What do i need to know to be good at Karting ?

Really depends on the cart and the track. If you have the power and are required to negotiate hairpins then a quick flick with countersteer (oppisite the direction of the corner) and a tap on the brake followed by throttle will bring the tail around ultra quick and keep your revs up for the next straight.

Otherwise approach the corner as you normally would. Trying to slide around every corner is going to kill your time. Go practice, it is adicting.

ken

 

Basically to minimise sterring input is the key i found.
Being able to negotiate the track in a fast, clean, non-powersliding way is the key to being fast. Practice your lines and apex's. Get into a rhythm so as you can concentrate about racecraft more. Think about the race and other around you on the fly.
Practice clean and efficient braking. Understand the limit of the Kart, and mainly the tires. Understand the limit flucuates with tire temp. Dont be unsettled or threatned when a kart is right on your tail. Remain focussed on the race and your kart. The kart is an extension of you. You are the Kart. The Kart is you. Grasshopper......

Basically just dont slide around every where. Just be clean and a good racer. And the one main tip to karting.......HAVE FUN!

 

Yeah pretty much. Drive it at 10/10ths without the slidding. Make little corrections throughout corners to counter any slides that my occur. Like i said, be one with the Kart.

 

It depends on the kart. If it's the usual 1,2hp you get at rental places, no other choice than taking clean lines with no sliding at all.
If it's a 125 w/ gearbox ... drift it, baby!!! You'll be last, but you'll impress the ladies.

 

If you get to California, we'll get you out in our 90-100MPH karts (Just bring wine!).

 

Tuck your head in on the streights. I noticed it really cuts off some time and you gain more speed faster.

 

Isnt the key to going 60mph well is to wear Prada shoes, post pics of your keys/interior all the time, and be a tool????
Isnt that how you go 60mph?

(Referring to a certain pic taken on the highway.....)

 

You should try a 170mph kart (Just bring vodka!).

About Formula E 250cc International Superkarting

 

Now THAT is something I have to try before I die. I'll probably die trying, which works out neatly.

 

Rented karts have usually very little power so slides kill your speed. Braking and cornering should be precise and your trajectories smooth. Like others said don't miss the apex.
If you get behind someone do not muscle your way around him as you'll both slow down. Prepare your overtaking manouvers one or two corners in advance.
Have fun!

 

And there is a lot of grip, especially at the speeds rental karts go. Last 2 tracks I went to, 2 curves required braking, and they were hairpins, everything else should be wide open, or light lifting of the gas.

 

I am a beginner when it comes to karting while there are some similarities with car driving you have to note that the kart has no suspension and no differential so it does not rotate like a car does.

I have learned that the best way to go fast is to go slow but drive the line. Walk the track and make markers for your braking, turn in and exit points. If there are experts around who know the track, walk with them and ask them about those points. Then progressively increase speed as you feel the grip is there. I think once you learn the line you have to practice your braking point to carry more speed through the turn and be super smooth with your steering. Also, trail braking comes handy for those hairpins where you finish braking right up to the apex. Do not slide the kart around. It is fun because you get so much feedback that correction is almost 2nd nature but when you slide you will lose time... Remember you have to go slow to be able to go fast.
Enjoy!

 

Memo Gidley has a very good book out on the art of driving a cart fast. Can get it from Amazon.

Art

 

ditto.

(p.s.-for an ol' lib, Art's a fast driver.)

 

Admiral...That is a beautiful kart. Please post a few more pics and list some specs. I have seen them, but never on the track. I don't think I have the hair to get in one! Tell us about driving one of those baby's.

 

Read all the books you want, but it will come down to this:

"smooth is fast".

Enjoy.

 

Smooth is fast. But being fast is faster
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=134522560&postcount=11
I think a lot can be learned from that article.

 

no "real" advice here, only coming from having won trophies amongst mates at poxy lawnmower-powered-karts....

the faster it feels, the slower it is. daft as it sounds, i've tried it in computer simulations also... when you're "powersliding" through a corner, it feels DAM fast, but in all honesty it's around 25% slower.

as for go-karts, i love that gixxerkart clip. essentially, somebody decided to strap a seat onto a GSX-R 115hp motorbike engine...

surely there'll be a decent link among these: http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=gixxerkart

 

Haha, I've seen that video. Classic.

I've been wondering what kind of engine they used. Where did you find out the details? They only mention it having 115hp and 1.1 litres in the video.

 

i had no idea either, until i showed the vid to a bike-nut mate of mine. in fact, it hadn't even started, i'd just mentioned it was insane, then he saw the werd "GIXXER" and told me that was crotch-rocket-speak for a GSX-R sportbike, of which he used to ride.

 

Not bad at all. How were the karts, rental type slow or actual racing type fast?