Go-Kart Braking Technique Guide
One of the secrets to becoming a faster Go-Kart racer on the track and achieving better lap times is an efficient braking technique. While this sounds quite the opposite, correctly braking makes you drive faster on the track. In this quick guide, we’re going to take a crash course so that you’ll be able to handle the brakes better, and be a legend on the race track!
Go-Kart Braking Technique Guide
Choosing a venue like a sharp corner on the track is the perfect location to master your Go-Kart braking skills. Determine a braking point and brake in full force at maximum pressure as standard braking as you would in a car isn’t ideal in kart racing. Once you’ve felt the burst of pressure, lessen it a bit to gain control of your Go-Kart. This is when the kart will usually sway from side to side to be prepared when it happens.
When is the best time to start braking?
Braking while karting is entirely different when compared to driving a normal car. A lot of beginner drivers make the mistake of stepping on the brakes of their Go-Karts at the wrong time thus losing control in the process. The most efficient way to use the brakes is before approaching a curve. Release the brakes gently along the way to gain speed and accelerate before reaching the final curve to gain traction for better lap times.
Stepping on the brakes while on the race track is a hard technique to master even for seasoned drivers because of its steep learning curve. Following the simple step mentioned above is a great way to follow especially when trying out new Go-Karts or a new track.
What are the things you should look out for as a first-time racer?
A lot of first-time Go-Kart racers have the tendency to turn too fast or too wide when braking on a curve. Even veterans are susceptible to this mistake and the only thing to get better at this is simply lots and lots of practice. First-timers also get scared a lot of times when the kart’s engine notes drop in a short amount of time. In actuality, this is entirely your cue that what you’re doing is right as an engine note dropping means you’ve put enough pressure on the brakes for it to do its thing.
You should also look out for weak responses on the brakes if stepping on them receives little to no response from your Go-Kart. This may mean that the brakes are in need of a check-up or replacement.
What can go wrong when driving a go-kart?
Banging on the brakes too much without any feedback means your Go-Kart is due for a check-up. If you keep spinning and lose control of the kart meanwhile, then you’re pressing on the brakes too much. A pro-tip you should remember is that your kart can only be controlled when you release pressure on the brakes after a difficult maneuver.
Professional Go-Kart drivers even say the secret to their success is mastering the technique to effectively brake. So, even though it’s difficult at first, never lose your patience and get flustered. Always remain calm as this in turn will make you control your Go-Kart better even when you make a mistake.
Another thing to remember is to never lock the wheels in order to not over or understeer. Try your best to maintain the Go-Kart at a straight angle and not press on the brake pedal all the way. This lessens the chances of accidents and crashing so always focus on keeping your Go-Kart straight especially when you slam on the brakes.
How do you improve your braking technique over time?
One rule you should never forget, and we can’t stress this enough, is to keep everything simple. While Go-Karting is definitely adrenaline-pumping for a lot of physical junkies, one of the biggest problems a lot of first-timers encounter is simply getting nervous resulting in oversteering to the left or right.
Keeping it simple and maintaining a straight line when braking, especially doing it before you turn a corner, makes the cornering maneuver very easy to turn into an advantage the more experience you gain. As you level up your skills in Go-Karting, you can even use the unstable braking characteristics to your advantage.
Conclusion
Go-Karting is one of the most exhilarating activities you will ever experience especially when it’s your first time. The sudden rush of adrenaline keeps even the most introverted people hooked. Because, let’s face it, successfully turning a corner and driving past other racers feels like nothing else and the taste of being the first to the finish line is simply the best. Learning efficient braking techniques as you improve your skills is essential in order to produce better lap times and increase the total enjoyment for you and your opponents immensely.
