Go Karting Tips
Discussion
Hi,
I am going Go Karting next weekend with a bunch of (really good) friends. I have only been once before so I want to learn some tips that would help me improve.
My first go I finished 4th, but I was stuck behind a mate for about 20 laps.
IIRC it is 10 Qualifying Laps/50 Lap Race. A lap took (for me) 17.2 seconds.
I will be adding weight with a seat cushion as I had a bruised back for about two weeks later. Also, we got a warning last time for too much contact so I won't be ramming people off into tyres. (
)
Any serious/silly tips or suggestions welcome!
I am going Go Karting next weekend with a bunch of (really good) friends. I have only been once before so I want to learn some tips that would help me improve.
My first go I finished 4th, but I was stuck behind a mate for about 20 laps.
IIRC it is 10 Qualifying Laps/50 Lap Race. A lap took (for me) 17.2 seconds.
I will be adding weight with a seat cushion as I had a bruised back for about two weeks later. Also, we got a warning last time for too much contact so I won't be ramming people off into tyres. (
) Any serious/silly tips or suggestions welcome!
Weigh less - little else makes a difference. I went before Christmas and whilst no one could touch me through the corners, people all sailed past on the straights.
Im extremely competitive and I ended up doing the whole course without braking other than a dab for the hairpin, using the tyres to scrub the speed and sliding and even with a high exit speed I still couldnt get to the next corner first.
Im 6'3" and weigh a shade over 17 stones.
Im extremely competitive and I ended up doing the whole course without braking other than a dab for the hairpin, using the tyres to scrub the speed and sliding and even with a high exit speed I still couldnt get to the next corner first.
Im 6'3" and weigh a shade over 17 stones.
Weight plays a big factor. Are you heavier than your friends? How much weight can you lose before the weekend? Laxatives and dehydration (pretty much mutual) will help 
Seriously, if you do have a weight disadvantage or even if you don't you want to try and be as smooth as possible. Go-Karts don't typically accelerate very quickly, so you want to maintain as much speed as possible in and out of the corners. i.e. take good racing lines (straighten the bends out).
Failing that swerve all over the track to stop any cheeky overtaking.
Seriously, if you do have a weight disadvantage or even if you don't you want to try and be as smooth as possible. Go-Karts don't typically accelerate very quickly, so you want to maintain as much speed as possible in and out of the corners. i.e. take good racing lines (straighten the bends out).
Failing that swerve all over the track to stop any cheeky overtaking.
Momentum.
Every mph you lose in a corner will be lost for the entirety of the next straight.
Don’t take it too hard if you are 16 stone when some streak of piss who couldn’t drive a greasy stick up a dog’s arse but only weighs 8 stone beats you , unless it is wet.
Work out what you want out of the race before you start. Last one like this I did I was a bit wound up and wanted to win so I did everything to put it on pole, watched the starter press the button for the lights to turn out (you might not be able to do this) and blocked the inside line into the first turn (a hairpin where we were) meaning that even the guy who was 2nd quickest and 6 stone lighter than me couldn’t get past, then I ran and hid. As a race it was very quite for me as I was pulling away at about .25secs per lap and the only overtaking I had to do was later on with backmarkers. It was the only way I was going to win and not as much fun as messing about in a 4th/5th/6th battle but achieved my aim so I was chuffed at the end.
If you just want to have fun ignore all of the above and just do what feels good!
Oh and don't call it go karting (it's karting), they don't like that sort of thing
Every mph you lose in a corner will be lost for the entirety of the next straight.
Don’t take it too hard if you are 16 stone when some streak of piss who couldn’t drive a greasy stick up a dog’s arse but only weighs 8 stone beats you , unless it is wet.
Work out what you want out of the race before you start. Last one like this I did I was a bit wound up and wanted to win so I did everything to put it on pole, watched the starter press the button for the lights to turn out (you might not be able to do this) and blocked the inside line into the first turn (a hairpin where we were) meaning that even the guy who was 2nd quickest and 6 stone lighter than me couldn’t get past, then I ran and hid. As a race it was very quite for me as I was pulling away at about .25secs per lap and the only overtaking I had to do was later on with backmarkers. It was the only way I was going to win and not as much fun as messing about in a 4th/5th/6th battle but achieved my aim so I was chuffed at the end.
If you just want to have fun ignore all of the above and just do what feels good!
Oh and don't call it go karting (it's karting), they don't like that sort of thing
Position is unimportant IMHO although the last few times I went I was fastest (electric karts) and 4th (petrol karts).
Indeed smooth is the key but personally I've had the most fun when the tyres have been screeching at every opportunity. I went to the electric indoor circuit at Letchworth and was seriously cracking up laughing the entire time.
Indeed smooth is the key but personally I've had the most fun when the tyres have been screeching at every opportunity. I went to the electric indoor circuit at Letchworth and was seriously cracking up laughing the entire time.
I am the lightest of my friends.
I did try to be smooth last time, but they were quicker. I did sometimes lock the wheels up going into the tighter corners. I think my problems are:
scale drawing quick Post-It drawing help?
I did try to be smooth last time, but they were quicker. I did sometimes lock the wheels up going into the tighter corners. I think my problems are:
- Brake too much going into corners.
- Too slow around tighter corners.
- Too nice!
- Good Idea! JayTee94 said:
- Too nice!
I'll happily help any one who asks for advice (not saying that i know anything about what i am talking about though!) but if they try to overtake me on the outside they're going to end up having to back off as I'll run them out of road without thinking twice about it.
If you have two competent drivers there is almost no way of overtaking on a go-kart track due to the tightness of corners and length of straights. However, if one driver is slightly less careful then the trick is this. First DO NOT follow them too closely you will not out accelerate them on the straight and beat them into the next corner. What you have to do it find the corner that gives YOU (not him) the highest speed out of it if no one is in front of you. Give yourself the widest possible line and best apex to maintain your speed while they perhaps miss the apex or go tight in the corner (very common). If you time your run you can catch him just after he exits the corner and pass him on the straight as you are carrying more speed from the corner. If you are too close he will block you and slow you so you have to get a good distance behind. At the next corner you may be neck and neck or just ahead, he may have the racing line but stay on the inside of the corner even if it means going round it slowly. The reason for this is he can't push you into the tyres as he will get a warning or a black flag and you can then block the apex to stop him getting past you on the corner, so it doesnt matter how slow you go... Next is to drive better than him and stay in front.
I was quite consistant with lap times. The time between my fastest/slowest was just 0.6 seconds IIRC.
I do doubt the grip I have to a certain extent, but also try different lines on most the laps I had. I guess that was part of the problem too! (ie: not sticking to the fastest line)
As I say, I have only been once and at the end of the day it is just a bit of fun.
NOTE: I am drawing the track on a Post-It as we speak.
I do doubt the grip I have to a certain extent, but also try different lines on most the laps I had. I guess that was part of the problem too! (ie: not sticking to the fastest line)
As I say, I have only been once and at the end of the day it is just a bit of fun.
NOTE: I am drawing the track on a Post-It as we speak.
Rude-boy said:
JayTee94 said:
I was quite consistant with lap times. The time between my fastest/slowest was just 0.6 seconds IIRC.
At the risk of sounding a bit of a cock on a sub 18second lap that is massive.I am not making excuses, but we have to come to a stop/start again if there is an accident on track. So I guess that explains it (i hope).
Rude-boy said:
JayTee94 said:
I was quite consistant with lap times. The time between my fastest/slowest was just 0.6 seconds IIRC.
At the risk of sounding a bit of a cock on a sub 18second lap that is massive.Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff