Tips on how to be fast in a kart (outdoor)?
Discussion
Works' karting do this evening, nice outdoor track near Barcelona, not sure on the cc of the karts.
I'm 6ft5" and 120kg, in my (limited) karting experience i'm at a serious disadvantage from the start so want to try and utilise some PH tips to give myself a fighting chance.
Do general track racing theories apply? Go straight as long as you can, try to get a fast exit speed etc?
I'm 6ft5" and 120kg, in my (limited) karting experience i'm at a serious disadvantage from the start so want to try and utilise some PH tips to give myself a fighting chance.
Do general track racing theories apply? Go straight as long as you can, try to get a fast exit speed etc?
Stick with what you know. If you can overlap brakes and throttle that'll help on cornering speeds but you could get in trouble off the session organiser if you're in a borrowed kart.
Remember to shift your weight when cornering, as leaning onto the side which is losing traction can press the wheel down and thus let it get the power down more effectively.
Remember to shift your weight when cornering, as leaning onto the side which is losing traction can press the wheel down and thus let it get the power down more effectively.
16plates said:
120kg
My main tip, tried and tested by my colleagues, is to weigh approximately 50kg less than this. At 92kg I'm at somewhat of a disadvantage; another 28kg on top of that is really going to hamper you.I guess be as smooth as possible and try not to lose momentum but unfortunately there's very little you can do to overcome that kind of weight unless everyone else is that heavy of course in which case, game on.
There is a theory that heavier people have more grip in the corners but they're going to fly past you on any vaguely straight bits. Which track is it?
This is based on my own experience at the 24 Hours of America, held at Daytona Speedway in January just gone:
1: Lose weight. I'm the same weight and height as you and I lost about 1 second a lap from that alone.
2: Trust in the kart to grip. Normal racing techniques apply, but karts have a hell of a lot of grip.
3: If it rains, avoid the racing line. It will be rubbered in and adding water to the mix will make the racing line very slippery.
4: Never come fully off of the throttle. Always leave it at least 10% applied. All the power is at the top end, so if you let the revs die too much you'll be waiting an age before your back in the power band.
5: You don't need to brake for most corners. Just come off full throttle (but not fully off) and trust in the car to turn in. Will take some time to get brave enough to do this for some corners.
We used 11hp Honda engined Dino karts.
1: Lose weight. I'm the same weight and height as you and I lost about 1 second a lap from that alone.
2: Trust in the kart to grip. Normal racing techniques apply, but karts have a hell of a lot of grip.
3: If it rains, avoid the racing line. It will be rubbered in and adding water to the mix will make the racing line very slippery.
4: Never come fully off of the throttle. Always leave it at least 10% applied. All the power is at the top end, so if you let the revs die too much you'll be waiting an age before your back in the power band.
5: You don't need to brake for most corners. Just come off full throttle (but not fully off) and trust in the car to turn in. Will take some time to get brave enough to do this for some corners.
We used 11hp Honda engined Dino karts.
In my limited experience, it is all about maintaining balance - karts are extremely skittish under power and braking, especially if there is any moisture on the track.
I found that the following worked pretty well last time I had a crack at cornering fast in one:-
(1) Brake earlyish and transition to power gently if the kart allows it.
(2) Maintain gentle throttle inputs (only to counter the deceleration from lateral slip) until you are unwinding the steering.
(3) Back onto throttle fairly hard as soon as the back end settles down a bit (skipping and losing contact with the surface is a big problem, so putting your bulk over the unloaded wheels makes sense).
(4) Don't lift if you get a bit of oversteer - try to make the throttle inputs smooth and the steering inputs quite fast - try to keep the front wheels facing where you want to go and keep your eyes on the same point.
I found that I couldn't get on the throttle early enough and keep it there until I learned the balance of the kart (which took ages), and the only way to really do that is to overcook the corners a few times and learn to catch slides, etc until you learn to feel for the limits of grip and when the kart can take a bit of throttle and when it cant. But a lot of organisers don't like you hammering it in the practice laps and spinning a few times.
I found that the following worked pretty well last time I had a crack at cornering fast in one:-
(1) Brake earlyish and transition to power gently if the kart allows it.
(2) Maintain gentle throttle inputs (only to counter the deceleration from lateral slip) until you are unwinding the steering.
(3) Back onto throttle fairly hard as soon as the back end settles down a bit (skipping and losing contact with the surface is a big problem, so putting your bulk over the unloaded wheels makes sense).
(4) Don't lift if you get a bit of oversteer - try to make the throttle inputs smooth and the steering inputs quite fast - try to keep the front wheels facing where you want to go and keep your eyes on the same point.
