A DIY USB gear stick for PC racing games

If you’d like to add a gear stick to your virtual race car, then Oli Norwell has just the project for you.

His USB device extends a joystick with a length of threaded rod through a custom-cut wooden plate, restricting movements to a 1-5/reverse/neutral layout. The shifter is held in different gear positions using magnets, in order to keep it from automatically springing back to center.

An Arduino Leonardo reads the switch states, and passes along the shift positions as a simulated joystick in HID mode. Possible future improvements include extra buttons, mode selection switches, and even an LCD screen for feedback.

Check it out sim-driving in the video below!