I have not seen this answered in the FAQ so I'd appreciate any information
that you can email me...
I would like an evaluation of the various steering wheel/pedal
combinations available for NASCAR racing by Papyrus. I am
aware of two of them, the package by Thrustmaster and also a
package by CH products.
From the ads, the pdeals on the Thrustmaster look rather small
yet the wheel is a complete circle. The CH product has full sized
wheels, or so it appears from the pictures, but the wheel is
along the lines of a rectangle, as opposed to a circle.
Any evaluation of the two that you could email to me would be
greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advance, for your help.
-----------------------------------------------------------
|Paul D. Phillips | |
|Department of Mathematics | "NASCAR Winston Cup |
| and Computer Science | racing is spiraling |
|Mt. Mercy College | upward in control." |
|Cedar Rapids IA 52402 | -- Rusty Wallace |
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to see you're missing the best one (IMO!), the TSW (Thomas Super Wheel) made by Trevor
Thomas. Below is the info file available on CompuServe....
-------
Thomas Enterprises, TSW.TXT
This file will give you a little more detailed info about our TSW racing sim
control set. The TSW is handbuilt in lots of 60 units, 4 times a year and sold on a reservation
basis. Since the TSW is built by racers for racers, we know what is needed in a racing sim
controller, you can pay more money but you cant buy a better unit!
The TSW is a two piece unit, a steering console and a seperate set of pedals, it has shifting
buttons in the wheel spokes and also a seperate gearshift lever, you can use either one.
Dimensions of the TSW are 16" long, 8" deep and from the desktop to the top of the wheel rim is 9
1/2 inches, The steering wheel is 10" in diameter and the TSW weighs 22 lbs so you can see that
it is a very strong unit and not a cheaply built toy.
The TSW mounts to the desktop with an L shaped steel clamp, no stupid velcro
or suction cups that do not hold, the clamp is made from 1/4 x 3/4 steel and
has a thumbscrew to tighten it. The clamp is adjustable to accomodate various thickness desktops,
the TSW will sit still with no clamp at all but you might pull it forward off the desk so we put
in the clamp.
The unit is built almost totally from heavy gauge steel, it has pvc
bushings at all pivot points and is built to withstand prolonged, heavy use.
The electronic components are of good quality and should last no matter how
often you race, I use mine almost everyday and have never had a mechanical part failure.
The TSW calibrates as a single joystick and has been tested with World
Circuit, Indycar Racing and Nascar racing, since these are the only serious
racing sims on the market, the TSW hasnt been tested with anything else but
should work as well with any driving game. There have been no soundcard incompatibilties reported
and I personally have used the unit with a first edition Soundblaster and an SB16 basic.
The new price is $235.00 US plus $25.00 shipping and handling, (continental US only). Shipping to
Hawaii and Alaska is extra, shipping to other countries we use first class US air mail, the cost
of which is to be payed by the customer. Normally shipping is by UPS ground, UPS next day or
second day air is available at extra cost, as is shipping via Fedex and other carriers.
The current price is good until December of 1995 at which time it will increase to $275.00
excluding shipping. To order a unit, EMail me, Trevor Thomas, ID 74211,2073 on Compuserve and
send your full name and shipping address, I will confirm your order by Email and you will be
placed on the list for the current batch.
Warranty is as follows, first 30 days money back, you can return the unit
within the first 30 days from shipping date for any reason for a full refund
of purchase price (this does not include shipping), for 1 year after, the TSW is guaranteed
against failure of any kind.
After that there is a lifetime warranty against any mechanical failure (does
not include electronic components).
We also offer a one year rebuild policy, at the end of one year, you ship the TSW to us, we tear
it completetly apart, replace all bushings and any worn parts, replace all electronics, clean and
lubricate the unit and then you have a one year extension on the warranty against any defect,
this service costs $60.00 and you pay the shipping both ways.
You cannot buy a better driving control set and we are confident that you
will be happy with your TSW for many years of racing.
