Driving frame/seat for wheel & pedals.

Has anyone used either the "Video Interactor" made by G & C Engineering, or the "F1 Dino Chassis" from Ballracing Developments? They are both F1 style frame & seats which you attach your steering wheel and pedals to, for that *real* feel while you are driving your sims. (Yes, saddo that I am, I'm considering getting one!) 8-) The Video Interactor is around 100.00 (mass produced and it looks cheap?) & the Dino Chassis is around 600.00 (hand built and looks very professionals and sturdy?) I'm leaning towards the cheapo purely cos money's tight, (or I might even attempt to build one or adapt the cheapo myself if I get really desperate!) but want opinions from any other happy users that might be out there, or info on any other similar products? 8-) NB: Apologies if you read this elsewhere...... *Peter* 8-) (NB: remove asterix to e-mail)

Quoted text (8 lines)

>Has anyone used either the "Video Interactor" made by G & C >Engineering, or the "F1 Dino Chassis" from Ballracing Developments? >They are both F1 style frame & seats which you attach your steering >wheel and pedals to, for that *real* feel while you are driving your >sims. (Yes, saddo that I am, I'm considering getting one!) >8-)

(or I might even attempt to build one or adapt the What I have done is to buy a used car seat from a breaker's for 15, then I mounted it on to an old hifi stand lying front up on the floor infront of the desk. I removed the right hand side drawer's from the desk and installed the pedals at a slight angle in the space. The wheel then was too far from the seat so I had to extend the desk using a piece of MDF. This has proved to be a solid system and above all a comfortable way of racing, although slotting your legs in can be tricky:-). Ian P

>Has anyone used either the "Video Interactor" made by G & C >Engineering, or the "F1 Dino Chassis" from Ballracing Developments? >They are both F1 style frame & seats which you attach your steering >wheel and pedals to, for that *real* feel while you are driving your >sims. (Yes, saddo that I am, I'm considering getting one!) Me too. Do you've any URL? Or other information? BRD has also announced a "flat pack" which uses a kart seat. Do you've any information about that? The "Dino" is to big for me, no way I can store that thing if needed. Remco

Hmmm, I was thinking of maybe buying a decent car seat from a breakers yard, and bolting it to a steel frame, maybe made from angle iron "L" pieces? I want it to be adjustable though, not just one size? and I've got two different wheel and pedal set-ups (T2 & F1 Sim) and may get yet another (ECCI?) so the wheel and pedal mounts have to be adaptable too? What? me? fussy! Nahhhhhh! 8-) -- *Peter* 8-)

No, but... A-ha! Funnily enough, I was thinking about buying one myself. I had noticed that my steering wheel and pedals (OK, they are only cheapo ones!) move around far too much when I'm playing and wanted a solution. But... I saw the price, and, well, they are not really worth it, are they?! So, my solution was to build my own! I found an old nest table, and hacked off two of the legs, fitted two more at a different angle, mounted the pedals, and 'sort of' made a seat. Lovely! I've got it all screwed to the floor, so nothing moves an inch. I could do this, because it's all in the loft. I suppose it depends on your situation. I'd recommend you try DIY, before spending /that/ much! -- Richard. "Cellophane flowers of yellow and green. Towering over your head."

the wheel and pedal mounts The pedal base is adjustable for angle (using a few screws from the side, The seat I got came complete with the slider's and the mechanism so it slides fore and aft about 10 inches . Friend's between 5foot 2 and 6 foot have found it comfortable to use. You could use different MDF bases to swap the different wheels, just use G clamps. Ian P

Lots of Guys Posting about a seat/wheel/pedals/F1 pod... AHA! Is it just me, or am I noticing a trend in these posts? That is: The majority of them appear to have UK origins!!! AT LAST!... Brits that are more eccentric than us Yanks! ;-) AH what a feeling! Andre Ming P.S. I confess... it DOES sound interesting... sitting in a modern Ferarri F1***pit replica letting it all hang out at Monza... yeah... that could be fun. As a matter of fact, seeing as I'm a trail motorcycle rider, I have a helmet, riding gloves,etc... shoot... I could REALLY get into my racing then!!! 8^p

