Interview with Liam Rudzitis, Upper Canada Region PCA
Liam interviews Stanley Lin, CEO of 6 Sigma Sim Racing.
Liam: Hello Stanley. Can you tell us more about your involvement with Porsche, both as an owner and a PCA Club Member?
Stanley: I am simply a member of the Porsche Club of America Upper Canada Region. I own a 718 GT4, which has been a dream come true. As well, I attend locally hosted Porsche car meets when my schedule allows. As for PCA events, I look to hopefully get on-track next year with the club.
Liam: In a highly competitive market, such as sim-racing equipment, what led you to choose to construct simulators?
Stanley: When I began designing and constructing sim cockpits I had been in the mechanical engineering segment for 15 years already. When COVID struck, I decided to mesh my knowledge of mechanical engineering with my experience in motorsport to begin developing and selling the cockpits you see today.
Liam: Did you have any background in this industry or related industries?
Stanley: I am a mechanical engineer by trade, graduating from Durham College located in Ontario, Canada. Since graduating, I have worked for an international engineering firm which granted me many opportunities to travel the world completing different project management assignments. My specialty was in designing chassis components, such as subframes, control arms, and knuckles.
Liam: What is the advantage of having a simulator cockpit?
Stanley: When individuals are configuring their sim racing setup the cockpit is often overlooked during this process. Focus is instead placed on investment into more expensive pedals and wheelbases, which can be moot if you do not have a solid, sturdy place to mount them. By having a rigid cockpit platform, you ensure that you can get the most out of your equipment.
Liam: For someone who has maybe never set up an 8020 Rig, how difficult is it to set up a 6 Sigma cockpit? Are there any additional costs associated with doing so?
Stanley: There are no additional costs towards constructing the cockpit, as our kits have everything required included, such as bracketry for components, and nut-bolt hardware. Beyond this, many reference guides and instructional videos have been developed, both by us and our partners on YouTube. The result is endless content that can assist during the construction process.
Liam: The 6 Sigma Sim Racing cockpit platforms utilize something called ‘8020 Aluminum’. What is that, and how does it differ from something like tubular steel/wood?
Stanley: The main advantage of profiled aluminum is its adjustability, and strength over other materials. The channels allow for individualized mounting positions, ensuring that you are always in a comfortable position. Moreover, the profiled aluminum is highly compact and makes it extremely cost-effective to ship as opposed to pre-assembled, bulky cockpits.
Liam: If I am someone who already has an 8020 rig, what other items have you created to improve the simulator experience?
Stanley: For us, cockpit production was just the beginning of the business, from there we have grown into a distributor of high-end equipment such as wheelbases, pedals, and motion systems as well. We currently carry brands like Simagic, and Moza, both as North American distributors. For motion, we distribute Sigma Integrale motion systems, which are a direct competitor to D-Box that are growing in popularity.
Liam: Speaking again to the highly competitive cockpit segment, what sets 6 Sigma cockpits apart from others on the market?
Stanley: The difference between us and your typical brands is our involvement in the sim-racing community. We are looking to build a positive culture around our brand, creating experiences, and community activities for our customer base. Beyond this, we are always developing and redeveloping our products to ensure they are always at the leading edge of sim racing technology. This is truly what sets us apart, as we offer programs not seen presently in the cockpit manufacturing space.
Liam: What is next for 6 Sigma, are you able to let us know of anything that is in the works for the future of 6 Sigma?
Stanley: The biggest thing we have upcoming is the announcement of our Japanese, and Australian distribution divisions. Furthermore, we look forward to announcing soon our involvement with professional racing teams, such as the Racing With Autism team from Ontario. As mentioned previously, we will be announcing community activities, such as our plans to create an in-house racing league for 6 Sigma customers. Winners from this will have the opportunity to travel to Canada to drive performance vehicles on the circuit, meshing the worlds of virtual, and real-life driving.
Liam: Before we go, what is the best way to keep in contact with you and the team at 6 Sigma, Stanley?
Stanley: The best way to keep in touch with us is through our Instagram account! We do monthly giveaways, updates on our events, and more. It’s our most active, and most informative social media. Beyond this, we offer free consultations to help you find your desired rig and accessories, and this is done through our email at info@6sigmasimracing.ca.
Liam: Thank you for talking with us and we will see your cockpit in action during PCA Sim Racing’s Series 9!
