The Australian Karting Association (AKA) and Yamaha Motor Australia would like to advise all competitors in the Clubman categories of the following important information.

This article on karting will cover handling the steering wheel, establishing the right posture and chassis setup. Use your depth perception and keen awareness to hit the right spots and maneuver your kart to the lead.

source: http://aboutkarting.com/drivingtips.html

By depth perception and awareness we mean plotting out the track ahead of you. Do not pay as much attention to the position of the kart driver ahead of you; focus your mind on what lies beyond your opponents’ kart and the potential gaps around your opponent.

Many multi-kart accidents on the track result from the trailing driver focusing on the position of the kart which either spun out or crashed. For example, instead of trying to avoid the wreck, the driver focuses on the kart or mass of karts ahead.

If you are the trailing driver, keep your eyes and concentration on the gap around the kart ahead. The further ahead you apply your focus, the more successful of a driver you will become. Think of it like a game of pool or golf; you always need to look ahead to your next shot by trying to leave a good lie.

In karting, you think ahead to what gaps might be available. You focus on the gaps and take control with your driving skills. To achieve this depth perception and keen awareness, these steps must be followed:
•· Have the right posture. Sit upright with your head firm and high so you are always looking ahead.
• · Look around the corner further than usual. Look at where you want your kart to go. Do not focus on the kart ahead of you.
• · Focus on the apex – the end of the track’s loop – and not your braking point when you apply the brakes.
• · Once you have followed through the apex, plan ahead to your next braking point.

Karting instincts are not taught. You are either born with them or not. To discover where your instincts lie, you must repeatedly practice. Perform practice laps until you can envision taking over the gaps in your sleep. In order to take karting seriously, you must be relentless in your desire to master the opponent and track.

Do not give in to the frustration of using your depth perception on the track. Train yourself to look further ahead than you thought possible at gaps and corners. You should notice a slight decrease in your lap time because you are a more intelligent and efficient driver.

Planning is essential to any winning kart driver.

You must plan to hold your steering wheel in the “10 and 2 o’clock” position to improve your feeling of strength in the kart. This position also allows for a correct weight transfer through your arms and body to the front of the kart.

You must plan your posture. If you sit upright and stern, you will help the weight transfer across the kart and that leads to better handling.

Finally, you must perform a chassis setup for comfortable seating and a sense of control. Putting the seat in the right place can mean the difference between a win and a loss in kart racing. If you are not comfortable, thinking ahead is jeopardized. Your attention will focus on trying to regain that comfort instead of what lies ahead on the track.

There you are, zooming down the kart track; the course is wide open for several laps, then suddenly you are stuck behind a mass of slower kart drivers, and you are boxed in like rush-hour traffic. What do you do? You overtake them, of course! But overtaking successfully requires some thought. Many things go into overtaking, such as weather conditions, the track, the other competition, your kart, and your own fear.

There are many steps that go into overtaking that good racers don’t even think about. But even good kart racers know that learning the art of overtaking must be done with continual practice and that knowing the steps that go into a successful overtake is only just the start. Here are some tips that will help you overtake your competitors like a pro.

Make a Move
It’s sometimes not enough to wait until you’re able to make your move; but rather, there are times when you must force a move to happen. I certainly don’t mean bumping or rubbing another kart; sometimes just the intimidation can be enough! In karting, even a simple nudge can be hazardous, which is why it’s not allowed; but making them “think” you are considering it may be just the edge you need to get that driver to waver enough for you to make your move. They say good city drivers are the ones not afraid to make an opening for themselves, and the same applies in karting.

The Tiring Truth
Overtaking in each kind of weather depends on your tires. If you’ve got the slicks on, your kart is going to react differently to braking and accelerating in an overtaking situation than if you’re outfitted with rain tires. Knowing how your kart reacts can mean the difference between a successful overtaking maneuver and a complete spinout. In dry conditions, your braking distance can be much shorter than on wet pavement, yet still be more slippery with new tires than with worn in tires.

