Sim Racing Machines has been helping support the sim racing community since 2016... Its coming up to 10 years in September 2026.
When I started there were very few major sim racing products and as an enthusiast and racer myself the company was born out of finding solutions to commonly asked for products.
After starting by making full wheels I moved into enhancing the Fanatec eco system with conversion kits and emulators. Throughout this time Fanatec could have stopped me overnight by releasing USB on their wheels and allowing wheelbases to give force feedback wholesale. But in all this time they chose not to.
In the past years though the sim racing market has become very well supported with lots of big companies in the sector. We, sim racers are now spoilt for choice and prices are very competitive. Space for "enthusiasts" is shrinking.
The last year has been especially hard for us at SRM. A combination of new and copy products from China and difficult global trading restrictions has left us struggling to survive.
Unfortunately something has to change as I cannot continue as is.
At the tender age of 60 I feel it is time to start moving towards retirement. As such I plan on reducing the business gradually during 2026.
Now that China has many Emulator products and now Fanatec has launched a budget product as well... the Emulator products I make are not viable. I can't make them as cheaply as others. So i am selling of the stock that I have at great prices just to recover what I can. This was a product that I "invented" and others have followed but i know it has really helped sim racers make the most of their rigs.
You have probably already seen that a lot of products are on sale, many priced very competitively.
My plan is to clear everything on the shop except for the Fanatec conversion kits. These allow Fanatec wheels to work via a USB cable. Currently no one else has worked out how to do this, so I will continue to make these products while there is a need and you guys still want them.
I will scale down the business and try to simplify things while continuing to offer the support and service I always have.
THANK YOU all for your support over the years. I have only ever been here to support you and make enough money to live on. Maybe I can get back to racing again as the business has taken up most of my time for years and driving has suffered (not that i have ever been very good!)
Simon Maltby
5 comments
Hey simon,
thank you for the fantastic products you have created, i have just received my second emulator from you and WOW, this thing is amazing. DIY wheels wont be the same with you going forward as you CAN NOT buy quality from China. you Sir are legend in the sim racing community and hope one day you get a statue. thank you all the way from Tasmania.
Cheers Troy.
PS i would post something on Facebook but i cant find you. all the best in your retirement mate.
Thank you Simon. You’ve built an amazing company which has helped so many sim racers over the years (myself included). Thank you for everything you have done for the community and I wish you the very best in your future endeavours.
Got 20 steering wheels and more than 1/2 have your products.
I prefer your versatile v7 Emulator Pro over Fanatecs UHub v2 and Podium Hub. Hopefully when US gets rid of the idiot in charge, will be more reasonable to order from you.
Thanks for all your help over the years Simon.
Massive respect for what you’ve built over the last 10 years. SRM has genuinely helped shape the sim racing space and a lot of us have benefited from your work and generosity more than we probably realise. Wishing you all the best as you scale things back and hopefully you’ll get more time actually behind the wheel where you belong.
Thank you!