Something To Do In Tampa
That Is Not Another Bar
Eight professional racing simulators in a room off Massaro Boulevard. Real wheels, real pedals, real circuits, and staff who get people driving properly inside a few minutes. No experience needed and nothing to bring.
What It Actually Is
This is not an arcade and it is not VR. Each rig, meaning the seat, wheel, pedals and screens together, has a direct drive steering wheel, a proper pedal set and screens filling your vision, running iRacing and Assetto Corsa. Most have a fixed cockpit. One, the Motion GT, sits on a platform that moves.
The wheel pushes back at you the way a real one does. The wheel loads up as the front tires start to slide, you feel the curbs at the edge of the track, and on the motion rig the braking and cornering come through the seat as well. It is closer to driving than to playing a game.
The important part for a first visit is that none of it requires skill on arrival. Staff get first-timers set up and comfortable, with a car and a circuit chosen to suit you. Most people are setting competitive laps inside their first session.
Who It Works For
Two rigs side by side, head to head, with a lap timer settling the argument. It is more interesting than dinner and considerably more competitive. Book two hours if you want it to be the whole evening rather than the start of it.
Birthday parties are one of our most popular bookings, and kids race regularly. For a bigger group you can take the whole lounge, all eight rigs, nobody else in the room.
Florida weather does what it does. This is indoors, which in a Florida summer matters more than it sounds.
Corporate teams book the lounge for the same reason friend groups do. Everyone can drive, the lap times end up close enough to be competitive, and nobody has to be good at it.
If you watch F1, IMSA or NASCAR, you can drive the same real-world circuits you watch on Sundays, in cars of the same type.
Plenty of people book solo, concentrate hard for an hour and leave. Coaching is available if you want to actually get quicker.
What A First Visit Looks Like
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You turn up and get set up
Seat position, wheel, pedals, and a car and circuit chosen to suit you. There is nothing to bring and nothing to wear specially.
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You do a few laps badly
Everyone does. The first few laps are for working out where the circuit goes and how hard you can lean on the car.
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It clicks
Somewhere in the first twenty minutes the car stops feeling random. This is the part people come back for.
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You start chasing the clock
Once you are consistent, the lap timer becomes the point. If you booked with friends, this is where it gets loud.
Not sure what to drive? Our car class comparison covers what separates them, and you can browse everything on the cars and tracks page.
Hours, Prices And Where We Are
Friday and Saturday 2 to 10 PM, walk-ins welcome.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 12 to 9 PM, book ahead.
Sunday 12 to 6 PM, book ahead.
Tuesday closed to the public, members 9 AM to 5 PM.
Sessions start at $40 an hour. Coaching is optional: Basic ($40) puts an instructor beside you for the session, Advanced ($60) adds telemetry review, meaning the recorded braking, steering and lap data.
Full lounge buyout, all eight rigs: $249 for an hour or $449 for two, Sunday through Thursday. $300 or $549 on Friday and Saturday.
1421 Massaro Blvd, Tampa, FL 33619.
Call (813) 355-9071.
An hour is enough to try it. Two hours is better if you are coming as a couple or a group, because you spend the first part learning and the second part racing.
Academy Sim Racing is not affiliated with, endorsed by or licensed by Formula 1, NASCAR, IMSA or any racing series, sanctioning body or car manufacturer. Hours and prices can change. The booking page always shows current availability, and it is worth booking ahead on Friday and Saturday evenings even though walk-ins are welcome then.
Coming From Outside Tampa
We are on Massaro Boulevard in east Tampa.
Brandon, Riverview and Valrico are the nearest neighborhoods, and people also come over from St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Wesley Chapel. If you are making a trip of it rather than passing by, book two hours rather than one so the drive is worth it, and consider adding coaching so you leave having actually learned something.
If you have a track day coming up at a real circuit, our track guides cover Sebring and Daytona and how to use simulator time to prepare.
Book It
Come And Drive
Eight professional simulators at 1421 Massaro Blvd, Tampa. From $40 an hour, no experience needed, nothing to bring.
BOOK A SESSION →Bring It To Your Event
We also take simulators out to corporate days, parties and team events across the Tampa area.
ACADEMY EVENTS →Want the detail first? See our racing experiences or browse cars and tracks.