Go Karting

[David]

Hey, tomorrow I am going on a staff day out go karting. Basically everyone is a lot older than me and most of them can drive. Theres quite a bit of competition between people and im afraid im going to be really crap as I havent been in years. Should I try and take racing lines etc? My main 'problem' is corners Never know how fast/slow to take them!

Thanks,

Dave

[Joe Papasnap Maher]

You'll know how fast to take em...after you spin out

I say just hammer it..

[Shaun H]

Don't crash and put a hole through your face, it does nothing for your confidence trust me...

But on a serious note, racing lines don't always work in a go kart cos alot of the corners are usually flat out anyway. Just go steady at first if you've never been and learn the track and overtaking points. Then from there out just hammer it and do your best.

[David]

to be honest im thinking about just hammering it Should be a good laugh anyway

[tipsy Jock]

Its all about clipping apexs and slow in fast out. Theres no point hammering it into a corner and skidding cause that will scrub all your speed off by the time you exit the corner.

[Has anyone seen my shoe?]

Yeah depends on the design of the track, have a few laps just to get used to the track.

A thing I used to do was not to brake round corners so much, just not accelerate the whole time.

But yeah main tactic is floor it.

[Shaun H]

to be honest im thinking about just hammering it Should be a good laugh anyway

Just to make myself clear there are some corners where racing lines will be a *big* help, it's a delicate balancing art.

[Has anyone seen my shoe?]

Yeah, trying to cut corners isnt always the best idea

[Bendee]

go kartings mental f**k wining have fun take your fut off the go pedal and you need some bigger balls lol corners full pelt is why its so much fun dont be all serious just have fun youll love it.

[Danny]

My only tip is dont swing them round too fast on hairpins make it smoother as if you flick the back end round quickly then engine cant cope with the sudden change in direction and you end up slowing right down.

[ramps]

At the go-kart track near me you dont let off, ever, its a lot of fun. Go flat out you'll soon find your boundries.

[Has anyone seen my shoe?]

My only tip is dont swing them round too fast on hairpins make it smoother as if you flick the back end round quickly then engine cant cope with the sudden change in direction and you end up slowing right down.

at your avatar

[Si-man]

go kartings mental f**k wining have fun take your fut off the go pedal and you need some bigger balls lol corners full pelt is why its so much fun dont be all serious just have fun youll love it.

You what??

dannys avatar is mint haha!

[Fixed Pants™]

Shunt the back of the other people, on the corner of the bull-bar like bumper so it rubs on their wheel, making them slower and making them have to stop to have it bent back out... AND as a bonus, it might set on fire

Start slow, then when you've got it, pedal to the metal baby!

[F-Stop Junkie]

The main tips I've been told are the following:

1) The go-karts don't have differentials, and they accelerate best in a straight line. Get the kart as straight as possible as quick as possible,

2) Don't brake too much going into the corner, as you turn and the tyres scrub across the surface (no diff, remember!) you'll lose some speed.

I'd stick to proper racing lines, and take the first few laps easy to get used to it, then try braking a little later and turning harder as you get into it.

Don't forget that only the back axle is braked, so if you stamp on the brakes you'll just lock the rears and spin! Take it easy and have fun!

[Haz]

On corners, because of the live axel, they tend to cock the inside drive wheel, so if you leen in, it will help you get the power out of the turn.

Also, if you can try and use the Apex, a few of the kart track I have been on have little cones for the apex, if you don't understand, just mimic the line an F1 driver would take, you'll do fine.

Also, very often, new carters will hold the brake on a little because they like the feeling that they are in control, but all it does it slow you down and rape the engine.

If people really are faster than you, move out of their way and let them through, you can always catch them up again. There will be a tie when you are traveling in behind someone slower than yourself and you cant get past because they won't move, it's not fun.

If you arnt going fast, one of the best things to do is go round the corner slowish, come of the brake and straight on with the acceleration, you'll probably spin out, but my god it's fun and it just looks so cool if you control it.

I must go karting again soon.

[Dai the Socket]

I guess a lot of people have said their stuff but I might as well give a few tips too lol - I went a couple of weeks ago

Try make the corners as straight as possible - go out wide before you cut in to the apex then bang on the accelerator and leave the corner wide.

Remember that if you accelerate harder and turn, you'll get the kart sideways and it'll turn more, so faster is usually better It helps you control the kart around corners.

They say no brake and accelerator at the same time but do it when you're starting cos it launches you off haha.

Have fun

[Krisboats]

Ha ha, some of the advice here is good, some is crap. If your a first timer racing lines aren't gonna come into it really so don't try.

Some people have said go flat out round corners, sounds like they went on the kiddie's karts, theres no way i'd take 120-140 degree bend at 70mph. Basically turn up, have a go with the kart not being full pelt for the first lap (you should have qualifiers and stuff) this way you'lll get used to how quick the brakes apply and how it corners. Then on the second lap put the accelerator to the floor on straights, they'll have tested the karts on the tracks so it is safe (so long as you don't randomly floor it into a wall without steering obviously).

