(Weekly) KartPulse Racer Videos Thread

I walk softly around Aussies.

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Ryan discusses tire temp choice and how it evolves over a race. In this case, he deliberately went low pressure as it was a long race. He walks us through how it evolved and decisions he made.

@KeslerDesignWorks was thinking of you as I watched this. He looks pretty good in that one corner. Maybe something for you there.

Prefinal you last posted: 3:05-3:36 it seems to me you entered both of these turns narrow. It looks like you were thinking it through and ended up half-commiting. It didnt hurt you and you did pass the other fellow, so picking nits here. Get back on line sooner maybe, if you don’t like the pass. Be more on/off.

It looks a lot better in that one turn you were getting front wheel lift. I did see you bog slightly on exit once. It looks like a difficult turn to reduce enough speed for. I am guessing if I were to try this turn I’d try a hard, straight line brake, short duration, followed by a very rapid brake release/turn in. Lose a bunch of speed but keep some roll from the fast release.

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Thanks for the share! Reviewing the rest of my footage over the weekend I notice I do tend to look into the corner early, slowly drift in, and then initiate my turn in. This is tightening the corner, I’m a bit aggressive on the wheel, and I’m a kart width or two off the line when I turn in. Around 1:30 in my footage is a good example of this. Quick technical drawing of my line(green) vs optimal line(red) :grin:

That specifically is a really tough section to nail. It took me a few visits before I understood how far ahead you have to be driving there. It’s such an important rhythm section that leads you into the big passing zone on the track, so it can make or break your lap. You want as little wheel movement as possible, but it’s imperative to be super smooth, precise, and quick with your inputs. The section is quick but the big curbs really penalize you for any misstep.

How I approach it (and how I think most fast guys approach it) is to basically just ignore the second kink (right-hand curb) and start looking for that big apex curb on the 90 degree left as soon as you start coming off the first left-hand kink. The right-hand kink is just peripheral vision, your eyes should be going from your exit of the Monza, to the apex of that 90 degree corner as soon as you can possibly see it.

And then it’s just a matter of nailing the specific rhythm of that complex of corners.

Thanks for the tips TJ. I find most of my time lost is through that “chicane”, first, and last corners. I claw back all of my time on the hairpin and bowl but lose it getting onto the straights. Next session those will be my main focus. I’m trying to fix my whole lap at one time, but I think I just need to take a step back and correct my lines one at a time.

Focusing on one corner/section at a time is a good strategy. It’s mentally easier and gives you the full 50 seconds remaining in the lap to think about what you did and how to fix it next time around.

That’s typically how I teach when we have multiple sections to fix.

TJ, Any tip on getting onto the front stretch? I tried getting the kart up against the curb on the left side, I grew up racing on the dirt so I’m no stranger to using the “cushion”, but it really upsets the kart. Not sure if I’m too late on the brakes or doing the same early turn in. I tend to always oversteer at the apex. Around 3:40 in the video up above if you get a chance to watch. Thanks.

You don’t want to really use that outside curb like a dirt cushion and plant the rear tire up into the side of it, but more softly, just kissing it as you come up the track to set up for the corner. Shouldn’t hit it enough to upset the kart.

Then it’s a lot like the 90 left we were just talking about above. Same type of curb on the inside, just need to nail the rhythm of it, not hit the curb on the inside, get on the throttle early. Aim for like an inch on the curb, and the natural crest of that corner will carry you away from the curb just enough at apex to not actually hit it.

The hardest thing with the final corner is getting consistent and controlled enough to nail the apex every time, and then the confidence to got on throttle earlier than you think you can, with the knowledge that you’ve got the trajectory perfect at turn-in that you won’t run out of track on the exit.

GoPro is all about rhythm. That’s why the scruffy hands hurts so much there, because it’s quick and flowing and you can’t miss a beat or you’ll be half a step behind at the next mark you need to hit.

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A race broke out at Slideways and Bobby was ready

Posting Bobby’s latest as it is night and day. Up till now, the races have been pretty much a scrum. This looks really fun and everyone is playing fair.

It looks like having the rolling start makes a big difference. I think the driving looks great.

I would like to see you all over the bumper of the person ahead. They will make mistakes and you will be right there to capitalize. You did a very good job of this here when you had the pace to do so.

Sound and video quality are great. It doesn’t seem that editing in your phone was noticeably different.

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Thanks for posting Dom. It was a really good group and I hope more of them come out next year.
After my last event in November it was great to have less incidents on the first lap of each race. Although it means there is less opportunities to pass, as usually a lot of that happened in the first two laps of a race. Overall I think the rolling starts were a positive.

I think I do a bit of a better job of being on the butts of the other racers in the final (which I haven’t uploaded yet), but it will be something I continue to work on.

Yea, it’s pretty amazing what you can do with a smart phone.

Some times its good to layback and just take it easy.

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Nice job, Emmet! Patience is usually rewarded.

@KeslerDesignWorks have a pal headed to gopro and inquires as to a gearing suggestion for x30 senior? TYVM.

X30 heavy runs a 79 to start.

Thanks Shane. When you say a 79, what’s that mean front and rear sprocket?

Rear sprocket. Front sprocket is a 11. GoPro has a recommendation chart on their website.

Thank you. I will forwards that to my friend.

Indoor Karting Fun with the Tri-State Lads

One of the fellas works at a rental place called speed raceway in Cinnaminson. Since it’s winter and we are all running out of memes and snarky things to say to each other, we decided to arrange a day out.

It ain’t easy hustling these karts in that they have some sort of thing where your throttle and brake are somehow connected. In any case, random little lockups when you lift or something. Hard to roll speed and let the kart turn. But, they are plenty quick and the track gives you plenty of opportunities to overdrive and lose speed.

Thanks Alec, it was good fun!

Up next is Grand Prix in Ithaca, NY. Multi-level facility that is well-regarded:

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Looks like kart 13 kept holding you up getting squirrelly just as you were ready to make a pass. I have noticed on some electric karts, the motors will have resistance off throttle. Not sure if its regenerative or just the magnetic resistance in the motors.

I have mixed feelings about the multi-level tracks. Some have been good, others annoying. I wasn’t as happy with the one in Indianapolis as the track is very slick and on the downhill run, they have a hairpin that forces you to brake hard and not carry any speed. On the other side, F1 in Boston puts the hairpin in the middle of the downhill run, so you can carry good momentum at the bottom right hander. F1’s karts were gas too. I want to say they were Hondas, but its been a while.

I think it’s a safety feature on some concession karts. If I am not mistaken, lifting also depresses the brake. Makes sense and would prevent runaway karts. It does make rotating the vehicle tricky though.

I have never been to a fancy multi level place so a big part of going will be the novelty. We all pretty much big kids when it comes to this sort of stuff, can’t be helped.

Tanguy went to GPNY with his classic car club group and said it was really nice. I tend to trust his opinion as he was a very good rental karter and worked as a kid for years in a rental facility. So, he has the perspective of being able to understand the fleet of karts and how they likely have been serviced.