Karting Thread

[Bopop4]

I told you about my 38.4, right? 'cuz, I certainly would like to try to find 3 more tenths, if I can. Can you help? PM, VM, anything. Remember, we're talking about a BSRKC race.


Oh, and, speaking of, I have to run Sr. Heavy for the BSRKC events, no more Sr. Medium. So, where can I find ballast?

BSKRC you'll probably pick up time because of all the rubber that gets laid down.
I'll need a recent video to point out spots where time can be made. 👍

Collison should have ballast.

There is a bit of a lull between bike races, I should come down and borrow a kart of someone sometime, it looks like the fields are pretty big.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Not so much in karting, I was super consistent though which made up for me being 2-3 tenths off the pace. And anyway, I've stopped wasting money on karting now and have moved up to proper racing

Me too! Granted, I'm more like 6 tenths down, but, there's a ToCA-style Spurgy alien (or 3) at my track.

BSKRC you'll probably pick up time because of all the rubber that gets laid down.
I'll need a recent video to point out spots where time can be made. 👍

Collison should have ballast.

There is a bit of a lull between bike races, I should come down and borrow a kart of someone sometime, it looks like the fields are pretty big.

My most recent video.


You should borrow a kart. Yes. You definitely should.

I'll talk to Collison.


And, what if the forecasts are right, and it actually rains?! I haven't had any practice in the rain with the rain tires. That's not how I want to go about the provincials.

 

[Bopop4]

Your line looks MUCH better through the last 2 turns.

And the lines everywhere are improved, I'm guessing that the lack of speed is going to be from how you are steering.

You have to avoid "sawing" on the wheel. ie, Making little adjustments through a turn.
Try to lock your arms and keep the wheel from making little changes.

Bit more aggression with passing.

And yeah, I think it would be fun to come back for a race. Even if it's coming from 140mph+ to 50. : p

But rain is awesome... Just remember what I told you in the chat about setup.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

And yeah, I think it would be fun to come back for a race. Even if it's coming from 140mph+ to 50. : p

And rain is fine, just remember what I told you in the chat about setup.

It's not like you'll be bored... Remember, there's less real-estate and more people trying to take it from you. That's why karting is more fun than suici- I mean motorcycle racing!


How you get over your nerves on a motorbike like that, I'll never understand. I've gone pretty fast in cars before, but never even been on a motorcycle.


And, as for the rain, yeah, it's my driving I'm more worried about. And getting my flipping throttle cable, rip cord, and various other things wet and mushy.

 

[Bopop4]

It's not like you'll be bored...

Definitely not, as long as there's someone to have a good battle with.

Remember, there's less real-estate and more people trying to take it from you. That's why karting is more fun than suici- I mean motorcycle racing!

A few more people in karting, less space, but more fun?
I'll let you be the judge of that after you do a bike race.
(There's a reason we don't kart anymore.)



Starting inside of the 1st row with the grey bike.

How you get over your nerves on a motorbike like that, I'll never understand. I've gone pretty fast in cars before, but never even been on a motorcycle.

Adrenaline.

And, as for the rain, yeah, it's my driving I'm more worried about. And getting my flipping throttle cable, rip cord, and various other things wet and mushy.

The cables and cord will be fine. And ride the rim of the track in the wet.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

The cables and cord will be fine. And ride the rim of the track in the wet.

Nice start!


And, last time my kart was in the rain, the throttle cable got rusty; it broke the next race.

 

[Bopop4]

Thanks, Dad thought that I jumped the start. (I just thought that everyone else was napping.)

A bit of rain wouldn't make it rusty enough to break.
You should clean and dry the kart a lot when it rains. So much gunk gets built up on the bodywork.

 

[raceorama123432]

Not so much in karting, I was super consistent though which made up for me being 2-3 tenths off the pace. And anyway, I've stopped wasting money on karting now and have moved up to proper racing

You going Oulton?

 

[Spurgy 777]

You going Oulton?

Yep, just under a couple of weeks away now

 

[raceorama123432]

Yep, just under a couple of weeks away now

I'll be at Cadwell that weekend, good luck if I don't speak again soon!

 

[Spurgy 777]

I'll be at Cadwell that weekend, good luck if I don't speak again soon!

Awesome, I'll be there in September, what are you doing there, watching or racing?

 

[raceorama123432]

Awesome, I'll be there in September, what are you doing there, watching or racing?

Watching, believe me, as much as I want to, don't think I can handle the Tr7 just yet

Stuck with this at the mo

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

BIG NEWS!


I finished an entire practice day without breaking more than $200 worth in parts. 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍



Now, race day...


