Anyone do Go-Kart Racing?
- Thread starter MrKnifey
- Start date
So, the ribs are still sore however the pain has been much less intense over the past week or so.
Never had bruised ribs before but wow, it has been a struggle, at times i couldnt even lift my left arm above my head.
Anyhow over the past few weeks I gave the kart a semi strip down in my unit and found the sproken carrier had a broken lug, not sure how long that had been there so ordered some bits with ACR and gave the kart a good clean up after my muddy off last time out.
Hit Whilton Mill again on Thursday, took the mrs and kid along for the crack. It was a lovely sunny day just a little cold and windy.
Another easykart attended 183 and he was a real nice fella who gave me good advise.
First session out, i set the tyres at around 11 psi and carb at 60 minutes, just wanted to see how the kart was, make sure it was back together ok etc. I went out and honestly thought the tyres were shot after 8 laps I still had zero grip at both the front and rear of the kart I was thinking well what a waste of money today will be, the tyres have done probably 150 laps thinking about it. I have new tyres at the unit just wasnt bothered about fittign them just yet.
I came back in and the other easykart fella came and asked me how i got on, I told him, he offered to lend me a 20 lap set of tyres on wheels if I wanted (very kind) i said no as not for me to wear out his gear. He suggested I upped the pressures to 15 psi which i did.
I also tightened the third axle bearing as I noticed his was tight, I hadnt messed with the chassis yet as was still learning the way.
I hit the track again and wow, what a difference the kart switched on and I was able to do 18 laps and consistantly hit 49.2 which is a PB for me. The other easykart and skilled driver did 48 somthing in that session so I felt chuffed. The kart had so much more rear end grip with the bearing clamped up, for me at least.
Still a long way of the 45's the front of the pack did.
My ribs were a little sore so i stayed in for a couple of sessions, tweeked the brake pedal position and carb and got ready to go back out. Kart would not start at all. Managed to get it going, got 3 meters out onto the track and she died. Back to the pits, and she would fire and rev but wouldnt pass 8000rpm, i quickly changed the plug to no avail, and then was going to check on the carb. Sadly I broke a plastic piece that i had no spare for so I called it a day.
Kart 183 came in, he had done 40 mins straght and he was happy he had consistantly done mid 46's in that session.
I left frustrated because i think the track was comming to the karts and I would have hoped to of got into the 48's if it had been the case.
So, I am looking to get back out a week wednesday if the weathers ok, I will buy a new set of wheels and go with both pairs.
The ribs held up much better with the rib protector on, i just cant work out if my seat is to small, i litrally wedge myself in there with that on.
I did see a bit of arragance in the pits from a larger rotax team mind you, on the pit entrance before the main pit area there is a gate which each time i have been has been open. Karting on my own and where my car is its much easier to come through this gate(as others have done in other times i have been) rather than all the way into the pits to go and get the trolley and walk back , this team decided to setup camp right infront of the gate and use it as a personal track enterance / exit. I still went through that way though, what a stupid place to setup.
oblicatory you tube video that the mrs took (first few seconds only)
and picture
SAM_0674 by regy53, on Flickr
Ross
Never had bruised ribs before but wow, it has been a struggle, at times i couldnt even lift my left arm above my head.
Anyhow over the past few weeks I gave the kart a semi strip down in my unit and found the sproken carrier had a broken lug, not sure how long that had been there so ordered some bits with ACR and gave the kart a good clean up after my muddy off last time out.
Hit Whilton Mill again on Thursday, took the mrs and kid along for the crack. It was a lovely sunny day just a little cold and windy.
Another easykart attended 183 and he was a real nice fella who gave me good advise.
First session out, i set the tyres at around 11 psi and carb at 60 minutes, just wanted to see how the kart was, make sure it was back together ok etc. I went out and honestly thought the tyres were shot after 8 laps I still had zero grip at both the front and rear of the kart I was thinking well what a waste of money today will be, the tyres have done probably 150 laps thinking about it. I have new tyres at the unit just wasnt bothered about fittign them just yet.
I came back in and the other easykart fella came and asked me how i got on, I told him, he offered to lend me a 20 lap set of tyres on wheels if I wanted (very kind) i said no as not for me to wear out his gear. He suggested I upped the pressures to 15 psi which i did.
I also tightened the third axle bearing as I noticed his was tight, I hadnt messed with the chassis yet as was still learning the way.
I hit the track again and wow, what a difference the kart switched on and I was able to do 18 laps and consistantly hit 49.2 which is a PB for me. The other easykart and skilled driver did 48 somthing in that session so I felt chuffed. The kart had so much more rear end grip with the bearing clamped up, for me at least.
