Go kart racing turning around curves, how to go fast?

Question

I went go kart racing (indoor, up to 45mph, electric) for the first time about 2 weeks ago and I got in 11th place, out of 11. I am a female and I was the only female driver. I was afraid to go fast around the curves since I am new and I was putting the break on around curves, but that made me skid, which slowed me down A LOT. What can I do today at the race track to avoid the skid? I am trying to "ride the line" but it is new to me. thanks

Answer 1

I used to own a gokart and you need to do all the braking before the turn, this will leave you with enough speed to make the turn quickly and in control. when you are exiting the turn put on the gas so you leave the turn with a good momentum, i havent raced gokarts for a long time but stick to the outer wall on the straight and go into the corner for the turn. You wont have to break as much andwill accelerate faster. Doing this could prove haphazard, since you would be all over the track and someone who sticks to the inside of the course will hit you.

Answer 2

First step in going fast is learning the correct line, and then being able to drive it. If you are coming into corners too soon or not giving yourself as much entry and exit space as possible, you cannot carry as much speed.

Second, is learning to maximize your exit speed. The speed you exit a corner with is speed you will add to the entire length of any straight. How fast you go through a corner will not be the difference between a good and bad lap time (though it may be the difference between a good and a great lap time).

Third, is mastering car control (or kart control in this case) in order to keep things right at the limits of adhession. And then after this, you actually go back to the start and begin adjusting the line to find more time... and so on.

The other issue, if you are racing wheel to wheel as opposed to just for fastest lap, is learning to keep up your pace when driving off line (which you will have to do in order to pass, as well as to block passing).

The best thing to remember is to keep your input smooth (this doesn't mean slow, but rather keep a sense of how much you are putting in rather than just jerking the wheel or jabbing the brake to a certain point as you will almost always put in too much in those cases). And, in conjuntion with that, the old saying "the less you turn the faster you go" is true. Work to maximize your speed and minimize your turning.

Most of all though, there is no substitue for seat time. Get out and go karting as often as you can. When a faster driver passes you try to follow them as long as you can. Try to do what they do and see how it works - chances are you will find you turn your fastest times when doing this.

Answer 3

You need to pick your line through the corner. Start at the outside of the lane, brake BEFORE the corner, then accelerate as you turn through the apex, or sharpest part of the inside of a corner. The kart should be "pushing" towards the outside of the track on exit.

Braking in the corner is pointless. Your weight is not centered over all four wheels and there are forces counteracting your traction. You only have enough grip to brake hard OR turn, but not both. this is why you brake before the corner, coast to the apex, and accelerate hard from apex to exit.

The fastest way to win is to find the perfect corner speed and keep it through the corner.

Answer 4

To be a fast driver, you have to be a smooth driver. As you come to a turn or curve, apply a little brake, if turning left, turn the wheel left to start you in that direction, about 1/4 of the way into the turn floor it riding brakes softly to maintain control steering slightly to the right at same time.. It take a lot of coordination and practice. Do not over steer to the right or left in turns, ease the steering. This is called powering through the turns. As you enter a turn also shift your body weight in same direction as turn, if your turning left, shift weight to left. Now go out and practice what I've told you and give the boys hell. The more you drive the better you will become. The biggest apprehension in racing is fear, one must over come fear but always use good judgment.

Answer 5

you just need to practice those go-karts can go around the corners faster than you think let up on the gas a little before you enter the curve once your in it give it more gas to pull you out of the curve when you accelerate you have much more control than when you are freewhelling you just need practice go a little faster each time until you get more comfortable with it good luck

Answer 6

paul s has the best answer. when i'm on my bike, i brake before the turn, lean and look into the turn where u want to go, and lay on the gas. on a bike, where u look is where u wind up. this might apply to go karts.
going fast in turns requires getting a feel for the scoot and how it reacts. shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line; being in the right 'lane' before u get in the corner can make a big difference.

Answer 7

Brake BEFORE the curve and accelerate through it,and remember,these types of track do not set up the car to be able to exceed the limits of the track.In other words,you can't go too fast.One more thing:Practice makes perfect.

Answer 8

Try braking before the turn (gently!) Then speed up. If you find yourself going too fast, brake suddenly then slam on the gas. Turn the way of the curve then turn the other way keeping your foot on the gas. You will sort of drift for a while then brake gently to get yourself stable again. Or you would like the BORING way of braking before the turn then gently pressing the gas during it. I like drifting better.

Answer 9

if its a left curve than get on the right straight slowdown than speed up on the turn try to stick on the inside

Answer 10

This topic is worth people's attention