Twin engine karts - How to be quick?

[200bhp]

We're all going on a "team building exercise" next week at the local twin engine kart track. I've been karting a couple of times before and normally finish around the middle of the group - Despite having a great time I dont feel that I'm particularly good at it!

So what's the secret for being fast in a kart?

[Merry]

Always focus on your exit rather than entrance to corners and have confidence the kart will stick.

And above all keep it on the black stuff. I suspect many of your competitors will throw it into the scenery, keep it tidy and you'll get a good results.

[Jandywa]

Talent and experience mainly. Being light will help as well unless the karts are ballasted which I doubt if it's your average arrive and drive joint place.

Try to maintain as much momentum as possible, this doesn't mean don't brake, just means avoid unnecessary sliding and understeer moments. Some karts respond well to being thrown into bends, some really do not. The set up of karts varies hugely from kart centre to kart centre.

Oh and Brake late, it's amazing the ground you can make up on the brakes assuming the kart you are given has some good ones. (I've been in some shockers)

[Welshbeef]

Keep up the average speed.

Make sure you try to straighten out the corners and carry the speed through the corners so any uphill sections you'll be quicker than the others

Sliding round corners oversteer style while seems like fun its slow and you'll bog down too.

Focus on the problem corner until you get it right and rather than go in too hot back offhit the apex and accelerate - you will naturally get quicker on each lap the confidence grows as you learn to do it.

Throttle binary ditto brakes on or off

I ride the brake and throttle a touch on the start line - wouldn't it my own car wearing out the clutch.



Everytime I've been I'm slow on the straights carrying extra weight of a tall chap whereas short guys go much quicker in a straight line as such I've focused on getting faster round the corners and being able to carry higher speed into the straight thus negating their advantage - when I go on the track I really do get competitive and I'm thinking about which corner when to make the move learning the chap in fronts weakness and push them hard to force the error.

I've won a couple of events - somehow managing to also get fastest laps too on most occasions.
salty usually they offer food - I refuse it and just have water the food I've noticed makes me more lethargic on the track as such it would do it to others too so I'll take that advantage.

Don't bump at all keep it clean and also keep an eye on the fast guys talk to them between races banter etc something to take their mind off the task in hand - or deflect it away from you wow what a fluke etc etc those who brag the fast guys wil be watching them from the off keep it quiet under the rader and before they know you've taken them.

[Welshbeef]

Never stand on the steering arms when you get in

Singing while you drive is also a good one I do bang out Eage against the machine lyrics

[Debaser]

Be as light as you can.

[Welshbeef]

Debaser said:

Be as light as you can.

Talent is much more important.

[200bhp]

Debaser said:

Be as light as you can.

Thanks - I'm 76kg already but I'll try and take a dump when I get to the track

[gretsch drummer]

Going around any long corners, lean on the outside rear wheel and also sit low and slump back.


And remember, 'The faster you go, the more grip you have'.

(Is it Tee-side you're going to?)

[200bhp]

It's Barbagallo raceway, home to the Aussie V8s here in Perth

[HereBeMonsters]

Welshbeef said:

Debaser said:

Be as light as you can.

Talent is much more important.

Not on a track with elevation...

[Welshbeef]

HereBeMonsters said:

Not on a track with elevation...

I beat some fast light chaps on one track with a bridge thing is from I could see no one else could work out how to take the corner leading into the bridge I could so carried all that speed up the bridge while they started from more or less standstill - that part of the track overtaking up a bridge weighing 3 stone more than some other chaps made me smile and wave at them as I did it.

[Burrito]

Think about your lines. Slow in fast out, and look where you want the kart to go. It's a good way to hit the apex.

Try to keep it tidy. Pro karts don't tend to be quick when being slid around so try not to be too jerky with your steering.

[gretsch drummer]

Also, anyone reading this: DON'T waste your time going to Pole Position in Leeds, the marshals haven't got a clue what they're doing. Always standing on track at the entrance to corners, and that track is tight.

[HereBeMonsters]

Welshbeef said:

HereBeMonsters said:

Not on a track with elevation...

I beat some fast light chaps on one track with a bridge thing is from I could see no one else could work out how to take the corner leading into the bridge I could so carried all that speed up the bridge while they started from more or less standstill - that part of the track overtaking up a bridge weighing 3 stone more than some other chaps made me smile and wave at them as I did it.

3 stone? Ha!

[dalzo]

Accelerate to pull the kart round the corner, brake in a straight line .

Be committed, was racing against 20 guys a couple of weeks ago, dive bombing into a corner when 19 other people want to take the same line takes balls.

Hitting the apex isn't always the fastest line.

[RWD cossie wil]

Welshbeef said:

HereBeMonsters said:

Not on a track with elevation...

I beat some fast light chaps on one track with a bridge thing is from I could see no one else could work out how to take the corner leading into the bridge I could so carried all that speed up the bridge while they started from more or less standstill - that part of the track overtaking up a bridge weighing 3 stone more than some other chaps made me smile and wave at them as I did it.

Weight makes a huge difference, I am fairly tall & weigh in at 16 stone & have done a lot of karting, I'm not amazing by any stretch of the imagination but fairly handy. Stick a guy on an arrive & drive kart who weighs five stone less than me (one of my best mates is tiny, and also a very good driver, we have karted together for years) & it's no contest, the speed difference is incredible. I can catch my mate through corners, faster on the entry & exit, and still get out dragged on the straights! Good fun battle but immensely frustrating at the same time. Being tall is also a major hindrance as comfort is non existent, and limited movement makes steering harder for the tall folk.

Besides that, the key to being quick is keep it as smooth as possible, very tight lines & getting the kart turned onto the apex before putting the power on, you should not be adding more steering lock once you have turned in to your line, and feed the power on, don't stamp on the throttle as you will slide, and bog the engine down in tighter corners. Karts go fastest with all four wheels pointing forward, so try to come out of corners already on line to the next corner without having to drastically change your direction.

Failing that, just smash fk out of anyone who gets in your way

[Baryonyx]

Getting the best kart on the day is important too, many of the recreational places have a fleet of karts that varies considerably in quality. If you don't get to choose, you could end up in the pride of the fleet or a right old donkey.

[GroundEffect]

Twin engine 'arrive and drive' karts are slow. Keep your foot in it at all times.

[Galveston]

HereBeMonsters said:

3 stone? Ha!

Have another "Ha!" from me!

I'm 17 stone (and 6'7", so not entirely due to eating too many crisps).

I kart fairly regularly and I'm often 9 stone heavier than the competition. It makes a big difference, usually 2-3 kart lengths on the exit of every slow corner. I'm fairly handy, but there's nothing I can do against fairly handy competitors who only weigh 8 stone.