Should I buy a Steering wheel?

I was just wondering if any of you who have steering wheel devices feel that it makes a huge difference in racing, lap times, e***ment... I am playing Indycar and it's great, but is World Circuit better? Thats all i ever hear about!!!

>I was just wondering if any of you who have steering wheel devices >feel that it makes a huge difference in racing, lap times, e***ment... >I am playing Indycar and it's great, but is World Circuit better? Thats >all i ever hear about!!! I bought a Thrustmaster T1 and it is awesome.. No comparison to a joystick, like I've been telling everyone who asks, if you are really into racing sims, buy a wheel /pedal combo and you wont believe that you lasted so long without one.. Also World Circuit sucks in comparison to INdy or Nascar.. World Circuit 2 is also coming out soon.. Craig

: I just picked the T1 up last night, buuuut...the suction cups don't : want to adhere to my desk and I'm not keen on placing the velcro strips : on the desk either. I tried cleaning the desk and lightly wetting the : cups but to no avail. I only tried an oval (NH) and it seemed pretty : fun. I think the best aspect is the partial throttle capability (makes : chasing someone around a lot more fun and easier). I'd hate to try any : of the roadcourses with it though. At least not until I can firmly : secure the console. You know, I had the same problem, and went out and bought one of those clear desk pads- the kind that people put 'to do' and phone slips under - and the suction stuck pretty well to that. Not quite the same as the super-velcro, I'm sure, but I'm not keen on putting that stuff on my desk either. -- David A. Byerman Independent Management Consultant Specializing in Transportation and Environmental Policy Issues

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> I bought a Thrustmaster T1 and it is awesome.. No comparison to a > joystick, like I've been telling everyone who asks, if you are really > into racing sims, buy a wheel /pedal combo and you wont believe > that you lasted so long without one.. Also World Circuit sucks in > comparison to INdy or Nascar.. World Circuit 2 is also coming out > soon.. > Craig

I just picked the T1 up last night, buuuut...the suction cups don't want to adhere to my desk and I'm not keen on placing the velcro strips on the desk either. I tried cleaning the desk and lightly wetting the cups but to no avail. I only tried an oval (NH) and it seemed pretty fun. I think the best aspect is the partial throttle capability (makes chasing someone around a lot more fun and easier). I'd hate to try any of the roadcourses with it though. At least not until I can firmly secure the console. TR

(David A. Byerman) writes: : : : I just picked the T1 up last night, buuuut...the suction cups don't : : want to adhere to my desk and I'm not keen on placing the velcro strips : : on the desk either. I tried cleaning the desk and lightly wetting the : : cups but to no avail. I only tried an oval (NH) and it seemed pretty : : fun. I think the best aspect is the partial throttle capability (makes : : chasing someone around a lot more fun and easier). I'd hate to try any : : of the roadcourses with it though. At least not until I can firmly : : secure the console. : : You know, I had the same problem, and went out and bought one of those : clear desk pads- the kind that people put 'to do' and phone slips under - : and the suction stuck pretty well to that. Not quite the same as the : super-velcro, I'm sure, but I'm not keen on putting that stuff on my desk : either. : : -- : David A. Byerman : Independent Management Consultant : Specializing in Transportation and Environmental Policy Issues Here's another suggestion. Get a flat piece of wood, larger than the footprint of the steering wheel box. Attach the velcro to that and the steering wheel, then use a couple of small C-clamps to hold the whole thing to your desk. I haven't done this yet as I haven't found any dainty-enough C-clamps, but I'm still looking ... I'd be interested to hear if anyone gets this going OK. James -- James Bevan NeXTMail & MIME welcome

I went out and got one of those clear desk pads and then stuck the super-velcro to THAT. So I can use my PC for actual work or use my T1. T1 stays put (even at Sears Point) and my desk is still unmarked. Works for me. SteveMc -- -------------------------------- NASCAR!! What was the question?

I bought one last week after using a flight yoke for over a year. The flight yoke meant no feet action - gas and brakes are the fire buttons. This worked well, but you had digital pedals - full gas or no gas, full brake or no brake. I still don't have lap times on road courses as low as when I used the flight yoke, but in theory I like the T1 better. Definately helps on ovals to be able to lift slightly in corners or when stuck behind a slower car.

My solution is kind of extreme but it sure works. I installed bolts through the suction cups holes in the streeing wheel housing, drilled holes in the keyboard tray of my desk(tray is mounted solid to desk), then mounted the steering wheel to keyboard tray with nuts from underneath. You can also bolt a board to the housing and use C-Clamps, I did this to use the wheel at another location. No point useing the Velcro, the wheel always can lose at the worst possible time!! Aaron

db>: I just picked the T1 up last night, buuuut...the suction cups don't db>: want to adhere to my desk and I'm not keen on placing the velcro db>strips : on the desk either. I tried cleaning the desk and lightly David, Try picking up some Manco Poster Putty. Works great, doesn't stain the desk, and is reusable for a long time. Been using it for about 4 months with my T1 setup. Andy

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> I have been reading posts about this but have only heard about >how to strap them onto the various surfaces. > Who makes this steering wheel, and is it any good at all, or am >I better off using a joystick (can't handle keyboard). > I have a kind of steering wheel for my Amiga, and although it's >great fun when used in conjunction with the pedals, there must >be better systems for the PC. > What about the pedals...? > >

I just bought a Thrustmaster Formula T-1 Sterring Wheel and it comes with pedals. Also has a shifter on it and two buttons. I have only had it for 2 days but I love it. I don't know for sure that it is the best one around but it is the only one I could find. Another thing I was considering was a CH Products Virtual Pilot Pro that has a wheel (Airplane style - not round) with like 6 buttons. They also sell a pedals set. While this is primarily made for Flight Sims I think it would be OK for driving. The pedals pivot in the middle for plane realism but I think there is a way to change that for driving games. I also posted a message and only received one response. It said that the author felt the Thrustmaster was not as well made as the CH Products stuff (Virtual Pilot Pro). He may be right as I had to exchange my first Thrustmaster since the shifter was faulty. Time will tell. For me, I decided to buy the Thrustmaster since I was primarily looking for a driving setup and I already have a decent joystick for flying. The joystick I have has always been fine for flying but also note that I just kind of fly around looking for things to shoot at and blow up. I wouldn't know what to do with rudder pedals if I had them. The price for the Thrustmaster was 129.95 from Egghead Software. This includes pedals and all. The Virtual Pilot Pro was 79.95 for the steering assembly and then the pedals would be another 79.95. Just my opinions and I have never tried anything other than the Thrustmaster. Having played the game previously with a joystick/keyboard I am now in heaven. With a wheel/pedals setup it is a totally new (great) game. You should definitely get some kind of wheel/pedals setup. Maybe someone else will respond who has experience with multiple products. Thrustmaster has a WWW site at http://www.thrustmaster.com/. You can see all of their products there with descriptions and more. Hope this helps, Mike +------------------------------------------------------+

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| Mike Viscount | | MCNC / North Carolina Supercomputing Center | | Systems Programmer Analyst II | | | | Phone: (919) 248-9212 | | Fax: (919) 248-1101 |

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