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Post by aland on Oct 26, 2007 9:30:57 GMT
the guys at work are plaiing a night at the Cambuslang karting, now as I am not an experienced racer and being a fat bloke my power to weight ratio will be crap. What advice can you experts give that may not end up in me making a prat of myself, I know blatant nerfing off is a no no but what can I get away with in terms of a bit of rubbing
all advice is welcome
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Post by Blair on Oct 26, 2007 9:41:05 GMT
I'm no expert but my advice would be try not to brake, these karts need to keep up their momentum. As for the nerfing into people, all these karts usually have a big guard all round them, ideal for being naughty.  Remember though if someone spins in front of you they might block you due to the limited space. |
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Post by Mike Strong on Oct 26, 2007 12:22:06 GMT
the guys at work are plaiing a night at the Cambuslang karting, now as I am not an experienced racer and being a fat bloke my power to weight ratio will be crap. What advice can you experts give that may not end up in me making a prat of myself, I know blatant nerfing off is a no no but what can I get away with in terms of a bit of rubbing all advice is welcome Don't use your right foot to brake.  You'll find you are a bit slow off the line but apart from that you should be fine. Try and brake in a straight line - only the rear has brakes. 99% of spins are caused by turning into the corner whilst on the brake. The other 1% is caused by people trying to brake with their right foot! Most karting places keep an eye on how their karts are being treated so anyone indulging in "naughtyness" is usually pulled to the side and told off - during the race. Most important thing is to have fun. And don't get into a "cream puff" if you're not very quick (don't anyone dare call me a hypocrite! ;D) But, if anyone does give you any jip - make sure they're not wearing their crash helmet when you belt them in the mouth! |
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Post by Dave on Oct 26, 2007 13:08:53 GMT
Only give them one kart between two. Even the odds a little.  |
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Post by Heinicke on Oct 26, 2007 14:12:54 GMT
I've only been karting a handful of times since I started racing. My advice would be consistency. When I was at uni we went for "the iron man challenge" 200 laps of "racing." I was the slowest by a several secs but my saving grace was my consistency, the guy was impressed I could go lap after lap just being a tenth of a second difference, unlike the rest of the guys who were setting random lap times, I told him the truth of me being a racing driver.
The other times, I've been vastly quicker than the rest of the bunch, 2 or 3 secs per lap than my fiancee and her family or I've been really slow letting people past but at the same time it has been commented that I was impossible to keep up with round a complex of corners because I didn't need to brake at all.
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Post by andrew on Oct 26, 2007 14:48:52 GMT
I was impossible to keep up with round a complex of corners because I didn't need to brake at all. See, that extra weight isn't a disadvantage at all, it just works like extra downforce. Buy yourself and aerofoil shaped helmet and you'll be sorted  |
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Post by awsponsor on Oct 26, 2007 14:52:28 GMT
My advice would be...... Go and have a laugh.. Nobody is going to take the results of a night's karting seriously.
In fact if you come last maybe all your mates will take sympathy on you and buy you lots of drinks afterwards..
Just don't bet any money on yourself winning.. ;D
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Post by Heinicke on Oct 26, 2007 17:14:11 GMT
Buy yourself and aerofoil shaped helmet and you'll be sorted Andrew, you may have just given me an excellent idea! Sorry I am not sharing it with you guys. |
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Post by Mike Strong on Oct 26, 2007 19:05:27 GMT
Buy yourself and aerofoil shaped helmet and you'll be sorted Andrew, you may have just given me an excellent idea! Sorry I am not sharing it with you guys. Well, if your idea is a success, I hope you give Andrew due credit for it's inspiration. And if your idea makes you incredibly wealthy then I think it only fair you help support Andrew in his racing career. Unless, of course, you wish to pay for my racing instead. In which case; tough luck Andrew! |
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Post by Heinicke on Oct 26, 2007 19:21:54 GMT
Mike, my idea was only sparked by Andrew's comment not his idea!
If I was to make money out of the idea, I would take my Imp to Hall and Hall for them to finish for me and probably buy a Group C car, an FIA Historic Sportscar, possibly a Lola T70 or a Ferrari 250 LM and would buy myself a drive at Le Mans, Nurburg 24 hours and the Spa 24 hours too! I'd buy Dad a Chapparal 2E too and buy him other things too as well as the rest of the family and buy myself an abode for my fiancee and me!
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Post by Dave on Oct 27, 2007 11:11:20 GMT
Richards idea is simple. He plans to place a couple of mini aircraft wings on this helmet, them remove the front window in his car. Or if used in a kart, no window has to be removed...obviously... The effect over the wings will lift Richard up, however his harnesses will hold him firmly in the car. 0 weight disadvantage. Hold on, you dont have harnesses in karts, you might take off... Doh! ;D |
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Post by Heinicke on Oct 27, 2007 14:46:20 GMT
Richards idea is simple. He plans to place a couple of mini aircraft wings on this helmet, them remove the front window in his car. Or if used in a kart, no window has to be removed...obviously... The effect over the wings will lift Richard up, however his harnesses will hold him firmly in the car. 0 weight disadvantage. Hold on, you dont have harnesses in karts, you might take off... Doh! ;D Dave, don't pontificate! I have a degree in such things, I know where of I speak! |
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Post by XR2 Baz on Oct 31, 2007 0:29:35 GMT
Aland, hope I'm not too late now, but I was at Cambuslang not too long ago and I too have said weight disadvantage. If you want to take it super-serious, momentum is what it's all about. Aim not to get any oversteer as this is where everyone loses time in karts. You'll lose time off the line and up the flyover but that's about it for the weight disadvantage. Brake only for the hairpin after the flyover and a wee bit before going up the flyover. You might need the tiniest dab on the brakes for one or two other hairpins but that's it, the rest is flat all the way and your weight will help coming down the flyover to gain a little more momentum on the guy in front...but then you'll not have anyone in front will you You can get away with a little bumping here and there but take someone out blatantly and you're looking at a black flag  Unless you're sneaky about it and make it look like it was their fault...not that I'd know  Otherwise, have fun and enjoy it. Baz |
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Post by aland on Oct 31, 2007 19:42:21 GMT
cheers folks for the advice, the girls at work are talking about it so whether it happens or not is a different matter, but good to be forewarned. apart from a few tests/trackdays at KH I have never raced in my life (dont think a prostox outing at Cowdenbeath counts) but if I can get away with a bit of rub and spin could use that to my advantage, It was accidental I never meant to nudge the rear corner of the kart on turn in honest LOL
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Post by chesher on Nov 7, 2007 0:10:56 GMT
hey, a bit of stock car experience never hurt anyone, i raced ministox for four years, nothing else and i've won the last 6 races staright in the scottish formula fords this year (class b obviously, im not that good ) it also helps when dishing out the hits to the other drivers |
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