No wonder money's tight!! ;-) Have you checked out Wallys page - can't recall the link but he uses a hydrualic ram to tip the seat (fast) for that real accelerate and brake feeling. If your completely nuts about realism (and he admits that he is) it could be just the ticket but *be sure to check the seat travel before sitting in front of your monitor* ....maybe a helmet or six-point harness should be used here... Good luck -- Mike Wallace

I have an ECCI CDS2R. It it designed to be used in the normal position one has behind a computer. The wheel stands rock solid on my desk without any attachment, and I put it out of the way when finished racing. The pedals stand on the carpet without attachment either. They are not upright like in a car, but more horizontal to enable use without strain for someone sitting at a desk. So nothing special is needed to get a stable cofiguration. It might add to the realism when you build it into a more car-like setting though, which is also very well possible, especially with the new CDS4000. If I were to spend $1000,- on something like this, I would go for a good wheel and/or computer, and not mind sitting behind a desk. After a few laps you forget where you are anyway. Regards, Bart Westra

They do not have a website? They are based in the UK.... Ad states... Fully adjustable to fit all ages, Folds flat for storage. G & C Engineering Limited Cobham Road Pershore, Worcs WR12 2DL England Tel (+44 for UK) 01386 554 836

Quoted text (13 lines)

> Lots of Guys Posting about a seat/wheel/pedals/F1 pod... > AHA! Is it just me, or am I noticing a trend in these posts? That is: > The majority of them appear to have UK origins!!! AT LAST!... Brits > that are more eccentric than us Yanks! ;-) AH what a feeling! > Andre Ming > P.S. I confess... it DOES sound interesting... sitting in a modern > Ferarri F1***pit replica letting it all hang out at Monza... yeah... > that could be fun. As a matter of fact, seeing as I'm a trail > motorcycle rider, I have a helmet, riding gloves,etc... shoot... I could > REALLY get into my racing then!!! 8^p

I agree big time! Racing is much more fun in a real race seat with harnesses, helmet, fire suite, etc.... Here is a picture of my seat in use! [link lost in import: /:8080/racing.jpg] Rick "Before calling tech support, check your machine for an installed copy of BACK ORIFICE" LuvNASCAR(R) on TEN Me and my sim racing setup: [link lost in import: /:8080/racing.jpg] Me and my real racecar in REALVIDEO format: [link lost in import: /:8080/realvideoserver/race.ram]

Quoted text (22 lines)

> > Lots of Guys Posting about a seat/wheel/pedals/F1 pod... > > AHA! Is it just me, or am I noticing a trend in these posts? That is: > > The majority of them appear to have UK origins!!! AT LAST!... Brits > > that are more eccentric than us Yanks! ;-) AH what a feeling! > > Andre Ming > > P.S. I confess... it DOES sound interesting... sitting in a modern > > Ferarri F1***pit replica letting it all hang out at Monza... yeah... > > that could be fun. As a matter of fact, seeing as I'm a trail > > motorcycle rider, I have a helmet, riding gloves,etc... shoot... I could > > REALLY get into my racing then!!! 8^p > I agree big time! Racing is much more fun in a real race seat with > harnesses, helmet, fire suite, etc.... > Here is a picture of my seat in use! > [link lost in import: /:8080/racing.jpg] > Rick

LOL! Good one Rick... that was great! Talk about taking this SERIOUS!!! 8-)

Hi, Seen the F1 DINO and sat in it. Sure looked and felt good. Very comfortable sitting position and authentic. Can't wait to get mine. The Video interactor sounds crap! Vince