I found that I couldn't get on the throttle early enough and keep it there until I learned the balance of the kart (which took ages), and the only way to really do that is to overcook the corners a few times and learn to catch slides, etc until you learn to feel for the limits of grip and when the kart can take a bit of throttle and when it cant. But a lot of organisers don't like you hammering it in the practice laps and spinning a few times.
Yes, being lighter is the big thing, which is why too kart racers are all 5ft tall and weigh about five stone wet through. People will blow past you on the straights if they weigh less, all you can do if you're not going on a crash diet is to drive the best drive you can.
Just concentrate on keeping it straight, keeping the braking inputs smooth and quick and straighten off the bends you can and look for early apexes to minimise the time you'll spend off full throttle, which is where you'll lose out to lighter drivers.
The best kart racers all have a style that looks boring as it's so clean. Snaking out of every bend losing traction is just losing time.
Just concentrate on keeping it straight, keeping the braking inputs smooth and quick and straighten off the bends you can and look for early apexes to minimise the time you'll spend off full throttle, which is where you'll lose out to lighter drivers.
The best kart racers all have a style that looks boring as it's so clean. Snaking out of every bend losing traction is just losing time.
Steering wheel as close to straight ahead as possible, as much as possible.
Look a long way up the road, don't look at the road right in front of you.
Don't let it get too sideways, takes forever to recover the lost speed. Kill any slides quickly with the steering and keep the throttle down.
Look a long way up the road, don't look at the road right in front of you.
Don't let it get too sideways, takes forever to recover the lost speed. Kill any slides quickly with the steering and keep the throttle down.
Chapppers said:
16plates said:
120kg
My main tip, tried and tested by my colleagues, is to weigh approximately 50kg less than this. At 92kg I'm at somewhat of a disadvantage; another 28kg on top of that is really going to hamper you.I guess be as smooth as possible and try not to lose momentum but unfortunately there's very little you can do to overcome that kind of weight unless everyone else is that heavy of course in which case, game on.
There is a theory that heavier people have more grip in the corners but they're going to fly past you on any vaguely straight bits. Which track is it?
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 21st May 10:31
LOL - knew 120kg would be the focal here, consider me a trained 120kg, rugby player, powerlifter and can run 10k in an hour, i'm not a fat dolite i promise 
Anyway, no crash diets.
All comments taken, there are a couple of other big guys, i will probably be the heaviest though, however i know some of them have never sat in a kart in their life or even shown an interest in motorsport so i'm hoping my 'inside' knowledge will help me beat those fellas.
Smoothness and holding speed seems to be recurring advice - also well pointed out that the power is all further up the revs, wise to keep it there as much as possible... I'm used to fast cars and speed so should hopefully be braver than most there, allowing me to hold some speed in places they won't.
Anyway, no crash diets.
All comments taken, there are a couple of other big guys, i will probably be the heaviest though, however i know some of them have never sat in a kart in their life or even shown an interest in motorsport so i'm hoping my 'inside' knowledge will help me beat those fellas.
Smoothness and holding speed seems to be recurring advice - also well pointed out that the power is all further up the revs, wise to keep it there as much as possible... I'm used to fast cars and speed so should hopefully be braver than most there, allowing me to hold some speed in places they won't.
Dr Interceptor said:
Likewise OP, I'm 6ft5, around 110kg...
Keep your foot in, lean into corners, and be very very brave with cornering speeds.
DO NOT lean into corners, this is the opposite to what you need to to.Keep your foot in, lean into corners, and be very very brave with cornering speeds.
Lean to the outside when cornering, this gives your outer tyres more grip than the insides and enables higher corner speeds as you can corner faster without as much slide.
It feels very unintuitive but works, karts aren't motorcycles.
If they have fixed rear axles - no diff....
Lean to the outside of the corner, allow the inside wheel to spin.
If you put your weight on the inside, slower wheel, the outside wheel skids along slower than the rate of travel and the rpm will reduce to inside wheel speed.
Weight on the outside wheel allwos the inside wheel to spin faster and the rpm run at the speed of the outside wheel.
That bogging down of your motor will be the biggest handicap as it takes much longer to accelerate your larger frame. I knocked seconds off my laps when I was told about this. Have the works trophy to prove it
I'm 105kg.
Also check the format for the races. In Dubai they did 2 qualifiers and 1 race. 1st qualifier set the positions for the 2nd, so 1st starts on pole, last at the back. 2nd qualifying sets up for the race with 1st starting last; reversed grid, supposedly to make an interesting race.
1st time out with work everyone pushed to get to the front in both qualifying, I ended up starting 3rd from last (as 3rd finisher in 2nd qualifying) then only made it up to 4th during the race.
2nd time we did it I coasted for the first 2 qualifiers so started front of the grid for the race. Uncatchable
My colleagues called it cheating, I called it strategy.
