11/6/2025 – 21 Cents A Day Saves An iRacer – Episode 0509
iRacers Lounge Podcast – Conversation Topics
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Opening Audio Clip -“Your listening to the iRacers Lounge Podcast where we discuss everything iRacing, in a casual setting, enjoy.”`
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- Welcome to the iRacer’s Lounge, I am your host “XXX”. iRacer’s Lounge is a podcast for the iRacer, where we talk all things iRacing in a casual setting.
- Joining me are the usual characters, ————
Show Introduction
On today’s show we will close out the 2025 IRLP Fantasy NASCAR League, take a deep dive into the big problem with sim racing, which driver credits iRacing for his race finish at Phoenix, is there a fix coming for the current FPS issues?, what is Next Gen FFB?, Has Asetek left you confused, take a tour of Sim Lab’s warehouse and Black Friday deals already?
And remember you can follow along with us on your PC or mobile device in real time as you listen to the show and see for yourself all of the great topics and products we’ll discuss by visiting iracerslounge.com and selecting show notes. Hope to see you there..
TITLE SPONSOR READ:
https://www.premierracingsetups.com/
Special Guest
Kris Krandall
Topics
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!
A New Perspective On Off-Tracks
https://boxthislap.org/iracing-a-new-perspective-on-off-tracks/
Take Advantage Of These Discounts
https://www.iracing.com/blackfriday
USE CODE
PR-BFEM252Y
A Problem Some Won’t Admit
Gamer Muscle argues that high-end sim racing equipment is at a point of diminishing returns and cannot fix fundamental flaws in simulator software.
Blame on Content Creators The video concludes by placing some blame on YouTubers and influencers (including himself) for creating a “religious hyperfixation” on minor differences between equipment through endless reviews, which distracts the community from the more important software issues [11:44].
The “Elephant in the Room” The central argument is that expensive sim racing hardware, such as direct drive wheels and motion rigs, cannot magically fix fundamental physics or force feedback issues within the simulator software [00:35]. The hardware is beholden to the reality of the simulator’s code.
Hardware Exposes Software Flaws The speaker contends that high-end equipment, like a costly direct drive wheel, doesn’t make a sim more realistic; instead, it often serves to emphasize or “describe” the existing flaws in the software [02:14]. For example, in a popular sim like iRacing, the hardware merely highlights the need to drive preemptively due to the car’s unrealistic behavior at the limit [01:21].
The Analogy of Diminishing Returns The video uses a hi-fi audio analogy to explain the concept: if you play “white noise” on a £100,000 stereo, the result will still be white noise—”garbage in, garbage out” [03:55], meaning the quality of the software is paramount. The speaker notes that high-end DD wheels are now deep into the “carbon fiber hockey stick zone” of diminishing returns, where improvements are minimal [08:07].
Focus on Software Improvement Instead of new hardware, the focus should be on improving the fundamental racing simulator software, such as how tires behave at the limit, balancing cars in slip, and developing better online ranking systems [08:17].
A Call for Software-Centric DD Wheels The speaker suggests that the future direction for direct drive wheels should be in telemetry-based force feedback and advanced software features (e.g., understeer effects) that can complement the sim, rather than endless minor motor technology tweaks [10:07].
Jimmy Broadbent: Sim To Reality
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQcMiJfgjIK/?igsh=MWxmMnk3NzU0ODRjeA%3D%3D
I Raced With SVG
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQgdhZ_ERYb/?igsh=NHJydmxidm84aDll
Christmas Is Around The Corner
https://simracelife.com/products/ask-about-my-rig-t-shirt
How Many NM And Why
The Core Problem: Sim vs. Reality
The creator, drawing on his real-world karting and GT driving experience, explains that sim racing does not perfectly replicate the forces of real driving [01:48].
- Real-World Racing: Drivers feel crucial feedback (e.g., tire load, slip, and weight transfer) intuitively through sustained G-forces and vibrations [02:04].
- Sim Racing: Since sustained G-forces are absent, the steering wheel’s force feedback (FFB) shaft is the main source of input for feeling the car’s load [04:47]. Sim racing often simulates this load by making the wheel feel unrealistically heavy, which requires more powerful wheelbases [05:16].
The Power Paradox
The video contrasts low-power wheelbases (e.g., the Turtle Beach Velocity 1 at ~3 Nm, which is deemed not enough for serious racing [01:17]) with high-end wheelbases (25–39 Nm).
