How to set-up your Sim Rig like a racing car: seat, pedals & steering!

[@Polymer]

This is the BEST video on 'sim rig seating position' and general set-up on KZbin!!! Not only showing it (with the help of Robert sitting in the seat) but with good explanations with EXACTLY what's going on. Thanks for this video! 👍👍👍

[@alexfontana1873]

Thank you, I appreciate it! Happy if it can help 🙏

[@kb5057]

@Jonas Jonaitis who is BM?

[@PresidentScrooge]

Ive gotten my alu rig recently and was looking for the best explanation of seating positon, because I wasn't quite comfortable. And this is so far the best explanation out here. Very clear, very straight to the point and showing examples. And as it turns out, what you get into at 3:13 is exactly why I wasn't comfortable and what I need. The only criticism I have is that you could've gotten more into detail on how to position the pedals.

[@alexfontana1873]

Hello! Gald it helped 💪 you are totally right, we could have said so much more about it and if I had done it today, there would have been much more info as I've made a new rig myself and find out more stuff. Thanks for the feedback!

[@danut05]

@@alexfontana1873 you can always do a V2 video on the seating position:))

[@jarrodclyne707]

Been looking for something like this for ages! Thank you.

[@umarism081]

Does the heel need to be rested on the pedal baseplate or let it float? Which is better?

[@alexfontana1873]

I reckon both heel should rest, except the heel of the brake foot that potentially would move up when you brake really hard. In sim racing where most people use weak pedals or a soft setting, you may see some people having the heels always in contact with the base. But on a real car with a stiff pedal brake, if you apply more than 100 bar you would probably have the foot lifted as there is quite a bit of travel also.

[@goodlookinouthomie1757]

I have my sim rig set up as though I'm driving a lawn mower. I really need to take some of this advice.

[@alexfontana1873]

Ahah I feel you mate! Have a try and let me know how it goes 👌

[@evanhunterblbier]

Coming back to this video as its a great resource. What height do you think your monitor should be relative to eye position.

[@alexfontana1873]

Hello! Sorry for the late reply. I believe the center line of the windshield of the car should be straight to your eyes, or slighly above. I hope that helps!

[@OhItsThat]

Are there any bottom mount seat brackets that have angle adjust. And possibly work with a slider?

[@alexfontana1873]

Hello! Angle adjust not that I know off, they are mostly with holes and you need to change it yourself. But most one piece seats come with a slider to go back and forward

[@deaosatori216]

how do u find the super ultrawide monitor? i cant see the driver side mirror in mine, maybe i have fov wrong?

[@alexfontana1873]

This one was Rober's sim, at home I have a triple. Personally I don't like it very much. I suppose if you don't have a lot of space or you don't want the hussle to get 3 super expensive small monitors then is a good solution.

[@Username_Invalid]

It is quite good with TrackIR setup right. With TrackIR you feel connected to the car and can look into the turns.

[@AyoMrB]

Thank you for this! My Evolve rig comes in tomorrow for my V3i and AF V2. Can't wait to finally upgrade from my wheel stand and T150. I think I will be using the lowest in the back and highest in the front as well for the seat. Just on the ground not mounted to anything, that angle feels really nice with my OMP HTE-R 400. I have a lot of lower back pain with my office desk chair and wheel stand because it's so upright and the chair always wants to rotate, but I know this is going to be a night and day difference. Excited to have a proper setup!

