Beyond Sim Racing: Creative Everyday Uses for Simulators

Tony Kanaan

You’ve spent hours, days, maybe months, and yes, a little bit of your paycheck, building the simulator of your dreams. The perfect seat, a wheel that shakes like a demon, pedals more sensitive than a lie detector… you set it up, you test it, you jump in, you race.

And after a couple of hours of pure adrenaline, what happens? The simulator just sits there, staring at you, as if saying: “So, now what, champ?”

The funny thing is, many discover that the simulator is not just for racing. It’s like those expensive pieces of furniture you buy for one purpose, and then realize they’re useful for everything. A kind of Swiss army knife with pedals and a racing harness.

Some have turned it into their personal refuge. Yes, a place to read, relax, or even meditate. And it makes sense: those seats are designed to hug you while you survive impossible turns at 250 km/h. Of course, they can also hug you while you flip through a book or try to breathe deeply to forget about work stress. A simulator turned into an improvised yoga studio.

Others share it with family. And here’s where things get both cute… and a little chaotic. Kids see it as a magical chair for bedtime stories, dogs claim it as their official bed, cats demand it as their imperial throne.

sim dog friend

Yes, friends: you bought an ergonomic seat with side supports, and what you really got was a cradle for your pet. That’s what I call a solid investment.

What really cracks me up are the unexpected uses. Some confess they use it to eat, drink, or watch movies. “Why not?” they think. After all, you’ve got the comfy position, the improvised cup holders, and the feeling that even while watching a romantic comedy, you’re just about to enter Le Mans.

Others use it as a clothes rack, which honestly seems like the perfect definition of what happens with any object at home: sooner or later, it ends up holding laundry. Doesn’t matter if it’s a treadmill, a stationary bike… or a fake Ferrari cockpit.

cockpit dog

The funny part is, after hearing all these stories, you realize something: the simulator isn’t just a gaming setup, it’s a piece of everyday life. It’s the spot where someone competes, but also where another one relaxes, where the pet snores, and where clothes pile up. And that’s what makes it special.

Deep down, I think that’s the magic. We buy these machines chasing speed, realism, and adrenaline, but what we end up finding is something more human: a space for calm, laughter, and connection.

So next time someone asks you:

“Why did you spend so much on a simulator?”,
you can proudly answer:

“For everything, except only racing.”


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