Karting Tips

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PeterJB

PeterJB

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I went Karting today for the first time. The Marshals said that I had perfect Kart control and a good racing line, but I'm really slow! I did two five-lap races against two opponents, and by the third lap they'd already lapped me! :grumpy: Whenever I went any faster than I was already going, the car would run wide or the back would spin out. Any advice on keeping up a high speed and maintaining control would be very much appreciated. :)
 
Expierience is all I can say. Figure out the track and you should be ok.

When I first Karted (I didnt know how fast it was gonna be) I kinda pushed it and even started drifting! (dont ask me how) later on the throttle jammed and I was like S***

Good expirience for me :dopey:
 
It just takes practice. Don't go for gold straight away, just push a little harder each lap until you're up to a decent pace.
 
I've gone time trial karting with a group of friends a few times. When its wet tip toeing around is the only thing possible. But when its dry you can throw the kart around farely quickly. I dont spin too often usually because I lock the back brakes (the only brakes) going into a hairpin on the track or because I floored the trottle too early on exiting an off camber corner. Now the karts I used are probably not as powerful as yours, with a top speed of 50mph but the same rules apply to all vehicles get on the power as early as possible without having to lift to try and control a back snaping tank slapper! And also just brake enough to turn into the corner, with light high powered karts you can use the trottle to make your way round the corner.

But seeing as though it was your first time, you will be better next time. And I bet you loved it, and cant wait to go back!
 
Fujiwara-kun
Expierience is all I can say. Figure out the track and you should be ok.

When I first Karted (I didnt know how fast it was gonna be) I kinda pushed it and even started drifting! (dont ask me how) later on the throttle jammed and I was like S***

Good expirience for me :dopey:
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I was always worried about double-pedaling, because the Marshals said that pressing the accelerator and brake at the same time will destroy the clutch. I didn't want to go too fast because I was worried about hitting the barriers. I kept getting worried about everything, and the Marshals said that I lack confidence.
 
GT4 genius
I've gone time trial karting with a group of friends a few times. When its wet tip toeing around is the only thing possible. But when its dry you can throw the kart around farely quickly. I dont spin too often usually because I lock the back brakes (the only brakes) going into a hairpin on the track or because I floored the trottle too early on exiting an off camber corner. Now the karts I used are probably not as powerful as yours, with a top speed of 50mph but the same rules apply to all vehicles get on the power as early as possible without having to lift to try and control a back snaping tank slapper! And also just brake enough to turn into the corner, with light high powered karts you can use the trottle to make your way round the corner.

But seeing as though it was your first time, you will be better next time. And I bet you loved it, and cant wait to go back!
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The Kart's I used had a top speed of 30mph, and you're right about the last bit!
 
Fujiwara-kun
When I first Karted (I didnt know how fast it was gonna be) I kinda pushed it and even started drifting! (dont ask me how) later on the throttle jammed and I was like S***
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:scared::scared::scared::scared: What did you do just stand on the brake until the clutch went or did you try a 'controlled crash'!
 
GT4 genius
:scared::scared::scared::scared: What did you do just stand on the brake until the clutch went or did you try a 'controlled crash'!
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I don't even see how the throttle can jam open since the pedal is spring-loaded! :scared:
 
Weight. In equal carts, a heavier rider will lose.

Unfortunately, all carts are not created (or at least maintained) equally.
 
When I was 13 I went karting at Whilton Kart track. It was an open practice thing with all the racers in that championship turning up in big tailors with some sponsors and so on them and I turned up in a white van. I had a reasonably new 2nd hand chassis and just one of everything for spares. I went out for the first ever session in a kart and well I was being over taken here there and everywhere. I just didnt have the confidence. Second session I was quicker but I spun out. Last session of the day was damp and in the end i just had some fun sliding around turns and so. It wasnt quick but it wasnt too bad. The cost of karting at the time seems colossal so needless to say I never did it again. We sold on our chassis and that was the end.

Last year I went Karting with Alex. from this site and enjoyed it. My dad broke his kart on the first session but overall it was a laugh and that has made me want to get back into karting. My uncle, who got me into karting when I was 13, is racing classic kart's at the moment and im asking him if he can find me a cheap decent chassis so I can try it all again.

Tips: dont do what my dad did when he was young and take all your ballast of thinking your not going to win and then win the race and quickly need to add more weight to the car. And just keep your line and experiment with different lines, braking and turning points. Follow them around for a bit see what they do.
 
GT4 genius
:scared::scared::scared::scared: What did you do just stand on the brake until the clutch went or did you try a 'controlled crash'!
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No just accelerate on the straight (first time at the Karts) about to brake at the tight corner and kept going. The tire wall stop the kart but the pedal was clearly stuck after letting off.
 
TB
Weight. In equal carts, a heavier rider will lose.

Unfortunately, all carts are not created (or at least maintained) equally.
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I'm 6ft tall but I'm still only 10.5 stone. I was the oldest one there though, and as such, I had a considerably size and weight advantage over my opponents!
 
My hint, if your against a bunch of kids who don't know the meaning of clean racing, don't take any crap.

And also, drifting around the last turn because someone tried to clip you and having more skill than they expected is really fun. His expression when I did that was priceless! He was probably around 10 years old.
 
