Help me beat my friends at go-karting

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erdnase
Joined: Fri 07 Jul, 2006 04:50
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Help me beat my friends at go-karting

Post by erdnase »

Ok, so I've a go-karting night coming up with my friends in a few weeks, and the trash talking has started already. It is imperative that I win this 8-)

I've been karting 5 times in the last few years and always loved it. When my mates and I are racing around the track, it tends to be a case of everyone just putting the pedal to the metal, and the winner being quite random. I figure that a little bit of skill and technique will go a long way here, so I come to you all for advice.

Bearing in mind I'm a rank amateur, what can I do to improve my chances of winning? I sort of understand racing lines - all else being equal, do I just stick to the racing lines through corners to prevent being overtaken? Brake late and accelerate out of the corner?

It's going to be an indoor track and quite nippy carts (I have no idea of the CC unfortunately). Assume the enemy (err, I mean my friends) also have a basic understanding of racing lines, etc, and aren't afraid to put the foot down when required also. Any tips or advice is most welcome!

If I win, I promise to put a zroadster.net sponsorship decal on the side of my kart and take a photo :lol:
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QED
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Re: Help me beat my friends at go-karting

Post by QED »

erdnase wrote:If I win, I promise to put a zroadster.net sponsorship decal on the side of my kart and take a photo :lol:
An unauthorised ZRoadster car sticker :shock:
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Sniff
Joined: Thu 11 Aug, 2005 12:01
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Post by Sniff »

Brake as little as possible in a kart...they are auto and take a long time to get up to speed. Better to moderate your speed via the throttle. Just jab the brakes when required (end of straights etc)

Into the corners carry as much speed as you dare and then use opposite lock and balance/steer the kart around using the throttle so you can keep the revs high for when you exit.

Be careful when passing...the karts are wider at the back than the front which can make you catch the sidewall tyres if you're not careful

Make a mental note of all your mates weights...the fatter guys will corner better (more grip) but be slower on the straights. The lightweights will pull away down the straights, but are more likely to lock the wheels on the corners and spin (another good reason for not using the brakes much). Use this info to decide on the best place to overtake each individual. A few pounds can make all the difference (so go on a diet yourself!)

Use the warmup/qualifying laps to warm your tyres. If you're indoors you'll be on slicks and they can be really slippery until they've warmed up.
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SpunkyM
Joined: Mon 08 Mar, 2004 18:26
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Post by SpunkyM »

Some great advice from Sniff there - just about sums it up.

As the karts are very light, your own weight makes a big difference to the power-weight ratio and hence your tactics. Ideally you should be around the 10 to 11 stone mark - any more than this and you never gain enough advantage to be competetive as it's often very difficult to overtake around bends (where the heavier guys have an advantage).

Like with anything that has limited power - it's all about carrying as much speed as possible into the corners. As a tip (and the organsers will probably black flag you if they see you doing it) but you can gain an edge by never taking your foot off the gas (i.e. keep it flat to the end stop and just add some brake when needed). They don't like this as it wears the kart quicker but it can help when coming out of the corners.
Last edited by SpunkyM on Mon 23 Jul, 2007 16:13, edited 2 times in total.
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muppet
Joined: Wed 08 Feb, 2006 17:16
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Post by muppet »

indoor karts tend to be fairly low powered so weight makes a big difference so try and loose a couple of stone in the next week :P
More seriously be smooth with your inputs , Should not mateer so much with ththrottle with the karts low power but smooth and progressive on the brakes and steering. i know this as i am totally ham fisted ina kart and all the people that pass me look just so smooth
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Sniff
Joined: Thu 11 Aug, 2005 12:01
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Post by Sniff »

Take a look at this site too. Might be a bit overkill for a mate-session, but what the hell, you want to win don't you?! :twisted:

http://www.evenflow.co.uk/articles.htm
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
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Post by pingu »

As the karts are so low in power and torque you need to be on the power the instant you need it. I use left foot braking when karting and it seems to be quite successful when I've raced at work.

At the start be ready. Brake hard down and throttle down so the clutch is dragging, but you are being kept still by the brake. Avoid wheelspin at the start. Practice start until you can get a good launch. When you let go of the brake, move your foot to the left, not up (this will release the brake quicker). Beware, the kart's owner will not be happy with this technique as it can burn out the centrifugal clutch.

When approaching a corner, leave the braking late, and brake no more than you have to. Only use enough brake to slow you down enough to make the corner.