Give ‘em a Brake!
Braking can be almost an art form. From simple out-braking the competition into a curve and sailing right by, or knowing your kart’s brake limits will all go into superior braking skill. It’s up to you to know exactly how late you can wait to brake before turning your kart into a kart-wheel, but braking is going to be the key to whether you make your competition sweat and ease off, or move right past you. Tapping your brakes may not help you in an overtake situation; don’t be afraid to step down hard and leave rubber on the track. If you are in a practice run, leaving tire marks will help you gauge your braking ability in a corner turn.

Hey, Watch Where You’re Going!
You know the old saying; “keep your eye on the ball”? In this case, your eyes should be directed to where you want your kart to be in a few seconds. This means taking your eyes off the kart you want to overtake, and look at the space between you. If you’re too busy watching the other drivers, you are not only going to miss your opportunity, but could create a dangerous situation as well.

We All Make Mistakes…
A key to perfection is to practice messing up. You say, “what?!” You should know what your kart will do in just about every situation, so that you know exactly what to compensate for in case of that very instance. We learn best by making mistakes, so it’s actually in your best interest to try to recreate every possible situation you’ll encounter in your kart and prepare for it. Practice in the rain, in 106 degree heat, and in the ice; practice hitting the curb and spinning out; and last but not least, practice overtaking your competition, and leave them smelling your burnt rubber.

You won’t be able to overtake every driver you come up behind, but you’ll increase your likelihood of doing it the more you work at it. The key to overtaking is to not be afraid; the key to not being afraid is knowing who your worst enemy is – yourself.

source: http://aboutkarting.com/overtaking.html

Acceleration is the key to winning any kart race but how a driver brakes is equally important.

Karting drivers use a term called “trail braking,” a maneuver that prevents a loss of exit speed coming around a corner. Trail braking is applying the brakes late and deep into a corner. That allows the rear of the kart to slide into the corner, making for a straight shot out the exit on to the straightaway.

The key to trail braking in karting is to understand your tires and visualize the turn before it happens. Do not be concerned about spinning out while turning as you brake because your tire’s grip is not always used to the full extent.

Come off the brakes slightly and turn in when you reach a tight corner. The cornering grip of the tire is not at its maximum because you are not turning very sharply at the early part of the corner. A percentage of the tire’s grip is utilized while the other percentage is used for braking.

Gradually ease off the braking as you turn the kart more sharply. You will match your braking in the turn with your throttle as you exit the corner. Visualize how you will come out of the corner before you enter.

If you want to master braking, try to weather the rain conditions on the track. The more experience you have on a wet track, the better you will be in terms of braking and discovering your true driving skills.

As a kart driver, you will encounter low-speed corners and high-speed corners. The key to braking in wet track conditions is as follows:

Low-speed corners

Learn the latest breaking point as you would on a dry karting track. The key to braking on a wet track is to get the tire to grip without locking. You must be sensitive and be quick to release braking pressure if you feel the tires are about to lock.

Plan to run wide and deep into the corner to get your inside rear tire off the ground, or else you will run straight into the corner. Normally to encourage the kart to turn you can lean forward to the outside front wheel. When you are deep into the corner, your tires are on the less-utilized part of the track that has better traction to accelerate away

High-speed corners

Do not steer drastically on wet conditions at a high-speed corner. Just keep the motion nice and smooth. Utilize all your engine power and avoid wheel-spin. The line should not be much different than a dry course because you can hit the corner at a high speed.

The bottom line is mastering the combination of braking with turning out of the corner in to the straightaway. The only way to achieve this is through practice under wet and dry conditions. If you can hit any corner without fear and with total command on a wet track, you have the utmost driving skills in kart racing.

source: http://aboutkarting.com/braking.html

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Location Deals Rd Reserve, Deals Rd, Clayton
Track entry is via Clayton Rd, via Simpsons Rd
Postal Address PO Box 215, Braeside, VIC 3195
Length 960M x 8M
Grid Capacity 32
Surface Hotmix
Track Open Hours Winter 10am – 5pm, Summer 10am – 6pm
Camping Facilities Not Permitted

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http://www.ogkrc.com.au/

http://realgokarts.com/index.htm

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