, I will not have high expectations for the week at the Hastings track in the car.

I would suggest an alternative solution may be available. If you are worried about tracking your beloved SPF due to some hidden impairment from the stroke then why not try some autocross? You will learn far more about your current car control capabilities from autocross in your SPF than trying an unfamiliar driving simulation. Generally, autocross is pretty safe since if you make a mistake or react poorly you just knock over a few cones.

We will have autocross at the event and I expect to participate. The impairments from the 2 January strokes are not currently hidden. Right now, after rehabbing approx. 5 hours a day for 8 weeks , I still have little if any fine motor control. Can't write, eating is dicey (and messy), have 25% vision loss and the large muscles fail suddenly. But i have almost 3 months more to keep working. I have no death wish, life is still good, just different,. I still like to get things I drive sideways and like to go fast. (understanding that sideways is seldom fast, just fun (for me). I would really like to be back pulling wheelies on my mtn bike before driving my "beloved" SPF hard. Just for a feeling of general physical control at my age (early 70s.) I have no desire to just putt around. The track owner is a friend and is willing to give me dedicated track time for me to check things out. If no bueno, I will only drive in slow groups or, if horrible, just park the car and rehab for another year. . The 5 months of rehabbing might not have been realistic, but it is what I had I don't find any literature regarding "post severe strokes" tracking, so I am experimenting. I have the time. Have no other big project at this time. What the hell...

I could probably find out everything i need to know on a skid pad in 15 minutes but I want to nibble my way back. Prepare the body, prepare the brain, see how it goes. And post like the whore I am.