Be aggressive (assertiveness is for the public highway!) and get to the front early, as even a one second gap is very difficult to make up. Know the likely passing points on the track and defend them by positioning your kart to force them around the outside.

Be prepared for being knocked off line by people behind you trying to get past, and return the favour as required.

Remember, as Ron Dennis once said...

"You show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser"


Have fun, and let us know how you get on.
Pingu
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Alex L
Joined: Sun 23 Oct, 2005 21:16
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Post by Alex L »

pingu wrote:... I use left foot braking when karting
You don't have a great deal of choice do you?
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Sniff
Joined: Thu 11 Aug, 2005 12:01
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Post by Sniff »

Alex L wrote:
pingu wrote:... I use left foot braking when karting
You don't have a great deal of choice do you?
:lol:
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
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Post by pingu »

I know what you mean, but most people I've seen don't use the left foot braking technique. They have the throttle full off while braking, then only apply the throttle after the brake is full off.

The trick (if it is a trick) is to blend the two. That's what I meant. Sorry for the confusion.
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trickyb
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Post by trickyb »

pingu wrote:The trick (if it is a trick) is to blend the two. That's what I meant.
Do that at our local track and they'll black flag you!! It knackers the clutch.

:roll:
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PhoenixCoupe
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Post by PhoenixCoupe »

Do what they make greyhounds do - take a big dump right before the race. :shock:
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Justin Time
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Re: Help me beat my friends at go-karting

Post by Justin Time »

QED wrote:
erdnase wrote:If I win, I promise to put a zroadster.net sponsorship decal on the side of my kart and take a photo :lol:
An unauthorised ZRoadster car sticker :shock:
:shock: :shock: You said the "S" word! Shhhh!

Best of luck with the race, would try and give some advice but i know absolutely diddly about this kind of racing. Well except for the fact it gave me whiplash a few years back and never tried it since. May want to avoid that :wink:
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whiteminks
Joined: Tue 26 Sep, 2006 09:58
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Post by whiteminks »

Mmmmmmmm guys, aren't we getting a wee bit competitive about an undersized unsophisticated vehicle.


If you really want to stretch yourselves try a totally upredictable 'ride' like a horse......... test your skill ,speed of reaction , flexibility, ability to cope with the unknown and physical fitness..........


You can even do it alone and still be given unexpected challenges!


Cheers P
big cheesy wrote:'I nearly cacked my trolleys till I quickly tuned in'. Yorkshire Cruise 2008.
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tetchmeister
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Post by tetchmeister »

whiteminks wrote:Mmmmmmmm guys, aren't we getting a wee bit competitive about an undersized unsophisticated vehicle.


If you really want to stretch yourselves try a totally upredictable 'ride' like a horse......... test your skill ,speed of reaction , flexibility, ability to cope with the unknown and physical fitness..........


You can even do it alone and still be given unexpected challenges!


Cheers P
Its just plain cruel........
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whiteminks
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Post by whiteminks »

tetchmeister wrote:
whiteminks wrote:Mmmmmmmm guys, aren't we getting a wee bit competitive about an undersized unsophisticated vehicle.


If you really want to stretch yourselves try a totally upredictable 'ride' like a horse......... test your skill ,speed of reaction , flexibility, ability to cope with the unknown and physical fitness..........


You can even do it alone and still be given unexpected challenges!


Cheers P
Its just plain cruel........

Who for the horse or the rider :lol: :lol: :lol:

Now let me see, I go out to work all week, pay the bills, feed bills, vets bills, clothe them in expensive rugs, stable them when it is cold. Muck out after them. Groom them, give them new shoes every 6 weeks, love them, ride them perhaps once/twice a week a week which they adore......... give them plenty of ground to play in ........ who would you rather be me or them? :D

Mmmmmmmmmm ........ go karts are much cheaper and less time consuming I suppose :wink:
big cheesy wrote:'I nearly cacked my trolleys till I quickly tuned in'. Yorkshire Cruise 2008.
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Alex L
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Post by Alex L »

Just got back from a marathon stag weekend and pleased to say that I managed to win my group and get the fastest lap :drive
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pingu
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Post by pingu »

:drive
Pingu
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Sniff
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Re: Help me beat my friends at go-karting

Post by Sniff »

erdnase wrote:Ok, so I've a go-karting night coming up with my friends in a few weeks, and the trash talking has started already. It is imperative that I win this 8-)
So did you win? :)
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