Still a long way of the 45's the front of the pack did.
My ribs were a little sore so i stayed in for a couple of sessions, tweeked the brake pedal position and carb and got ready to go back out. Kart would not start at all. Managed to get it going, got 3 meters out onto the track and she died. Back to the pits, and she would fire and rev but wouldnt pass 8000rpm, i quickly changed the plug to no avail, and then was going to check on the carb. Sadly I broke a plastic piece that i had no spare for so I called it a day.
Kart 183 came in, he had done 40 mins straght and he was happy he had consistantly done mid 46's in that session.
I left frustrated because i think the track was comming to the karts and I would have hoped to of got into the 48's if it had been the case.
So, I am looking to get back out a week wednesday if the weathers ok, I will buy a new set of wheels and go with both pairs.
The ribs held up much better with the rib protector on, i just cant work out if my seat is to small, i litrally wedge myself in there with that on.
I did see a bit of arragance in the pits from a larger rotax team mind you, on the pit entrance before the main pit area there is a gate which each time i have been has been open. Karting on my own and where my car is its much easier to come through this gate(as others have done in other times i have been) rather than all the way into the pits to go and get the trolley and walk back , this team decided to setup camp right infront of the gate and use it as a personal track enterance / exit. I still went through that way though, what a stupid place to setup.
oblicatory you tube video that the mrs took (first few seconds only)
and picture
SAM_0674 by regy53, on FlickrRoss
Last edited:
Associate
- Joined
- 30 Sep 2010
- Posts
- 1,130
- Location
- London
When Ayrton Senna was asked who the best driver he ever raced against he did not cite any F1 driver. He said it was Terry Fullerton when he raced Karts. Terry never made the move to cars for personal reasons.
Terry was always a nice guy. I went to secondary school with him in the 60's
Terry was always a nice guy. I went to secondary school with him in the 60's
Well time flys, the season is starts this weekend, to say i am a little erm i dont even know what my first ever real race and so on. so excited, nervous, and a whole other bunch of emotions
Practicing has been reduced as my ribs were still recovering, it turns out the track i was testing at is a killer for ribs.
A few updates. I did actually buy another kart as it had a self adjusting brake system which retailed for £500 and was a later chassis, so i have two karts at the moment, I have kind made the best of both into one.
I did and passed my Easykart non MSA tests a few weeks ago
And last week I did a practice day at Shennington which is the first circuit we race at this weekend. Last year pole was a 53.1, this was in May and would have been on new slicks, i managed a 55.0 on a set of old tyres in around 5 degree temps so lots to find but i will get there the tyres should be worth a bit.
I bought a race van which has a bed, cooker, toilet, another bed, tv microwave oven and so on and have also bought a decent gazebo to the tune of around £400 so that should hopefully be good.
Cant wait
I also put some new stickers on my kart using my company as a sponsor (it kind of is)
Let you know how I get on, anybody near banbury I am at shennington this weekend if your bored.
Cheers
Ross
Pics!
Race Van - LWB Iveco
DSC_0459 by regy53, on Flickr
stickers
DSC_0422 by regy53, on Flickr
DSC_0423 by regy53, on Flickr
DSC_0421 by regy53, on Flickr
Practicing has been reduced as my ribs were still recovering, it turns out the track i was testing at is a killer for ribs.
A few updates. I did actually buy another kart as it had a self adjusting brake system which retailed for £500 and was a later chassis, so i have two karts at the moment, I have kind made the best of both into one.
I did and passed my Easykart non MSA tests a few weeks ago
And last week I did a practice day at Shennington which is the first circuit we race at this weekend. Last year pole was a 53.1, this was in May and would have been on new slicks, i managed a 55.0 on a set of old tyres in around 5 degree temps so lots to find but i will get there the tyres should be worth a bit.
I bought a race van which has a bed, cooker, toilet, another bed, tv microwave oven and so on and have also bought a decent gazebo to the tune of around £400 so that should hopefully be good.
Cant wait
I also put some new stickers on my kart using my company as a sponsor (it kind of is)
Let you know how I get on, anybody near banbury I am at shennington this weekend if your bored.
Cheers
Ross
Pics!
Race Van - LWB Iveco
DSC_0459 by regy53, on Flickrstickers
DSC_0422 by regy53, on FlickrDSC_0423 by regy53, on FlickrDSC_0421 by regy53, on Flickr
Well its been a roller coaster few months, all gone so fast
Passed my easykart tests in Febuary and the first race weekend has just been, Shennington.
