You wish to start in the go-karting rentalworld… but are a beginner and need a little help with theory before practicing ? Or maybe you think a little reminder may be of use ? Good ! Karting Evasion shares with you some go-kart driving advice…
Go-karting equipment : the helmet is mandatory !
Go-karting is amongst these activities in which it is easy to gain level and experience. After only one 10mn session, you will already feel a lot more comfortable behind the wheel. Not bad compared to other sports !
For all that, be careful to always take certain precautions. It starts with your equipment : of course, Karting Evasion lends you the equipments needed for the race, but if you practice on your own, know that a helmet is mandatory. We also strongly recommend you to protect the rest of your body by wearing a balaclava, a tracksuit, gloves, ankle boots… and of course an adapted tracksuit in case of rain.
On a track, curves aren’t improvised
Let’s start with the basics. Trajectories ! We will spare you the mathematics, but know that in go-karting – as in Formula 1 or any other mechanical sports – you experience the centrifuge force when driving in curves. It is a relation between the speed and the sharp turn’s diameter. Concretely, it means that if you are going too fast and take too much of a sharp turn in a curve, the go-kart might lose its grip on the road.
First go-kart driving lesson : knowing how to dose out your speed and your sharp turns when arriving at a curve. If you want to keep your adhesion to the road (which is highly recommended to avoid any crash), you need to either take a larger sharp turn diameter, or reduce your speed a little bit.
The best way to pass a curve is to take it first by coming from the outside of the track, before taking a dive inside, and finally come back to the outside. This limits the necessity to brake, and allow you to keep your speed. In case you lose your adhesion to the ground, it is smart (and highly recommended) to steer in the opposite direction, meaning orientate the wheels in the curve’s opposite direction : it will allow you to regain your balance.
Braking
Do not brake while speeding up ! The same rule exists for cars, and it’s also valid in go-karting. Same thing, the brakes are to be used before a turn, not during; to avoid spins or leaving the road.
Overtaking
Overtaking your opponent is the basic of any race ! If your opponents are beginners, you can then simply speed up in the straight lines and overtake them in the curves.
Small go-kart driving advice on how to confidently overtake : stay as long as possible behind your opponent’s go-kart. This allows you to take profit of what is called ‘suction phenomenon”, and gain a few km/h. Then, by doing what was explained earlier about the turns, you will have – theoretically – a more important speed when getting out of the curve, which will allow you to overtake our opponent.
Hairpin bends and other special trajectories
Finally, a word for the special trajectories : the succession of curves, s-shaped turns, or hairpin bends. In these cases, the rule discussed above doesn’t work. You have to sacrifice one of the turns, in order to gain speed at the exit.
In an s-shaped turn, you stay on the outside of the first turn : this allows you to have a better position to take on the second curve.
In a hairpin bend, the first turn allows you to be perfectly positionned to get out of the second curve.
Go-karting driving tips : let’s try it out !
Have you read everything ? Well done ! We are waiting for you on our go-karting track in Lyon. You have the possibility to come alone or with others to enjoy training sessions or real races. For more information : +33 (0)4 82 29 33 85.
Do you wish to know more about these advice or our track ?