rec.autos.simulators

If anyone has any ideas, or knows of a manufacturer that makes a wheel with
hand controls for the throttle and brake please let me know.  Thanx!!!

WarriorSpirit

Edward

don

[|]-(_)-[|]

An alternative to the CompUSA wheel would be the Thrustmaster NASCAR Super
Sport wheel (I think it's the Super Sport; mine's not available at the
moment so I can't double-check this).  If memory serves me correctly, in
addition to having a pretty decent set of pedals, the Thrustmaster Super
Sport wheel features analog paddle-shifters that can also be used for gas
and brake functions (somebody correct me if I'm wrong on this, but this is
how I remember it). The Thrustmaster wheel is a bit more pricey than the
CompUSA wheel ($49 or so versus $29), so if cost is an issue, I'd "steer"
towards the CompUSA wheel if I were you. <G>

Hope this helps!

=====

The CompUSA ad in my local paper had a driving wheel advertised for $14.99.
In my never-ending quest to review the entire spectrum of driving controls,
I stopped by my local CompUSA and picked one up.  I almost passed when I
realized that it didn't include pedals -- the wheel uses shifter-type
paddles for the accelerator and brake functions, like the Thrustmaster GP1
wheel.

I realized that for $14.99 I shouldn't expect pedals, and since I've never
used paddles for braking and accelerating, I was interested in finding out
what it would be like -- and what a $15 wheel would be like.

The wheel is distributed by Comp USA Inc. -- it has the "COMPUSA PC" brand
name on it, and the name is "Formula Racing" (I'm not sure if this is a
brand name or the "model" name).  The box indicates that it's "The ultimate
high-impact racing wheel for PC racing simulation games."  With a promise
like that, how could I pass it up?  I bought one on the spot, brought it
home, unhooked the trusty TSW2, hooked up the new wheel, and went to town in
ABC Indy Racing and Viper Racing.

The mounting is simple -- four suction cups.  They work okay.  The wheel
doesn't have that much travel -- maybe 160 degrees, versus the standard 270
or so for a TSW or Thrustmaster wheel -- but it has good return-to-center
tendencies, and it seemed precise enough for my driving style.  The paddles
have a LOT of throw, which made it easy to modulate the throttle.  The brake
is nigh-digital in comparison, but it works okay.

Overall, the wheel was an astounding piece of work -- I was quickly turning
in times in Viper Racing that were close to the times I turn with my TSW2,
even at tracks like Ridge Valley and Sunset Mesa (lots of elevation changes,
lots of braking points, lots of turns).  I'm no slacker on these tracks,
either -- I hold the current club record at Sunset Mesa in the Viper Racing
Club on CompuServe's SportSim forum (1:57.45 using the GTSR).

The suction cups caused some amu***t at times (having them pop off while
going into T3 at C***te in ABC Indy Racing was exciting). Still, they
worked well enough, and the precision and build quality of the wheel far
exceeds the $15 pricetag.  Even at it's regular price of $29.99, it's a
bargain.

Pedals are much nicer for long races than the paddles, though, and I did
find my hands and forearms getting a bit fatigued.  Still, for people with
disabilities -- those in wheelchairs without the use of their legs/feet, or
people with nerve damage in that same area -- this wheel may be the ideal
controller.  For people on a budget, too, you really can't beat this little
device.  Now people who have been wanting to get into sim racing have a real
affordable alternative.

I'm sure this device can be purchased via the CompUSA Web site, so even if
you don't have a CompUSA nearby, you should still be able to pick one up.

If you've been wanting a wheel and can't afford one, I'd highly recommend
this item.  Overall, I'd have to say that this wheel surprised and impresed
me more than my Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro wheel did when I first got it -- and
I thought that was MIGHTY impressive at the time.

I'll be putting together a full review in a couple of weeks, but based on my
first impressions, I'd say this may be THE ideal first wheel.

-- John Bodin
  Publisher, The IRL Insider Magazine
  http://www.racesimcentral.net/

http://www.ozonegames.com/reviews/controllers/ultra_racer/

http://avault.com/hardware/ultraracerpc.asp

http://www.idg.net/crd_ibm_9-128406.html

Rusty

Cheers,

Steve B.

This might give you a very uncomplicated solution ...

I raced for several years with a simple, old, 1987 vintage joystick --
until this Christmas, when my sons took pity on me as gave me a
Thrustmaster Wheel -- never realizing I had it set-up "wrong" until my
son (a TEN ***) wondered how I could run the thottle.  I just set
the stick side-to-side for steering, and the forward for throttle, and
backward for brake.  I used the trigger for up-shifts and one of the
buttons for downshifts -- it's as fine as you want to make it;
sometimes easier in braking.  Was entirely acceptable for circle-track,
but for road racing it wasn't real spiffy.

Oh, I always two-handed the stick in my lap, seldom on a table-top --
so ya can't drink-n-drive unless you've got a third hand.

Was cheap and seemed to work -- I just didn't tell the thing it was
wrong and it did fine.

Sgt

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PS -- You may have to either reinstall N2, or uninstall the
Thrustmaster stuff for this to work -- but I'm not sure, because I've
never gone back.  But I know a cheap joystick does nively with N2 and
if you were inclined you could one-hand it, and still shift gears, as
well as have fairly fine brake and throttle control.

Good luck, Sgt

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