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  The GameRacer came about following a vague conversation at a post-race lunch in the harbour of Monte Carlo in October 2002 (see pic). Disappointed to have finished 5th for the third year running in the Monaco Cup Endurance race, Berry (far left) was stuffing his face with a large bowl of ice-cream when the conversation turned to driving games, and how good they are these days.
Being an avid gamer, Berry explained that with major advances in peripherals technology, an excellent virtual racing experience was achievable in the comfort of one's own home. Berry then asked Poole (far right) to make him a frame to which he could attach his steering wheel and pedals. After some ridicule from the assembled team, Berry explained that although such units were already available, he considered them unsatisfactory and too expensive.
 Some weeks later, after considerable thought and planning, Poole produced the first prototype GameRacer, fitted it with Logitech peripherals, and went hunting his daughter's Playstation. Ted is an accomplished racer but having never played video driving games before he was completely surprised by the experience Colin McRae Rally 3 offered. He was totally hooked and stayed in the GameRacer for hours doing stage after stage.
The original prototype was (and still is) used as a mule for testing revisions, and Berry got the second unit made. He now rarely gets out of it.
Then people started ordering them. Poole explains, "Drivers would be coming to the workshops for their kart parts. I'd let them have a go in the GameRacer and that would be it. I'd never get them out of it." Within two months Poole and Berry Ltd had taken 50 orders and went into production. Since then the response from the media has been incredible, and 5-10 GameRacers per week are now sent to driving enthusiasts all over the world.
The Design Brief
The design brief for the GameRacer was simple:
- It had to be lightweight, yet strong and stable.
- A driver of any length should be able to get completely comfortable so that he/she can play for hours. Therefore, the steering wheel and pedals had to be independently adjustable for reach and angle.
- To be practical for home use, it should be easily foldable for storage.
- It had to support the best steering wheel/pedal sets currently available.
- And it had to affordable.
The GameRacer is designed around the principle of a single 'stretcher bar' upon which the  adjustable pedal and wheel supports are fixed. To quote Poole, "It had to be a single rail, because from a design objective it cannot be bettered. A two rail system would just add weight, increase size, and be more difficult to adjust as one side will always catch. It's a no-brainer."
The GameRacer's design replicates the driving position used in karts and racing cars the world over. Berry says, "A designer will always try to get the driver as low as possible to reduce the centre of gravity. We have done the same with the GameRacer, therefore maximising stability. I've seen some driving simulators where the seat is way up in the air. With your legs at that angle, it must be more like driving a bus, nothing like a race-car."
Given Poole and Berry's background, the use of a kart seat was obvious. They are supremely comfortable, light and strong. Tillett seats are used in GameRacers quite simply because they are the best. Ask anyone who knows anything about kart racing. The seat is fixed in one position on the GameRacer because it is ergonomically designed to be at that specific angle.
 The cleverly designed GameRacer is the only system of it's genre that folds up effectively with the steering wheel and pedals still attached. Berry comments, "It had to break down and fold up quickly for effective storage. It's ridiculous to assume that your average driving enthusiast has a room that he can devote to video gaming. Also, we wanted it to be transportable so you can take it to a friend's house. I've seen all sorts of supposed solutions on other simulators but I'm convinced we have the ultimate design. I can fit six complete GameRacers in the back of a small hatchback car!"
Company Registration Number: 04589157
VAT Registration Number: 805 5933 24
Director: Edward Poole
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