Karts just feel connected to the road in a way that cars don't, have you ever driven one? I'm suprised you can't see what some people love about them.
That video of an XFG diving into a corner taking out another car at South City that was obviously at fault because he thought his opposition who was in the distance as he turned in would actually drive around the corner....
Of course I have driven one, there is one sitting in my garage, but it's the same reason people like motorcycles, it just annoys me. I like anything with an engine and wheels. It just annoys me what the majority thing, simply because other people are thinking that. If you see what I mean? Too many Karters think they can be Michael Schumacher or something. And now Lewis Hamilton is in F1 (and heard of as almost non of the people that talk about him now, saw him driving for Manor Motorsport) it just makes it a WHOLE lot worse. DAD I WANT A GO KART FOR CHRISTMAS (see where I am coming from?) There is a reason there are liscences for cars.. Cos they can do more damage. The fact that brakes aren't really used in Karting annoys me too, cos it takes the skill out of the ACTUALL driving skill, and leans more to the skill on setup.
You have a warped view of karting. Not all karters wanna be the next Michael Schumacher. Many Junior's do... but there a frig load of seniors who compete... Ardigo, Fore, Manetti etc...
You do need a licence to race karts, and to pass a 'driving' and written exam.
I am not sure what karts you have driven but I have seen karts hit 100 mph on a bog standard kart circuit.... and I think the front a rear brakes came in a little handy...
cars do more damage eh???? I have seen some FRIGHTENING incidents in karting so your ignorance disgusts me.
My dad is actually registered on the karting site you support, so all my information on the sport is from him which is actually from YOUR neck of the woods to begin with so my ignorance can't be much from the TRUTH can it? FRONT BRAKES? All the karts I have seen have only had a rear brake? You also don't have to try and make Karting sound dangerous to make it seem better than it is, the fact people fly around kart tracks only backing of the throttle just makes it lame for me, it's like a badly made game or something.
It will be impossible to drive without slamming the brakes HARD! That's one of my things. You hit the brakes much harder than you do in a car. The braking distances are shorter for obvious reason but to think people drive without using brakes is just as far from the truth as the sun is from the earth,
fast guys = anyone faster than me. And I'm talking about Public tracks, but my 100cc kart is fast but on a track at least it doesn't feel like i need to brake, it just feels that i just need to lift the inside rear all the time , which is a pain in the arse! :P
Dunno how you or I, record revs, give or take, I'd say mid-high, enough speed to make your eyes dry up thats for sure :P
EDIT : The video; Not that I am saying it's not good driving, it's awesome quick thinking, but he got loose underbraking, and the kart just happened to go up the inside, and then he basically forced himself into overtaking and the guy in the white and red kart turned into him cos he had no idea he was there although, he did leave the door open so
y would ur eyes be drying up???? u do wear a lid now?
I use a rev counter. To me it sounds as if you kart is vastly under performing or ur not pushing hard enough. As you can see by that vid which is just Junior karts braking technique is vitally important.
get a video of you karting, and PM me. I can take a look at what's going on
Eye's drying up - just think if you weren't wearing a helmet.
No, it isn't the same pitch, it's a bit higher when you are mid corner on the first time you enter the chicane bit, a bit higher than that. Infact... Now I wanna get in a proper kart, on a proper track Thanks alot Intrepid!
see at that point i will be pulling 12k maybe... probably less... top end I am hitting 20k... If you have some vid let me know I'll take a look... get you driving faster than the 'fast drivers'
All the karts you have seen did not have front breaks? Then those are only the ones you have seen. My kart has front disks and an axle mounted rear break.
Edit: here are some pics, it obviously hasn't been used in a while.
Well I always ask the fast guys where they brake, and they always say they don't or some say that they do just in one place..
From my experience in karting, you don't spend a lot of time on the breaks throughout a circuit. Obviously this differs with kart class, and track but for example Daytona International at Milton Keynes (UK) has a good 14 corners, only a handful of these you actually need to use the break on.
You may not HAVE to use the break on a corner, but it's finding out if it's faster to use it or not! Also breaking technique is a big factor in karting - a sharp jab on the break will get the a*se out and can help on certain corners to keep the kart stable, you'll mainly get this on tighter hairpins. "Double pedalling" is a big factor with breaking too - in hire karts, this is not allowed as they use cheaper clutches which burn out, it can also make the breaks bind. However when you do it correctly in owner karts (both 4 and 2 stroke) you can apply the brakes without dropping the engine revs which can help you gain time.
As to some members saying that karting is aggressive etc - it depends on the class and what series you are racing. 4 stroke is generally more friendly, especially the club championships (Rye House, Lakeside etc) the old UK Champs used to be very competitive but was still very friendly.
2 Stroke is a lot more aggressive and generally more competitive. You will always get rubbing in karting, and a little bit of bumping but that's racing.
The driving standards and the people who race them may not be great but can't you see past that to at least acknowledge what people like about them? I can't understand what you've got against them (or why you've got one). Obviously having just rear brakes and using them as little as possible is better if you don't need front brakes.
As for the argument about skill well yes they are eas(ier) to drive than some cars but what one looses in the challenge of driving lets you push and race harder.
Whilst there's still a risk to the driver cars post a far greater risk for really nasty accidents ploughing through barriers and into marshal posts or spectator areas. Not to mention the risk of fire.