Sim Racing: Why do we do it?

For me, sim racing is enjoyable for the following reasons:

• The technology of sim hardware and getting the most out of it
• The challenge of setting up software so everything plays nice together and everything looks and feels right
• The computer build and technology
• Following all the sim game developments and how each sim has pros and cons
• Following and participating with the online community
• And finally the enjoyment of being fully immersed in a game trying to set a best time or working my way to the front of a race

Antonio Castagna said:

honestly I do simracing for fun, I have no frenzy in competing with others

Click to expand...

I read comments like this quite often. And I recognize it. I first played Assetto Corsa offline for two years. But my son introduced me within RaceDepartment to a bunch of guys who are not primarily competitive and where fun and respect for each other are paramount.

These guys welcomed me and were very tolerant of me as a beginner. Also they helped me in every way possible. I can tell you now that racing against other people who follow the rules and respect each other on the track is so much more rewarding and fun. And it also makes you better/faster than racing alone or against AI.

And there is also the interaction via the thread posts and during the event via Discord voice chat. Not required, but fun from a social point of view.

So anyone hesitant to race online, give it a try at one of our racing clubs in RaceDepartment. Forget all negative experiences on public servers. With us you can race with others without the frustration of getting hit by idiots.

And don't be afraid to be so much worse than the other drivers. That is barely the case.
They will help you get up to speed in no time and you will be surprised how much faster you can get.

Wednesday's AC events with the Mazda MX5 and Abarth 500 are a very good opportunity to experience what I said above.
Here's the one for next week: https://www.racedepartment.com/thre...lemans-wed-8th-june-2022.233845/#post-3546225

I hope to see some of you on track then!

Just hotlaps for me - adjusting setup, dropping those extra tenths.
Assetto Corsa or rfactor.

Generally pretty quick with practice, but then I see what times the good sim drivers can do and it's quite remakable to see that they are 1+ second quicker.

I think a more pertinant question is "why do people like cricket?" !!

But to answer.... I love going fast as ferk, end of story. Was easy to do on my Supersports motorbikes. Then speed cameras happened, then the cliche of marriage and moved to cars, but couldn't afford anything fast. I can more or less scratch my speed itch within the complete safety of a virtual environment....sadly without the visceral physical thrill of it.

You can Race/Drive any ware any time with any vehicle
Don't have to pay for traveling, accommodation, spares, damages. No injuries during accidents, no washing of cars, hiring of pitcrew.
Driving on any platform and various Formats at your fingertips
Drive a new car on a track which doesn't exist anymore and visa versa.
Make friends, make enemies. Have laughs have cries
Nobody judge you on your look. 14 year old compete against 70 year old
I have a reset button if I mess up and have an escape button when I am fedup. Delete option if I don't like it.
Money is not that big of an issue. You can be competitive with entry level equipment no need for High end equipment.
You can find a community that suits you without even leaving the house.

HF2000 said:

I read comments like this quite often. And I recognize it. I first played Assetto Corsa offline for two years. But my son introduced me within RaceDepartment to a bunch of guys who are not primarily competitive and where fun and respect for each other are paramount.

These guys welcomed me and were very tolerant of me as a beginner. Also they helped me in every way possible. I can tell you now that racing against other people who follow the rules and respect each other on the track is so much more rewarding and fun. And it also makes you better/faster than racing alone or against AI.

And there is also the interaction via the thread posts and during the event via Discord voice chat. Not required, but fun from a social point of view.

So anyone hesitant to race online, give it a try at one of our racing clubs in RaceDepartment. Forget all negative experiences on public servers. With us you can race with others without the frustration of getting hit by idiots.

And don't be afraid to be so much worse than the other drivers. That is barely the case.
They will help you get up to speed in no time and you will be surprised how much faster you can get.

Wednesday's AC events with the Mazda MX5 and Abarth 500 are a very good opportunity to experience what I said above.
Here's the one for next week: https://www.racedepartment.com/thre...lemans-wed-8th-june-2022.233845/#post-3546225

I hope to see some of you on track then!

Click to expand...

