The hardest part of buying a high-end racing simulator is not the price. It is the choice. A custom rig is a stack of decisions: which wheelbase, which pedals, which wheel, which cockpit, screens or VR, motion or static. Online, you make every one of those calls blind, based on a Reddit thread, a sponsored YouTube review, or a parts dealer who earns more when you spend more. At Maxwell Sim Racing in Irvine, you make them with your hands. We keep eight professional setups on the floor so you can feel the difference before you commit a dollar.
The decision you are actually making
A great simulator is not one product. It is the right combination of parts for how you drive and what you race. Here is what that choice looks like, and where you can test each piece side by side in our Orange County arena.
Wheelbase: how much force feedback do you actually want?
This is the heart of the rig. An 8 Nm base feels nothing like a 20 Nm one, and no spec sheet will tell you which is right for your hands and your wrists. We run direct-drive bases from Simucube, Asetek SimSports, VRS and MOZA, so you can feel the jump in torque and detail for yourself instead of reading about it.
Pedals: the upgrade most people underestimate
Ask any fast driver and they will tell you pedals matter as much as the wheel. The gap between a basic pedal and a load-cell or hydraulic brake is enormous, and it is all in the feel. Compare Heusinkveld, Asetek, VRS and MOZA pedals back to back and you will understand why braking by pressure changes your lap times.
Wheel: it lives in your hands for hours
Rim shape, materials, button layout and quick release all matter when you are racing for an hour straight. Try formula and GT style wheels from Cube Controls, Simucube, Asetek, MOZA, Sparco, Gomez Sim Industries (GSI) and Ascher Racing, and pick the one that disappears in your grip instead of fighting you.
Cockpit: rigidity you can feel under braking
A flexing frame ruins everything bolted to it. We build on serious chassis from Advanced SimRacing (ASR4, ASR6 and ASR Pro), Trak Racer and Sim-Lab, from clean GT frames to full Pro platforms, so you can feel what real rigidity does for consistency and confidence.
Screens or VR: how do you want to see the track?
Immersion is personal. A single 32 inch, triple 34 inch screens, an ultrawide 45 inch, or full VR each change the experience completely. We set them up so you can compare field of view and presence in the same visit and decide what is actually worth it to you.
Motion and tactile: do you even need it?
This is where a lot of money gets spent, sometimes wisely, sometimes not. Feel D-BOX and Sigma motion and ButtKicker tactile feedback in person and decide whether the immersion is worth it for the way you race, before you pay for it.
Eight setups. One visit. Zero guessing.
We keep eight different professional configurations on the floor for one reason: so you can compare them before you buy. That is the whole point. You are not trusting a forum, a paid reviewer, or a dealer who profits from the upsell. You are trusting your own hands. Once you know what feels right, we build your custom rig around exactly that.
Quality, at a fair price
We are sim racers first. We carry the brands we believe in, we set them up properly, and we price our custom builds to be genuinely worth it. No upsell pressure, no mystery, just the right rig for you, built on equipment you have already driven.
Come drive before you decide
Maxwell Sim Racing is based in Irvine and serves sim racing enthusiasts and custom rig clients across Orange County and Los Angeles. Book a session, tell us you are considering a build, and we will walk you through every option on this list in person.
Book your test drive in Irvine today.
Frequently asked questions
Can I test the equipment before buying a custom simulator?
Yes. That is exactly what our Irvine arena is for. You drive the actual wheelbases, pedals, wheels, cockpits and screens you are considering, then build your rig around what felt right.
Which brands can I compare in person?
Direct-drive bases from Simucube, Asetek, VRS and MOZA. Pedals from Heusinkveld, Asetek, VRS and MOZA. Wheels from Cube Controls, Simucube, Asetek, MOZA, Sparco, Gomez Sim Industries (GSI) and Ascher Racing. Cockpits from Advanced SimRacing (ASR4, ASR6, ASR Pro), Trak Racer and Sim-Lab. Plus D-BOX and Sigma motion and ButtKicker tactile.
How much does a custom racing simulator cost?
Custom builds start around $10,000 and scale with the components you choose. Because you test first, you only pay for what actually improves your driving.
Do you serve outside Irvine?
Yes. We work with clients across Orange County and the greater Los Angeles area.
