WESTFIELD — Start your engines, Westfield! A new high-tech racing simulation lounge, the first of its kind to set up shop in the U.S., has just opened its doors on South Avenue to the delight of racing fans from around the area.
“Apex One is designed for anyone who loves speed, competition, and cutting-edge technology,” the company states via its website. “Whether you’re a seasoned racer or a novice looking for fun, our facility offers an exciting and welcoming environment. With our topnotch simulators and engaging events, every visit promises a new adventure.”
“We’re very excited,” said Shamus Dick, the business’ new owner. “As far as we know, we are doing something that hasn’t been done in the U.S. before. The technology behind these simulators has gotten so advanced that you can literally feel every bump in the road, every sharp turn on the course. It’s wild.”
Apex One, located at the former CVS Pharmacy site near the South Avenue train station parking lot, offers a variety of experiences for users of all ability levels.
“The cool thing about this is that everything is completely customizable,” Mr. Dick said. “We can make these simulations as realistic or as user-friendly as you want. If you’re an arcade gamer who just wants to race your friends, we can do that. If you’re a stock car racer who wants a more realistic, manual experience, we can do that, too.”
The lounge features 22 different, full-motion simulators of varying complexities.
“Our most advanced machines offer six degrees of freedom,” Mr. Dick said, explaining that racers who decide to try out these specific gaming rigs will experience every possible directional movement as the cars fly down the tracks.
“This is basically as close as you can get to the real thing without having to worry about safety waivers,” Mr. Dick said. “The really cool thing is that we can even adjust the torque of the machines to whatever level you want. We can make it feel like you’re driving a sixteen wheeler through the mud without power steering or we can adjust it to be so sensitive that you can basically drive with one finger. It’s all about figuring out what type of experience you want to have.”
The simulators allow users to choose from more than 300 vehicles and over 100 courses.
“You can really feel the difference between the ways that the different cars handle on the different tracks. It lets you have a different experience every time you come in,” Mr. Dick said.
There are no age restrictions to use the simulators at Apex One, Mr. Dick said, but riders will need to be of a certain height to make sure that their feet can safely reach the pedals.
Racers will be charged a fee for each 20 minutes of racing. Once the company is more well-established, Apex One may decide to create membership plans for more frequent visitors.
“We started out thinking we would charge by the hour, but these things can really wear you out,” Mr. Dick said. “This way, people can come in, do a race, and then take a break and hang out for as long as they want to.”
The Apex One lounge is a BYOB establishment, and outside food and drinks are welcome.
“We’re really thrilled to get started,” Mr. Dick said. “I hope everyone feels free to come in and check us out.”
For more information, or to reserve a time on one of the simulators, visit: https://nj.westfield.apexone.eu/.
