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