Wheel Question

Does anyone know if there is a steering wheel available that has hand control for the throttle and brake. I recently passed my 'old' computer on to my father complete with the NASCAR2 sim installed. However he has a back injury that prevents him from using the pedals supplied with the wheel. A joystick works, as does the keyboard, but there is no way to properly calibrate the throttle and brake; they are either on or off. 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

I believe the Thrustmaster Formula 1 has paddles behind the wheel that are used as the gas and brake, no pedals. Edward

Check out the new Thrustmaster NASCAR "Charger" wheel, it sounds like just what you need. http://st6.yahoo.com/thrustmaster/nascarcharger.html don [|]-(_)-[|] >Does anyone know if there is a steering wheel available that has hand control >for the throttle and brake. I recently passed my 'old' computer on to my >father complete with the NASCAR2 sim installed. However he has a back injury >that prevents him from using the pedals supplied with the wheel. A joystick

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>works, as does the keyboard, but there is no way to properly calibrate the >throttle and brake; they are either on or off. >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

Thrustmaster Gran Prix 1 uses paddles behind the wheel for gas & brake.

I had posted this previously -- if you have a CompUSA nearby, their private label CompUSA wheels are nice (I've only sampled the one with no pedals). I believe they're actually the CH Products EXL500 (I think that's the model number) re-packaged for CompUSA (which menas they're well-built by a reputable manufacturer). You might be able to find these on-line via CompUSA's Web site. 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://irlinsider.adnetweb.com/ >Does anyone know if there is a steering wheel available that has hand control >for the throttle and brake. I recently passed my 'old' computer on to my >father complete with the NASCAR2 sim installed. However he has a back injury >that prevents him from using the pedals supplied with the wheel. A joystick

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>works, as does the keyboard, but there is no way to properly calibrate the >throttle and brake; they are either on or off. >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

The Thrustmaster NASCAR Sprint also has paddles.

I use the UltraRacer PC. Its a hand held controll with a wheel and a trigger fo throttle/brake. Costs about 30 bucks at WalMart. Dont let the price fool you it works great. They also make a new handheld contrel with force feedback for $50. http://www.ozonegames.com/reviews/controllers/ultra_racer/ http://avault.com/hardware/ultraracerpc.asp http://www.idg.net/crd_ibm_9-128406.html Rusty

Thrustmaster's Sprint and new Charger have analog paddles on the wheel, as do the CompUSA wheels. I've also seen some similar ones at Electronics Boutique, but can't remember the brand offhand. In the near future(Oct.), Guillemot's new Ferrari-branded wheels, both FF and non, will have analog paddles as well, and will apparently be available with or without separate pedals. So there are plenty to go around. :-) 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 Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

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 Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.