Go-Karting

[missyburd]

I've just discovered a Motorsports club at uni :smt026:smt026:smt026 They mainly seem to be about go-karting but apparently they're branching out into more 2-wheeler territory this year which sounds rather eeeeeenteresting :D

Just wondering how many people have tried go-karting as I'm thinking of going for a spin in one, looks a lot of fun! Is it easy to get the hang of?

[Mr Speirs]

Ive tried go karting. Its great fun. Really knackering tho as you'd be suprised how quick they can corner and what G-Forces they will put on you. My arms and back and side and front were all aching after an hour or so stint.

Its pretty easy to get the hang of. Stop Go corner turn. Its very easy to spin it out and when they let go it happens very quickly.
Awesome cool wicked fun tho.

[fizzwheel]

Just wondering how many people have tried go-karting as I'm thinking of going for a spin in one, looks a lot of fun! Is it easy to get the hang of?

yep lots of times. Its a huge amount of fun. Its a piece of p*ss to get the hang off, but going fast is a different matter altogether.

Basics are simple

Steering wheel. Right foot is throttle, left foot is brake, dont press both at the same time. Brake in a straight line and dont hang the tail out to much it slows you down.

All the karts I drove had brakes on the back axle only so if you brake to hard you lock the rears and spin. So dont do that :D

I've done indoor and outdoor and twin engined stuff. If you're up for it give it a go and see how you get on. You wont be disappointed. Dont worry to much about the technicalities, just have a huge amount of fun.

[Mr Speirs]

Are you at Uni in Aber?

[ThEGr33k]

Very fun! :D Love it. Done it a few times. I think I might have to try and get another go sorted :)

[Baph]

As Fizz, I've done rather a lot of karting over the years (though probably not as much as Blue_SV650. :lol:

Glasfryn Park won't be THAT far from you, but there may be somewhere nearer. If you do end up at Glasfryn Park, make sure you checkout the quad bikes (£20 for the quads)... very good course.

As for the karting, as others have said... only, on most circuits, you don't need the brake, and you're quicker if you don't use it.

[Paul the 6th]

i've done it about 5 times - loved it everytime. my mates who went with me were going on about how much of a buzz it was and i said it's about as close as you can get to the feeling of riding a bike without actually doing your cbt or lessons etc. That similar rushing buzzing sensation :)

we should get the org together for regional gokartin through the winter maybe? :):)

[Daimo]

My missy had never done go-karting until our recent holiday.

Get her in proper first time like, "whats the quickest you've got, the twin engine jobbies"

She was nervous, but went from being lapped 10x by me, down to 4x on the 2nd session. Knocked 7 seconds off her time and loved it :)

Smoothness is the key to a fast lap.

[Wideboy]

recommend it, its so fun :D

[ThEGr33k]

i've done it about 5 times - loved it everytime. my mates who went with me were going on about how much of a buzz it was and i said it's about as close as you can get to the feeling of riding a bike without actually doing your cbt or lessons etc. That similar rushing buzzing sensation :)

we should get the org together for regional gokartin through the winter maybe? :):)



YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES...

The buzz for me is the racing to be honest. I am a little over competetive though. :cool:

Where is a good place around our end then Paul?

[G]

Go Karting is awsome fun......all top racing drivers have started racing in a go cart. They are so easy to drive and have fun in, to be seriously quick in a cart is all about technique and control though.......you can be up against someone in identical carts and if the other person is exprienced you would put money on the other cart having an engine twice the size.

dont press both at the same time.

Braking while still on the gas is the only way to be seriously quick in a go cart :cool:

[fizzwheel]

Braking while still on the gas is the only way to be seriously quick in a go cart :cool:

its also the quickest way to burn the clutch out and if you do it at some of the karting places I go to they black flag you and you dont get to finish your session...

[Speedy Claire]

Did it years ago...... was great fun :smt026

[Paws]

Done a inside track and loved it, few weeks ago had a go with work on a outside track and hated it-as it was peeing down and we all kept spinning off and get v muddy and wet

[G]

Clearly a .org karting event should be arranged lol

Edit: I'll get my excuses in early, I have put on weight....I weigh 14st :(

[TonyS]

Karting is brilliant.

Would definitely be up for a .org karting event. :D :smt026

Preferably somewhere with twin-engined pro-karts or thunderkarts, then its more down to skill rather than who's lightest. :driving:

[ThEGr33k]

Karting is brilliant.

Would definitely be up for a .org karting event. :D :smt026

Preferably somewhere with twin-engined pro-karts or thunderkarts, then its more down to skill rather than who's lightest. :driving:

i think we should try a pennine massive thing mate! :) Might be a bit extreme people all over the country trying to sort one. :rolleyes:

[TonyS]

Good idea.

[lukemillar]

I'll put 100 down on Blue for the win ;)

[chakraist]

I really want to go to this hypothetical event, I love karting, it's brilliant fun!

[missyburd]

My arms and back and side and front were all aching after an hour or so stint.



Hmm well I'll probably only be doing it for half an hour, apparently student rates mean we get that for £15 which I've been told is good going :D

Are you at Uni in Aber?

