Driving simulators for DE

I have the budget this year to add simulators to my program. I am seriously considering the DT software from STIsim. They recommended sim-seat for the hardware. Any of you have experience with them or another company? Would most likely use Logitech wheel and pedals (inverted) plus 32 inch monitors. I can afford two set ups including software. Thanks, George

Do they help that much? We have a couple megabucks simulators that are impressive show pieces the jury seems to be out on how helpful they are.

I used IRacing and a Logitech in 2009 when learning new tracks when I raced Skip Barber MX-5. It was a huge help getting me up to speed. I also work for a company that makes engineering driving simulators. I used ours to learn how to race wrong..er...front wheel drive after racing Miata's for years. It was a very big help.

Wall-e wrote: Do they help that much? We have a couple megabucks simulators that are impressive show pieces the jury seems to be out on how helpful they are.

Research indicates that they can be used in conjunction with a good DE program. They can compliment what the instructor does. They can be used to put students in situations that might be to dangerous or hard to plan on the street. As an assessment tool initial research indicates that used properly a student can work on issues with decision making and habit forming. There is no replacement for actual seat time, but supplemental seat time in a sim can add to the learning experience. Any pilot I've ever talked to has given simulators a thumbs up. It's a way to practice situational awareness in a safe and controlled manner. Other industries and professions do this. Why shouldn't DE?

My sim experience has vastly helped my real-world abilities IMO. For example, I had turned thousands of laps virtually, but never been to a track day once. Even so, I learned to heel-toe first in a sim and kind of mucked with it on the street sometimes, but when I went to the track it all came naturally.

I was with other first timers, but I was running laps around them. It all felt pretty natural to me.

Second example. I've never "drifted" in real life, but had messed around with it on the Sim and gotten pretty decent at it. I literally hopped into my buddy's prepped car and started doing it as if I had been doing it for a long time. Lots of people were amazed it was my first time.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/wZ0Py5eMH6I

I'm not bragging or saying its natural talent. Rather I'm chalking it up to having learned the concepts virtually. Its almost EASIER real-world because you can feel what the car is doing, and you arent going strictly off visual cues.

Desmond wrote: Its almost EASIER real-world because you can feel what the car is doing, and you arent going strictly off visual cues.

I've wondered about that at times. In real life, I'm pretty good at knowing exactly where the corners of my vehicle are, but whenever I drive video games it feels like a crap-shoot. I have three game systems and haven't touched any of them in years... Even the XB360 I bought off this forum some time ago.

I know this isnt your original question but I thought a lot about simulators for DE when I was doing DE in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, I couldn't think of a good way to integrate them into the program. Sure, if I had 15 simulators, I could've done a few hours in classroom time, but if I only had one or two then I can't do the whole class (or half the class) at the same time.

In WI, simulator time would not count for behind the wheel time. So if the sim time isn't classroom time, and isn't behind the wheel time, then it is just extra time, which none (or maybe like 1-2 per year) of my students would've elected to do.

So how are you planning to integrate the sims into your training program?

CGLockRacer wrote: I used IRacing and a Logitech in 2009 when learning new tracks when I raced Skip Barber MX-5. It was a huge help getting me up to speed. I also work for a company that makes engineering driving simulators. I used ours to learn how to race wrong..er...front wheel drive after racing Miata's for years. It was a very big help.

the beauty of learning to drive (especially from scratch) with a FWD, compared to a RWD ..is the ability to approach a corner, brake hard, pick your turn in, and then pretty much just stand on the throttle … as opposed to the RWD having to roll on the throttle, and modulate the throttle as the rear tries to step out .. all the FWD does is try to understeer, … too much ? a slight lift and the car will tighten up the track out …

FWD in the long run won't go quite as quickly as the RWD, but does tend to be easier to learn to get close to 100% out of it

In reply to Robbie:

I have class time and in car time. When not in class or car students are in study hall. It would be a requirement of students to do Sim time opposite their in car time. They would be tasked with completing any number of specific drives relative to the skills they would be learning or are having difficulty with. I need not be present for Sim time. The reports are pretty thorough. Students would have to attain a certain proficiency to move on.