How to Choose the Right Sim Racing Setup in Los Angeles & Southern California

Building a serious sim racing setup can get complicated quickly.

Choosing a wheelbase and pedals is only the beginning. A complete simulator also has to account for the chassis, seating position, displays, PC, mounting, cable management, hardware compatibility, software configuration and future upgrades.

For sim racers in Los Angeles and Southern California, there is another option besides ordering everything online and figuring it out after the boxes arrive.

Focus Sim Racing designs and manufactures FSR sim racing chassis and accessories in Southern California, builds complete Focus Factory Team turnkey simulators, and operates a showroom in Santa Clarita just north of Los Angeles where you can experience sim racing hardware before deciding what belongs in your setup.

Whether you want a complete turnkey racing simulator, a curated performance bundle or an aluminum profile chassis you can build yourself, the right starting point depends on how you want to use the simulator—and how much of the build you want to handle yourself.

Three Ways to Build a Sim Racing Setup

Most dedicated sim racing setups fall into three general categories:

1. A complete turnkey racing simulator
2. A curated sim racing performance bundle
3. A custom build based around an aluminum profile sim racing chassis

There is no single correct approach. Your available space, hardware preferences, driving goals, budget and how involved you want to be in the installation should determine which direction makes sense.

Turnkey Sim Racing Simulators in Los Angeles

A turnkey simulator is the most complete approach.

Instead of independently sourcing a chassis, direct drive wheelbase, steering wheel, pedals, displays, gaming PC, mounts, cables and accessories, the simulator is planned as one complete system.

At Focus Sim Racing, our Factory Team simulators are assembled, configured and tested by our team in Southern California before delivery.

The goal isn't simply to put compatible hardware together. It is to make the entire simulator work together as a system.

A modern high-performance racing simulator may combine hardware from brands such as MOZA Racing, Simucube, Asetek SimSports and Fanatec, depending on the driver's goals and the level of the build.

That can include:

• Direct drive wheelbases
• Load-cell and advanced pedal systems
• Ultrawide or triple OLED displays
• High-performance gaming PCs
• Motion systems
• Telemetry-driven haptics
• Audio systems
• USB and power management
• Custom mounting solutions
• Software configuration

As a simulator becomes more advanced, proper integration becomes increasingly important.

Focus Factory Team Systems

Our Focus Factory Team lineup starts with Grid, Precision and Victory.

Grid and Precision use MOZA Racing hardware as the foundation, while Victory moves into flagship hardware from Simucube.

These systems represent different levels of performance and immersion, but they are starting points rather than limits on what can be built.

Your simulator can be planned around your room, preferred hardware, driving style and performance goals.

For customers in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California, working with a local simulator builder also gives you the opportunity to visit the showroom, compare systems in person and talk through your build before making a major investment.

Custom Sim Racing Builds in Southern California

One of the biggest advantages of working with a local sim racing shop is that your simulator doesn't have to begin with a predetermined parts list.

We can start with the driver instead.

Some drivers may prefer the broad ecosystem and value of MOZA Racing. Others may be looking for a Simucube direct drive system, an Asetek SimSports setup or hardware from Fanatec.

The right choice depends on the complete simulator rather than simply choosing the brand with the largest number on the specification sheet.

Some of the questions we consider when planning a simulator include:

• What types of cars and racing do you enjoy?
• How much room is available for the simulator?
• Do you prefer a single ultrawide display, triple monitors or VR?
• What sim racing equipment do you already own?
• Are you planning to add motion?
• How much adjustability does the simulator need?
• Will multiple people use the simulator?
• Do you want to assemble it yourself or have the entire system built and configured?

Performance Bundles: The Middle Ground

Not everyone needs a completely finished simulator.

There is a large middle ground between buying an empty chassis and ordering a fully built turnkey system.

Our sim racing performance bundles combine compatible chassis and hardware into a proven starting point while still allowing you to assemble and finish the simulator yourself.

Examples range from combinations built around MOZA direct drive wheelbases to higher-end configurations using Asetek SimSports hardware.

This removes one of the most difficult parts of building a sim rig: figuring out which major components make sense together.

Build Your Own Aluminum Profile Sim Racing Rig

For many sim racers, building the simulator is part of the hobby.

