We’ve said before that F-R Racing is starting with no experience from the ground up and we are going to document every step of the way so you can see our highs and lows during this process. Our hope is that not only do we inspire you to follow your racing dreams, but to not make the same mistakes we make along the way. We really appreciate you supporting us through this process! Our first runs will be an iRacing test drive and eventually, Erik and myself will get on the track together to practice.
Now that the basic equipment is set up and ready to go, it was time to make the first iRacing test drive on a track. For me, it was a no-brainer selecting my home state track of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and driving the current Dallara IR18. Since our goal is to be open and transparent with you, we’re going to share what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. It may not be the right solution, but we hope that you follow along with us on our journey.
The Equipment
As an absolute beginner and not wanting to break the bank into this venture, I am starting off with an introductory Dell Gaming Computer upgraded with a GeForce GT 1030 video card. The video card is good, but definitely has its limitations as it’s not powerful enough for Windows to both run iRacing and record my screen as I go. I’ll definitely be updating my graphics card somewhere in the near future. The racing wheel is a Logitech G920, which is a bit pricer than some of the “off-brand” racing wheels, but still rates very well and is very popular among experienced drivers. Unless you find a great deal, you’ll pay around $200 for the refurbished model and up to $250 for the new model.
Streaming
I’m currently experimenting with an HDMI to USB streaming device that I purchased on Amazon for about $35. My 2020 MacBook Pro, which is my primary computer live captures the iRacing audio and video and in addition, I can display my webcam so you can see my reactions in real-time. We’ll get more into that on a separate post, but in the meantime, head over and follow us!
How Did It Go?
I’d say overall my first iRacing test drive pretty well! The key thing is that I did not end up in the wall! There is definitely a lot to work on from both the driving and broadcasting point of view, but I am extremely happy with my first time out on the track with my racing wheel! I was running laps between about 215-220 mph which would definitely not get me qualified for the Indy 500, but we’ll figure that part out in due time.
In the meantime, check out my first trip out on the track!
iRacing Test Drive Conclusions
Overall, I am extremely happy with how my first trip around the track went, and hopefully, soon I will have the confidence to start participating in events with other drivers. In the meantime, I will continue to do test runs and work on my driving without anyone else on the track. I mean there are enough bad drivers wrecking people and I’d prefer not to be among them! Thanks again for reading this post and head over to our Contact Us page and follow us on your favorite social media!