I am indeedy, third year now :shock:
As Fizz, I've done rather a lot of karting over the years (though probably not as much as Blue_SV650. :lol:

Glasfryn Park won't be THAT far from you, but there may be somewhere nearer. If you do end up at Glasfryn Park, make sure you checkout the quad bikes (£20 for the quads)... very good course.



Apparently the track the club uses is in Aberaeron, not too far from here. And I've always wanted to try quads out too so I'll definitely be looking into that!



we should get the org together for regional gokartin through the winter maybe? :):)
I'd definitely be up for that (assuming I like it of course, but I think I shall ;) ) great idea!
i think we should try a pennine massive thing mate! :) Might be a bit extreme people all over the country trying to sort one. :rolleyes:

I think it'd be worth making a trip back from uni for :D:D:D Unless you wait till Christmas :p

[ThEGr33k]

I think it'd be worth making a trip back from uni for :D:D:D Unless you wait till Christmas :p

Not sure what dates we might be doing it on yet. Put something forward in the thread though and we can see what happens. :D

Anyone from the pennine massive... or anyone who is willing to make the trip we are starting to organise a Go-kart event. :)

[Paul the 6th]

whoop whoop :)

it could be worth members from other regions posting in their own local sub forum to see if anyone in their area wants to go for it :)

there's a big one at manchester?

[Paul the 6th]

oh and nick, i'll reply to you in abit about sunday... only just got back in from yc's and i didnt get home till 2 am last night

[glade]

I'm going tomorrow for the 1st time in 10 years... used to share a crappy zip chassis with a GX160 engine with my mate. got it for free and ran it on a shoestring - great fun!

He's invited me to a team endurance race... just a bit of fun. the karts look great and have digital dash with position, lap, time behind person in front.

Only i've put a few kg on... hoping i'm not going to suffer too much with a weight penalty. (if 30kg affects a touring car, it's gonna affect a kart!!)

[missyburd]

Yey, looks like I'm going this Saturday :smt026:smt026:smt026

Right looking forward to it already :D

[Blue_SV650S]

Yey, looks like I'm going this Saturday

me too :shock:

[missyburd]

me too :shock:
hehe, really? Whereabouts?

[Blue_SV650S]

hehe, really? Whereabouts?

http://www.fekc.co.uk/

Where are you? ... please say FEKC* 8)

*sorry haven't read thread ...

[yorkie_chris]

Pretty far away from Wales that :-P

[missyburd]

Lol nowhere near mate, I'm going to Aberaeron I believe.

[Blue_SV650S]

Pretty far away from Wales that :-P

So is Yorkshire ;)

Lol nowhere near mate, I'm going to Aberaeron I believe.

Indoor or outdoor?

[missyburd]

Back from karting now and I can officially say I'm well and truly hooked!!!!! Was awesome, went with some great people and have come back with just a bruised thigh (a bloke crashed into me :rolleyes:) so am happy :D

Going to take my own lid next time though, didn't much like the ones they provided lol.

Definitely worth every penny of the £16 we paid!



So is Yorkshire ;)

Tell me about it :confused:

Indoor or outdoor?

Outdoor!

[Blue_SV650S]

Back from karting now and I can officially say I'm well and truly hooked!!!!! Was awesome, went with some great people and have come back with just a bruised thigh (a bloke crashed into me :rolleyes:) so am happy :D

Going to take my own lid next time though, didn't much like the ones they provided lol.

Definitely worth every penny of the £16 we paid!





Tell me about it :confused:



Outdoor!

How long did you get for £16? Seems really cheap ... any pics?!!? :)

[missyburd]

£16 was for two 15-minute slots, we got a reduced rate as students in the motorsports club lol.

I didn't take any pics but have found some someone else took, don't think I'm in them though.

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6598/n30960091912217003999lh0.jpg


http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/337/n30960091912217045035bx0.jpg

[Blue_SV650S]

£16 was for two 15-minute slots, we got a reduced rate as students in the motorsports club lol.

I didn't take any pics but have found some someone else took, don't think I'm in them though.

{pics}

Cool, did you go grass tracking at any point?!?! :D ... I like the idea of the roll-bar ... when a kart is flipped it is often nasty and time for Mr ambulance ...

[missyburd]

Cool, did you go grass tracking at any point?!?! :D ... I like the idea of the roll-bar ... when a kart is flipped it is often nasty and time for Mr ambulance ...

Well in the first 15 minutes I went off the track a few times, think the kart I had was a bit too fast at first but then in the second slot I couldn't get enough speed! Didn't come off once then and managed to tailgate my mate and knock here off muahaha :smt098

The conditions were a bit slippy so people were going off left right and centre lol. Was a blumin' good laugh, can't wait to go again!

How did you get on Blue?

[Blue_SV650S]

Well in the first 15 minutes I went off the track a few times, think the kart I had was a bit too fast at first but then in the second slot I couldn't get enough speed! Didn't come off once then and managed to tailgate my mate and knock here off muahaha :smt098

The conditions were a bit slippy so people were going off left right and centre lol. Was a blumin' good laugh, can't wait to go again!