Address for ordering is as follows:
Thomas Enterprises
1332 9th St NW
Cedar Rapids, IA
52405
-----
To the above, I can only add that since I got a TSW, my lap times in NASCAR Racing and Indycar 1
& 2 have tumbled while my enjoyment of the racing has increased enormously. Definitely the best
add-on I ever bought for my PC.
Cheers!
John
--
oooO _ _ Oooo John Wallace, Edinburgh (Scotland)
( ) / ) ( \ ( ) CompuServe : 100347,3560
\_)(___) (___)(_/
oooO Oooo
I built my own wheel because I felt that there wasn't a good yet
inexpensive product on the market. I used plywood, PVC pipe, aluminum
angle brackets, and springs. My friends love it!! I even built an
F1-style paddle shifter. I used 3/4" PVC pipe to build a "yoke"
configuration with two tees at each end. I--o--I
Happy Racing!!
\"/
{-}
P.S. IndyCar II Kicks Ass!!!!
One more thing, I recommend CH pedals. Very smooth, about $50. Pedals
are close together just like in a F1/Indy***pit. I use left-foot
braking.
\"/
{-}
:>I built my own wheel because I felt that there wasn't a good yet
:>inexpensive product on the market. I used plywood, PVC pipe, aluminum
:>angle brackets, and springs. My friends love it!! I even built an
:>F1-style paddle shifter. I used 3/4" PVC pipe to build a "yoke"
:>configuration with two tees at each end. I--o--I
I bought a steering wheel at an Auto Parts store for $20 and used that
with Plywood. Don't have a shifter yet but plan on making that over the
Holidays.
I'll include the uuencoded pcx files for the plans I had before I built it.
I plan on updating the plans after I put in the gear shift. The plans for
the basic wheel setup changed considerably in the construction sooo....
section 1/1 file parts.pcx [ Wincode v2.6.1 ]
begin 644 parts.pcx
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
MR<((SP`$PP!)0E)0Q``!$,D`!$#;``C"0,')_P#)``#__\G_P<G_`,D`P<G"
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
+P<G_`,D``/__R?__
`
end
sum -r/size 14229/14816
section 1/1 file wheel1.pcx [ Wincode v2.6.1 ]
begin 644 wheel1.pcx
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
M___)_\')_P#)`,')"/\`QP`0P<G_`,D``/__R?_!R?\`R0#!R0C_`,<`$,')
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
#_\G_
`
end
sum -r/size 16583/15528
One more to follow but it wouldn't fit in this message so will be in next.
Steve
+-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| All the worlds a stage, | ("'-''-/").___..--''"'-._ |
| and there's a comedy playing. | '6_ 6 ) '_. ( ).'-.__.') |
| May as well enjoy the show. | (_Y_.) ._ ) '._ '. ''-..-' |
| | _..'--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,' |
+-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Go Earnhardt. #3 in 96, and 98, and 00 and....... ;-) |
| Go Rusty. #2 in 97, and 99, and 01 and ....... ;-) | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This is the follow up to include the 3rd pcx of my plans.
section 1/1 file wheel2.pcx [ Wincode v2.6.1 ]
begin 644 wheel2.pcx
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
MZ``0P<GU``#U_\')]0#!R03'``+"``+H`!#!R?4``/7_P<GU`,')!,<``L(`
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
<uuencoded_portion_removed>
'P<GU``#U_P#U
`
end
sum -r/size 59016/14002
section 1/1 file wheel2.pcx [ Wincode v2.6.1 ]
+-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| All the worlds a stage, | ("'-''-/").___..--''"'-._ |
| and there's a comedy playing. | '6_ 6 ) '_. ( ).'-.__.') |
| May as well enjoy the show. | (_Y_.) ._ ) '._ '. ''-..-' |
| | _..'--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,' |
+-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Go Earnhardt. #3 in 96, and 98, and 00 and....... ;-) |
| Go Rusty. #2 in 97, and 99, and 01 and ....... ;-) | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