Oh, and, Bopop4, I'm trying a 59 tooth gear in back, 14 tooth gear in front, should be 4.21 gear ratio. That's going from 4.14. It feels lovely. Question is, since my MyChron decided not to give me accurate/valid lap times, do you think it's going to be faster?

 

[Bopop4]

: D

For the speed you're going now, it should be fine, but as you get faster, you're going to be running a lower ratio. Just try and make the motor have a max RPM of 6500-6600 at the end of the straight. (You have to be able to read the data after, it's not as accurate if you just look at it while driving.)

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

: D

For the speed you're going now, it should be fine, but as you get faster, you're going to be running a lower ratio. Just try and make the motor have a max RPM of 6500-6600 at the end of the straight. (You have to be able to read the data after, it's not as accurate if you just look at it while driving.)

6560 RPM was the top RPM I was running today. I asked Lloyd Cunningham; he's almost like a guru to me. Really nice guy.


In exchange, I can give his son plenty of driver tips that I'm learning from you. I'm also attempting to boost his self-esteem and confidence. He clearly loves racing, and is eager to become more talented, and I want to see Kieran's talent flourish.

 

[Bopop4]

That amount of revs is perfect, just remember to keep on top of adjustments as you get faster. (We dropped a valve at Leamington, those motors don't like to be hammered to almost 7 grand.)

Oh, and change valve springs after the final practice, EVERY TIME.
Not doing so could cause the motor to blow, and a general loss of speed.

In exchange, I can give his son plenty of driver tips that I'm learning from you. I'm also attempting to boost his self-esteem and confidence. He clearly loves racing, and is eager to become more talented, and I want to see Kieran's talent flourish.

That's exactly what I'm doing with you.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

That amount of revs is perfect, just remember to keep on top of adjustments as you get faster. (We dropped a valve at Leamington, those motors don't like to be hammered to almost 7 grand.)

Oh, and change valve springs after the final practice, EVERY TIME.
Not doing so could cause the motor to blow, and a general loss of speed.




That's exactly what I'm doing with you.

Change valve springs? Even more expenses!


But, at long last, race day! And, I got a subscriber on YouTube, who clearly likes the racing.

 

[GTracer38]

Long weekend in Rochester but a successful one in more ways then expected. 6 of us had a chance to win with a tenth of a second each way. My first time there and I was on pace.
Heat 1 - Started 1st, finished 1st. Beaten on the start, hung in for most of the race and got the chance. Picture perfect pass into turn 1 and managed to hang on for the last 2 laps.
Heat 2 - Started 8th, finished 7th. Made a setup change that didn't work. Held up and couldn't make it up.
Pre-final - Started 3rd, finished 2nd. Got the start right and just held out until the end. Not going to have that same luxury in the final.
Final - Started 2nd, finished 6th. Knew before the green light that starting on the outside meant I was screwed and when I was sent through the dirt on the chicane it confirmed it. Held station until the end.

First time I have been on the pace away from home. Experience at other tracks is proving hugely beneficial already. 2nd ever race win! 2 race wins in te last 2 meets.
I am very happy with the progress I am making at the moment. Club day next weekend. May spring a suprise win

 

[Bopop4]

Change valve springs? Even more expenses!

You're going to be floating the valves halfway down the straight if they're that old.

Even with new ones, you can tell from the 1st heat to the final that they're not as strong.

*Heat win.*

Congratulations, gotta get that final win now.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

You're going to be floating the valves halfway down the straight if they're that old.

Even with new ones, you can tell from the 1st heat to the final that they're not as strong.



Congratulations, gotta get that final win now.

Oh, and, I'm painting my old 58t gear, and I'm going to put it back on, I think, now that all of the extra Sr. Heavy weight's removed.


But, since I have way more than enough fuel, (too much, actually) in the kart, to make weight for Sr. Heavy, and I'm going to go back to Sr. Medium, I wanna see which gear is faster, once-and-for-all. Is the 58t or 59t gear faster? I don't know. Changing the valve springs might make the 59t faster; if I can get the valves to keep up, and stop floating, I can make the 59t way faster. If I run the 58t, I need to learn how to keep the RPMs up through the tight sections (mainly Turn 2 and Turn 4.)

*checks valve springs...*

I must read more.


Are there any relevant links, Bopop4? Or, is there a karting book I can get for all of this stuff? I don't like the "risky do-it-yourself so you can learn" mantra, because what if I forget something? I might not be rookie of the year.


However, even better news than last time; I got a fifth place in the pre-final, and 6th in the final. 10th in the points.