How did you get on Blue?

Hehe, getting some heat in the tyres before nailing it is crucial!! ... if you are running a hire kart, chances are it has just been out, so you don't have the nause' of warming the tyres! ... as for knocking your mate off ... the idea is to overtake them, not punt them off!! :lol: ... its not dodgems!! :D

I had a good day actually, the place was packed, so a little hectic and the tracktime was limited as they had to split the people into so many sessions. :( ... but as I said, I had a good day overall ... it was fairly dry for most of the day and then piddled it down for the last 2 sessions ... I have 'wets' for my kart so its not a problem ... well it was the first of the 2 sessions as I was on the grid with my slicks on and the rain coming down ... I went out anyway and slid about ... good fun actually!! 8) ... put the wets on for the next session mind ;)

Sadly one of my mates that went along too had a rotten day .. lots of engine problems ... don't think he completed an entire lap all day .. which brings a bit of a general downer seeing a mate unhappy/frustrated :( The rest of our little posse had a fairly good day of it mind :)

At last I didn't blow another engine up this time!! :D (blown 3 up so far!!).

As for photos, there are professional photographers that cover the events/venues I go to, they normally take a few days to put the proofs up on the interweb ... hopefully there will be one or two of me ... I'll let you know/put them up here if/when! :)

[missyburd]

as for knocking your mate off ... the idea is to overtake them, not punt them off!! :lol: ... its not dodgems!! :D


Lol aye but revenge is sweet ;)

Sorry to hear about your mate, I think we were lucky with our karts, just one puncture and a stop for petrol was all that happened with our lot. You have your own kart then?

[Blue_SV650S]

Lol aye but revenge is sweet ;)

Sorry to hear about your mate, I think we were lucky with our karts, just one puncture and a stop for petrol was all that happened with our lot. You have your own kart then?

I've knida got 3 now :oops:

[missyburd]

I've knida got 3 now :oops:
are they expensive?

[Blue_SV650S]

are they expensive?

That is like asking if motorbikes are expensive!! :D

The answer is simply it depends on which one you get and how old it is ...

My ones were only a few hundred each (2nd hand), but you can easily spend 4-5k on one new ..

[yorkie_chris]

How much do you save by using your own kart rather than a rental one?

[Blue_SV650S]

How much do you save by using your own kart rather than a rental one?

Where I go it is £40/day non member - £30 member. You get 6-8 7 min sessions.

If you are getting it for £16 1/2hr, then its not really cheaper is it ;) But £16 id very cheap to be honest.

One thing I will say is that the 2-stroke karts like I have got are a fair bit quicker then the 4-stoke hire karts! 8) ... the 4-strokes like you can hire are fun ... the 2-strokes are exhilarating (~4*power yet lighter)!! ;)

[Miss Alpinestarhero]

Id recommend it, its great fun :D

Ive been go-karting a few times and I really enjoyed it. I was going to join the go-karting club when I was at uni but I somehow didn't get round to it..! :rolleyes: lol

Maria

[missyburd]

One thing I will say is that the 2-stroke karts like I have got are a fair bit quicker then the 4-stoke hire karts! 8) ... the 4-strokes like you can hire are fun ... the 2-strokes are exhilarating (~4*power yet lighter)!! ;)

Think ours were the fourstroke ones. I'm definitely gonna make a beeline for the number 9 kart next time though, that one was not only the quickest but the noisiest too :smt077 (Looks like YC has converted me for good now :rolleyes: :D:D:D )

Id recommend it, its great fun :D

Ive been go-karting a few times and I really enjoyed it. I was going to join the go-karting club when I was at uni but I somehow didn't get round to it..! :rolleyes: lol

Maria

Yup, I'm really glad I went when I did. I've joined the karting club but am a trifle disappoointed that they seem to be mainly car people, not bikes #sniff#. As a result I am now known as BikeGirl how original :rolleyes: lol!

[Quedos]

The ecosse posse will be karting this year! If i get my finger out and organise it! went last year - indoors but we're going to try and plan for an outdoor during the supposed summer 09 season!

[Paul the 6th]

im going to get my finger out and sort it for the pennine massive next week :) working away til friday this week but we'll definitely go for it, we could even set up the org karting team

[Quedos]

Now thats an idea - then have another massive event were all the org section teams race against each other. so we'll have the AR09 and the Annual Kart 09
cool!

[missyburd]

im going to get my finger out and sort it for the pennine massive next week :) working away til friday this week but we'll definitely go for it, we could even set up the org karting team
Do ya think you could sort it for the week beginning the 3rd November? Pwetty please? Then I could come and join you :D:D:D

[Paul the 6th]

i posted a poll asking what date and everyones told me "there's too many dates" or "you should have asked which venue first"... bleh bleh bleh, someone else needs to help me organise it. I can manage my own projects but this seems like a bit of a mean fete

[missyburd]

Don't be disheartened! it'll be reyt :D (as long as it's near the 3rd of November :p)