hello all,

im of go karing tonight in london,

http://www.team-sport.co.uk/karting_tracks/karting_in_london.html

only a muck around with a few freinds, but any tips! havnt done it for years, should i stick to down right filthy tacktics and claiming brakes are for wimps? or is there an art to it, weve got the 'fast' karts but i dont think theyl be anything that fast?

Smooth, don't get it sideways as with those clutches it takes a while to pick back up again.

Steve

keep the engine spinning at all costs. wide lines round hairpins to save it bogging down too much and remember, you need to be fast OUT of any complexes, so slow in and concentrate on setting yourself up for the line for round the last corner and the exit

tom

Attach Sabres to your rear wheels and a Chain gun to the front.
But really as said smooth is the way.
Steve

haha, cheers chaps, (rummaging for sambres...)

My sons got a party there next week. We're only 5 mins from the track and went over last week. Very twisty but good size and looks well run place. Have a good evening

Remember that a kart doesn't have a differential so you need to lift the inside wheel when turning. To help this along try leaning out with your upper body on corners. Most people lean into the corners naturally but this just holds the inside wheel down and scrubs off speed. Bear this scrub issue in mind at all times because even the slightest steering input will scrub off speed.

Also, use the weight of your body forwards and backwards to adjust weight distribution between front and rear to help adjust balance between over and under steer.

Try to relax your grip on the steering wheel or you will get tired quickly. This also helps to get the kart as fast as possible in a straight line because the steering will settle into the angle of minimum scrub.

As has already been said, try to keep the engine spinning because the clutch will engage more fully at higher RPM.

You should generally either be on the brakes (hard) or on the throttle as hard as possible after your turn. Try to avoid coasting as this is wasted time. Smooth transitions from power to brake to steering to power again are key to good lap times.

Final one - on a relatively short track, listen to the sound of the engine/tyres/wind as you go round the lap. After a few laps you will get used to the timing of the sounds and it almost becomes like a song. Once you remember the "song" you can almost drive the track without using your eyes which is handy when racing other drivers because you can then use your eyes to watch your opponents. It is also handy for lap times because you can tweak your lines/balance/timings consciously and leave the actual driving to your subconscious. Hope that makes sense...

Above all, have fun!!
Craig.

[Edited on 20/1/2010 by craig1410]

In my experience they always tell you:-

No contact allowed
No brake & trottle at the same time
Allow faster cars past under blue flag

So

Ram your way into the corners, murder the clutch and don't let any bugger past.

(except when the marshalls are looking).

If you don't the others will.

I've always found it is about good racing lines and maintenance of momentum. Most fun carters are point-and-squirt merchants taking corners too tight and knocking off too much speed with the brakes to take their tight line.

I weigh over 100kg and often beat pipsqueaks using good lines and maintaing as much momentum as possible.

Too late as already been said, but main things are momentum. However offcourse weight is the main advantage. Try and lose some weight before now and this evening haha.