We're having a company meeting this week and on Thursday night all of the engineers are going to www.gforcekarts.com to race around. I don't just want to beat them. I need to. Bragging rights and all that, but more so just to shut up some of the yappers.

I posted the track below. Anything you can think of that might help me would be appreciated - what lines to take, where to brake, where to accelerate, what to watch out for, positioning, whatever. Hell, if you've been there maybe you can let me know what car is the "fast" one (every track has one).

Thanks guys. I'll let you know how things go.

 

just add a 10 shot of nitrous to your go-kart..or just spin out your opponents by tapping in the rear corner while they are in a turn.

On a serious note....go practice if you can

 

Clip corners if you can, try to slide ur rear if you can oversteer in and hold through and powerslide as much as you can and hold the inside line as tight as you can, if you wanna beat um like a pro then drive like your in a pro race

 

then why would i be sliding all over the place if i wan't to drive like a pro? not to mention if i was powersliding i would just be asking for someone to pull a pit manuever on me, wouldn't i?

 

Meh true, but seriously clipping the corner would be the best bet and holding the inside line, oh and just plain out blocking anyone

 

if you want to win go a few days ealrier and practice on the same track. Know how fast you can take the corners and how much grip the carts have.

 

a few days isn't an option. its in richmond this thursday, i live 2 hours away and have to finish moving tonight.

sounds like i'll just be doing as much blocking and line protecting as possible.

 

Tips may help you here and there, but you can't get good w/o seat time.

FYI, sliding sideways excessively slows your kart down a LOT. Try to minimize it if you can and just carry your speed through the corners. Corner exit speed is what you'll need to stay ahead of the pack. Use the whole track. Track out on corner exits and kiss the apexes.

 

Which way round does it go?

Anyway, it's the usual go in wide, cut in to the apex and accelrate out letting it run wide again (you know what I mean). You need to change this a little if it's a combination of corners in succession and perhaps go a little slow into the first one in order to get the right line and good exit out of the second. If you have a chance, go see the track and watch people with the good times and see how they take the corners where they brake and so forth. Oh, and for the u-turns, try not to just stove in too fast brake too late and scramble around for minutes before you come out. It might feel fast but usually isn't.

In any case, go-karts have waaaaaay more grip than you'll believe. Instinct will make you take corners slower than necessary but there really is a lot of grip which makes it very tiring on your arms. I'd hit the gym with a few upper arm exercises.

Finally, for this kind of thing, weight is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I'm sure you're aware of power:weight ratios, but think about it, the go-kart weighs what 120lbs? If you are 200lbs and your co-worker is a skinny 100lbs, then we're talking x/320 vs. x/220 -> he pwns you by 45% greater power:weight!!! So perhaps the best tip I can offer you is to go on a diet if you're not among the lightest of those going.

 

yep, is it clockwise or counter clock wise and also how wide is the track?? let me know i will draw it out for. but like everyone have mention the way is to have seat time.

 

bring you evo

 

For what its worth your ideal line should look something like this. Anyone feel free to correct any mistakes I may have made.



Let us know how it goes. +1 for practice, BTW.

 

i always though the best way was going outter than inner

 

Go karts are all momentum. Try not to "bind" the kart up anymore than necessary.

Hopping (thrusting your self up and forward to unload the cart) will help it get off the corner if you bog it down.

Try to pick a position and stick with it. Don't move around a lot. Transferring your weight might upset the balance. If the Kart is ill handling changing the way you are sitting may or may not help it.

 

A couple things.

If you were smart you would go there before hand at a time they are not busy and bull$hit with the attendants, especially if they are young. No one knows the fast way around the track then the guys that work there.

Years ago a guy I used to work with and I went to a sprint type track (slick track) and there was no one there. We were racing each other and an attendant was sitting on the side bars with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the throttle at the engine (ie not even in the car) and he was totally smoking us around the track. The real reason he did it was to show us the right line around the track and that brakes were not needed.

Is this a slick track where the car will slide or is it a traction track? This will make a big difference in how you approach it.

Most of these tracks are designed for as little brake as possible.
One gottcha is passing on these tracks. Everyone passes on the inside and it is easy to pinch a guy into the wall leaving him well behind. You want to try and pass on the outside because all they are concerned with is their line and they usually will not come out to try and stop your pass thinking they are faster then you on the inside. Often you can peak in on the inside and sweep out. They will attempt the pinch and clip the wall, slowing them down and giving you a free ride on the outside.

We have a local go-kart track at an amusement center and we used to go for fun. Back when I was actually racing a kart we went and out of 5 runs I was the first one in for all 5 runs. After the third run one of the attendants commented to another "Did he come in first again?" It was hilarious but it was a bit of a giveaway when I got out of the kart with a karting shirt on.