To get round tight corners well you need to go at it fast then at the last minute turn into the corner slam the brake on momentarily and then release it again, as you release slam your foot down on the accelerator... only apply one pedal at a time, accelerating with the brake pedal down will cause brake rub that will slow you down and boil your brake fluid effectively rendering them useless . The sudden acceleration will cause the kart to quickly slide round the corner and as long as you keep the steering wheel locked in the direction you wanna go it'll slide the back end round quickly for youas soon as your getting in line with the straight ahead of you straighten the wheel and the kart will jump into line and slam forwards like i don't know what.

Its a great move for overtaking after a corner.

If the track becomes wet they'll drift like f**k round corners. Apply the same method to it and you'll slide forever, as soon as you wanna end the slide though just ease of the accelerator, your wheels'll slow down and suddenly grip then ease the accelerator on again. I managed to drift an entire section of the course, great fun although not something if your looking to compete seriously.

Just go at it, have fun and don't worry too much about what your doing, it'll mostly come naturally. If you can though take corners full pelt and use someone else's kart to stop you going off the track so just hit them a little bit to keep you in a straight line with your speed and to knock them off course.... always a winner.

[MadManMike]

I went Karting for the first time last year, wasn't very confident and went with semi pro's. At first I was a little nervous and kept out of their lines, after about 3 or 4 laps I was still slower but got the bottle to take risks...

You'll love it!

[Si-man]

Just watched some mental go karting vids then.

Havnt been since i was about 8, was mint then.

I have never driven a car or anything, and its been a while.

Tempted to go one day, we have a massive indoor place near us.

[ian]

its all about the opposite lock, last time i went go karting it had been rainning all day and it was a pure test of who had the biggest balls combined with driver skill,

if it is dry dont get it sideways no matter how good it looks you wil lgo fast when going in straight lines, and makes sure you hit the apex of the corner they help to bring the kart round the corner plus you get some sparks if you get it right

i no its not good for the kart but i find braking and accellerating when used simultaniously will get you through the corner quicker (if that makes sense)

but most of all just have a laugh,

i pulled the perfect 720 last time in the rain when going through a slight curve in the rain.

[poopipe]

any advice that contradicts this is bollocks...

straights:

foot all the way down on the fun pedal

bounce up and down in your seat - this will encourage the cart to get a shift on (honest )

corners:

approach in F1 style (the outside)

at beginning of corner, steer towards pointy bit of corner and apply brake hard - do not release the fun pedal at any cost

release brake when going slowly enough to finish corner (with fun pedal fully applied)

apply opposite lock when cart starts to point in wrong direction and aim at exit when cart is back under 'control'

exit corner by pointing steering wheel at next corner and pressing double hard on the fun pedal - just in case it makes you go faster

* disclaimer last time I went carting I stuffed my cart into a tyre wall at roughly 35 mph. I stil had more fun than everyone else though.

[Tomm]

Mmmm, this is all making me wanna go Karting again. I haven't been since my 14th birthday. Today I learnt the Welsh for Karting Centre. It's "Cartio".

straights:

foot all the way down on the fun pedal

bounce up and down in your seat - this will encourage the cart to get a shift on (honest )

[Si-man]

any advice that contradicts this is bollocks...

straights:

foot all the way down on the fun pedal

bounce up and down in your seat - this will encourage the cart to get a shift on (honest )

Im imagining someone that looks like a poopipe bouncing up an down in a go kart with a massive grin on his face hahahahha!

Quality.

I really wanna go karting now, might have to arange it after christmas...

[Walleee]

Ha ha, some of the advice here is good, some is crap. If your a first timer racing lines aren't gonna come into it really so don't try.

Some people have said go flat out round corners, sounds like they went on the kiddie's karts, theres no way i'd take 120-140 degree bend at 70mph. Basically turn up, have a go with the kart not being full pelt for the first lap (you should have qualifiers and stuff) this way you'lll get used to how quick the brakes apply and how it corners. Then on the second lap put the accelerator to the floor on straights, they'll have tested the karts on the tracks so it is safe (so long as you don't randomly floor it into a wall without steering obviously).

To get round tight corners well you need to go at it fast then at the last minute turn into the corner slam the brake on momentarily and then release it again, as you release slam your foot down on the accelerator... only apply one pedal at a time, accelerating with the brake pedal down will cause brake rub that will slow you down and boil your brake fluid effectively rendering them useless . The sudden acceleration will cause the kart to quickly slide round the corner and as long as you keep the steering wheel locked in the direction you wanna go it'll slide the back end round quickly for youas soon as your getting in line with the straight ahead of you straighten the wheel and the kart will jump into line and slam forwards like i don't know what.

Its a great move for overtaking after a corner.

If the track becomes wet they'll drift like f**k round corners. Apply the same method to it and you'll slide forever, as soon as you wanna end the slide though just ease of the accelerator, your wheels'll slow down and suddenly grip then ease the accelerator on again. I managed to drift an entire section of the course, great fun although not something if your looking to compete seriously.

Just go at it, have fun and don't worry too much about what your doing, it'll mostly come naturally. If you can though take corners full pelt and use someone else's kart to stop you going off the track so just hit them a little bit to keep you in a straight line with your speed and to knock them off course.... always a winner.

Didn't read yet another of your eaasy's, but 70mph and hydraulic brakes? What sort of kart's have you been on?

The ones at my local go-kart track (owned by Eddie Irvine) have cable brakes for just the rear and I doubt they'd do anymore than 40 even when being pushed....