Lean to the outside of the corner, allow the inside wheel to spin.
If you put your weight on the inside, slower wheel, the outside wheel skids along slower than the rate of travel and the rpm will reduce to inside wheel speed.
Weight on the outside wheel allwos the inside wheel to spin faster and the rpm run at the speed of the outside wheel.
That bogging down of your motor will be the biggest handicap as it takes much longer to accelerate your larger frame. I knocked seconds off my laps when I was told about this. Have the works trophy to prove it
I'm 105kg.Also check the format for the races. In Dubai they did 2 qualifiers and 1 race. 1st qualifier set the positions for the 2nd, so 1st starts on pole, last at the back. 2nd qualifying sets up for the race with 1st starting last; reversed grid, supposedly to make an interesting race.
1st time out with work everyone pushed to get to the front in both qualifying, I ended up starting 3rd from last (as 3rd finisher in 2nd qualifying) then only made it up to 4th during the race.
2nd time we did it I coasted for the first 2 qualifiers so started front of the grid for the race. Uncatchable
My colleagues called it cheating, I called it strategy.
oilydan said:
If they have fixed rear axles - no diff....
Lean to the outside of the corner, allow the inside wheel to spin.
If you put your weight on the inside, slower wheel, the outside wheel skids along slower than the rate of travel and the rpm will reduce to inside wheel speed.
Weight on the outside wheel allwos the inside wheel to spin faster and the rpm run at the speed of the outside wheel.
That bogging down of your motor will be the biggest handicap as it takes much longer to accelerate your larger frame. I knocked seconds off my laps when I was told about this. Have the works trophy to prove it I'm 105kg.
Also check the format for the races. In Dubai they did 2 qualifiers and 1 race. 1st qualifier set the positions for the 2nd, so 1st starts on pole, last at the back. 2nd qualifying sets up for the race with 1st starting last; reversed grid, supposedly to make an interesting race.
1st time out with work everyone pushed to get to the front in both qualifying, I ended up starting 3rd from last (as 3rd finisher in 2nd qualifying) then only made it up to 4th during the race.
2nd time we did it I coasted for the first 2 qualifiers so started front of the grid for the race. Uncatchable
My colleagues called it cheating, I called it strategy.
I've raced with you and I'd call it 'necessity' Lean to the outside of the corner, allow the inside wheel to spin.
If you put your weight on the inside, slower wheel, the outside wheel skids along slower than the rate of travel and the rpm will reduce to inside wheel speed.
Weight on the outside wheel allwos the inside wheel to spin faster and the rpm run at the speed of the outside wheel.
That bogging down of your motor will be the biggest handicap as it takes much longer to accelerate your larger frame. I knocked seconds off my laps when I was told about this. Have the works trophy to prove it
I'm 105kg.Also check the format for the races. In Dubai they did 2 qualifiers and 1 race. 1st qualifier set the positions for the 2nd, so 1st starts on pole, last at the back. 2nd qualifying sets up for the race with 1st starting last; reversed grid, supposedly to make an interesting race.
1st time out with work everyone pushed to get to the front in both qualifying, I ended up starting 3rd from last (as 3rd finisher in 2nd qualifying) then only made it up to 4th during the race.
2nd time we did it I coasted for the first 2 qualifiers so started front of the grid for the race. Uncatchable
My colleagues called it cheating, I called it strategy.
120kg 
My advice would be to never use the brake, use your body to help in cornering, and...to try and go early and see which kart is the quickest in preceding races. There's usually one kart that seems to be in better shape.
I remember karting on a stag and one of the party was similar build to yours. They didn't have overalls that fitted him and the kart looked like a seriously uncomfortable place to be.
He was lapped by everyone
My advice would be to never use the brake, use your body to help in cornering, and...to try and go early and see which kart is the quickest in preceding races. There's usually one kart that seems to be in better shape.
I remember karting on a stag and one of the party was similar build to yours. They didn't have overalls that fitted him and the kart looked like a seriously uncomfortable place to be.
He was lapped by everyone
Smooth and consistent and don't spin.
It all depends who you are racing though. If it's the general public having any interest in racing will give you a huge advantage, I'm not brilliant but at a work thing I am usually in the top 2 or 3 and I know the guys ahead of me are experienced racers. At a car club thing (Porsches) I was top end of midfield and at a Club 100 event I was one of slowest.
It all depends who you are racing though. If it's the general public having any interest in racing will give you a huge advantage, I'm not brilliant but at a work thing I am usually in the top 2 or 3 and I know the guys ahead of me are experienced racers. At a car club thing (Porsches) I was top end of midfield and at a Club 100 event I was one of slowest.
Forums | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff