Microsim Racebase R6 MKIII Cockpit

After successfully racing hundreds of thousands of miles at my desk I thought that personal cockpits were just for show. Now that I've had the opportunity to review the Microsim Racebase I know that having a personal cockpit really does make difference.

Skin Deep and Beyond

I received the Ready-To-Race version of the MKIII and it is truly beautiful. The automotive finish, sleek lines and impressive engineering decisions combine to make the Racebase stand out.

The website says that you can assemble the kit in about 15 minutes, I took at least twice that long. I was really taking my time to make sure that I didn't scratch anything.

Once together, attaching my wheel and pedals was a snap. The pedals sit in place under a swivel heel rest and the steering wheel clamps on just like it attaches to your desk. I tried out a handful of different wheel units from Logitech, Thrustmaster and ACT-LABS and all fit fine in the Racebase.

Part of that impressive engineering touch that you will notice are the adjustability features built into the Racebase. You can adjust the pedal and heel rest angles and the steering wheel angle. The backrest is also adjustable so you can find a comfortable fit. Some adjustments, like the pedal and steering wheel's distance from you, can be adjusted without even getting up.

It will take you a few driving sessions to find the perfect settings, but just the fact that it is possible to be "perfect" is a testament to the Racebase's ability to serve almost any driver.

Plan Ahead

You need to plan ahead a little and think about where you are going to put the Racebase and how you are going to use it. Fully assembled and ready for racing it measures a little over 5 feet long and about two feet wide. Fortunately it folds up nicely into a two-by-two foot cube for storage or easy transporting to a LAN event.

If you don't have a dedicated racing PC (or television) you will also need to think about how you are going to switch back and forth from your desk to the cockpit. I solved this with an old monitor I had laying around and an SVGA A/B switch. My PC can now use either the Racebase monitor or my regular desktop display with a push of a button.

The DIY Kit

If you don't have a large screen TV or a projection system to put the Rasebase in front of I highly recommend tackling the TV/Monitor DIY kit too.

My woodworking skills are very limited but I was able to follow the easy instructions. A little black paint to help hide some of my uneven cuts and when I was done I had a nice stand to bring my monitor right up into perfect viewing position just beyond the wheel. The kit instructions are clear and the kit includes all the hardware that you need. If you can measure, cut and drill without needing to call 911 then you can complete the DIY kit.

The Racing

It took me a week or two of using it to retrain my body to use the correct muscles to race with. I had been desktop racing for so long that my body had adapted to doing it wrong. After getting used to the Racebase I feel more comfortable in the car and believe that I have better control and quicker reaction times. Most importantly, I can race for hours on end in total comfort. No more sore ankles, knees or shoulders from driving my desk!

I didn't expect much from the Racebase beyond the "Wow" factor but was very pleasantly surprised. Yes, it looks cool but more than that it truly does improve your ability to drive. Real race cars have evolved to put drivers in the best position possible for comfort, reaction time and precision. You'll be amazed at the difference the correct posture can make to your racing.

Driving your desk just isn't the same and is hard on your body. The Microsim Racebase solves that problem and puts you truly in the driver's seat.