rec.autos.simulators

Bought a T1 about a year ago and I've had very little use for it, because
I can't figure out a way to securely affix it to my desk.  (A nice desk,
one I don't want to permananently affix velcro to!)

Anyone come up with a fix that works adequately?  Best I've been able to
come up with is buying one of those business card clear plastic desk
overlays, but that only works for a couple of weeks.  Am considering just
buying a finished slap of wood at a hardware store to place on my desk,
but doubt that that'll stay in place either.  Help!

--
David A. Byerman          
Independent Management Consultant; Director, G.P.C.C.P.
(Specializing in Transportation and Environmental Policy Issues)

        Dave, I heard someone on here a while back mention the way I have
        mine set up.  Go ahead and get that piece of wood, I have mine
        attached to a piece of unfinished plywood, using the velcro strips,
        that is about 2 feet wide and 9 inches deep.  It fits on there rather
        nicely.  Then I use 2 small "C" clamps to clamp it on to the desk
        top.  It keeps the desk top nice and is easily removable for when
        you want to use the desk for other things.  I also have an under-
        desk drawer for the keyboard.  This is nice also, in that if I have
        to get to the keyboard while the wheel is attached to the desktop
        I can pull it out a little bit and use it.
        Hope this helps.  Happy motoring!

        Ron(Buckster Express)-------->

 I made the mistake of using the velcro to lock mine down to my desk. Don't get
me wrong this works great. It would take a crane to lift my T-1 off the desk.
But to use the keyboard it bites. The damn thing rocks around like a rowboat in
state 5 sea. If you could put it on a piece of glass or a smooth surface and
lay it on your desk this might work. The velcro also has a habit of picking up
every piece of fuzz and debris that blows around the house. Didn't know I was
losing that much hair..:-]
Just my 2 cents,
Jim

This is a little more involved, but I absolutely love the way it works.
I have a high back office chair (exec style with arms).  The arms simply
do not prodtrude forward from the back, there is the arm that goes
forward from the back and then it drops down to the seat at and angle
about like this / if you were to view the chair from the side.
You with me so far?
This arm assembly is made out of wood (with upholstered tops of course)
I have made a plywood plate that I have screwed the T1 to, and uprights
attach to the plate and are set at the with of the chair arms.  I drove 4
pole barn nails into the uprights (2 on each side) and cut off the heads.
These 'pins' stick out of the uprights about 3/4 inch.  They index with
holes I have drilled into the chair arm uprights and I latch the assembly
down with simple chest latches from the hardware store.
I took care to get the height of the wheel right for me and and my hands
rest perfectly on the wheel as my elbows touch the chair arms.  It's an
'in-your-chest' Nascar style configuration and I LOVE it.  100% races
with little or no fatigue, plus I can rotate and rock back and the wheel
never moves from it's orientation, just like it never moves in relation
to your car seat.  My back is nicely supported and so are my arms.
I strongly suggest mounting the wheel to your chair instead of your
table.  Sure this is somewhat radical, but not nearly as much as building
a whole damned***pit!
Go to a used office supply place and find an old high back, auto
seat style office exec chair that gives you a surface to mount to and go
for it.
(somehow I think I'm goind to end up taking a picture of this thing,
scanning it and posting it!!)

MMc

Do you mind affixing something else to the desk first? I have a plexiglas piece,
approx. 15"x24" 1/4" thick(heavy stuff). it has *** feet from Radio Shack on
the bottom, and I affixed it to the desk with 2 small screws. Stuck that special
velco to that. the wheel never moves, if I want to get it out of the way, the two
small holes are all that is noticable. Actually, you might be able to get away with
even just the plexi at that thickness, it is unbreakable,inflexible, and heavy, and
the *** feet keep it from sliding around a lot, I just wanted it to not move period.

WAY too skinny, surprised it lasts that long.

Nope, it won't. It needs to stick to the desk somehow. You could also use the method
I mentioned above, and use suction cups instead of *** feet under the plexi.
Just make sure it is thick enough. Go to a home builder place(Menards, Home Depot, etc.)
and find a piece thick enough. You'll need something to cut it to a size to fit on your
desk too; hint: use an electric Jig Saw, and cut slowly! Feel free to e-mail me if
that isn't enough!

Later. -Mark

Industrial Service Engineer.

I have a s***piece of plastic that I put under the computer system.  That
keeps it in place, and I use the suction cups to stick the wheel to the
plastic.  Works GREAT, and deinstalling it is a 15-second job.
--

Brian Wong                              Systems Engineering Group (Servers)

As (possibly) the one that first mentioned the velcro solution (still using it, still
loving it) I can see that you made a couple of mistakes...make sure it's the fuzzy
part that you're sticking to your desk!!!  The hooky part should go on the T1/2...

Second, you gotta have a quality keyboard...I use an IBM PS/2 keyboard...probably
one of the finest keyboards ever made...all 10 pounds of it...the damn thing is
nearly bulletproof!  A lot of machines these days come with lightweight keyboards
that a friend of mine compares to "carved sponge ***".

--
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel..

       Neil Yeatman, Ajax, Ontario, CANADA

I originally found an old coffee table top to use.   This sits on my
desk and leaves room for the keyboard and the mouse.   I have since
built a wooden 'car' to sit in and the T1 and pedals are affixed in
that.   I still use the table top when I visit my freind for direct
connect racing.   I once took the 'car' over to his house - we built
one for him as well - but my Wife says she will never help me lift it
into the car again!

Cheers,

Craig.

if you would like to take a look at the 'car'.

http:\\www.ozemail.com.au/~hoppy1\simcar.html

******************************************************************************

Canberra, Australia

IVL Toys-R-Us #43 Pontiac - Rick Higbee Motorsports

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~hoppy1
******************************************************************************

I took the top cover off the main console of the T1 and positioned it properly
on my desk.  I then drilled a hole straight through the bottom of the T1 and
continued drilling right through the desktop.  I dropped in a large bolt and
secured it with a washer and wingnut.  The whole process took a minute or two
and the wheel doesn't budge!  When I take the wheel off, the hole is covered by
the keyboard.

Sean