[@alexfontana1873]

Absolutely you will like the position, the lower back will have a lot of support! Let me know how it goes👍

[@AyoMrB]

​@@alexfontana1873 Setup went great! Unfortunately, couldn't use lowest setting with highest front tilt. The OMP seat is too big on the bottom for the holes to line up to use it like that. Middle in the back and top in the front works really well though and provides plenty of angle. Any more angle and I think it might cause leg circulation problems, so maybe not an issue after all. Love it so far 👌

[@alexfontana1873]

Great very happy to hear! Enjoy

[@vividpsychosis8222]

So I have a p1x and hk sprints with that same baseplate and slider. I get left knee pain after an hour long race at 50kg on the brake pedal. What should I do? Raise the pedal plate? I have my seat already with back at the lowest and front st the highest. Even have lumbar support so my back is flat against the seat at all times with no space

[@alexfontana1873]

Yes, definetely raise the pedals. If you are running with the seat already titlted backwards but the pedals aren't high enough, the leg will be too much bent and therefore when you press hard on the brake the knee cap gets too much stress and pushes outward causing pain. The higher and more in line the ankles will get, the less knee pain you will suffer.

[@reptileracing]

thank you for this video, it really helps! maybe you can also answer this question: i got tennis elbow, what do you think how can i prevent this? should i get closer or further away from the wheel? (have now about a 50-55 degree angle)

[@alexfontana1873]

Got it! When it happened to me in the real car was mostly because the steer was too close to me, and maybe even too low. The less bent are your arms, the less elbow pain you will get. By raising a bit the steering, the shoulder will help part of the rotation, taking off stress from the arms and potentially elbows. I hope it helps

[@reptileracing]

@@alexfontana1873wow, you are fast! thank you very much!

[@josephoh2176]

Thought that guy in the cockpit was sleeping

[@gtrp-hadesracing512]

thank you! good explonation as well in the comments. go on 👍

[@alexfontana1873]

Thanks mate!

[@Jeckaa84]

Tnx for this

[@alexfontana1873]

You are welcome! Happy it helps

[@_m.a-x]

Can you elaborate on the height of the steering wheel? I've seen multiple sources suggesting different heights. I personally own a round wheel and having the top of the wheel at the nose level seems quite high for me. While an F1 style wheel mounted to the same base will give a much better viewing angle due to its shape. So what should be that "measurement" point - the center or the top of the wheel? Is there a rule of thumb for the position? Some sources suggest the top of the wheel between the shoulder and mouth height - but are they referring to F1 wheels or round? So confused %-()

[@alexfontana1873]

Hello! I reckon the ultimate position is really up to your licking or car you normally use. I reckon that a round wheel is often use for drifting, rally, nascar and touring cars. All these categories tend to bring the steering wheel quite a lot closer to you and as you said, quite high in front. Normally that is annoying only if your fov and seating position and camera angle isn't right: on a real car you should look out far ahead in front of you, 100 meters away, not in front of your car's nose. If you set your view this way you won't notice the steering wheel so much in your way. But ultimately if your shoulders do not hurt, you can as well lower it and see how it feels. Same for distance. If you check one of my other videos you will see my distance from the steering and is pretty much what I like in reality too. Closer than that my elbows hurt. More far away I do not have a quick feeling on oversteers and car control.

[@gjdriessen1]

Great video, but should the left leg and knee not be more in line with the brake pedal to avoid knee problems? Know your left leg needs to reach out to the right.

[@alexfontana1873]

Thank you! Yes that is up to personal preference, many times in real racing car that pedal position isn't adjustable as is made to please also who brakes with the right foot. A good life hack is to place a piece of sponge, coushin or anyway thick material between the seat and your left thigh, so that the leg gets across to the right without effort.

[@gjdriessen1]

@@alexfontana1873 thanks for the quick response. How would a cushion or sponge help to get the leg across better?

[@alexfontana1873]

@@gjdriessen1 because the leg gets inclined to that direction without effort, so despite isn't perfect you don't get fatigued by holding the left leg to the inside to match the pedal position, but it's already pushed there without you doing anything 👍

[@its-kapucha]

Nothing about pedal height in context of seat height?

