The infamous turn 8 and turn 8A combination at Laguna Seca, affectionately called “the corkscrew,” has long been my nemesis in racing games such as Gran Turismo. Typically, I come in too hot, lose control at the start of the first hairpin, slam into the retaining wall, and wreck my very expensive ride—not to mention my chances of winning the race. This time, however, I’ve got a professional driver calmly feeding me tips on how to properly prepare for the corkscrew as I feverishly grip the wheel and pump the brakes. I’m confident...

Wait! Am I going too fast, not fast enough? Should I hit the brakes now? Too late! Once again I sail off the track—feeling every bump, shudder, and grind as I slide across the dirt into the wall...again. But I give myself a break, because this is definitely NOT the latest Gran Turismo I’m playing—this is iRacing: the most realistic motorsports simulation known to man. Time to hit the reset button and try, try again! (Gran Turismo will be easy after this.)

Because it is so hyper-realistic, real-world drivers such as Dale Earnhardt use iRacing to bone up on their skills and learn all the nuances of a given track. I’m no pro (which is all too obvious to the kind folks trying to advise me), but I’m enjoying experiencing the world’s first use of NVIDIA’s 3D Vision Surround with this particular sim—powered by two GeForce GTX 480s in SLI mode.

I’m also seated in Trinity Racing Concepts’ prototype Revolution simulator chassis, which is outfitted with realistic controls, bucket seat, and integrated force-feedback that compliment the tri-monitor 3D display nicely—making you really feel like you’re “behind the wheel.” 3D Vision Surround (and active-shutter stereoscopic glasses) adds considerable depth to the on-screen race track, which is blazing past at 60 frames a second. It’s easy to see how this setup would be extremely appealing, and useful, to amateur and professional drivers—and why it’s got Trinity Racing Concepts’ founder, Jack Ulstad, so excited.

Nestled in a garage bay inside San Jose’s Club Auto Sport—an ultra-cool condominium car facility and club for Bay Area motor enthusiasts—Trinity Racing Concepts has been providing high-end racing simulator packages for serious sim-heads and professional drivers for years. The company was one of the first—and most enthusiastic—3D Vision adopters, and Trinity is now adding 3D Vision Surround to its impressive list of options.

“Our goal is to develop the simulators to the point where they are the most advanced racing simulators you can get anywhere,” says Ulstad. “And we do that by using every element we can get our hands on that’s the most advanced technology—displays, sound systems, force feedback, and now 3D Vision Surround.” (The company plans to offer the setup I test drove by the time you read this.)

Trinity Racing views 3D as one of the most critical components in its simulation pipeline, because of the added realism factor it brings to the experience. The company is a frequent participant in auto shows and race events where Ulstad has witnessed professional drivers that are notable to get around the iRacing tracks in traditional 2D. “However, I get those guys into a 3D setup and they can tell the depth of where they are on the track and where the brake lines begin...and suddenly then can navigate the track with ease— this is were 3D really shines for us,” he says.

And I can see why: After just my short time with the 3D Vision Surround setup, I walked away feeling better prepared to tackle the corkscrew the next time. So imagine what it could do for you—whether you’re a serious driver with professional ambitions or just want to have the ultimate race simulator in your neighborhood!