Karting - how are others so much quicker than me?!

[Frimley111R]

I consider myself pretty good at karting and last night whipped my colleagues at a local indoor track. In larger events I am usually in the top 5 fastest. Last night I did a 37 second lap and was just about spot on with the power/braking/lines etc. and yet the track record is 5 seconds faster! The lap is only 37 seconds and at least 10 seconds is a long curving straight. I know the guy who did that lap goes there a lot but I can't see how on earth he makes up so much time on me?!!

[Frimley111R]

It is possible that it's a younger guy doing it I suppose. I weigh 90kg and so its not hard to be lighter than me, particularity for younger guys (and girls).

[Frimley111R]

Thanks for the abuse guys

I did talk to the track guys who said that the times were mostly done a new track surface with new karts/tyres and by guys who are nearer 50kog so I didn't feel so bad. Where the weight makes the difference is in acceleration out of a corner, it allows lighter drivers to pull alongside and get past. The extra weight/grip seems to make little difference.


Hire karts seem pretty even these days I have to say, even the electric ones.

[Frimley111R]

37chevy said:

If I were you I'd ignore the lap record and go race in the Daytona series or club 100 where the karts are more equal so you know it's your own driving which is the variable and not the karts

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

[Frimley111R]

RB Will 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

I’ve done quite a few enduros and always find the outdoor tracks a lot easier as you get decent straights to recover.
I’ve done the Daytona 24 a few times and even with 2.5 hr stints felt ok to jump back in a few hours later.
I did a 3 hour stint on an indoor track once and was utterly broken. Fingers didn’t work to take my helmet off, bruised blistered and bleeding in other places.

I was talking to a friend who said he'd been asked to join a team to the Daytona 24hr race. He did the test day and pulled out You need a level of fitness, especially for outdoor karting, that many of us just don't have.

[Frimley111R]

Bannock said:

Frimley111R said:

Thanks for the abuse guys

It took you nearly 6.5 years to notice?

These things can't be rushed!

[Frimley111R]

We were looking at our times recently as we've raced at Farnborough indoor track a few times now and we are nearly 2 seconds faster that when we first started. No idea how! Fastest guy was about 1 sec faster.

[Frimley111R]

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.