I never said that I don't run online, 99% of the sessions I do are always online, but I don't have the enthusiasm for competition that some people have who, in order to win, throw everyone out at the first corner. I wanted to say this.

I love racing in any form, because of the focus and concentration it demands and the essence that mistakes just can't happen (and also a bit the adrenalin rush and competitiveness ;-) )

I do downhill mountainbike racing and soon I will start with paragliding racing (which is a lot more tactical decision making then actually following a tight and narrow path/track where split seconds count, but still).

I would love to do car racing as well, but it is just too expensive compared to the joy it offers - DH bike and paragliding are just as much fun but much cheaper.

So the next best thing is getting as close to real racing as possible but cheaper. In addition you can also do it when the weather is shite or in winter -> sim racing.
Getting a DD wheel, loadcell pedals, proper wheelstand, butkickers and a good VR headset. Man this is really not far away from real racing, only the G-force and fear of death is lacking, but I have enough of that in my other sports.

Currently I sold all my stuff because I don't have the time to commit, but already looking forward to it again

Why do we do it?

have no slightest idea
but we do it

obviously

Ive allways played video games, mainly shooters because they were a good way to satisfy my competitive side. And it allways felt awesome to outsmart ennemies and beat them. Turns out having battles on track gets me the same feeling! Except its even more intense, ive been left shaking after a 45 minute battle with someone in a league race. Its the most rewarding form of "gaming" i have ever done.

Great stimulating article!

On mobile about heading home after marathon work day, my answer in a single word:

Immersion.

I'll promise to elaborate on that one.
BBL.

I probably enjoy seeing the cars, more than the driving itself, which is likely why I'm less against more arcade type of racing games , but of course the driving can't feel broken

it's definitely great to get into rythm and have some amazing races , but looking at race cars, making my own skins and stuff like that is often something that takes more of my time

Some great comments on this one, with lots of varied and interesting responses. Sim racing (or sim driving as I prefer) really is for anyone with an interest in motorsport or those who simply love cars. I've been obsessed with cars and motorsport since a very young age and I have followed F1, Sports Cars and Rally since the mid 80's. I knew I was never going to have an opportunity to race in real life, so I just kind of swallowed that dream and simply watched motorsport whenever it was on tv. I was never particularly interested in gaming, even though I was interested in computing since the mid 90's. Much later in life I had the means to travel and go to real life motorsports events, albeit in the cheap seats, and during one of those experiences in 2018 I had the opportunity to try out a motion simulator which was an eye opener! From then on my graphic design/architecture PC was repurposed for sim racing (first Project Cars 2, then AC and so-on). I know I'm never going to be the fastest sim racer in the world, and while I've enjoyed the occasional excellent RD club races hosted by @HF2000 and others, I've simply not got the time to practice or to gain the experience to compete with the top guys here, but that doesn't bother me. The racing is fun when it's allowed to be, but it's certainly not my main draw, and I have no interest whatsoever in esports or hot lapping. The main reason I drive these pretend cars in the sim is for immersion and the ability to feel like I'm driving historic or otherwise interesting cars on famous circuits. Something else that draws me to sim racing is the passion of those involved which spans both real and virtual motorsport, be-it the fantastic real life team personnel battling the clock and the elements to keep the cars in the race or the modders and programmers who create the virtual space for our interest.

This morning, I had to stop by the garage where I have my cars fix. One of the mechanic, I had not seen in a while, asked me if I was still doing track days, to which I answered, no I had not been in a while, but I now have a good SIM rig and that take care of my need for speed, the same as track days used to, to keep me from speeding on the roads. Back in the days, 70’s, 80’s, even beginning of the 90’s, if you got caught speeding, you paid the fine and you were back on the road, today, it makes you a criminal, they take your car and your driving license. When that started that is when I went to the track to get my speed fix.
So why do I do SIM? Because I can get my fix when ever I want, morning, evening, summer, winter, rain or shine. Plus, it does not cost too much.
Is it the same as real life? Good question, on so many aspect it is much better, so it is for each one to decide.