- Hardware vs. Software: The main argument is that while direct drive hardware has advanced quickly, the sim software has not kept pace [06:01].
- Inconsistent Experience: Running a very powerful wheelbase often leads to a poor experience because different sim titles (like iRacing, LMU, or ACC) handle the load differently [06:40]. This forces the user to constantly dial in and limit the output in the software, which can be a “headache” [09:26].
- Fatigue and Unrealism: Running high power can make the driving experience unrealistically difficult and fatiguing. Real-world GT cars, which use power steering, are often smooth and controlled, not a constant physical fight [07:35].
The Case for Mid-Range Sim Gear
The speaker suggests that mid-range wheelbases, like those in the 8-10 Nm range, are often the best all-rounders [09:01].
- Simplicity: Mid-range wheels can be run at 100% power with minimal setup effort, providing a good experience with few configuration headaches [09:34].
- Value: The price gap between powerful direct drive wheelbases (21 Nm) and lower-powered belt/gear-driven wheels (5 Nm) is shrinking, which will tempt more users toward high-power gear [11:46].
The video concludes that while more power can be better, it is not strictly necessary [08:26] and often introduces more complexity than a good mid-range wheelbase.
Sim Racing Is No Longer Fit For Purpose
The term “sim racing” is no longer fit for purpose because the hobby has grown into a massive spectrum of conflicting interests [00:23]. The creator suggests that when one person says “sim racing,” they are often thinking of something completely different from someone else [00:37].
The spectrum of sim racing with three primary focuses:
- Esports (Ultimate Performance)
- This group aims for the ultimate exploitation of getting a virtual car around a virtual track as fast as possible [01:41].
- Realism can be sacrificed for speed through exploiting track limits and setups [01:50].
- The focus is on reducing variables, meaning they are often not interested in features like motion rigs or VR, which can introduce distractions or inconsistencies [05:42]. The video notes that some world champions will even drive in third-person view for better track limit exploitation [06:51].
- Puritan Racing (Pure Wheel-to-Wheel Competition)
- This focus is on the core, addictive rush of clean, wheel-to-wheel racing and competition, trying to outwit and overtake opponents [02:28].
- The speaker notes this was his original perspective, where he focused on consistency and reducing variables to lap every time within a tenth of a second [04:58].
- Ultra Immersion & Emotion
- This group prioritizes a raw, powerful, and emotive experience over lap times [04:13].
- This involves investing in high-end gear like six-degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) motion rigs and powerful wheelbases to physically feel the car [04:25].
- A subset of this group seeks ultra realism, demanding the most accurate sounds, detailed car interiors, and strictly driving from a cockpit view [06:36].
C Fixed Prepared Me For This Moment!
How To Get Started
Well…How Long?
Down For A Bit
Schedule Voting Time
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/87908/2026-season-1-schedule/p1
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/87906/2026-season-1-schedule/p1
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/87907/2026-season-1-schedule/p1
Who Was Faster?
Dad ended up being a little less than a tenth quicker!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQps823Esu_/?igsh=MTRxOGoxazEzbWNkZg%3D%3D
Team Redline And Coanda Grab Opening Wins
Possible Fix Coming #SOON
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/87938
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/comment/743612#Comment_743612
Free Swag!
PRI Sim Racing Arena Is Back
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZ8JjuiezS/?igsh=ZXVwdXl0eXM5cGJ5
Winter iRacing NASCAR Series Returns
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/87904/winter-iracing-nascar-series-wins-returns-for-2025
Suzuka 1000km
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/88095/2025-suzuka-1000-km
This Week In iRacing
https://www.iracing.com/this-week-in-iracing-november-4-to-november-10-2025
Podcast Housekeeping
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Fantasy
Hardware/Software
Elk 6DOF Gforce Motion
https://www.wowoelk.com/index/index/index
Qubic QS-H13 Seat mover
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQPYl1CiZOj/?igsh=OTRxZnZ3MW9jcWIx
FFB 2.0 = New Daily Driver
VRS Next Gen FFB
https://www.instagram.com/the_realvrs/p/DQrLfUuDYtY
ARK Dynamics At The Sim Racing Expo
Asetek Has Left Me Confused
SPARCO At Walmart?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sparco-008011ZNR-Circuit-II-Carbon-QRT-Racing-Seat-Black/1540634647
MOZA R25
Wave Lynx 2.0
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQWqeVxCI0r/?igsh=Mmw5a3B4cTByZ25h
Sim Labs Warehouse Tour
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FZJ2aJ1by/
Martini Racing By ASR
Stage 1 Pro Simulator
Custom Red Bull Sim Rig
Results
NASCAR iRacing Series
Friday Open – NiS – Phoenix
- David – P5
- Chris – P 14. Top split. Went a lap down after staying out late under green flag stops hoping for a caution. P14 for a SOF of 4500 is not too bad. The NiS season ends with my first 2 career wins, 6th place in points for Div 2, and a 4000 iR. I want to thank Premier Racing Set-ups, iRacers Lounge Team, and Sim Wraps for a great season. Already thinking of the Daytona 500 in Feb.
