Chasing the Ultimate Lap in a 360-Degree Full Motion Racing Simulator from Alibaba

Edwin Olding stood in his garage, his Facebook Marketplace-sourced forklift buzzing like a 1960s monster, ready to open a container that had just crossed the ocean. He spotted the item on Alibaba months before: a full motion racing simulator that spun 360 degrees in all directions. It was a gamble to say the least at $7,000 (plus $3,500 for shipping and customs).

Wood creaked as he opened it up, revealing a black and angular cockpit on wheels with wires running like veins. It was about six feet long, wide enough for one seat, but packed tight and most importantly, already built (minus the screens). Olding lowered it down using plywood ramps he had cut himself, avoiding the mess of cables underneath. The rubber feet had shifted in transit and paint had scratched along the edges but nothing was broken. He slid it over the concrete floor, the casters whispering promises of easy adjustment later.

Screens came next, three flat panels that would wrap around the driver. Olding had to delicately balance each one as he screwed them in, while his knees were jammed into the dash by the seat, which was bolted in with a single belt. A Logitech steering wheel sat on top, basic but solid, with pedals that clicked beneath. The speakers were hidden in the frame, ready to roar with engine sounds. Below the seat, two large powered cylinders waited, one for each axis of movement. A big gear in the center would complete a full circle turn, while the cylinders regulated forward and backward motion.

The power had to be handled with care because it was meant for 220 volts and he only had 120. Olding cut and attached a plug himself, using the seller’s only bad pictures. The HDMI cables were pre-routed through the frame and into a small computer inside. He flipped the main switch, a red one with a lock to prevent accidents, and the fans turned on before the screens showed him a boot screen in Mandarin.

The first lap started with the brakes and the whole thing dipping forward, cylinders humming. The gas was squeezed and it went up and leaned into the turn. Then the spin, which was a full 360 degree turn as the virtual car went through the hairpin. The cables didn’t snag thanks to some clever routing in the base. Olding’s grip tightened, the seatbelt digging into him as the gear crunched beneath him. The exhaust sound was bass heavy and the speakers thumped. The lights along the edges glowed blue and cast shadows, like night racing under the stadium lights.