Club 100
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,627
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From: Herts
Aye, do keep us updated. I look at this every couple of months. I'm now a member of the JLP kart club so will be getting a race every couple of months. A few of the guys take it very seriously indeed - but some of them are "pretty quick". Adrian on here is also a member - he's pretty handy on the old overtakes! I've got a 1-2-1 session at Rye House tomorrow afternoon to get a few taught skills, rather than just trying to sus it out as I go along. Looking forward to it!
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,979
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From: North Yorks
Missed this thread first time around, I'd have come over to Teeside if I'd known.
Sounds like you're getting the hang of it. Put yourself where they need to be to stay ahead but in doing so, keep the momentum to avoid them re-passing you on the exit.
It's common for a beginner to sit behind people wondering how to get past, look for anywhere they look like they're over-driving or out-braking themselves, make a mental note of which corner it is and make sure you're ready to take advantage next lap round. You can also force the guy in front into a defensive move that you can take advantage of on the exit of a corner if you feint to the inside then pull back onto a wide line as he goes to defend - in circuit racing I pass a lot like that, but eventually people get wise to your tricks
You'll find that your second year you'll be much more competitive now you've visited all the circuits.
Let me know when you're next at Teeside and I'll come and cheer you on if I'm free.
I find myself pelting up to the back of people and then staying behind them for lap after lap after lap. It's something I need to work on but the last few races have seen me pull off a few moves and I am starting to realise you don't need to be a kart length infront to pass but just half and half, park it on the apex and watch out for them undercutting you out of the corner.
Sounds like you're getting the hang of it. Put yourself where they need to be to stay ahead but in doing so, keep the momentum to avoid them re-passing you on the exit.
It's common for a beginner to sit behind people wondering how to get past, look for anywhere they look like they're over-driving or out-braking themselves, make a mental note of which corner it is and make sure you're ready to take advantage next lap round. You can also force the guy in front into a defensive move that you can take advantage of on the exit of a corner if you feint to the inside then pull back onto a wide line as he goes to defend - in circuit racing I pass a lot like that, but eventually people get wise to your tricks
You'll find that your second year you'll be much more competitive now you've visited all the circuits.
Let me know when you're next at Teeside and I'll come and cheer you on if I'm free.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 203
Likes: 2
From: Nottingham
Quick update on season 2 as have been lazy and not updated for a while to anyone remotely interested.
Massive improvement this year, first few races of the season were pretty awful including a nasty accident in round 2 so bas point but have been trying to sort out my steering problems, think I have finally cracked how to steer, sounds obvious but there is a certain technique needed that isn't how you'd be used to with track driving. The upturn in fortunes started at round 3 at Glan-Y-Gors where it was my first wet race and managed to sneak a 3rd place in the B class final (only 0.5s off qualifying for the A final). Round 5 saw another wet race at Bayford Meadows where I qualified 12th in Class A! Highest ever qualifying and made 2 places in the heat in the wet only to be outclassed in the dry final and drop 10 places.
Yesterday was Round 6 at Ellough Park and qualified 6th in the B class heat and I eventually placed top 4 so got into the A class heat and trundled around towards the back of the A heat and final only making a few places through incidents. Not fast enough for to be competitive in the higher class in the dry and feels like last year where I was at the back of the B and C class but a good point to measure myself against. A great haul of points and looking forward to the next 2 tracks where I should be able to get some practise in beforehand which is worth at least 6-10 places in qualifying.
Previous problems of being nowhere in qualifying and only getting respectable lap times in the finals are being gradually resolved now as I have now been to the tracks before so they are not new to me. From qualifying to the finals I am able to close the gap in terms of lap time to the leaders as they improve slightly but I improve more due to lack of experience but another season and being able to practise occasionally should help towards that. I have exceeded my goals of the season already which was to make 1 A final but now want to make 3 in total.
Still recommend it to anyone vaguely interested as is an excellent and cost effective way to race and you learn so much about driving, extremely competitive and really friendly. Hope to see a fellow S2ki'er at some point in the future.
Massive improvement this year, first few races of the season were pretty awful including a nasty accident in round 2 so bas point but have been trying to sort out my steering problems, think I have finally cracked how to steer, sounds obvious but there is a certain technique needed that isn't how you'd be used to with track driving. The upturn in fortunes started at round 3 at Glan-Y-Gors where it was my first wet race and managed to sneak a 3rd place in the B class final (only 0.5s off qualifying for the A final). Round 5 saw another wet race at Bayford Meadows where I qualified 12th in Class A! Highest ever qualifying and made 2 places in the heat in the wet only to be outclassed in the dry final and drop 10 places.
Yesterday was Round 6 at Ellough Park and qualified 6th in the B class heat and I eventually placed top 4 so got into the A class heat and trundled around towards the back of the A heat and final only making a few places through incidents. Not fast enough for to be competitive in the higher class in the dry and feels like last year where I was at the back of the B and C class but a good point to measure myself against. A great haul of points and looking forward to the next 2 tracks where I should be able to get some practise in beforehand which is worth at least 6-10 places in qualifying.
Previous problems of being nowhere in qualifying and only getting respectable lap times in the finals are being gradually resolved now as I have now been to the tracks before so they are not new to me. From qualifying to the finals I am able to close the gap in terms of lap time to the leaders as they improve slightly but I improve more due to lack of experience but another season and being able to practise occasionally should help towards that. I have exceeded my goals of the season already which was to make 1 A final but now want to make 3 in total.
Still recommend it to anyone vaguely interested as is an excellent and cost effective way to race and you learn so much about driving, extremely competitive and really friendly. Hope to see a fellow S2ki'er at some point in the future.