Official Series
Ring Meister
- Mike – P bought the new car the Audi 90 GTO first race top split started dead last 28th made my way up to finish P 13. What a fun powerful car one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on Iracing love it.
- Start a dead last 23rd out of 23 got to fifth by the end of lap one but then later I stuffed it in the wall and fell back to finish P9 still a fantastic first lap man that’s a blast
- Started dead last again P 22 finish P4. I got blisters on my hands and had to wear gloves this time.
- Started fourth got the third wrecked myself in the banking U-turn thing. Fell back to ninth recovered ⅖.
- Start at seventh going up the hill I tried to pass a guy on the right ended up in the grass trying not to hit him and then I was slow as the people came rushing by I got creamed DNF
- P2
IMSA
- Hall – P4 high finish at monza
- Brad W – P12 – Wrecked Monza – What looked to be an ok race ended early on when a car was turned behind me coming into the hairpin only to slide and hit me. Leaving me with 9 minutes of damage. This track hates me.
League / Hosted Races
IRLP Winter Series
Week One – Daytona
- David – P3
- Justin – P2
- Brad – P17 Was running in p3 when iRacing decided to lose connection. Again, never dropped from Discord or any other internet based application. Came back and was two laps down but had two speeding penalties after that. I had a great time driving and trying to solve all of NASCARs problems.
- Chris – P11
- Greg -P5
- John – P21
- Kris – P19
Grass Roots Racing
GTP/GT3 League – Monza Endurance Race
- William W – P4 – Maybe had a chance for 2nd but I took tires like a dummy on the first stop. Cold track had no wear. Came out of pits about 4 seconds ahead of 3rd and 4th but spun it in turn 1 on the out lap. Lost about 8 seconds and dropped to fourth. They started to fight and I thought I could catch them but a lapped car got in the way and I lost the draft. Was never close after that until the end of the race. Good result but sabotaged myself from better.
- Brad W – P Last I think. I had a horrible qualifying and started very deep in the field. I was pushing very hard to try and gain some spots early on and just ran out of talent. Lost the car and took out some other drivers as well. I’m in a rut that is making this not as much fun as it used to be.
- David – P ya’ll tell me the damn schedule!
Elbows Out Racing League (LMP2 and GT3 Wednesday Nights)
- William- P13 – got wrecked on lap 7. Was running 6th and got a huge run on 5th out of ascari. Went to what would have been inside of parabolica and he decided he was going to squeeze me. I did come off the right shoulder slightly so not sure how the stewards will see it but it was just silly racing by that guy. I had caught him by 3 seconds over the last 4 laps and there was no way pass wouldn’t have finished by the end of the straight before iRacing glue took over and I flew into the wall.
Final Thoughts
Words Spoken in Closing Audio Clip -“”Thank you for listening to the iRacers Lounge podcast make sure to go subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Google Play, Facebook & Twitter, See You On The Track .”
TITLE
- 21 cents a day saves an iRacer
Description
On today’s show we will close out the 2025 IRLP Fantasy NASCAR League, take a deep dive into the big problem with sim racing, which driver credits iRacing for his race finish at Phoenix, is there a fix coming for the current FPS issues?, what is Next Gen FFB?, Has Asetek left you confused, take a tour of Sim Lab’s warehouse and Black Friday deals already?
So sit back, relax and join us on the iRacers Lounge Podcast.
iRacers Lounge Podcast is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play Music, Spotify, Soundcloud, Podbean, Spreaker, Podbay, PodFanatic, Overcast, Amazon, and other podcast players.
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