Having never done any other circuit than Whilton, I did a test day at shenny a few weeks ago, it was cold and damp but it was worth doing. Its a quick track with big balls needed in the braking zones my PB on the test day was a 45.1 which was 2 seconds of pole last year... I felt happy with that as pole was in may 2014 and on new tyres etc.
In the lead up to the weekend I had bought myself a race van, an isuzu daily lwb 2003, its almost like a motorhome in some aspects.
I set of Friday afternoon arriving at shenny early evening and setup on my own, awning up kart out and on stand and assembled as much as possible as i wanted to put her on easykarts Jig saturday to make sure shes in line so i couldn't build it all.
Saturday came and she went on the JIG, and was only 1 mm out so all good there.
I did the 5 x 15 min practice sessions and was going backwards in time, in the morning i did a 44.1 by mid afternoon i was at 44.4 and the last session i got back a 44.1, also after sticking her on the scales i was 1.5 kg under weight with half a tank of fuel which is something i thought i had covered so it meant Sunday morning i would have to qualify with around 5 kg more on the kart.
Friends and family left that evening and I had not stopped all day, i was obviously staying on site and with the kart in the awning at around 8pm i decided to venture out with a beer and take a look at it. I had noticed the kart throttle had become notchey over the day I just thought the cable was running on the side of the outer, but it turns out through investigation i was only hitting around 80% throttle while the pedal was on the stops. I changed the cable and had to think back to the best setup of the day which i changed it to along with a new set of boots.
Sunday
So race day was here, at least 6 months had passed since owning the kart and I was chuffed to say the least i had gone to sleep before 10pm the night before i was really very tired from all the practice, my arms and neck muscles had really taken a beating on the Saturday. I set my alarm for 6am so i could get up and wake up / warm up and have some breakfast etc and make sure kart was as should be.
The night before I changed my brake pads as they were shot so in warm up (5 mins) I went out and my brakes were terrible, I spent the whole time stomping on the pedal to take away the new glaze and give me a pedal i needed. When I came in the brakes stank for a good 20 mins so hopefully job done.
Quali was 10 mins long and the kart felt good on the setup i had, a bit slack for the first few laps but she really came on, i saw on my Mychron I did a 43.9 so I was chuffed.
Turns out i did a couple of laps in the 43.9's and qualified 22nd from 30 karts. Ok not the best but this was my first race weekend in anything I have never raced before in my life so I was fairly chuffed.
Race 1
Started well gained a few places and was catching the pack ahead, until a couple of karts went of infront of us all and typically I had to take the long route to get around them, lost a few places and finished p23.
Race 2
Started well from p23, gained 3 places I think again until somebody span out infront of me and the pack bunched back onto my tail then for the first time the whole weekend I span at the slower chicane and lost a load of spots. I chased the pack down and was a few seconds behind the kart infront, after one of the long straights is a hairpin and a few seconds behind i was on the racing line as he was, he entered the braking zone for the hairpin and then i did but I must have gained two seconds in that zone alone and on the same line I was waiting for him to turn in to give me the space to turn, but he never did and to avoid crashing into him i made a choice to take to the grass and span again narrowly avoiding the crash barrier. I decided to take myself from that race and retired as it was pointless driving around doing practice laps. also my ribs had took a knock in the first race and were sore.
race 3
Started from 27th, got my way up a few spots on the grid to around p23rd i think, chasing the pack ahead and catching, however somebody behind me must have started from further back and probably deserved to be ahead of us all, sadly he used me as a brake and pushed me of track and i lost 8 seconds which allowed a good few to pass .
I came up behind the fella I narrowly avoided in the second race so got very close behind and took my time to work out where was best to pass, he was going tight to the apex's in the hairpins so i was going long and getting a run on him, one corner worked out better than the rest and I pulled along side with him knowing where i was, he had the racing ling as it was a right hander into a left chicane, I was on the left near the kerb he had middle track, and to put it simply, he just came left, came left, came left and came left until i was of the track with nowhere to go and he rear wheel hit mine which sent me of into a spin backwards up the steep embankment.
I killed the engine and parked it as god knows what damage it had done.
When I was sat there i kept thinking i put my kart in a bad place and it was my fault, i also thought that when i was back in the pits and he came up to me, however i had thought at the time that my front wheel hit his rear which would have obviously been a bad move, but i soon noticed it was my rear wheel and his rear wheel, and he plainly just ran me of the road so in the truck on my way home i was a little annoyed but also buzzing for the next.