The following was not written by xpecta... I'm not sure how much you're talking about money-wise, but I built a really cool flight/racing sim "cockpit" that I just love to death..It's fairly bulky, but if you have your computer in a seperate room all to itself, it's well worth the trouble and cost. You can also easily unhook the rig and put it somewhere else if you really want to, but I haven't done that yet. It just involves unbolting the roll cage from the steel frame, and both parts can easily go through most doorways. Here goes.. 1st, I got an old, large go-kart rollcage frame, and built a wooden frame for the bottom. You actually have to step into the thing. The wooden frame is pretty solid on the bottom, it's 2x4" boards running width-wise.. On the floor, there are a set of Thrustmaster rudder pedals for flight sims, and you can easily switch them out with V3 pedals (or whatever else you want) for racing. The nice thing is, there is an adjustable platform at the bottom where your feet go, so you can tighten up the pedals and adjust them for your body. Really nice, IMO.. 2nd, I got an old Recaro-type (not real Recaro, mind you) seat from a junkyard, and bolted that on a pair of steel runners, so you can adjust the seat's depth. Behind the seat is a powered subwoofer from the stereo, and mounted on the upper left and upper right support columns of the cage, there are the satellite speakers. (Remote control for the stereo fits under the seat. On the left hand side, there is a small platform that swings in place (hinges bolted to the frame) that you can set your throttle on, which also has a clamp to hold it steady. On the right is the same thing, used for the joystick. In the middle, the "dash" if you will, there is a flat drafting board, also attached to the frame, that you can either rest a keyboard on, or clamp your wheel to the middle, and still have the keyboard a bit over to the left or right. It's about 3 feet wide. Above, there is a black canvas top, and black canvas tie-down flaps on the sides and back so you can basically immerse yourself in the***pit, with only the front being the open part. I don't use this setup for anything but flight and racing sims, and the very occasional FPS. My other computer works better for that. The front of the "cockpit" can be altered to have a monitor brace/stand, but mine is open, and I use my Seleco VT130 for the screen.. It gives me a GREAT picture of about 9 FEET diagonal, from floor to ceiling.. The***pit is positioned so that the screen is basically all I can see from the***pit without looking out from the front of the cage when the flaps are down.. Most people will probably want to use their monitor for this, though.. Total cost involved (but WELL worth it, IMO): Wood for the frame: probably around $75-100, with the 4x4" base frame boards being the most expensive part... Miscellaneous clamps for KB, throttle, and joystick: $15 Dark Grey indoor/outdoor carpet for interrior of***pit: $30 Roll cage for***pit frame: $150-$200 Recaro-type seat: $50 Canvas for shade-flaps: $30 Glue, nails, bolts, etc. etc. etc. : $20 Pioneer VSX-501, Bose AM7 speakers: $700 give or take.. Seleco VT130: You don't even *WANT* to know... Any other connecting wires, joysticks, throttles, pedals, etc. you can throw in yourself.. Even discounting the surround system and projection video, you can probably make one of these yourself for around $400, depending on your tastes. All you need is some time, patience, and a bit of skill, but trust me, it's WELL worth it. I've got the plans of the one I made, if anyone else wants to give it a try.. E-mail me, and I'll scan them and send them to you. Ben -={ To get my real email address, remove the NOSPAM }=- SPAMMERS!!! Read this!!! No spam for me! Unwanted, unsolicited commmercial email WILL be dealt with.. And, why the hell do you even bother sending the shit if you don't include your own return address?

You really really really really really really need to get a life. :-)~

Quoted text (31 lines)

>> Lots of Guys Posting about a seat/wheel/pedals/F1 pod... >> AHA! Is it just me, or am I noticing a trend in these posts? That is: >> The majority of them appear to have UK origins!!! AT LAST!... Brits >> that are more eccentric than us Yanks! ;-) AH what a feeling! >> Andre Ming >> P.S. I confess... it DOES sound interesting... sitting in a modern >> Ferarri F1***pit replica letting it all hang out at Monza... yeah... >> that could be fun. As a matter of fact, seeing as I'm a trail >> motorcycle rider, I have a helmet, riding gloves,etc... shoot... I could >> REALLY get into my racing then!!! 8^p >I agree big time! Racing is much more fun in a real race seat with >harnesses, helmet, fire suite, etc.... >Here is a picture of my seat in use! >[link lost in import: /:8080/racing.jpg] >Rick >"Before calling tech support, check your machine for an installed copy >of BACK ORIFICE" >LuvNASCAR(R) on TEN >Me and my sim racing setup: [link lost in import: /:8080/racing.jpg] >Me and my real racecar in REALVIDEO format: > [link lost in import: /:8080/realvideoserver/race.ram]

Life begins at 200 mph! <g> Rick "Before calling tech support, check your machine for an installed copy of BACK ORIFICE" LuvNASCAR(R) on TEN Me and my sim racing setup: http://carpenters.dynip.com:8080/racing.jpg Me and my real racecar in REALVIDEO format: http://carpenters.dynip.com:8080/realvideoserver/race.ram

You really, really, really, really, need to learn to use your computer! (Multiple, multiple, multiple, post problem there, eh Bunkie?) ;-) Have Fun... Andre