When F1 2009 won't do, try the $191K Cruden Hexatech simulator — Autoblog

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/12/2...for-an-f1-fan/

The £120K Cruden Hexatech F1 simulator

Still not sure what to buy for the F1 fan in your life? How about a full size professional racing simulator as used by F1 teams?

The Cruden Hexatech promises the most convincing racing experience money can buy with realistic G-Force simulation and steering feedback.

It comes with software to simulate fast lap shoot-outs, 24-hour endurance races and full championships in a range of disciplines including F1, NASCAR, rally cars and sports cars.

The display is projected onto three huge 42-inch screens. The company say the simulator will withstand hundreds of thousands of kilometres’ use, and should last 10 to 15 years.

Among Cruden’s customers is Nick Wirth, who used it to test his design for the Acura ARX-01 Le Mans car before a real-life example had been built.

Like Wirth’s forthcoming Virgin Racing F1 car, the majority of the ARX’s design was done using Computational Fluid Dynamics rather than wind-tunnel testing, showing the increasing role simulation is playing in car design.

Cruden commercial director Frank Kalff says:

Let’s be clear: this is not a video game linked up to a steering wheel, race seat and pedals. Although easy to operate, this is the exact same equipment used by the top racing drivers and engineers to improve their race craft and evaluate new tracks and car settings. Our simulator and the software it uses cannot be bought in a store.
Frank Kalff

Cruden’s staff will take care of installing the Hexatech IV for you providing you have the necessary 2.3m by 3m of floor space and a 3m high ceiling to fit it in.

For most of us, this is a fantasy purchase we’d buy if we won the lottery or a wealthy relative left us his life savings. You can try a Cruden Hexatech at I-Way near Lyon in France or the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. There will also be a model on display at Autosport International in Birmingham, UK next month.

I bet every rich kid who wants to be an F1 driver will be nagging daddy for one of these now. Those of us who can’t quite afford the £120,000 (€135,000 / $193,000) price tag will just have to make do with Codemasters’ “F1 2009″.

For more information on the Cruden Hexatech see their website.

We give thumbs up to Cruden's reason for building a $191,500 F1 simulator: "Snooker rooms, swimming pools, gyms and cinemas have been done." So there. If you're over waiting for Codemasters to release F1 2009 on a real platform, or waiting for GT5 to ever show up and you have enough money to buy an SLS AMG and several weeks of track time, the Hexatech is waiting for you.

The fully-suspended system can be tailored to provide feedback based on the chassis setup, wheelbase and track, tire and suspension settings, drive train (engine, gearbox, differentials), aero loading, aero draft (slip streaming), steering, brakes and driver aids such as traction control, ABS, and more. It even has seat belt tensioners. And it isn't just for F1: the sim does NASCAR, WRC, and 24-Hour racing, too. Three 42-inch screens, or a projector and a room with at least a 10-foot ceiling will keep you in the action.

If you want one but you don't have that kind of dosh, there's still time to make a wish and be extra nice before Santa makes his final decision. Or you could ask Ferrari if you can borrow theirs...