I would break out into a full sweat racing with the paint the yellow team back in the late 2000 3 hour races, rap my head right into it and loved it. Way Way cheaper then the real deal. 3 wide at Talladega with all great drivers, 221 miles an hour in rush our traffic, WHAT NOT TO LOVE. And don't do any mistakes cause the Paint the Yellow revue board would be all over you. 50 Guy's on Team speak talking **** about ****. Man , I loved it. IRacing Had the best Nascar at the time. Shame its expensive, And your Rig had to be up to snuff.

As stated before - great stimulating article!
And once again an RD article hitting my core enthusiasm!

Below babble is, well no excuse here - you simply asked for it, RD

And what a huge response already (I'll try and catch up reading the thread at a later time).
But ofcourse, such a fundamental topic generates enthusiasm from RD forum users.
To me, RD is a very healthy forum. Although some may grumble about "toxic atmosphere", this is far from my general impression of this site. I feel way more positive vibes. #1 place for simheads to gather around our lovely niche hobby. And without a doubt the majority are made up of some enthusiastic simheads, having no day without the mind at least for a moment thinking of sim racing, even this being on an strenious expedition in remote Siberia, maybe even near starving to death, and plus a week of transportation to closest civilized decent simrig.

It's less than two weeks ago that I caught myself in reflecting back on my sim racing life, and why sim racing is my life gasoline and constantly delivering so much joy and positive thoughts.

My POV on simracing has changed several times as years have passed by. At present state my driving force is restained to this priority (more or less):

1. Immersion of authenticity

Recent upgrades with rig and now VR just adding emphasis on this as a top priority. A huge part of this is having a feeling that the sim modelling is reflected in output and total immersion.

To have a feeling of especially classic-, vintage and pre-war race car's fragility and vulnerability is reflected simwise and driving wise having as extra leg braces is a huge part of the 'sim' concept to me - 'the epitome of sim'.

Immersion for me does not necessarily have to include top spot graphic models..

Some months ago I got away with Grand Prix 2 working together with my modern sim hardware (though a youtuber, edit: think I gave credit to the wrong one and now I cannot find the right vid, embarrasing), just flat screen and 90ies graphics. But what a pleasure, and I had a like "first time immersion" just like my very first pitlane driveout in GP2 in mid 90ies. Most importantly for me is the base sim immersion. And I don't even need a buttkicker for that part (had one on loan a year ago but couldn't find a feasable DIY solution for my beloved flexible NLR F-GT Lite seat).

Immersion to me is also when you suddenly - while simracing - are rolled over by the warm feeling of "being completely present in the past". Retrospective looking it has been quite different parameters for me to obtain this unforced feeling. Somewhat related to "being in the zone" as discussed in another RD article thread.
Could be just cruising round in AC 1960s Monaco in 1930s ERA mod, finally get a grip on reining the monster, first lap at real speed.
Could be 24hr offline endurance GTR2 racing +70 cars mixed mod classes classic cars, suddenly mid night feeling an extraordinary enjoyable feeling of voulnerability from clutch, engine, breaks or other car parameters brilliantly modded, having to attend a bit more on the nursing part while competing for positions.
So YES, as a primarily off-line racer for decades, there's PLENTY of room for great sim experience, not exactly "driving round and round in circles for no reason" as another user (seemingly?) quoted a sim tuber.

OK hard to summarize this part briefly i must admit.

2. Track- and car hunting: The ability to be anywhere, in whatever, anytime

As a life long track hunter and admirer of classic race cars: The possibility of being able to jump in an unattainable (especially classic) race car on rare and forgotten slopes, somewhere in the world.

And then in the next moment being able to get into a similar irreplaceable race car on the other side of the globe.

3. Car handling

In best sims and best sim mods for classic race cars, leaving plenty of room for the driver to do the difference using old fashioned car nursing of H-stick + wheel&toe skills + on occasions drum brake attention when lucky that the developer/modder did an on spot work.

I.e. where there's a huge open room for optimizing your 'car handling per race car'.

This goes as well as for adaptability of transition.

A decade ago I set myself the challenge just after competing e.g. close online event of modern race cars / formula cars to directly swap over to offline classic race car races without any preparation, all AIDS = off and AI's at highest and most aggressive attitudes.

