Apples & Windows & Racing - Oh My!

First, let me say that I know this particular problem is aimed at a very, very small crowd. Statistics say that of all computers used in the world that less than 10% are Apples. Oddly enough they also state that over 90% of all computers sold over $1000.00 are Apples! 

Whatever the numbers, I've been an Apple Macintosh (Mac) user since 1984. I used them for designing and speccing my homes as a builder, I used them as a writing and photo tool as a print journalist, and I have used them as a television producer, and of course now internet video producer.

Now I'm trying to use a Mac for online racing. Yikes! What was I thinking?

It all really seemed easy enough. The new Macs have something they call Bootcamp that allows you to run Windows. Bootcamp requires that you decide to start up your computer using either the Mac OS or the Windows operating systems. There are also programs that allow you to actually run both the Mac OS and Windows simultaneously. And that my friends was my downfall!

Because I really didn't want (or have the ability) to use my big 'mothership' dual quad-core Mac Pro that I use for editing, as a gaming computer, I opted (left with no other choice actually) to use my laptop (a MacBook Pro dual-core) that I use for writing and emailing, and those typical daily computer chores, I found it easier to choose a program that allowed me to run both operating systems at the same time.

Don't!

Because I was new to Windows as well as new to online racing (rFactor in this case) I was both overwhelmed, over-ignorant as to what I needed to do and what should be going on. So I first had some issues with the wimple tasks of installing files and setting up things like plugins and drivers and such. But I also had issues with knowing how rFactor should be working. And that included additional items like the workings of the wheels and pedals.

Skipping the computer problems, what I struggled with on the racing end was exasperating to say the least. Driving was very artificial feeling, with wheel and pedal outputs just not close to being as good as they were/are on the console sims.

It took far too long for me to get to the point where I tried it on the Bootcamp running only Windows. Bingo! Suddenly things were different. Although I was left with having to basically start over, things worked so good I was more than enthused and excited to do it.

So, the moral of this story is this; If you choose to race using a Mac (and there are some good points about speed and graphics that can make this a good decision) be sure to run the Bootcamp as a stand-alone setup and not try to run the Mac OS and Windows simultaneously.

I eventually just bought a new iMac to run the online racing programs and am now living 'happily ever after'! Well that is until I decide to run three monitors and then we'll see ;-)

Cheers-

To God, Good Wine, & Great Racing!

DE

CSR Elite Cockpits

Strong Wheels Need Strong Cockpits!

Got an interesting question the other day from a 

guy wondering if the new CSR Elite is too much wheel to be mounted on a single post cockpit.

That’s a great question – and one I’ve wondered myself. I absolutely can’t stand movement in my wheel (or pedals for that matter!). You don’t drive your M3 around saying, “It’s only a little wiggle” so you shouldn’t want it in your sim cockpit either! I can see Vettel climbing from his car, thanking the sponsors, commenting on the quick degradation of the tires in the wet, and the fact that the wheel doesn’t wiggle all that much and the pedals only slide a bit under the hardest braking ;-)

Okay, I’ll move on…

You see we have found some minor wiggle in almost every cockpit we’ve tested using the standard CSR wheel. And obviously, the Elite is a lot heavier than the CSR and Porsche wheels - as well as a lot more powerful.

Perhaps it’s mere coincidence that I’ve had our Elite mounted on our recently modified SR-X cockpit, absolutely the most sturdy rig we’ve tested to date. The SR-X has shown no structural ‘wiggle’ with the Elite wheel mounted.

But maybe we’ll run through some of the cockpits we’ve tested just to see what happens. It should prove interesting at the least. Of course, to date we’ve only tested one single post rig, the rSeat, and it’s been called one of the most stable of the single post cockpits. So I suppose if it wiggles, it pretty much would be conclusive that all others would wiggle more!

So I come back to the fact that it seems to me that if you are so ‘in to’ sim racing that you think you need an Elite wheel, you should be just as concerned that the rest of your simulation setup is as good quality.

I guess that means that if you buy a new CSR Elite wheel then I fully expect you to hard mount a set of Elite pedals to your dual post cockpit. Living in the United States, I’m aware how the government wants to approve your every move, so I will accept the position of proper sim racer setup inspector – officially named Proper Built Systems, or Pro BS for short.

;-)

D

Our Sim-Seat SR-X Modifications

The Sim-Seat SR-X was the very first cockpit that we tested. If it was the cockpit that we bought to be our personal sim racing cockpit we would not have been disappointed!

Sure, there were a couple things we thought it needed, but the overall package we thought was awesome! It was comfortable and it was stable. Those were two big plusses in our book!

But, being the ultimate in pickiness (is that a word?) I wished that the steering wheel platform had some adjustability for rake, and that the shifter location was just a bit higher.

The other not-so-good comments we had was the length of time it took to get our rig, and the, well, look that it came from some guys in a shop. While we thought that was a bit harsh it certainly wasn’t as harsh as the folks at Inside Sim Racing’s comments. (But they might be more ‘spoiled’ than us ;-)

Well, the comment about being built by some guys in a shop actually turned out to be a rather good thing. Because having some guys in a shop build your cockpit means that it also infinitely customizable! And hence also why it took some time to get here. It seems like the ‘guys in a shop’ build each rig upon order. Yes that means it’s slower to get to you, but it also means that it can be built EXACTLY like you want it to be.

So, once we talked to Zach at Sim-Seats and mentioned our desires, he was quick to go to the shop and fabricate us what we needed. And the modifications (as you can see!) were perfect.

What we have ended up with is an almost perfect rig – for us. I say ‘almost perfect’ because I still don’t like the paint job. And really, sitting in the rig and racing you never once notice the paint. And as you can see from the video we never even painted the two modified parts. And we never notice. But I’m either going to paint it myself as soon as the weather gets a little warmer here, or send it to a powder-coating shop and have them paint it for me. I think for the money I will ‘rattle-can’ it with some good Rustoleum Hammertone grey and be more than happy!

The Bottom Line here is I suppose, don’t be too quick to judgment, and be aware that every single rig there is will ‘probably need at least a tweak or two to make it perfect for you.

This was a darn good rig to start with and now with a few modifications, an almost perfect set-up. I only wish I would have know about ordering our SR-X like this in the first place.

Sim-Seats.Com

Hey(!) That’s what we’re for! Now you know!

You can thank me later ;-)

The bill’s in the mail.

Is It just Me?

I noticed that my extremely cool Clubsport pedals were always collecting dust on them – and no, not the kind of dust from a lack of use, but from a dusty environment I suppose.

It was then that I realized if my pedals were collecting dust, then so too was the insides of my steering wheel. And what kind of damage will dust do to the inner workings of these expensive pieces of electronics? Hence the thought of covering them.

Now I live out in the country, so I think we just have more dust than average, but not sure. I do know that every once in a while I drag the hose of my compressor into the office and blow out my ‘Mothership’ – the dual quad processing Super Mac computer that powers my editing programming. And when I do it’s got dust in it. And sometimes I go around and blow everything off much to the dismay of my family ;-)

Maybe the idea for this wheel cover started when I unwrapped the new CSR Elite wheel and thought how awesome it came wrapped in that cool black bag. Of course it was a too-big cloth bag, but it made me think – hey one of my soft-insides helmet sacks might just do this much better - if it fits.

And it did, and hence my tip.

So, is it only me that is concerned about this stuff, or will you find it of interest – and value as well?

D

Media Friends

Welcome to our first Sim Racing Review Blog. It’s here that you’ll read the stuff that I either can’t really make a video of, or am just to lazy to!

Although we are new to the world of Sim Racing, we’ve been in the motorsports media since 1992 when I started covering ATVs, sand buggies, and 4-wheel drive vehicles for the print media. Since that time we evolved into conventional television providing weekly programs for 4x4TV, ATV Television SportEdition, and our best-known and longest-lasting program, ATV Television. We then moved both 4x4TV and ATV Television to internet-only video programming.

But never in all my history with these ‘media outlets’ have I been so openly welcomed by the established members of the media as I have with Sim Racing Review.

It wasn’t but a couple days after our first video went up that I received an email from Israel at SimGadgets.Net congratulating me on a great website. It was also Israel that suggested I look into getting a Twitter account so I could more easily keep everyone informed about our latest reviews.

Thank you.

That very same day I also heard from Bram from RaceDepartment.Com, complementing me on our honest reviews and extending a friendly offer of ‘let us know what ever there is that we can do to help you!’

Then Brandon from RaceDepartment.Com contacted me to make sure that what they were putting up along with our reviews was correct and if there was anything thing else I needed them to do.

Wow. What a great welcome into this industry by some guys that are truly setting the standard for racing news coverage.

Thank you.

And then Rob from VirtualR.Net emailed thanking me for putting out great reviews and appreciated the ‘Beginner’s Driving Tips. Yet another of the foremost Sim Racing sites extending its hand in friendship. And another premier sim website offering to share our reviews with their wonderful audience.

Incredible. Thanks yet again!

It wasn’t long before Tony from iRacing emailed me with a welcome to the sim community, a thanks for our reviews, and an extended hand to ‘try iRacing!’

I will. Soon. Thanks.

Although some websites didn’t contact me personally, they showed their appreciation for our work by running our video reviews on their websites. One of these is the Fanatec Wheel Fansite. A great site filled with information for everyone that owns a Fanatec product.

Thank you.

Now don’t take this the wrong way. I didn’t mention the nice words these guys all had for Sim Racing Review as a way to pat myself on the back. NO. I wanted to use them to show what a great bunch of guys there are out there in the Sim Racing World!

Did these guys complain about another website entering into the media world covering Sim Racing? NO. They welcomed the newcomer with help and advice to help succeed.

I’m overwhelmed and certainly will not forget it.

Thank you all for your open kindness.

D