If you already know what hardware you want—or expect your setup to change significantly over time—an aluminum profile chassis provides a strong and highly adjustable foundation.

Focus Sim Racing designs and manufactures its FSR sim racing chassis in Southern California.

The lineup includes three main platforms designed for different levels of build.

FSR Eighty

The FSR Eighty uses 40x80 aluminum profile and provides the rigidity and adjustability of a dedicated profile cockpit in a compact package.

It's a strong starting point for a first dedicated sim racing rig or installations where available space is an important consideration.

FSR One Twenty

The FSR One Twenty uses a 40x120 platform and is designed for drivers who want additional rigidity and room to expand.

It is well suited to systems using hardware such as the MOZA R12, R16, R21 or R25 families, as well as direct drive systems from Simucube and Asetek SimSports.

FSR One Sixty

The FSR One Sixty is our flagship aluminum profile chassis.

Its 40x160 construction is intended for more ambitious systems using high-torque direct drive wheelbases, high-force pedals, advanced accessories and motion systems.

If you're planning a high-end simulator and want a chassis with significant room for future expansion, this is where we start.

Choosing a Wheelbase

The wheelbase is one of the biggest decisions in any sim racing setup, but maximum torque alone shouldn't determine which one you buy.

For example, MOZA Racing offers direct drive wheelbases covering everything from compact entry-level systems through the R16 Ultra, R21 Ultra and R25 Ultra.

Simucube focuses heavily on high-fidelity force feedback and premium direct drive systems, while Asetek SimSports offers several direct drive platforms ranging from La Prima through Forte and Invicta.

The best wheelbase is the one that fits the rest of the simulator, the type of driving you do and the level of force feedback you're actually looking for.

Pedals Can Matter Just as Much as the Wheelbase

Pedals are another area where buying purely from a specification sheet can be misleading.

Our sim racing pedal collection includes everything from conventional load-cell systems to more advanced solutions.

You can also explore dedicated ranges such as MOZA Racing pedals or pedal systems from Asetek SimSports.

Brake feel, adjustability, seating position and how much force you want to use can matter more than simply buying the most expensive pedal set available.

Built in Southern California

Focus Sim Racing isn't only a retailer of sim racing equipment.

Our FSR chassis, mounts and accessories are designed, fabricated and assembled by our team in Southern California.

That gives us direct control over the products we build and allows us to develop components around the same real-world simulators we assemble every day.

It also means customers throughout Los Angeles and Southern California can see many of these products installed on actual racing simulators rather than evaluating them solely from online photos and specifications.

Try Sim Racing Gear in Los Angeles Before You Buy

For Southern California sim racers, this may be the biggest advantage of having Focus nearby.

Our Focus Sim Racing showroom is located in Santa Clarita, just north of Los Angeles.

Instead of purchasing a wheelbase, pedals or complete cockpit without ever using them, you can compare different sim racing setups in person.

You can experience hardware from brands including MOZA Racing, Simucube, Asetek SimSports and other leading manufacturers alongside our own FSR chassis and complete Factory Team simulators.

Drivers visit us from throughout the greater Los Angeles area and Southern California to see and test sim racing equipment in person.

For a deeper look at the showroom, read our guide to trying sim racing gear in Los Angeles at Focus Sim Racing.

So Which Sim Racing Setup Is Right for You?

If you enjoy researching hardware, assembling components and continuously upgrading your rig, start with an FSR aluminum profile chassis and build the simulator your way.

If you want to assemble your own system but would rather start from a combination of hardware that already works together, explore our performance bundles.

If you want the complete simulator and would rather leave component integration, assembly and configuration to someone else, explore our Focus Factory Team turnkey simulators.

If you're still deciding between hardware, browse our MOZA Racing, Simucube, Asetek SimSports and Fanatec collections—or come experience different setups in person.

Visit Focus Sim Racing in Santa Clarita

If you're looking for a sim racing store, showroom, racing simulator or custom sim rig in the Los Angeles area, visit Focus Sim Racing in Santa Clarita.

You can see complete simulators, compare hardware, experience different chassis and talk directly with the people who design and build Focus Sim Racing systems.

Focus Sim Racing
20717 Centre Pointe Pkwy
Santa Clarita, CA 91350

Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Saturday: By appointment

Shop Focus Sim Racing products or start planning a turnkey simulator.