Today this challenge is due to limited time on occasions swept over, driving challenging offline vintage or pre-war grand prix cars - seizing the online moment without any preparation, only preparation being the "transition of mindset".

Otherwise I do it all time, off-line.
Swapping sim, swapping decade car- and track wise. Just jumping in a car at different track with totally different demands to driving style.

This is quite stimulating trying on "seizing the sim moment" on car handling (and in respect to #1).

4. Competition aspect.

Both off- and online I find great pleasure here, too.
When I was younger this was my #1 priority.

Now I've discovered that I find myself relaxed, even at online close wheel-to-wheel battles, in even online lobbies just having observed confidence from both competitors and myself.

Then suddenly the feeling of pure pleasure overcomes frustration and pressure. And you want that feeling again, nomatter if it's a podium- or backmarker battle.

Sadfully time is no longer on my side. Though, some months ago I found a cozy AMS2 online lobby with serious and humble competitors, in a format of short-sequence sprint races of shifting locations for every new event, but with same competitors, with the possibility to drop-in, drop-out...and drop-in again at a later time, maybe an hour later.

And definitely the best ever post race lobby chats I've ever experienced, solely positive and backing comments. So maybe I'll catch up on this kind of online event again.

But off-line racing is my "thing", has always been and now even restrained mainly here, not only due to time, but due to #3. I have more NAS drives filled with mods from several sims though the years and racing all combos would occupy sim racing time for centuries.
The competitive aspect CAN still be quality competition - especially for the fine combos.

5. Simracing articles on RD

Yes, reading articles and forum posts here in it self turns on my driving lights.

Looking at my RD profile, I've just observed that I entered here in 2014.
But for first handful of years that was solely in relation to mod hunting, soaking op the internet for alternatives to NoGripRacing, rFactorCentral, DrivingItalia, esport-racing, etc. etc.

First when NGR site sadly was shut down and I in disbelief and regret looking for answers, I discovered the RD forum with fresh eyes - and then a couple of years later asking identical question (is this Alzheimer's closing the gap on me from behind? I think that's how it is with this terrible disease, my mother in law now sadly affected severely by dementia by now...).

The majority of my now near 200 posts is from just pre-Covid19 up to present, I think.
Reading, replying and reading responses here, drives me alot too, I've realized.

Remarks

Ofcourse sim racing can never replace the real deal.

Myself I've driven plenty of both normal cars as well as (typical on rental basis) a variety of sports cars, super cars, racing cars (mostly for track days) as well as a couple of classic cars , adding competition series in Gokart a season some decades ago.

And even an offer round the millenium to participate in FF2000 series after a great test day, but came short to personal finances (Team teased with I could buy a season for just $3000 - was about to say "YES", when they added "additional expenses as transportation, material damage, tyres, maintenance and so on comes on top of the price", which was an instant showstopper for me, not having financial backups).

OK, so OP forced me above the RD 10.000 char limit, having to split this post.

(Continued...)

Personal different perceptions through time

In a few yards (or rather inches) I'll be passing the 50 mark number of veins in life.

Hence, quite a challenge for me trying to sum up my different views and motives for sim racing though the years.

In general I'm happy to witness the driving immersion through sim racing gets better and better as times progresses.

And even before recent years improvements, something about sim racing has made it an indispensable drug for me. I was just born too early.

As stated above, priority has changed several times, with different important topics.

E.g. there have been large periods where the graphics quality was of near zero personal priority, just the authentic immerson was present. Which still is the case today, in some contexts.
However, after my recent new title as a VR-driver, I have to admit that the graphics marmelade also has something to say in respect to immerson.

But I'll give it a try here on personal retrospective reflections.
In first place just to give myself a clue on my different perspectives through the years.
(Though this is actually a difficult task, as it can be near impossible to turn back time of the mindset of the time in different time periods under the conditions and circumstances of the time)

Early years

From early years in mid 1970ies, nomatter kind of vehicle, being a bike, pedal kart, skiing or whatever, maybe even before topology of brain memory had settled fully, I knew I was addicted into the corner taking and speed. Entering ground school in late 1970ies I got introduced to first time of 'simracing concept', a girl from little sisters class having a console car game with wheel and shifter. That was in 1979.

