NASCAR: What's your joystick ?

I trashed my Suncom joystick out of frustration this weekend after several attempts at trying to get a decent calibration. It's now on its way to the landfill. Well anyway, I decided to try the "joypad" that came packaged with the joystick. I was finally able to drive Watkins Glen! I tested at other tracks and I was almost able to match my previous times. But I am convinced that there is a joystick out there that can hold up to at least a few months of wear. Who makes it ? Please advise, Andy Houghton -- Andy Houghton Lebanon, NH

Try the Gravis PC Joystick. I have had very good luck with it so far. Previously I had gone through 3 sticks in about 2 months and currently the Gravis has held up for about 4 months thus far. It also has a simple/strong design and a decent feel. P.s: Its not too expensive either. I found mine (Gravis PC Joystick) at Walmart for around $19.99.

I have a Logitech Wingman. It has lasted me oh,,,,,,,,,about a year. It is a very comfortable joystick, and it is very well constructed. You can get it for about $20.00 on the street. -- Kenneth ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1517/

I used to have a CH mach3 that worked great for everything including ICR. Thought it finally ended up breaking (one of the buttons gave out) I had it for almost two years and used it quite a lot. The mach3 is a joystick in the classic sense and not a flightstick. I didn't bother replacing it because I have a steering wheel, thrustmaster, gamepad and use the mouse for doom type games.

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>Subject: Re: NASCAR: What's your joystick ? >Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 17:26:54 GMT >> But I am convinced that there is a joystick out >>there that can hold up to at least a few months of wear. Who makes it ? >>Please advise, >>Andy Houghton >>-- >Try the Gravis PC Joystick. I have had very good luck with it so far. >Previously I had gone through 3 sticks in about 2 months and currently >the Gravis has held up for about 4 months thus far. It also has a >simple/strong design and a decent feel. >P.s: Its not too expensive either. I found mine (Gravis PC Joystick) >at Walmart for around $19.99.

I agree. I've had a Gravis Analog for about 4-5 years. Haven't had to replace anything yet, but I've had to take it apart and clean it a couple times... I'd highly recommend it. 'Course, I may not be as tough on joysticks as some of YOU are...<g> ________ Eldred Pickett I am NOT paranoid. And why are you always watching me?!?

I've been using a CH Products FlightStick ever since NASCAR racing hit the shelves. It's been a pretty good stick, and it's been through more than its' fair share of beatings.... :-) A few months ago, I bought one of those new Microsoft joysticks... and promptly returned it. For now, I guess I'll just stick (no pun intended) with my old standby until something better comes along. Speaking of something better.... what I would really, really like to see is a joystick that works on the same principle as pedals.... i.e. apply less pressure, get less "gas" ..... more pressure equals more "gas". The way it is now, it's either full throttle or none with the joysticks I've tried.... Michael "MDunkin"

says... I have a Thrustmaster Mk 1 (the old joystick) and have had it for a couple of years. I'm currently using a T2 for my racing sims, but the Mk 1 is still there as a backup. It also does duty for flight sims. Mike -- _ ___/ \___ Speed Bump Motorsports... The name says it all. NRL95 #110 Hershey's Kiss Chevrolet Monte Carlo PRO95 #53 Hershey's Kiss Penske PC23/Ilmor D SIMCAR96 #45 Hershey's Kiss Pontiac Grand Prix IVGA #2027 (membership, not the car!)

I built my own steering/pedals controls and used two slide pots for the pedals (one for each pedal) and I wired them in series. With two pots it meant the mechanics of each pedal worked separately. What this does is allows braking and accelerating at the same time BUT only in one way ...that is ...the accelerater will override the brake but not visa-versa. If I reverse the poles on the pots then the opposite is true... the brake overides the throttle. BUT BUT BUT the latter method of wiring the pots is incorrect by joystick standards because the two pedals worked back to front in Need For Speed.... (As in the throttle braked and the brake throttled) I checked this by setting up the controls in the Win 95 joystick setup and it confirmed the back to front wiring. Remember that Nascar and Indycar allows the user to calibrate and "CONFIGURE" the joystick wheras NFS only allows for calibration.(Or at least the demo version I have does). With the steering I used a rotory pot as per normal (20k) and it works fine and dandy. I believe the T2 controls uses a two pot system for the pedals as well... the only difference being that they are rotory instead of slide pots. Nigel of Lakewood Racing Lakewood Computers NZ

> my previous times. But I am convinced that there is a joystick out > there that can hold up to at least a few months of wear. Who makes it ? I've been thrashing a CH Flightstick Pro for two years now. Never any downtime. -- Regards, Disclaimer: Scott D Fraser The opinions made up here are my own. Development Engineer My mixed up views in no way represent 3.8L Engine Performance Development those of my employer.

My old QuickShot worked like that. I paid 20-24 bucks for it. Used it quite a bit on Nascar Indy1 and the ACEs flight sims never had a problem. It has the normal two buttons on the stick as well as two more on the front of hte base and a slider control for flight sims. I got a T2 about 2 months ago and would never want to go back to a stick. Had to change my driving style but it was worth it. Gene Gagne

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> (BeachHound) writes: > >Speaking of something better.... what I would really, really like to see > >is a joystick that works on the same principle as pedals.... i.e. apply > >less pressure, get less "gas" ..... more pressure equals more "gas". The > >way it is now, it's either full throttle or none with the joysticks I've > >tried.... > >Michael > >"MDunkin" > My old QuickShot worked like that. I paid 20-24 bucks for it. Used it > quite a bit on Nascar Indy1 and the ACEs flight sims never had a problem. > It has the normal two buttons on the stick as well as two more on the > front of hte base and a slider control for flight sims. I got a T2 about 2 > months ago and would never want to go back to a stick. Had to change my > driving style but it was worth it. > Gene Gagne

I have a two year old Flightstick. Works fine. Gary

Your joystick may be a digital rather than an anologue. The latter offers varible control. I made my own steering/pedals controls at home and used joystick components. I have total control over accelerating and braking. Ripping up to 55 in the pits and holding it there is a brease. -- Nigel of Lakewood Racing Lakewood Computers New Zealand