This one is for the folks aspiring to be Ricky Bobby one day. Tennessee’s first premier simulator racing lounge has opened on Hixson Pike — SpeedHub Sim Racing.
Owned by Jerry Preisel, who also founded Chattanooga Cars and Coffee in 2012, this spot is bringing high-speed racing to the city in a more affordable and safe way.
Gearing up the equipment
All simulators were designed by Nashville-based company Podium1 + are set up with iRacing software, allowing you to choose from 160+ cars and different race tracks.
There’s also one simulator that can be used for aircraft simulation installed with Microsoft Flight Simulator. Preisel said that an F-16 pilot even thought the simulator was better than what he had on base.
I got to take a test drive on a GT3, and as a newbie to the racing world, I think I fared pretty well. Some pro tips to keep in mind for your first session:
- Get comfortable with two-foot driving since you have to alternate between braking + accelerating quickly.
- Keep an eye out for the “ghost car” — if it passes you, it means you were going faster on the track during the previous lap.
- Follow the arrows as much as you can (and take turns slow + easy).
- Weekdays around 12 to 4 p.m. are prime times for walk-ins — pricing starts at $30 for 30 minutes.
Membership + leagues
Race car enthusiasts might want to check out the different tiers of memberships offered to enjoy perks like better rates for racing times, discounts, and more.
SpeedHub also offers weekly League Nights Monday-Thursday where each night has a different theme. Races will be from 7 to 8 p.m. + you only pay for 30 minutes versus the full hour. You might just see me take on a Ladies Night one of these days.
Bonus: Keep an eye out online for upcoming Hot Lap + Endurance events offered — the space can also be rented for private events.
Preisel said he also plans to show F1 and other races, movies + sports games on a projector to make the space a community hub for all — including working with Rally USA in the near future.
“It’s not just a place where drivers come in to drive,” he said. “We really want to try to make this place kind of feel like a garage where people go to hang out.”