Then got my first C64 in 1985 I got seriously addicted to especially SpeedKing MC game, driving Paul Richard and other famous tracks of which I knew from telly F1 broadcasting. Laptiming was my drug by then.

Then left simracing and even C64 coding (started BASIC and COBAL coding (correction ofcourse it was COMAL 80 - COBAL was later, though older language ) from the gun acquiring my C64 being a bit code nerdy) totally for years as a rower, cyclist, etc. and began university studies.

In the meantime I acquired my drivers licens and already driven plenty of different real cars, and first time real life heel&toe experience in and old rusty Polo, heck that was fine.
By that time my POV was the same as today: For me it's not getting between A and B as fast as possible. It's the EXPERIENCE between A and B. And even today I try to get around how NOT to end at B just trying to keep the mind state of 'being present in between points', leaving many quirky explanations to the home front about late-home reasons.

Then in my early-mid 20ies got familar with the then newly released Grand Prix 2 of which I still regard as first 'real sim'. At first it was for the pure competition. Then to improve my driving control, disabling every AIDS.

Then online when the LFRS online series (Little Formula Racing Series) appeared shortly after the GP2 release. And then my addiction was both the competition element as well as improving my driving control. Shortly after mods on CD were available, and though often at same pricing at GP2 itself, I bought it all - first time mod using was my driving force. Trying to get as much out of GP2 as possible. Then followed online GP2 mods and the first time the feeling 'lost in time' appeared for me.

Intermezzo

Then a couple of years with exciting job activities and totally simracing hibernation.

But real life several Gokart events, confirming my confidence on the competitive aspect.

Then all of a sudden the drug came back. I acquired my first real sim wheel, then entering - I think it must be either EA's F1 2000 or F1 2001 based on ISI engine sim (back when EA was quality) - and just about same time via a motorsports forum on Usenet getting in touch with an old friend, chatting and meeting, talking automotive sports and sim racing. Then we had a moment on distance competing through online hotlap sharing, used as ghost car chasing.

And suddenly he invited me to an IRL FF2000 test day, via relatives. Retrospectively shortly after, I was thinking it might have been hotlap files he found on the Internet, though I beated those every time, him being impressed (dunno, but I knew I was highly competitive simwise by that time in my late 20ies).

Getting in an old classic Reynard SF84 formula race car of 150HP @ < 450kg driving the first laps through tight corners felt like my most powerful gokart experience-on-drugs.

In a second the fire was instantly lit in me, burned in on my frontal lobe. Also due to I now had real life confidence in being competitive on a higher level, now by levelling laptimes to the national B-class champion.
At the test day I had completely forgotten that my previous athletic body with competition level in swimming, rowing and cycling bewteen 10-20 yo had been put to sleep for 6-7 years, which had noticeable results as severe pain in especially tendons and muscles 3-4 days later, the test itself was only 20 minutes.

However, 20 min at speed in dense go-kart-like turns with the highest G-force I have experienced to date, though I have since raced cars with several times more power and top speed.

And even with the aforementioned economic show-stoppers, for weeks and months I was fundamentally considering my R&D engineering career and betting everything in my life, dropping all eggs in a single basket. If I by that time hadn't been so introverted, I would have had contacts who had provided me with financial support.

Not that I dwell on the "if" and "what if".

Within months I suddenly coped with my financial short comings of racing career making, thought on that near 30 yo I anyway was double too old getting a carreer out of this, helped me out of the mental pain.
......aand today thinking that if the "if" was there, I'd most probably after 1-2 seasons ended up as a poorly indebted, but very happy former real life formula racing driver

Real life kick to simracing rejoinment

Then early 2000s with F1C99-02 - when EA was good and full enjoyment of the ISI open engine with even more quality mods in a much more precise sim engine. Both competition, mods, driving control and immersion was now possible.

And at same time suddenly I found myself between jobs for a shorter period.
But that combo dragged me deep into the online competition hole.
I had a period as a single young man all the time for online preparation - in recent other thread a post linking to YT video, stating that 120 laps of preparation turns out to be more like 'Mario Kart' than 'real racing' (or don't remember the exact phrase, but that was the essense), I now found myself as a 'full monty Mario Kart driver', speaking that term.

