Sim Center
In San Francisco, California, Joey the Cat's Arcade offers a unique racing experience with motion simulators and virtual circuits. As a Sim Center, it provides an immersive environment for racing enthusiasts. With 23 nearby tracks within 75 miles, the area is a hub for racing activity. Call (415) 869-8661 for the current schedule, as hours are limited to Thursday evenings from 5:30-10 PM.
Know Before You Go
- Booking model
- Sim centers sell rig time by the hour ($30-80 per seat) with multi-hour and league packages discounted. Reservations recommended — popular rigs sell out evenings.
- Hardware tier
- Look for the rig spec before booking: direct-drive wheel (Fanatec / Simucube / VRS) and load-cell pedals are the modern minimum. Older belt-drive setups feel toy-ish.
- Title library
- Most centers run iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione, and rFactor 2 as the staples. Some add Gran Turismo or RaceRoom. Ask which platform is loaded for your slot.
- League nights
- Centers run multi-week league seasons in iRacing or ACC for $150-400 with a fixed rig schedule and championship points. Great way to meet local sim racers.
- First-time tips
- Sim racing is much more sensitive to inputs than arcade games. Start in slower cars (MX-5 cup, GT4) before jumping into open-wheelers — and stretch your shoulders.