Steering Wheel

Description

Home built steering wheel for the commodore 64/128.

The steering wheel was taken from an unidentified wreck found in the woods around 1985. My best guess so far is that it was a 1960 BMW Isetta. At least it looks exactly like that one and from what I remember it was a very small wreck indeed.

A ball-bearing was put on the wheel axle to hold it in place in a wooden frame. The frame could then be fastened to a table with clamps.

Further down the axle was a small wheel which drove a multi-turn potentiometer. The pot was then directly connected to the ADC of one of the Commodores joystick ports.

To calibrate, the wheel could be lifted, decoupling it from the pot.

Sewing machine foot pedals were used for the accelerator and breaks, again directly connected to the Commodore ADCs.

Coincidently, the steering wheel has the same color beige as the C128 itself.

Condition

The wooden frame is falling apart. The wheel can be turned if handled with care. But all parts are still there.

The pot is (again) connected to a joystick cable. Turning the pot moves the steering wheel in Test Drive.

Software

Test Drive was adapted to make use of the steering wheel and accelerator pedal.

However, the floppy that holds the only copy I have is physically damaged. The disk surface looks good but the inner ring is folded. The disk can only be inserted with the B side facing up. Using the 1571 drive of the C128 it should be possible to read both sides to restore the contents.

I have restored the adapted Test Drive floppy! Using another 1541II drive worked first shot.

TODO

Fix the frame and transmission (wheel to pot).

Attach a pedal to a joystick for the accelerator (port 2 UP).