11-08-2006, 10:35 PM
This is something of a follow-on to my thread about my need to improve my ability to look farther down the track to improve the smoothness of my inputs. Being the father of two young kids, I can only make it out the the track for maybe three DEs a year, and am concerned that this will thwart my progress, even once I get this looking down the track thing figured out. So, I was wondering how you guys felt about racing simulators. One of the guys who started doing DEs about the same time I did, but is blowing me into the weeds, is a pilot who swears that practicing on his Logitech Momo has greatly improved his track driving. My last instructor disagreed, saying there is just no substitute for seat time, and I agreed with him, on the assumption that the last thing I need is to be staring at a monitor a few inches from my nose playing a simulation game.
But that was before I ran across this in a catalog. It would be a lot of money, but it seems that this set-up with a large flat panel monitor on the wall in front of it, at a strategic height, could be very beneficial in forcing me to practice looking up and forward while driving on the track. I also like that this unit has dolby surround sound via speakers attached to the frame. I could even wear my helmet to make the experience as life-like as possible (OK, now I'm starting to scare myself..)
What do you guts think about this? There must be some type of formula or rule of thumb for how large the screen should be, based on its distance from ones head, to maximize the sense of "immersion" in the experience. Of course, the screen can't be too big, or you'd lose some of the image past the boundaries of your peripheral vision.
The other side benefit I see from this is that it could be a way to get my kids, and maybe even my wife, interested in racing, which would make the trips to the track more of an inclusive family activity. Plus it could only help hone their (mainly the kids, not my wife) future driving skills.
Thoughts? As I said, this will be a very expensive set-up, since I imagine the optimal screen size would be quite large. Any suggestions as to where (and when) to get the best price on a flat panel monitor or TV? Or is this just a total waste of money? Thanks.
But that was before I ran across this in a catalog. It would be a lot of money, but it seems that this set-up with a large flat panel monitor on the wall in front of it, at a strategic height, could be very beneficial in forcing me to practice looking up and forward while driving on the track. I also like that this unit has dolby surround sound via speakers attached to the frame. I could even wear my helmet to make the experience as life-like as possible (OK, now I'm starting to scare myself..)
What do you guts think about this? There must be some type of formula or rule of thumb for how large the screen should be, based on its distance from ones head, to maximize the sense of "immersion" in the experience. Of course, the screen can't be too big, or you'd lose some of the image past the boundaries of your peripheral vision.
The other side benefit I see from this is that it could be a way to get my kids, and maybe even my wife, interested in racing, which would make the trips to the track more of an inclusive family activity. Plus it could only help hone their (mainly the kids, not my wife) future driving skills.
Thoughts? As I said, this will be a very expensive set-up, since I imagine the optimal screen size would be quite large. Any suggestions as to where (and when) to get the best price on a flat panel monitor or TV? Or is this just a total waste of money? Thanks.
