Tips for Mrs Sonic's first attempt at go karting

[SonicHedgeHog]

Mrs Sonic is going go karting at work. She has never been before and is just your average lady driver who trundles around in her supermini. I've only been once, but it was enough to know there is a lot more to it than just keeping your right foot planted to the floor. Does anyone have any tips I can give her so that she doesn't come last?

[towelie]

be smooth with the steering!

[SpeckledJim]

Don't call it Go Karting or you'll be on the receiving end of a vicious Dork-Attack.

[The Nur]

My advice is; "You are going to ache afterwards."

[vrooom]

Forgot everything you know about driving a car, it doesn't apply on kart.
Don't lift off/brake in corner. you have to give it bit of throttle to get it turn otherwise it will understeer badly.

brake in straight line but not too hard it will lock up the rear tyres, then steer, then floor it. it will turn. then return the steering to netural, use throttle to steer. trail braking don't work.

If its on wet day, be really aggressive with kart. lot of steering input to get it turn. but keep throttle pinned.

[TheThing]

Be brave. They can go round corners a lot quicker than most people think.

[mattdaniels]

SonicHedgeHog said:

there is a lot more to it than just keeping your right foot planted to the floor

There's pretty much everything to it OTHER than keeping your right foot planted to the floor. That's the last thing you want to do.

My tips would be to have a hot bath immediately you get home, and be prepared to ache. A lot.

[LukeR94]

mattdaniels said:

SonicHedgeHog said:

there is a lot more to it than just keeping your right foot planted to the floor

There's pretty much everything to it OTHER than keeping your right foot planted to the floor. That's the last thing you want to do.

My tips would be to have a hot bath immediately you get home, and be prepared to ache. A lot.

This x 1000

She is not ready, no one is ready. I went at it hammer and tongs for an hour and half straight, I couldn't move for a week. I had to slow down for the last 15 mins due to pain. Still brilliant fun though

[Motorrad]

The Nur said:

My advice is; "You are going to ache afterwards."

yes prepare for the pain. My other half who does yoga wasn't in nearly as much of a state ache and pain wise as I was the day after but conversely her arm muscles were so knackered she couldn't pick up a pen.

[CO2000]

If Mrs Sonic is skinny a foam pad for the seat will help A LOT! Also leave the visor up a click and drink some water before going on as you get a v dry mouth if it's a long race. lastly tell her to relax on the straghts as a death grip all round the lap will end in sore hands/arms.

Edited by CO2000 on Sunday 16th February 14:04

[toerag]

[sc0tt]

Keep the front wheels as straight as you can, gentle steering inputs.

Lean with the kart.

Have a hot bath.

[anonymous-user]

Take some knee protection so she doesn't bash the inside of her knees on the steering column.

Also making sure she hasn't just had her hair done..

[McSam]

vrooom said:

trail braking don't work.

Yes, it really does

[wst]

The accelerator only has 2 positions - full on and full off. The brakes likewise. If you're not accelerating fully, you should be braking fully. If they're those typical Biz karts the engine's not very responsive so that will simulate smooth application of throttle for you.

Use all the track! Just remember the back will rub the barriers first.

If conditions are slippery locking the brakes will help a bit with corner entry. Especially if it's outdoors and it's rainy and you're using slicks...

[LukeR94]

As for tips, if she is going for an overtake, wait until you see the kart in front brake(most dont have lights so just use judgement) and wait 2 clicks then brake (this only applies to corners after fast sweepers or after straights, reduce to one click for the rest)

And by a click I mean the approximate time it would take to click your fingers, dont actually click them

Oh and gradually apply the brakes dont just jam on, as above the rear will lock, you will lose traction, therefore braking power, and will most likely spin out, so gradually is best until you get a feel for it.

[Debaser]

If in doubt, flat out.

[HumbleJim]

Consistency is the key. Don't even try to go fast, brake or anything. Smooth and easy find a speed that suits and you can take the bends safely.

You won't beat the quick/experienced drivers, overtake the others when they try too hard and make mistakes.

Edited by HumbleJim on Sunday 16th February 15:21

[xRIEx]

mattdaniels said:

SonicHedgeHog said:

there is a lot more to it than just keeping your right foot planted to the floor

There's pretty much everything to it OTHER than keeping your right foot planted to the floor. That's the last thing you want to do.

Rubbish, that's about all you can do in a little lawnmower-engined corporate kart. Steering is done with the rear, lock the wheels, dab of steering, dab of oppo; as said above, they will understeer unless you provoke them to turn properly. Karts handle like st, you need to slide them a bit. The circuit I used to go to need brakes at one hairpin and lifting off the gas at another. Everywhere else it was foot hard on the gas. Some of the staff and better drivers didn't even bother braking, just lifting off and a nice swerve.

With regards to leaning in the corners, I'm not sure how useful it is. Karts with no diff have to slip at least one wheel in order for them to go round corners, and the chassis flexs to act like suspension. I tried leaning into and out of the corners though, didn't see much difference in lap times.

[RobM77]

Unless she's fat, wear plenty of padded clothes! I've actually stopped going because I get so bruised. Last time I was covered in massive purple and red patches and my pelvis had rubbed so much against the seat that my hips were bleeding.