Technological advancements have vastly improved racing video games but if you’re a serious car enthusiast that just can’t get enough, maybe a simulator is what you need. Justin Felix explains.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I wasted a lot of my younger days on arcade games. Gone are the days when my brother and I would splash out $20 of our parents hard earned cash on two hours of non-stop gaming fun at Timezone.
Yep, life was pretty sweet back then.
Now you can’t even rock up with a couple of gold coins in your pocket to have a blast on Daytona. You have to load money onto a card which you then have to swipe in order to play anything. Kids no longer have the opportunity to try and rort the system by gluing two 5 cent pieces together or attaching a string to a $2 coin and using it like a yo-yo down the coin shoot… not that I ever tried or condoned any of these activities.
For those that long for days gone by, don’t despair, a Melbourne-based company has developed a race car simulator for professional race car drivers and car enthusiasts alike.
As is often the case with entrepreneurial ventures, the idea stemmed from a desire to fill a void in the marketplace. For many though – that’s where the dream ends. It’s all good and well to dream big but if you aren’t prepared to put in the time and effort, you may as well hit the snooze button. On the contrary, the successful make dreams a reality thanks to an abundance of hard work and drive. Jack Klaver is one such entrepreneur.
Simworx began its life just over a decade ago when Jack decided that the racing world needed a fully engineered simulator cockpit. It seems his thought process was on the right track as the company has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception. For it to be successful – it had to be done right. Simworx steered clear of the easy route and by doing so the team built a lot more than a cheap plastic unit wrapped around a 30 inch screen.
The simulator had to best replicate on track experience and after eight years of refined development it certainly does. The end product is something he is very proud of and for good reason too.
The sims are Aussie-made and their functionality is unsurpassed anywhere in the world. And this is probably what surprised me most. It was refreshing to hear of an Australian company kicking goals in such a technology driven area.
Simworx operates out of its corporate office in Bayswater North, nestled amongst an industrial park in Melbourne’s east. Like most industrial park facilities, the exterior of the building was fairly nondescript. It provided no indication of the ‘coolness’ that lay within. The interior looked more like an automotive show room than a corporate office. Simulators were sprawled across the deck and a life-size Formula 1 replica occupied a good chunk of the floor space. I hadn’t even left the reception area yet.
A race centre sits behind the reception and the area is decked out with a dozen or so sims. The space allows racers to pit themselves against one another. The centre provides the perfect platform for corporate groups and select club members to compete. It also allows prospective owners to test out the technology and begin to think about their own custom build model. No doubt the employees spend many a lunch time in there too. I got my first look at the SX02 in action when one of the employees, Luke, strapped in to give me a demo. I remarked to Jack that Luke must love his job… fancy having to test racing simulators every day. Despite his professional racing experience, Jack admits that he isn’t the best driver in the office. “Luke and Gareth have taken the reigns, but mind you, they do a lot more testing than I do.”
As I ventured further into the factory it became evident that the simulators weren’t the only replicas here. The workshop which sits at the rear has been designed to mimic a professional racing team. This is where the business constructs SX02 racing simulators as well as simulators for learner drivers, flight, motor sport and promotional events, including full scale interactive Formula 1 cars.
“My passion has always revolved around motorsport and I have competed in Formula Ford, Formula 3 and Formula 2, Series Production Racing and Tarmac Rallies, such as Targa Tasmania and Rally Tasmania. I’ve driven a wide variety of cars,” says Jack. I catch a glimpse of one of his real-life cars as I stroll through the work shop. “The simulators are good but you have to have a real one too,” he mentioned with a cheeky grin on his face. It was a red Ferrari by the way.
It’s safe to say that Jack’s mantra revolves around ‘being the best’.
The simulators boast motion systems, real racing seats, 180 degree vision, Dolby audio, Motec style dashboard, and competition pedals and shifters. “When we develop our products, we aim to re-create – as closely as possible – the environment that a race driver operates in, in a visual and tactile sense.
“A simulator is only as good as the sum total of all of its parts, and we design and test every component until we are satisfied that it is as good as we can get it. Development is always ongoing and future advancements such as motion simulation will be supplied as an add-on for all of our simulators. That way they will never date and those wanting to take it to another level yet again can do so without having to purchase a brand new unit. Software comes pre-loaded with all of the Australian circuits as well as every major world circuit. The circuits cater to most styles too with V8s, Porsche Carrera Cup, F1, rally and GT tracks all included. The simulators work off high end gaming PCs with solid state hard drives and high end graphics cards. Simworx also offer their SX02 owners an annual upgrade pack.
“We have to thank the mod development guys from ORSM and Adrenalin Factor for all of their excellent work in developing Australian circuits and cars for owners to enjoy. Our simulators are built with motorsport and drivers in mind and as such our controls, software and add-ons reflect that,” says Jack.
It isn’t all about functionality though. Looks are far more than a mere afterthought when it comes to Simworx simulators. Jack explained that every simulator was unique to its owner. “Our customers have the units on display and as such they need to look good. They don’t want to be staring at an industrial piece of hardware and we don’t want to supply something that looks like it. We build everything to order with custom colour schemes, graphics, serial numbers and number plates all available.”
During my visit the team were putting the finishing touches on two SX02 simulators that had been custom built for a customer in Sydney. He was building an extreme gaming room in his new house and wanted two sims to add to his arsenal. He’ll no doubt receive a lot of unexpected visits from mates.
The simulators aren’t just finding their way into mancaves though. Professional race car drivers have found great value in the sims too. The advanced technology provides the perfect platform for them to train on tracks around the world, test various settings and sharpen up on their skills. High speed motion systems interact with the software so that the driver feels every gear shift, brake application, ripple strip and corner in a way that can only otherwise be experienced on the track. Recovering from an accident is a lot less painful too – both on the hip pocket and the body. Not to mention the lack of maintenance required.
Simworx aim to maintain pole position amongst the race car simulator pack and after spending a morning with the team I have no doubt that they will.