[@alexfontana1873]

I realized we could have gone a bit further on that just when I edited. If you keep a seat position like the one we showed than I suggest you raise your pedals as well. Robert had something in between a touring car and a F1. Dtm, lambo gt3, singleseeters have pedals quite high, but to be confortable with that you need to lay down your back a bit more. Your knees should stay at around 120 degrees angle. If you keep your pedals to low you may suffer of knee pain, and unless you keep a very straight seat and back you won't be able to press the brake hard consistently. I hope this helps.

[@its-kapucha]

Alex Fontana Thanks a lot. What do you mean knees 20-30 degrees angle. Angle beetween what?

[@alexfontana1873]

I mean the angle between your femoral and calf. Basically from under your knee looking down, while you are seated. The more your pedals are low and close to you, the more your knee will get to 90° degrees like you are seated in a chair at the office. The more your legs are straight the more you will have less degrees of angle, if that makes sense

[@dubtube6691]

I have somehow the same position (same rig) but I always get problems with my neck. I tried everything but couldn't solve it

[@alexfontana1873]

Hello! Maybe you can try the in-game seating position. Higher with the seat, but pointing lower with the FoV, or vice versa. Sometimes our eyes are tricked by the screen and they try to look up or far away, moving our neck forward in a wrong spine position (same as when we look down to our phone or at the computer screen for a long day). You can also try to tape a coushin just behind your head so that you can rest it while driving.

[@dubtube6691]

@@alexfontana1873 Excel exactly this is the issue how you describe it. The neck moves forward

[@danut05]

Some angle measurements wold be helpful

[@parischarles]

great video mate, really helpful 👍🏼

[@alexfontana1873]

Thank you, appreciated!

[@evanhunterblbier]

Great video, do you prefer using the formula wheel for GT racing?

[@alexfontana1873]

Thanks mate! You can find the link of my steering wheels in description. Robert uses the formula, I use a similar wheel to the one of the audi r8 gt3, the Sparco F10. In general a formula wheel for high down force gt car is fine. A full circle one is more confortable, in my opinion, for touring car/rally/stockcars/drifting/classiccars

[@kinangeagle133]

Does Robert own a corvette?

[@alexfontana1873]

Not that I know of, I own a C4 1988

[@shorty808100]

I gotta pick up the load cell brake and h pattern shifter to finish my setup off

[@alexfontana1873]

Step by step!

[@RichardHaynie]

Any advice on pedal angle?

[@everythinggaming7938]

It is very subjective keep moving it till you feel comfortable

[@alexfontana1873]

If by pedal angle you mean how much the single pedal is inclined, then you should place them in a position where your toes don't need to be forced back all the time when you are not using that particular pedal. If say the pedals are inclined toward your seat way too much, you will feel cramps and pain between the ankle and the knees because you need to force your feet backward when not pressing.

[@alexfontana1873]

If instead you meant pedal position : I realized we could have gone a bit further on that just when I edited. If you keep a seat position like the one we showed than I suggest you raise your pedals as well. Robert had something in between a touring car and a F1. Dtm, lambo gt3, singleseeters have pedals quite high, but to be confortable with that you need to lay down your back a bit more. Your knees should stay at around 120 degrees angle. If you keep your pedals to low you may suffer of knee pain, and unless you keep a very straight seat and back you won't be able to press the brake hard consistently. I hope this helps

[@petercollins4918]

Good info, shame about the music ruining the engine sound.

[@everythinggaming7938]

0:50

[@jeanmarclevy9413]

Hi great idea to explain most of people run with wrong position. Just my opinion your fov is not correct with a 49 screen fov is more than 35 to 40 More, top of dashboard game is too high your friend must to lift the head Adjust virtual seat.. Regards

[@alexfontana1873]

Hello! Glad you liked it. Yes indeed that was just provisional as my friend was planning to go on triples anyway :D

[@Garage885]

FYI Audio balance is important. having voice a normal level then songs absolutely blasting makes me want to immediately close the video.

[@alexfontana1873]

Thanks for the info! I have absolutely zero clue how to do a video, before these I was only capable to open and close a folder, so the edit quality it's a bit random