You have never done this before.
That is the normal case.
Here is exactly what happens, from the moment you book to your last lap. You do not need any experience, and someone is with you the whole way.
Before you arrive
Booking is the hardest part, and it takes two minutes. Pick your date and time, choose how long you want to race, and you’ll get a confirmation and a reminder.
- What to wear
- Comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. Nothing special.
- What to bring
- Just yourself. Everything you need is already here.
- Parking
- Available near 100 East 2nd Street, Suite 103.
- How long
- An hour is the sweet spot for a first visit. Thirty minutes and two hours are also available.
When you arrive
Someone will be here to take care of you.
When you walk in, one of our team members will greet you and get you checked in. You’ll have a few minutes to take in the space: the simulators, the screens, the lounge area. Then we’ll get you set up.
If it’s your first time, we’ll walk you through everything. How the rig works, how to adjust the seat to fit you, what the pedals feel like, and what to expect when you pull out of the pits for the first time. We do this with every new driver because the first few minutes make the difference between a great session and a frustrating one.
You are not on your own. Not for a single second of it.
Getting set up
From arrival to the seat in about five minutes.
-
01
Pick your car and track
Before your session starts, you’ll choose what you want to drive and where you want to race. Not sure what to pick? Tell us your vibe and we’ll point you in the right direction. GT3 race cars to production vehicles, and tracks from Road America to the Nürburgring to circuits you won’t find anywhere else.
-
02
Get comfortable in the rig
The simulator seat is fully adjustable. We’ll help you dial it in so the rig fits you, not the other way around. Once you’re settled, you’ll get a feel for the wheel and pedals before the session starts. It takes most drivers about two laps to find their rhythm. Some find it immediately. Either way, we’ll be here.
-
03
Your first lap
The first lap is always the one people remember. Take the first couple easy and build speed as the track starts to click. Get a feel for the braking points, learn where the car wants to go. By lap three or four the corners stop surprising you, and that’s when you realise just how realistic the drive is.
During your session
Once you’re in, the outside world disappears.
Your session time is yours. Race alone and chase your personal best. Race head-to-head with whoever else is on the grid. Try a new car on a track you have never seen before. There are no rules about what you have to do: just time, a wheel in your hands, and a track ahead of you.
Our team is always nearby if you want a pointer, want to switch cars, or just want to know what that corner is called. For new drivers we tend to stay close, but only as long as you want us there. You set the level of help, we follow your lead.
The lounge
Racing is better with an audience.
Between stints, there is plenty to do. Hang out in the lounge, watch the other drivers on the screens, trash talk your friends about their lap times, grab a drink, and wait for your next turn. Grid Lounge is built to be a place you actually want to spend time, not just a row of machines you pay to use and leave.
Watching someone else drive is its own kind of fun. You will spot their mistakes before they do. You will call out the corner they keep missing, the braking point they are leaving too late, the line they keep getting wrong. The trash talk writes itself.
First-timers, afterwards.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect before showing up. To my surprise, I had a lot more fun than I anticipated!”
“What a blast!! I had an idea it would be a fun hour, but boy, that turned out to be a mental and physical workout too!!”
“Helpful employees to get even the most inexperienced set up and going. Overall a cool environment.”
Questions people actually ask.
Do I need any racing experience?
None at all. The majority of people who walk through our door for the first time have never touched a racing simulator. Our team will walk you through everything before your first lap. The learning curve is part of the fun, and most first-timers are surprised by how quickly it starts to click.
Is it physically demanding?
More than you’d expect, honestly. You’ll be braking hard, turning into corners, and staying focused for the full session. Your hands will grip the wheel tighter than you think. By the end of a solid hour, you’ll have used muscles you forgot you had. One of our regulars put it best: sweaty palms and sore feet from the brakes.
What if I crash or make a mistake?
Nothing breaks, nothing gets damaged, and nobody judges you. Mistakes are part of how you learn. The car resets, you carry on, and your next lap is usually better because of it. We have watched drivers go from spinning out on every corner to stringing together clean laps in the same session.
Can I just watch if I don’t want to drive?
Absolutely. Come with a group, cheer your friends on, and decide if you want to jump in. The lounge is a great place to spend an evening even if you never touch the wheel. That said, most people who come to watch end up booking a session.
How long should I book for my first visit?
One hour is the sweet spot for a first visit. It gives you enough time to settle in, find your rhythm, and actually start improving before the session ends. Thirty minutes goes fast once you’re in the seat. Two hours is great if you know you’re going to love it, and most people do.
Still reading? Just book it.
An hour is the sweet spot for a first visit. Thirty minutes goes fast once you’re in the seat.