Go karting with work tomorrow at a annual team building event. Any one with any useful tips?
Its going to be wet. What tyres?
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Go Karting tips
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Posted 2 years ago #
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dont brake.
Posted 2 years ago # -
1.Brake before the corners.
2.Have fun.Posted 2 years ago # -
Learn to take the best line.
Posted 2 years ago # -
watch a few dvd's :p
Posted 2 years ago # -
"dont brake."
Thats seems fairly straight forward. Best not over complicate things. Cheers.
Posted 2 years ago # -
make sure you get the best go-kart.
Posted 2 years ago # -
be as light as me for the straights and dont brake for the corners just drift round
Posted 2 years ago # -
Lean OUT on the corners. Aparently it puts the power down on the outside line of the corner. That's what I was told anyway, I found it virtually impossible not to lean in.
Posted 2 years ago # -
yep don't brake the cars are so low they just stick to the line so well. if it does rain don't brake. only way really.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Don't slide around the corners it might look good but you lose a lot of time.
Posted 2 years ago # -
If you can, check the times of the previous session. Pick one of the fastest carts. I took nearly three seconds off a lap by swapping karts last time...
Posted 2 years ago # -
drive really, really fast.
Posted 2 years ago # -
When the tosser from sales tries to overtake you, gently nudge his front bumper sending him into the tyre wall.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Drive it like its a singlespeed. Its all about conservation of momentum.
Posted 2 years ago # -
if it is wet, avoid the majority of the racing line - in the wet the racing line can be worse - stay wide on some of the corners - you may find more grip off-line - you'll probably be able to see the difference - a type of 'sheen' on the surface
Posted 2 years ago # -
1. don't call it go-karting.
2. Call it karting
Posted 2 years ago # -
What Goan ^^^^^ said.
Keep it smooth as possible, carry as much speed through the bend as you can.
Remember the adage 1mph faster through the bend means 5mph faster at the end of the straight.
You can drive without braking but its usually slower, depends on the course layout though.
At most public places kart choice does make a huge difference...
and if it is wet drive like on a sunday afternoon, really smooth and really gentle (but fast) on all controls, you want to maintain as much traction as possible and jerky movements don't work.
Posted 2 years ago # -
When the lights turn green get your weight as far forward as possible, give the motor chance to get going. Do the same out of very slow bends.
try to steer the kart round the corner by flicking it sideways this scrubbs just enough speed off and set you up for the bend.
If on any fast corners you feel the back step out then on the next lap try to lean and use your bodyweight to try and get more grip.
if you have to brake for hairpins do it in a straight line and power round the bends, it's all about corner speed.
Posted 2 years ago # -
get it sideways at all times. it may not be as fast but its much more fun
Posted 2 years ago # -
being a lard arse my weight was a major problem when i went karting, so my method of choice was to bugger up as many people as possiable on the start line then take it nice a easy at the pack of the pack, wave to the crowd play around in the corners and have fun, yes on every race i was well down on the top lap times, but i reckon i had the most fun.
Posted 2 years ago # -
dont brake.
Learn to brake and learn your brakes.
Practice by braking hard. Find out what it takes to lock your brakes. This is your braking limit. Knowing your brakes - you'll be able to out-brake your competitors into corners.
Brake in straight lines into corners.
Do not skid.
Lean on the outside cornering.
And when you turn - correct quickly and smoothly.
Avoiding unnecessary movement of the wheel will keep you quick and keep you smooooth.Posted 2 years ago # -
Be really light...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Having dabbled in kart racing briefly the main thing you need not to do is crash. The time it takes to get untangled from the tyre wall, or get turned around or whatever means you have lost the race no matter how fast you are.
Try to find the balance between keeping speed up but not getting it sideways too much in the corners. Skidding, screeching, and getting the tail out feels really good, and fast, but its not.
Be fairly smooth, if its a sprint race dont be afraid to take the odd chance at overtaking.
If its a well run event punting the guy off in front of you is likely to earn you a black flag.
At the start be ready to nail it the split second the lights turn, lots of time can be made up at the start with dozy drivers not being ready.
If its an indoor event lightweight drivers have a massive advantage due to the number of hairpins.
Posted 2 years ago # -
From my limited racing (a long standing club with my old workplace) I won every time despite no previous experience, despite being about the heaviest there and not specifically picking a kart. My technique was to brake late, power all the way through the corners and use my bodyweight to alter grip as needed. Similar techniques I was taught in rally courses (barring the weight shifting). Seemed to work, good luck!
Posted 2 years ago # -
if its a well run event punting the guy off in front of you is likely to earn you a black flag.
Unless he's in sales or marketing, then it's allowed.
Posted 2 years ago # -
1. don't call it go-karting.
2. Call it karting
3. Drive it like a dodgem.Posted 2 years ago # -
And the thing everyone seems to have missed...
Turn in late, hit the apex and see your exit point. The error most people make when trying to move a vehicle fast is miss the apex by turning in way too early.
And to a lesser extent (due to the relatively low power of karts), but probably important on a wet circuit, don't accelerate when cornering - wait till it is straight.
And don't rush - smooth and consistent is the key.
I have karted loads and usually win or thereabouts but am never anywhere near the fastest lap times - the key is that I never spin off/crash. Once you have, your race is over.
(Ignore the bit about braking - I tend to agree that you should avoid braking if you can in a kart)Posted 2 years ago # -
- Don't crash
Don't get tangled with other karts.
Be aware of what's around you
The 'racing line' isn't always the best when racing against others.
Be smooth
Don't skidAnd finally, if you are in the lead, do drift it past the spectators, it looks great
Posted 2 years ago # - Don't crash
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The 'racing line' isn't always the best when racing against others.
It is the quickest line, ergo you are in the lead and you want to consolidate that by continuing to be quickest Posted 2 years ago # -
From my experience of karting at thruxton, when it rained half way through one of the races it became absolute carnage. Was virtually impossible to keep the thing on the road round corners. By not crashing I came third and I went very slowly......
Just dont do any harsh movements/braking or acceleration and you should be fine !
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ohh, and put EVERYTHING into qualifying to get a good grid position - and get heat into your tyres as quickly as you can. Have you ever needed to swap kart mid-race? Terrifying as you have learnt the track and suddenly you have cold tyres which really don't have any grip at all.
Posted 2 years ago # -
m_f - I disagree with the braking, unless you're on naff karts - the karts I've used mainly were pretty nippy and there was no way in hell you could take 50% of the corners without lamping on the brakes beforehand. And thats on a big outdoor course normally used for bikes.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Some great tips on here:
http://www.karting1.co.uk/braking-karting.htm
If you are heavy- dont even have any pretenstions. Just enjoy- If you are heavy lean OUT of the kart when cornering- dont lean into. It really helps with grip and avoids the need to brake ( the biggest prob with being heavier).
Although- drive geared karts and ENJOY if your heavy!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Not braking and purely scrubbing-off speed is not good/effective form.
It is the quickest line, ergo you are in the lead and you want to consolidate that by continuing to be quickest
That is the case if you are well in the lead without someone behind you taking a poorer line to slow you and force past.
Although it is good to consolidate the lead, it is still very important to do some show-boating past the spectators.
Posted 2 years ago #
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