PeterJB
I was always worried about double-pedaling, because the Marshals said that pressing the accelerator and brake at the same time will destroy the clutch. I didn't want to go too fast because I was worried about hitting the barriers. I kept getting worried about everything, and the Marshals said that I lack confidence.
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unfortunetely lacking confidence is an intrinsic thing that you will have to bypass with difficulty. One way is to kart more often, but of course this is expensive, another way is convince yourself to steadily go quicker each lap to build up confidence but always remember to stay smooth that way you can push harder without worring about spinning. Another way is to just psyche yourself up at the begining. If you know you may lack confidence, then if you keep reminding yourself that whilst driving you can consciously force yourself to push harder. How effectively these methods work depend on your personality type though, but if you know deep down you can be quicker than your oppentents and the only things stopping you is your fear of things going wrong, then with a little self will power you can easily overcome these issues.
 
ive went karting once. Its a lot of fun, i remember my laptimes were the fastest of the day and equal to the mechanics personal bests (guys who owned and maintained the karts at the hire place). I think the biggest reason for this was because of my PC sim racing background. The karts are so similar its just like im driving the game, add in the fact i ride dirtbikes for 13years so im used to the G forces and it seems it turns you into an ok karter. The biggest tip is corner speed and only lifting when really nessicarly and when you do lift get back on the power ASAP. I remember passing guys around the outside because their corner speed is so crap. Thats where you make up the time, just like in the PC games i play its the same in the karts.
 
sn00pie
Just try to be smooth, before you try to be fast.
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I couldn't stress that enough. One you can get around the track smooth, you have to find your limits, when you get understeer and oversteer-back off. Fear can sometimes get the better of you. I drove something similar to standard road karts for 5 years, you have to lean to trust you equitment, but having the karts being like rental cars, I would beat the snot out of them, but that's just me :D
 
Small_Fryz
ive went karting once. Its a lot of fun, i remember my laptimes were the fastest of the day and equal to the mechanics personal bests (guys who owned and maintained the karts at the hire place). I think the biggest reason for this was because of my PC sim racing background. The karts are so similar its just like im driving the game, add in the fact i ride dirtbikes for 13years so im used to the G forces and it seems it turns you into an ok karter. The biggest tip is corner speed and only lifting when really nessicarly and when you do lift get back on the power ASAP. I remember passing guys around the outside because their corner speed is so crap. Thats where you make up the time, just like in the PC games i play its the same in the karts.
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That is exactly why I had perfect control and judgement right from the start!
 
It's really hard to give advice on karting because it varies so much.

If you have the luxury of doing a whole day (recommend it, great fun) absolutely push the car on any practice laps you have to see what the level of grips are, often has to be done corner to corner on some tracks. One track I did had tarmac on the S-bends but concrete on the hairpin. Huge difference in grip.

Once you know the limits work backwards, building up untill you're driving competently and smoothly.

Oh and at the start gas and brake just before it turns green, then release the brake and from there on make your kart as wide as reasonably possible.
 
Indoor and outdoor karting are also very different in my limited experience. Indoor karting tends to be done in old empty warehouses where the track surface is generally smooth concrete. It's a good surface for drifting the kart through a quick corner but awful for tighter hairpins, which is unfortunate since most indoor tracks are made up of hairpins.

You'll lose so much time by losing your momentum through hairpins. Try to avoid locking up the rears on entry and spinning the rears on exit. Karts don't have a LSD so will easily spin an inside wheel if you apply too much throttle on the exit. Track employees will always tell you to not brake and throttle at the same time (it's their clutches they are trying to save at the end of the day) but the quicker guys will always brake and throttle at the same time. If you've got your speed down early enough you can start spooling the revs up ready for a quick exit as you head for the apex still on the brake pedal, which keeps the back end in check. It takes some practice but thats how it's done on a low grip surface.

VEXD is someone who'll no doubt be able to give you some good tips for outdoor karting.
 
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Lose weight, the secret to karting.


Makes a HUGE difference.
 
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I might be able to supply video footage of me Karting because my dad filmed it. That might make it easier for everyone to give me advice on where I'm going wrong. I just don't know how to get films from a video camera onto a computer.
 
VIPERGTSR01
Lose weight, the secret to karting.


Makes a HUGE difference.
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+1 lose some pounds. Last time I went karting I knew I was the fastest through the corners in our group, I proved it by beating them there every time, but me being so heavy and the kart's power so low, every kilo is a big impact on the PWR, and I lost so badly on the straights I simply wasn't laughing.
 
I really only race in outdoor settings, but the main tip I can give you is what most people have said here: practice. Particularly, when getting started, find the kart's limits around the corners and at the end of the straights (in other words, make the most of the accelerator pedal, making sure to follow a consistent racing line) and dont be afraid to push it a little. Once you find the limits of what you and the kart can do, start refining it.

My times don't seem to be fond of indoor tracks, so I can't be sure what is best in that setting.
 
oversteer kills your speed in most karts (low powered ones to be exact). learning your tire's limits is very important
 
sn00pie
Just try to be smooth, before you try to be fast.
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The karts love smooth movements. The times where I tried to go fast were the times I spun out because I locked the brakes or jerked the wheel to hard. And it's so hard to be smooth when you're worn out. I'm guessing that's where the experience and conditioning comes in.

How was your kart set up? The kart I drove was tuned just for the track I was on, because that's where it competed in the years before. The kart had been driven to season championships there and had a very good driver and a very good setup. Once I got to drive it I had to learn how to make it drive smoothly, and that was not easy. I did very well, but I certainly reached my limit while the kart had plenty left. But make sure you focus on smoothness first. Also, take note of the experienced drivers' techniques.
 
I'm going karting soon, and seeing as I'm such an expert driver, much like senna of his late teens, I'll try and get someone I know to film the lot of us, if Mike can keep up this time.
 

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