Karting - how are others so much quicker than me?!
Discussion
Frimley111R said:
I did a 66 lap race at Buckmore and realised I needed to be MUCH fitter and stronger in the arms. Honestly it was a killer and I couldn't wait for it to end. Outdoor karting is much more physical and even though I am pretty fit I lacked the arm strength to do the whole distance. good fun but Rye House and Buckmore are both around 70 miles away 
Buckhorn is one of the most brutal tracks on the body ad you never get a rest on a straight. And it used to be worse when the racing line was thundering down those doorstep kerbs at the bottom of the track. I believe they have changed now though.vulture1 said:
Frimley111R said:
I did a 66 lap race at Buckmore and realised I needed to be MUCH fitter and stronger in the arms. Honestly it was a killer and I couldn't wait for it to end. Outdoor karting is much more physical and even though I am pretty fit I lacked the arm strength to do the whole distance. good fun but Rye House and Buckmore are both around 70 miles away
Buckhorn is one of the most brutal tracks on the body ad you never get a rest on a straight. And it used to be worse when the racing line was thundering down those doorstep kerbs at the bottom of the track. I believe they have changed now though.
More than arms strength it’s inner core and neck. Inner core because on high grip situations you need to lean, I say lean it’s more to try to unweight the outside rest so you don’t have too much inside lift. The rear outside wheel has plenty of grip already.
Low grip situation it’s the opposite. On high grip it’s like riding on train rails. Killer for neck and ribs. Well it was like that when I was racing 100cc in my younger years.
Low grip situation it’s the opposite. On high grip it’s like riding on train rails. Killer for neck and ribs. Well it was like that when I was racing 100cc in my younger years.
Kids tried karting and love it, so while not quite regular due to the cost we've been a few times to TeamSport in Nottingham. This weekend we went to The Hangar (at Langar), 15 minutes and I was knackered, no straights to speak of for a break and a lot more grip so faster cornering. Mine and eldest sons backs are bruised, it was hard work. Fun though, it was dead, so we got some decent track learning time.
I'd put the fact that I'm a few seconds off lap record down to weight and experience, the fastest laps at TeamSport are all set by members that are in weekday evening endurance events.
Youngest is frustrated as he's decent but isn't old enough to move into the faster karts.
I'd put the fact that I'm a few seconds off lap record down to weight and experience, the fastest laps at TeamSport are all set by members that are in weekday evening endurance events.
Youngest is frustrated as he's decent but isn't old enough to move into the faster karts.
toastyhamster said:
the fastest laps at TeamSport are all set by members that are in weekday evening endurance events.
We find that there are always younger guys there who pretty much go all the time, have all their own kit and seem to enjoy beating people who arrive and drive once in a blue moon. I watch them to see how they overtake and most just barge past. Certainly at Farnborough, if you're quick and hold the racing lines it is impossible to pass. 
Find memories of Teamsport Cardiff. My now wife was at uni there and one weekend I was amusing myself while she had some uni stuff to do so went Karting.
Had the track to myself and in a good rhythm and when I came into the pit at the end the mechanic there comes over
“Go on who are you then?” Err Will “what do you race in?” Nothing I’m too poor. “No seriously, what do you race? We had Mark Webber here and he didn’t look that good”
So I spent the day suitably pleased with myself lol.
Also won karter ( fastest lap) of the month and a voucher for more sessions. Used that to go back when they had a “beat the Stig” competition on, which was to try and beat the fastest of the lads that worked there, and I was the only one who did, much to his annoyance
Ah the good old days
Had the track to myself and in a good rhythm and when I came into the pit at the end the mechanic there comes over
“Go on who are you then?” Err Will “what do you race in?” Nothing I’m too poor. “No seriously, what do you race? We had Mark Webber here and he didn’t look that good”
So I spent the day suitably pleased with myself lol.
Also won karter ( fastest lap) of the month and a voucher for more sessions. Used that to go back when they had a “beat the Stig” competition on, which was to try and beat the fastest of the lads that worked there, and I was the only one who did, much to his annoyance
Ah the good old days
toastyhamster said:
I think the lap records are glitches, the ones around 32s seem legit. Never had a problem at Nottingham Team Sport, it is very difficult to pass though if you're not behind somebody a lot slower, even worse at The Hangar.
I kept overtaking a big ish guy on the hill up to the crossover part. He was so slow up the hill, again weight disadvantage Ha. Ditto a similar story at their 'Tower Bridge' location yonks ago. I was trying to impress GF and she had brought a Competitive Male (but not exactly the lightest) friend along who suggested we do another sprint race as the supervisor said we now had the track all to ourselves. I was pretty on form then and probably weighed 5 kg less than I do now. Not only did I lap him at the tightest hair-pin in humiliating fashion but also appeared in the top 5 times of the year. She told me the supervisor had come down to say how quick I was and even asked me where they could improve the track - I was pretty chuffed. Though unlike yourself it was a one-off and I never managed to do anywhere near as quick time.
The effect of weight varies quite a bit depending on the type of kart and the circuit.
Seen a pro driver on a typical indoor track with a 4 stroke kart with and without 20-25kg of ballast and he was only about 0.6 sec slower.
Also seen when similar applied to a 2 stroke on an outdoor track all the little jockeys were 2-2.5 sec slower
Seen a pro driver on a typical indoor track with a 4 stroke kart with and without 20-25kg of ballast and he was only about 0.6 sec slower.
Also seen when similar applied to a 2 stroke on an outdoor track all the little jockeys were 2-2.5 sec slower
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