I suddenly found myself competitive in online simracing again, now with more near-podium finishes at higher level, a few podiums an even a single top spot experience.
But that success grew a negatively effect on my driving and motives. I suddenly felt pressure under myself. Not from competitors, but I had the feeling of fear exhibiting myself if I didn't deliver.

I think by that time 19 years ago, if my girlfriend (now wife) didn't came and grabbed me (read: rescued) I would pretty surely have ended up as a disgruntled simmer, fully ensuring a stable maximum level of RD Forum toxicity

So again a couple of years of sim hibernation.

Up to present - modern times

Hibernation sim mode ended abrubtly, one day walking down the pedestrian streets of my old home town, suddenly observing large nice billboard of GTR2. And all of a sudden I had to catch up on GPL (forgot to mention that earlier) and acquiring GTL just months later. And next year both rF1 and shortly after a rapidly growing mod society (to this day I really don't know which sim I have raced the most - GTR2 or rF1), and the SimBin family-

Fully opening my sim closet again through 2006-2007.

Sometimes to my girlfriend's regret, I must admit. But luckily for me I had other interests in life than sim racing, otherwise I think I'd be doomed by her. And today she's still not getting any sim grip.
But theres light for the future: My daugther moved into my world on the same day acquiring NLR's flexible seat solution, in fact NLR seat DOF's making it possible to adjust race position perfectly to the size of my by then 5yo daughter to sim race (however I had to think alternatively, her asking for using my T8HA stick).

And since ever that famous day of the GTR2 billboard encounter, I've been trapped for good If not physically at least in my mindset.

GTR2 and soon after it's mods and especially as ditto rF1 appeared, made me simply a sim collector, trying to ensure I have every 'real sim' and all possible available mods, in one or another way.

It's been more days since my last sim racing activity.
But my mind has not left sim racing a single day since the GTR2 release

Its an interesting question.

For me I have raced at a very low level before with no money and had a modicum of success, I was not aggressive but had a great sense of car sympathy and of what was going on around me, I raced with a friend who was aggressive got better results but tore the car up, then I spent a bit more money after this got nowhere and lost interest and my friend met a bird!

I cannot race in real life anything like I would I have tried, but I have inner ear issues and driving fast in anything for a period of time makes me feel very sick, this makes it no fun. Sim racing allows me to do this without that issue.

I will try in the coming years to do something like hill climbs or sprints and see if I can at least pop that cherry.

But in terms of racing sims, I race to try and get better, I am reasonably quick but not quick enough to race in leagues or in eposrts, I have a life outside of playing a game, and find I can race at a level online without pushing myself so hard that I become what I term a sweat.

I do not like the rules and stuff in leagues, they bore me, plus I like to be able to win or think I can and when people re 4 or 5 seconds a lap faster than you in the same car they are not really playing the same game as you, so I would rather let them jerk each other off thanks, sweats I have o time for them sorry. If I am playing I play online in whatever server I can get in I enjoy the jeopardy of not knowing what's going to happen.

Yes I get taken out, but I also take people out too, it's why I loath safety rating and the like, fair enough for competitive stuff I see the need, but for simple racing online its garbage, not everyone wants to sweat all the damned time. But as usual the tiny minority of people that want this make it the way forward so we all have to play these stupid games by their rules not for fun. that is the shame of it.

I also see trends in certain games I really hate and that is false difficulty, it crept into games since things like Dark Souls, who made dying endlessly part of the game, ramp up has become insane in gaming and it even happens in sims, stuff like Dirt Rally is already hard, but the devs then do pathetic things in an effort to make it harder with awful weather, bugged cars that any tester would have fixed, stupid stage furniture that bears to relation to any reality, and stages designed to not just be fun but to deliberately catch you out, that is not a is to me, it is just false

If I contemplate this question for 7 days , I'm sure there will be 108 reasons, although the overwhelming reason would be that sim racing gives some form of temporary happiness.

Controls are easy to remember.