What’s your (self-perceived) karting area of opportunity?
I’ll start: for me it’s braking.
My braking doesn’t stink but it’s not where I want it to be. It’s what I’ll be working on, looking for that next leg up.
Braking is a bit tricky in heavy rentals in that you really don’t want to lose momentum and thus braking is generally de-minimis. But, braking is rotation and defines when you are able to be back on throttle, which is hugely important to laptimes.
So, for me, I need to play with reducing speed. My primary de-motivator (that which makes me do the same old thing over and over again) is concern about over-slowing. But, perhaps one must break a few eggs to find correct mid-corner balance and the push out that I seek.
I want to try harder, shorter and earlier in certain corners to “feel” the change in rhythm through the corner and then absorb the subtle change in timing/tempo. I want to “back it up” aggressively, to see if in certain situations, being assertive and orienting the kart more quickly/aggressively yields a stronger exit that plays out better over the long haul.
I’m hoping that maybe I can recalibrate my tempo by changing things up and leaving my comfort zone. I need to feel an “aha” moment to progress, I think.
Anyways, curious to see what you guys feel your weakness/area of opportunities are. I wonder what the more experienced folks ruminate about as well as the newer drivers.
Braking (I see a pattern forming already). I am working on braking later and harder in the kz, and getting it rotated around the apex with that last bit of momentum.
The green lap is a touch quicker and was with 2 sessions more tire wear. You can see I was going deeper on the brakes basically everywhere. I drove the tillotson for a year or so, and I am having to undo some of that style to get back in the “pocket” in the shifter.
Hey let’s bring this back for 2025! We are in full swing and weather is starting to get good.
Me: continued exploration of throttle expression. Being less quick to full.
Racing: further trying to focus on the big picture of pace over time and how to drive for long term pace. Also, being more demanding with myself about consistency of line. Identifying and addressing corners where I’m not a metronome.
On track, nothing really. Off track though, I am currently coding my race analyser. By scrapping the livetiming of the racetrack, the idea is to monitor the pace against competitors, watch opportunities on when to pit to snipe a good kart.
This makes me want to put together a scraper to find the best karts at my local rental track. I have a good template to start with, so I should be able to get far enough to make it tempting…
(KZ) I am working on braking later and carrying more roll speed through the apex. This helps me to get back on the throttle a touch later and maximize corner exit traction.
Race craft… I am slowly creeping back into the ballpark on speed, but have forgotten how to set up passes and make them clean. In the 206, in a competitive field where everyone is within a tenth or two, passing is difficult.
