Go Karting is a motorsport that goes all the way back to 1956 when the first Go Kart was created by the legendary Art Ingels.
If you’re looking for a thrilling and challenging new activity that will push you to experience new sensations and develop new skills – this is the sport for you!
But here’s the thing, if you’ve never driven a Go Kart before, the idea of doing so can seem overwhelming!
The best way to overcome this is to sign up for a session and get stuck in, but it can also be useful to learn a little more about Go Karting before you start.
If you find yourself wanting to know more about Go Karting before you’re out there on the track – don’t panic! We’ve got you covered.
In the guide below we’re going to be teaching you everything you’ll want to know about Go Karting!
We’ve broken this down into a list of tips that will cover some of the basics, and some more advanced tips to keep in mind.
Let’s start our engines and start racing right away!
1. Clothing And What To Bring
Well, let’s start at the very beginning. One of the things you’re going to need to consider before showing up for your first session is the kind of clothing that you’re going to be wearing.
Picking the right kind of clothing is going to be vital for how comfortable you will be.
Generally, you want to wear clothing that is loose-fitting and easy to move around in.
You’re not going to want to wear tight-fitting jeans as this will make it difficult to get in and out of the kart, as well as restrict your movement when you’re racing.
It is also important to consider footwear. You’re going to want to make sure you’re wearing closed-toe shoes as wearing anything open can be a safety hazard.
There are usually rules about this, and it’s possible you won’t be able to race if you’re wearing something like sandals.
2. Pay Attention To The Safety Talk
When you show up at a racing track, you’re likely to be inducted by a member of staff.
They’re going to give you a whole load of safety advice and go over some of the rules.
Whilst this might not seem relevant to learning to drive a Go Kart, paying attention to all of this advice is going to help you to understand what not to do.
If you keep these fundamental tips in mind, learning to drive fast and safe at the same time is going to be much easier.
3. Keep Your Eyes On The Road
Okay, so now let’s get into some practical driving tips, starting off with a simple, but often neglected one.
When driving it’s vital that you keep your eyes on the road ahead of you at all times. Once you get up to a certain speed, driving a go kart is all about planning ahead and reaction time.
Great drivers will have each turn and twist of the track pre-planned in their mind and will be able to drive fast without any surprises.
Of course, as a beginner, this isn’t going to be possible for you – but you can apply the general principle.
Keeping an eye on the track and what is coming up is vital for winning races and driving safely. You’re going to want to see what turns are coming up so that you can react accordingly.
4. Mastering The Pedals
Pedals are a vital part of a Go Kart and the part that you need to get most used to using. If you’re used to driving a normal car, you’re going to be surprised by quite how sensitive Go Karting pedals are in comparison.
Generally, you’re going to be able to have a few practice laps before you get into any serious racing. At this time one of the best things you can do is take some time to master the pedals.
In reality, this would take many years to do, but you can still get a grip of them with some experimentation.
Go slow at first, take your time and you’ll soon find yourself understanding how much pressure you need to apply.
5. Racing
In this section, we want to give you some tips on what it’s like to race at high speed and interact with other racers.
Firstly, when trying to pick up speed you’re going to want to keep a few things in mind.
Turning corners is the ultimate speed killer, and a lot of racing is trying to take corners in the right way to maximize your speed without spinning out of control or crashing into other racers.
The principle is simple – the longer you go in a straight line, the closer to the max speed you’ll be able to reach!
If you’re looking to win a race, one of the worst things that can happen is bumping into another rider.
Not only is this usually against the rules, but it also means you’re both likely to reduce in speed (even if it’s a small collision!) bigger crashes mean that you will stop all together.
One of the most important things when it comes to racing is learning to compete against other racers and force them into situations where they have to slow down or take a corner wider.
As a beginner, it’s best to focus on your own driving and keeping safe! As you learn and grow, you’ll be able to learn more about how to race against others!
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! Those were some tips to get you started on driving a Go Kart for the first time.
Although the experience might seem daunting at first, providing you focus on those areas highlighted above, you’re likely to have a smooth transition into being able to drive and race with confidence!
Remember, the most important thing about your first few Go Karting sessions is to have fun! As long as you’re safe and improving a little, it’s going to be a wonderful experience!
We wish you the best of luck in your next Go Karting Race and hope that you have a total blast!
If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy our post on ‘Go Kart Racing Rules & Regulations‘.