I will and cannot putmyself back there again, i have to go fowards.
The cost of the weekend was not bad untill this point where I have a bent axle, a bent side pod and a bent rear bumper!
Cost of weekend
fuel to track £50
saturday practice £50
sunday racing £100 (i think)
Tyres £120
chain £20
Sproket £12
Fuel £20
Generator fuel £10
Odds and sods £50 (guess)
Food (£30)
Total £462.00 ,roughly things like the sprocket etc will go again
Damage
Rear axle £120
side pod frame £50
rear bumper £not sure
One of them weekends. my first and annoying but cant wait for next and costs not to to bad.
long post but long weekend
Few pics
New stickers
DSC_0423 by regy53, on Flickr
DSC_0421 by regy53, on Flickr
Race van
DSC_0459 by regy53, on Flickr
loaded
DSC_0465 by regy53, on Flickr
jig
FB_IMG_1427108740903 by regy53, on Flickr
Waking up and looking out window on sunday am
DSC_0467 by regy53, on Flickr
on warm up grid
FB_IMG_1427135456336 by regy53, on Flickr
friday night before front goes on
DSC_0466 by regy53, on Flickr
Race 1
FB_IMG_1427109032570 by regy53, on Flickr
FB_IMG_1427108980405 by regy53, on Flickr
Race 3 final position
received_10152926638178649 by regy53, on Flickr
Passed my easykart tests in Febuary and the first race weekend has just been, Shennington.
Having never done any other circuit than Whilton, I did a test day at shenny a few weeks ago, it was cold and damp but it was worth doing. Its a quick track with big balls needed in the braking zones my PB on the test day was a 45.1 which was 2 seconds of pole last year... I felt happy with that as pole was in may 2014 and on new tyres etc.
In the lead up to the weekend I had bought myself a race van, an isuzu daily lwb 2003, its almost like a motorhome in some aspects.
I set of Friday afternoon arriving at shenny early evening and setup on my own, awning up kart out and on stand and assembled as much as possible as i wanted to put her on easykarts Jig saturday to make sure shes in line so i couldn't build it all.
Saturday came and she went on the JIG, and was only 1 mm out so all good there.
I did the 5 x 15 min practice sessions and was going backwards in time, in the morning i did a 44.1 by mid afternoon i was at 44.4 and the last session i got back a 44.1, also after sticking her on the scales i was 1.5 kg under weight with half a tank of fuel which is something i thought i had covered so it meant Sunday morning i would have to qualify with around 5 kg more on the kart.
Friends and family left that evening and I had not stopped all day, i was obviously staying on site and with the kart in the awning at around 8pm i decided to venture out with a beer and take a look at it. I had noticed the kart throttle had become notchey over the day I just thought the cable was running on the side of the outer, but it turns out through investigation i was only hitting around 80% throttle while the pedal was on the stops. I changed the cable and had to think back to the best setup of the day which i changed it to along with a new set of boots.
Sunday
So race day was here, at least 6 months had passed since owning the kart and I was chuffed to say the least i had gone to sleep before 10pm the night before i was really very tired from all the practice, my arms and neck muscles had really taken a beating on the Saturday. I set my alarm for 6am so i could get up and wake up / warm up and have some breakfast etc and make sure kart was as should be.
The night before I changed my brake pads as they were shot so in warm up (5 mins) I went out and my brakes were terrible, I spent the whole time stomping on the pedal to take away the new glaze and give me a pedal i needed. When I came in the brakes stank for a good 20 mins so hopefully job done.
Quali was 10 mins long and the kart felt good on the setup i had, a bit slack for the first few laps but she really came on, i saw on my Mychron I did a 43.9 so I was chuffed.
Turns out i did a couple of laps in the 43.9's and qualified 22nd from 30 karts. Ok not the best but this was my first race weekend in anything I have never raced before in my life so I was fairly chuffed.
Race 1
Started well gained a few places and was catching the pack ahead, until a couple of karts went of infront of us all and typically I had to take the long route to get around them, lost a few places and finished p23.
Race 2
Started well from p23, gained 3 places I think again until somebody span out infront of me and the pack bunched back onto my tail then for the first time the whole weekend I span at the slower chicane and lost a load of spots. I chased the pack down and was a few seconds behind the kart infront, after one of the long straights is a hairpin and a few seconds behind i was on the racing line as he was, he entered the braking zone for the hairpin and then i did but I must have gained two seconds in that zone alone and on the same line I was waiting for him to turn in to give me the space to turn, but he never did and to avoid crashing into him i made a choice to take to the grass and span again narrowly avoiding the crash barrier. I decided to take myself from that race and retired as it was pointless driving around doing practice laps. also my ribs had took a knock in the first race and were sore.
race 3
Started from 27th, got my way up a few spots on the grid to around p23rd i think, chasing the pack ahead and catching, however somebody behind me must have started from further back and probably deserved to be ahead of us all, sadly he used me as a brake and pushed me of track and i lost 8 seconds which allowed a good few to pass .
