Morning all,

I did a couple of karting sessions with a few mates yesterday (indoor 40mph jobbies) and managed to bag the fastest lap in both, however, compared to some of the times on the 'member's leaderboard' I was 2-2.5 seconds slower, which is pretty significant given that it's a 30 second circuit.

So really I'm after a bit of advice from any expert karting goers on here, specifically wanting to know how you would take the hairpins numbered (1) and (2) on the diagram.

(green lines show where I was braking)



For (1) you come at it at full speed, and I was either braking out wide (green line on diagram) and then turning in, or I was braking in close whilst turning therefore using the brake to pivot the kart. However, I couldn't work out which was the better technique, or if they were both bad.

For (2) I wasn't sure if it was better to overshoot the corner and then turn, or to just braking at the green line and turn in?

For the "Hunt Hairping" and 'esses' section after, I was chopping and changing my line all the time and couldn't work out the best way to tackle it. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Dan

 

I've driven that and was bogging down at the hairpins due to lack of power to slide them.

According to Kelk (who is good) what I should have been doing is trailing the throttle (not closing it) to disengage the centrifugal clutch and coast through the corners without braking (!).

This allows one to reapply the throttle and power out without bogging, because the engine will still be revving.

Result is you end up taking quite a wide line, apparently.

I think that's right...

 

I know that circuit too - our local

I don't know if this is the right thing to do, but here's roughly what I do (although haven't been there for ages)

For 1) I tend to do an earlyish smooth short brake then back on the power and flick the kart around (i might just lift I'm not sure), which means I can turn a bit late and get in tight and perhaps get past someone.

For 2) just a lift and flick.

Although I might be completely mis-remembering and I'm rubbish in a kart compared to a car!

If you're local too we should organise a karting session or something - am sure Kelk and one or two others would be up for it

 

Chris is alright I suppose.

Could only manage 2nd a couple of months ago.

 

I'm rubbish at karting as weight seems to be the biggest determining factor. Then luck of the kart selection/allocation. There always seems to be one that's got a tad more power than the rest!?
My kids can beat me easily now (due to lower weight penalties)
If i was driving that circuit I'd keep my foot flat on the accelerator all the way round and use a drifting technique to scrub speed/get round the corners.

 

I like to turn and brake, despite being told not to.

I'd go in deep and wide on the brakes, turning in gradually just as I'm coming off the brakes. Then once I've turned in, apply the throttle (gently) to cut across the 9 o'clock of the circle in the middle of the hairpin as my apex and accelerate out.

The Gran Turismo 1 manual agrees with me.
I'd probably be on the brakes a bit earlier than my diagram illustrates, but I had to do it on my laptop with that shitty touchpad thing.

 

Mmm, went there recently - Jo was absent due to racing proper cars

Definitely up for beating Kelk again, I mean going again for fun

 

Sounds like a plan then !

tflplunk - you up for a bit of karting !? San/Dan - can you make it too? We can bbq at ours after or something.

 

Cheers for the advice guys, I really appreciate it. I look forward to trying it out over the weekend, if I can get a slot down there.

Dreamer - Yes definitely! I've think I've found a great competitive sport to fill the gap between football seasons, and am keen to get better at it.

Dan

 

Yep, defo up for it.

Can we have some other crap people though, so I don't come last.