Turn Zero main bar/seating area
(Madison Beveridge)
Turn Zero interior
(Madison Beveridge)
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Turn Zero main bar/seating area
(Madison Beveridge)
A local Encinitas family is behind a first of its kind attraction in the heart of downtown Encinitas.
Turn Zero, opened by John Reikes and Sarah Masterson in June, is a premium sim racing experience designed for racing fans, families, groups and anyone looking for a different type of entertainment.
Reikes has always been a fan of racing and, most specifically, sim racing, but noticed a gap in opportunities for everyday folks to test it out, especially in Encinitas.
From there, the idea to create Turn Zero was planted in his mind.
“When I moved down to the San Diego area, I noticed there aren’t many accessible racetracks. The closest one is about three hours away, and even then you need an entire weekend trip to race for a couple hours. Also, racing in person is very expensive and dangerous, and creates barriers to entry for most people. Post Covid, the technology behind sim racing ramped up and we were hit with more opportunities for authentic and advanced racing experiences,” said Reikes.
Another area he wanted to improve on when it came to adding in this style of entertainment to the Encinitas community was the ability to connect people through an in-person space.
“It can feel very solitary for people who have a sim rig at home. They are into it and they are having fun, but they are alone at home. So many people have said that this turns that concept into a community and a social event,” said Reikes.
The idea behind Turn Zero is a truly authentic feeling. When participants hop behind the wheel, it is anything but a video game. With a seatbelt, huge monitors, jolts and movement with every turn and a full headset with surround sound, participants are placed right on the track.
“It is very realistic. When you sit in the chair, it is exactly like how it would be if you were really sitting in the car. That said, even someone with no race experience at all can kind of understand it, because it guides you,” said Reikes. “It is a pro-level rig. There is so much stuff available, and it gives users the data if they want it. You can see your time on each lap, you can even collect date for future races.”
Having an experience that doesn’t feel like a standard video game was exactly Reikes’ and Masterson’s goal when ideating on and opening Turn Zero. Despite who is playing, professional racers, newbies, families or even children, the goal is to create an authentic experience, with plenty of fun.
“The idea is to make sure everyone can compete and feel like they are on the exact same gear. People can come in and race against each other, or do so individually. It is almost more connected than go-carts or other in-person racing because of that,” explained Reikes. “When people hop off the rigs, they can discuss it all and go over how their races went. It feels much more connected.”
So far, opening up their shop in downtown Encinitas and watching their dream come to life has been a rewarding experience.
Nestled behind Biergarten and the main strip of bars and restaurants, the foot traffic has been plentiful, and locals are thrilled to see a new social hub open up.
“We have gotten quite the mix of people coming in. We have the hardcore car people, who know every turn and every name of the tracks. But we also get people from the restaurants and bars around here. So many people that come in also have never thought about racing a car a day in their life. Pretty consistently, people who test it out for the first time are surprised as to how difficult and technical it really is,” said Reikes.
Excited to continue growing within the Encinitas community and attracting locals, Reikes, Masterson and their entire team are thrilled to be expanding in such an inviting area.
“I am so glad we ended up here. I had in my head that I wanted to be central to the county and almost picked Little Italy, but opening in Encinitas and seeing the support that we have gotten from the community and other businesses has been so incredible. Everyone is so supportive,” said Reikes.
Turn Zero is open 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays, and closed on Mondays. More information can be found at: turnzerosimracing.com or call (760) 615-3083.
Address: 687 S. Coast Hwy 101, Suite 151, Encinitas, 92024