Any tips for a rookie?

Racer K · 9 Dec 2004, 19:34 (Ref:1175550)

Hi, I'm new here, and new-ish to karting. There is a place called Go-Kart Racer in Burlingame, CA. Some of you may know of this place if you live in the bay area. Anyway, I was just wondering if any of you have any tips for a Rookie that can help me shave some time off my lap-times. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

~Kent

marcus · 9 Dec 2004, 22:58 (Ref:1175737)

welcome to the forum kent.

Go hard son, Go hard

Karting_jenny · 10 Dec 2004, 11:56 (Ref:1176069)

Is this indoor or outdoor karting.

If its outdoor - go and see Pro-train (if they go there)...they probably can help you shave those lap times.

toot toot · 10 Dec 2004, 13:12 (Ref:1176131)

Watch and learn! Try to follow somebody good for a couple of laps, see where they brake and where they apex etc. Theres only one thing that beats watching the experts. And that is time in the seat. Do as many laps as you can, push the boundries, try braking later each lap, try altering your line slighty. Good luck.

mikmx · 10 Dec 2004, 13:29 (Ref:1176160)

Watch the faster guys (with a type of kart that is close to your own) taking a corner when you are not driving. Look to were they turn in and their clipping point and try to remember it (other color on curb etc) and loof for that when you are driving.
There a lot of books about driving a kart (or car) fast buy one it will be money well spend.

Racer K · 10 Dec 2004, 18:50 (Ref:1176421)

Cool, thanks guys. This is an indoor place, I have seen some of the pro karters getting times like 28.55 seconds, I usually get 30 seconds. My best is 29.868. It's a cool place to practice at $25 USD per session, each session being 15 minutes. I am hoping to build some experience to go into some real racing (as in cars), but that's still probably years away. I have been looking to sign up for Skip Barber racing school, when I get the money. One day, that engine will sing to the dancing of my feet and I will be complete. Thanks for the tips guys.

#15 tkm 4/ · 10 Dec 2004, 18:52 (Ref:1176423)

as your a rookie (over here we call you novices :P) just try and brakes early (not too early though) and keep it smooth, sliding around MAY look good but untill your at the top level it will only make your lap times slower. So watch the fast people and be smooth.

@Karting_jenny: i dont think protrain go all the way over to america do they?!?!

Racer K · 10 Dec 2004, 19:03 (Ref:1176431)

I have heard leaning helps out since the karts don't have a differential, and I have seen people on the track jerking foreward to get the rear wheels off the ground after the corners. Do any of these techniques really work?

luke · 10 Dec 2004, 19:22 (Ref:1176450)

That helps to gain more speed out of the exit of the corners if you don't get a good exit.

Racer K · 10 Dec 2004, 19:40 (Ref:1176469)

Awesome, thanks

luke · 10 Dec 2004, 19:48 (Ref:1176474)

No problem Racer K, and welcome to the forum.

marcus · 10 Dec 2004, 23:33 (Ref:1176660)

actually I wouldnt worry about stuff like that just yet.

im not sure of the engine or chassis you use but being new to it i would say just concentrate on driving the thing as hard and as smooth as possible , getting your lines right and just generaly paying as much attention as possible to the actual driving of the kart.

after a while other little tricks seem to come naturally , like moving body weight , adjustments to the kart and engine , you just tend to pick these up along the way.

it all comes with time but depending on your experience I'd say just simply learn how the kart drives first and get your own up to a level of where when you make changes you notice the subtle differences it all makes.

I Hope that makes sense anyway

Karting_jenny · 11 Dec 2004, 17:20 (Ref:1177125)

Quote:

Originally Posted by #15 tkm 4/

as your a rookie (over here we call you novices :P) just try and brakes early (not too early though) and keep it smooth, sliding around MAY look good but untill your at the top level it will only make your lap times slower. So watch the fast people and be smooth.

@Karting_jenny: i dont think protrain go all the way over to america do they?!?!

Hmmm, your right...i didn't look at where he was from. So i guess since its indoor racing take your own line and be a mobile roadblock!(Like Me!)

But seriously watch the other guys and follow what they do.

karting legend · 12 Dec 2004, 15:46 (Ref:1177630)

If you want to take some time off your laptimes. I suggest going out onto a wet track with slick tyres on.... This will make your driving skills sharper and may reduce your laptime..This will help you go better in wetter conditions...
also i think you should not overdrive the kart, in making it slide to much.. If someone is quicker and you are over driving the kart, then change the set-up.. I hope ive hepled a little !!!

Alex Hodgkinson · 12 Dec 2004, 20:50 (Ref:1177803)

Give away tips.. for free

Do you think I'm mad?!?

marcus · 13 Dec 2004, 06:12 (Ref:1177996)

I dunno are you ?

Alex Hodgkinson · 14 Dec 2004, 17:23 (Ref:1179314)

xzxzxzxzx

bart_jacobs · 17 Dec 2004, 12:25 (Ref:1181795)

Lifting the inner rear wheel makes your car go round a corner, you could say that that is the differntial. You can see if a kart has a good set-up, if it lifts it inner rear wheel onder braking/turning in. But you shoudn't worry about it, as you are doing indoor, they don't generate as much grip/speed so you'll hardly see it... I'll see if i can find an article abt it...

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