I also got a ridealong on someone's rear bumper. That was fun. GoPro footage, anyone? You want?

May spring a surprise win

This isn't the infield. Puns... They belong in the Infield. (see comments about valve springs, and valve float.)


Edit: Before I clog up the thread too much, I found out something extremely interesting today. I found out, that my 4 stroke Honda is actually only 2 seconds slower than TaG. Hmmmmmmm..., those crazy guys, with their crazy 3 kart fields (yes, that's the entire roster) are paying to go barely any faster than my Honda motor, for less exciting racing with fewer guys.

 

[Bopop4]

You could ask Jake to show you how to do it, bring him the kart with the valve cover off and 2 new springs. 30 seconds and it's done. (For him, takes everyone else a few minutes.)

And the TaGs have to carry a LOT more weight, they're getting close to 400 pounds.
Plus they don't have a very wide powerband, a shifter will be doing 32's at Flamboro.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

You could ask Jake to show you how to do it, bring him the kart with the valve cover off and 2 new springs. 30 seconds and it's done. (For him, takes everyone else a few minutes.)

And the TaGs have to carry a LOT more weight, they're getting close to 400 pounds.
Plus they don't have a very wide powerband, a shifter will be doing 32's at Flamboro.

I know, I know.


Again, Lloyd Cunningham was telling me how to do it. It's just, it's one thing to hear it from a guy who's done it hundreds of times, who tells you, once, how to do it.

It's another thing to actually try to figure it out.

 

[Bopop4]

It's really simple actually, pop one of, pop one on.
Just don't drop a valve or you'll have to remove the head to get it out.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

It's really simple actually, pop one of, pop one on.
Just don't drop a valve or you'll have to remove the head to get it out.

That's exactly what they were saying; that's because the valve won't be attached to the valve spring when you detach the valve spring!


💡


Genius!


*I'm a blonde, sometimes.


Edit: Bopop4, check your Facebook. I just went through and started adding all of the guys from the track, and your name popped up.

 

[GTracer38]

I'll be sure to check the previous posts next time.
Turns out, if I was 2 tenths quicker I could have won the final :S
Huge improvement since Bendigo

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

I'll be sure to check the previous posts next time.
Turns out, if I was 2 tenths quicker I could have won the final :S
Huge improvement since Bendigo

So close. Just remember your apexes, man. Aim for precision. 2 tenths is nothing. Since I started this season, I've dropped 3 full seconds from my lap times.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Does anyone have any karting-specific stretches/warm-ups? I pulled a muscle recently, and I don't know whether it was from karting or work.

 

[Schwartz]

What muscle did you pull?

 

[gokartman78]

Does anyone have any karting-specific stretches/warm-ups? I pulled a muscle recently, and I don't know whether it was from karting or work.

Rotating your neck around before a race always helps. I have turned my head to quickly before and felt a sharp pain in my neck from it .
I have never pulled a muscle actually racing, but working on the kart and lifting it in the paddock could cause you to pull a muscle. If it's your back then you could try a lifting belt which they wear for weightlifting. It supports your core and lower back, and prevents hyperextension.

Do you wear a rib protector? I would highly recommend the Tillett range. Here is a link to the page https://www.tillett.co.uk/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=16&cat=Rib+Protectors.

They are expensive, but on numerous occasions I have been saved a lot of pain because of it. When it comes to protecting you vital organs, you need to get something that will do the job. Safety should always be your main concern (Going quickly is #2 ). It's worrying because a lot of racers forget that, and decide to spend £120 on a new set of tyres for the day, rather than buying a rib protector which you could use for 5/6 years.

 

[Spurgy 777]

Rotating your neck around before a race always helps. I have turned my head to quickly before and felt a sharp pain in my neck from it .
I have never pulled a muscle actually racing, but working on the kart and lifting it in the paddock could cause you to pull a muscle. If it's your back then you could try a lifting belt which they wear for weightlifting. It supports your core and lower back, and prevents hyperextension.

Do you wear a rib protector? I would highly recommend the Tillett range. Here is a link to the page https://www.tillett.co.uk/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=16&cat=Rib+Protectors.

They are expensive, but on numerous occasions I have been saved a lot of pain because of it. When it comes to protecting you vital organs, you need to get something that will do the job. Safety should always be your main concern (Going quickly is #2 ). It's worrying because a lot of racers forget that, and decide to spend £120 on a new set of tyres for the day, rather than buying a rib protector which you could use for 5/6 years.

Don't forget he's probably not a 🤬 driver like you and doesn't crash into everyone