I came up behind the fella I narrowly avoided in the second race so got very close behind and took my time to work out where was best to pass, he was going tight to the apex's in the hairpins so i was going long and getting a run on him, one corner worked out better than the rest and I pulled along side with him knowing where i was, he had the racing ling as it was a right hander into a left chicane, I was on the left near the kerb he had middle track, and to put it simply, he just came left, came left, came left and came left until i was of the track with nowhere to go and he rear wheel hit mine which sent me of into a spin backwards up the steep embankment.
I killed the engine and parked it as god knows what damage it had done.
When I was sat there i kept thinking i put my kart in a bad place and it was my fault, i also thought that when i was back in the pits and he came up to me, however i had thought at the time that my front wheel hit his rear which would have obviously been a bad move, but i soon noticed it was my rear wheel and his rear wheel, and he plainly just ran me of the road so in the truck on my way home i was a little annoyed but also buzzing for the next.
I will and cannot putmyself back there again, i have to go fowards.
The cost of the weekend was not bad untill this point where I have a bent axle, a bent side pod and a bent rear bumper!
Cost of weekend
fuel to track £50
saturday practice £50
sunday racing £100 (i think)
Tyres £120
chain £20
Sproket £12
Fuel £20
Generator fuel £10
Odds and sods £50 (guess)
Food (£30)
Total £462.00 ,roughly things like the sprocket etc will go again
Damage
Rear axle £120
side pod frame £50
rear bumper £not sure
One of them weekends. my first and annoying but cant wait for next and costs not to to bad.
long post but long weekend
Few pics
New stickers
DSC_0423 by regy53, on FlickrDSC_0421 by regy53, on FlickrRace van
DSC_0459 by regy53, on Flickrloaded
DSC_0465 by regy53, on Flickrjig
FB_IMG_1427108740903 by regy53, on FlickrWaking up and looking out window on sunday am
DSC_0467 by regy53, on Flickron warm up grid
FB_IMG_1427135456336 by regy53, on Flickrfriday night before front goes on
DSC_0466 by regy53, on FlickrRace 1
FB_IMG_1427109032570 by regy53, on FlickrFB_IMG_1427108980405 by regy53, on FlickrRace 3 final position
received_10152926638178649 by regy53, on FlickrSounds like a typical Easy Kart race weekend...
Glad you enjoyed it though mate..
Pity Larkhall isn't on the calendar or I would have mechanic'd for you that weekend ...
well iv not idea what to say at the first line i hope being hit of the track fairly aggressively twice is not what to expect that said we are doing rowrah, if your bored i can pay for your fuel and some food 100% 30/31st may
maybe a hotel? i am serveryly budget limited and any help i see is good help especially as this race is so far away from my main base. after the weekend it really shows how much help is needed.Rowrah is about 2hrs drive mate.. Let me see what I am doing that weekend, possibly free.
Dinner and a few beers would be fine, i'm a cheap date lol....
One tip, first corner... Load up on the guys in front of you, exactly the way the faster guy did to you, basically using you as a brake. It is fairly cheeky/not fair/frowned upon but everyone from cadets to seniors tries it on and usually get away with it, seen 5 or 6 karts all loading up on one another going in to a hairpin, guy at the back usually is good for 2 or 3 places..
EDIT
I'll message Keiren Gordon who is a senior in EK to pop over and give you some tips at the next race meet..
Dinner and a few beers would be fine, i'm a cheap date lol....
One tip, first corner... Load up on the guys in front of you, exactly the way the faster guy did to you, basically using you as a brake. It is fairly cheeky/not fair/frowned upon but everyone from cadets to seniors tries it on and usually get away with it, seen 5 or 6 karts all loading up on one another going in to a hairpin, guy at the back usually is good for 2 or 3 places..
EDIT
I'll message Keiren Gordon who is a senior in EK to pop over and give you some tips at the next race meet..
Last edited:
I've got a few weeks left before my Military Inter-Service season starts. I've been practicing all winter at Three Sisters near Wigan and made small improvements every time. Coupled with a new engine I'm hoping to run well this year.
